Time and time again you hear about women being humiliated in public when they are simply trying to feed their child. It’s amazing that this still happens when you consider the facts about Breastfeeding:

* The World Health Organization recommends that Breastfeeding should be “on cue” and start without just hours of the baby’s birth.

* The World Health Organization recommends that bottles and artificial nipples/pacifiers be avoided if at all possible.

* The World Health Organization recommends that breastfeeding should be exclusive for at least six months of life and up to and beyond two years.

* Doctors agree that in most cases, even in countries with starving populations that breast milk is the very best food for infants and babies.

* Doctors agree that Breastfeeding provides important immunity to your child and that it can offer lifelong protection to your child for things like type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and even makes your child smarter!

Even if these things don’t impress you, the fact is, breastfeeding saves a lot of money and is better for the environment. Less container waste, and of course, it’s free. Financially, you can’t ask for a better deal when it comes to natural family living. Face it, many of the things you do to create a more natural environment for your family costs extra money, but breastfeeding doesn’t!

But, the problems you may experience from the attitudes of society may interfere with the joy and pride you take in doing good things for your family. You may find it difficult to breastfeeding in public.

Face it, not all babies like their heads being covered with a blanket. But there are ways to breastfeed in public that won’t embarrass you, and ways you can respond to people who are uneducated.

1. Wear a shirt without buttons, if you just lift it up the baby will cover your body more than when you unbutton a shirt. Many babies can breastfeed comfortably in a sling if you wear a shirt that lifts up.

2. Keep breastfeeding literature with you and give it to anyone who complains.

3. Don’t let others tell you what is right and wrong for you and your child. Stand up for yourself and others who may be too shy to do it for themselves.

4. In most states breastfeeding is a legally protected right.

5. Don’t stress. If you just breastfeed without worrying and ignore the comments, if any should come, and “just do it” as they say, you’ll find that most people don’t even notice.

6. Practice makes perfect! Believe it or not, the more you do it, the easier it will get and the less you will care one bit what others say!

7. Laugh! You know, sometimes things happen. You may accidentally expose yourself. It does happen. Sometimes a nosy busybody will make a comment, better to just laugh it off.  The fact is, this is what breasts are made for, and the over-sexualization of women’s bodies is a relatively new phenomenon and if boobs out-to-here, are okay for movie posters, your breastfeeding your baby in public isn’t scandalous.

Looking for a lace nursing bra that combines pretty with practicality? Look no further than the
Bravado Sublime Soft Cup Nursing Bra.

It features stretchy lace with a cotton lining for comfort. Available in gorgeous colors too: vanilla, chai, black cherry and purple. No more boring white and beige!

Bravado bras are some of the more popular nursing bras among moms. See more:

* Bravado Exquisite

* Bravado Sugar & Spice Microfiber Nursing Bra

This latest nursing bra by Glamourmom looks like the best of all worlds: design, comfort and no frills. It has no underwire, the style preferred by many nursing moms. It is slightly padded – just enough to prevent the dreaded headlight effect but not enough to add extra bulk. Features an easy one hand open and comes in two colors: beige and black. Also great is the low cut design. A lot of nursing bras will show in a v-neck shirt or lower cut dress, but not this one.

Find the Glamourmom Mpress Microfiber Lace Nursing Bra here.

More from Glamourmom:

* Glamourmom nursing tank

When I first wore the Amon nursing bra, I wasn’t pregnant and my nursing child was nearly weaned.

I loved it then, and I especially love it now that I am pregnant again.

The Amon nursing bra is quite simply the most comfortable bra I’ve ever worn – nursing or no.

When I’m pregnant I find that my skin is especially sensitive. My clothing leaves marks on my skin and almost “hurts”, especially when I’m sleeping.  (If I could go around naked all the time while pregnant, I would!) The Amon bra doesn’t bother me at all and is comfy even for nighttime wear.

I find it to be quite stretchy to accommodate my changing size as my pregnancy progresses. This is also a huge plus during nursing since the breasts change size and shape during the day and as the weeks pass.

