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Hey moms, you need to take care of YOU!

Would a giveaway help?

I know, I know, you hear it all the time but you just can't because laundry, work, laundry, demanding kids, laundry, dishes, parties, every. thing. else, mostly no time.

Besides, moms are tough. Very tough. They do hard things every day, even just to get their babies. Moms push beings out their vagina or have their abdomen cut open, or stretch their emotions through adoption, allow their entire body chemistry to change, sacrificing sleep, hot meals, hot showers, and even have some of their brain invaded for their children.

Moms are tough.

When it comes to breastfeeding, many moms tough it out through all kinds of challenges. Some may have an easy go of it but a rather significant mother of moms face challenges along the way. There are a few words that even the toughest of these women shudder at the thought of. Words such as:

They're all hard and we could each probably add our own words but those 4 are universally understood. Bad news for breastfeeding moms.

But did you know that your chance of developing the last one, mastitis, goes up during the holidays? According to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine a predisposing risk factor is "Maternal Stress and Fatigue."

Which is pretty much the definition of holidays.

Yep. Isn't that fun. Happy holidays to you too.

The reasons are fairly obvious when you think about it, a disrupted schedule, distracted nursling, maybe wearing a push up bra (that doesn't really fit you right now...), baking marathons, dietary changes, parties, visiting family... it's enough to make your boobs balk just thinking about it.

While breastfeeding can, in many ways, make the hectic holiday season easier, the holidays can complicate breastfeeding. Surviving holiday breastfeeding may require some planning and being aware so you can avoid possible difficulties that are all too common this time of year. Nobody wants Mastitis, the red eyed monster of breastfeeding to visit at any time but particularly not during the holidays. A sore breast, fever, body aches, and the chance of developing an abscess aren't celebratory experiences no matter what time of year.

Take care of you. Make some Hot Mama Cocoa (yum), maybe some seasonal Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies (double yum), try some of these tips to move from surviving to thriving this holiday season, consider if you mommy exhaustion could be something more, and fight for you. If your kids don't see you taking care of yourself, why would they believe they need to take care of themselves. If you're not living the way you hope your children will live, you may need to make some changes.

Start with taking care of you. Here are 7 ways you can start doing that this holiday season.

Live well, enjoy the season, avoid mastitis, take care of you, and happy feeding Leakies!

Jessica Martin-Weber
Founder, theleakyboob.com

This Week On TLB

Seven Ways to Experience Nurturing During the Holidays

#MyStoryMatters: Grief and Pumping in Adoption

To have swollen breasts filled with milk, and no baby to feed is painful, more so in the soul. The loss is magnified when the milk starts to come in, and you are faced with empty arms. Your body won’t let you forget and move on. Your body remembers. The right decision to be made isn’t always the easy one. Sometimes the right decision is difficult. I decided I wouldn’t fight my body.

22 Ways to Nurture the Nurturer

I practically throw a party if I was able to pee just once in a 24 hour period without an audience. It’s a rare party indeed. Many of you know exactly what I’m talking about. So how to find the time to nurture yourself? READ MORE

Almond Joy Lactation Bars

Truth: I once made these beauties to woo a potential future boss. And it totally worked. I got the job and my (now former) boss still requests these delightful bites of almond and coconut bliss when we have him over for dinner or head out to his house for a hike.

Ingredients for bars:

2 eggs
3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 can full-fat coconut milk
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup sugar, (or coconut sugar if you’re looking for a low-glycemic option)
1/2 cup flour, sifted (I use Bob’s Redmill gluten-free blend)
1 Tbsp flax meal (optional)
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
20 drops liquid stevia, or 2 Tbsp honey (optional)
a handful of raw almonds

Ingredients for chocolate drizzle:

3 oz 90% cacao chocolate bar
2 Tbsp coconut oil or butter
1/4 tsp cardamom
15 drops liquid stevia, or 2 Tbsp honey (optional)
1 tsp vanilla

Head over to The Leaky Boob for the full recipe and directions

If you like this, head over to Our Stable Table for more great recipes and some great conversation.

Happy Lactating!
Carrie

Parenting and Feeding Around the Web

Mom's Viral Breastfeeding Photo Shuts Down Shamers

Breastfeeding Mom Sparks Online Uproar in China

Forget Mom Guilt, I've Got Mom Anxiety!

Mastitis Risk with Damaged Nipples

Let Me Tell Ya...

#LeakyLooks: !

Holiday Family Photo Ideas

It’s that time of year when we gather with our dearest family and friends to celebrate another year spent together. What better time than now to commemorate the season with a family portrait in this year’s holiday card. As a former professional photographer, I know there are a lot of things that can make a family portrait go from mess to success! Here are three great looks for you this week, put together to give you some great ideas as you prepare for that perfect holiday card snapshot.

Some great pro tips: Instead of a matching theme, use colors that coordinate. The varying textures will add depth to your portrait. Decide on a casual look in an outdoor setting, or go formal with an elegant shoot in the studio with the typical holiday props.

See more Leaky Looks HERE Do you have some great #LeakyLooks costume ideas for you and baby this year? Tag us on Instagram! We’d love to feature you!

We have an amazing online community we'd love for you to join! Needing positive support in your feeding journey? Have questions about weaning? Supplementing? Breast Pain? We're here to help! Click on our logo to get added or Join The Leaky Boob Community HERE.

Leaky Chronicles: Real Stories For Real Life

Mastitis: The Red-Eyed Steaming Pooh Pile Jerk Monster of Breastfeeding

Not going to sugarcoat it: Mastitis is a jerk. A real jerk. It hurts. Other than being a jerk though, what is mastitis?

Inflammation of a boob. A boob infection. A boob infection that may turn into a boob abscess. And it can spread from there.

This jerk is no joke.

Mastitis can present as a range of severity from engorgement when milk comes in to a blocked duct, redness, swelling, pain, and a fever. Sometimes bacteria or infection isn’t always actually present.

5 Healthy Holidays- Stress Less

Yesterday, I came home from work, looked at my crazy mess of a house, tried to soothe my over-stimulated , screaming toddler and thought, “Good grief. Is Christmas over yet?!”. Yeah, super cheery. I’m basically one of Santa’s little elves, right? And I probably said a few curse words instead of “good grief”.
READ MORE

This Week On Our Stable Table

Christmas Cosmo

Herb-Crusted Beef Tenderloin

Meyer Lemon Coconut Tartlet

Beyond Moi

life. family. love.

This Week On Beyond Moi

To Rape or Not To Rape

TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains highly sensitive content regarding rape and domestic violence.

"I am struggling, once again, with trust issues regarding men (which could be a whole blog post unto itself, if not an autobiography), and this time it’s because there really seems to be some confusion as to where that line is, that establishes when it’s ok to be physically violent with people they love. Their wife. Their kids."

The Importance of Shared Experiences

The point is this: shared experiences, be they firsts, or repeats of enjoyable experiences, like going out to the park with our kids or nieces and nephews, or watching the next episode of a show together for the first time, shared experiences are what keep relationships fresh and vibrant, and the bonding stuff that make for great memories.

I just love it when my kids are sick! It’s so great, so fun, such a nice change, I look forward to my kids being sick. Yay for sick kids!
Said no parent ever.

Here are the 9 Selfish Reasons I Love It When My Kids Are Sick:

Immune system boosting. Just think, when we beat this thing our immune systems will be that much stronger! And then maybe we will get another 3 months before we’re sick again. Maybe.
Legitimate reason for my house to be trashed. Hours of holding and soothing don’t leave much time for house cleaning. They may bounce back in a few days but it’s going to take at least a good week for the house to recover.