Baby Says “Feed Me”

It’s 9 a.m. and the rumbling in your tummy is becoming a bit embarrassing at the office or in the middle of your mommy errands.   You can grab a box of high-sugar, low protein snacks in an attempt to fend it off.  Or be a savvy mom-to-be and reach into your handbag for a Belly©bar, the before, during and after pregnancy nutrition bar made by women for women.  Rich in vegetarian Omega-3 DHA (supports a healthy pregnancy and nursing), the Belly©bar satisfies your need for something nutritious and your craving for something delicious.  My fave:  Baby Needs Chocolate – I still grab one every now and then (and no, I’m not pregnant girls – don’t let the rumor begin).  There’s also a Mellow Oat with oat graham and yogurt and Berry Nutty Cravings with crunchy nuts and berries.

Prefer to drink your snack?  Try their new shakes, available in Due for Chocolate or Vanilla Dreams, to get a boost of fiber, protein, calcium and Omega-3 DHA.  Or pack a bag of Chocolate Cuddles Chews and keep them with you for a sweet treat on the go.  We are sure that baby will be smiling and you’ll be satisfied.

This baby never sleeps, shop with us 24/7 at www.ninematernity.com

Mother’s Milk Bank – Nature’s Most Powerful Prescription

If you’re one of those lucky mamas that produces more milk than you need or you’d like to help an ill infant, consider donating your extra breast milk to Mother’s Milk Bank of Austin (MMB).  MMB is a non-profit organization whose mission is to accept, pasteurize and dispense donor human milk by physician prescription primarily to premature and ill infants. 

 

Human milk contains antibodies to fight disease and infection and also protects against allergies.  It contains growth hormones to help babies develop and properties that have been shown to increase intelligence and decrease the risk of obesity and diabetes later in life.  It is especially critical for preterm or ill infants who are at greater risk for intestinal infections.  Mom’s own milk is always preferable but when it is not available, milk given generously by screened donor mothers is the next best alternative.

 

The Texas Medical Center in Houston is one of MMB of Austin’s major drop-offs for donor milk.  In addition, many of the hospitals here in Houston receive donor milk from MMB in Austin.  As an expectant mother, you can learn more about this life-saving organization that could help your child or another ill infant.

 

For more information in Texas, visit www.mmbaustin.org or Google “Mother’s Milk Bank” and your city name to find a location closest to you.

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month

In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we’d like to pass along some benefits of breastfeeding that we found on www.womenshealth.gov and in the pages of Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine’s August issue:

 

• Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants.  A mother’s milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby’s growth and development.  Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula.
• Studies have shown that women who breastfeed their children are 50 percent less likely to develop breast cancer.  It also lowers the risk of ovarian cancer and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.
• Worldwide, the average age that babies stop breastfeeding is 3 to 4 years.
• The average cost of breastfeeding per year is approximately $300.
• The average cost of formula feeding per year is between $1000 and $2000.
• Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy.  It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding womany may have after giving birth.
• Research has shown that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of SIDS as well as your child’s likelihood to develop allergies, ear infections and asthma.

See what’s in store for you at www.ninematernity.com