<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"  xmlns:isc="http://dtd.3dcart.com/ecommerce-1.0.dtd">
<channel>
<title>Milk Smart Mama: Blog Posts</title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com</link>
<pubDate>2012-05-18</pubDate>
<description>List of Latest Blog Posts at Milk Smart Mama</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<isc:store_name><![CDATA[Milk Smart Mama]]></isc:store_name>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Pinspiration!]]></title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com/Pinspiration_b_76.html</link>
<pubDate>2012-04-04</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.milksmartmama.com/Pinspiration_b_76.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[In tonight's recipe-and-craft-searching on Pinterest, I came across some gooooorgeous photos that I just had to share with you all. 1. Model Miranda Kerr, wife of actor Orlando Bloom, nursing their sweet baby boy when he was brand new!2. A layout from Vogue magazine.3. A promotional poster from 1938.4. Ever wondered about breastfeeding into toddlerhood? This lays it all out for you!5. Don't forget to have nursing portraits taken!6. Another great vintage breastfeeding ad, selling beer!7. This one never fails to bring a smile to my face!Who else is a Pinaholic? Come follow us!]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[76]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Katie]]></isc:author>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Breastfeeding in Emergencies | IN & KY Tornadoes]]></title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com/Breastfeeding-in-Emergencies-IN-KY-Tornadoes_b_75.html</link>
<pubDate>2012-03-05</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.milksmartmama.com/Breastfeeding-in-Emergencies-IN-KY-Tornadoes_b_75.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Friday morning, we woke up to warnings of terrible storms with heavy threats of tornadoes. As we all prepared for mad runs to the basement, we were not able to prepare for the F-3 and F-4 tornadoes that slammed through Southern Indiana and parts of Kentucky. With the current death toll at a whopping 37 people, with hundreds more injured, the damage is incredible. Stories of survivors are rolling out alongside the non-survivors, photos of communities razed from the earth are being shared, and people are working to clean up and salvage. This morning, we were welcomed by a thick blanket of snow which will possibly slow relief efforts down. For the rest of this week, we will be donating 10% of all sales to the American Red Cross. In 2009, World Breastfeeding Week focused on breastfeeding during an emergency. When the worst possible scenario happens - like your entire community being wiped out by an F-4 tornado - a breastfed baby that is with its Mother will still have access to nutrition. One of the biggest issues during times of disaster is the lack of clean water as giving an infant a bottle with a questionable water supply can be extremely dangerous, even deadly. It keeps Moms with babies, helping keep families intact. It provides a moment of quiet in what is often a frantic, overwhelming time. It can be a lifesaver - for both Mom and baby.Read more about nursing during an emergency at La Leche League International or the UNICEF website. Please keep these small communities in the forefront of your thoughts this week as they work to clear the areas that were hit the hardest. For more information on how to help with relief efforts, you can click here.Have something to share?Find us on Facebook or Twitter!or email me katie@milksmartmama.com]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[75]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Katie ]]></isc:author>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[A MilkSmartMama Story: Katherayne S.]]></title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com/A-MilkSmartMama-Story-Katherayne-S_b_74.html</link>
<pubDate>2012-02-27</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.milksmartmama.com/A-MilkSmartMama-Story-Katherayne-S_b_74.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Katherayne is the 22 year old stay at home Mom of two (ages 2 and 11 months) and wife to her husband of four years. They currently reside in Columbus, Ohio, and she has the desire to become a lactation consultant, noting that breastfeeding was something she wanted to try, but never expected to be so passionate about. I set my first goal at days, then 6 months, and then a year. Before his first birthday we learned I was pregnant with our daughter, and made the decision to nurse through pregnancy. Despite all of the 'could be's' with nursing through pregnancy, my son did not wean. So the decision was made to tandem nurse when the baby made her arrival. Now here we are tandem nursing, my son reached the 2 year mark and my daughter is coming up to her year mark next month.Her postpartum support was somewhat varied, receiving help from the hospital staff (It wasn't fantastic, but also wasn't horrible.), visiting with a lactation consultant for a follow-up after being discharged, and utilizing WIC. Even though some of the famed Booby Traps reared their heads, including someone telling her to wean her