This week is another Q&A episode. AND you’ll get a sneak peek of the support inside of Unmedicated Academy. This Q&A comes directly from our Birthy Talk this week inside of the academy. When you join Unmedicated Academy you get so much more than just a birth course, you have support from me along the whole way with weekly Q&As and more inside of our exclusive community.

The Questions: Cord Blood Banking, Hip Pain & Smart Rest, Better Formula Options, Perineal Massage, Crib Mattress, & Newborn Parenting

Listen on Apple Podcast | Listen on Spotify

Mentioned on the show:

Enroll in Unmedicated Academy

The best organic formulas of 2022: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYy6Op6Akrw/

Smart Sleep: https://www.spinningbabies.com/pregnancy-birth/techniques/rest-smart/

Getting Started with Breastfeeding: https://lizziebolliger.thrivecart.com/getting-started-with-breastfeeding/

Made to Mother: https://www.roottoraise.com/

On Track Baby on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ontrackbaby/

No time to listen? Here’s the gist…

Q: Should I be thinking about cord blood banking? What is it exactly?

A: Cord blood banking is the process of collecting the cord blood and extracting and cryogenically freezing its stem cells and other cells of the immune system for potential future medical use. Think of how we do bone marrow transplants,It is the same process but with cord blood stem cells. Not many parents do cord blood banking probably because it’s very expensive to pay to have it stored when you may possibly never even need it.

The other thing to consider is that you cannot do a true delayed cord clamping with cord blood banking. To bank that blood there needs to be some blood in the umbilical cord, you definitely could not wait for white. The most that you could delay clamping if your plan was to cord blood bank would be 30 to 60 seconds. So be aware of that when someone says you can do both, it is the shorter version of “delayed” clamping.

Q: Been dealing with some bad hip pain in these last few weeks, mostly after sleeping. My OB just told me to take tylenol or deal with it. Definitely not going to take tylenol but having a hard time coping. Any recommendations?

A: This is definitely common! Try sleeping with a pillow between your knees, and behind your back, while keeping your knees stacked. You can learn more about smart resting at spinningbabies.com, linked in the show notes. I would also recommend, as always, seeing chiropractor to help with those common pregnancy aches and pains. 

Q: I’ve been really nervous that I won’t be able to supply enough breast milk for my baby. I’ve been trying to do my own research on natural baby formulas just to be on the safe side and be prepared if I can’t breast feed. Any recommendations?

A: First of all, of course you are nervous about not making enough milk- that is the narrative we hear from so many moms. But the biggest problem is a lack of education. You are so enough for your baby and in most cases if your body got pregnant, sustained pregnancy, gave birth all on its own, it’ll do just fine with breastfeeding as well. So I don’t want you to worry about supply. The two biggest tips I have on preparing are to make it a non-negotiable, commit to getting the support you need to make breastfeeding work. And take a class so you can know what to expect, know what is normal, and know when to get help. My class, Getting Started with Breastfeeding does just that.

Some reviews of the best formulas of 2022 are linked in the show notes, just in case. 

Q: I feel pretty relaxed about birth… perhaps a little *too* relaxed? Am I being naive?

A: Nope, your body was made to birth! The part where moms are naive is when we trust that belief in birth is enough in the hospital model. But you’re in Unmedicated Academy, so you’ll be prepared to avoid that mistake.

Q: I can barely reach around my belly to wipe – what’s the best way to massage my perineum myself, or do I need an assist?

A: It may be easier to ask your partner for help. Otherwise I would try in the shower with a leg up if you can. Or right after your shower, laying in bed. The key tips are to have clean hands, insert a thumb or two fingers into the vagina, use lube if you’d like, press gently downward in a U-shape motion, towards your anus. Massage for a minute or so, a few times a week, starting around 34 weeks. Evidence shows it’s most helpful in first time moms so it’s worth a shot!

Q: What should I be looking for in a crib mattress?

A: First of all, my kids never slept in a crib, so I just want to normalize that it’s completely biological and safe to have them in bed with you. Look up the Safe sleep 7 for more on making your bed a safe sleeping space. Otherwise, the one thing you’d want to consider looking for is an organic mattress.

Q: Any books or podcasts, or resources you’d recommend for educating yourself on how to care for your baby and parenting a newborn?

A: This one is tough because there’s some great parenting info out there and some awful parenting info out there, so number one is to always go with your intuition. Start looking into attachment parenting, there a book called The Attachment Parent, I will link in the show notes. When I read it, it completely validated all the things I was intuitively doing as a mom. Another great resource is @OnTrackBaby, they share lots of great info on their account dispelling myths of the baby industry. Lindsay Williams of @roottoraise also just started a 6 week program for moms to better tune into their intuition and their baby.