Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
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How to Reduce Breastfeeding Inequality
| Posted on August 28, 2018 at 12:13 PM |
comments (11473)
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I'd like to introduce our readers to Neve Spicer, writer and founder of We The Parents. She is sharing some very important information about breastfeeding disparity. I thought it especially important to share this information during Black Breastfeeding Week, in the hopes that a change-maker sees today's post and can help take action on the steps that Neve outlined in THIS post. You can scroll to the end of today's post to see those steps, although I encourage you to click on the link and read the whole article. I'm Neve, a proud mother of two, breastfeeding advocate, and part-time blogger over at WeTheParents. I'm really happy to be contributing to Sweet Pea Births during this year's Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Now, when I say that I'm a breastfeeding advocate... I'm a pretty easy going one and not so much a die-hard lactivist. I breast fed both of my children and my experiences couldn't have been more different. My first experience was a nightmare; I don't think I did things right, and without a good support network I ended up with a very low milk supply. My daughter pretty much screamed constantly until I began to wean her early at 4-months. With my second, on the other hand, the experience was completely different. I was scared that I’d have the same problem, but actually things worked out beautifully and I breastfed until 18 months. My breastfeeding experiences led me to want to support women and to let them know that, firstly, breastfeeding doesn’t always go according to plan, but also, secondly, it’s important to realize that our self-defeating beliefs, such as “I can’t produce enough milk” can also be wrong. I also realized that breastfeeding success depends so much on the knowledge and support we receive throughout our breastfeeding journey from pregnancy to weaning. Now: I’m a bit of a research geek and while digging into some scientific journals on breastfeeding, I was shocked to learn just how drastically socio-economic forces affect breastfeeding rates. Did you know that only 38% of mothers living below the poverty threshold (in the US) breastfeed at 6-months, while 68% of mothers in top-earning families do. That’s a huge difference, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. I learned that that in academic and social policy circles people have known about these breastfeeding disparities for a long time. But why, then, was I not reading about it on the popular blogs I followed? Too many heated words and firey tweets are being wasted on the breast vs bottle 'mommy war'. The big problem, however, is not whether a well-educated and well-off mother chooses to breastfeed. The real issue is breastfeeding inequality; too many mothers are NOT getting equal opportunity to breastfeed, even when they want to. After discovering all of this, I wanted to shout about it. It’s time the blogosphere reframed the debate. I think we can all agree that if a mother, from any walk of life, wants to breastfeed, then she should be given the best chance possible. I passionately believe that mothers should unite behind this common goal. Neve  FROM WeTheParents: Too few mothers follow the AAP’s optimal breastfeeding recommendations. Were this a result of well-educated, well-informed, and well-off women choosing alternative nutrition options, that would be one thing. Unfortunately, the truth is that many babies are formula fed because their mothers are not sufficiently aware of the health risks or they simply don’t have practical support (at work or home) to make it work.This is unfair and impacts on the health of thousands of US mothers and babies each year. It has been estimated that annual excess deaths attributable to suboptimal breastfeeding total 3,340, 78% (2605) maternal and 22% (735) infant. (Source)But how can we reduce the breastfeeding inequality?While there is no easy fix, there are several strategies that have been highlighted and could use public awareness and support. These are:
Thank you, Neve, for taking the time to research this topic and outlining specific action steps we can take to support our breastfeeding sisters. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale |
In Their Own Words: Erica ~ Part 1
| Posted on August 25, 2017 at 11:54 AM |
comments (824)
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PART 1: My
Breastfeeding Journey: The Greatest Gift of My Birth Experience  I’ve been breastfeeding my daughter,
Scarlett, for a little over a year now, and it continues to be a very important
part of our lives. I know many women in the United States choose to discontinue
breastfeeding at a year, or sooner, for a variety of reasons. I have no
judgment towards them. I can say I know that I won’t be one of them. I’m not
sure how long we will continue to nurse, but I don’t see us stopping any time
soon. I didn’t go into motherhood thinking I would be an “extended
