OUR BLOG

Childhood miles stones are somethings that don't typically get a very good reputation---with good reason. They tend to bring out comparisons and behaviors in parents, friends, and family that we might not always be proud of. We look at what each child is doing not only in relation to the miles stones but also to other children and where they are! Talk about negative behavior... It's understandable that following typical miles stones can become hard for people or just downrigh

Did you know that the bonding you and your baby have during feeding can help promote lifelong health? Many women want to breastfeed because they have been told that it helps to bond with their baby and create a strong relationship. It sounds nice, who wouldn't want a strong relationship with the tiny human they just carried for 40 weeks? But, what many don't realize is that while doing this you are ALSO helping your baby with their cognitive development--which effects their O

We have said many times how breastfeeding is so beneficial for both mom and baby, but we want to dig deeper and explain WHY. There are so many good things that come with breastfeeding, so we have to take it one step at a time. Recently, a study was published that looked into how breastfeeding affects blood sugar levels in women with type 1 diabetes. We have known that breastfeeding helps to stabilize blood sugar levels in moms, but to what extent? This study assessed 6 days o

Today we wanted to talk to you about the importance of iron in both the maternal and infant diet. Did you know that iron deficiency can alter metabolic, endocrine, and neurological function/development? During periods of rapid growth for your baby--in both the womb and postnatally--iron is in high demand in all parts of the body. This is because it helps build tissue and aids nervous system development. These critical periods of growth are within the last trimester of pregnan

Yes you heard us. Your RIGHT to breastfeed. Too often we think of breastfeeding as a choice... "to Breastfeed, or to not Breastfeed --- THAT is the question." WHICH to some extent it is a mother's simple decision. HOWEVER, do you ever stop and think about the pressures put on breastfeeding mothers that at times, make it impossible to breastfeed AT ALL! There are pressures to return to work where there is pressure to stop pumping, there is societal pressure saying "we don't w

WARNING! You may be accidentally buying toxic baby food... so READ BELOW! In a study done that looked at 168 different baby food products and tested for 4 of the most common heavy metals --lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury--- researchers found that 95% of the tested foods had at least one of these heavy metals. That means ONLY 9 of the 168 baby foods were heavy metal free! What's WORSE?! 1 in 4 of the baby foods had ALL four metals. That's insane! The most commonly contamin

This November, we are nationally recognizing and bringing awareness to the diabetes diagnosis. Approximately 9.4% of the United States population has diabetes while specifically, 1.25 million American children and adults have type 1 diabetes. Further, 1 in 7 births are affected by gestational diabetes each year! If not treated properly, Gestational Diabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes post partum. Find out more about Gestational Diabetes here with our blog post that di

*Warning: Sensitive Topic* Vaccinations, yes we are going there... While it is definitely a polarizing topic, we wanted to provide you with some facts and references for you to be able to make an informed decision your infant and vaccines. What does the CDC recommend? Based on multiple studies, the CDC recommends that all pregnant women receive a flu shot at any point in her pregnancy -- as well as a Tdap (whooping cough) vaccine in the early weeks of the third trimester. Th

HOLY LONG TITLE! But we had to get it all in there... If you read our post on "Debunking Birthing Procedures" which you can find here, you would have read about how many hospitals have birthing procedures that may not be optimal for infant health. Early cord clamping is one of those procedures. The American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology has been one of the first in the world to recommend delaying umbilical cord clamping at least 30-60 seconds. This means that slowly b

A few weeks ago we discussed pumping at work and what you are entitled to legally--- both through federal AND state guidelines. Recently, an article from Huffington Post commented on how well (or not) these regulations are currently being followed. After reading this we wanted to give our thoughts on the topic --- because it really isn't that difficult for an employer to follow! AND not only is it beneficial for the mother and baby--- it shows countless positive results for c

What is Gestational Diabetes? Gestational Diabetes is a form of diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy. This form cannot be categorized as Type I OR II because it is NEITHER! Although --- the symptoms are more closely related to type II's insulin resistance. Why is it a somewhat common Diagnosis during pregnancy? This is because, during pregnancy, hormones are running at an ALL time high! Your pancreas is HIGHLY involved-- and your pancreas is also in charge of insulin! With al

Okay so you are pregnant and now "eating for two"... is that even a real thing? How do I add extra calories while still eating healthy? Great Questions! In most cases, you are not actually eating for two, its quite a bit less than that actually. Within your first trimester you do not need any extra calories from what you needed before becoming pregnant. In the second trimester, your needs increase to an additional 340calories per day. The third trimester that recommendation g

We're sure you have heard the horror stories about cracked and dry nipples from breastfeeding. In fact, in many cases, people seem to come out of the woodwork with terrible breastfeeding experiences once you have made the adult decision to do so yourself! ANYWAY, there are a vast amount of products out there to help heal your cracked nipples due to breastfeeding. But what products should you be using? If the time comes and you want to buy a nipple cream, we encourage you to m

Did you know that between 70-80% of women experience some type of morning sickness or excessive nausea/vomiting during pregnancy? Yes you heard that right-- some even have severe nausea and vomiting called hyperemesis gravidarum (essentially excessive vomiting). It is characterized by intense levels of nausea and vomiting, significant weight loss, and electrolyte disturbances. Unfortunately, the cause of nausea during pregnancy is still unknown due its possible multiple cause

Picture this: You just gave birth to your brand new beautiful baby and, if you are lucky, you just spent a few weeks to a few months home on maternity leave. You love breastfeeding and your supply is abundant. You're thinking about having to go back to work and beginning the pumping process. PAUSE SCENE! Okay--- we know this is a best case scenario here, and not everyone has time off for maternity leave and not everyone has a delightful breastfeeding experience. BUT, have yo

Nutrition these days is a HOT TOPIC, it's almost considered COOL to eat healthy. However, what we tend to forget is that HEALTH comes in all shapes, sizes, foods, exercises, etc. Most people--- at some point in their lives--- have sought out nutrition advice for multiple reasons and stumbled upon the vast amount of information on the internet. To name a few; diets and detoxes, meal delivery services, or even mixes of both. You've also probably found information on "the best f

We wanted to talk to you about a scientific study regarding Vitamin D and pregnancy. WHY? Because it scared us and it should scare you. So what is it? This study looked at maternal vitamin D levels and their baby's vitamin D levels after birth-- the results were shocking. The researchers found that "76% of moms and 81% of newborns in the USA were Vit D deficient at the time of birth - even though they were taking a prenatal supplement." If your reaction was anything like ours

For many, the term 'Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative' is unfamiliar. What does 'baby friendly' even mean? You aren't alone in your confusion, in fact most people--- besides those that work closely with the birthing floor of a hospital-- probably are unaware of what that term even means. The language 'Baby Friendly' is used to attract future parents to facilities that supports the best/most current birthing practices. After all, why wouldn't you want to give birth in a hospit

The dreaded age of 35.... When your twenties seem to be the distant past and 40 seems to be lurking around the corner! As a society, we are afraid of aging and getting older in general. Many people--- and maybe YOU--- don't even like to tell their family their age! Many of us go through treatments to make sure that no one can tell our bodies are getting older. This includes dying grey hairs, treatments for stretch marks, etc. Many of us don't want to show that we have truly e

Here at Mamas Maternal Health, we actively work to provide mothers with the most up to date information on maternal and infant nutrition while guiding them through their journey to motherhood. But what does this actually look like? While we provide answers--we also work to get you involved in your own transformation during pregnancy. We support ‘capacity building', meaning that while you learn new information, you are also building yourself up with dynamic goals and achieveme