Furious About Breastfeeding?
March 23, 2009 | 7 Comments
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“Being stuck at home breast-feeding as he walked out the door for work just made me unreasonably furious, at him and everyone else.”
Really?
I might as well join the chorus of voices blogging this week about “The Case Against Breastfeeding“.
But instead of picking apart the author’s arguments (among them: the research doesn’t really show a strong benefit of breastfeeding, it takes too much time and makes meaningful work impossible, it shackles women and keeps them down, etc), I am just going to focus on the one quote mentioned above.
If breastfeeding your baby makes you “stuck at home” and “furious” at the world, then you probably shouldn’t do it.
That doesn’t mean it’s not best. It just means you have a major attitude problem.
Grocery Shopping and Dinner Planning Printables
March 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
I just got back from the grocery store, where I purchased the ingredients for banana splits. And the reason I purchased the ingredients for banana splits?
I’m celebrating an accomplishment of my oldest son. Now, in the past I may have taken him out for an ice cream.
But it’s cheaper (and healthier) to make food at home.
Including the occasional banana split (hey - the ice cream and whipped cream are organic - and nuts are healthy!).
When finances are tight, it’s not all bad. In fact there are some benefits.
By being more frugal and careful with our grocery money, we may spend more time around the dinner table together, and more time in the kitchen preparing food together (and cleaning up together if you’re in my house!).
Banana splits are one thing, but when it comes to getting dinner on the table, it takes a little simple meal-planning. It helps to know EXACTLY what your family is going to eat each day, having the ingredient on hand and quickly putting together delicious meals.
Meal planning became a part of my weekly routine after my 4th child was born. It was the only way we got a hot meal on the table!
All it takes is 15-20 minutes with pencil, paper, and your favorite cookbooks. (And sales circulars from your local stores.)
- First, you take a quick look at what you already have in your freezer, pantry and fridge. Getting an idea of what’s already on hand means you can create meals around those ingredients and save a bit of money (and fewer things will end up going to waste).
- Then, take a look at what’s on sale at the store(s) you shop at.
- Using your cookbooks (or your head if you’re that kind of cook!), create your weekly menu.
To make things easier, here are some free dinner planning & grocery shopping sheets you can download and print:
Free Dinner Planning & Grocery Shopping Printables
Natural Moms Podcast #115
February 24, 2009 | 1 Comment
I apologize for this week’s “lo fi” show. I’m sick and also have a vomiting 6 year old, so we’re couching out for a few days. I didn’t want this week’s show to be any later so I decided to publish the interview as is. 
My guest this week is Lafe Larson of Lafe’s Natural Bodycare.
While some skin care companies are concerned about BPA in their products, Lafe has gone a step further.
His company recently released the first-of-its-kind organic certified baby line packaged in “baby-safe” plastic, free of estrogenic chemicals.
Listen to find out what Carrie’s favorite product was and how she put it to the ultimate test!
In addition to safe skin care for babies and mothers, Lafe’s offers deodorants and intimate products, free of questionable ingredients such as parabens, glycol, PEGs, and sodium laureth.
Lafe also helps clear up some of the confusion around plastics and their affects on the body. You can also read more information at EAFREE.com
Selma Hayek, Cross Nursing and Carrie
February 13, 2009 | 13 Comments
A couple of days ago a reporter from ABC News called me to ask my thoughts on the whole Selma Hayek cross nursing an African baby thing.
Cross/wet nursing is controversial enough, but throw in a pair of award winning celebrity ta-tas and everyone is listening.
You can see some of the things I said to her here: Selma Hayek breastfeeding another woman’s child.
Among other things, I told the reporter that calling Selma “unfaithful” is ridiculous. If any mother saw a toddler fall down on the sidewalk and cut open her knees, and mom wasn’t around, she would pick that child up and offer her comfort.
Is that unfaithful?
Using that kind of language just harkens back to the cultural (and I said cultural on the phone, not culturally - not that I’m complaining) misunderstanding that exists about breastfeeding being somehow sexual.
Breastfeeding is intimate.
Breastfeeding is the end result of being sexual (because it completes the cycle of fertility that starts with ovulation, then copulation, then birth).
Breastfeeding feels good. (Or at least it should.)
But breastfeeding doesn’t have any more to do with sex than hugging does. Hugging my 10, 8 and 6 year old children isn’t sexual.
It’s just mothering.
