Written by Christina Flaherty, a Doula and Certified Lactation Specialist. When I meet with pregnant women at their prenatal doula meetings, I often get asked, “What can I do to prepare for breastfeeding my baby?”  Often times, women have preconceived notions of what breastfeeding will be like from watching friends or family members.  Maybe they have heard how wonderful it is to bond with your baby or how inexpensive breastfeeding is or maybe they have even heard horror stories about mastitis or thrush.  Every woman brings her own unique perceptions of what to expect in the first few days and...

It’s no secret that social media has changed the way we perceive our lives. I am so guilty of gushing over how perfect the lives of others seem through the screen. I was well on the way to my very own picture perfect family when life stopped in its tracks. My whole world fell apart during a season (this season) when everyone is celebrating, cheerful, and thankful. I became an island of secret sadness and grief; a zombie amongst the Christmas elves. When my son was a newborn, the beloved holidays turned on me and became only painful reminders. My...

I treated my pregnancy as though I was in the back seat, along for the ride. The entire process was a new adventure, or this is how I chose to look at it instead of being terrified. For those of you who don’t know me I’m someone who usually faints at the discussion of medical procedures. If there is blood being drawn or a shot in sight, forget it, good bye, I’m out. I was even known to pass out and have seizures from a simple shot. But my baby gave me strength to overcome these fears. I knew I...

Pictured: Moss & Marsh Shopping Cart Cover   Who likes grocery shopping every week? Last month I was sitting down to decide what meals to make that week and create my grocery list. Then I thought, what if I planned meals for the month? So, I took fifteen extra minutes, a calendar and got to work. Now, I’m in my second month of monthly meal planning and I can’t wait to share all the benefits with you. I cut my grocery spending in half and here’s why: Buy in bulk, spend less. Less time grocery shopping. Less impulse buying. Think...

Hi, I’m Dr. Jessica Donaldson from Children’s Care at Memorial Health! Today’s topic on nutrition and feeding concerns is something I deal with on a regular basis because I take care of hundreds of children, and, in many ways, their parents also. So, here is my advice on infant nutrition.  (Disclaimer: these are general recommendations, and are derived from the American Academy of Pediatrics, however make sure to still discuss specific concerns for your child with the Pediatrician who knows your child, as these recommendations may not apply to every situation) First, breastfeeding!  Pictured: Moss & Marsh Nursing Cover. Photo By...