Breastfeeding was supposed to be so simple. Your body makes the milk, your baby needs and wants the milk, shouldn’t it be straightforward? Sometimes it is, but sometimes it isn’t – especially if you’re a new mom, or it’s been a while since you’ve had a baby. 5 Techniques to Try When Breastfeeding Seems No- So-Simple When the going gets tough for breastfeeding women, hang tight! It’s time to up your ante and apply these 5 lifesaving breastfeeding techniques. Find a lactation consultant near you. While this may not be a direct “technique,” taking advantage of the resources around you is a valua ..read more

Yeast infections are common, and almost every woman will have at least one or two throughout their lifetime. However, some women are plagued by recurring – or chronic – yeast infections. In addition to being extremely uncomfortable, chronic yeast infections deserve immediate attention because they signal an imbalance in your vaginal chemistry – specifically yeast (candida) vs. bacteria. 7 Common Reasons for Chronic (Recurring) Yeast Infections Healthy bodies depend on a balance between bacteria and yeast (a fungus called candida). Any imbalances cause issues, and the vagina is particularly sus ..read more

Labor and delivery can involve way more decisions than you anticipate. Or not. It all depends on what happens from one contraction to the next. While birth plans aren’t set in stone – and safety is always the priority – a birth plan can certainly help you and your doctor create a unified vision for the type of labor and delivery you want. Topics to Consider When Creating the Perfect Birth Plan The following topics will help you write birth plan that resonates with you and your partner, and that you can share with your OB or midwives. Make multiple copies so they can be posted on your door, nea ..read more

If you pee (a little or a lot) when you sneeze or cough, odds are you also pee when you laugh, jump up and down. If that’s the case, you’re probably one of the 22% of women experiencing stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Stress incontinence is the most common type, and women with SUI may experience urine leaks when they: Cough Sneeze Laugh Jog/run Lift heavy objects Bend over Most of the time, SUI results from weakened pelvic floor muscles. If incontinence progresses beyond the above bullet points, there is also a chance you have a condition called pelvic organ prolapse, creating excess pres ..read more

You do everything you can to grow and nourish a healthy baby when pregnant. Of course, eating a healthy pregnancy diet is a foundational step in that process. So, it can be alarming when you learn that one of the most beneficial proteins on the pregnancy diet list (fish) may also be one of the most toxic. Minimize Mercury Exposure from Seafood When You’re Pregnant Unfortunately, widespread pollution of the ocean means many seafood options are contaminated. Contamination levels vary according to geography and which type of fish or shellfish are caught. However, mercury is one of the most common ..read more

We all know we should eat a nutritious and balanced diet, but that doesn’t mean we always do it.  For women, pregnancy is the most important time to make healthy eating a priority because the food you eat is nourishing both you and your baby.  Eating a nutritious diet will help you feel good and encourage healthy development of the tiny person growing inside of you. So what counts as a nutritious diet during pregnancy?  Unfortunately, there’s a good chance that what your mom, friends, and even well-meaning strangers tell you to eat goes completely against the article you just re ..read more

The joy of expecting a baby can be somewhat disrupted by standard pregnancy discomforts. And, since every woman – and pregnancy – is different, you just never know which, if any, will affect you. Each trimester comes with its own potential set of less-than-desirable side effects. While the first trimester is most commonly impacted by morning sickness (or anytime-pregnancy sickness), the second and third trimesters can activate “round ligament pain.” Round Ligament Pain There are two sets of round ligaments in the body. One provides support for the liver; the other supports the uterus. The roun ..read more

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can be silent; it can speak to you in little whispers; or it may shout out loud and clear that it has settled in your body for the time being. If you ignore those whispers and shouts, they may fade away over time. Unfortunately, what’s the end result can be irreversible scarring that makes it difficult for you conceive or carry a baby down the road, or that can cause you chronic abdominal and pelvic pain for the rest of your life. PID is considered the most serious complication of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in women. Those account for about 90% of al ..read more

Choosing a women’s health provider that’s right for you can make or break the future of your health. That sounds like an exaggeration, and yet, when women don’t trust, like, or feel comfortable with their healthcare providers, they’re less likely to schedule annual wellness exams or check in when they have a minor concern. Finding and choosing a women’s health provider you trust increases the likelihood of you getting the proactive care required for general well-being (including mental and emotional wellness) and catching early red flags of potential illness or disease. 5 Tips to Finding a Wom ..read more

Great Moms Can Have Postpartum Depression Our culture is full of beautiful, social media posts or advertisements, depicting rosy, happy mothers and their beautiful, bouncing bundles of joy. Then there are all the parenting blogs filled with descriptions of mothers happily nursing their infant and toddler, while hiking the Appalachian trail, making their own organic baby food and managing to crochet covers for their already compiled baby books – all at the same time. But that’s not reality. Unfortunately, by hiding the reality that 1 in 7 women experiences post-partum depression or post-partum ..read more