What are probiotics and how can they help me? Read on to answer these questions and find out why I recently switched brands! Please note that links to products are affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase through the links I will receive a percentage of the sale. I ...
Pregnancy, Childbirth, Breastfeeding, and More
Curious about what pregnancy is like during each week? You're in luck! I kept a record of my second pregnancy here on Happy Healthy Mama, giving weekly updates.
In addition to weekly pregnancy updates, I also share my birth plan, my labor playlists, and my pregnancy diet. There's plenty of postpartum information here, too, including my story of extended breastfeeding.
7 Signs You Might Need an Iron Supplement
You might need an iron supplement and not even know it. Being iron deficient can have a profound effect on our health. I experienced this first hand in an extreme way eight years ago. Between having my daughter Meghan and son Luke, I had a pregnancy that ended in a missed miscarriage at 12 weeks ...
Extended Breastfeeding: Why I Did it, What it Was Like, and the Bittersweet Tale of Weaning my Toddler
Breastfeeding can be a polarizing topic. Women who breastfeed sometimes like to shout loud and proud about the benefits of breastfeeding and tout it as the best way to feed a baby. Then there's the equally passionate women who formula feed and are quick to defend their decision. As far as I can ...
An update on breastfeeding and food intolerances: 15 months
It's been a full 10 months since I last posted on my journey breastfeeding Luke and his diagnosis of milk-soy protein intolerance (MSPI). That post has become one of my most popular and I still get comments and emails weekly from women sharing their stories and looking for answers. Since Luke was ...
10 months, and then 11
Does anyone else feel like once the holiday season arrives, starting with Thanksgiving, getting ahead is nearly impossible. Last year at this time, I had all my Christmas shopping done, the cards were sent out, and I was 99.9% ready for Christmas and Luke's arrival. Why, oh why, can't the ...
No one said it would be easy: the breastfeeding saga continues
I had big aspirations for this week. I'm usually full of energy and ready to tackle the week on Monday morning and this Monday was no exception. I had recipes in mind to test and photograph, grand plans for cleaning, and various tasks I hoped to accomplish. After dropping Meghan off at school ...
What this breastfeeding mama eats in a day
The last 5-7 months, as I've figured out Luke's food intolerances, I've had new challenges when it comes to eating. I've cut dairy, soy, nuts, and wheat out of my diet. When you suddenly have to avoid foods that have been staples for you, it can be daunting. There are days when I get frustrated ...
Our journey with breastfeeding and MSPI
Warning: this post is going to be graphic. I can't write a post about Luke's digestive issues without going into details about his stools. I figured if I'm going to talk about his stools, I might as well include pictures (which I've taken to show his doctors). I know when I was googling "blood ...
Postpartum update: 3 months later
I should have learned by now never to promise a post on a certain day. I said that I would give you this update yesterday, but then Luke started a growth spurt. When baby isn't napping well and wants to be fed every 2 or 2 1/2 hours instead of 3, even with the best intentions, blog posts don't get ...
Exercise update: finding my stride
Last month, I posted about getting started with a post-pregnancy exercise routine. Getting started was truly the hardest part. Once I got started, I didn't want to stop. The last four weeks I've gotten into a good groove and am finding my stride. Running I've been focusing on running more than ...
Postpartum update: 2 months later
It's hard to believe that two months ago I was enjoying a leisurely Sunday afternoon, totally unaware that in a few hours I'd be on my way to the hospital, completely dilated, not knowing how close I was to giving birth. We've come a long way since then. How I'm Doing The last month has ...
Exercise update: starting is the hardest part
After my 6 week (already?!) postpartum check up on Thursday, the doctor gave me the green light to begin exercising. At first, I thought, I'll start on Monday. Then I realized that I was just putting it off. Why not start now? What was so special about Monday? source So instead, I just started. ...