baby before her second was born, she kept nursing. Her biggest supporter? Her husband, of course, and friends in an online community. It was hard there because I felt like the minority making the decision to breastfeed.Her tandem nursing experience has been punctuated by the sweet (watching her children hold hands while nursing together, giggling and talking) and not-so-sweet (hair-pulling, fighting over which breast to nurse from, pinching). The most rewarding part is knowing that both of my children are able to share this nourishment. I know that it is good for both of them and that they can both share in it. I also love the times when they are sweet while nursing, when they try to hold hands and cuddle one another. When asked about her daughter's lip tie, Katherayne explained that she was the one that identified the problem and set out to find ways to work around it. After poking around in her babe's mouth looking for new teeth, she realized that something looked different. Once discovered, she says that it all made sense: why she had difficulties latching and why Katherayne always had to take extra care to make sure that everyone was comfortable. As of now, there are no plans to have it clipped, noting that she just works around it with her babe.Her #1 means of support? Facebook groups! Milk Smart Mama and The Leaky B@@b are regular reads, noting that it's somewhat easier to read online while nursing. (So, so true! It's downright impossible to flip pages with one baby latched, let alone two!) The best advice I was given was that if I tried, I could. Most problems that people have with nursing CAN be solved. So if I needed help and a solution, I could find it. Just to go with the flow and take it as it comes.Thank you, so much, for sharing your story with us, Katherayne! Have something to share?Find us on Facebook or Twitter!or email me katie@milksmartmama.com]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[74]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Katie ]]></isc:author>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[The Sweet Spot: Your Breastfeeding Corner]]></title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com/The-Sweet-Spot-Your-Breastfeeding-Corner_b_73.html</link>
<pubDate>2012-01-31</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.milksmartmama.com/The-Sweet-Spot-Your-Breastfeeding-Corner_b_73.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[I'll go ahead and admit it: I love, love, love watching people decorate their nurseries. I love seeing the finished product, especially when they've taken the time to make it breastfeeding-friendly, setting Mom up with a quiet, relaxing area to enjoy and feed her baby. Personally, my 'nursing corner' was the couch, flanked by a small side table and basket that held extra diapers, wipes, lanolin, nursing pads and burp cloths, but I always wished that I had a little more privacy from my then-two-year-old, the noise of the television, the glow of my husband's laptop. A place to escape.So, while you're planning your nursery, here are a few things to remember ...You need a comfortable chair. Something supportive, that you actually enjoy sitting in. It should be easy-to-clean for when the inevitable happens. I actually purchased an antique, wooden rocking chair that was gorgeous, but extremely uncomfortable to sit in. (What was I thinking?) Learn from my mistake! [Chair: Pottery Barn Kids Comfort Small Round Arm Glider]A side table of some sort to be used as your extra set of hands. Load this bad boy up (find it at Target) with breast pads, lanolin, burp cloths, extra diapers &amp; wipes - you know, the things that always seem to be just out of your reach when you're camped out with a newborn that nurses non-stop. It'll also be your water holder (remember to drink plenty of water while nursing!), snack bar and bookshelf. And speaking of a bookshelf ...I, like many other women I know, spent a lot of time reading once we got through the initial learning curve and I could easily nurse one-handed. Having a good book on hand was a necessity, along with easy access to my laptop and the television remote. While I thoroughly enjoyed nursing, it was nice to be able to relax and enjoy something that was just for me, an aspect of breastfeeding that I struggled with mightily. Get thee a nursing pillow! (And stash a few extra bed pillows near your nursing corner, too!) I loooooooved the My Brest Friend because of the additional back support, something that I needed to remind myself to sit up straight and maintain good posture, keeping me out of the chiropractor's office and comfortable for those long nursing sessions.What's in your nursing corner?Have something to share?Find us on Facebook or Twitter!or email me katie@milksmartmama.com]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[73]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Katie ]]></isc:author>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA["More Milk Please!" [Guest Post by Brittany Jones]]]></title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com/More-Milk-Please-Guest-Post-by-Brittany-Jones_b_72.html</link>
