Sometimes you just gotta have some chocolate. There’s nothing quite like fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. But, the tried and true recipes just don’t work for our family anymore. Gluten free life is a must for our health, grain free is even better!
When this gluten free, 7 ingredient chocolate chip cookie recipe from Elana’s Pantry popped up on my facebook feed I knew I had to try it! Gluten free, no white sugar, and only 7 ingredients. I knew I’d have some willing taste testers with the 2 boys and my husband, so I fired up the oven and got to it! And oh, let me tell you….. You need to make these!
I made 2 small changes to her recipe, hers was dairy free, and we used butter, hers asked for Celtic Sea Salt, and we used Pink Himalayan. Need dairy free? Click the link above and go check it out!
Here’s what we did!
2 cups almond flour
¼ teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ cup melted butter
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ cup semi sweet chocolate chunks. (I like Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chunks)
Combine almond flour, salt and baking soda
Add in melted butter, honey and vanilla until dough forms
Stir in chocolate chunks
Scoop dough one level tablespoon at a time onto a parchment lined baking sheet
Press balls of dough down gently
Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes
IMPORTANT – Cool for 15 minutes (do not handle prior or cookies will break)
Devour!
Makes 18 cookies
The children give them 2 big thumbs up! 100% kid approved (mom and dad agree)!
As a new mom you might be exhausted. Un-showered. Overwhelmed. And…if you imbibe….really ready for that glass of wine. Or amazing dark craft beer made locally(or maybe that’s just me), or even a lovely margarita. No matter what your indulgence of choice is, no doubt some wise woman somewhere has advised you to pump and dump. Pump that lovely liquid gold that you’ve worked so hard for, and dump it right down the drain because you chose an alcoholic beverage!
What’s a mama to do?!
I’m here to tell you – have that cocktail, gorgeous! Enjoy! The myth of pump and dump is just that!
Current research from the AAP, La Leche League and Hales, says that occasional use of alcohol (1-2 drinks) does not appear to be harmful to the nursing baby. In general, if you are sober enough to drive, you are sober enough to breastfeed. Less than 2% of the alcohol consumed by the mother reaches her blood and milk.
The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) & La Leche League both agree women can continue breastfeeding with moderate alcohol intake. Chronic or heavy users should not breastfeed.
Sadly, the myth of beer increasing milk supply is scientifically unproven, and, may actually inhibit let down in some women.
**Please note this is based on an average cocktail (2oz of liquor)/8 oz of wine/2 beers**
I am a certified lactation counselor (CLC). I’m proud of that certification. I worked hard for it. I’m passionate about breastfeeding, and the normalization of breastfeeding. I exclusively breastfed both of my children. We did child lead weaning. I’ve supported and encouraged many friends, and clients in their breastfeeding journey.
But get ready for this –
As your doula – I. Don’t. Care. How. You. Feed. Your. Baby.
I don’t care. It’s your choice. I don’t judge.
I don’t think formula is evil. I don’t think you and your baby are doomed if you choose to or have to exclusively formula feed or supplement.
I will advocate for breastfeeding. I’m the first to step up and tell you all the wonderful benefits to mom and baby IF you’re on the fence. Or, if you want to hear it.
We all have a reason for the choices we make, and I trust that our reasons are very good reasons.
Calm, gentle, nonjudgmental support for all families.
The cesarean surgery rate in the United States alone is at 32.7% according to the CDC website. This means that nearly one in three women will give birth via major surgery. This surgery may be planned in advance (scheduled cesarean) or may be decided upon during labor. So, what can a doula do to help during a surgical birth?
Scheduled Cesarean Sections
You may find that you need to schedule the delivery date of your baby to be born via c-section. The need for this can be for many reasons. If this is how you are giving birth you will still need support from other people. A doula is the perfect person to help give you this support.
As a doula I am trained to help women and their families while giving birth, whether that birth be a vaginal birth or a surgical birth.
