Breastfeeding Starter Kit

Yippee! It’s World Breast Feeding Week! This year,my daughter will be sharing her amazing Breastfeeding Starter Kit  with local mom at the BIG Latch On!

Here’s how I celebrated it last week  (click here!) This year should be amazing!Here in Charlotte, it’s such a little community of like minded mamas here and it’s getting more and more connected with every event. I love it!!!-  shared byShelly Bloser Boyce

“CLC and runs the local normalize breastfeeding group here in Charlotte. Less impressive, but I’ve nursed my one child. It was really freaking hard and worth every tear”. Shelly

In spite of my husband saying “all you have to do is pop the tit out and give it to the baby. No complicated procedure there.” Thank God all men do not think like him.

For those that really need help with increasing you milk supply keep reading.

Nursing Pads-When you begin nursing a baby you quickly figure out that you need nursing pads to protect your clothing (and pride!) from leaks. There are some good disposable ones, but most are scratchy and uncomfortable, and if you use them as much as I did with my first baby – you end up spending a fortune. The reusable fabric ones are therefore a Godsend

Here, try to make it your self. I found an excellent tutorial by DIY Materintiy

Lactation Cookies–It’s a sweet snack full of goodies thought to help breastfeeding mamas keep up their milk supply and produce more nutritious milk. Do they really work? Well I think so. I have used them  while nursing six of my nine babies and my daughter uses them for her clients. This recipe is a tried, true:

Lactation Cookie

Prep Time:15 Min Cook Time:35 Min Total Time:50 Min

Serves 20

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or coconut oil at room temp (coconut oil will make the cookies dairy free)
• 1/2 cup flax seed meal
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup coconut flour
• 3 cups oat flour
• 2 cups rolled gluten free oats
• 1 bag dark chocolate chips (look for aa high cocoa percentage to keep the chips dairy & soy free)
• 2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast Flakes (or Brewers Yeast – type will dictate if it is gluten free or not)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 9 x 13 pan

Instructions

• Preheat oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit
• Mix flax seed meal in the water and set aside for 3-5 minutes.
• Cream coconut oil (or butter) and sugar.
• Add flax seed mixture and nutritional yeast flakes. Mix until light and fluffy.
• Add coconut and oat flour and mix well.
• Add baking soda, salt & rolled oats. Mix well.
• Add chocolate chips and mix well.
• If your mixture seems dry add in a little more water a tablespoon or two at a time.
• Spread evenly in a 9×13 pan and bake at 325 for 30-40m minutes.
• The edges should be golden brown and the middle should be set.
• Let cool (if you can resist the urge to cut into them right away) and cut into bars.
• Enjoy!

Lactation Tea-It’s is a mild galactagogue (a substance that can be used to increase milk supply). Its main milk-boosting ingredient is fenugreek, an slightly bitter-tasting. Some moms find that sipping a few cups of this tea a day is an easy way to help their bodies make more milk. Some drink it hot, some drink it iced, and some mix it with milk or  apple juice. Another bonus is that the tea bad (if used is good for sore nipples- just insert your nursing pad to avoid staining your shirt.)  

Shopping List-

Guess What?  your milk will probably be just right for your baby regardless of what you eat. Your body knows exactly what nutrition your baby needs at every stage of development.But eating healthy  while nursing builds a stronger body and has incredible results long term.

Order your Lactation treats and tea from Cassie’s Sweetz.

Win a  vegan Smash Cake*here!

If you are in Charlotte this weekend, visit Cassie’s Sweetz at the Big Latch On at Baby & Co. this Saturday from 10am- 1pm. She will have Breastfeeding Starter Kits available for sale.

Details? Click the image below. See You There!

Smash Cakes: Because your Baby is the King/Queen Of All Babies!

Nine babies and I only had 2 smash cakes! What was I thinking of? They are so cute, fun, and just plain smart!

I know a great vegan baker in Charlotte NC. See Cassie Sweetz

Who wants a cake a lil hand all over their cake? REALLY??? Lil Mikey can be the cutest thing since Kermit the Frog, but uuugh, I’ll pass on the booger laced slime delight.

