Should We Pump and Dump After A Night Out?
I have a friend that brought a bottle of chardonnay right into the delivery room, packed in her hospital go bag. As soon as the cord was cut, the chilled wine flowed into mini red solo cups she packed just for this moment. She and her husband wanted to celebrate [...]
The Smallest Victims of the Opioid Epidemic
The opioid crisis has touched all of us; more than 2.5 million Americans are dealing with addiction to prescription or illicit opioids. The origins of the epidemic can be traced back to the late 1990s when pharmaceutical companies began to aggressively market drugs like Oxycodone to providers. Drug manufacturers reassured [...]
Products Moms Will Love in 2019
Each year baby gear gets cooler, smarter and more parent-friendly. 2019 will be no exception, there are some ingenious products launching this year and I wanted to share my favorites. My criteria for choosing the best products is simple, I ask myself "would I buy this?" I am notoriously cheap [...]
Boy-Moms at Higher Risk for Post Partum Depression
Hey Boy-Moms, a new study out of the UK finds you are way more likely to suffer with post-partum depression (PPD) than Girl-Moms. Researchers looked at 300 women over several decades and found the odds of developing (PPD) for moms of males is 71 - 79% higher than moms [...]
Five Tips for Exclusively Pumping Moms
Breastfeeding isn’t defined by putting your baby to breast. Many moms choose to pump and use a bottle to feed. By choice or necessity exclusive pumping is growing in popularity as pump technology improves and moms are heading back to work with the intention to continue feeding breast milk. There [...]
Boob Tube episode 19 – Dealing with Fertility Challenges
In this episode we talk about the challenges some moms have trying to get pregnant. Tobi talks about her own journey to motherhood and we hear from other moms and moms-to-be about their struggles with fertility. For more of the Boob Tube check out The Boob Tube at Fairhaven Health. [...]
Boob Tube Episode 18 – Bringing Home Baby Survival Guide
This episode Tobi and I talk about the reality of the first days and weeks and how it compares to our ideal experience. Tune in to hear more about our first days as moms and comments from viewers about their experiences too! To see more episodes click on the link [...]
Jaundice 101
Most infants (50-70%) develop jaundice in the first weeks of life. If your baby has jaundice, he may have yellow-tinted skin or eyes. The yellow color is the result of too much bilirubin in your baby’s blood; bilirubin is a brownish - yellow color. Typically parents notice yellowing in the [...]
Lowering Your Baby’s Risk of Peanut Allergy
New research suggests mothers can lower their child’s risk of peanut allergy by eating peanuts during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This is big news since peanut allergy is increasingly common in the US, it effects 1-2% of the population here. And if it seems like more people are suffering from peanut [...]
Identifying and Addressing Risk Factors for Perceived Low Milk Supply
Low milk supply is the most common reason mothers give for supplementing with formula and giving up breastfeeding altogether. While the actual percentage of moms that wean early due to Perceived Insufficient Milk (PIM) is tough to pin down – the data ranges from 35-80% - milk supply appears to [...]
Fussy or Food Allergy?
Variety is the spice of life and that goes for breastfed babies too. Your milk changes as your baby grows, if either of you is sick and takes on the flavors of the foods you eat. The changing flavor of your milk can help your baby accept different tastes later [...]
Boob Tube Episode 16 – Stress and Your Supply
Tobi and I talk about our pumping journeys as working pumping moms with long shifts away from our babies - she works 24 hour shifts and I work 12 hour shifts! Some great info about how stress effects your milk supply (spoiler - it doesn't by itself). This topic is [...]
The Real Scoop on Your Baby’s Poop
Babies can be mysterious creatures. They have few needs but the variations on those needs can be endless. So any clues into their wellbeing are helpful. One big source of information is your baby’s diaper – your baby’s poop can help you understand what is happening inside his or her [...]
Boob Tube Episode 15 – Breastfeeding Beyond Baby Years
In this episode, Tobi and I get into the good and not-so-good of extended breastfeeding. Depending on your support system, breastfeeding beyond your baby's first birthday was easy or maybe a bit more of a struggle. Check out the comments, we have so many moms sharing their stories about breastfeeding [...]
Health Risks of Motherhood Are Higher for African Americans
As healthcare providers we strive to provide the same care to all of our patients and see good health outcomes across the lifespan, income level and educational status. Mostly, we have been successful – more mothers are insured, home visiting programs have shown promising results and more infants getting their [...]
Boob Tune Episode 14 – Supplementing with Formula. Myth vs Reality
In this episode, Tobi and I discuss supplementing with formula. We share our stories and talk about the best way to increase your milk supply and kick the can. Watch for some great information about this topic! For more of the Boob Tube check out The Boob Tube at Fairhaven [...]