Wednesday Wow: Get Milked! (Increasing Mom’s Flow during COVID-19)

I’m hearing many moms are having problems with her breastmilk flow. I can understand how only how stressful these times can be for any new breastfeeding mom. So instead of answering each of you one on one, I have put together this collection of solutions. These are a few strategies I’ve used with six of my nine babies. COVID-19 will not stop your milk flow! Let me know how these work for you.

1. Stay hydrated.

Try to drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day. Or a good lactation tea. I’ll share the recipe further down in this post.

2. Eat a well-balanced diet.

Breastfeeding moms need an extra ~500 calories per day. Choose nutritious food that give you energy, such as protein-rich foods like oatmeal, adding flaxseed meal or  brewer’s yeast smoothies or yogurt, eggs, and veggies.

3. Don’t forget your vitamins!

Continue to take your prenatal vitamins. They have calcium, Vitamin D, Iron, Folic Acid -important vitamins and minerals.

4. Nurse often and follow your baby’s lead.

Nursing babies do not follow a schedule, they set it. So, try to go with the (milk) flow and feed on demand. Which means that every time your baby is hungry, you feed them. This certainly is not always possible, especially for moms who work outside the home. Which can be demanding but definitely worth the effort.

5. Let baby feed fully on each side.

Milk production is a demand-supply system so the more often baby feeds, the more milk production occurs. When your breast is fully empty, it sends a message to your brain to produce more milk. Added bonus, when you baby completely empties a breast, they are sure to get all the fore milk and fatty hind milk behind it, which is great for their development.:)

6. Bake lactation cookies.

Some women find that lactation cookies help—and even if they don’t, it’s still a good healthy treat ! You can bake some at home and modify the ingredients to your liking or buy pre-made cookies. (click here for recipe.)

7. Brew lactation teas.

Do you like to drink? Tea, that is! If so, you may want to try out lactation teas  You have to love a strong to tea to see results. So if it’s something you can do – go for it.

Recipe:

Make Your Own Lactation Tea

1. Mix two parts whole fennel seeds with one part whole fenugreek seeds.
2. Store in a small airtight jar.
3. Add half a teaspoon of tea to one litre of boiling water and sip warm throughout the day. …
4. Ideally, make the tea in a thermos in the morning and keep it by your feeding chair for up to six hours.

8. Take Galactogogues supplements.

Galactogogues like Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, and Brewer’s Yeast are herbal based supplements that can be taken separately or in a combo formulation. We have been growing these herbs on our urban farm for three years now. But most vitamin stores carry them as well.

9. Use a breast pump.

Pumps feels odd at first, but they work too! Use one to ensure your breast are empty after feeding. You should also use it when away from your baby to keep your milk flow up.

Many times moms feel like failures if she can’t nurse her baby. That isn’t the case. As long as your baby is being fed and growing you’re doing a good job. Some women have insufficient glandular tissue, chronic issues like PCOS, milk production issues, or other factors making breastfeeding very difficult or not possible. As a doula and fellow mom, I support you.

Here’s Cassie Sweetz page to order some lactation treats. (Click here)

Mother’s Day 2020

This Mother’s Day, get your mind together and prepare for a celebration of symbolic joy. If you are like me, you are expecting a heartfelt, mindful, and Earth friendly celebration of all the hard work you’ve done for your children since last year.

This list does NOT include Walmart, Amazon, or Target.

Here’s four amazing and local gifts that make awesome Mother’s Day gifts for any mom.

A shaper- It’s confidence in a garment. Super great for new moms and those currently in a fitness journey. Every mom wants o feel as attractive as the moment she made you. Even if she hasn’t said it. A shaper could even be a gift for you. Mom whole life will get pulled together in three minutes or less. Here’s me in mines. ‘Yes, I’m feeling myself!’ My husband and kids love to see me dress up with this under my clothes. I can also say that it feels great on my back. Mom can wear this all day long! It won’t go anywhere . And to push you to buying, here my personal shopper code!

1. 2. A book –

• Not just any book but a collection of thoughts that encourage, guide and inspire your mom to be an even better human. We so often get stuck just being your mom. Other loose sight of what’s important. This collection of books will help her gain and keep focus of what most important and strategically guide her to achieving her goals.

Get 3 Books for $33 (includes shipping)
*Plus 2 BONUS digital PDFs

52 for Christianpreneurs
30-Day SMART Goal Planner The Face of Civility!
CLICK HERE TO ORDER.