A smash cake is typically given to the birthday child at the first birthday celebration and is to be smashed, smeared, enjoyed and eaten by the birthday boy or birthday girl (remember to take lots of photos for the album!). Increasingly, people are making two cakes for the 1st birthday party: a smash cake and the main decorated birthday cake. The birthday guest of honor gets to have fun with the smash cake while the main birthday cake can be enjoyed by the guests, untouched by little hands.

There are several ways to create a first birthday smash cake. A smash cake is usually a mini cake that matches the party theme, however any cake will do. The smash cake can be as simple as a vanilla cupcake (a giant cupcake is perfect) or as complex as a smaller version of the main cake. The possibilities are endless!

Remember to remove any cookie sticks, decorative pix or candles before you serve the smash cake and be sure to spread newspapers under your child’s chair to catch the mess!

Order it from Cassie’s Sweetz or make it your self! Or you can click on the links of each picture for more details.

PRETTY IN PINK CAKE

Rose Levy Beranbaum’s white velvet cake is my go-to cake for birthdays. You can pair it with almost any frosting or filling. Although Beranbaum prefers a non-chocolate frosting on this cake like this one, I think a silky chocolate buttercream frosting works just fine here if it’s not overly chocolate-y.

If you have only two 9-inch pans like I do, follow this recipe to make the first two layers. After they have cooled and you have another pan available, halve the recipe to make a third layer. This will give you three 1 1/8-inch cake layers.

INGREDIENTS:

For The Cake:4 1/2 large egg whites
1 cup milk
2 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

DIRECTIONS:

STEP 1: MAKE THE CAKE

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch cake pans with butter and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Grease tops of parchment paper and dust lightly with flour.

Combine ¼ cup milk, the egg whites and the vanilla in a bowl and set aside.

Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer and mix on low for 30 seconds. Add the butter and remaining ¾ cup milk, and mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened. Increase to medium speed (or high if you’re using a hand mixer) and beat for 1 ½ minutes. Scrape down the sides, and add the egg mixture in 3 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition.

Scrape the batter into the pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. The pans should be about ½ full. Bake 25-35 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. You will want the cake to spring back when pressed lightly.

Cool the cakes for 10 minutes, then loosen the sides with a knife or spatula. Remove from pans.

STEP 2: MAKE THE FROSTING

Make your favorite frosting. I am partial to an Italian meringue buttercream.

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE AND FROST THE CAKE

Using a cake leveler, evenly cut the tops off the cake so the layers are equal height.

Spread an even layer of frosting on top of the first cake layer and stick the cake in the freezer for 10 minutes or until the frosting is set. Add the second cake layer and repeat with frosting and freezer time. Add the third layer and spread a thin layer of frosting on top of the cake and around the sides of the cake – this is your crumb coat. Put cake in the freezer for 5 minutes or until frosting is set. Add a final thin layer of frosting to the top and sides of the cake, making sure it has a smooth finish. Place the cake in the freezer, covered, until you’re ready to decorate.

STEP 4: DECORATE THE CAKE

For the final fondant decoration, please see Not Without Salt’s instructions. I used 2 lbs of red buttercream fondant (with some leftover) and 4 lbs of white buttercream fondant (with some leftover). I used “antique white” to cover the cake and “wedding white” to make the strips.

If you’re making a 9-inch cake, you will need another set of hands to help you wrap the fondant around the cake, that is, unless you come up with a better system or technique than I did. If so, please share!

It’s your baby’s first birthday! Let him dig into his first birthday cake toddler-style with an adorable smash cake that’s almost too cute to eat. Almost.

101 More ideas-

Everything Else to Know about Smash Cakes

Just a lot of pretty ideas-

(Be sure to click all of the links in this post for more details)

Friday Four: 4 Things Not to do or say to a Mom in Labor- EVER!

This song by Katy Perry helped my last birthing mom through her labor pains.

Last week impressed me. Not in a good way either. I seen first hand why a solid support system is a must for a successful labor and delivery.  What I did like about the entire situation is my daughters learned a few lessons as well.

The birthing process puts mom in a critical position. As a young girl, my mom always said it’s like having one foot in the grave and one on land. I seen the wrong support end in a infection for mom and baby last week and hope that I will never see anything like that again.

This is for ANYONE that has anything to do with a laboring mom. Please read and follow these simple suggestions.