<pubDate>2012-01-14</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.milksmartmama.com/More-Milk-Please-Guest-Post-by-Brittany-Jones_b_72.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Thanks so much, Brittany, for sharing your story with us! ---Hi! My name is Brittany Jones. I grew up in Kentucky but now live with my husband Trey and our one year old daughter Savannah on a ranch just outside of Austin Texas. When Savannah was born in November 2010, she changed my life drastically. I went from being a business owner and full time career woman to a stay at home Mom. I changed from constantly focusing on my clients needs to being consumed with providing the best for Savannah. For me, the best meant breastfeeding and being a stay at home mom. As you will read, sometimes the best is definitely not easy, but I think it was all so worth it!---I knew from the beginning that I wanted to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months and continue breastfeeding for 2 years. I nursed my sweet baby girl within an hour of her birth and we quickly developed a blissful nursing relationship. From the beginning she did so well with nursing. She would latch on well, eagerly nurse, and her weight gain at her well checks was always great. Our pediatrician would tell us she was a perfect little baby. By two months she had already gained almost 3 lbs and was weighing in at 9lbs 1oz.Could it be this easy? No. As all of you Mommas can attests, nothing about being a Mother, except for loving your child, is necessarily easy. The first test for me was Savannahs colic. For the first three months of her life she had a severe case. While this was unrelated to our nursing success, the long bouts of crying and the 87 consecutive sleepless nights wore a hole in my confidence as a new mommy. I was tired and almost desperate when we went into her four month well check. The nurse called us back and I put her on the scale and removed all of her clothes. I was pretty excited to see how much she had gained over the past two months. The nurse meticulously slid the bars along the scale until the arm balanced out and she stepped back to read her weight, nine pounds 3 ounces. My heart skipped a beat. The nurse looked down at her chart, showing 9.1 lbs for her 2 month visit and looked at me, lets try that again. Yes, I thought, it must have been something wrong with the scale, but once again 9lbs 3oz.A million things ran through my mind as we sat in the exam room waiting for the pediatrician. Why hasnt she gained any weight? It cant be my milk, she is nursing great. What if my milk does not have enough fat in it? Is the doctor going to want me to put her on formula? I am not giving my baby formula! But what if something is wrong? And on and on and onBabies have to gain weight. They have to grow. Its not negotiable. I knew this. This was an issue we had to address. While my Mr. Rogers-like Pediatrician did a great job of not over reacting and freaking me out further, we did spend a lot of time discussing our nursing habits as well as the possible reasons for this. Because our nursing was going so well, he too was perplexed. We had some medical test run to find out if there was any absorbency or metabolic issues and then he suggested I see an IBCLC. That wonderful man never mentioned formula and I am so thankful because it would have crushed me.All of her test came back normal, so that lead us to think it was probably a supply issue. My husband and I rented a hospital grade baby scale and weighed Savannah before and after each feeding (as suggested by my doctor) for a 24 hour span. Our 9 pound baby who should be drinking about 20-25 ounces a day was getting 12-14 ounces in a 24 hour period. My baby was STARVING!OH THE GUILT. I did not know what true heart breaking guilt was until this had happened to me. How could I not have known? Where were the signs? She never cried for more when she was done nursing, as a matter of fact that was the only time in our colic riddled months that she did not cry (right after nursing). Had the colic masked the signs of hunger? I had to be the worst mom in the world right? What were people going to think? My precious baby needed food and I wasnt giving it to her! How many times had she been hungry and I though she was sleepy or gassy? Oh I could fill pages with the questions in my head. I remember the point that I just broke. I was sitting in the passenger seat of our truck and I was balling hysterically. I had failed. Or so that is how I felt about myself.It is what happened next that is the real motivation for sharing my story. I had not failed. I hadnt even done anything wrong. But it took a lot of support, professional help, and a long road to self forgiveness for me to understand that. A low milk supply can happen to anyone and it can be a challenge to overcome, both physically (increasing your supply) and mentally (forgiving yourself and moving on). I am extremely lucky to have a supportive family and to live and a very pro-breastfeeding city (Austin Texas). Once I took action, I was able to go from producing 12 ounces of milk in a 24 hour period to 25 ounces of milk in a 24 hour period, in less than a week. I want to share with you how I did this. I was very fortunate to have had numerous valuable resources at my disposal. I know from my online breastfeeding groups and blogs that so many Mommas who are facing this similar challenge do not have the great resources that I did. I want to help them. I am going to share all of the valuable tips, advice, steps etc that I received from my wonderful IBCLC for free right here!