As we approach Mother’s Day, I wanted to focus on this wonderful group of women who give 110% of themselves to their families. I remember when I was newly pregnant with Aleyah, I really began to think about what I was eating because I wanted to start her off by giving her all the nutrients she needed to be healthy. Dr. Sears gives 10 reasons why and how a expectant mom’s diet needs to change. BTW- while a pregnant mom is eating for two, she really only requires an extra 300-500 a day. Pregnancy is not an excuse to overindulge- you’ll be sorry for eating all that pizza and ice cream when you begin working off those extra pounds after giving birth.

As a new mom, I felt strongly about the importance of breastfeeding. I was blessed to have a strong support system that allowed me the opportunity to nurse all three of my children for 12+ months. Study after study shows countless benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and child. Dr. Walt Larimore has many blog posts concerning the studies that have been conducted on breastfeeding.

Here are just some of the benefits of a breastfed baby…

-stronger immune system

-lower risk of allergies

-less gastrointestinal infections

-stronger bond with mom

-lower risk of obesity

Benefits for Mom…

-bonding with baby

-lower risk of diabetes

-lower risk of cancer

-lower risk of cardiovascular disease

-loss of postnatal weight

Breastfeeding is the best for mom and baby. I would encourage any new mom to breastfeed if at all possible. While it does require a bit of a sacrifice on mom’s part, its benefits for both mom and baby are so worth it! I’ve never heard a mom say that she regrets nursing her little one!