3 Simple New Year Resolutions Every Mom Should Focus On

1. Be More Organized. 

I used to consider myself a decently organized person. But after having two kids I found myself feeling in disarray every day! First, I would go to cook dinner and realize I was missing key ingredients. Then I was missing socks. Or I would leave the grocery store without the ONE item I went in for! So I knew I had to make a change. I bought some cute note pads and planners and got to work. A cute visual helped me meal prep for the week, write grocery lists, and even make a cleaning schedule. It sounds simple and obvious, but this helped me tremendously!

2. Be More Patient.

I’ll be the first to admit that I lose my patience a lot. I get overwhelmed easily and the demands on a mother are tough! But I always feel horrible after I snap at my toddler for yelling my name for the millionth time or when I get frustrated with my husband for not folding the clothing the right way. My children need to see that it’s important to stay calm and practice self-control when we are frustrated…and I am their role model. I have to practice what I preach!

3. Take Care of Myself.

Mommy’s time-out

I’m still learning how essential self-care is, and I know I don’t do it enough. As a mother, I have sacrificed everything for my children, and I have given up my hobbies so I can with them more. But if I feel overwhelmed, tired and weary, then I won’t feel fully present for my children. So I need to learn to take breaks and do small things for myself. Lately I’ve learned that the phrase “You can’t pour from an empty cup” is totally true.

I hope you are able to create some New Year resolutions that help you have a fabulous 2017!

Gloria Brooks

I was born and raised in New Jersey, but now live in Tampa,FL with my husband David and 2 babies, Noah (2) and Cecelia (3 months). I went to the University of Florida to study special education and I’m currently an Autism teacher in Tampa. I’m currently extending my maternity leave to be home with my babies, and will return to teaching in January. Being a full time mommy right now is the most wonderful (and exhausting!) job in the world.

The post 3 Simple New Year Resolutions Every Mom Should Focus On appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Chances are, if you are a mother, then you’ve been a member of one of those teams. And unfortunately, with social media today, you may have experienced “mommy shaming” from the formula or breastfeeding camp.

Well I have a confession to make…I’m on BOTH teams.

Let me explain…

During my breastfeeding class- before my son was born- I learned all about the benefits of breastfeeding. The bond…the antibodies…and the cost! My goodness, formula is expensive! I knew I wanted to breastfeed my baby for all these reasons. But things didn’t exactly go according to plan.

After my son was born we dealt with a poor latch and a lot of pain. Despite a consultation with the lactation specialist and a few weeks of (unsuccessful) attempts, I switched to exclusive pumping. But my supply could never keep up with his appetite and we had to supplement with formula.

This was a hard blow for me, personally. I so badly wanted to have that contact and bond with my son without the bottle. I did extensive research on different formula brands and didn’t like some of the ingredients I was reading! I’m somewhat of a “granola” mom, and want everything to be pure and natural, and I didn’t feel like any of these formulas added up to the purity of my breastmilk.

But then…I got over my aversion to formula.

I had to. At this point, I really had no choice. I had to feed my baby. I accepted the fact that although the formula didn’t come directly from me, it is designed to give babies what they need in order to grow. Millions of babies are fed formula, and they are perfectly healthy! In fact, we are lucky to have access to such nutrition in our country.

I will always believe that breastfeeding should be attempted first, for the health benefits and the bond between mother and baby. But it is certainly a challenge too great for many women, and mother’s health and well-being are important too! But before becoming annoyed with the labor and delivery nurses for being “pushy” about breastfeeding, remember that they are not trying to be judgmental or rude. They are encouraging new mothers, not pressuring them. There are many resources to help breastfeeding moms today, from social media to local meet ups. From a member of the breastfeeding community, we are here to support and guide you…not make you feel guilty for choosing not to breastfeed.

I am currently exclusively breastfeeding my eight-month-old daughter, and couldn’t be happier.

