#InternLife :: Breastfeeding Project

As part of the dietetic internship, I have been asked to do a presentation about breastfeeding to a group of migrant mothers.

I was specifically asked to present about milk production, how to eat well during lactation, and any other information I felt was relevant.

I have been working with mothers, both nursing and formula feeding, for a little over a year now. I have gained a whole new appreciation for what it is to be a mother. Throughout the past year, I have seen numerous mom find success and heart break over breastfeeding. There are so many stigmas surrounding breastfeeding and WIC has been trying to break those barriers to allow new (and experienced) moms to feel safe and comfortable to feed their baby where ever they are.

In an effort to share the experiences of breastfeeding mothers, I posted on Facebook the following status:

To all my Mommy Friends who have breastfed: I am putting together a presentation about breastfeeding and I want to know what your tips & tricks are? What was the best advice you received about breastfeeding? Is there something you wish you knew about breastfeeding before you started?

I have had great responses and plan to use them as part of my presentation. One momma who responded also sent me some of the journal entries she kept while pumping.

Her is what she wrote:

//The pump: hospital vs. home//
I use Medela products. Not because I think they’re supreme to all other pumping products, because I got it for free (well, my insurance covered it). The pump-in-style is a great portable unit, however it can not be as finely tuned as its hospital-grade friend, the symphony. If you are nursing and merely need to pump at work or pump to stimulate more milk production, the pump-in-style works great. It is a lightweight unit that does the trick. If, however, you pump exclusively, or have issues with prolonged use of the PIS, the Symphony is a great option. I pumped with the PIS for three months before I tested out the Symphony (which was really stupid to wait that long). Boy, does it make a difference if you experience nipple pain, thrush, or cracks. The symphony’s suction can be set at a MUCH lower level so it doesn’t feel like an alligator latching on to your already sore nipples. The only draw-back for the symphony is that you must fork out some $$$ to use it. Most hospitals rent them out….usually in Monthly/tri-monthly intervals. It’s worth it.

// The pump parts: horns, coconut oil //
Ahhhh, the parts to the pump. Basically just a endless collection of itty bitty nooks and crannies for milk to get in and almost never get out. 😐 In case you were not made aware, The horns for Medela’s pumps come in a variety of sizes. The standard (what comes with your pump) size is 24mm. I had to get bigger horns…look up Medelas size guide. Your nipples will thank you.

//Engorgement 😨 //
A better term for this is “Blue Boobs”…tell your hubby engorgement feels like “blue balls” and he’ll get the picture real quick.

//Blocked ducts 😩//
Think of a volcano. Hot, firery, cavernous zit of the earth. Now put a lid on it. That pretty much covers it. I read that applying heat to the area helps…didn’t usually do much for me. What worked best was to keep pumping that breast and massaging the area.

Nipples (flat, cracked, blistered)
Thrush 👹 … Yeast is an SOB
Mastitis 👿😡😭
Nursing pads
Pumping bra

//The pumping mothers biggest nemesis: Places to pump in public//
😳….Crap! I have to pump!
😣….Where am I to go!?!
😩….There is no place to go!!!
😡….Someone suggested a public restroom…Here you go, Baby! A yummy bottle of milk with just a tinge of feces!

//My bag: pump, cover, towel, cleaning wipes, creams, etc.//
I use a Skip Hop diaper bag for my pulp bag. It works AWESOME! [I seriously love my Skip Hop diaper bags…yes, bags…I have two (one for my pump and one to use as a diaper bag)…and I recommend you do the same.] My pump and its accessories, a pumping bra, a pumping/nursing cover, and a towel fit wonderfully in the main compartment of the pump bag. In one side pocket I keep a travel sized/sample sized bottle of Palmolive (I got it in the hospital) and a thing of gum. In the other pocket I keep all of my creams (coconut oil, lanolin, triple antibiotic ointment, etc.). Inside the 4 pockets of the main compartment  I keep extra nursing pads, some paper towel, and the Medela pump-cleaning wipes.

//iPhone app ❤️//
American Baby – Baby Nursing
Has settings for pumping and nursing.

//Supplement Superheros! 👏🏻//
MotherLove lactation drops 💧
Mothers Milk Tea ☕️
Water 💦💦

Cheers,

Danielle

And so it begins….

I am officially a Dietetic Intern! It still seems surreal and it is hard to put into words the feelings of excitement, anticipation, and anxiety that are all floating around.

I plan to write about my experiences as I go through each rotation. I’ve read through several blogs that have chronicled internships and all have had their share of great stories.

In other news, I came across the article linked below and wanted to share it with you all.

http://www.eatclean.com/scoops/5-health-food-myths

eatclean.com is super and informative, I’d encourage you all to head there and take a peak.

