Ashling Drew, Author at Joyful Messes

13 Tips for Stress-Free Breastfeeding From a Mom of Three

Breastfeeding itself didn’t stress me out, but breastfeeding in the car, in the bathroom, at night or other inconvenient times did my first time around. I am still breastfeeding my third baby, and I tell ya, I have found some ways to make breastfeeding a breeze after all these years. These are some great tips that have helped me along my breastfeeding journey to feel more comfortable and enjoy the process a bit longer. Here are my best tips after breastfeeding three babies: Nurse As Much As Baby Wants: This was instinctual for me. I just nursed on demand with no schedule. I never had a major issue with supply, because I also co-slept, but the mental attitude of letting go of a schedule and just enjoying nursing the baby when he wanted was very freeing. You can really let go of a lot of stress if you allow your baby…

The Best Protein Powder to Increase Your Milk Supply

Protein powder really helped me keep my milk supply up while losing the baby weight with all three of my babies. I’ve lost over 25 pounds of baby weight for each pregnancy, and bounced back to my pre-baby weight around six weeks. I love a great protein powder and health smoothies. I wrote a post on the best protein powders for breastfeeding moms. I wanted to go over a few options, which with all that research led me to the protein powder I know talk a lot about and love as a tool to increase milk supply and help you lose the baby weight. Can protein powder really increase milk supply? Absolutely. Protein powder can increase milk supply by offering nutritional support for new mommies, as well as lactation boosting properties. Most protein powders aren’t just protein, but full of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and more that support a healthy…

Important Things All Mamas Need To Stockpile Before Baby

I’ve had to prepare for birth three times now. Each time I learned a bit more about what I need to stock up on, or I don’t want to run out of when I have a newborn. It’s so wonderful to sit at home and just enjoy baby, and NOT have to have anyone run to the store for you. I will never forget one of my last photos being 38 weeks pregnant wondering around Target, throwing all these items in my cart. I save this task for some of the last few weeks of pregnancy because I am bored, and all I can do is waddle around. This particular list is just what mamas need in the first few weeks postpartum, to make sure you are comfortable and happy, and no emergency store visits! Before you get into the list, make sure you sign up for a free trial…

Should You Follow The Keto Diet While Breastfeeding?

Should you follow the keto diet while breastfeeding? If you are trying to lose weight while breastfeeding, and looking for the right diet to follow, you may be wondering about the very popular keto diet. Your diet while breastfeeding is so important, it’s no wonder thousands and thousands of people have read this post I wrote. I talk a lot about health and wellness for breastfeeding mamas because I am one! I am slowly weaning my third baby now, and I’ve breastfed all three of my boys for about a year with a plentiful supply thanks to my best tricks. The keto diet is so popular right now, I’m sure many breastfeeding mamas are looking into it to help lose the baby weight. Well, I am here to look into it with you and discuss why it may or may not be a good idea while breastfeeding. Remember I’m not…

The Best Apps That Pay You To Be Healthy

This post is inspired actually by a movie I started watching with my boys the other day. I found it on Netflix, and long story short, there was an over-weight boy, who was the friend of the main character, and he was using an app to count his steps and earn swag. Ding, ding, omg I wanted that app! I started fantasizing about all the miles I run, now that I started running again after three babies (see how I did it!). Seriously, there are apps that will pay you on your journey to losing the baby weight or just getting in shape. I went on a hunt around the internet world to find that there really are some apps that will reward you for just being healthy. Can you believe there is a way to get paid to keep your new year’s resolution? Yep, it’s true and here’s a…

The Top 3 Safe Protein Shakes While Breastfeeding

Protein powders are a fantastic tool to lose weight, and the right protein powder can also help you better nourish your body. As a Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialist, creator of The Postpartum Cure, and certified nutrition coach, I am obsessed with finding high-quality protein powders (I even created my own!!) to help women lose weight, while also properly nourishing your body. There are many ways protein powders can help women lose weight, so I will run through those, then dive into the ones I think are the best choices. How protein shakes while breastfeeding can help you lose weight: Protein powders blend really well in smoothies, that are fast, easy and filling. They are sweet, which can curb sugar cravings The offer essential amino acids to maintaining and building muscle (more lean mass the better!) They offer additional nutrients, enzymes and probiotics that can boost your overall health and energy!…

5 Steps to Meal Plan When You Don’t Know Where To Start

I am not a planner. I’m a go-with-where-the-wind-takes-me type of person. I love to head to the grocery story as I start feeling hungry and get an idea of something I want to eat NOW. Sadly, my personality style does not jive well with the demands of motherhood. I can’t just waltz into the store at any given time. I also have to haul three kids in with me, leaving barely any room in the cart for the actual groceries. I KNOW I need to get better at meal planning, and so this year, I am working on that. I don’t want to walk around in circles at the grocery store with a baby on my hip, a child in the cart and another running through the aisles. I just can’t do it anymore. I need to go as LITTLE AS POSSIBLE with a PLAN! I wasn’t sure where to…

Fancy + Simple Football Party Cheeseboard

This shop/post has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #ServeWithACoke #BowlGames #CollectiveBias Well, football season is the new holiday season, and I am someone who loves a football party for pure gathering aspect. As a busy mom, I don’t get to enjoy football games as often as I’d like, but I can put together a fun and fancy cheeseboard that keep all my football fans super happy! I have a cheeseboard today that is full of items kids and adults love, while also being very simple to put together. I put a little fanciness to it with some fun glasses and cranberries in our Coca-Cola™. Makes my guests feel special with a little extra touch to our beverages. Coca-Cola is our favorite special drink for game days because it’s so good, and makes the cheese, crackers and finger-food taste even better.…

How To Have The Perfect Pregnancy: What To Do To Feel Your Best

Being pregnant is one of my favorite things ever. Okay, not really at all, and I’ve been pregnant three times now. There is a lot I don’t like about being pregnant including the all-day morning sickness (hello permanent hang over), peeing all the time, leg cramps and sweating are just a few. But, I have found there are some great thins you can do to really have your best pregnancy ever. I learned a lot from my first pregnancy, which helped me get through my second and third pregnancies, where I was super pregnant in the hot summer. Let me go over how I’ve been able to have belly-only, perfect (or almost) pregnancies that really went very smooth. If you are worried about gaining too much weight during pregnancy, I am almost done with my Belly-Only Pregnancy Fitness program! It will have workouts, Diastasis Recti prevention ab-work, pelvic floor pretection…

5 Things I Was Totally Unprepared For While Giving Birth

I’m a full year postpartum now with my third baby, and I find myself reminiscing on my three birthing experiences. The memories that stand out the most are the things that shocked me. The experiences I was totally unprepared for. I read all the birthing books and delivery stories (this one was my favorite!). I envisioned both natural and hospital births. I tried to squat and workout to prepare for a quick labor. I even worked on my milk supply before my first baby arrived. With all that thought and preparation, some things still happened I never expected. I have some great delivery tips over on this post, and here are the 5 things that stand out the most: One: Back Labor I briefly read on back labor in a few stories and books. I didn’t realize the amount of pain that comes with it. Having one labor with back…

Ashling Drew