1. Don’t say “Goodie, see I told you it would hurt”  or “Stop yelling!” Yes, the teens mom said this to her. I don’t want my daughters on the laboring  bed either (as I was at 17 years old) but I would never say such cruel things to her. Life will be challenging enough. Instead say some thing to encourage her like, “You’re doing a great job” or “you’re laboring beautifully.” statements like that can make her feel confident when she doesn’t and also prevents the staff from saying things like “She looks tired.  Do you want an epidural?”

2. Don’t take pictures of her with her hair all over the place unless she’s okay with that type of stuff. Even then, I’m sure the baby does not want to see mom looking a hot mess. At least put one of those hospital caps on and rub her lips with Shea butter. She’ll love you for it.

3. Give her sips of water after every contraction in hard labor-
Have a cup or bottle ready, full of her favorite labor drink, (water, herbal tea, coconut water) with a bendable straw. This will help her labor efficiently. It will not only give her energy but helps keep her hydrated. So just do it.

4. “‘You can’t push yet.” (Doesn’t that just sound crazy to you?)  My nurse asked me to wait while the call the doctor from the cafe three floors down. My girlfriend, and the nurse delivered that son of mine.  There is no such thing as “Hold it!”

I should have added more than 4 on this topic. Maybe I’ll add more later. I’ll end with this bonus tip:Hire a Doula!  Think of us as a helper for YOU too-  This is a person who can remind you what you know, can spell you if you need to pee or eat an energy bar, and who can be supportive for everybody involved.  This isn’t something that everybody wants or needs- but if it is something she wants- it will benefit you too.

The birth experience is important for the whole family.  Mom, however is the one who will be giving birth. Make it pleasant and think of what you want in the end…. a happy, healthy, baby!

Here are just a few more resources: 

More tips

Jabela, The Doula 

Reclaiming My Identity

As a Stay At Home Mom, I must acknowledge and address both the perks and pitfalls of managing, a large family with limited income. 99.6 % of the time I am content. My motto is “Mess with me, you might get by with an eye roll. Mess with my children, and you better run”. (My husband can take care of himself. He’s a tough guy.) TODAY I sat in that .40% and I did’t know why.

       I love this!

Everything on the surface appeared fine. The children had no complaints. I even called my son in college to listen to his voice and to see if I could pick up on any cues, he too sound great. So yes, I was grateful to mentally clear that off my mind.

Yet something was not right. Maybe I’m over processing something  or maybe God is trying to direct me to a new place or possibly stopping me from making a big mistake, I thought. Have you ever felt unsettled in your spirit?

I do have a lot going on these days. ( 9 children, a crazy veteran husband, I’m still breastfeeding our youngest, SAHM group organizer, tutor, community activator, AND blogger) Needless to say our days often feel like an insane whirlwind of needs, requests, deadlines and never-ending demands, but I honestly love it all. Crazy right?

So, I tiptoed into my bedroom closet for a few minutes. I walked out to a revelation. I hated that I didn’t notice it before, as it’s been repressed for a while. I ignored my hair breaking off, chalking it up to the harsh cold weather. I also ignored my jumping eye lid, crediting my lack of sleep for that. BUT when I started getting nervous for no reason. I had to hit the breaks and put myself first.

My financial insecurities, and concern that the world is more perilous for kid raising than when I grew up.

Before I got married. I worked three jobs. Two in hospitality and one in appointment setting. I LOVED making my own money. Being able to make purchases without permission, consent or validation was the life.Not that I was wasteful, because I wasn’t but it is a level of empowerment. Yes, when I got married he  & I became 1. But I lost that power, I need it back.  My husband will never understand it. It’s nothing like having your own, and bringing it to the family table.

Jessica Beals has Nothing on me. Pass the mic…… next year …. please. 🙂

When I was young, we had more hope. I like to think that I’m raising amazing children and equipping them for today’s challenges. If it wasn’t for my moms group and my Kwanzaa family, I would think that I live on a island. These children today will choose short cuts every time. The value of life, inner pride, zest for the future, moral codes are diminished. It’s saddening.