I’m proud of myself for powering through another rocky start in our breastfeeding journey, and the bond I have with my baby is indescribable. I do get sad that I didn’t have this with my son, and wish I would have known then what I know now. I hope this article can inspire other women to attempt breastfeeding, even when it feels impossible!

This post is meant to encourage mothers to be supportive of each other no matter what. Our country is facing a great deal of judgment and disagreements right now, and we all just need to respect one another. We can offer our knowledge and experience while keep our minds open to other’s feelings and views.

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

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Gloria Brooks

I was born and raised in New Jersey, but now live in Tampa,FL with my husband David and 2 babies, Noah (2) and Cecelia (3 months). I went to the University of Florida to study special education and I’m currently an Autism teacher in Tampa. I’m currently extending my maternity leave to be home with my babies, and will return to teaching in January. Being a full time mommy right now is the most wonderful (and exhausting!) job in the world.

The post You can support “Breast is best,” but not be “Anti-formula” appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

That’s much longer than a typical maternity leave, so I felt blessed to have so much time to stay at home with my new daughter and toddler son.

While I was getting the hang of breastfeeding and managing two babies at a time, I envisioned what our days would look like. My inner teacher planned educational activities for my toddler, and I fantasized about what I would do with my free time while they napped, because they would always nap at the same time…right?

WRONG. I couldn’t be more wrong! I quickly learned that those “educational” activities would be interrupted by the needs of my newborn. And naps at the same time?! Ha! Rarely. Hell, it’s a successful day if I managed to squeeze in a shower. What was happening?! I thought stay-at-home moms sipped their coffee while their kids played together. They should look put-together all the time because they have the time to shower and do their makeup. They are always in shape because they have the time to work out.

Well after 7 months at home with my little darlings, I learned I was completely wrong about stay at home parents. Here are a few myths:

1. Stay at Home Mom’s have time to clean.

This was a hard one for me. I assumed that since I was home all day, my house would be spotless. I was so wrong. The household duties of a stay-at-home parent are endless. When I cleaned up after breakfast, there were a pile of clothes that needed to be folded. When the clothes were folded, the baby needed to be fed, and ultimately changed. Once baby was taken care of, the laundry was still there and now buckets of toys have been emptied all over the living room. While trying to pick up the clutter, my toddler requests a snack. While cutting up some fruit the baby wants to be held. I also notice that he coffee pot hasn’t been cleaned yet, and here are crumbs on the carpet. It literally never ends! Cleaning with children in the house feels like a pointless task.

2. They always look put-together.

No. If you refer to number 1, you’ll notice that cleaning and picking up takes a great deal of time. Dressing a toddler and a newborn to go out in public is a daunting task in itself, especially when your toddler is in an adorable phase of refusing to wear pants. Seriosuly, it’s like wrestling an alligator. So after dressing the kids, packing snacks and making sure my diaper bag is stocked, I barely found the energy or will to “fix” my appearance. I tried to embrace the mom bun, because it was easy and kept baby from pulling my hair. But it hardly made me look out-together. How do some moms make it look so good?!

3. Making meals is easy, since they have all day to do it.

 Making meals was probably my least favorite activity. When you’re trying to prepare healthy, well-balanced meals for your family, it requires time (something I had very little of). I would try to keep the babies entertained and let my toddler “help”, but this only made it harder. His entertainment includes pulling everything out of the cabinets while I stepped over everything, often wearing the baby. I even tried to get him to watch TV while I made dinner, but he wasn’t interested. I also learned why this is often called the “witching hour”…whining, crying and clinginess are at an all-time high.

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4. Stay at Home Mom’s get breaks, naps, and time to themselves.

Furthest thing from the truth. I literally feel like I never stop moving all day. I can rarely get them to nap at the same time, so I was constantly entertaining a child. It was nice to have alone time with each baby- but it certainly can be exhausting! For the few occasions when they actually napped at the same time, it became my only time to pick up toys, prepare a crockpot meal, eat lunch, shower, etc. There is very little, if any, time to yourself when you are caring for babies all day.

