Breastfeeding is truly an amazing experience and I’m so grateful for what my body has been able to do. Not only did I grow and birth this sweet little munchkin, but now I’m able to nourish him with my body. Breastfeeding is hands down one of the best things I've done for my little one. Has it been easy? Nope it hasn't.
It takes a toll on your body, as does pregnancy and birth-again things that I am so happy to have gone through-but it does change things. Your boobs become heavy and basically you're at the whim of this adorable little human that you birthed. None of these are bad or anything but it's something that isn't always talked about and even when it is, you don't really know how it's going to feel.
Sometimes breastfeeding can feel completely overwhelming because you’re the only one who can feed the baby. It’s hard to take care of yourself when you’re the sole provider of nourishment for your baby. But that’s exactly why you should be!
Whether you are breastfeeding or not, it's so important for us moms to support our bodies with sleep, water and food. Breastfeeding just adds another level to it!
It can help to learn what foods help your milk supply or what oils help you mentally and physically as well as getting back into movement. Keep water on hand at all times and make sure you’re drinking consistently. A great tip to follow is to drink when the baby drinks! When it comes to food, nutrient dense foods are key for your baby to nourish you and baby.
Lastly, don’t focus on the baby weight. I know it’s easier said than done and you may have heard stories about breastfeeding either helping or hindering weight loss. Just focus on nourishing your body, drinking water and getting movement in when you can; we love to take walks!
I created a guide to help breastfeeding moms along their journey! It's packed with tips, resources, recipes and more to help remove the overwhelm and gain confidence as a breastfeeding mom! No more 2am Google sesh! GRAB IT HERE!
As a family, it’s so important for us to reduce toxins whenever we can. Having a little baby, we really want to reduce his exposure as much as possible because we want his little body to grow properly and without toxic disruptions! As for me and having an autoimmune, it’s important that I reduce my toxin absorption as well to stay healthy!
With that being said, we don't want to miss out on summer fun (who doesn't love a pool on a hot day!), but we want to learn how to care for ourselves and keep our toxin intake to a minimum when we can.
Being in a chlorinated pool is one of the ways that your body absorbs toxins in the summertime. Swimming in a chlorinated pool can increase markers of DNA damage after just 40 minutes in the water!
- Swimming in a chlorinated pool means exposure to known skin irritants that can cause skin to become dry and itchy.
- Research suggests that chlorine in swimming pools can increase rates of asthma, cancer, and skin/throat irritation.
- When chlorine mixes with water it forms hypochlorite, a bleaching agent that causes fabrics to fade (Ever notice how faded swimsuits get?).
If you find yourself swimming in a chlorinated pool this summer, here are a few ways you can mitigate the toxic absorption into your body.
- Increase your Vitamin C and antioxidant intake before swimming
- Use a good lotion that contains Vitamin C
- Use a dechlorinating hair spray before and after swimming
- Rinse before getting in and shower afterwards.
Here’s a recipe for a great dechlorinating hair spray to use before and after swimming!
- 8 ounces distilled water
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp Vitamin C powder
- 5-10 drops Geranium Essential Oil
- 5-10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- Splash of fractionated coconut oil
(I use all Young Living essential oils!)
These are just a few ways to combat the effects, but it's going to be most beneficial to limit the pool time or find another source all together! There are pools that use salt water or UV rather than chlorine, which is a better option for your health. Open bodies of water are great too!
Our #1 goal is to reduce the chemical intake as much as we can! Hope you found this helpful!
Breakfast is an important meal of the day, but it can be one that is easily forgotten as we're rushing to get ready for the day or have little ones who need our attention. This oatmeal is delicious and is simple to whip together when your morning is a little hectic. Plus, it's perfect for this time of year with the apple and pumpkin.... need I say more!?
Ingredients:
1 organic apple, sliced into thin, bite-sized pieces
1 ripe banana
1 teaspoon aluminum free baking powder
Pinch of salt
¼ cup organic pumpkin puree
2 pasture raised eggs
3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
4–6 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality, to taste*
*You might also try experimenting with Cardamom Vitality, Nutmeg Vitality, or Clove Vitality for added complexity.
