Breastfeeding By the Book

April 14, 2011 – 9:02 pm

Have you ever picked up a breastfeeding book and been overwhelmed? Just when you finished your healthy pregnancy books and maybe started looking at parenting books, you realize that you neglected to read any breastfeeding books. There are many great medical – type breastfeeding books and several geared towards attachment parenting. What if you don’t want to be an expert and you have to return to your job full-time? Fortunately for you, La Dolce Mama will be releasing their own breastfeeding book in the next few months! With medical and practical advice, this book is for you if:
Have never breastfed for more than a few weeks, if at all
Are interested in breastfeeding for more than a few weeks, if at all
Want to look cute behind your nursing cover
Have a good sense of humor

Do you have any breastfeeding questions that no one has ever been able to answer? Do you have a question that you hear all the time? Let me know and you may get included in the book!
Happy Nursing!

By mbarto | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Hitting the Bottle

March 4, 2011 – 9:27 pm

I’m going away for my sister’s bachelorette party next weekend and I have a dilemma! My little guy just doesn’t want to take a bottle if there is any chance of getting mom to nurse him in the next four hours. I have been working on this project for a little while, but I finally found some new ideas that I think will help. Check out this website:
How Can I Get My Breastfed Baby to Take a Bottle?

By mbarto | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

La Dolce Mama featured on Tight Bod With a Pod

February 7, 2011 – 1:24 pm


If you read my blog, you know that I believe that looking great and feeling great go hand in hand.  That’s why I’m so excited to be featured on Tight Bod With a Pod’s(www.tbwap.com) website!  I’m not a natural athlete, but I love the way exercise makes me feel and I’m very passionate about healthy eating.  TBWAP is a great site for all of these things!  It has healthy recipes, exercises to fit in between changing diapers and nursing, and is a fun format.  I can’t wait for the member progress tracker!  Anything that will help me be more organized is something I need!

 

Happy Nursing!

By mbarto | Posted in breastfeeding and health, La Dolce Mama | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

You’re Pulling My Eyebrow!

January 9, 2011 – 9:24 pm

Do you want a massage? Right now? As moms, there just isn’t enough time in the day and pumping can add to the stress.

As seen in Parents magazine, a brow rub can be an excellent stress buster to use before pumping. Here’s how it works – Take 30 seconds and slowly rub and squeeze your eyebrow from the inner corner to the outer corner. Switch sides and repeat.

It sounds a little crazy, but I tried it and I definitely felt less stressed. I don’t know that it helped me produce more milk, but it definitely self-soothed. Now I know why my kids suck their thumbs!

Happy Nursing!

By mbarto | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (1)

The amazing healing powers of breastmilk

December 29, 2010 – 8:41 pm

Have you ever squirted milk in your baby’s eye? On purpose?
We have all heard that breastmilk has health benefits ranging from eyesight to epilepsy(okay well, I haven’t actually heard that one), but did you know that breastmilk can help your baby today?

Here’s milk in your eye. My son had pink eye – probably from my 21 month old poking him in the eye and saying, “Eye”, despite my best efforts. I remembered from some reading that women in Africa put breastmilk in cuts and I vaguely remember my doctor saying that it would be good for pink eye(from my first child poking my 21 month old in the eye and saying,”Eye”, a year ago). So, I tried it. I mean, it’s not like I have never done it by accident, so I figured on purpose couldn’t hurt. My son also had a sniffly nose, so I squirted it up his nose as well(this one was absolutely doctor recommended). It’s pretty weird, but it actually worked. The pink eye was gone the next morning and the sniffly nose significantly improved. I should bottle this stuff! Oh wait, I do.
Happy Nursing!

By mbarto | Posted in breastfeeding and health, breastmilk, breastmilk as antiseptic, breastmilk for treating injury, breastmilk health benefits, La Dolce Mama | Tagged , | Comments (1)

Mastitis, the Great and Terrible

December 1, 2010 – 2:15 pm

As a three-time breastfeeding mama and lactation educator, I have seen almost everything. I have blogged about mastitis many times, but until a month ago, the information I provided was purely theoretical. Since I try to keep my posting relevant and real, I went and got mastitis. Or more accurately, mastitis got me. For those of you who haven’t had mastitis, you are blessed. For those of you have, you know what I mean when I say that mastitis knocked me flatter than my three c-sections combined.

