Increasing your milk supply can be a challenge for many breastfeeding mamas. While there are lots of different strategies to boost milk production, one specific practice that has proven effective for some is power pumping. This technique is pretty low risk – it doesn’t include supplements or things you’re supposed to eat and it utilizes […] The post Power Pumping for Low Milk Supply appeared first on The Labor Mama | Online Birth Classes to Feel Empowered ..read more

Without question, homemade chicken pot pie is one of my favorite things to eat postpartum or to bring to a new mother postpartum. And when it’s my mama’s recipe? Gosh, it just feels like love. Unfortunately, my mama passed away a few years ago. But using her recipe for my own family and using it to bless other women in the mama story feels like a really sweet way to honor her memory. So, if you make this for yourself or someone you love? I’m going to tell myself that it’s a way my mama and her love are still alive and well. Other recipes I love: Kelvin’s Chili (also from my mama!) Chop-Chop Sa ..read more

My mama showed me that food is a love language – and a postpartum meal? That is SERIOUS love. I love taking food to postpartum mamas, and I love prepping it for myself before my own postpartums too. And it’s even better to me when I can make something that is basically “comfort soup.” This soup, some cheddar cheese and some Fritos? It’s one of my favorite ways to bless a new mama AND a fav to eat in my own postpartums (lactation cookies for dessert included). I do love chili most in the darker, winter months when the days feel so short and those nights can feel so thick and deep. But ..read more

Whether you’re currently pregnant or you’re up at 2am feeding your new baby, I’m sure at one point or another you’ve typed “best nursing bras” into Google and found yourself completely overwhelmed with all of the options out there. Especially because every single one claims to be the best. Navigating the sea of nursing bras can feel overwhelming, but as a mom of four and a certified lactation consultant, I’ve done the legwork for you (aka – thousands of nursing sessions with my babies)! After trying countless brands and styles, I always find myself coming back to a few tried-and-true options ..read more

I hate dates and I believe that they might be helpful for labor prep. Sound like you? Whether or not you like dates, if you’re here for a date recipe to try as you are getting ready for the birth of your babe, I got you! These little chocolate covered goodies do a great job of hiding whatever flavor it is about dates that turns me off. I also love having a stash of these prepped and ready for when I don’t feel like making a smoothie, baking something with dates, etc. Want my favorite Date Smoothie recipe for all of this too? That’s right here! Before we get to the recipe, I want to give you a ..read more

Have you heard of collecting colostrum before birth? There’s a good chance you may not have – totally okay! And if you have, you may also be wondering “what the heck is this all about and how the heck do I do that?” I’m so pumped you’re here, because I’m going to tell you! Antenatal colostrum collection, or colostrum harvesting, feels like a bit of a “newer” birth prep thing, but it has some awesome benefits for you and baby and I personally don’t think it’s hard to try at all! Let’s get into it. First things first: There is a “partner” blog to this post that you should read first! Go read: Wh ..read more

If you are pregnant right now, there is a good chance that you have group B strep (GBS) screen coming up. If you’ve been pregnant, I’m going to guess that you definitely remember this screen! And if this all sounds foreign, or you’re saying “yah, can you please explain to me what this is all about?” – I got you! As a labor nurse, I’ve seen tons of mamas walk this story (it’s really common), so you definitely need to understand what group B strep in pregnancy and labor is and what it might mean for you and your baby! Who is The Labor Mama and Why Am I Here?  Hey friend! I’m Lo – also know ..read more

Pregnant and thinking ahead to your breastfeeding story? I know I always am! Regardless of what has or hasn’t happened with my prior baby(ies), I’ve always been so aware that every mama/baby couplet is so different! And I’ve seen this in my repeat patients time and again too. I absolutely think the wisdom of prior experiences helps guide us in our next stories, but it’s also a really good idea to approach your breastfeeding relationship, and the idea of a healthy milk supply as a bit of a brand new expience each time too. So, whether your a first time mama wondering about all of this or it’s y ..read more

Something I’ve loved about each of my pregnancies is how I feel I’ve managed to commemorate them in some way or another – largely because I recognize the journey is just as powerful and important as the (birthing) destination. For a lot of us, finding out the sex of our baby and then doing some type of gender reveal is part of this journey, right? And Pinterest is (of course) SO full of ideas about cute, fun, or “never been done before” ways to do this.  To be honest, I definitely try to be careful with my own use of Pinterest. I LOVE a good DIY, recipe, kids’ valentine’s day card, or tip ..read more

My first two kids were 21 months apart. If I can be honest, that age gap wasn’t completely planned. In our heads, my husband and I had always thought 2+ years apart, but our tiny, feisty 2nd girl made up her own mind and snuck into our lives a little bit earlier.   Two under two rocked me. I’m assuming it does most everyone who experiences it. And I’m also sure that things were even harder in the wake of my mama’s death. I’ve heard it said before, that “the body keeps score” – and if my life is any indication, I think it does. The year after my second was born was hard. My weight plummete ..read more