DC Metro Mom

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I’ve always thought it was funny –interesting/funny AND funny/funny- that no one has written a book about baby books. It would be so helpful to compare and contrast all the pages upon pages of sleep training methods and scheduling advice. Have you ever met anyone who said, “Yes, I followed the ______ book and life with my infant has been easy ever since.” Me neither.   And I talk to a LOT of parents. It seems that most parents take a pinch of Ferber, a dollop of Weissbluth and a serving of Sears and sometimes still come out confused.

Postpartum Diet Do’s to Curb the Baby Blues

Written by Cindy Santa Ana, B.S. Nutrition & Health and Let Mommy Sleep’s in-house wellness consultant

Your little bundle of joy arrives and so do body changes, sluggishness and possibly even some feelings of “I can’t do this!” You may be quick to focus on fitness to get back into your pre-baby wardrobe, but not so fast! Your body is going through extreme nutritional demands to recuperate as well as nurture baby. You can however, eat certain foods that will give you energy and replenish your bodies’ nutrient storage, helping to give you overall good health both physically and mentally.

Don’t Diet - It’s important to not “diet,” but to eat a varied diet full of whole, organic foods. Remember that if you are breastfeeding, you’ll need to consume at least 1800-2000 calories a day for optimal lactation. Breastfeeding itself also burns about 600 calories a day, so working within this balance will help both you and baby. Foods without chemicals will help your body function as best it can and of course give baby the most natural options possible.

“Crying it out Causes Brain Damage?” – Parental Urban Legend or Scientific Fact?

As any parent will tell you, a typical newborn/infant is awake and in need of care for several hours every night for at least 3-5 months.  In the past, most parents had extended family members to help with this 24 hour schedule, and mothers were able to remain in the birthing center or hospital to recuperate. Today however, family members are geographically spread out or cannot leave work themselves, and most mothers are not given the chance to properly heal before being sent back home (and back to work!). In order to get the vital sleep needed to care for their family and function at work outside the home, some new parents choose to employ postpartum help such as baby nurses, newborn caregivers or postpartum doulas.

When you see those 2 heartbeats on the sonogram, first embrace the joy and adventure of twins. Then, prepare, prepare, prepare. Arranging for a baby nurse, having all the gear ready before you need it and gaining a working knowledge of infant health issues before you're in a red alert situation will only make life easier for your family when those little bundles arrive.

Arrange for Proper Rest in the First Weeks Home from the Hospital- Conventional wisdom teaches new mothers to "sleep when the baby sleeps." For twin moms and dads, particularly those with other children, this is just not an option. Enlist friends, family members and neighbors to care for the twins for even a few hours per day, so you can rest.

I am really excited to introduce our newest DC Metro Mom blogger, Denise Stern from Let Mommy Sleep.

Denise is a bit of sleep expert.  From her own experiences as a new mother, Denise has come to realize that helping families with infants is a calling.  Denise created a business that helps DC Metro area families deal with those sleep deprived moments that that inevitably come with a newborn.