*I hope that these tips help any Momma who is in need, but please also understand that this advice was given to me, based on my situation, my breasts, and my baby. Not all of these things may work for every person as they did for me. All of the information that I am providing is from my Pediatrician or LC. If you are given different/conflicting advice, please follow that of your own caretaker.The BEST Steps for Increasing Your Milk Supply:1. If you have the resources the first thing you should do is have a consult with an INTERNATIONALLY BOARD CERTIFIED LACTATION CONSULTANT.The cost for my 2 hour private consult was $90.00. It was worth every penny. I know that many families live on a tight budget and that an extra $100 is not always available. But let me ask you this, if you are unable to increase your milk supply on your own and you do not get professional help, how much will supplementing with formula until your baby is one year+ old cost? I guarantee it will be more expensive than $90.002. DONT BREAK THE BABY! It is a lot easier to fix/reestablish exclusive nursing than it is to heal a sick malnourished infant. If your situation is like mine, and your precious baby is not getting enough to eat, it is important that you supplement their caloric intake until you alone can produce enough milk to sustain them. This does not mean that you have to give your baby formula. I was lucky because I had pumped a large enough stash over the first four months to be able to supplement her with bottles of my expressed milk. But if you do not have a big enough stash of frozen milk, supplementing with formula is the next best step. My pediatrician recommends Enfamil Lipid. In his research he has found that specific formula to be the closest to breast milk on the market.But how much should you supplement your baby?My Pediatrician instructed us to weigh our daughter before and after each feeding for a 24 hour period of time to find out how much she was drinking. For breastfed babies you cannot measure how much they are eating with just one feeding. When babies are formula fed, you know you are giving them six 4 ounce bottles throughout the day. But the breast does not make the same amount of milk all day long. In most women, the breast produces the most ounces of milk per feeding in the morning and then tapers off throughout the day. It is very normal for a baby to drink 10 ounces of milk at their morning feeding but maybe only 2-3 ounces of milk at an afternoon feeding.How to weigh your baby:We were fortunate enough to be able to rent a hospital grade baby scale from the Special Addition nursing store in Austin. You can however buy a baby scale for under $50 at Babies R Us.Before a feeding, place your baby on the scale and document the weight. Make sure your scale shows ounces.Nurse your baby on both sides. Reweigh your baby immediately after nursing. It is very important to make sure your baby is wearing the exact same thing that he/she was when you first weighed her. We are talking about ounces, so even a sock matters. Also do not change his/her diaper between weighing either. Even if they have soiled their diaper during the feeding, that pee or poop was in their body during the first weight, so it needs to be included in the final weight to get a true account of the amount of milk your baby is receiving.When we did this, we found out our daughter was getting about 12 ounces less than a baby of her weight should be consuming on a daily basis; so we knew that until I could increase my milk supply, we needed to make up for that 12 ounces by supplementing her. I chose to give her two six ounce bottles. I gave one in the afternoon and one in the evening before bed. Always supplement your baby after they have fully nursed at each breast. I chose to supplement in the latter half of the day because my breasts made the most milk in the morning.Remember the goal is to increase your milk supply not replace it. So only offer supplementary milk AFTER a full feeding at both breasts. Now that you have taken care of the needs of your baby, lets move on to actually increasing your milk supply3. NURSE AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. The longer you can keep your baby on the boob the better!I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my daughter, so cuddling up on the couch and nursing all day was a viable option for me. I tried to keep Savannah attached to my boob as much as possible. I fed her every hour and every time she would wake up at night. I let her sleep nurse, pacify suck, anything she wanted to keep my breasts stimulated. Co-sleeping during this process can really help if you are open to that style of parenting. Keeping your breasts as empty as possible is the best thing you can do. It will signal your body that you need more milk. If you let your breasts get full, your body thinkshey, we have enough now.If you are a working mom, see if you can take off for a few days, or maybe take a long weekend. If you have any vacation or personal days saved up, I cannot think of a better