breastfeeder.” For those of you who have seen the HBO show Game of Thrones
and saw the scene of Robin Arryn nursing well into childhood… that’s kind of
what I thought of as “extended breastfeeding.” I initially figured I’d
give it a year and see how and where it went. Now that we’ve made it to 13
months and it’s going so well, it seems silly to even consider stopping. It is
still a large part of her nourishment, an effective way to soothe and comfort
her, and our special bonding time, among many other benefits. Also, there is
this huge emotional component for me: I think of our breastfeeding relationship
as the greatest gift of my birth experience. I had a traumatic birth in July
2016. I planned a homebirth and ended up transferring to a hospital for an
excruciating 52-hour induction that ended in a Cesarean birth. My daughter was
10 days past her anticipated due date and didn’t move enough on an ultrasound,
which is what caused us to need the induction. After 2 more days of every
horrible step of the induction process, and trying to hold out for an
un-medicated birth, I became a statistic in the chain of interventions and one
of the 1 in 3 American women whose babies are surgically delivered. To
make matters worse, Scarlett aspirated meconium at some point in our labor, and
was whisked away to the NICU as soon as she was out. I didn’t get to hold her
for 18 hours. I didn’t get to attempt to breastfeed until her third day of
life. After having everything on my birth
plan derail to the horrific experience I endured, I was determined to feed my
child the way that I had planned to; determined not to have breastfeeding taken
from me as well. I couldn’t see her during those first 18 hours, but I pumped
every 2 hours like a fiend. I was told not to try to get her to latch initially
because of her difficulties breathing, but I brought her all of my colostrum,
requested donor milk instead of formula until my milk came in, and continued to
pump and pump and pump. Finally, on the third day of her life, I made milk, and
her breathing improved, and I got to learn how to nurse my baby. We needed help at first. We met with
a lactation consultant, we used a nipple shield, and we used the football hold…
I drank my weight in water and ate everything in sight for a while. On day 3
when I finally got to start nursing, the hospital had rules for me: I could
only nurse her for 15 minutes, then I had to go and pump and she was given a
bottle of expressed milk to finish her feed so they could determine exactly how
much she ate. They had their reasons I’m sure, but the effect to me was
oversupply. I was nursing a hungry baby, and then pumping directly after. When
we were finally released on day 5, I was sent home with about 7 bottles of
extra milk I had made. I didn’t know then that wasn’t typical. When we got home, my husband soon
grew tired of hearing, “Babe, I need my water bottle!” However, he and Scarlett
were troopers. He kept me fed and hydrated, propped up, etc. She had a good
latch and was always hungry. Within a few days we stopped using the nipple
shield. Within a few weeks I could move a little better after the surgery and
stopped doing the football hold. Things were going more smoothly, until I began
to put together the effects my oversupply was having on Scarlett. My milk came
spraying out with such force that she would sometimes gag and sputter. She
would occasionally throw up all over us during or directly after eating. It was
frustrating to feed her when she seemed overwhelmed by my milk. It was not fun
to get vomited on. Repeatedly. And feel like I was smothering my baby with my
giant, milk-tastic boobs. I asked the doctor about it. He said
spit up is normal. I said it’s a lot more than spit up… he said all kids throw
up and not to worry about it. He was useless. I asked my Bradley teacher and La
Leche League ladies and they gave me actual things to try: laid-back nursing,
let gravity work for you, put baby on top of you, side-lying nursing, block
nursing, burp her more frequently, stop pumping so much… all of which helped
immensely. After a few months we finally got the hang of it. I’m glad I was
able to make some adaptations to help us, and had the willpower and resources
not to give up when it was hard. I honestly think my awful birth was
instrumental in my steadfastness when it came to breastfeeding. Click HERE for PART II of Erica and Scarlett’s story: Making It Work Disclaimer: The material
included in this video is for informational purposes only. It is not intended
nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader
should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the
appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and
Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this
site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the
information provided. This blog and related videos contain information
about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the
official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on our blog and
videos do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Birthing From
Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona:
convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale |
Monday Mantra: Wonder Woman SuperPower
| Posted on August 14, 2017 at 1:27 PM |
comments (592)
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 Today's #MondayMantra is a fun affirmation that there is something quite wonderful and unique about making milk for your Sweet Pea. If you have chosen to breastfeed and you are making milk...own it!! You are a true Wonder Woman. |
In Their Own Words: Amy
| Posted on August 9, 2017 at 8:27 PM |
comments (451)
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 Amy & Ollie 2016Image: Erin Rudd Photography I never thought I'd be breastfeeding my toddler. I certainly
never thought I would be doing so while pregnant! Here I am, 30 weeks pregnant,
writing this while my toddler who just nursed down for a nap, is sleeping. When Ollie was a baby he nursed on demand; now he nurses before nap time, if we're together, and at bedtime, if mommy is home. Ollie's first Birthday came and went, and we were still nursing. When I got pregnant, Ollie was about 18-months, we contemplated weaning. My nipples were sensitive and, as much as I don't like to admit, I felt frustrated sometimes, when he nursed. We could tell Ollie was not ready. Deep down, I didn't really feel ready either. So we decided to try to cut back the nursing sessions. Over the course of a few weeks, I eliminated some of our typical nursing times. For example, we used to come home after work/daycare and sit together, cuddle, nurse and talk about our day. This was a difficult one for me to give up, because I LOVED this time with him. So we found something else that we both loved. We bought a porch swing and instead, we'd get a quick snack and go out front on the porch swing. The weather was just right, thank goodness, and he loved being outside. We'd listen to and talk about the sounds, play with rocks, and have our snack. This quickly became a special treasured time, as well. It hasn't all been easy. We've had our share of challenges. Just like any family, we had to find what works for us. Right now, this works for us. With the summer ending, I'll be going back to the classroom to teach, and Ollie will go off to our wonderful in-home-daycare provider. The days when we're not together, Ollie nurses at bedtime only. I don't know what the future holds for our breastfeeding relationship, and I'm not worried about it. I'll forever be grateful for this special time I've had with Ollie, the support of my loving husband (despite the uncertainties and naysayers), and for the breastfeeding community. Amy's Story about breastfeeding Ollie as a newborn HERE Disclaimer: The material included in this blog post is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and related videos contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.
Birthing From Within and Bradley
Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler,
Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, |
Feeding Sweet Peas Home-Grown Goodness
| Posted on February 2, 2017 at 10:40 PM |
comments (52)
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Thank you to Jenny Silverstone, from Mama Loves Best, for writing our guest post in support of breastfeeding, one of our favorite topics here at SPB. Feeding our Babies Home-Grown Goodness Motherhood isn’t always easy. You often have to make choices that aren’t always simple or popular. You sometimes have to dig deep to get the information you need to make the crucial decisions that will affect your baby for the rest of his or her life. Every choice you make for your baby counts, whether it’s the birthing method, the products you use, or the food choices you make for your child. When it comes to nutrition for your baby, breasts are best. It’s not just rhetoric -- science backs up what many mothers have long suspected. Our breasts are here for a reason, and that reason is to give our babies the nutrition they need to get a great, healthy start in life. As moms, we are fully equipped to give our babies everything they need, if only we learn to trust ourselves and know that we’ll find our way on this incredible journey. At MomLovesBest, we are committed to helping moms find the information they need to make the best choices for their kids and their families. Our new infographic, The 111 Benefits of Breastfeeding, gives everyone compelling reasons to consider breastfeeding their babies. This infographic details the health benefits for both babies and mothers, and what breastfeeding can do for society as a whole. After all, we’re all on this crazy ride called motherhood together -- by working together to educate, grow and learn, we can help the newest generation of mothers and their babies live healthier, happier lives. While motherhood can be a lot of responsibility, you’ll find that it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice at all -- you’ll treasure every moment, even the difficult ones. That first smile, laugh or kiss from your baby is worth any effort you go through! Read the full article to learn more about each benefit at Disclaimer: The material included in this blog is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.