I don’t hug my kids “for myself” once they get past a certain age.
I’ve talked before on this blog about my thoughts on cross nursing and wet nursing, and also mentioned to the reporter that I was personally cross nursed by the mother of a friend of mine. I was 5 days old and my mom had to go back in the hospital for observation. My Mom called her local La Leche League group and moms sent bottles of expressed milk over.
But, I wouldn’t take the bottles.
I’m sure my Dad was pretty terrified, with this tiny infant and his beloved wife in a hospital bed. Thankfully my mom’s friend was able to come over and breastfeed me during that time. Who knows what might have happened? I might have starved myself for two days in some kind of newborn baby depression and shock.
This morning I told my Mom about the story, and she reminded me that she also cross nursed a baby - a childhood friend of mine.
Apparently her mother’s milk was taking a long time to increase postpartum. (Some moms take a week for their milk to “come in”, there is nothing magical about the 3 days postpartum timeframe, it’s just typical for most women.)
Anyway, little Jennifer seemed to be starving and was screaming her head off, so my mom’s friends asked her to come over and feed her. Jennifer’s mother’s milk finally did come in and they had a happy nursing relationship for a long time. But, I wonder if my mother hadn’t done that, would the stress of the experience caused her mom to just give up and offer bottles?
Cross nursing has its place, even in our modern society.
I also told the reporter that (and she was so cute because she’s never had kids so didn’t know what I was talking about) when a lactating woman hears another baby cry - ANY baby - her body responds accordingly. It’s just a natural thing, like the empathy you might feel if you see an older child fall down at the playground. All the moms come running, especially if the real mom can’t help at that moment.
(Some of the babies at Blissdom had this effect on me. You know who you are.)
I bet that a lot of women, in that situation, would have done the same thing. I certainly would have. We just wouldn’t be the number one video on YouTube. Noone would be the wiser.
When I was still married and had young babies, I had my ex husband swear that he would find a nursing mother to feed my baby if I ever were to land in a hospital and were unable to offer that familiar comfort to my infant. Just knowing that he would have done that made me feel better.
Watch the video and look at the happiness on that baby’s face. Tell me there’s something wrong about that.
Tell me how you feel about this story.
Would you cross nurse another woman’s baby if she asked you? Would you want another woman to nurse your child?
photo credit http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=6864594&page=1
Breastfeeding Saves Lives
December 4, 2008 | 2 Comments
When we think of how breastfeeding saves lives, we often think of instances where a baby is highly allergic to formula, or has other special needs.
We rarely think about emergency situations, but in these cases, breastfeeding becomes even more important.
For one thing, in times of natural disaster, water supplies are often dangerously polluted. This makes it difficult to obtain clean water to mix up formula.
I read this news report this morning about how moms breastfeeding their babies saved not only the moms and babies, but perhaps other people too.
“… when terrorists stormed the Cama and Albless Hospitals last Wednesday.
“The terrorists were violently banging the locked iron grills and even the slightest noise by the babies could have alerted the terrorists,” said Dr Archana Garud, chief medical officer, who was on duty that night. “The ayah suggested that all mothers breastfeed their babies to hush them up.”
Garud said this brainwave saved the lives of patients as well as hospital staff.
Wow. Another testament to the power of mom’s milk. 
How Fathers Can Support Breastfeeding
November 8, 2008 | 3 Comments
Please take a second to welcome guest blogger Lexi Rodrigo
photo credit: Kelly Sue
August 1 to 8 was World Breastfeeding Week and this year’s theme was all about giving mothers the support they need to breastfeed successfully.
Breastfeeding advocates have long known that mothers need support in breastfeeding. Now there’s proof. According to a recent Cochrane Review of 34 studies in 14 countries, support from both lay persons and professionals help increase the duration of breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding.
Husbands or partners, in particular, have a big role to play to ensure that women breastfeed and continue breastfeeding.
Here are seven ways that fathers can support the breastfeeding mother and child:
1. Support the woman’s decision to have a natural childbirth.
Babies who are born without drugs tend to have a better start with breastfeeding. Mother and baby are both fully conscious and alert after birth. Babies who aren’t groggy from drugs have a natural instinct to nurse immediately after birth. Mommy should also be alert and strong enough to bring baby to the breast within the first hour of birth.
2. Allow the mother to room in with baby.
When mother and baby are together, they have unlimited opportunities to breastfeed. On the other hand, if baby is in the nursery, the mother will usually have to breastfeed according to the hospital’s feeding schedules. Meantime, baby gets infant formula or glucose water and a pacifier.