Well, after a good cup of tea, a stress busting video, and a silent peek at my beautiful children (sleeping face I think everything will work itself out as it should.In the meantime, I have to come up with some strategies that will work with my time and generate real income…… then tease my husband by buying the girls new earrings. (yes, that would drive him nutty! 🙂 )

I’m thinking about AVON. I love their new line. With my large family, and the new product line, earnings seems quite promising. We’ll at least till something better comes along.See, it’s looking better already. Putting myself self first hasn’t wavered my goal of keeping my children a priority.

Great ideas here

Staying In My Zone~QC Supermom

Friday Four: The Elephant in the room is nursing!

The number one weapon we have against bad information and advice is to SQUASH IT LIKE A BUG! By perpetuating myths, we only continue to make things harder for black breastfeeding moms in the future.

When we think about breast-feeding, we imagine an infant at her mother’s breast. But in previous eras, mothers who could afford to do so enlisted other women (poor women, slaves, immigrants) to breast-feed their babies. This was the “natural” order of those cultures. But something went wrong. It seems that somehow we’ve lost our way. Black Breastfeeding Week is not, I repeat, is not a week to have more of the white versus black argument. It’s not a week to get white women to notice black women breastfeeding, or even to get white women to acknowledge the fact that black women do breastfeed. It’s a week for us black women to bring awareness to other black women that, yes, we need to no longer let historical trauma hold us back.  Now about smashing them bugs… here 4 myths that need to be smashed!

“There is no money to be made in breastfeeding. The infant formula industry is run by the pharmaceutical companies, and there’s a huge profit motive,”

1. Myth: Moms with small breasts can’t make enough milk.   Truth: Breast size doesn’t matter.  Milk production has nothing to do with breast size.  It’s even possible for women with smaller breasts to have an oversupply of milk! Following your baby’s lead and nursing whenever your baby cues to feed will help to ensure adequate production of milk.

“My baby was allergic to my breastmilk.”

Now, before I outright say this isn’t true, it can be — but the chances of a baby having the only true allergy to human breastmilk or lactose in any form, called galactosemia, affects only 47 babies in the US per year… however, 150 people die annually from a falling coconut hitting them on the head. – The Stir

2.Myth: It’s Normal for Nursing to Hurt. Although it’s common to feel discomfort at first, pain is a sign that your baby isn’t latching onto your breast properly. Instead of focusing only on your nipple, she should be opening wide and pulling your nipple and breast deep into her mouth, using her jaw and tongue to massage milk out of your breast. Keep changing positions until your baby feels safe and secure. With a little time and patience, you’ll both get it right. (10Myths about breastfeeding added here for you to read later!) 3.Myth: Many moms can’t produce enough milk. Truth: The vast majority of mothers can make more than enough milk for their baby (or babies!). It is estimated that only 2-5% (some believe this number is lower, closer to 1-2%) of women are truly unable to produce enough milk for their baby. Our species never would have survived if we weren’t able to provide for our young. Low milk production is usually the result of not enough stimulation of the breast from nursing or pumping.

Whether you will be able to breastfeed after breast-reduction surgery also depends on how the procedure was performed. “If the nipple is left partially attached during the procedure and then reattached once the unwanted breast tissue has been removed, it’s more likely that you’ll be able to breastfeed”-Fit Pregnancy 

4. Modern formulas are almost the same as breastmilk. Not true! The same claim was made in 1900 and before. Modern formulas are only superficially similar to breastmilk. Every correction of a deficiency in formulas is advertised as an advance. Fundamentally formulas are inexact copies based on outdated and incomplete knowledge of what breastmilk is. Formulas contain no antibodies, no living cells, no enzymes, no hormones. They contain much more aluminum, manganese, cadmium and iron than breastmilk. They contain significantly more protein than breastmilk. The proteins and fats are fundamentally different from those in breastmilk. Formulas do not vary from the beginning of the feed to the end of the feed, or from day 1 to day 7 to day 30, or from woman to woman, or from baby to baby. Your breastmilk is made as required to suit your baby. Formulas are made to suit every baby, and thus no baby. Formulas succeed only at making babies grow well, usually, but there is more to breastfeeding than getting the baby to grow quickly.

-Other breastfeeding myths-

Enough on the soapbox, goodnight all! QCSUPERMOM 🙂

 

Wednesday Wow: Black Breastfeeding Week- YES!