Live plants! Cut flowers die. Succulents are known to reduce 5G emission. These custom gifts are perfect because they not only clean the air, lasts forever*, but are so beautiful and relaxing to look at. They are created right after the order is received and shipped out immediately. (See them here on QC supermom page)

4. A hot home cooked meal, or desert. I promise you it does have to be elaborate but take your time and do your very best. We ultimately want a peaceful day with our sweet babies. No silly fights or messes to clean up. Just loving, peaceful vibes. Need Ideas? Try my Pinterest page. (or here )

• I have over 12k users visits each month. It’s a fun collection of things to choose from. I’m on assignment. And my kids know it. Each year they get an opportunity to assess how I perform as a mom based on very specific questions. This year a few of my older kids helped create this questionnaire for my younger four boys. It should be interesting to see what they think of my mothering swag over the past 12 months. #MOMReview . Want to take it with your children? Click that link —> https://forms.gle/aEwc5k9xHLkSqAbP6…

End Of Life Doula

“The main facts in human life are five: birth, food, sleep, love and death.” ~ E. M. Forster

Everyone loves to see and hear about a successful birth. It’s an anticipation that everyone looks forward to celebrating. Death on the other hand, can be so hard to discuss. It’s scary and energy absorbing. But it’s a journey no one can escape. And my cultural history says that it is a event that too should be celebrated. For me it make sense to extend my current doula practice from birth to the grave as an end of life doula.

In 2016, I lost my first doula baby. I was not prepared for that at all. I know I didn’t provide that family with the full support they needed. I was hurt too. I did workouts with the mom, food prep, slumber parties with the couple, runs to the er, – everything. But when we found out the heart beat wasn’t there, I as a mother of nine, could not relate. I didn’t think to begin planning for the baby’s final moments, memory keeping, and offering to call their specific loved ones. I could only offer prayer of endurance, restorative meals and light house work.

A more formal name is given for this work. It’s called “end-of-life, or death, doula” — a professional who provides non-medical care-giving services to people who are dying and to their families. Some doulas have private practices, and others work in connection with hospices, hospitals and community organizations.

In 2018, I did my first hospice job. It happened by chance. I was helping out one of my sons teammates mom. She had a family business of private care. That particular weekend her entire staff was unavailable. I offered to help her if she would help me with the boys busy game weekend. Mannnnnnn, it was an experience. What I provided was called ‘active dying care’. It’s the time-frame of three days before the last breath. (typically) . The German husband was in his 90’s. His wife was micro managing and the adult son wanted very little hands on responsibilities. So for 36 hours straight, I swabbed, sung, fed, and monitored this man. For 36 hours, I answered the stressed out wives question about near death signals and observations. For thirty-six hours, I stayed awake and prayed that my presence brought him comfort and peace, and to his wife a glimpse of assurance, rest and a sense of control. The husband had already outlined his final wishes so I didn’t need to go over that part. But if needed, I would have took out my resource bank.

Hospice- “They figure out with the family where they are at, what do they need, what’s causing them to become overwhelmed, what kind of services are they looking for,” says registered nurse Merilynne Rush, a practicing doula for 10 years and co-owner of the Lifespan Doula Association. “Different doulas offer different kinds of services.”

Many people don’t know that in 2005, I lost my 11 year old daughter. She transitioned on my birthday after a very long and overwhelming illness. Then less than two years later, my mom followed. Her process was much different from my daughters. That was my best friend I had to say goodbye to. It was tough. Yet nothing in comparison to January 2020 when my dad passed. I was named after him. My sisters and I made sure he didn’t suffer needlessly. To this day, nursing homes, rehab centers, and even the funeral home speaks well of how we took great care of our dad and his business. It wasn’t easy, but it was what we had to do. I want to make this process easy for others like my dad and their families.

As an instructor, I’ve been supporting families to become their own best advocates and successfully navigate various social and basic human rights systems for the past 17 years as a full service doula, home-school educator, nonprofit associate, author and entrepreneur. I’ve trained over 300 people to become doulas and has been training end-of-life doulas since 2019.

My goal is to make death better for the dying and their family. To make it less overwhelming and more prepared for like birth.

Note:

Hospice is reserved for when curative treatments have been exhausted and patients have less than six months to live. Palliative care, on the other hand, is a team-based medical specialty focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness — care that you can get at any age and at any stage of your illness.