I have another sangria recipe I’ll be posting tomorrow, be sure to check back in for that 🙂

Cheers,

Danielle

Getting Saucey

I’ve finally sat down with enough time and mental energy to form a coherent post.  My last post was June 15th, can you believe that?! Life has been on fast forward this summer.  Once the weather grants us beautiful days, I can’t seem to help but fill them as full of activities as I can.  The hustle and bustle of being out and about is great but doesn’t leave me with much time to sit down to write.  After reviewing the growing list of recipes I want to share with you all, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. You have empty plates to fill, after all, and I have the recipes to fill them! 🙂

So, my goal this week is to cross off every recipe on my list. Which will probably equate to a couple posts a day. Stay tuned, like, and comment to keep me motivated!

I love to know who is reading and sharing my posts, so pretty please, comment and let me know how your dish turned out or if you have any questions.

Now, let’s get down to business. I have two sauce recipes to share with you today. Both come from Argentina and pair wonderfully with grilled proteins.

{Chimichurri Rojo}

(Original recipe from Epicurious.com)

*Disclaimer: this sauce is very spicy! I did not use all the spice the recipe called for and still had to mix in sour cream to tone down the heat. Proceed with caution and use a light hand when adding spices.*

[Ingredients]

• 4 TBSP Extra virgin Olive oil
• 1/2 cup Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 1/2 TBSP Paprika
• 1 TBSP Cayenne
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 fire roasted bell pepper

[Directions]

1. In a food processor, pulse together garlic, bell pepper, and olive oil until pureed and smooth.
2. Pour into a medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients and whisk together.
3. Refrigerate about 15-30 minutes before using to allow flavors to develop.
4. Use as a marinade or sauce to top meat, fish, or pasta.

{Chimichurri Verde}

(Original recipe found on foodandnutrition.org)

[Ingredients]

• 1 loosely packed cup fresh basil leaves
• 1 loosely packed cup fresh parsley leaves
• 1/2 loosely packed cup cilantro leaves
• 1/2 loosely packed cup oregano leaves
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt

[Directions]

1. Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse until herbs are finely diced.
2. Serve over grilled meat.

Bonus Round! I used the Chimichurri Rojo as the dressing for a pasta salad. Scroll down to find that recipe.

{Chimichurri Rojo Pasta Salad}

[Ingredients]

• 1/2 – 3/4 cup Chimichurri Rojo sauce
• 1/2 cup – 1 cup plain greek yogurt or sour cream
• 1 package noodles, cooked
• 1 large zucchini
• 1 large summer squash
• 1 cucumber
• 1/2 carton cherry tomatoes
• 1 bell pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1 brick mild, semi-soft cheese (I used Formaggio with Salsa and Cilantro)

[Directions]

1. Cook noodles according to the instructions on the box. Rinse with cool water then set aside in a large bowl.
2. Whisk together chimichurri rojo and sour cream/greek yogurt in a small bowl.
3. Rinse and cut vegetables into bite size pieces.  Add to bowl with noodles. Cut or grate cheese then add to bowl with veggies and noodles.
4. Pour sauce over noodles/veggies then stir or toss to distribute sauce and vegetables.
5. Serve chilled.

Cheers,

Danielle

The Beginning

Hello, hello!

I am excited to have somewhat navigated technology enough to be writing this post! My “About Me” section is a little sparse right now so I’ll give you some dets about me & this blog here.

I recently graduated from Western Michigan University  (April 2014 with honors!) with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics. Unfortunately, I was not matched with an internship, however, I am currently working at WIC as a nutritionist and loving it! I also got married to my high school sweetheart this summer on June 20th.

As a member of the ADA & TUND, I have been seeing more & more RD’s and dietetic students blogging.  Many report it is a good way to chronicle the changes that come about upon graduating and either 1) starting your internship or 2) navigating the work place.  This idea really appealed to me. Change has seemed to be the motto of my life within the last few months. So rather than journal twice & forever forget about writing about all the experiences this time of my life has to offer, I figured I’d blog. I’m hoping this will give me some sense of accountability.

I love to cook! And this blog will, obviously, reflect that. I hope to share recipes that I have tried or would like to try. While I do my best to eat healthy, there is nothing better than cooking sweets & comfort foods. You’ll find a mix of both kinds of recipes here.

I love to learn! I enjoyed school & am feeling a bit lost without homework. To fill the void, I’ve been tearing through nutrition books & blogs. {Side note: I really feel as though reading blogs written by RD’s should have been required, or at least recommended, during my college career. If you’re a student reading this – find some nutrition blogs & follow them!} Sharing information often helps you to remember it, so get ready for some knowledge! I plan to post about relevant topics surrounding food & nutrition.

Cheers,

Danielle