NOTICE: To be clear, this is not about YOU — this effort does not exclude or preclude anyone else from joining in. Please hear me, every time black people get together in solidarity to address problems in their own community, it is not a statement or action toward YOU. In fact, your energy would be better spent thinking about how you can support such a life-saving effort. PLEASE CONTINUE…..

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and a group of nationally recognized breastfeeding advocates have declared August 25-31st as Black Breastfeeding Week, marking the inaugural celebration of black life with community events in key cities, an live interactive webcast and several social media campaigns.

 I agree that a special light should be given to mothers of color. Study’s suggest that although more moms of color are nursing, we still have a long way to go.75% of white women breastfed versus 58.9% of black women. ,

 As I write, I am nursing my lil one and thinking to myself, how fortunate I was to have been pulled over 16 years ago in dialogue by my then baby father. When we found out that we were expecting, although NEITHER of us was too excited, he went into Super dad mode.  He said “you’re gonna breastfeed. No child of mine is drinking that {explicit}.” So I fed her.

I was surprised that he was that interested in what our soon to be baby would be fed.  We never talked about it. I know that my mother didn’t nurse us and not sure if his mom nursed him, but it was something he knew was great for our

When she was born it took a lot of trial and error. She bit me many times. I remember crying when it seemed like she wasn’t getting enough to eat.  My mom and other women, both young and old thought I was crazy for not accepting WIC’s offer for formula. To her nursing wasn’t worth the trouble because that darn formula was just sitting, waiting on me, in a can to pop open, drop in a bottle and shove in my lil ones mouth. But I kept right on feeding her.

After that daughter, we had 5 more babies. All of whom were breastfed for . I continues to get the looks, comments from strangers, family and friends, but I knew that it was working. The kids only went to the hospital for checkups and after a few accidents. My daughters have skipped an entire grade level, and my now 6yo reads on a 2^nd grade level. So YES! I am an advocate for Black BreastFeeding. 

When black mothers are given more support, guidance, and solid education I guarantee you- nothing more than a physical obstruction will stop a mom from sharing her gift that only a mother can share. So feed on!

 Leaky Boob said:For those of you who are offended by Black Breastfeeding Week, I have great news: it’s not for or about you. If you are offended by a group of people supporting each other and providing a safe space for dialogue about problems relevant to themselves, don’t worry, it has nothing to do with you. If you are unwilling to listen and provide support and solidarity, then don’t involve yourself in the discussion…..

 

 

Because too many moms of color think this way, here’s why Black Breastfeeding Week is needed :

My mother and grandmothers don’t support it.

It doesn’t seem to be something folks like me do.  I just don’t see enough of  “us” out there.

My man thinks my boobs are only his. I can’t imagine sharing them.

No one else will be able to feed the baby but me, what if I need to leave the baby?

Most people I know use formula, and they are just fine.

I am not going in a bathroom to feed my child!

(Heard of any others?)

Let us have our week please! Like it or not, Black Breastfeeding Week is here! It’s the first one and we’re proud to be part of launching it. Like the page to get updates about this week’s events and SHARE with your peeps to help spread the word.

Nipples up for all breastfeeding moms! QCSupermom

Teach Me How To Breast Feed [MUSIC VIDEO]

Join the conversation. Leave a comment here.

Sh!$ people say to breast feeding moms! (too funny)

Babies LOVE our milk. No formula can compare.

Breastfeeding Awareness And What Else

Created By QC Supermom

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Did you know that?

Is BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS ENOUGH?

It’s been a year since the Charlotte NC Library fiasco.( See story here) I remember like it was yesterday. I sat in the library covered and was told to leave my seat to go into a 8×8 box to feed my son. Needless to say, that bird did not fly. Not only did I tell her she had no right to stop me from getting my work done at the library, but she also was violating my right to nurse my child. The nerves right?

I choose to feed him in                              dignity!

What was most surprising was the fact the enforcer sent two ladies to me TWICE before confronting me. When she did approach me, she asked me some of the most ignorant questions ever! The way I see it, a less trained mom would have snatched her baby from the boob and threw it back in her shirt, in shame, quicker than you could say peep show.That older African American supervisor had no clue that she was speaking to a empowered advocate of breastfeeding. I’m so happy it was me and I stood my ground. I know that the benefits of nursing my baby out ways any healthy baby parasite. A real change needs to be made. The Health Department here in Charlotte NC has taken great steps to encourage breast feeding, but more progress could easily be made. 