Now that I’ve returned to work, I look back and wish I could still have those days at home with my babies, even when they were chaotic.

The time with my babies was priceless. And I wonder if there were ways I could have made my life easier. More crockpot meals? Hire a cleaning service? Have husband do the laundry after the babies have gone to bed? Throw away 95% of the toys we have? If there is a book called “How to be a Stay at Home Mom Without Being a Hot Mess”, please send it my way.

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld

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Gloria Brooks

I was born and raised in New Jersey, but now live in Tampa,FL with my husband David and 2 babies, Noah (2) and Cecelia (3 months). I went to the University of Florida to study special education and I’m currently an Autism teacher in Tampa. I’m currently extending my maternity leave to be home with my babies, and will return to teaching in January. Being a full time mommy right now is the most wonderful (and exhausting!) job in the world.

The post 4 Misconceptions of a Stay at Home Mom appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

It happens all the time.

It’s Dinnertime. My husband walks in the door from work, and it appears he’s walking into a zoo. There are clothes, toys, and other random objects strewn about the foyer, living room and kitchen. I’ve been picking up these random items all day. Literally ALL DAY.

The kitchen looks like the children had a field day when in fact, it was just me trying to cook pasta while supervising and entertaining two small children. Water has boiled over the pot onto the stove, the cabinet that I forgot to lock has now had its contents emptied by my toddler and they are scattered all over the floor. I’m holding my youngest because for some reason she cries every single night while I’m trying to make dinner, so I cautiously stir the pasta sauce while holding her as far away from the stove as possible.

My scraggly ponytail I’ve had since this morning is falling loosely from my head and I have spit up on my shoulder. I feel slightly guilty that I never look “put together” for my husband. My toddler is running around without a diaper on because I haven’t had time to put a new one on him yet. He keeps asking me to pick him up, and it’s pulling at my heartstrings because I have to tell him no since I’m already holding his baby sister.

My husband sees this sight and says timidly, “Hey babe…”, then waits for my response to determine his next move.

On days like this, I either don’t respond or I hiss “take her” as I hand him the baby.

I feel like it’s not fair that he hasn’t had the day that I’ve had. It’s not fair that he actually got a lunch break, or peed without someone barging in on him, or got to just sit for 5 minutes without being interrupted. When he says “It’s been such a long day”, I shoot daggers out of my eyes towards him. The worst is when he walks in and says “Man, I’m so tired.” It’s almost like he wants to see me hit the roof.

Not every day is like this.

In fact, there are many days when he is greeted by a happy, jumpy toddler and a calm, collected (and clean!) wife. I happily hand him his baby girl and watch with loving eyes as he takes them to the couch to read a book while I peacefully finish a healthy, well-balanced meal for our family.

But today was not that day. Today’s dinner ended with crying (me, not the kids) and a large glass of Pinot Grigio. I didn’t even eat with my family. I needed to step outside and get some fresh air and drink some fresh(ly poured) wine.

After taking a few minutes to remove myself from the stress of dinnertime, I was able to re-compose myself and re-join my family on the couch. My toddler sits in my lap, hands me a book and says “Read, Mommy.”  I happily oblige, and I remember that these are the moments that make it all worth it. The chaos has dissipated and everyone is happy and calm. The rainbow after the storm.

I’m not sure why dinnertime goes smoothly on some nights, but not others.

Maybe it has to do with how well everyone napped that day, or the amount of prep time that particular meal requires. But I do know that it’s a temporary period of craziness and it wont last forever. In fact, years from now, I’ll probably miss it. So as hard as it is now, I try to embrace it as much as possible. And on the nights like tonight when it feels too difficult to appreciate…well, that’s what the Pinot is for.

