Express yourself!!

For you mama’s and soon to be mama’s you know it gets real when producing breast milk for your baby! It’s a process and not always easy.

I ate lactation cookies, made smoothies, ordered feenugreek bars, and more importantly relaxed, nursed her as often as possible and pumped like a crazy lady. I made it to 7 months before I started supplementing. I’m still nursing her but she no longer exclusively receives breast milk. That shit is hard!!

So I nurse her in the mornings (which is why I’m late to work sometimes),  in the evenings,  and she drinks formula and breast-milk during the day for the days that I don’t pump enough milk.

Here is a recipe that is not only delicious but gives a boost to your milk.

Ingredients:

• about 1 cup of frozen strawberries(or more if you desire)
• 1 cup Almond Milk – or soy
• 1/2 cup Old Fashioned Oats
• 2 tablespoons-Brewers yeast- this is the magic. It’s rich in B- vitamins and it works!
• 1/2 teaspoon -Vanilla extract
• Honey-optional as an additional sweetner

Brewers yeast can taste bitter (like beer) if you put a lot so masking it with other flavors works for me.

Directions: In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. The oats can leave a texture so be prepared. Pour and serve.

5 tips to breastfeeding

1. Work with a lactation consultant or a nurse during the early days in the hospital to help with your technique. It may take some work or it may come natural.
2. Be open minded. I set myself a 1 month goal, saw the price of formula and then set a 3 month goal, 6 months etc. lol. Just kidding but I was open to formula feeding if necessary.
3. Be healthy:mind, body, and soul. Take prenatal vitamins,be mindful of what you eat, and remain positive. Do what works for you.
4. Feed your baby when your baby is hungry even if you are in public. Period. You don’t want to cover, you feel more comfortable with a cover whatever your preference do you. No explanation necessary.
5. Practice pumping at least 2 weeks before returning to work. You can build a stash and you’ll also see that it’s different from nursing.