Since the bra has a lot of give, it wouldn’t be a good choice for a sports bra. But for every day wear it’s perfect and the price is reasonable – around $15.

I also treated myself to a pair of Amon maternity briefs (panties and they are super comfortable as well.

Many underwear seem to irritate me when I’m expecting. The elastic digs into my skin and leaves marks, but these don’t do that. They feel light, stretchy and soft.

They also create a nice silhouette under your clothing. Some maternity underwear create lines that are noticeable but not these.

Amon maternity briefs come up over the belly which is nice once you’re nearing your third trimester. They give just a touch of support to your expanding belly.

Amon also has a belly support band to use during pregnancy and a postpartum shaper brief for afterwards.

Amon Maternity and Nursing products are available on amazon.com

Alternative Birthing Methods

photo credit: eyeliam

A birthing method is considered “alternative” if it deviates from what is considered the norm in most modern cultures: a laboring woman enters the hospital, where the staff takes her in as a patient, monitors the birth, and the doctor performs the delivery. Alternative birthing methods include home births, water births, hypnobirths, and others. Here are some of the alternative ways of bringing baby to birth that parents are choosing.

Bradley Birth

This method of birthing is also called husband (or partner)-coached childbirth. This is because the Bradley method, which was developed by an OB named Robert Bradley in the late 40s, involves the whole family in the preparation and process. Bradley students are taught the importance of nutrition, exercise, breastfeeding, and other pre-natal and post-natal health issues, and the husband  is included in the education.

Bradley students learn about how to communicate with their health care providers and hospital staff, and the post-partum period is also discussed. The Bradley method emphasizes a medication- and intervention-free delivery.

The Bradley method can be practiced at home or in the hospital. The husband/partner assists in the birth.

HypnoBirth

Self-hypnosis methods have been developed to help some women overcome the pain of labor. In fact, moms who choose this method may not even seem to be in labor at all! Hypnosis is the power of suggestion, and practitioners learn to tap into the woman’s subconscious where they can make use of this power. Like the Bradley method, hypnobirth can be practiced just about anywhere a woman is in labor. To prepare, expectant mothers work with a professional instructor to learn the technique.

Lamaze

Often depicted on television or in movies as “natural” childbirth, Lamaze emphasizes breathing and relaxation techniques. By controlling her breathing, learning to relax and changing her body’s position at certain points during the labor, the mom-to-be is said to gain control of the labor and experience less pain. Lamaze is a form of natural childbirth which emphasizes minimal interventions and medications, as well as the mother’s comfort and ability to move around.

Water Birth

Laboring and giving birth in a tub of warm water is said to help relieve the pain of labor and help women relax. A true water birth means the baby is born in the water, but some women will use water off and on during their labor and delivery. Water births can take place at home or in a birth center.

Home Birth

Giving birth at home is something more and more women are choosing. If you are having an uneventful, uncomplicated, low-risk pregnancy, giving birth at home with a midwife can be a very positive experience for women who prefer familiar surroundings.

What is the advantage of these alternative birthing choices? For one, ease of breastfeeding initiation. Babies born to mothers who are active and involved in their births nurse quicker and more easily, typically. When mom has been exposed to painkilling drugs in labor, baby is often affected in a way that makes the early breastfeeding experience difficult. Preparing for breastfeeding begins with birth!

Now that your breastfed baby is older, it’s time to start adding some solid foods to her diet.

Making your own baby food isn’t as hard as it sounds. It’s a lot more economical than buying the jarred stuff. It’s also a great way to give your baby the best, freshest food possible, that’s free of additives, fillers, artificial colors and flavors, and other questionable ingredients that are in some baby foods.

Here are five healthy,easy baby food recipes to start with.

5 Easy Healthy Baby Food Recipes

1. Raw fruit

This is an easy one. Simply peel soft, ripe fruits like peaches, pears, bananas, plums, and melon and mash them with a fork or run them through a blender or food processor. Babies love the taste of pure fruit without added sugar. Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays, then pop one or two cubes out, thaw, and serve. This method of preservation works for nearly all home-made baby foods.

