Archive for Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding for Working Moms
As a mom who went back to work only 2 months after my first son was born, I understand the difficult balance of trying to make a living and wanting to give your baby the gift of breast milk—liquid gold, as it is often called. There have already been many articles written about the benefits of breastfeeding and it is widely acknowledged, even by the infant formula industry, that you can’t synthesize the ingredients in breast milk that make it so invaluable to our babies health and development. Moms (and dads) often find themselves in the difficult position of having to decide the best way to care for their children AND make ends meet. [...]
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New Report Confirms “Breast is Best”
I was pleasantly surprised this week to see ABC News reporting that a new study confirms that babies who are solely breastfed for the first 6 months of life can ward off ailments, including diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome, childhood leukemia and stomach viruses. Breast milk is rich in antibodies that boost immunity and can help regulate insulin levels to prevent childhood diabetes. The study in this week’s Pediatrics Journal reads, “The United States incurs $13 billion in excess costs annually and suffers 911 preventable deaths per year because our breastfeeding rates fall far below medical recommendations.” [...]
What is a Doula?
This wonderful article was written by my cousin’s wife, Hannah Reasoner, who is a doula in Ft. Worth, TX. Check out her blog for more information.
A doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth. She understands the physiology of birth and the needs of a laboring woman.
The role of the birth doula greatly depends on the woman and family for whom she is providing care. The doula’s main purpose is to be a friend, a mentor, and a helper to the mother, as well as a support to her partner and/or family. If the mother chooses a doula in the early stages of pregnancy, the doula can help to provide information and education for several months leading up to the birth. This can also help the mother and family build an established, comfortable, and trusting relationship with the doula. [...]