Birthing From Within and Bradley
Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler,
Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale
|
Meet the Doula: Ashley Anders
| Posted on October 7, 2016 at 10:36 AM |
comments (931)
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 Welcome to this month's installment of "Meet the Doula". This month I have the pleasure of introducing you to one of the Valley's postpartum doulas, Ashley Anders. I had the pleasure of meeting Ashley at an ICAN meeting last year, and I am happy to say we have kept in touch. She is honored to serve her families, and as such, Ashley is dedicated to furthering her own education so that she can better serve her clients. I hope you enjoy our feature with our October 2016 doula: Ashley! When was the first
time you heard the word, “doula”? I first heard the word doula years ago when I was talking
with a friend about supporting women in childbirth. How did you decide
that becoming a doula was part of your journey? Since I was little I wanted to be a Labor and Delivery
nurse, I loved supporting women and their families through one of the most
intimate times of their life, and watching them bring new lives into this
world, but quickly realized I didn't like the idea of having to leave my
patients to go to another patient, or leaving a shift before a baby was
born after being there her entire labor, or having to do all of the clinical
things. That is when I started researching to see if there was this
dream job out there of giving non-judgmental support to women and their
families before, during and after childbirth, and I came across birth and
postpartum doula! Are you a birth
and/or a postpartum doula? I am both a birth and postpartum doula, breastfeeding counselor
and newborn care specialist. Focusing most of my time
currently postpartum, breastfeeding and newborn care. How long have you
been a doula? I have been a doula just about 3 years. I am trained with
Childbirth International for birth, breastfeeding. I have also received
postpartum training, and trained with Newborn Care Solutions for my newborn
care specialist certification. I have supported single moms, moms on bed
rest, families that have a scheduled cesarean birth, unplanned cesarean
birth, teens, high risk, expected stillbirth, prematurity, twins and
triplets. What do you enjoy the
most about being a doula? For birth, I love that I am invited into the lives of
families expecting a baby. I love that I can build confidence in women
and their partners. Help them feel safe, protected and informed about the
birth experience and provide non judgmental support throughout their journey
into parenthood. For postpartum, I find that we often focus so much time
on pregnancy, and childbirth and forget that there is in fact a 4th
trimester. I enjoy helping everyone in the family transition into having
a new baby at home, if its baby #1 or baby #3. An extra set of hands to
help siblings adjust, help mom get a shower or a nap in, breastfeeding/bottle
feeding assistance, meal prep, and helping with all of the "is this
normal" questions I often get. Newborn care, infant brain
development, feeding, bathing, sleep conditioning, etc., are all things I love
to give information on to help clients make the best decisions for their
family! How do you work with
and involve the Coach? I make sure that we are working as a team. My job is never
to take the place of a partner or coach. I like to show and guide the
partners on things that they can do throughout labor to assist in the comfort
of the laboring mom, but also make them feel comfortable enough that they can
take a break, take a quick nap or grab something to eat and she will be
supported and never be left alone. What is the toughest
situation you have ever dealt with? How did you handle it? I would have to say that supporting a family through an
expected stillbirth was the toughest. She still had to give birth just
like any other laboring mother, but unfortunately had to say goodbye shortly
after her baby was born. It was hard! I cried alongside with them,
made sure that they had everything they needed and was just there for
them. The hospital was wonderful and provided the family with photos and
a box to remember him with. I joined them on the annual walk for infant
loss and continue to keep in touch with them. They were blessed with
their rainbow baby a year ago and I was honored to be by their side through the
birth of their second son. What keeps you
working as a doula? My family and my clients! I have the best :).
Hearing that I have found my calling, and that it is obvious that I love my job
and what I do, is so great to hear. I couldn't do this if I didn't have
the continued support from my husband. From day one he has supported me,
and pushed me to fulfill my dreams and I cant thank him enough! What does your fee
cover – how many visits or hours? Is there a different charge for a
shorter labor or longer labor? My birth fee includes 2 prenatal appointments where we will
discuss birth plan options, discuss postpartum care/plans and go over early
labor comfort measures. Your labor and birth, and up to 2 hours after, to
get you settled into your postpartum room, get you your first meal and make
sure that baby has had his/her first feeding. I will also schedule a time
within the first week to come and do a postpartum visit to talk through your
birth and make sure that feeding is going well and to answer any additional
questions you may have. Since birth is unpredictable there is not a different
charge if your labor were to go long or if you were to have a shorter
