“How do I introduce a bottle to my exclusively breastfed baby?!” This is a question that crops up time and again and adds a layer of worry to already-anxious or exhausted mommy minds. So breathe easy, mama, and have a glance at the suggestions below for making the process as seamless as possible. - Ideally, the introduction of a bottle won’t happen until after breastfeeding is well-established. This is typically after 6 weeks of exclusive nursing, but if you’re experiencing feeding difficulties at any point, it’s best to reach out to a trusted Lactation Consultant before introducing a bo ..read more

Anger. Intrusive thoughts. Constantly on edge. Frantic cleaning. Cold sweats and shaking hands. Checking. And checking again. Insomnia. Zoning out. Trusting nobody. Anxiety has many ways of showing up, and these are just a few of the hundreds of answers I got when I asked how postpartum anxiety shows up for you. It’s in the nerves and shallow breaths, yes, but it’s also in the vigilance and midnight googling. It’s in the overthinking, the insomnia, and the social avoidance. Personally, I’m no stranger to anxiety, and after the birth of each of my babies, it hit me hard.   At first ..read more

’Tis the season…with schools back in session, fall in full swing and winter fast approaching, more and more families are reaching to their medicine cabinets to ward off those pesky symptoms that don’t easily budge. Only, not every medicine cabinet is created equally.  So often, we’re sold remedies that are packed full of chemicals and additives, which can cause their own set of issues.  When we’re sick, we need deeply-nourishing, targeted support - not fillers and preservatives. Last week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Soraya Benitez, a mom from New York who is t ..read more

 On the longest of nights, sitting up awake with my baby girl, I wasn’t longing for a spa retreat. At 2am, feeding my little one for the thousandth time that night, I wasn’t even thinking about a girls’ weekend away. When the sun rose before I’d had the chance to closed my eyes, I wasn’t day-dreaming about a full-body massage. Don’t get me wrong, I love a massage as much as the next person, but in those moments of exhaustion and overwhelm, I was really just hoping for a little relief. Relief in the form of a nap, an early night, or a warm bath.  Relief in the form of these lit ..read more

Postpartum is a rollercoaster. It’s a time of such intensity, where new moms often find ourselves stretched to our absolute limits. We welcome excited friends and relatives to our homes (or even to the hospital or birthing center) to meet our new little humans, and most often, they come bearing gifts: soft toys, a beautiful blanket, a onesie. Bringing a onesie is the norm, right? A social standard, an expectation. And it’s lovely and sweet and kind of course, and baby looks a dream in that pastel hue. But...what if postpartum care was just as common? What if truly supporting mom throug ..read more

When my baby was nine months old, a health professional told me that I was “doing her a disservice” by not “teaching her to self-soothe.” Let’s be real for a moment, babies are INCAPABLE of self-soothing. Their brains literally have not matured enough to execute that skillset yet. (Hello, underdeveloped neocortex!) Trying to teach a baby to self-soothe (to emotionally self-regulate, to calmly recover from stress) is like trying to teach a baby to ride a bike. Futile. And, honestly? Dangerous. The methods these “experts” spout for “teaching“ infants to self-soothe are essentially variation ..read more

There are many studies showing that there is no association between tooth decay and breastfeeding.  What really stands out to me though, is the research showing that breastfeeding can actually PROTECT against tooth decay.  Researchers have found that human milk contains antibodies that help to reduce the growth of Streptococcus mutans - the bacteria that causes tooth decay.  Even more amazingly, lactoferrin, a protein abundant in breast milk, actually KILLS Streptococcus mutans. So why are SO MANY breastfeeding moms told to stop breastfeeding their babies at night in order ..read more

The world right now is awash with scary coronavirus news. As COVID-19 sweeps across the globe and communities are locked down in an effort to prevent the spread of infection, our children will inevitably be feeling unsettled. Yet besides the fear and dread and isolation, there is love and hope and connection. If you take a daily walk around your neighbourhood, you may have notice a rainbow or two hanging from people's windows.  A symbol of solidarity and hope, these rainbows are multiplying as more and more families join the trend. If your children have enjoyed their own rainbow tra ..read more

"Mummy needs to sleep for a month." We all laughed at my seven-year-old's suggestion.  A month of sleep to catch up on the hours I've lost since my newest sleep-thief was born, just over two years ago?  A whole month?!  Hilarious. Though it turns out, she was onto something... My husband grew quiet as he did some sums in his head. "It's four months," he said, aghast. "Huh?" Read more ..read more

I am so excited to be partnering with Motherlove in this extra-special Valentine's giveaway, in which one lucky mama will win this gorgeous expectant mama prize bundle! Here's how to enter: Follow Motherlove on Instagram. Like and leave a comment on this post on the Mama Bean Facebook page. (Be sure to comment, so that we can contact you if you're the lucky winner!) Remember to share the love and share this giveaway with your mommy friends! Read more ..read more