Should you avoid foods when breastfeeding?
​Short answer: maybe
Long answer:
If you’re breastfeeding your baby you may find that some foods that you eat don’t agree with your baby. However all babies are different. We suggest consulting your Pediatrician, Doula or Lactation consultant with any concerns.
 
Some babies can have food sensitivities. For example, one out of my three children had a sensitivity to spicy food so I had to avoid eating it when I was breastfeeding him so he wouldn't have an upset tummy. I've had friends who had babies that had gluten or dairy sensitivities that were so intense that it caused rashes and other reactions. If this is the case, please consult your doctor.
 
The following list (originally shared by Ana Brandt and slightly modified to include a few more common culprits of upset tummies) is a helpful guide of common foods to avoid while nursing. As they get older, reintroduce foods one at a time to see how they are accepted. Please use this list at your own discretion and consult your doctor with any concerns.
 
Breastfeeding Food Guide
Limit citrus and acidic foods and drinks such as:

• Cranberries
• Pineapple
• Grapefruit
• Oranges
• Lemons
• Strawberries
• All berries
• Tomatoes and tomato products
• Chocolate 
• Peanuts (nuts in general)
• Pizza
• Spaghetti
• Ketchup

Avoid Spicy foods:

• Chili
• Tacos/Burritos
• ​Salsa
• Curry

Limit gassy vegetables such as:

• Asparagus
• Garlic
• Onions
• Cucumbers/pickles
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage

Avoid drinks such as: Soda, Coffee, Tea, Wine & Beer or drinks containing caffeine

Check with your Doctor to see if Dairy or Gluten could be an issue for your baby.
 
Identifying foods you as the nursing mom eat that don’t agree with your baby may take a little bit of time. You can try reintroducing foods to your diet one at a time every day or two to see how it affects your baby. Keep a log to help sort out different triggers. 
It can be a grueling process but once you figure out if your baby has any food sensitives you and your baby will both be happier.

Many of my clients are first time moms and many don't have a lot of experience with babies in general before they bring their own baby into the world. There are some unusual things about newborns that are not exactly intuitive. For example, did you know about a baby's "soft spot"? This is a very sensitive area on the top of a newborn's head where their skull hasn't fused together (the skull starts in four sections in order to allow the head to mold through the birth canal). You should not press on this soft spot due to the possibility of brain damage. 

Here are some more important tips for keeping baby safe:

• First, always support your newborn's head. Their neck muscles are quite weak when the are newborn babies. Sometimes they seem to hold their head up well and seem stronger but these little bouts of strength often don't last long so be wary of supporting a wiggly baby's head.
• Next, check out my post about preventing SIDS. There are many things you can do to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) which is the unexpected death of an infant when he or she was sleeping.
• Make sure you know how to properly install your infant car seat (that isn't expired) and how to properly secure your baby into the car seat. I will be covering this topic at a future date. Until then you can visit sccfd.org for more information about getting car seat inspections in Santa Clara County, California to ensure you're installing it correctly.
• NEVER NEVER shake a baby. This can lead to brain damage and death. If you ever feel like you're losing control around a baby lay the baby down (on their back) in a safe space and leave the room to calm down. Check out my blog post about why babies cry for more information.
• Make sure you always have a hand on your baby or within your reach. Though newborns don't often roll over they can still startle and fling out their arms and legs which can make them unstable on whatever surface they are on. A fall can be deadly so be cautious about the types of surfaces you lay your baby on. A firm flat surface is often the safest for your baby. 
• Double check that all of the baby gear you use with your baby meets national safety standards and have not been recalled. This includes gear like cribs, playpens, car seats, strollers, changing tables, carriers (like an ergo or moby), and toys.

There are so many things you can do to ensure your baby is safe and this list is definitely not comprehensive, it's just a few of the basics. Check out ncs.org and aboutkidshealth.ca for even more great advice.

I am a very strong proponent of infant safety. During my newborn photography sessions I am very cognizant of baby's ABC's (airway, breathing, and circulation) as well as their stability on the posing bag (so that there is no risk of falling, tipping over or wriggling away). I take the safety of the precious and fragile newborn babies I photograph very seriously. I have had training from both a newborn physiologist and a registered neonatal nurse (who specializes in neonatal guidelines as a consultant for the government). The training covered newborn physiology, reflexes and safety as well as the best practices when handling a newborn baby in a variety of photographic poses. That being said, I still think it’s important for you to understand: if I (or any photographer) do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, please say something! You are the parent and are most in tune with your child’s needs and I would never want to overstep that boundary. 
​
And as always: if there is something that is concerning you about your baby, consult your baby’s doctor.

Hey it's November! Wow, already? This year is just flying by! So November is National Adoption Month and this is a topic that I love to talk about.

I love adoption! I think it's an amazing gift. My two younger brothers were adopted as babies. My mom had me and my sister biologically but she knew our family wasn't complete. Since she had many health complications that meant she couldn't be pregnant again so our family adopted one baby boy at 5 weeks old then about two years later another baby boy at 2 days old. They were both closed adoptions. As another experience with adoption on the opposite side, my best friend in high school had a baby that she wasn't ready for and gave up to a wonderful family in Washington. This one was an open adoption and my best friend still has occasional visits with her daughter even more than a decade later. I've met many families that have adopted and I've found that the majority of the time you can't even tell that child was adopted because they fit so well into their loving adoptive family. Adoption is all about love. It is about a mother making the hardest decision ever so that her baby can be cared for in a way she isn't ready to give. It's about giving the adoptive family the option to raise a child that they so desperately want but for whatever reason aren't able to do without adoption. 
I was lucky enough to document a newborn that was adopted at the beginning of this year for the first time and I hope I'll be lucky to do photograph another adoption baby soon!!

​So why is there a National Adoption Awareness month anyway? According to childwelfare.gov "National Adoption Month is an initiative of the Children's Bureau with a goal to increase national awareness and bring attention to the need for permanent families for children and youth in the U.S. foster care system. Each year, we focus our outreach and awareness-raising efforts around a new adoption-related theme to help support professionals working each day to find permanency for children and youth in foster care in their community."

I know a lot more people are familiar with adoption as that can be an emotionally easier process to deal with, but Fostering to Adoption can be an option that can help children in difficult situations. I've had a few friends that took care of foster babies and children that eventually led to their adoption. From them I've learned about how burdened the foster system is. Of course we would want children in the foster system to reunite the children with their biological families, the ultimate goal is to provide a safe and stable environment for the children to thrive in. And sometimes that leads to the adoption of the child. If you or someone you know is thinking about fostering (and you live in California where I am based!) please visit Adoptuskids.org for more information. You have to be licensed to foster children in California but it's not a scary process! To become an approved family first you meet with a licensing worker in your home to ensure the space is safe and large enough by law. You will then work with social services to decide what type of child you are best suited to foster, for example girls vs. boys, babies vs. young children vs. middle school or high school children, or to consider any health issues the child might have (for example a woman I know adopted foster children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which was much more difficult than a typical child but she was able to take care of these children well because of how resilient she is). Whether you end up adopting the foster child or not you will at very least be providing them with a little bit of stability for them while their world has been turned upside down. You will be able to show them the love that they need and deserve. I'd encourage you to learn more if you think you are in a time in your life where you can share your love with those in need.