2. Whole grain brown rice cereal

In a grain grinder or blender, grind 1/4 cup organic brown rice until it is a flour-like consistency. To prepare, bring 1 cup of water to a boil and whisk in the brown rice “flour.” Simmer gently for about 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently. Cool and flavor the hot cereal with a couple of frozen fruit puree cubes described above. You can also stir in a little breastmilk for flavor, nutrition, and consistency. You can substitute ground, rolled oats for the brown rice for variation. Note: Be careful when introducing grains to your baby, as they can be very constipating. Start with extremely small portions diluted with breastmilk, and watch carefully for any reactions.

3. Yogurt

Full of probiotics (“good” bacteria), yogurt is a wonderful baby food. You can make your own in a crockpot, flavor it however you like, and save a lot of money! You will need:

- 2 quarts of organic, non-ultra pasteurized milk
- 1/2 cup plain, organic yogurt already prepared (you can use some from a previous batch of your own, or a commercial brand)
- thick bath towels

Set your crockpot on low. Pour in the milk, cover, and leave it for 2 1/2 hours. Turn off/unplug the crockpot. Leave the milk mixture in it for 3 hours. Then, stir in the 1/2 cup of prepared yogurt and cover. Wrap the crockpot in thick bath towels – be sure to cover the top and sides. Leave 8-9 hours (overnight). In the morning, the milk will have thickened and you have yogurt! Mix with the organic, mashed/pureed fruit of your choice.

4. Applesauce

This is one product that often contains a lot of added sugar and/or preservatives when purchased from a store. Here is a simple way to make applesauce for your baby.

Core and coarsely chop and peel as many apples as you like (you will get about 1/4 cup of applesauce per apple). Put chopped apple into a steamer basket and steam for 10 minutes or until tender. Press the soft apples through a sieve or run them through a food mill. This gets some of the nutrients from the peels into the applesauce.

5. Chicken and vegetable soup

Great for an older baby who is eating a variety of foods, this is a good way to get a lot of nutrients in one meal. You will need:

- 1 large chicken breast, bone-in
- 2-3 cups pure water
- pinch of salt
- pinch of poultry seasoning and/or bay leaf
- 3/4 cup of mixed veggies, such as peas, green beans, or carrots

Simmer all ingredients in a saucepan for 20-30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and chicken is cooked through. (You could do this in a crockpot or pressure cooker, too.) Remove the chicken from the bones; discard bones. Chop, mash and/or puree the chicken and vegetables and serve warm.

photo credit: tanjila

Stages of Labor – What to Expect

Labor is usually broken down into stages. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with these stages so you’ll know what’s going on and what to expect. This helps prevent fear or panic from taking over. So here are some tips on what to expect during each stage.

Stage One: Contractions and Dilation

During this first stage, you will experience regular contractions that are moderate in strength. They may feel like great pressure across your abdomen, or like an over-sized menstrual cramp or ache. In the beginning of your labor, contractions will usually subside in less than 30 seconds, and come every 5 to 10 minutes. As you get closer to delivering your baby, they come closer together and last closer to a minute in length. The sign that you’re really in labor is the strength and regularity of the contractions. False labor doesn’t have this pattern.

What’s going on is this: each contraction thins and opens the cervix (the opening between the mouth of the womb and the vagina) a little bit more. This is known as dilation. Your healthcare provider may measure the progress of the dilation with an internal exam, and once the cervix is fully dilated, the second stage begins.

Stage Two: Transition

Somewhere between Stage One and Stage Two is a phase known as transition, and this usually marks the beginning of Stage Two. There may be an actual pause in contractions toward the end of transition, where the labor seems to “stall” for a moment. You may feel giddy or feel like crying and laughing at the same time. You may feel shaky or nauseated. Some women vomit at this time. Some need a change in scenery, position or temperature (such as feeling too warm suddenly).

