Breastfeeding Diet

Murrieta Breastfeeding
Temecuala Breastfeeding
Murrieta Pediatrician 
Temecula Pediatrician 
Newborn Murrieta 
Loma Linda Labor and Delivery
Rancho Springs Labor and Delivery
IBCLC Murrieta

I just want to remember this...

Success is the sum of small efforts

A bird creates a nest twig by twig.  What do we do as expectant parents to prepare for the birth of our little ones? We shape and weave our nest through education and the practice of relaxation techniques. 

Once our little ones are in our arms, success of breastfeeding is also the compilation of small efforts of preparation and then patience and dedication.  

Feel free to print and share this little artwork that I created! 

FREE Guide to Herbs and Breastfeeding, Earth Mama, Angel Baby

Earth Mama, Angel Baby truly love their customers! They have compiled a FREE E-book for mothers! 
" Filled with herbs, breastfeeding tips and advice from Mama, A Comprehensive Guide to Herbs and Breastfeeding is an essential reference for careful mamas who want to safely harness the goodness of herbs." 
Just click on the book to be linked to their website. So wonderful! Thank you Earth Mama!! 

Newborn tummies

Newborn tummies are the size of cherries! So tiny! This info-graphic was created by the website baby.steals.com. Thank you!

  

Corona Regional Hospital is AWESOME!

 

As a Doula I have worked in good number of hospitals-

• Rancho Springs Medical Center
• Palomar Medical Center
• Fallbrook Hospital
• Riverside County Hospital
• Riverside Community Hospital
• Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital

And now add to the list Corona Regional Hospital- my new FAVORITE!!  As far as hospitals go Corona Regional has knocked the socks off all the rest! I recently had the opportunity to support a couple at this great hospital.  For so many reasons, it was AMAZING!  From the moment that we arrived the nurses were kind and patient.  They honestly seemed happy to see us. Throughout the rest of the labor they continued to be very accommodating to all of our needs. In a hospital environment the nurses make all the difference. I actually was really looking forward to this birth because I took a yearlong Lactation class with several nurses from Corona Regional. Sadly none of them worked while I was there but I made a couple new nurse friends that I look forward to working with again!! 

The hospital is a little older but what it lacks in fanciness it makes up in quality maternity care.

Another great thing about Corona Regional Hospital is that it is an accredited Baby Friendly hospital. It is one out of only 164 hospitals in the whole United States to earn this award! I watched them up hold all of the Ten Standards required.

Click here to learn more about Baby Friendly Hospitals.

Check out Corona Regional Hospital and see if it will fit your birth needs. They offer free Maternity walk-through tours:

Wednesdays (two per month) from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. and

Saturday (one per month) from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. 

Reservations are required. Call 951-808-6721 to schedule a tour.

Note: I was in no way paid or compensated for writing this. I just feel that praise needs to be given when it is earned. 

Photo credit given to : "Mother And Her Newborn Baby" by David Castillo Dominici

Breastfeeding in America

Learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding.  The creator of this info graphic is too fun for words. I love reading her honest, sometimes brash, blog posts on lucieslist.com . Great job Meg!

Iron during pregnancy

Taking our iron pills during pregnancy is the absolute pits. If we are already fighting morning sickness this lovely little black pill can send us right back into the bathroom. Or the possible constipation? Ugh. So what is the big deal with iron?
"Iron is an essential mineral used to transport oxygen to all parts of the body. A slight deficiency in iron causes anemia (fatigue/weakness)"
"While iron is better absorbed from heme (meat) sources, non-heme (plant) iron is better regulated causing less damage to the body. The current recommended daily allowance for iron is 18 milligrams (mg)."

On a personal level, my family's dietary goal is to consume a produce based, whole food diet. When there isn't time to explain our eating habits we usually just say that we are mostly vegan. Finding all of the different resources for iron has been important for us as we have made this change. As a mother of four awesome kids I need all the energy I can get!!

