We have visited over 30,000 brand new parents in their homes, as they transition from pregnancy to parenthood. We have witnessed joy and excitement but also tears and frustration as families felt overwhelmed and unprepared.
One out of every 4 or 5 women will suffer from postpartum depression and/or anxiety in the year following the birth of their baby. Here are 12 important things you should know.
Before giving birth, we imagine life with a new baby… wonder, amazement, the sweet smell of baby skin, feeling more in love than ever with our partner.
These foods have all been suggested to increase the milk supply. But do they actually work? If only it was that easy! While trying different foods can have nutritional benefits, there is no evidence that anyone food will increase milk production.
Brooke Bulloch is a Registered Dietitian from Food To Fit Nutrition Inc... This post originally appeared on her site and is reprinted here with permission.
One in every four or five babies in North America will be born by cesarean section (C-section). Sometimes, the C-section is planned in advance; others are done with little or no warning due to last-minute complications.
Approximately 25-35% of all deliveries in North America are by C-section (Cesarean section). Some of these are planned while others are the result of complications that arose during labor.
Whether you deliver vaginally or by C-section, you will have period-like bleeding after birth. Healthcare professionals refer to bleeding after birth as ‘flow’ or ‘lochia’.
Caring for a newborn baby can be a bit overwhelming at first. Some things can be downright alarming! Many times, however, they are actually normal. Here are the top 10 alarming (but normal) things you may notice in your newborn.
From meconium to transitional to yellow curdy… baby’s poops go through a lot of changes in the first few days of life. We will walk you through what to expect and when to worry through each of the stages.
My newborn baby sleeps all day and won’t sleep at night. I am exhausted. What can I do?
Most women will experience some nipple tenderness when they are learning to breastfeed. It can be uncomfortable at the beginning of each feed; this discomfort typically eases off within the first 10 seconds after latching.
Breastfeeding a newborn is time-consuming! New moms are learning to breastfeed at the same time as they are healing from birth. As a partner, you are probably willing to help but maybe unsure of how you can help with breastfeeding.
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What is Newborn Jaundice? Jaundice is a common newborn condition that causes the baby’s skin and the white part of the eyes to appear yellow. Most babies will have at least some jaundice in the first few days following birth.
“I am having trouble getting my baby to burp after feeds. Is it important for her burp after every feed?”
Have you ever wondered how the term “tummy time” came about? Here’s a bit of history on the importance of “Back to Sleep and Tummy to Play.”
Caring for your newborn’s umbilical cord may seem daunting but it is actually quite simple. All you have to do is keep it clean and dry.
Baby’s bath time can be an enjoyable experience for both parents and baby once you have had a bit of practice. Some babies will enjoy being in the bath right from the start while others may need a little time to get used to it
Changing a baby’s diaper can be a bit challenging at first, especially if the baby is crying and upset. This blog post and a little practice will make the job easier.
As Lactation Consultants, we are frequently asked what pump we would recommend. This is a difficult question to answer as the type of pump that is best will depend on your reason for pumping breast milk.
It is very common to worry if you have enough milk. In fact, one of the most common reasons women stop breastfeeding (or begin to give extra bottles of formula) is the belief that they don’t have enough milk. Most of the time, they actually DO have enough milk.
You will spend a lot of time breastfeeding your newborn so you will want to be comfortable! The following breastfeeding positions have worked well for other moms. Feel free to experiment and find out what is most comfortable for both you and your baby. After a bit of practice, you may even invent your own position!
There are many breastfeeding products on the market! In this post, we will help you sift through what’s available, what you will truly need, and what is an optional purchase.
Parents frequently ask us “Do I need to breastfeed from both breasts at every feed? If I do, how do I know when to switch sides?” Great questions! There is no one right answer for all babies. Here are some principles to help you decide.
Did you know there are things you can do in the first minutes and days with your newborn that can increase milk supply?
It can be frustrating to wake a sleepy baby to feed. You know your baby needs to eat but you are tired and wish there was a quicker way.
If you are a new or expectant parent, you are going to hear a lot of conflicting advice about how often to feed your newborn baby.
Women choose to bottle feed expressed breast milk for a variety of reasons. The health benefits of breast milk for babies is well documented. Expressing milk is extra work and takes time and dedication. If you are expressing your milk, feel proud of the hard work you are doing to give this gift to your baby!
New parents tell us the most stressful part of having a new baby is the “unknowns”. Learning some of the basics about breastfeeding a newborn BEFORE the baby arrives can help to ease this stress. In this post, we’ll explain what to expect in the first week of breastfeeding and how to give yourself the best chance for breastfeeding success.
Hand expression is a valuable skill for breastfeeding moms. It takes a little practice but once learned, you may prefer it over using a pump. It is simple, no equipment required!
It can take a bit of practice to get a comfortable latch when you are learning how to breastfeed.
Have your friends or family members warned you about foods to avoid when breastfeeding? Do you really have to avoid vegetables, spicy foods, coffee, and chocolate? Before you deprive yourself, have a look at these facts.
Long before there were Lactation Consultants, there were moms and babies. Women breastfed their babies, assisted by their mothers, aunts, cousins, and neighbors, all of whom had breastfed their own babies.
To help your baby get more breast milk at each feed, you could try a technique called ‘breast compression’. This gentle squeezing mimics the breast’s natural milk letdown, encouraging the baby to suck. In this post, we’ll explain when and how to do it.
There are many baby tracker apps available for mobile phones. Most have a built-in breastfeeding timer. They are tempting to use in an effort to understand your baby. Are they getting enough to eat? What is their feeding pattern? How can you get in some type of schedule?
Newborns should have at least one bowel movement, larger than a quarter size, each day for their first and second days after birth. Their first stools, called meconium, are dark green to almost black in color. The consistency is tar-like and they typically have no odor.
Are you struggling to find a comfortable latch? Is your nipple pinched after each feed or shaped like a tube of new lipstick? You may want to try what Lactation Consultants call “baby self attachment”.
It is a newborn’s instinct to search for his mother’s breast. Most babies will latch and begin to feed within a few hours after birth. Occasionally, a baby will not latch to the breast. This can be very frustrating and discouraging for a new mother!
When we think of pregnancy changes, we tend to think of the growing pregnant belly. Changes to your breasts may take you by surprise. In fact, this might be one of the earliest signs that you are pregnant.
Women start to make a special type of milk, called colostrum, beginning around 3-4 months of pregnancy. This clear, thick yellow or yellowy-orange early milk is very valuable for your baby’s health.
One of the most important decisions you will make as a new parent is how you are going to feed your baby. Understanding the benefits of breastfeeding can be key in helping you to make this decision. Families have told us that knowing why breastfeeding is important to them has helped them to hang in through a challenging start to breastfeeding.
The simple act of snuggling skin to skin impacts not only your newborn’s health but yours as well. This post examines the benefits and how to do it safely immediately after birth.
Breastfeeding can be challenging at the beginning when both you and your baby are learning. Here are 10 important breastfeeding tips we’d like every pregnant woman to know.
Baby’s poops go through a lot of changes in the first few days of life. We will walk you through what to expect and when to worry through each of the stages.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had an effect on all of us. Research about its effects is only beginning to emerge.