Beautiful Poem called “Embarrassed”  -click it!    

 

1. Provide more positive mentors. I’ve learned that many young moms refuse to breastfeed because no one ever told them, showed them that it was ok, and that it is better than the most expensive sneakers they could ever put on them. Keep programs like  the WIC BreastFeeding Peer group installed in the community.

2. Better representation – Is it just me or do you appreciate seeing people that look like you …..sometimes? It’s just another way of putting myself in the picture. Some people needs that visual. Mrs. B made the cover of a breastfeeding brochure but she wasn’t smiling. Yes, I looked. Can we see happy, loving married moms, single moms, siblings even moms of various color tandem nursing?

3. Install Value – Many females have been told their body is for sex only. SEX is a incredible thing, but that’s only half it’s for. Our bodies are a source of life. From our breast, ears, mouths, hearts, womb, eyes, arms, lap, legs and feet.

4. Real support from real moms – Le Lache, The United States Breastfeeding Committee,   U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, they are great information services but fail as sources for interventions and grassroots advocacy. On Face Book, you’ll see hundreds of breastfeeding groups that will jump at protecting, uplifting and spiritually supporting an oppressed nursing mom. Imagine if they were trained. What a sisterhood of force to be reckoned with!

Breastfeeding moms need more than a healthy start. They need progressive long term support long after we give birth. How else would she know how to respond to an NIP

( nursing in public) attacker if no one teaches her?

Even after delivery moms with little support NEED to be told to keep going. It’s get better. The colostrum is enough. His tummy is very small right now. 

Watch this rap video….. it’s really good and I even don’t like rap!

Well, time to feed Noah, Take Care- QC Supermom

B R E A S T F E E D

Friday Four: It’s Doula Week!

This week was World Doula Week! Did you celebrate by saying thank you?

I love doulas,midwives and other supportive birthing partners! I’ve used them for the last 4 births and it’s made a world of difference compared to the first 5 births. I’ve found them tobe able to minimize my stress and pain, level in oerder to enourage healthly- natural births

Have you met a doula? They are some of the most open minded people ever, and there are different types of birthing partners. Midwifes are one step above doulas and one step under OBGYN’s. and your husband are right there beside the doula. As she works as your assistant, voice, and planner. A post-partum doula is just as awesome, the will go from the pre labor, Labor and delivery , to the post care.  Yes, someone can come by and nurture mom after the birth and refrain from nagging about the state of the house.

I was talking with two of my mom friends and asked them to consider a doula. They both asked why and I responded by saying that a birth doula is knowledgeable about childbirth, understanding the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. She provides continuous emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint while remaining with the woman throughout the entire labor and birth. The constant support is possible because birth doulas have no other “patients” to attend to, no shift change and no other responsibilities other than the overall well-being of the woman in labor.

Doula’s  often use the power of touch and massage to reduce stress and anxiety during labor. Massage helps stimulate the production of natural oxytocin. The pituitary gland  secretes natural oxytocin to the bloodstream which causes uterine  contractions and also secretes it to the brain, which results in a  feeling of well being, drowsiness  and a raised pain threshold. Synthetic IV oxytocin can not cross into  the blood stream and brain, so it increases contractions without the  positive psychological effects of natural oxytocin.

At least  thirteen scientific studies evaluating the effectiveness of doulas have  shown that having a doula present at your birth can have the following  results:

  * Shorter labor by 25% (average two hours less for first time mothers)
* Reduced need for pain medication
* Fewer episiotomies
* 40% reduction in the use of forceps
* 40% reduction in the use of Pitocin
* 50% reduction in cesarean rate
* 60% reduction in the request of epidurals
* Greater satisfaction with the birth
* Better mother infant interaction
* Improved neonatal outcomes
* Increased breastfeeding success

Here’s just 4 reasons doulas are awesome!

1. They can help you write an intelligent birthing plan.
2. They help untangle labor and delivery myths, stress, and unfortunates.
3. They help moms & family mentally prepare for birth/ a new addition.
4. They can connect you with a very well stock list of local resources, service providers, and new mom goodies.

I’d say they are worth their weight in gold! To all of my Birthing Support Partners, THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!!!!

Check out a few more things you’ll need to know.