labor. Postpartum/Newborn care fees are hourly and I do
daytime and overnight care. Each contract can be fit to each client and
their needs. Do you offer any
other services to your clients? I offer breastfeeding support, it is included in my doula
packages, but I offer it separate if needed. Just for fun, what do
you do when you are not doula-ing? When I'm not doula-ing I'm sleeping! haha! I'm
also spending time with my husband and 2 kiddos: our daughter Tyler (11)
and our son Bennett (4), plus our 2 dogs Maddie and Oddie. We enjoy riding
bikes; mornings at the park, watching our daughter ride her horse, and just
spending quality time together with family and friends.  Love what you read?? Would you like to contact Ashley? Read more about Ashley and schedule a visit via DoulaMatch Phone: 480-457-9151 Email: [email protected] Disclaimer: The material included in this video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Sweet Pea Births offers Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth
classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert,
Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson |
Inside Look: Amorini Silver Nipple Soothers™
| Posted on September 8, 2016 at 9:52 PM |
comments (584)
|
Puma and I got to see the Amorini Silver Nipple Soothers™
vendor table when we visited a Club MomMe event in California last year. At the time, we didn’t get to connect with
the rep since the table was unattended the couple of times we stopped by. We get this, though!! I have been a solo rep
at events before and I know how hard it is to be at your booth 100% of the
time. Imagine my delight when we got to meet the founder of
Amorini at our local Arizona La Leche League conference in August!! D’Ana
Marcin is an absolutely lovely person with an equally lovely product to help
breastfeeding mothers…read all about her product and what inspires her in
today’s “Inside Look”. Tell me
about Amorini Silver Nipple Soothers™. Amorini is
a set of two "soothers" made of Silver 925 and designed to help
prevent, protect and heal sore, cracked and bleeding nipples for breastfeeding
mothers. Who would benefit from using Amorini? All expecting and new mothers that intend
to breastfeed and/or pump breastmilk. Although Amorini Silver
Nipple Soothers™ are most often used to protect and promote healing of sore
nipples, they are also an effective preventative measure. When would mothers
want to use Amorini Silver Nipple Soothers? About how long can they
expect to use them? Ideally
mothers would start using the Amorini Silver Nipple Soothers™ before
the birth of their child as a preventative measure and they will continue using
them for as long as the pain persists. Mothers
whose child/children have difficulty latching or have a shallow latch
are more prone to severe nipple pain and cracks. It is highly
recommended the use of Amorini as the family is working with a
Certified Lactation Consultant to correct the latch. Mothers whose
child has been (or not!) diagnosed with tongue-tie are also susceptible to
severe nipple pain. We recommend the use of Amorini Silver Nipple
Soothers™ while working with a specialist to treat the tongue-tie. Amorini are
typically used for the first 3 to 4 weeks of breastfeeding or until any
underlying issues have been corrected. Some babies may try and gently bite the
nipple when they start teething or when teeth start cutting through the gums.
That can irritate the nipple and provoke another wave of painful breast-feeding
session for the mother. Amorini can help in these cases as
well.  What
makes Amorini unique?Amorini harnesses
the antibacterial and healing properties of Silver to help prevent, protect and
promote healing for sore, cracked and bleeding nipples in a natural and safe
way. Silver
Nipple Soothers are the most popular product for nipple care in Italy and have
been proven to be highly effective among new mothers. Amorini is the
only American brand of Silver Nipple protectors, founded by an Italian mother
who has recently relocated to California. They are designed and crafted in
Italy and are made of medical grade Silver. What motivated you
to start Amorini Silver Nipple Soothers™? In
September 2013 I gave birth to my beautiful daughter. I had taken breastfeeding
classes and I was gifted a tube of lanolin cream at my baby shower. I thought I
had everything I needed to be able to breastfeed. Baby girl started
breast-feeding like a champion less than an hour after birth but before I knew
it my nipples became raw and the pain was almost unbearable. The latch seemed
normal according to my lactation consultant and there was plenty of colostrum
for my baby to suckle on, but the pain was only getting worse. I
am very sensitive in the nipple area and that seemed to be the only explanation
for my pain. Three
days later, my longtime friend and NICU nurse from Italy sent me these
"miraculous silver nipple cups" and they were everything she had told
me they would be! Within 24 hours I started feeling significant
relief and by the third day of using them I was almost pain free and all the
cracks were healed. I
wanted to gift them to all my pregnant friends but I wasn't able to find them
in the United States. For months my family mailed me countless Silver Nipple
protectors sets so I could share with all my friends. Until
one day I decided I needed to bring these to the US and make them available to
all mothers and expecting mothers! And so it all began! :) Is there anything
else our readers should know about Amorini? Amorini Silver
Nipple Soothers™ are Nickel free therefore are considered hypoallergenic.