reason to use them. Nothing will help more than a sweet nursing baby. If this is not an option, try baby-wearing the hours that you are at home. In the morning when you wake up, nurse your little one like normal, then place them in any type of baby carrier that you feel comfortable nursing in. That way you can continue to nurse the entire time you are getting ready for work, eating breakfast, and loading up your car. Even if they are just playing around, any type of stimulation will be helpful. Do the same when you get home from work. Adding as many pumping sessions as you can, while you are away, is a must!4. NURSE OFF BOTH SIDES MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A FEEDING SESSION.One of the main culprits for my low milk supply was that I would often just nurse off of one side. Many times Savannah would fall asleep after eating off just one side, or she would unlatch and start to play. I though this was a sign that she was getting enough. If you have milk supply problems always feed off of both sides, even if you have to wake your little one up or coax them to finish the meal. If you are really trying to increase your supply, it is even better to feed off of both sides multiple times during the same feeding session. Switch back and forth every 10- 15 minutes.5. BE HEALTHY! Make sure you are eating a healthy diet and drinking enough water.Try to eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible and drink plenty of water. This does not mean you have to gorge yourself with H2O. My IBCLC told me to drink enough water until I was not longer thirsty. She recommended cutting out all other beverages and just drinking water for a week. This forces you to properly hydrate, instead of replacing water with soda or caffeinated beverages.My meals were the last thing I wanted to think about when my baby was hungry. I just wanted to focus on her. So I know how you feel. Just do your best. At that point, I considerd it a nutritional success if I had eaten something other than peanut butter and jelly for lunch.Also I found that if I just took a deep breath and focused on relaxing that I could get my milk to come down faster. In the beginning, I would often have trouble getting my milk to let down while I was using the pump. So I would close my eyes and envision the milk rushing down out of the ducts. I would think about it flowing out of my breast. Crazy as it may sound, that actually worked for me and worked well.5. RENT A HOSPITAL GRADE BREAST PUMP. Hospital grade pumps are specially designed to help you initiate, increase and/or keep your milk supply.I rented a Medela Symphony from my local nursing store. You can also rent them from almost all hospitals with LDR units and many OBGYN offices. The cost varies depending on your city and how long your rent the machine. Many places will give you a discount for a longer rental. You also may be able to get a tax credit for this expense, so please keep your receipt. I ended up keeping my rental pump for 2 months and it cost me a total of $120.00. Once again, I felt this was well worth it and it was definitely was cheaper than formula. However, I did not have to keep it that long. One week at $70 was sufficient for my milk supply. I chose to extend my rental to help me re-establish my frozen milk stash.While nothing will help you increase your supply as well as a baby, a hospital grade pump will go a long way, especially if you are a working mom. Pump as often as you can. If you are nursing all day, try pumping at night when your baby is sleeping. I know this sounds like a marathon, but the harder you go at it, the quicker you will increase your milk supply.Make sure you have a knowledgeable professional show you how to properly use your pump. Also make sure that all of the attachments are the correct size for your breasts and nipples.My IBCLC recommended that I always use the milk that I pumped to supplement my baby either that day or the very next. That is the point right, to be able to provide your baby with the needed amount of ounces in a 24 hour period? It also helps save your frozen stash or cut down on the amount of formula you need to use.6. POWER HOUR! This is one of the techniques that helped me the most.What I like to call Power Hour, is basically a super pumping session. This is how it works:For one hour, pump for 10 minutes then rest for 10 minutes. Pump for ten minutes and rest for 10 minutes. Follow this exact pattern until you have completed one hour. You should have pumped 3 times and rested 3 times during the hour. It is very important that you do this for an entire hour, or else it will not have the same effect. You should do this at least once a day, but a maximum of two times per day. The goal is not to get a lot of milk, but more to stimulate your breasts.I did power hour at night right before I went to bed. I chose this time because I knew Savannah was sleeping and would not need me for at least 3-4 hours. During the first two days I tried to do power hour twice a day; once at night and once during the day. My day time attempts were unsuccessful because my baby always needed me and that interrupted the session. So I chose to only do this at night. I knew it was working when my breast would start to fill up at bedtime and