3. Take over most of the household responsibilities.
It takes time for a mother and her baby to settle into a good breastfeeding routine. A new mother also needs plenty of time to rest and recover from birth. Her husband or partner should take over the cooking and cleaning and give her plenty of time to bond with the new baby.
4. Wake up in the middle of the night, too.
Many fathers of breastfed babies are spoiled; they don’t need to get up in the middle of the night to prepare a bottle of formula! But do empathize with the nursing Mommy who has to feed a newborn around the clock. At least get up to burp and change the baby. If baby still has the days and nights mixed up, be the one to stay up with him or her. Learn how to soothe your own baby to sleep and let the new mother sleep.
5. Be proud when your wife/partner breastfeeds in public.
Women need support to breastfeed in public. Some women are so embarrassed they’d rather give a bottle of expressed breastmilk or formula than nurse when outside! Others give up breastfeeding altogether because they cannot overcome the embarrassment. If the baby’s father is proud to show off his child nursing in public, the mother will become more comfortable. Dads can help provide more privacy to the breastfeeding Mom, too, by shielding her from prying eyes while she gets settled into a discreet position.
6. Never question the purchase of breastfeeding supplies and gadgets.
Breastfeeding is free, but certain paraphernalia help to make breastfeeding more pleasant and more convenient. These include a breastfeeding pillow, breastfeeding clothes, a rocking chair or glider, a breastpump and breastmilk storage containers, breastfeeding blankets, and baby slings. And don’t forget the books about breastfeeding. Fathers should support this sudden obsession with anything related breastfeeding — within your family’s means, of course. Remember that anything that will keep a woman breastfeeding is well worth its price.
7. Promote breastfeeding to everyone you know.
Brag about your breastfed child; you have good reason to do so. Children who are not breastfed get sick more often and have lower IQ than breastfed children. Encourage pregnant women you know to breastfeed. Tell other fathers to encourage their wives to breastfeed, too.
Fathers have a crucial role in breastfeeding. Fathers also benefit when mothers successfully breastfeed their children breastfeed successfully. They have a happier, healthier family, and the economic benefits are significant.
Lexi Rodrigo is a stay at home Mom to 3 children, a freelance writer and Internet entrepreneur. Get more information on breastfeeding benefits and other natural parenting tips by visiting http://www.natural-moms.com.
Tidbits: Breastfeeding research, raw milk video
October 29, 2008 | 2 Comments
A recently published study shows that breastfeeding does not make your breasts sag. (An excuse that aristocrats have used for centuries to justify hiring wet nurses.) It’s factors like multiple pregnancies (and the hormones that go along with the condition), age and weight that are responsible.
Glad to see this research being published, although the information has been circulating in pro breastfeeding circles for years.
Another myth is that breastfeeding makes your breasts smaller. That may be true for some women but the effect is temporary and only lasts for a few cycles after weaning. Women often perceive their breasts to be smaller but that’s because their breasts got bigger during nursing.
Typically after several cycles, a woman’s breasts replace the bulk that was taken up with milk producing glands with fat, as they were before breastfeeding began. So if you’ve just weaned and feel smaller, just hang in there for several months.
Of course, for some women, their breasts stay larger after breastfeeding (like their feet?!).
Another study points to one reason by breastfed babies have less issues with overweight. Because they are better at regulating their caloric intake.
And finally here is a quick video from Australia about a family enjoying the benefits of raw milk, from Nourished magazine.
Preparing Your Older Child for the New Baby
September 14, 2008 | 2 Comments
I remember hearing horror stories about older kids and their jealousy towards the new baby in the house. One friend of mine even said her daughter tried to suffocate her baby with a pillow! 
photo credit: Phil Scoville
I can’t imagine how that must have felt. It was also totally foreign to me because I didn’t have any trouble at all with my toddlers trying to hurt their new sibling. I never even saw any signs of rivalry or upset at all.
I think it’s because of some of the things I did during the pregnancy and in the first few hours, days and weeks after I gave birth.
Here are some of those things. I hope they help you if you’re about to go through this!
Sell them on “big brother” or “big sister”.
Speak in positive terms to them about what it means to be a big sis or big brother. Really play up the importance of their role and help them to feel special and needed. You will want to discuss how they can be your helper and how much you need them because after the birth you will be sore and tired.
