Breastfeeding

You may have heard that pumpkin is good for nursing mamas because of its ability to help increase milk production. Well, good news — it does. Pumpkin is considered a galactagogue — or lactagogue — which is a food or drug that increases a mother's…

Thanksgiving with an infant is a totally new experience. Before the baby, all you thought about on turkey day was what you were going to eat and the weirdly personal questions your Great-Aunt Ethel would ask you. Now, there are all kinds of other…

For plenty of moms, exclusively breastfeeding is a coveted and important parenting goal, to the point that it can be romanticized to a ridiculous and often damaging degree. While it's recommended for the first six months of a baby's life, and there…

In seven years of parenting, weaning remains one of the hardest challenges I've faced. I never had any second thoughts about whether I was doing what was best for me and, ultimately, my family, but that doesn't mean there weren't moments when I…

Tons of breastfeeding moms will probably tell you that nursing and fashion don't really mix. Much of your wardrobe gets banished to the back of your closet, because trying to breastfeed in certain types of tops and dresses just doesn't work. If…

Based on personal experience, once someone becomes a parent, everything changes. Not only have your everyday routine and priorities been shifted significantly, but your entire outlook on life has been altered. Because suddenly, you're responsible…

It's been more than two years since I last nursed my youngest child and I'm still talking about breastfeeding. Personally and professionally, nursing continues to be a topic of interest and discussion for me, even though I no longer have skin in the…

For many new moms, deciding to breastfeed is the easy part. The rest of it, however, is much more challenging. As any parent can tell you, even the best laid plans don't always work out in a reality filled with barriers to breastfeeding. That…

Breastfeeding has a multitude of benefits and not only for the baby. Breastfeeding parents can gain a lot of benefits, including a reduction in breast cancer risk. According to new research, though, many new moms aren't learning about breastfeeding…

Even for women who badly want to breastfeed, there can be a slew of obstacles, from mastitis to latch issues. For Meghan Wooldridge, mother of three, the breastfeeding itself seemed to be going okay, but something else was going on. “It took…

As a new mom I felt constantly judged, and there wasn't a single parenting choice more contentious than how I fed my baby. I've breastfed, formula-fed, and combo-fed, pumped at work, and used bottles and a supplemental nursing system to feed my…

The best parents on the planet are those parents who don’t actually have children yet. The ones that think it’s so easy to just go to a restaurant and keep the kids quiet and not spill drinks and destroy the Sweet and Low packets. Those parents are…

It seems like every day there's a new study telling you what you can and cannot eat and drink while you're breastfeeding. One day you're told you should drink a pint of Guinness each night to spur on your supply, and the very next day you're told…

Breast milk is funny. First of all: why do we feel the need to call it "breast milk" in order to differentiate it from, say, cow's milk? Why don't we call it "human milk" or just plain old "milk" and rely on context? And why are we, as a society, so…

Did you know that pumpkin can actually be good for breastfeeding? It's true: Everybody's favorite spooky squash has been shown to boost milk production in nursing moms. So why not take advantage of this little known fact and indulge in everything…

Many new parents often face a variety of challenges, especially regarding feeding decisions. While some people are shamed for breastfeeding in public, for instance, others receive hate for bottle-feeding. And if you fall into this latter category,…

People sometimes think of breastfeeding as only necessary to feed babies, but there are other benefits that often go undiscussed. The full potential of breast milk is continuing to be discovered. A new study is highlighting yet another benefit of…

If you've ever had to hook yourself up to a double electric breast pump, then you probably know it's not exactly the most enjoyable task on earth. But if you're a breastfeeding mama who can't always be there to feed your baby directly (or even if…

Breastfeeding hunger is real. Moms don't just "get a little hungry," you get hangry, and Heaven help anyone who comes between you and your snack. You've likely found yourself brushing crumbs off your baby's sleeping form more than once, or as they…

If you're pregnant or new mom, you've probably heard about the many ways breastfeeding can benefit your baby. You might be surprised to learn, however, that you can benefit from nursing, too. In fact, there are more than a few mental health benefits…