Please refer
to our Q&A page on our website or contact Amorini with
any questions or concerns. What inspires you? My
beautiful, joyful, fearless daughter is my biggest inspiration! Helping
mothers achieve their breastfeeding goals is my purpose and my motivation. Do you want to see something amazing? Watch D’Ana share her
hobby and her business in this fun YouTube video!! video: https://youtu.be/AdDT5v94xzM For more reading on how
silver can help treat sore nipples check out these links: From Fact Based Health: From California Healthy
Living Magazine: Disclaimer: The material included in this blog is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information
provided. This blog and related videos
contain information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ
and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in
this video and on our blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley
Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in
Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale,
Payson |
Q&A with SPB: Is there anything I can do to make more milk?
| Posted on August 30, 2016 at 10:01 AM |
comments (81)
|
Today's question on Q&A with SPB:  We are joined by Jennie Bever, PhD, IBCLC at the Arizona Breastfeeding Center to answer that question: Recap: You are not alone! This is a common question/worry that many moms have during pregnancy and postpartum. There are many myths, tips and tricks that people share that may work for some moms, but really don't get to the core of the issue: how much milk is moving through the breast? The fact about milk production is that the more milk that is demanded, the more milk will be made. So a lot of the time it's not really a supply issue, as much as it is a removal issue. In order to make milk, the body needs the signal that more milk is needed. Some things to consider:
Krystyna's little side note about pumps to consider:
An IBCLC can help you with both evaluating how you and baby are moving milk, and also answer any questions you have about pumping. The bottom line: While some of the galactagogues out there may help, you don't want to create more milk that still can't be moved...that may cause another hurdle (i.e., pugged ducts, mastitis). So before you spend lots of money on the "magic" herbs, teas, and foods that help some moms make more milk, check in with a lactation counselor to make sure that you and your baby are doing your best to remove the milk that is already being made. Thank you again to Jenny for taking the time out of her busy day to answer today's Q&A with SPB!  Disclaimer:
The material included in this blog is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional
medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider
to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own
situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and
Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the
consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and related videos contain
information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is
not the official website of Birthing From Within or The Bradley Method®. The
views contained in this video and on our blog do not necessarily reflect those
of Birthing From Within, The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of
Husband-Coached Childbirth®.
Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth
classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert,
Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson
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La Leche League of Arizona Area Conference 2016
| Posted on August 29, 2016 at 11:17 AM |
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 La Leche League of Arizona hosted the "Taking Care of Mom, Making More Milk for Baby" conference for Parents and Professionals last weekend, August 26-28, 2016. The highlight of the weekend was keynote presenter, Diana West, IBCLC, who is also a La Leche League leader currently living in New Jersey. Diana is an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) in private practice, Director of Media Relations for La Leche League International, and an accomplished author. She is the co-author of Sweet Sleep: Nighttime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family, the 8th edition of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk, Breastfeeding After Breast and Nipple Procedures, and ILCA's popular Clinician's Breastfeeding Triage Tool. Here is her entire bio from the conference pamphlet:  I was able to attend these presentations from the 8 that she offered over the course of the weekend conference:
