It’s that time of year. Everyone is sick. In my house we’ve passed around a cold for about a month now. The good news is, you do not have to stop breastfeeding just because you are sick. My little guy did come down with a cold but it wasn’t too bad. Most newborns who are being nursed have a higher immune system which prevents them from coming down with more serious things such as strep. When you are sick, however, you need to becareful about what medicine you take. Here is a list from babycenter.com regarding what drugs are safe and what aren’t safe. As always, you should consult you doctor before taking anything but here is a general guideline. Stay healthy! Safe to Take in Usual Doses Name of Drug Brand Name Use Acetaminophen Tylenol Used for pain relief Acyclovir Zovirax Antiviral for herpes infections Antacids Maalox, Mylanta Used …

I have stated before that I am leery of general medicine doctors. I also believe  measures and preventative health-such as breastfeeding. I was raised in a house that made it a point to get to the chiropractor at least a few times a year. I have been adjusted since I was a newborn. As an adult, I have slacked off a bit do to insurance problems and lack of money and life getting too busy. Unfortunately, I did not get there at all during my pregnancy, a time which myself and my son could’ve used it most. First, I must say that I am a firm believer in regular chiropractic care. I am the youngest of four girls and until my oldest sister was about 12, my family didn’t go to a chiropractor. When my oldest sister was about 12, she got very sick and missed a lot of school. …

The hardest part about having a baby, kids for that matter, is having to wake up at night. Yes as they get older, it gets easier and you won’t be waking up as much. What about now? Nights are tough for me. I am lucky (knock on wood) that my son only wakes up about twice a night but it’s still hard. What can you do to make it easier? First, you can nurse laying on your side. Unfortunately, my son is still to young to master this. He usually ends up getting mad and I have to sit up anyway. Hopefully in a few more weeks, he’ll be able to do this.  I must warn everyone that this can be a bit dangerous. With my girls, I remember waking up and finding my breast still exposed and a baby laying in my arms.  The possibility to fall back asleep …

Did you ever hear “Never wake a sleeping baby”? Well, that’s not always the case. Sometimes you will need to wake your baby to start nursing or in the middle of nursing. This is not always the easiest task. My son is one of those babies who really likes to sleep. Here are some tips on waking your baby. 1.Make Him Cold- Babies love being warm and need to be kept warm. However, it is fine to make your baby cold in order to eat.  Unwrap the blankets, take off the hat and even take off his clothing. 2. Change His Diaper- This goes along with making him cold. This is great to wake him during the feeding. Your baby will probably have soiled itself during the first half of the feeding anyway, so changing his diaper takes care of two things at once. 3. Flick His Heels- My mom …

I already discussed how often newborns should eat and my answer is as often as a baby wants.  However, what does that really mean? Does it mean I am locked inside my house for the next 6 months waiting for my baby to tell me he’s hungry? No way! I am out and about, taking my older kids to school, going food shopping. finishing my Christmas shopping.  I am doing what I need to do. And I am getting used to having to work around a newborn. Yes, it is hard sometimes, knowing that my clock is ticking before my nice quiet baby turns into a crying monster. However, it’s just an adjustment. First of all, you will find that your baby will most likely sleep longer then usual when it’s nice and warm and moving around in it’s car seat.  This buys you extra time right there. Second, make …