As your doula, I am another set of hands, eyes and ears to help you better prepare for your upcoming surgical birth. I can help you get answers to your questions and formulate a birth plan for a cesarean section.
During the pre-op period, I can help explain procedures to you and your partner and help you get answers to any questions that you have, much like any other labor planning.
Once inside the operating room, I can assist you in knowing what is going on by giving you details of what is going on.
Your doctor and assistants are busy doing the surgery. The nurses are preparing the room for the baby. Your partner is awaiting the baby and will soon go to the warmer to greet the baby. I will be right at your side. I can take photos if you desire, particularly after the baby is born. I can help you voice any special requests you may have, like letting your partner announce the gender of the baby , getting to touch the baby right away, music in the room, etc. If your baby needs to go to the nursery, your partner can go with the baby, knowing that I am still by your side.
One important fact to know about the cesarean is that the baby is born in the first few minutes. The rest of the nearly hour long procedure is the repair. If your partner is busy with the baby or in the nursery, you would otherwise be alone during this period. Many of the mothers I have worked with have said having a doula for this period was incredibly reassuring and prevented them from becoming frightened or overly anxious.
During the postpartum period I can suggest post-operative comfort measures. I assist you with any breastfeeding questions you may have or special help you or baby may require with breastfeeding. I can also help with reminding nurses about your birth plan and special needs you may have.
Unscheduled Cesareans
I provide all of the above services for you should the need for a cesarean come up during your labor. If you have an emergency cesarean, my role as well as the role of your other support people may be extremely limited during the actual surgery. However, in the recovery and postpartum periods I will again be able to resume those functions.
A doula for a cesarean, particularly a scheduled cesarean, is becoming more and more popular. Many couples find that they benefit from the supportive and informative services of this extra set of trained hands during a cesarean birth.
You’ve got an amazing partner, the most fantastic BFF, perhaps a super sister, or a mother/grandmother who rocks beyond belief. Maybe even more than one of these things. So…what the heck do you need a birth doula for?!
A birth doula is a trained professional with a vast knowledge of labor and birth. The care provided by your loved ones is priceless during labor and childbirth – no one knows you better than your partner or close friends and family! The expertise and experience of a birth doula will only compliment this by providing support to your entire birth team, with the main focus always being on you. A doula will enhance the support that others will provide, without being intrusive.
Your mother, father, grandmother, and dear friends each have their own emotional response to seeing you, a woman they love experience labor, and to welcoming this new child into their lives. Doulas respect that this is a special moment for each person, and gently provide encouragement, information and reassurance that will help your loved ones offer their support in a way that also respects your needs.
Most family and friends do not have experience with labor and birth. They don’t know what is “normal”, they often don’t know the physiology of labor and how to help you find a good position to help relieve pain or discomfort, and above all else they are emotionally involved. A doula is not emotionally involved like those closest to you. We know that it’s ok if you cry during labor or curse loudly or say you want to give up. Labor is hard work! Doulas know this! But we also know you can do it and we know how to talk you through the difficult parts. We care about you. We are there to be your support, and many times Moms/Sisters/BFFs don’t know what to do when you say you give up. They want to fix it. They may try to convince you to make choices that you are trying to avoid or distract you with their worries.
A doula speaks the language of birth, both intuitively and technically. Doulas are trained in providing comfort measures for coping with pain, normalizing the experience for all involved, and assisting a mother and her partner/team in making informed choices around her birth experience and newborn care.
For those of you with toddlers and young kids – do you cook with them? If the answer is no – well, you really should!
Cooking helps young ones learn and practice some basic math concepts and build language skills. The experience of preparing meals with you helps build their self-confidence and lays the foundation for healthy eating habits.
Sure, it makes it messier, and take longer, and it’s not something that you can do for each and every meal. It may take flexibility and extra simple prep work, but with the right expectations and a little patience, your time in the kitchen with your little ones can be an adventure you’ll all enjoy.