during my first 10 minute pumping session I was able to get 2 ounces out of each breast. (When I started I could only get ounce).7. MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING THE CORRECT SIZE NIPPLE SHIELDS. Most Mommas are fortunate enough not to need these pesky little things. If this is you, feel free to jump down to number eight. However, if you are like me and use them because you need to, or your baby feels they need to, this could be very important.In the hospital I was introduced to my first nipple shield by the in house LC. She recommended that the nurse bring me a nipple shield. The nurse brought me the size medium and said that was the best size for me. So we nursed with that size for four months. During my consult with my newly chosen IBCLC regarding my supply issues, the first thing she noticed was that I was using too large of a shield.   She explained that when using a shield, you should use the smallest one you can fit into. Using too large of a shield can sometimes reduce the amount of milk the baby can get out of the breast. A smaller shield also allows you to feel more of the sucking sensation which is ultimately more stimulating to the breast.8. SUPPLEMENTS. I saved this for last because my LC was very assertive in the fact that these items should only be used in addition to all of the practices above. If you are NOT doing number 3 through 5, then this will not go very far in helping to increase your milk supply.You can read many nursing blogs and websites that will give you a large list of various supplements to help boost your milk supply. They range from brewers yeast to flaxseed. I am not going to list them all here, because it is a long list and because I did not use them. I want to stay true to giving you advice that I know worked for me.I asked my LC about these supplements during our consult and she said that while they couldnt hurt, to be efficient about which you use. For example, I see ads all the time for Mothers Milk Tea, so I asked her about it. She said that while it does have milk boosting qualities, to get enough of the supplement to really help your supply you would have to drink gallons of that tea a day. She recommended just taking the high dose mothers milk capsules.The only other thing she really recommended was eating oatmeal. So I ate a bowl of oatmeal every morning for breakfast. I do think this helped. So I do recommend at least trying it. Oatmeal is something most people have in their house and it can be easily integrated into your daily meals. There were some days that I had oatmeal that I felt my breasts were a little fuller that afternoon.I know this is a lot of information, but when I found out I had a low milk supply I just wanted to know what would work as quickly as possible. I followed all of these steps and I was able to drastically increase my milk supply in a very short time. So I know that it does work. I hope this helps you!---Have something to share?Find us on Facebook or Twitter!or email me katie@milksmartmama.com]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[72]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Katie ]]></isc:author>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Meet Our Founder!]]></title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com/Meet-Our-Founder_b_71.html</link>
<pubDate>2011-12-31</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.milksmartmama.com/Meet-Our-Founder_b_71.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[To kick of 2012, I thought it'd be nice to introduce you to the woman behind it all, our very own Beth! She was inspired to start Milk Smart Mama after the birth of her oldest son, Barrett, after a rough start to nursing. A postpartum blood transfusion led to a delay in her milk production, resulting in Barrett losing a full pound after birth. Instead of falling head first into the 'Booby Traps' (as BestForBabes.org puts them), she sought advice from seasoned professionals: a supportive pediatrician and a local La Leche League group, which led to a 30-month-long nursing relationship. Nursing Barrett made her realize that she wanted to put her talents to use, helping nursing Mothers, but how? First, Beth considered her skill set. What, exactly, could she do to help other breastfeeding Mamas, without compromising her time with her son and husband? A comment on Facebook about ugly, nasty nursing bras sparked interest and about six months later, she opened Milk Smart Mama in May of 2009. In 2010, she welcomed her second son, Maxwell, into the world. Despite an unexpected cesarean, she was able to nurse him for the first time in recovery. Postpartum recovery wasn't exactly easy, with Beth needing a blood transfusion and recovering from major abdominal surgery and Maxwell having a tongue tie, plus losing 12% of his body weight. They clipped his tongue tie and with the help of the hospital's lactation professional, were able to head home, despite their rocky start. (Maxwell is still nursing!)Being the brains behind Milk Smart Mama isn't just about lacy bras and nursingwear, though, it's also worked as a way to grow friendships and become more involved in the community. Regularly hosting live bra-fitting events in Mama's Hip in the Highlands (which is her