Recent Articles
Postpartum Exercises
After the birth of your baby, there’s a good chance that you are keen to get moving again but are feeling overwhelmed with all the new challenges the postpartum period presents. You may be reeling from pregnancy hormones, swelling in your feet, excess weight, and a heavy feeling in your pelvic floor, never mind recovering from a C-section, diastasis recti, or postpartum depression.
Improving Your Feelings of Self-Worth
Can you really and truly say that you love yourself and are proud of who you are? If that’s not something you can fully embrace, you are not alone—and there is nothing wrong with you! Lacking self-confidence and experiencing feelings of low self-worth are actually more common than most of us realize, especially for women. And this is compounded tenfold when we become mothers.
Returning To Work While Still Breastfeeding
One of the biggest concerns you may have about returning to work after maternity leave is maintaining your breast milk supply. For most moms, the only option is taking out time every few hours to pump. Many organizations realize the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and their infants and have discovered the cost savings and increase in productivity are worth creating supportive breastfeeding environments. Talk to your boss and co-workers about your decision to breastfeed and what you need to make this possible.
Meaning Over Happiness
Few things seem more natural than wanting to be happy. In fact, most people strive for happiness over many other life goals. While it may seem reasonable that happy people have more friends, enjoy more career success and live longer happier lives, there are some surprising negative consequences to seeking happiness alone. Happiness is essentially a narrow and short-lived experience related to what is happening in our immediate circumstances. Meaning is a culmination of our past, present, and future experiences, and its earnest pursuit results in emotional resilience, grit, and personal development.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Prolapse is a common condition where the pelvic organs (such as the bladder, uterus, and sometimes bowel) drop down into the vaginal space. About a third of all women are affected by prolapse or similar conditions over their lifetime. It can be a devastating condition that affects one's emotional health and causes social discomfort and isolation. The good news is that in most cases, it can be successfully treated.
Pumping Tips - Pump like a Pro
Breast pumps have come a long way in recent years, and you now no longer need to sacrifice style or convenience. Studies show that pumping reduces stress and releases endorphins, the chemicals that regulate feelings of love and happiness. Regardless of whether you are pumping to initiate milk supply or maintain an established supply, use these tips to work out the kinks and Pump like a Pro.
All About Swaddles
Swaddling helps babies transition from being in the cozy confined space of the womb to adapting to the outside world. It provides comfort, security, and warmth in the early months. The slight pressure of the swaddle around their bodies gives newborns a sense of security. As they grow, babies need to be weaned off the swaddle. Read on to find out more about swaddles and how to transition your baby off the swaddle.
How Women Hold Themselves Back
It is clear that unconscious gender bias is still pervasive in corporate America and that a great deal of work needs to be done to advance women's career development. Women still experience sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace, and many organizations do not offer maternity leave or childcare flexibility. In addition to these external hindrances to career development, women are impeded by their own internal barriers to success. This article intends to address how women hold themselves back from advancing in their careers and provides tangible strategies for overcoming them.
Let’s Talk About Maternity Leave in California
Let’s Talk About Maternity Leave in California.
Employers are not required to pay employees their wages during maternity leave, but many do. In some cases, you may still be eligible for some form of paid leave as most California employees have a right to California’s state disability insurance during their leave. Yes, as weird as it may seem, pregnancy and childbirth are considered disabilities.
Unconscious Gender Bias
Although women in the United States are better off than they’ve ever been, they are still considerably underrepresented in the corporate and political arenas. An examination of the corporate ladder shows the number of women diminishes with increasing hierarchy. To put this in perspective: out of 195 countries, only 17 are led by women, and only 22% of women hold parliamentary seats globally. Furthermore, although more women graduate with college degrees, only 23% of S&P 500 companies have female CEOs.
Breastfeeding and Cavities
The composition of breast milk is unique and complex and contains naturally-occurring fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and sugars that are crucial for developing an infant. Studies show that breast milk alone does not cause cavities. At around the six-month mark, when a baby starts with solids, they start developing plaque on their teeth. This plaque activates the bacteria in an infant's mouth, resulting in cavities.
Can You Be Pregnant and Still have a Period?
Some women may experience spotting in the first few weeks of pregnancy. The blood is usually light pink or dark brown in color. But, even intermittent bleeding that seems like a period during pregnancy is not the same as menstruation. Read on to find out more about the causes of bleeding during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding and Baby Poop - What’s the Scoop?
Knowing the signs of healthy baby poop helps you keep a handle on whether your baby is feeding enough and if there may be indications of an illness. There is no 'normal' pooping frequency in a breastfed newborn. Some babies will poop after every feed, while others poop once every three days. As long as your baby is producing soft, mustard-colored poop with a seedy consistency and is steadily gaining weight, you have nothing to worry about.
Stay in Touch With the Office While on Maternity Leave
Don't let yourself be side-lined when you return from maternity leave, but also don't let staying in the loop stress you out while you should be bonding with your infant. Take time to clarify your own career goals, considering how motherhood may affect you. Once you have decided on the path ahead, start putting things in place to make the return to work after maternity leave easier.
Heat Rash in Babies
Heat rashes can be difficult to deal with. In addition to keeping your little one up all night, scratching those itchy bumps, it can be uncomfortable and downright painful. In this article, you will learn about heat rashes, what to do when your baby has a heat rash, and how to avoid them.
Caring for Your Baby’s First Teeth
We receive a lot of conflicting advice about how to care for our baby, teeth included. This article outlines the measures you should take to help your baby deal with the discomfort of teething, when to start brushing, and when to visit your pediatric dentist.
Everything You Need To Know About Breastfeeding vs Formula
There are so many reasons why a breastfeeding mom might need to add formula into the mix. Contrary to popular belief, supplementing with formula isn’t the end of the world. Doing so doesn't have to wreck your breastfeeding relationship, and you can still retain many of the benefits of breastfeeding. Read on about breastfeeding vs formula.
The Power of a Meditation Habit
Research has proven that meditation provides positive effects on our health and happiness, even if it’s not a daily habit. However, studies show that we can unlock even more benefits when we meditate for consecutive days. In fact, completing just one 10-minute session a day enhances our focus and decision-making, and lessens our feelings of anxiety and depression. It essentially shifts the way we relate to feelings and thoughts, making us more emotionally resilient and allowing us to experience a greater sense of calm, clarity and focus.
This Too Shall Pass
Everything is cyclical, ever-evolving, and ever-changing. No moment in our lives is the same as any other moment. As women, we are more prone to experiencing these changes than men. Women’s bodies ebb and flow, and each menstrual phase brings with it a transient set of emotional and physical qualities. This constant flux gives rise to a cascade of emotions – from sadness, frustration, and depression during menstruation – to feelings of elation and optimism when we are ovulating.
How to be Assertive Without Being Seen as Aggressive
Our assertiveness and strength can unfairly be construed as aggression. This is in part due to the fact that according to stereotypes, women are expected to be acquiescent, ask for permission, and be polite; and so they feel they have to fight for recognition and respect. Furthermore, strong leadership requires firm decision-making, being directive, and holding others accountable. Our ideas what it means to be ‘female’ do not fit our ideas of what it means to be ‘leader’. This disconnect often manifests as an unconscious preference for male leaders, putting women in a very difficult position.