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

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Gloria Brooks

I was born and raised in New Jersey, but now live in Tampa,FL with my husband David and 2 babies, Noah (2) and Cecelia (3 months). I went to the University of Florida to study special education and I’m currently an Autism teacher in Tampa. I’m currently extending my maternity leave to be home with my babies, and will return to teaching in January. Being a full time mommy right now is the most wonderful (and exhausting!) job in the world.

The post Motherhood and the Dinnertime Blues appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

We produce “liquid gold”, a perfect food for our babies. But to many women, breastfeeding doesn’t just happen. In fact, it can be difficult and frustrating. From an improper latch to sore, painful nipples, there are many challenges women can face while establishing a breastfeeding relationship with her newborn. Despite how badly I wanted to breastfeed there were many days I could have just thrown in the towel and given up.

I was lucky to have a strong support system. I had an amazing lactation specialist, a husband who understood my breastfeeding goals, and mommy friends who had experience. But sometimes I think friends, family and spouses assume there’s nothing they can do to help a new mom when breastfeeding isn’t going well. They might feel helpless when a new mama is crying because her baby won’t latch, or breastfeeding is painful. But actually, friends and family play a pivotal role in a mother’s life! Their support can actually affect how long a mother decides to breastfeed. Here are a few ways others can help a struggling mom:

1. Help her find resources for help.

A mother with a newborn is exhausted and weary. She may have forgotten tips and tricks she learned from friends and her breastfeeding class. Help her schedule an appointment with a lactation specialist, and offer to watch her other children while she goes to her appointment. Find her local La Leche League on Facebook so she can attend meet ups or talk with other breastfeeding mamas from the comfort of her own home. Facebook is especially useful for those late nights when she is the only one awake in the house, but wants to reach out to other moms that understand. Encourage her to seek help from trained professionals and other experienced women.

2. Be her cheerleader.

Remind her of what a great job she’s doing. Tell her what a wonderful mommy she is. Breastfeeding is a very personal experience, and women can feel less-than-adequate when they have difficulty. We are told what a “natural” process it is, so when it doesn’t come “naturally” it can feel like a failure! The first few weeks are hard and can feel very lonely. Offer words of encouragement so she feels loved and supported during this difficult time.

3. Bring her snacks and water.

It’s easy to forget to keep yourself fed and hydrated when you are caring for a newborn around the clock. It’s even harder when you have additional children to care for. Simple, easy-to-make snacks are essential to mothers with newborns. Nursing moms need water to produce milk, and they need to increase their calories consumed to compensate for those burned while breastfeeding!

4. Offer to do other chores around the house.

Breastfeeding is a full-time job in itself, so other household chores feel like huge obstacles to a new mom. Fold the laundry that has been in the dryer for two days, walk the dog and clean the litter box, run the dishwasher, pick up other children’s toys. Anything to make her life easier. Breastfed newborns feed every 2-3 hours, so mama should be able to rest while baby is napping.

5. Listen.

Sometimes a mom doesn’t want advice, she just wants someone to listen. Let her cry, yell and vent when she is frustrated. Hug her and let her know you are there for her.

What are some things that you found helpful as a breastfeeding mom? What kind of help do you wish you received?

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

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Gloria Brooks

I was born and raised in New Jersey, but now live in Tampa,FL with my husband David and 2 babies, Noah (2) and Cecelia (3 months). I went to the University of Florida to study special education and I’m currently an Autism teacher in Tampa. I’m currently extending my maternity leave to be home with my babies, and will return to teaching in January. Being a full time mommy right now is the most wonderful (and exhausting!) job in the world.

The post 5 Ways to Help a Breastfeeding Mom appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural, beautiful acts our bodies can perform. We create “liquid gold” to provide our babies with the most perfect food. But what happens when it doesn’t come naturally? What about the mothers who struggle to get their newborn to latch? For many women, finding breastfeeding support and establishing a solid breastfeeding relationship is very hard. A baby may not latch properly, the pain might be unbearable, or the lack of sleep alone can make a woman feel discouraged.

According to La Leche League USA (2016) only 18% of babies are still exclusively breastfed at 6 months of age. As a breastfeeding mother, this statistic makes me sad!

