Pregnancy

Disclosure: This post is part our series in observance of World Breastfeeding Week and is sponsored by Woman’s Hospital.  Best Foods for Breastfeeding Many breastfeeding moms worry about the foods they eat, thinking they have to eat a perfect diet in order for their baby to get perfect breast milk. This often leads to unnecessary stress as they try to juggle eating the right foods while tending to a newborn. But it’s important to remember that the body is an amazing machine and will always work to make the perfect food for baby. While food and water intake can affect milk production, the need for a healthy diet is more for mom’s benefit. Eating a balanced diet will help give mom the...

Disclosure :: This post is part of a series for World Breastfeeding Week and is sponsored by Woman’s Hospital.  Breastfeeding Goes High-Tech in Baton Rouge Human beings have breastfed their babies since the beginning of time. But what a time to be a mom, as new technology has made breastfeeding a bit easier. Woman’s Hospital recently became one of the first organizations to offer virtual lactation consultations through mobile devices. The service, called “BreastTime,” allows women to video chat with certified lactation nurses in the convenience of their own homes. Issues with lactation and latching are cited as major reasons why mothers stop breastfeeding early; many women face low milk supply or breast / nipple pain, and some babies have difficulty latching or maintaining...

When we lost our baby, I lost myself for a bit. I felt broken, half gone. But only half because I still had a daughter to care for. It was many cold, haunting nights. Lonely despair. And lots of emotions I was having trouble trudging through. In the midst of it all, I was one of the lucky ones. I had a team of support. If you have a friend that has recently experienced this loss, I'm hoping that something here will help you let them know they are not alone. Everyone grieves differently, keep that in mind. But here are some things that have helped me tremendously. Just Be There I couldn’t sleep in our bed for months. Our bed was...

Disclosure :: This post is sponsored by Bencaz Family Dentistry.  What You Need to Know about Dental Health in Pregnancy Congrats you are growing toes in that belly of yours. Pregnancy is an exciting time and also full of a lot of unknowns. As moms we know there are plenty of things to worry about but your dental health doesn’t have to be one of them during pregnancy. Spring Hatfield, a hygienist at Bencaz Family Dentistry, sat down with us to share the basics of prenatal dental care. What to Expect During pregnancy, we can all remember googling every little change and asking ourselves, “Is this normal?” Spoiler alert, it is probably normal, but it is always best to check with your care providers. Due...

Disclosure :: This post is sponsored by The Birth Center of Baton Rouge but every bit of the story is true, real, raw and beautiful - as birth stories often are. A Redemptive Birth Story Via The Birth Center of Baton Rouge This story is about the redemptive birth of our first little girl, Lillian.  But I cannot tell her story before I share her brother, Jesse’s, story. We received the CHD diagnosis at his 20-week ultrasound.  The prognosis just continued to get worse through the remainder of the pregnancy.  Signs of heart failure, predictions of low quality of life (if he survived), suspected Down Syndrome and DiGeorge Syndrome, countless surgeries, and the possible need for continuous breathing support. At his birth, our...