I can't wait to apply what we heard this weekend to the information we share in classes.  THANK YOU FOR ALL THE AMAZING SESSIONS!! I also learned more about how to better support exclusively pumping mothers (Jennifer Widdows), and mothers who are going back to work after maternity leave (Desiree Allison, IBCLC). There was also a very interesting presentation on community milk sharing through private arrangement and milk banks (Dr. Angie Bond). And it was wonderful to attend an art session led by Rochelle Trotman-Norman - exactly what I needed to decompress after all the information I was acquiring over the weekend. Here is a visual look at the weekend: SPB at LLL  SPB Gift Basket:Hair Bow Baby Rattle The Night Before Your Birthday Book by Joni Rubenstein SPB Tote SPB Water Bottle SPB reusable nursing pads SPB Pen SPB notepad  It's official - made it to the conference!!  SPB Gift Basket was a raffle prize for the LLL Live, Latch, Love event on Friday evening  Room is ready for my presentation early on Saturday morning! *Birthing From Within *The Bradley Method *What to do when your birth plan twists and turns  The "mommy trading cards" we made in the session with Rochelle Trotman-Norman. We made one to take home and one to trade.  After two days without Mommy, Otter insisted on coming to the conference on Sunday so that we could be together. She was well-behaved and an absolute pleasure, as many breastfed, AP children are. She colored and read quietly, and had fun playing with her dolls! I am also curious to know what she picked up from the two presentations she heard...I am guessing I will find out as we have our car conversations over the next few days. LOCAL IBCLC PRACTICES Arizona Breastfeeding Center www.azbreastfeeds.com 8400 S Kyrene Rd #126, Tempe, AZ 85284 480-442-8491  Central Arizona Lactation http://centralarizonalactation.com/ 15720 N. Greenway-Hayden Loop, Suite 8A Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480.800.7707 | 480-208-1490  The Milk Spot 2922 N 18th Place Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-529-5159  SPEAKERS Some views from the audience and still shots around the conference  Diana West, IBCLC: Infant Sleep Training  Marian Tompson, one of the seven LLL foundersHolding the original copy of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding... a school folder with 33 copy pages collated by children of the founders  Laraine Lockhart Borman, IBCLC and Director of Outreach at Mothers' Milk Bank, largest donor milk bank in N. America. Pictured here with Michelle Hottya, IBCLC, director of the MMB Outreach and Donation Center located at The Milk Spot in Phoenix.  Desiree Allison, IBCLC, speaking on supporting the breastfeeding mother who will be going back to work outside the homeFRIENDS+BRADLEY TEACHERS  My LLL Bestie and Bradley colleague, Frances Landreth with LLL founder, Marian Tompson - oh my wow!! What a thrill to meet this living legend.  With Olga Kregci, Bradley Teacher and LLL leader. Another living legend - she has been teaching Bradley Method and leading LLL meetings for over 20 years, has homeschooled ten children, and never let being blind stop her from doing anything she sets her mind to.  Joan, who had two of her babies delivered by Dr. Bradley!! Former Bradley instructor and currently a LLL leader in Tucson, AZ  Jacqueline Kincer, IBCLC and Grace Burnham, Director of Arizonans for Birth Options  Jesse Franks & Anne-Marie Chun, ICAN of Phoenix (They were LLL speakers on Friday)  With Diana, creator of Amorini Pure Silver Nipple Soothers  Belinda Hodder, CNM and Diane Ortega, CNM Owners of Willow Birth Center LLL Speakers on Sunday morning  Marissa Honey-Jones, IBCLC at Central Arizona Lactation She hooked up all the conference attendees with these awesome water bottles!! LLL Speaker on Saturday AM  Christy Jo Hendricks, IBCLC, CAPPA educator, doula And all around awesome birth work supporter!! She owns Birthing, Bonding & Breastfeeding, where she sells products for the birth professional as well as her own invention, the Lactation Lanyard LLL Speaker, too!!  Jacqueline Norris, Doula & Dancing For Birth InstructorMichelle Hottya, IBCLC VENDOR HALL  Fynn Baby soothe with organic cotton comforting essentials www.fynnbaby.com  Dr. Hannah Hancock Prenatal & Pediatric Chiropractic 1920 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85257 480-994-0072 www.drhancock.com     Usborne Books Back to Essentials Ruth Ann Solomon, IBCLC and Doterra Consultant 520-560-0859 mydoterra.com/backtoessentials Birth to Five Helpline 877-705-KIDS(5437) www.birthtofivehelpline.org Southwest Human Development 2850 N 24th St Phoenix, AZ 85008 602-266-5976 www.swhd.org Amorini Silver Nipple Soothers Pure Silver Antibacterial Hypoallergenic Natural Made in Italy www.AmoriniUSA.com  I hope you enjoyed your inside look at the LLL Conference. Thank you to the amazing team at LLL that put together this amazing conference, and congratulations on a very successful weekend!! Disclaimer: The material included in this blog is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional
medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider
to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own
situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and
Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the
consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and related videos contain
information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is
not the official website of Birthing From Within or The Bradley Method®. The
views contained in this video and on our blog do not necessarily reflect those
of Birthing From Within, The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of
Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth
classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert,
Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson |
Divine breastfeeding
| Posted on August 27, 2016 at 2:18 PM |
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 Seeing lots of divinity and learning how to better support breastfeeding mothers at the La Leche League conference this weekend. Lots of great speakers coming up throughout the day today and tomorrow. You can still purchase a one-day pass at www.lllofaz.org/area-conference.com |