Other benfits to having a doula

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Wednesday Wow! The Total Children’s Wellness Fair is on it’s way!

I’m so excited! Right about now, everything is falling in line. Yesterday, I secured the location for this year’s fair! It is nothing less than favor!  In my mind, the Total Children’s Wellness Fair is incredible. It addresses all seven (7) branches of wellness in one day by bringing together the community children, commercial community ,and the service sector for a colossal of healthy fun and under cover education in a progressive engaging format! Obviously, it’s catching on, and it feels great to know that someone else sees the value/ need!  Going into our 4th year I expect an explosion of

creativity and teamwork…..our children deserve it! Nutritional, Social, Spiritual, Environmental  Educational, Financial and Physical wellness is and always will be vital to our children survival. If you choose, call it clicheísh, but it’s true, our children do not come with instructions, someone has to fill in that gap for the ones that have no resources or guidance.That’s where the Total Children’s Fair comes in at. The value is to provide realistic life skill strategies and identify local resources that are available to the under served and to support them by sharing knowledge, resources, instruction and time. It’s a win for all! The community partners get to educate their future consumers and the visitors get an opportunity to discover 1st hand why their habits should change…or continue. And you know I’ll have breastfeeding as a highlighted as well as the grand finale of the “She Mechanic” workshops there. Guy’s this is all about empowerment for all children from the unborn to the college student.

Beautiful things DO happen when great people work together! -QC Supermom

Now it’s time to really get busy. If you guys know me by now, I have to have a personal  “Oh Wow” moment  during the fair & I think I have it (no hints just yet!)

In the meantime, there’s space for anyone and everyone to help out! If interested contact me now to learn how you can join us!

Friday Four: 4 Things NOT to Say To A Breastfeeding Mom

I’ve found that ignorance is crippling and mentally abusive. Without thought, people will say the very first things that come to their minds. When new breastfeeding moms are on the receiving end of the rant. It’s time to rethink some things. Breastfeeding moms need support not cruelty.

So you decide to breast feed and today is the big day to venture forth and BOOM! You’re hit with the ignorance. Here’s your POW!

1. “I thought breastfeeding meant you’ll lose weight in no time?” Although I’ve nursed 6 babies myself, I have always had a weight battle myself, but that’s another story altogether. Weight  loss is inevitable for breastfeeding moms but not all moms lose weight at the same rate.
2. “Aren’t your boobs going to sag?” First off, breasts were put on women by God so that they could feed their babies. Secondly, my breasts have never looked better.  They fuller and rounder now that they’re able to make milk for my son.  I found this video to help with build those muscles up there- Push-ups and chest fly exercises to lift the breast demo    
3. “Can’t you  cover up, pump, or nurse in the bathroom or something?”  Wow! I’ve gotten that before and it was dealt with properly. As a matter of fact, my story went international. Most times I have a breastfeeding top, nursing bib, or any sort of makeshift cover to hide under so that you don’t see my exposed jugs. I really don’t have to. Breastfeeding is perfectly legal, so insinuating that it’s bothersome is telling a mom that she doesn’t have rights as a mother. Telling me my breastfeeding bothers you might just mean you’re looking a wee bit too close!
4. “Isn’t breastfeeding for moms who are too cheap to buy formula?” Yes, maybe part of why I breastfeed is because it is budget-friendly.Although there is always WIC to help cover his formula if I ever needed it. However, this is not enough motivation for me. While cost-cutting is a by-product of breastfeeding, the reason why I nurse my child is because it’s my decision to do so, and I believe my milk can more than suffice for his current needs. Plus, I don’t have to bother cleaning bottles, sterilizing, and buying formula (hello, savings, convenience and maxed out nutrition!) 

I went to the hospital to see my niece. It was great seeing how supportive the hospital staff was in supporting her desire to nurse. Although times are changing, we have a long way to go. But with one baby at a time, we can help make breastfeeding, nursing a first thought!

If you need more help with nursing, contact Loving Support’s peer counselors. The counselors are women who have successfully breastfed their babies and are available to help others. While you’re at it, read this article from Smart Start regarding general health benefits to nursing. Here’s another great tip. Click on each highlighted link. I’ve linked up to wonderful supplemental info there.

Till the next drip of mom’s milk, take care! QC Supermom