Tag Archive for "breastfeeding" | The Organic Beauty

Why Some Women Lose Weight While Breastfeeding and Others Don’t

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Friday, October 2, 2020 Ayurveda, Holistic Health, Lifestyle, Motherhood, Wellness Ayurvedic eating, breastfeeding, Healthy Eating, motherhood, weight loss Permalink 0

After having my first baby, I was so proud of my body for bouncing back pretty quickly. I never quite got my pre-baby abs back, but my body shed about 20 pounds within a few weeks of giving birth, and lost most of the rest within about 6 months (honestly, I don’t know exactly because I don’t own a scale!). I nursed my daughter for a little over two years, and was one of those happy breastfeeding cases — I just breastfed myself back to my former body! (Read about my journey the first time around)

Five years later, the second time has been quite different. Though I’m doing everything the same as round one — extended breastfeeding, eating super healthy (give or take a bit of extra pandemic vegan ice cream), and working out way more than usual (hello, home all day!) — my body is stubbornly holding on to more extra weight than I’d care to admit… a full YEAR after giving birth.

Why is this happening??!?! Does breastfeeding actually help you lose weight? What can I do to lose some of this stubborn weight without compromising my milk supply?

Motivation To Keep Breastfeeding, Even When It Sucks

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Tuesday, December 13, 2016 Healthy Baby, Holistic Health, Motherhood, Wellness breastfeeding, inspiration, motherhood, motivation Permalink 0

Motivation to Keep Breastfeeding Even When It Sucks | The Organic Beauty Blog

Breastfeeding is one of those aspects of motherhood that you just expect to come naturally. We’re mammals after all, right? Do mama bears and lions really struggle with low supply, sore nipples, and mastitis? Obviously our animal counterparts are spared the emotional and lifestyle dramas and sacrifices that come with choosing to breastfeed their young — the stigma of feeding in public or breastfeeding a toddler, the limits on alcohol and potential dietary restrictions, the feeling of being totally tethered to your baby at all times (especially if, like mine, they have no interest in drinking pumped milk from any receptacle). Even with those particularly human challenges aside, it just seems like it should be easier to do something our bodies were built to do. But it isn’t. At least not for many of us mamas.

The BEST Lactation Cookies Around

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Tuesday, October 25, 2016 Diet and Foods, Healthy Baby, Healthy Eating, Holistic Health, Motherhood, Recipes, Wellness breastfeeding, healthy mama, healthy sweets, lactation, lactation cookies Permalink 0

I never thought that I would have to worry about milk supply with a one year old, but alas. Little M turned 14 months and started nursing like an infant again (growth spurt? developmental leap? who knows!), and my boobs just can’t keep up! I’ve been upping my lactogenic tinctures and eating more milk boosting foods in general (read my 6 Ways to Boost Milk Supply for details on both of those), but I needed a little extra oomph. That’s where these delicious lactation cookies came in! Seriously, this recipe is the best one I’ve found, and I’ve searched far and wide.

Soothing Silver for Sore Nipples

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Thursday, February 11, 2016 Healthy Baby, Holistic Health, Product Reviews, Wellness Amorini, breastfeeding, Healthy Baby, healthy mama, nursing Permalink 0

Amorini Silver Nipple Soothers | The Organic Beauty Blog

If there’s one thing that comes up ALL the time amongst new moms, it’s sore nipples. First they’re super sore in the beginning, as we sort out shallow latches and supply and get the hang of the whole breastfeeding thing. Then, just when we think we’re home free, around 4-5 months, those babes start getting teeth, and being super distracted during nursing sessions, pulling and tugging at our poor nipples, and occasionally giving them a good ol’ chomp. We’re not there yet, but I assume once the top teeth start coming in at 8-9 months, we’ll be in for a whole new round of drama.

Super Yummy Lactation Balls!

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Tuesday, January 19, 2016 Diet and Foods, Healthy Baby, Healthy Cooking, Healthy Eating, Holistic Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Wellness breastfeeding, Healthy desserts, healthy snacks, lactation, milk supply Permalink 0

Yummy Lactation Balls

Continuing on our lactation kick here at The Organic Beauty, we have a new delicious recipe from a beautiful mama, my friend Tara at Tara Josette Snacks. Tara is part of the amazing community of new mamas that I’m so lucky to be a part of here in LA, and she’s always bringing these super duper yummy lactation balls to our mommy playdates. No joke, you guys, these things are FOR REAL. After eating a couple delicious little balls, my milk got flowing like crazy, which was especially crucial after my supply took a hit when I starting my period again : ( (For more ways to naturally boost milk supply, click here).

The delicious lactation balls have a bunch of ingredients that are amazing for milk supply (like brewer’s yeast and oats) and quality (like coconut oil and nuts). They are naturally sweet and are perfect for satisfying a sugar craving healthfully. They’re loaded with healthy fats, protein, and whole grains, so they’re also awesome for keeping you full and stabilizing blood sugar. The long and the short of it.. They’re awesome. Here are a few words about them from the lovely Tara:

6 Ways to Boost Milk Supply

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Tuesday, January 19, 2016 Diet and Foods, Healthy Baby, Healthy Eating, Holistic Health, Nutrition, Wellness breastfeeding, galactagogues, Healthy Baby, Holistic Health, holistic mama Permalink 0

Boost Milk Supply

A lot of breastfeeding women freak out when they notice their supply dropping while traveling, if they get sick, or around the time they start menstruating again (usually between 4-6 months after birth), and think they need to start supplementing with formula. It doesn’t help that many myself had major drops in supply from all three of these factors, which led me to dive deep into natural ways to boost milk supply. The good news is, I discovered tons of easy peasy things you can do to boost your supply when things get a little dry. Unless there is something medical going on, like hypoplasia (or insufficient breast tissue), there is no reason to start using formula if you want to keep exclusively breastfeeding. If you choose to use formula for other reasons, no judgment here! These ways to boost milk supply are for you ladies (like me!) who desperately want to keep nursing your little one and are faced with a drop in supply.

Miraculous Lactation Smoothie

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Wednesday, November 4, 2015 Diet and Foods, Healthy Baby, Healthy Eating, Holistic Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Wellness baby, breastfeeding, healthy mommy, healthy recipes, lactation Permalink 0

When you’re a breastfeeding mom, your supply can become a bit of an obsession. So many things can impact it, and when your baby is 100% dependent on that liquid gold for nourishment, it can definitely send you into a panic when your supply takes a hit. I got sick with the flu a month ago, and my supply dwindled to scary levels. Thankfully I had a nice supply of frozen milk to get us through the rough patch, but it was still harrowing.

To get my supply back up, and to keep it flowing, I take Motherlove More Milk Blend, Shatavari, and Malunggay, and I drink this smoothie at least 4 times a week. You guys, this stuff is no joke. After a week of taking the supplements 3 times a day and drinking this smoothie, I was pumping 5 oz. per breast, which is crazy for having a 3 month old. I actually cut back the supplements to even things out, but still drink the smoothie regularly.