favorite thing to do!), Mama's Hip also features a mini-MSM boutique in store, allowing Moms in the community to see, touch and try on some of the goods that are featured on our website. She acted as one of three co-hosts for the Louisville Green Family Fair this past summer, as well, which was a truly wonderful event - one that we're all looking forward to again this year. When it comes to working from home, Beth says to remember to be flexible, all of the time. From making phone calls in the attic to working until the wee hours of the morning, it can be difficult (but not impossible) to find the time to do the work necessary to run the website. [Remember - there are only three of us in the Milk Smart Mama crew!] Barrett and Maxwell attend a Parent's Day Out program one day a week, but the other six days a week, Beth is multi-tasking it as a business owner, Mom, wife, friend and active member of her community.She leaves us with these words to live by, It's really important to me that we encourage Moms to breastfeed, no matter how they want to do it, a statement that all of us, as nursing Mothers, should take into consideration. A Mom that nurses for 2 weeks is as important to the process as a Mom that nurses for 2 years (or longer). We need to not judge her, we just need to be supportive.A huge, huge thank you to Beth for taking the time out to of her day to chat with me (right in the middle of the holiday madness). We all hope that 2012 has found you and your family well!Have something to share?Find us on Facebook or Twitter!or email me katie@milksmartmama.com]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[71]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Katie ]]></isc:author>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[The Milk Smart Mama 2011 Gift Guide]]></title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com/The-Milk-Smart-Mama-2011-Gift-Guide_b_70.html</link>
<pubDate>2011-12-12</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.milksmartmama.com/The-Milk-Smart-Mama-2011-Gift-Guide_b_70.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Happy Holidays from the Milk Smart Mama crew! We hope that no matter what you're celebrating (if anything at all), you enjoy the last bit of 2011 surrounded by the people that you love the most. Congratulations to all of our Black Weekend winners, too, we hope that you're enjoying your giveaway goodies!As a self-proclaimed procrastinator, I often find myself shopping a few days before Christmas, despite hitting the Black Friday rush right after Thanksgiving. For you late shoppers (like me), I've put together a little gift guide for you! For your breastfeeding wife/girlfriend/partner: A new bra &amp; knickers set from HOTmilk. Not only are they goooooooooooorgeous, the bras are so well-made that it'll quickly become her favorite. You don't have to sacrifice beauty for function! (Luminous by HOTmilk, right.) For your pregnant wife/girlfriend/partner: The Sweetheart Night Gown by HOTmilk. I've been in love with this nightgown since I first saw it, to be honest, and when I finally saw it in person, it did not disappoint. It's also nursing-friendly so she can use it postpartum, as well. This would be a great gift your best girlfriend, or a sister that you're close to!For the Mom that has everything: A Belly Fish Nursing Pillow! She probably has a nursing pillow, she may or may not have a cover, but I highly doubt she has a nursing pillow with a nursing cover built in! This would be super handy for a Mom that travels a lot, too! For her stocking: A pair (or two) of Posh Pads. Reusable nursing pads are not only eco-friendly (goodbye, 'sposies!) but how stinkin' cute are they? For the Mom that has the Christmas Baby: She needs a Postpartum Recovery Kit from EarthMamaAngelBaby. A reminder to take it easy is always better reinforced! The Postpartum Kit includes a little bit everything for top-to-bottom healing. Because you don't want to leave the baby out: anden + anais Mod About Baby Swaddling blankets. There's nothing sweeter than a swaddled-up (or nursing!) baby, and these 47 x 47 muslin blankets are absolutely perfect.And for the one that's hard to shop for, because there's always one, a Milk Smart Mama gift certificate.Have something to share?Find us on Facebook or Twitter!or email me katie@milksmartmama.com]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[70]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Katie ]]></isc:author>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[The Milk Smart Mama 2011 Gift Guide]]></title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com/The-Milk-Smart-Mama-2011-Gift-Guide_b_69.html</link>
<pubDate>2011-12-08</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.milksmartmama.com/The-Milk-Smart-Mama-2011-Gift-Guide_b_69.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[69]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Katie ]]></isc:author>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Building your nursing wardrobe.]]></title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com/Building-your-nursing-wardrobe_b_68.html</link>