You may want to assign them a specific task, something age appropriate. For a younger child, fetching diapers for you might be a good one. With my babies, I invited the older toddler to come and join us during diaper changes to involve them. We would chat and I would let them help any way they could, and it was a pleasant time. Help your child to appreciate how much you need their help.
Don’t plan any other major changes.
This would not be a good time to introduce any other major changes into their life, such as potty training, different sleeping arrangements or any other similar changes. You don’t want to overwhelm them nor add any added stress to their lives or yours.
If your toddler is still nursing, there is no reason to stop during your pregnancy or even afterwards when the new baby arrives. Many moms have found that tandem nursing (breastfeeding siblings who are not twins) is very rewarding and a wonderful way to ease the transition for the older child.
When they are assured of your place in their lap, they are not as likely to be jealous or resent the new baby. I found this to be absolutely true with mine. My toddlers were all still nursing when their siblings were born, and it was wonderful to help them adjust. I shared my story in the link above.
Talk to them.
Children understand more than we think. So, spend some time talking with them about the big event. You can tell them about what will happen when you go to have the baby, where they will be staying, and what they can expect. If you are having the baby at home or in a birthing center, you might want to consider allowing them to be with you at the birth. Children who are close by the mother during her labor are more likely to view the new baby as “ours” instead of an alien intruder! Some parents have found it helpful to read books that talk about getting a new baby in the house. These often explain how new babies need constant care and feeding.
It’s also helpful to share the story of their own birth with your toddler. Young children seem to love to hear the story of their birth! Talk about how it was such a happy day for you because you finally got to meet them. Tell them details, and let them watch birth videos if you have them, and allow them to go through their baby books and pictures.
Involve them in the pregnancy.
Take your older child to prenatal appointments if you can. This helps them to start bonding with the unborn child. This is a lot easier if you’re getting care from a midwife, who will welcome your other children and allow them to listen to the heartbeat or play with the stethoscope and other equipment! My kids always had fun when we visited the midwife for our appointments.
photo credit: eyeliam
My oldest son even cut his two baby sister’s cords when they were born. I have pictures of him all decked out as Obi-Wan Kenobi, complete with light sabre, when his first sister was born. He was so protective of her and called her Padme for the first few months of her life. 
Get help.
Going from one to two (or two to three, and on and on!) is a wonderful time to ask friends, family, Grandparents and others for a little help. While you and the baby are resting, could someone play with your toddler, arrange a playdate or take them to the park for a couple of hours?
A little extra one on one time with a beloved adult can make up for the fact that you are going to be giving the toddler a little less attention for awhile. This is a time for Dad to step up too. While he does need time to bond with the newborn, this can be a time of growth in the older child as he embraces Dad as someone who can also meet his needs.
Watch your language.
When the baby arrives, be careful how you phrase things. If your older child asks you for something and you can’t help them because you’re caring for the baby, don’t “blame” it on the baby. Say something like, “My hands are busy now, but I can play with you in a few minutes. Why don’t you come snuggle next to me and I’ll read you a story?”
Another tip that some moms have found helpful is to talk up the older child to the baby. We moms love to go ga-ga and talk goo goo over our babies, but why not brag on the older sibling? “Ooh look at what big brother is doing! He’s building a block tower and it’s sooooo tall!” This can make the older child’s heart swell with pride. I heard this tip from a mom I admired, and when I did it, I could see the older child’s face practically beaming. Of course, the baby can’t understand a word you’re saying, but that doesn’t matter!
If your child does express some negative feelings towards the new baby, do not deflect it or try to change their feelings. It won’t work! It’s insulting and we know how WE feel when someone does that to us. Instead, mirror them by saying something empathic, like “It’s tough having to share mommy with the new baby sometimes.” You don’t have to agree with them, just empathize. When we do that, they feel safe sharing their feelings, and are able to process and work through them better. But if we can all bent out of shape they feel misunderstood and frustrated, which doesn’t help matters.
There’s one thing that some people who come to visit your new family may do that you need to watch for. This always made me cringe every time I observed it! They overreact every time the older children touch the baby.
Another thing to be careful of when it comes to visitors is this: Don’t let them focus 100% of their attention on the new baby. People do this too, and they don’t mean any harm. But imagine how it feels to the older child when everyone around him is completely besotted with “baby this and baby that”. They don’t even ask him questions except to say, “So how do you like the new baby?” LOL!