Build basic skills. Cooking is math! Cooking is science! Cooking is language arts! You can help your child practice basic math skills by doing something as simple as counting eggs or pouring water into a measuring cup. You can ask what comes first, second, and third or count together as you spoon dough onto a cookie sheet. When you read a recipe together, you’re introducing new words to your child’s vocabulary and promoting literacy. Following steps in the recipe can work on listening skills.
Encourage new tastes. We all know young children can be picky eaters, bringing them into the kitchen to cook can help get them to open up to new tastes. Encourage kids to taste new ingredients you’re working with and talk about what they like and how healthy foods make a body grow. I find that pride of what they created will often make my 2 try new and surprising things. Sure, they may just taste it and not want more, but, at least they tried! Have to start somewhere!
Help young kids explore with their senses. Kids learn by exploring with their senses and the kitchen is an ideal place to do that. Invite them to listen to the whir of the mixer, pound dough and watch it rise, smell it baking in the oven, and finally taste the warm bread fresh from the oven. If it smells good, looks appealing, and is easy to eat they may just be willing to try it!
Boost confidence. Young children love to show what they can do and working in the kitchen provides opportunities to gain a sense of accomplishment. If they helped assemble the pizza, let them know that their help was important. When the boys have helped create a meal we always talk about it at the dinner table – reminding them how their efforts and teamwork helped make our delicious meal.
And get this – among the recommendations in a recent American Heart Association report on overweight children and teens were:
Reducing the number of meals eaten outside the home.
Having structured times for family meals.
Offering healthier, low-calorie foods.
Involving children in meal planning, shopping, and food preparation.
My boys love to help with anything and everything. They are Kings of the juicer, can’t stay away when they see the mixer come out, and if there are eggs to be cracked they’re your men. Sure, we’ve had our share of disasters and messes, but, it’s all part of the process.
But, all those fantastic reasons aside, it’s time spent with your little ones. Time that is all too fleeting. Time that you’ll never have again. Cherish it. Embrace it. Rejoice in it.
What’s a few broken eggs on the floor at the end of the day? That’s what mops (or overzealous dogs) were made for, right?
Informed Consent –permission granted in the knowledge of the possible consequences, typically that which is given by a patient to a doctor for treatment with full knowledge of the possible risks and benefits.
While surveying a group of non birth worker friends informed consent was a BIG topic. Comments ranged from, “I wish I had known I could have said no”, “I didn’t like feeling like things were just being done to me”, “I wish I had known I could have asked questions”, to, “I didn’t even know where they had taken my child”
Whenever a medical procedure, drug, test, or other treatment is offered to you, you have the legal right to “informed consent.” This means that your doctor, midwife or nurse is responsible for explaining to you:
why this type of care is being offered
what it would involve
the harms and benefits that are associated with this type of care
alternatives to this care, and their respective harms and benefits, including the possibility of doing nothing at the present time (“watchful waiting”)
As a doula, I see so many excellent care providers, who very clearly explain what is going on, and why. And, sometimes I see people walk in and in the words of one person who answered my informal survey, “just do things”.
You have the right, and the responsibility to ask questions. You have the right to ask for a second opinion. You have the right to say no.
While it can feel overwhelming to speak up, and ask questions in the midst of labor, it is so important. Important for you and your baby’s physical well being, but, also for helping to achieve the birth you have planned.
Hiring a doula is an excellent way to help you along this path. As a doula, I am not allowed to speak for you. I am not allowed to tell you what to say. But, what I can do is make sure you understand what is happening. Remind you of your preferences. Ask you if you need things explained more clearly. I can help you ask for more time, and help you formulate the questions you want to ask.
Your birth is your journey, and the first of many as a parent, but, a doula can help be your guide through the process.
Last week I took a little informal survey of my non doula, non birth worker friends on my personal facebook, as well as a San Fernando Valley community group, and asked mothers and partners to name something that surprised them about birth and that they wished someone had told them about beforehand.