<pubDate>2011-10-23</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.milksmartmama.com/Building-your-nursing-wardrobe_b_68.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Whether you're nursing for a few months or a few years, supplementing your wardrobe with breastfeeding-friendly options can make a world of difference! Knowing that you're able to nurse modestly and comfortably when out &amp; about can be a huge confidence-booster. So what does a breastfeeding Mom really need? #1 is a good bra! Nursing bras snap or pull aside at the breast, allowing you to nurse without destroying your regular, or pre-baby, bras. Most nursing bras boast more hooks in the back to accommodate for changing breasts with wider bands for better support. Check out this article about how to fit a nursing bra for more information, and remember: your lingerie drawer does not need to resemble a Grandma's!Another important article to introduce into your wardrobe is a nursing tank. Like bras, they tend to pull aside or snap at the strap, but allow for full-coverage. Some, like the Mother Tucker, offer added support as a compression tank, helping create a smoother appearance while still being nursing-friendly. Personally, I could not have lived without my nursing tanks - I wore one every day for 18 months! Tanks help keep you covered, too, which can be handy when nursing in public.Nursing tops don't have to be frumpy and matronly! Many nursing tops are made with hidden openings with a layer of fabric underneath the outer shell of the shirt. There are tops with pull-down and empire waist openings, as well, hidden in the seams. You'll find that cowl neck, v-neck and wrap style shirts (like the one shown) are easy to nurse in, as well. Don't underestimate the power of a well-made henley or even a hoodie!For fans of dresses, don't think that just because you're nursing, your dress-wearing days are over. Whether you're hanging out with your girlfriends, heading to work, or on a hot date, there's a dress that will fit your needs as a nursing Mother with discreet openings for easy nursing/pumping access. Take note that many of the models are also pregnant. While you may not be nursing during your pregnancy, clothing that is already breastfeeding-friendly should be gracing your maternity wardrobe! Last but not least? Sleepwear! There's nothing worse than having to get out of a nice, toasty bed, then expose half of your body so you can meet your baby's needs. (Brrr!) A roomy gown is perfect for the last months of pregnancy while a Mom that has been breastfeeding for a few months (and getting her mojo back!) may want something a little more flirty. If birthing in a hospital or at a birth center, an attractive, functional pair of pajamas is the perfect alternative to an icky, reused hospital gown.Have something to share?Find us on Facebook or Twitter!or email me katie@milksmartmama.com]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[68]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Katie ]]></isc:author>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Happy International Babywearing Week!]]></title>
<link>http://www.milksmartmama.com/Happy-International-Babywearing-Week_b_67.html</link>
<pubDate>2011-10-13</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.milksmartmama.com/Happy-International-Babywearing-Week_b_67.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Happy International Babywearing Week!The moment that I figured out my wrap, shortly after my first son was born, I was sold. I loved having him close, he seemed to enjoy it, and I could actually get things done around the house. I didn't have to drag around a travel system or worry about strangers getting too close. After my second son was born, I ventured a little further into it, purchasing a soft-structured carrier and a pouch sling. I had the privilege of using a friend's ring sling. The second time around, I learned how to breastfeed while babywearing and ladies, it was a total game-changer.Take a look! On the left, there's Brea nursing her youngest son in a soft-structured carrier, on the right, we have Jes nursing her second daughter in a ring sling. Learning how to nurse while babywearing can be a little intimidating, but with the wide range of styles and a little bit of practice? It's so worth it. I highly suggest watching videos if you don't have an active babywearing group in your community. (It's actually how I learned how to use my wrap - the written instructions just weren't cutting it.) Here are a few good ones -Nursing in a WrapNursing in a Pouch SlingNursing in a Ring SlingNursing in a Soft Structured CarrierNursing in a Mei TaiNotice that breastfeeding while babywearing is very, very discreet. So you're not fumbling around with your clothing, try layering a nursing tank with an empire opening or pull-down top. It will help keep anything that your carrier doesn't cover, covered.Take a look around Babywearing International and see what you find! TheBabyWearer.com is a great online community full of information and photos, as well. And don't forget to look within your local community: you'll be able to try-before-you-buy!Have something to share?Find us on Facebook or Twitter!or email me katie@milksmartmama.com]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[67]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Katie ]]></isc:author>
</item>
</channel></rss>