Transition is an intense time, and your body kicks in with all kinds of “feel good” hormones and chemicals like endorphins. If you are having an unmedicated labor, transition is often when your labor takes on a dream-like state and you may not remember all of what happens afterward. Some women cry, “gush” over their partners, or let go of fears they had during their pregnancies in a cascade of tears. This is often a necessary process before the woman can “let go” of the baby and bring her into the world.

Stage Two labor involves stronger contractions that come closer together. Your cervix dilates rather rapidly, and your contractions require your full attention now. You may not be able to talk or have anyone else talking during them. The contractions last around one minute each, which is much longer than the shorter contractions of Stage One labor. This stage usually lasts anywhere from 4 to 8 hours, but for a mom who has had a baby or two naturally already, it can take just minutes.

Stage Three: Descent

Sometimes, babies begin to descend during Stage Two. Otherwise, Stage Three is when the baby begins to descend into the birth canal. The stage has been set: the cervix is dilated to allow the baby’s head to come through; the contractions are strong and forceful; and now you will begin to feel the urge to push. Pushing may help relieve the pressure and pain of the contractions too, and they will feel more “productive” now instead of passive endurance.

Interestingly, the contractions often back off a bit at this point, and there may be a longer resting time between each one. If you’ve had an epidural, you may not feel as much urge to push, and may need to be coached to pushed with each contraction. In a non-medicated labor, sometimes women are advised to hold off pushing if it’s early in labor that they get the urge, because it can cause exhaustion if pushing is begun too early. Some moms actually fall asleep in the minutes between contractions to get some much needed rest!

Stage Three ends with the delivery of your baby. A normal birth starts with his or her head, then shoulders, then the rest of the body – and finally with the passing of the placenta. After your baby is born and you’re busy marveling at him or her, your uterus will contract again (you may not even notice). After a few minutes, the placenta separates from the uterine wall and, perhaps with a little push from you, passes out of the vagina. You will probably barely feel it, because in comparison to the baby, it’s small and easy to deliver!

photo credit: jaimekop

Organic Sleep Sac
Where to buy: www.ourgreenhouse.com

If you are looking for a special gift for a baby that every mother-to-be will absolutely adore, check out the Organic Sleep Sac. The sleep sac is made from high-quality 100% organic cotton with a 2 layer knit, which is soft and super comfortable to wear. The peapod shape keeps your baby’s legs free to kick and move around while sleeping and will keep the baby cozy and warm during nap and night time. A sleep sac is safer than using blankets because baby can’t get tangled in them and choke.

The sleep sac comes in two different designs. One is a white sac with a red trim at the neck and arm holes as well as a beautiful red whale design on the front. The other design is very colorful – a bright orange sac with a green trim on neck and arm hole as well as a bright green apple emblem on the front. The sac itself has an upside down zipper, which is a great feature as you can easily change your baby’s diaper without taken them out of the coziness of the sac.

The sac was designed by moms for moms and is made in the USA.  To see more organic baby products, visit Our Green House.

As a nursing mom, there will undoubtedly be times when you will have to be away from your baby. Perhaps it will only be for a short period of time, such as when you go on a date with your husband. Sometimes you might have to be away from baby for a longer period, such as if  you have to travel on business and cannot take your baby along. Or there is a medical procedure that you must have, that will make it impossible for you to breastfeed for awhile.

This doesn’t have to mean weaning, however.

If you are a nursing mom, there are some extra steps you can take to ensure you and your baby cope well with this change in schedule.

This means stocking up on milk to nourish your baby while you’re away, keeping up your milk supply and remembering a few comfort techniques for yourself.

Here are a few tips for moms who have to leave their nursing baby.

1) Store Milk for Baby

Depending on how long you’ll be gone, you’ll want to begin pumping extra milk a few times a day to be stored and used to feed your baby while you’re away. This might take a couple of weeks, depending on how much your baby eats, how often you pump and how accustomed you are to pumping. Pumping is definitely a learned art. Don’t be discouraged if you get little or no milk at first.

Many moms find that it’s easiest to pump extra milk in the morning when their supply is higher, or after a nap. (Typically a woman has more milk after a period of sleep.) You could also nurse baby on one side and pump on the other with a high quality hand held pump. The familiar sensation of baby’s nursing makes the milk flow more easily, and you’ll often get more milk.

