The Beauty of Breastfeeding

A human body is fascinating in that, when it functioning optimally, it can and will heal itself and fight anything that tries to cause destruction. But a woman's body is a phenomenal thing because, along with healing itself, 

it gives life and it sustains life. From the moment a woman becomes a mommy, her body works to adjust to the task of nurturing her baby. 

Before there was formula, breastmilk was the only food source for newborn babies.

 Breastmilk, or as I like to call it "The Golden Juice", is specially formulated to give babies the exact nutrients they need to grow and develop in perfect measurements. The quality of breastmilk is highly dependent on mom's diet, as it contains an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) that is critical for the growth and development of baby's brain and nervous system. A lack of it can impair this development.

Breastfeeding may be the best choice for baby, in my opinion and based on my research, but it is not easy. When baby is first born, and for the first 6 months, he/she is feeding every 2-3 hours like clockwork. Mom's breasts are constantly full so we are required to pump or latch our baby to avoid engorgement of our breasts which can lead not only to general discomfort and pain, as well as leaking, but also to larger issues like infections and hardened milk ducts. 

The constant pull of the nipple when pumping or latching baby can result in cracked, chapped, and bleeding nipples. If not taken care of properly, this puts mom at further risk for infections in the nipples that can transfer over to baby's mouth in the form of "thrush", a type of fungal infection.

That being said, breastfeeding is a commitment not to be taken lightly, but certainly a journey worth the rewards. Baby is getting the best nutrient-packed food source for their general development and growth, mom and baby deepen their bond, carrying it over from the womb, and studies show, as does my own experience, that breastfeeding promotes weight loss, so shedding that baby weight is quicker with breastfeeding than formula feeding. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs.

Furthermore, breastmilk is versatile, benefitting as more than just a food source for growing babies. Breast milk’s powerful immunological properties are effective in the treatment of many skin and soft tissue conditions such as diaper rash, eczema, acne, and umbilical cord separation, as well as sore, dry, or cracked nipples, pink eye, nasal congestion, minor scrapes, burns, and other superficial skin wounds. 

The increasing availability of alternative feeding options for babies has led to a significant decrease in breastfeeding mom's. The commitment to scheduled feedings and pumping, the breast soreness, leaking and potential risk of breast-related issues, like mastitis, has made the prospect of breastfeeding unappealing. This resulted in many mom's deciding breastfeeding is a no-no from the minute they find out they are expecting, making the bulk of this decrease in breastfeeding a personal choice and not a medical necessity.

Today, in 2022, we are facing a severe formula shortage, which has put many mother's on edge about how to feed their little ones. Even without the formula shortage, there have been recall's of various formula's due to their negative effects on baby's health. Research, and resulting lawsuits, suggest that popular brands like Similac and Enfamil may be toxic, contributing to potentially fatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis in infants. Studies have also indicated that infants who ingest cow's milk-based formulas are at greater risk. 

Mom's who opted out of breastfeeding from the start understand that kickstarting lactation again is near impossible. Mom's who did a bit of both have been more inclined toward seeking all-natural supplements to increase their supply, working hard to make up for the amount of formula they are no longer using. It's overwhelming, it's stressful, and it's daunting to think baby's development will be affected.

I've provided a few tips (see image) for my breastfeeding mom's. It cover's latching, nipple care, pump care and more. Hopefully having a criteria of action will make the breastfeeding journey easier and less daunting. However, if you are a mom who supplements, or opted for formula-feeding, check out our plant-based baby formula. It is alkaline, made with all the nutrients & minerals needed daily for baby's optimal development and it is has:

No Chemical Processing

No Hexane or Solvent Extraction Methods

No Highly Processed Ingredients

No Corn Syrup

No Dairy

No Whey

No Soy

No Nuts

No Gluten

Tap in with me mommies and take control of your body, your health, and your baby's health.

I love yoga. That should be the end of the blog...

But I do. Despite the bad eating habits I had prior to becoming a mom, I always tried to stay physically fit looking. This meant spending time, no matter how short, doing some form of physical exercise. Yoga became the go-to.

Yoga offers physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages. And, if you’re going through an illness, recovering from surgery or living with a chronic condition, yoga can become an integral part of your treatment and potentially hasten healing. It was an integral part of my pregnancy journey and post-pregnancy recovery. My controlled breathing made handling the labor pains a breeze, and continuing my regular stretching and poses promoted weight loss and more energy.

Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while holding a pose can build strength. Regular yoga practice may reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation, contributing to healthier hearts. It helps you sleep better, stress less and is a great form of self-care.

My frequent yoga routine always consisted of a minimum 25 minute session. It was once something I did alone, but once I started a family, it became an amazing bonding activity for us. The best part was taking our son outdoors to a nice peaceful park and becoming one with nature through synchronized breathing and poses. And we soaked up plenty of vitamin D from the morning sun!

Some people see yoga as the lazy person's workout, but the more I got into it, the more I realized it's more difficult than we think, and it can really work the body out in ways you don't get with cardio or weight lifting. It's physical, mental and can be spiritual depending on your focus. Safe for all ages, and even pregnant women, I would recommend everyone do yoga.

Tap in with me. Your health, your choice.

- The Herb Mom

My first pregnancy was frightening. I was nervous about becoming a mother, responsible for the life of an innocent little human. It was daunting, scary, but also a bit of a dream. I had been blessed and I looked forward to showing I was worthy of it.

Not long before I got pregnant, my husband and I had begun a new journey into a plant-based, alkaline lifestyle. We removed meat, dairy, enriched flours, and processed foods and sugars from our diet. It was not an easy change. I grew up a heavy meat eater, loving all things cheesy, and regularly consuming sandwiches and microwaveable meals because I never liked to cook. One of the hardest things about making changes to my diet was the idea that I would be eating a bunch of BLAND, TASTELESS, CHALK food, all in the name of good health.

Becoming pregnant didn't help much at first, thanks to pregnancy cravings. I almost said forget about it, I'll take my chances on disease and illness. Did I cave in to those cravings? A couple times. However, my son was my priority and I didn't want to do anything that could potentially be a detriment to him. He deserved to come into this world with a clean slate. So I stuck with it, through all the slip ups, and I discovered that balance is everything. I can BE and EAT healthy without totally sacrificing my taste buds. Within my journey, I have enjoyed jackfruit lettuce wraps, teriyaki quinoa, edamame dumplings and even lentil sloppy joes.

There will be moments you'll wonder if all of these changes are truly worth it, moments you'll think your old ways weren't so bad. Well let me say, my old ways have kept me from nights out with friends, playtime with my nieces and nephews, fun physical activities and sometimes even work (and all I had to do was show up!). All of this because I was feeling weak, lethargic, fatigued; having headaches, feeling sick or nauseous, achey and constipated. It wasn't pretty.

With my first pregnancy I was twice as motivated to stick with the program. Besides remaining steadfast with healthy eating habits, I turned to various herbs for promoting the health of myself and the development of my baby in the womb. I never took the traditional prenatal that one might find in a grocery store or pharmacy. Why? Because in doing my research, I learned that many of the ailments that have been normalized in pregnancy, such as tiredness, back pain, and swelling, are connected to side effects of the recommended prenatal. I didn't find that appealing so I looked for the right combination of herbs to give me the benefits of prenatal without all of those risks and came up with my own prenatal capsules and pregnancy support tea.

Aside from the mental anxiety of becoming a mother, I enjoyed an energetic pregnancy, no health issues, no fatigue or lethargy, no stretch marks or swelling, and very minimal body pains, if any. Once delivery time came around, the frequent yoga I had done throughout my pregnancy came in handy. Through good control of my breathing, the pains of labor were bearable, nothing like I was "warned" they were going to be. My son came quick, two pushes in nine minutes. I barely swelled, barely bled, and didn't feel drained or tired from the efforts. Nor did I feel any pain throughout my body, not even when I peed. It was too good to be true, considering what I expected. Even my midwife and the supporting nurses were baffled.

I hear so many "horror stories" about tough pregnancies, high-risk situations and all-around "bad experiences". Having gone through the journey myself, I am convinced that removing all the unhealthy vices and doing my own research instead of blindly following doctors orders can result in making beneficial health decisions that can keep me from having those kinds of experiences. My journey made me receptive to having more kids and I am now looking forward to birthing my second child within the next month!

Tap in with me mamas. Your health, your choice.

- The Herb Mom