One common theme was support. The great need for continuous support. From comments stating that the partner just didn’t know what to do, or, that it was just too much for them to deal with, to, they just weren’t at all supportive. No matter how amazing your partner is, they too need someone to reassure them, this is normal, birth is normal, fear is normal, you’re doing great. Doulas are trained, of course, to take care of the birthing woman, but, I firmly feel that taking care of the partner is also a huge part of taking care of the birthing woman. If your partner is calm, focused, and directed, they can help you remain calm, focused and directed. Sometimes I think of myself as a labor translator…or, as this great Pam England quote says – a sherpa –
“Asking your husband to be your sole guide through labor is like asking him to lead the way on a climb of Mt Everest. He may be smart and trustworthy, you may love him, but in the Himalayas you’d both be a lot better off with a Sherpa!” – Pam England
Every labor is different. Every birth is different. Some are slow and calm, some are fast and frantic. Why not have a calm, caring voice at your side?
Whether it’s your first birth, or your fifth, the calm, nonjudgmental support of a labor and birth doula makes for a more satisfying birth experience!
~Heather Mayer – Birth and Postpartum Doula
*Part 2 will address informed consent and your right to speak up and ask questions!
It is natural for baby to be close to his mother/primary caregiver. Babies are happiest when being held.. Babywearing is a great practice for keeping baby happy and to help build a stronger bond. The benefits of babywearing are many!
When we wear a baby in a carrier, we can walk around freely and not have to worry about negotiating steps, crowds or narrow aisles with a stroller. A carrier can also be great to help block out excess stimuli when breastfeeding a distractible baby.
When a baby rides in a carrier attached to his mother, he is in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes.. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses, and exercises his vestibular system, which controls balance. The carrier becomes in essence a “transitional womb” for the new baby, who has not yet learned to control his bodily functions and movements. Research has shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not.
Maya Ring Sling
Studies have shown that the more babies are held, the less they cry and fuss. Crying is exhausting for both the baby and his parents, and may cause long-term damage as the baby’s developing brain is continually flooded with stress hormones.Babies who do not need to spend their energy on crying are calmly observing and actively learning about their environment. Baby-wearing is especially useful for colicky babies, who are far happier being worn, but placid, content babies and children will also benefit greatly from the warmth and security of being held close.
Carriers are a useful tool for every adult in a baby’s life. I love seeing baby wearing dads/partners going for a walk with their baby in a sling! The baby is becoming used to their voice, heartbeat, movements and facial expressions, and the two are forging a strong attachment of their own. Partners don’t have the automatic head-start on bonding that comes with gestation, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make up for this once their baby is born. The same goes for babysitters, grandparents and all other caregivers. Holding baby safe and close in a carrier is a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for the baby to get to know you!
As a postpartum doula I love spreading the babywearing love and helping new families figure out the perfect carrier for them! There’s so many resources out there for help – from facebook babywearing groups, to certified babywearing instructors located here in the San Fernando Valley .
I wish for your birth to be everything you want it to be. I want it to be joyful, and empowering. I want it to be safe, and I want you to always feel listened to and respected.
As a doula, I’m a natural birth cheerleader, this is true, but, as YOUR doula I respect that your birth is your choice. It’s my job to help support your wishes and needs every step of the way.
It’s my job to help you remember why you don’t want that epidural, and to find your voice to say NO. It’s my job to tell you how awesome you’re doing, and hold your hand, and reassure you that you are strong and powerful even if you decide that drugs are the best choice.
It’s my job to focus on YOU, 100%. To respect and support your choices.
It’s my job to help you stick to your birth plan, and remind you of all the reasons you wanted it, but, it’s also my job to let you make your own choices, and change your mind as things progress.
I wish you everything you want from your birth, no matter what path that may take, and how different it may look from one moment to the next.
It’s my wish, that every time you look down at that new, beautiful being, no matter how they came earthside, that you know that YOU are strong, YOU are powerful, YOU did this.
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