Store your milk in freezer-safe containers that the babysitter or another family member can pull out and warm for baby when he or she is hungry.

If your baby is not used to bottle feeding, it’s a good idea to introduce the bottle to him or her before leaving. It usually works best if someone else offers the bottle, not you, as baby will often reject a bottle when your breasts are nearby. Some babies are so sensitive, they won’t bottle feed if mom is in the house, so consider running an errand the first time your baby’s caregiver attempts this.

You can also leave behind an article of clothing of yours, such as a shirt or nightgown, to remind baby of your smell while feeding.

2) Keep Up Your Milk Supply

While away, it is important to keep up your milk supply if you plan on nursing your baby when you get back. To do this, you’ll need to find a pump that works well for you. It may be a hand pump, electric pump or by hand expressing your milk. You’ll want to pump as often as your baby usually nurses, if possible. (If you can’t manage this, shoot for every 4 hours and once at night.)

As long as milk is being taken out of your breasts, your body will believe it is still nursing and continue to produce milk on a regular basis.

Many women find it helpful to take along a picture of their baby to look at while pumping or a blanket that has their smell. It is a good idea to use the same blanket during a couple of feedings before leaving and take this with you. You might want to wear nursing pads throughout the day to catch any leaking that may occur.

3) Comfort Techniques

Not being able to nurse as frequently can cause painful engorgement for some women. The breasts feel sore, tender and hard in some areas.

Pumping the milk out can help out tremendously, but you may still want to employ some comfort techniques for your own benefit.

Take a warm compress, such as a hand towel moist with warm water and place on your breasts. After a few minutes of direct heat, gently massage the lumps in your breasts. This will help the milk flow easier and is a good time to pump some milk out.

After massaging the breasts, a cold pack might help reduce discomfort and pain. A hot or cold shower can replace the hot or cold packs if you wish.

It may not be easy when a mom has to leave her nursing baby, but hopefully with these tips you’ll be as comfortable as possible and resume a happy breastfeeding relationship once you and baby are reunited!

photo credit: Daquella manera

One of the best things a woman can do when pregnant and planning to breastfeed their baby is read breastfeeding books.

Many of these will teach correct technique and positioning, and if a mom can get those right from the get-go, she can avoid most of the challenges moms face while nursing.

Breastfeeding books also explain normal breastfed baby behavior. A woman who has never nursed a baby may not realize how often new babies need to nurse. She may mistakenly assume that breastfed babies act like the formula fed babies she’s observed (they probably won’t).

Another great thing about having breastfeeding books on the bookshelf: When mom does experience some challenge, getting answers is as easy as grabbing the book, turning to the index, and reading.

Some moms are shy about seeking help from a breastfeeding counselor, and may not have the money or adequate insurance to hire a Lactation Consultant. But they can often solve problems on their own with a little good information from an expert.

Here are some of the best breastfeeding books available.

• Amy Spangler’s Breastfeeding: A Parent’s Guide- Amy is a mother, author, nurse, board certified lactation consultant and the author of several very good books on breastfeeding including Breastfeeding, Keep it Simple, which is a personal favorite.I interviewed Amy Spangler a couple of years ago and you can read the transcript of that conversation here. Her expertise clearly shines through in her books and I highly recommend them for any breastfeeding mom who wants good information.
• La Leche League International’s Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. This one is considered the breastfeeding “Bible” by many. Seriously, reading it is like having tea with a very experienced older, wiser mom friend. Its tone is very warm, and it touches on many aspects of mothering, such as discipline and nutrition, not just breastfeeding.This is seriously a must have book for any breastfeeding mom. It is an invaluable source of advice for the first couple of years of baby’s life. One of my favorite things about the book are the many stories from different moms. Instead of having just one “voice”, one source of advice, you’re getting the collective wisdom of hundreds or thousands of moms in the book.You can read another review of the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding here.

What was your favorite breastfeeding book? Do you give a new mom a breastfeeding book as a baby shower gift?