If you have sore, cracked nipples from breastfeeding, you know how bad nursing your baby can hurt! This might sound like an exaggeration to say it's one of the worst (physical) sensation a mom has to endure. You cringe every time baby latches, bracing for the sharp, radiating pain. You hold your breath as baby sleeps, knowing that her waking up means another painful nursing session. Even the most dedicated breastfeeding mom has had the fleeting thought that it's too hard. 

Today's post is about what is causing your nipple pain and how to treat it so you can keep breastfeeding like the rock star that you are!

These beautiful golden seeds have supported breastfeeding women for thousands of years. Fenugreek is an ancient plant that is both food and medicine. It is one of the first recorded herbs in early Egypt. Every herb book on my shelf speaks of the many benefits of fenugreek seeds for lactation. So, why are modern women concerned about fenugreek seeds? Are there dangers of fenugreek?  

Read on to learn how this ancient plant is still serving modern women and helping them breastfeed their babies and make tons of thick, rich breastmilk. Find out why women think they need to boost their supply in the first place. Discover the real concerns about fenugreek and determine if fenugreek is the right herb for you?

There are several factors that play into how long it takes for your body to return to it’s full fertile cycle; meaning that you ovulate, your uterine lining is prepared to nurture a fertilized egg, and you menstruate. Although it is unlikely that you would get pregnant if your period has not returned, it is still possible. So, be careful! If you would not welcome a new pregnancy, use birth control that will be compatible with breastfeeding.

Our Cycle Relief herbal tincture can provide relief from painful cramps and heavy bleeding during your period after giving birth.

Some herbs and natural remedies should be avoided while nursing because they are medically recognized as containing anti-lactogens, that is, compounds that decrease a mother’s supply of milk. The amount of these herbs normally used in cooking are unlikely to be of much concern. It’s mostly the larger amounts that might be used therapeutically, which could pose a problem.

Learn more about which herbs are safe and which herbs to avoid while breastfeeding.

The intricacies of the human body are almost magical, with no one system or function working entirely on its own. Within a mother’s body, the processes that lead to menstruation, pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding are all interconnected. Just a handful of hormones can dictate each of these functions, with different organs and actions responding in their own way. A fascinating and, sometimes, bewildering example of this is the relationship between menstruation and breastfeeding.

On average, breastfeeding regulates postpartum menses and a return to fertility long enough that babies are often spaced a couple of years apart even without other forms of birth control. Of course, averages don’t mean a whole lot for individuals—all of our bodies are beautifully unique. But even when the average holds true, it’s common and even recommended to breastfeed well into toddlerhood. Chances are, there are many of you who have been or will be faced with the prospect of tandem breastfeeding.

Yet even though it makes perfect biological sense for one child’s breastfeeding journey to coincide with their sibling’s, it’s not often depicted or discussed. So when a mama becomes pregnant before baby weans, they’re often left wondering what to do. Rest assured, tandem nursing is well within that “range of normal” that we so often look to. Today, we’ll walk through some of the concerns, benefits, and struggles of tandem breastfeeding. You’re not alone—and your nursling doesn’t have to be, either!

The birth of your baby will bring so much joy to your life, but you may be a bit anxious for all that motherhood has in store. The early weeks of becoming a mom can be very tiring and frustrating. You’ll be easing into all the new things that come with having a newborn and you’ll need some breastfeeding tips.

Most newborns will breastfeed at least eight times in 24 hours, and it is essential to keep up that frequency so your breastfeeding milk supply will become established.