Why are women giving up breastfeeding so early?

Mothers can face numerous challenges when establishing a breastfeeding relationship. From improper latch to the desperate need for sleep, one thing is for certain…they need breastfeeding SUPPORT. Partners, friends, family and employers play an essential role in a mother’s breastfeeding journey. Words of encouragement and a listening ear can work wonders when a woman is struggling. She needs to feel comfortable at work in order to continue pumping, and have a clean and private space.

Mothers should also take advantage of other resources available.

Lactation consultants can help identify any occurring issues and create an action plan. Many hospitals have breastfeeding support groups. La Leche League has local chapters with meet-ups, and plenty of experienced mothers who can offer support and advice.

When Nursing Isn’t Easy, Find Breastfeeding Support

Perhaps if more women have breastfeeding support and feel informed when they begin breastfeeding, they will nurse their babies longer. It’s the healthiest and cheapest option, and the bond between a nursing mother and her baby is priceless.

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

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Gloria Brooks

I was born and raised in New Jersey, but now live in Tampa,FL with my husband David and 2 babies, Noah (2) and Cecelia (3 months). I went to the University of Florida to study special education and I’m currently an Autism teacher in Tampa. I’m currently extending my maternity leave to be home with my babies, and will return to teaching in January. Being a full time mommy right now is the most wonderful (and exhausting!) job in the world.

The post When Nursing Isn’t Easy, Find Breastfeeding Support appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

I have been off work as a full-time mommy to a 2-year-old and a newborn. My life has been a combination of chaos, bliss, exhaustion and overwhelming love. I didn’t know what to expect staying at home for so long with my babies. Being a teacher, I thought I coincidentally was having my baby at the perfect time…May! Just in time for summer break.

I had to return to work following the birth of my son after 2 1/2 months, and it absolutely killed me. Returning so soon devastated me. It felt so unfair and unnatural to leave my baby with someone else, even though I was lucky enough to have my mother and mother-in-law watch him. If it was financially feasible, I would have taken an entire year (or more) off.

So after the birth of my daughter, I chose to extend my maternity leave by an extra couple of months.

The days of being home with a toddler and newborn are long and tiring, but they are the best. I love being a stay-at-home mom- even if it’s only temporary. But now with less than two months before I return to work, my mind is full of worries.

What milestones will I miss? Will my daughter start crawling while I’m at work? Will she say her first word? Losing 40 hours a week with my children is a LOT. I’m bound to miss the important stuff, on top of missing out on their everyday lives.

What will happen to our breastfeeding relationship? Will she take a bottle? Or what if she prefers the bottle over me? Will she be as attached to me as she is now? Will my milk supply drop? We did not have an easy start with breastfeeding…we worked really hard at it.

If our breastfeeding relationship is affected by my work it will devastate me.

Will she feel as though I’m abandoning her? Her comfort zone includes me nursing her to sleep, playing and singing with her, wearing her constantly…how will she adjust to all this time apart?

I know it is a blessing to have those six wonderful months with my newborn. That’s a lot longer than most working moms. But I can’t help but feel pain in my heart at the thought of going back to work full-time. I’m scrambling to network with others to find a part-time job that would have a comparable salary to my full-time career…no luck.

Like all working moms, when the day comes I’ll just have to put on my big girl pants and go to work. After all, I know I have two little ones watching. And the time with them after work will be oh-so-wonderful.

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

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Gloria Brooks

I was born and raised in New Jersey, but now live in Tampa,FL with my husband David and 2 babies, Noah (2) and Cecelia (3 months). I went to the University of Florida to study special education and I’m currently an Autism teacher in Tampa. I’m currently extending my maternity leave to be home with my babies, and will return to teaching in January. Being a full time mommy right now is the most wonderful (and exhausting!) job in the world.

The post Returning to Work and What Worries Mothers Face appeared first on Breastfeeding World.