If your guests or family members do this, tactfully steer the conversation around.
Clueless Aunt: “So, little Johnny, how do you like the new baby so far?”
Little Johnny: “Um, he’s ok. I guess.”
You: “Auntie, did you see the picture Johnny painted? It’s over there on the refrigerator. Johnny, would you like to show Auntie your new picture? Maybe she can get your paints out and you can draw a new one for her to take home to Aunt Joe.”
You might want to even ask family members and friends to bring a small gift for your older child when they come visit the baby. If they’re not cool like that, stash some presents or treats of your own, and whip them out when baby has a gift to unwrap.
Babies just aren’t that fragile!
It’s more important that your older child bond with the baby, and much of that takes place through touch. Train and teach your older kids how to hold and touch the baby. With a toddler, you may have to guide his hands or tell him to touch “Soft, like a butterfly.”
Don’t freak out whenever the older kids come around the baby, or they’ll come to resent him. You don’t want them to feel like useless, clumsy clods around the “precious” baby. It’s very hurtful to them. There were so many times that my older kids jostled the new baby like s/he was a sack of potatoes, and the baby never even woke up most of the time, much less minded.
Babies like stimulation and they find their big sibs extremely exciting! I noticed that my babies would turn their heads and follow a sibling around the room with their eyes. I made a point of saying this out loud to my older kids. I also reminded them that the baby KNEW them already because of hearing them for so many months in the womb.
They were really impressed by that.
Another thing alone these lines is, allow your toddler or older child to see and spend time with you as soon as possible after the birth. Don’t let other family members, including your husband if he’s overzealous, prevent them from reconnecting with you. Especially if you’ve been away at a hospital birth is this true. Don’t make a big deal over the new baby. Let them hug and kiss YOU and then notice the baby (who ideally should not be in your arms for this little reunion).
Don’t feel guilty.
It’s very common for moms to feel guilty about displacing their older child. I know I certainly felt this way when I was pregnant with my second child. I grieved for what I felt was a loss, and I was worried about my older son - as if he was losing something instead of gaining!
Remember that children have been dealing with the arrival of siblings since the beginning of time! They will be just fine, and will gain a playmate and perhaps a lifelong friend. Be positive about the transition and your child will likely pick up on your emotions.
Practice babywearing.
A baby sling or carrier can be invaluable for several reasons. For one, you can have your hands free in a sling, meaning you can play with a toddler almost like baby’s not there, where s/he naps peacefully. You’ll always have a free arm to pour a glass of milk, get a snack, offer a hug, a boost onto the swings, or to hold a book to read a story. Kids don’t mind so much the arrival of a new sibling as they mind the demand on your time. If you can still do most of the stuff you did before, it’s all good. 
photo credit: PhylB
Be prepared for your own emotions.
Nature has set things up so that your priority is to your newborn infant, and that’s as it should be. A lot of times we are surprised by the ferocity of our own feelings of loyalty to our new babies. It’s not that we don’t love our toddlers, because we do.
But during the early weeks, don’t be surprised at your feelings. You might see your toddler differently and are a little afraid that you’ve fallen out of love with him!
Don’t worry! These feelings will subside, and you’ll soon be seeing your toddler through normal eyes. A little extra sleep helps too!
Some recommended resources:
This book helps young children to see the “expandable” quality of a mother’s love.
I loved reading this book to kids #2 and #3 before and after baby #4 came along. They loved it too.
Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too
A wonderful book to teach you all about empathic listening and dealing with kid’s strong emotions.
Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding During Pregnancy and Beyond
A must read for a mom who is nursing while pregnant and wants to know “what to expect” afterwards.
This was my favorite all time sling. The unstitched style of the tail and no padding make it great for getting a truly hands free hold.
What was your experience with helping your older child make the adjustment to a new baby?
Challenges of Being a New Mom
September 13, 2008 | 8 Comments
During our pregnancies, especially with our first baby, many of us spent a lot of time imagining what motherhood would be like.
We saw peaceful scenes in our mind like rocking our babies in a recliner while they effortlessly breastfeed.
We imagine the things we’ll do while baby sleeps the hours away. We wash and fold (and refold) baby clothes and get the baby’s things ready. We daydream about our little one and how we’ll care for him.
Often, we’re quite unprepared for the reality of the experience of new motherhood.