Follow this link Top 10 Foods Highest in Iron

When trying to up our iron intake it is important to make the most of the foods that we are eating by:  

• Pairing foods high in vitamin c and beta carotene with heme and nonheme iron foods 
• Consuming heme iron at the same time as nonheme 
• Avoiding foods high in tannis, calcium, polyphenols and phytates. 
• Avoid milk and antacids when consuming iron rich foods
• Avoid high fiber foods such as whole grains, raw vegetables and bran (Eat these in a different meal to help keep you regular)
• Avoid caffeine 

When taking supplements: 

• Take an hour after consuming foods. The more empty your stomach the better. (This is a hard one!) 
• Avoid consuming the same foods as you do when eating iron rich foods
• Consider a liquid iron supplement mixed with a fruit juice sipped through a straw. 
• Learn about the different types of supplements because they are not all created equal. Anemia.org has some great information. 

The Office of Dietary Supplements says," Meat proteins and vitamin C will improve the absorption of nonheme iron. Tannins (found in tea), calcium, polyphenols, and phytates (found in legumes and whole grains) can decrease absorption of nonheme iron. Some proteins found in soybeans also inhibit nonheme iron absorption. It is most important to include foods that enhance nonheme iron absorption when daily iron intake is less than recommended, when iron losses are high (which may occur with heavy menstrual losses), when iron requirements are high (as in pregnancy), and when only vegetarian nonheme sources of iron are consumed" Link to article 

Credit for pictures and info given to:
 HealthAliciousNess .com
Nutrition Simplified

Online Expectant Parent Education

I just found a site with loads of great info! Sutter Davis Hospital in Northern California has got it going on! Check out all of the Special fact sheets for new (every) mothers that this great hospital has to offer! I LOVE all of these 2 page fact sheets because they are based on scientific research. If I had to choose, my favorite topics in the prenatal section are:

Topic #2 Only Breast milk for the First Six Months Shares the scientific reasons of why this is important.
Topic #4: Possible Effects of Medications and Anesthesia
Topic #5: Early Skin to Skin Contact

Be sure to surf around this site if enjoy reading information published by this amazing hospital.
Expectant parent Eduction provided by Davis Hospital in Northern California
--links are bold and underlined

Reducing Infant Mortality Video

Reducing Infant Mortality from Debby Takikawa on Vimeo.

I found this beautiful video over at one of my favorite sites, Spinning Babies. Personally I have a hard time seeing infants who are struggling so the first 3ish minutes were not my favorite. Get through those and learn a wealth of information. Minute 9ish talks about the incredible positive impact of breastfeeding on avoiding infant mortality. Many awesome moments of breastfeeding mothers.
I did hesitate a little in sharing this clip. In the video, the births that had minimal interventions are by mothers that many would consider hippy-ish or too natural because they are often naked or birthing in a position other then on their back. Dress or birth in a position that is comfortable to you. Intervention free or natural does not mean naked. For the birth of our 4th child I choose to wear a tankini top because I did not want my ta-tas flopping around like they did in my 3rd birth.

Breastfeeding Star

This is so beautiful.  It is a breastfeeding commercial from the United Kingdom. It is wonderful that the creators of the commercial choose a mother that is still choosing to breastfeed her daughter who is over a year old.  So few families are aware of the amazing benefits for both mom and baby of breastfeeding beyond a year. It is so sweet how her daughter pats her at the end.  I love it when Elle does that.

breastfeeding twins

This is an incredible picture of a mom nursing twins. Notice how she is sitting back and relaxed with the babies on her tummy, parallel to her. See how the babies noses are made just so that that can breath perfectly, not having their noses lost in their mother's rather large breasts. Nothing fancy needed. Perfection! (link to Blisstree, where I found this great picture!)

I love how intently these babies are looking at their mother. Again, no pillow. Do you see the baby on the bottom of the pictures toe behind his mother's back? Awesome!

This picture is from a mom blogger at Raising Twins <;--link

What your baby's poop is trying to tell you

The color of poop. What the heck does it mean?? Click here for and education on what your baby's poop is trying to tell you. Dr Jay Gordon enlightens us.

Baby slings