So lactating ladies, let me tell you about how to avoid mastitis and how to treat it.
1. Plugged ducts – About the time your baby stops eating as often and you sigh and begin to think, “Hey, this isn’t so bad”, you may notice some lumps in your breast. Not to worry, they are just plugged ducts. Catching them early on is the best way to prevent mastitis, since they can be eliminated by hot showers and pumping.

2. Showers – What, you say? I can barely brush my teeth! It seems impossible, but squeezing in a hot shower every day or every other day will help not only with your sanity and hygiene, but will reduce the likelihood of developing mastitis. If you absolutely can’t do it, try to change your nursing pads every day.

3. Sterilize that pump! – This is actually how I got mastitis. I washed the pump, but was in a hurry and said, “Aw, it’s clean enough.” The little bacteria that I didn’t sterilize away proved me wrong.

4. Treating Mastitis – So, you’ve done everything right, but all of a sudden you feel even more tired than usual, your breast has developed red patches, and you feel like you may be getting the flu. Call your doctor! Doctors are pretty pro-active on this one so you will likely be given antibiotics. Then beg someone to watch your baby and lay down. Drink LOTS of water and nurse or pump every two hours. You WILL be bedridden for at least one day while you have a fever. I also recommend taking probiotics while you are on penicillin(found in kefir) as it seems to help prevent secondary infections.

Good luck and happy nursing!

By mbarto | Posted in breastfeeding and pumping, breastfeeding and the flu, mastitis, probiotics | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

37 weeks!

September 22, 2010 – 9:16 pm

I am just past 37 weeks and can hardly believe that I am about to have my third child! This pregnancy went so fast, that I hardly had time to think about it before it was over.
A slight tingly feeling today did remind me that 37 weeks is when your milk starts to come in. Of course, it’s actually already there(and has been since about 12 weeks), but this is when you may notice rapid breast growth, a tingly feeling, and may even start lactating a little.

This is also the best time to get fitted for a nursing bra. Your milk will continue to come in over the next few weeks, but it’s a good idea to have one nursing bra ready, just in case baby decides to come early!
Happy Nursing!

By mbarto | Posted in bra fitting appointments, breastfeeding advice, breastfeeding and breast growth, breastfeeding bra sizing, La Dolce Mama, nursing bra, nursing bra fitting, nursing bras | Comments (0)

More great sites for breastfeeding mamas!

September 11, 2010 – 10:21 pm

When I was pregnant for the first time, I read everything I could find about pregnancy, but I really didn’t spend too much time researching breastfeeding. I took a class at my hospital, but I still didn’t really know what I was in for.
La Dolce Mama has been featured on a list of great blogs for breastfeeding mamas. It’s great list if you’re pregnant, too! Check out the other links for great advice, funny stories, and useful products. 40 Great Blogs for Breastfeeding Moms

By mbarto | Posted in breastfeeding advice, breastfeeding and working, breastfeeding class, breastfeeding humor, breastfeeding in public | Comments (0)

National Breastfeeding Month

September 7, 2010 – 9:30 pm

Was in August, but I didn’t think about it until now. So, here is a link to a video that The Bump made for National Breastfeeding Month. I even learned something!
Breastfeeding Awareness Month

By mbarto | Posted in breastfeeding advice, breastfeeding and health, breastfeeding and premature infants, breastfeeding and weight loss | Comments (0)

My favorite “cocktail”

August 22, 2010 – 3:13 pm

We had friends over for brunch this morning. Back in our pre-kids days(all of three years ago) brunch would have included recovery cocktails – mimosas and Bloody Marys – to help us get over the night before. Well, while we did go out with friends last night and while the night did include drinking, I am eight months pregnant so I enjoyed several very stiff waters(and funny looks at the bar).

However, our brunch did have fun “pregnancy cocktails” or as my husband calls them”Looza Cocktails” after our preferred brand of peach nectar and the fact that they contain no alcohol. Our visiting friend called them nursing cocktails, as she is nursing her seven month old. Tomato, tomahto. Whatever you call them, my husband’s concoction will certainly make your brunch(or happy hour) more fun whether you are pregnant, nursing, or just not drinking alcohol. See below and enjoy!

Ingredients
1 part lemon Perrier(if you can only find regular Perrier, then add a splash of fresh lemon juice)
1 part Looza brand peach nectar(apricot is also good)

Add Perrier, then top off with peach nectar. Done!

Happy Nursing!

By mbarto | Posted in breastfeeding, breastfeeding advice, breastfeeding and alcohol, breastfeeding and diet, breastfeeding and health, nursing and parties | Comments (0)
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