Red Stick Mom

Disclaimer: This is a guest post from Dr. Leanne Redman, associate professor of women’s health studies at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. You can get to know her more here and read her first post here. Her facts and opinions are based on her personal research. Red Stick Moms Blog was not paid to promote any specific medical viewpoints or studies. Always consult your physician with any medical questions. January is “National Cervical Health Awareness” month. The World Health Organization reports cervical cancer as the second most common cancer in women. BUT did you know cervical cancer is now one of the most preventable cancers women are diagnosed with? It is estimated that in 2015, nearly 13,000 women will be diagnosed with...

This post is a follow up to my couponing series which you can read here, here, and here.  I received requests for more specifics about saving at Target.  Your wish is my command! Target: Great taker of my money. And my second home. Yes, it’s true. I spend more time (and money) than I would like to admit at the big red box store. When we run out of something, even my 2 year old tells me we need to go to Target. But as a bargain shopper, I’ve learned to stretch my Target dollars. Here are my tips to help you truly expect more and pay less on your next Target trip. RedCard: If you do nothing else, get...

So I've been a single mom for over two years now. That feels weird to say because it feels I've simultaneously been single forever and that I'm brand new to this. Anyway, my point is, I've resorted to the dreaded world of online dating for the past 6 months. Actually, it's a funny story. My BFF took my debit card out of my wallet and registered me on Christian Mingle during our crazy Cinco de Mayo night out. But, I mean, it's CHRISTIAN MINGLE how bad can it be right??? Well, here are the times (when in the roughly 20 first dates I've been on) I knew these guys weren't the ones*. I promise you, I'm not just a...

I recently had the revelation that my kids are no longer babies. Of course, I have noticed minor maturity changes in their conversation topics, television show choices and Christmas list items. But a few weeks ago, one specific incident made me admit to myself that my babies are no longer “babies.” That incident was when my son slashed his finger with a kitchen knife and NEVER cried. I mean he never cried when it happened or when he saw all the blood or fleshy part of his finger or when he received 6 stitches. He took it like an (cough cough) big boy. At first I was a little taken aback by this, but then I realized a whole new...

Be sure to read Part 1 of this story, right here. Ankyloglossia is also known as tongue tie. It is a congenital oral abnormality that limits the mobility and function of the tongue because of a short or tight frenulum. I have learned over the past 16 months that most physicians receive little to no training in breastfeeding mechanics, including pediatricians, dentists and ENTs. Over time as society has made a few different shifts from primarily breastfeeding infants, to then primarily bottle-feeding and now back to an increase in exclusive breastfeeding, much wisdom in regards to “normal” breastfeeding has been lost, or simply forgotten. Many new mothers are told that the first 6 weeks are the toughest which gets translated...