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Cut apples into thin, bite-sized slices and set aside. For an added boost of flavor, sprinkle ½ teaspoon of cinnamon on the apple slices and toss to incorporate.
3. Place banana, oats, baking powder, salt, pumpkin puree, eggs, milk, maple syrup, and Cinnamon Vitality into a blender and blend until smooth (about 1 minute).
4. Add apple slices into the batter and fold through with a spoon or silicone spatula to incorporate.
5. Grease oven-safe ramekins or other small, oven-safe dishes with cooking oil.
6. Pour the blended batter into the dishes, about ¾ full to leave room for it to expand.
If you aren’t in the mood to wait for this decadent treat, place your ramekin in the microwave for 2–3 minutes until the mixture is fully cooked.
Allow it to cool for 1–2 minutes before serving. Top with maple syrup or nut butter and an extra sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy!
I've learned that in motherhood so many people have different opinions, but it's important to just find what works best for you and your baby. Before having our son, I heard varying opinions and viewpoints about breastfeeding and pumping. It was honestly a little overwhelming!
I didn’t know where I’d land when my little munchkin actually arrived Earth side, but I was open to doing whatever was best for him and I. Once he was born, I ended up pumping slightly because he wasn't eating as much as my breasts were producing. This is totally normal at first because your milk can come in hot and heavy before it regulates to your baby! I needed to pump to release some of the milk to avoid pain or mastitis.
The #1 thing I was told to regulate your production was to get baby to breast as much as possible and allow him to eat when he wants. Babies have such a tiny belly when they are first born and so they typically eat quite often. Once he and I regulated, I produced just the right amount for him and it has worked well for us since!
I like to pump once or twice a week after the morning feeding to have some “extra milk” on hand to freeze and store. I wanted to make sure I had some incase I need to be away from him for any reason; aka if Tim and I should decide to leave the munchkin with one of our parents' to go out to dinner, to actually have a date night.
I wanted to share with you one pump that has been really helpful! I'll never forget the night where I woke up in a lot of pain and this little guy just didn't want to eat (and he wasn't actually hungry). I ordered this pump in order to save some of the milk for a later date or even sell/donate!
I’d love to hear your breastfeeding experience! Did you choose to pump? What was most helpful for you?
If you're currently a breastfeeding mom, grab my FREE guide here packed with tips and resources to help you along your journey!
Breastfeeding is a full time job and I learned quickly how nice is it to have a few designated “nursing spots” in my house. Sometimes he might nurse for longer than usual or sometimes he will fall asleep afterwards! Having designated spots helps me if I’m going to be trapped under a baby for a little bit.
Before I share about the stations, I want to add that’s it helps to go to the bathroom before you nurse. It’s not fun being nap trapped under a baby and having a full bladder! Make sure you fill up your water bottle too! Drinking water is so important as a nursing mom, but can easily fall to the wayside. It’s a great reminder for us to drink our water while baby is nursing.
The goal of having a breastfeeding station is that everything you need is readily accessible to you. I like to try to have a few different stations around the house (if I can) so that I have these items handy for whenever the baby needs to eat! If you want to go a step further, you can even grab a cute basket like this one (link) and keep everything in there! I’ve seen moms use a caddy as well to transport to different areas of the home, so do what works best for you!
Things to include:
✨ Water bottle
✨Snacks
✨Burp cloth
✨Phone charger
✨Something to entertain you (book, magazine, tablet)
✨Nursing pillow
✨Nipple cream
While all you technically need is baby and boob, it’s nice to have these things to make nursing easier, comfier and more relaxing for you. It’s great to have a happy momma for a better breastfeeding experience and for baby! Breastfeeding consumes a lot of our time and these baskets are just one way to make it a little easier on us!
Click here to grab my FREE guide that is packed full of information and tips for breastfeeding moms!
