Is It Safe to Diet While Breastfeeding?
- By Alena Clark, PhD, MPH, RDN, CLC
- May 23, 2023
Given that persistent DRA is often blamed for postpartum concerns like low back pain, pelvic floor issues, and lingering frustrations with post-pregnancy body image, it’s no wonder that it has become one of the hottest topics in the postpartum-rehab world. Can we prevent it? Why does it resolve in some people and not in others? Can we restore core function after birth even if we have stubborn DRA? What core exercises or ab exercises can heal diastasis recti?
Let’s take a look at what we know about DRA, and what we can do to address it.
On April 11-17, we celebrate Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW). According to the CDC, black women are currently three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. This article will review the current state of the U.S. maternal mortality rate, recommendations for pregnant families and healthcare providers, and how to be an advocate for maternal and reproductive health.
Being a new parent can be an exciting, overwhelming, and stressful experience. All of the new changes including meeting your breastfeeding goals, taking care of your baby and making time for yourself can all be new stressors in your life. How does stress impact your breastfeeding experience? Find out from an Aeroflow Breastpumps IBCLC!
During pregnancy, you are not only responsible for your own well being but for that of the life growing inside of you. You’ve been eating well, taking your vitamins, and avoiding alcohol. But what about all the household work that need to be done? Many chores require heavy lifting, using chemicals, and exposure to toxins, so it can be hard to know what is actually safe for you and your baby. Though many basic household tasks are safe for pregnant women, there are a few household chores that should be avoided. Ask your partner or a friend to help keep you and your baby safe.
The health benefits of breastfeeding are endless for both mom and baby. You may know about many ways that breast milk benefits babies, but breastfeeding is also a powerful player in the long term health of the breastfeeding mother. Breastfeeding can actually reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Breastfeeding or pumping in public places can be stressful with many moms still discriminated against by 24% of Americans who deem any kind of breast exposure as inappropriate. If you’re worried about comments from others telling you to “cover up,” it is important to know that you have the legal right to continue nurse in public, despite the negative stigma surrounding it.