While having children is a blessing, the postpartum period is one of huge adjustments. In fact, there probably is no other experience that is more life altering than the entry into parenthood!
Our expectations are often quite different from the reality. Many new moms experience some or many of the following challenges:
Fussy babies - Having a colicky or fussy, “high need” infant can shatter a new mom’s confidence and cause major stress. When your baby cries for hours at a time, it can put strain on your relationship with the baby’s father and undermine your emotional well being.
Often there is little that can be done for a fussy baby other than holding him and waiting for him to outgrow it.Some babies will feel better if they nurse all the time - this was certainly true of my oldest. A baby sling can be a lifesaver for fussy babies. Research shows that babies cry less when they are “worn” close to the mothers body.
Mood swings - The baby blues is a very common experience for new moms in our society, and there are many theories as to why so many moms experience this phenomenon.Contributing factors may be: the stress of such a massive life change, sleep deprivation, the physical demands of childbirth, lack of proper support, and hormonal adjustments.
After I had my first baby, I would have persistent thoughts of tripping near an open window and throwing him out. It was a little scary, but the feelings subsided, especially when I got some more sleep.
Certainly it is wise for a new mom to lower her expectations of herself. Getting out of the house for some socializing, exercise, and sunlight can be a huge help. Good nutrition and avoiding sugar and caffeine are also smart moves. Read more about breastfeeding and postpartum depression here.
Relationship difficulties - Some new moms become resentful of their partners. While a mom’s life changes drastically after the birth of a new baby, a dad’s life doesn’t change so much. His apparent freedom can be the cause of negative feelings. If you read the magazines at the checkout counter, Angelina Jolie seems to be suffering from a little of this.
Good communication skills are important here. Moms can tell their partners what they need, and affirm his place and importance in the family. Letting him care for the baby on his own to learn his own style is a good idea.
Bonding issues - When moms read about the bonding that is so essential for baby’s development, they’re sometimes stressed or worried if they don’t feel an instant connection with their new infants
. Bonding is different for each mother/baby dyad.
Some moms experience an instant feeling of deep love for their newborn infants the moment baby is put into their arms. For others, the feeling develops over time. There is no right or wrong way to bond.
One thing that helps a mother develop a deep attachment to her baby is to wear him close to her body in a baby sling. Babywearing helps baby adjust to postpartum life gradually, leading to less crying. A happier baby means a happier mom. It’s also easier for mom to get things done around the house, increasing her sense of accomplishment.
photo credit: Ja-nelle
Breastfeeding challenges - Breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience, and for some mothers it comes easily. Others experience difficulties.I will never forget when my big sister asked me if I planned on breastfeeding. I told her, “Of course!”. She said that after the first few weeks things would get easier, and that it could be a little tough right at first. She said this while latching on her own 6 month old at the breast. I was so ignorant - I remembered thinking, “What’s the big deal? You put the baby on your nipple and they drink!“
Painful breastfeeding can increase the risk of postpartum depression, but successful breastfeeding decreases the risk. A mom who is experiencing pain should get help immediately. Often all that is needed is a slight adjustment in positioning or latch to stop the pain.
New moms need support and information to have a happier postpartum adjustment. Talking with other mothers can be extremely helpful. Thankfully there are many mother’s groups that a new mom can reach out to in order to get the community she needs. Groups like La Leche League, Holistic Moms Network, Attachment Parenting International, and others.
What about you? How was your experience of being a new mom different from the reality? How did you cope with the transition?
Recommended Resources for New Moms:
* The Hidden Feelings of Motherhood
This is an amazing book that every mother should read. Written by one of my favorite authors, Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD. It examines the feelings commonly felt by new moms in our culture and how to help yourself during the transition.
This was my favorite cookbook after my 4th child was born. Everything in its pages can be created with only one hand! Written by attachment parenting enthusiasts and foodie moms, this cookbook will make it possible for you to feed yourself again. I promise!
* 25 Things Every New Mother Should Know
Martha and Bill Sears have 8 kids between them. He’s a Pediatrician, she a nurse and La Leche League Leader. Think they know some secrets about surviving postpartum? Oh yeah. This one is easy to read in snippets while you’re sitting in the nursing chair.
And finally:
* Porn for New Moms: From the Cambridge Women’s Pornography Cooperative
Save the hate mail ladies. Wait until you check it out. Because laughter is a great cure for the new mom blues!
WW: Nursing Break
August 20, 2008 | 2 Comments
