These are my favorite accounts on Instagram as they relate to pregnancy, birth and postpartum!

Sometimes we just need a pick-me-up or a little inspiration. It's all sunshine and roses over on Instagram. It's nice to see an inspirational quote or photo that spills out encouragement. There may even be an image that sparks a new idea. 

​Check these out and click to follow!

These items can be super helpful when breastfeeding and caring for a new baby. It's hard to choose which one is my favorite and I've used them all!

​There are so many different colors and patterns to choose from!  These make great gifts for expecting moms. 

Click on any of the links below and use code NYN4BABY at checkout to receive a FREE product. You will only be responsible for shipping. You can order just one item or all four using the same code! 

This week I've been working through some continuing education training on breastfeeding and I came across the CDC Breastfeeding Report Card. I was curious to see how my state compared to the rest of the US and I found some interesting statistics. 

TENNESSEE
Breastfeeding at Birth - 74.9%
Breastfeeding at 6 months - 40.7%
Breastfeeding at 1 year - 20.9%

UNITED STATES
Breastfeeding at birth - 79.2%
Breastfeeding at 6 months - 49.4%
Breastfeeding at 1 year - 26.7%

​As you can see, we are a little bit behind the average. 

However, even the national average is behind the 2020 Healthy People Goal. 

Breastfeeding at birth - 81.9%
Breastfeeding at 6 months - 60.6%
Breastfeeding at 1 year - 34.1%

But, why is increasing breastfeeding so important? A new study in the Lancet Medical Journal shows that breastfeeding could save over 800,000 lives and add over $3 million into the global economy. They concluded that breastfeeding is the healthiest start. 

There's still a lot of work to do both here in TN and on a national scale.

​One way to increase breastfeeding rates is by having the encouragement and support of a doula. One study found that women using community doulas (even in low income areas) had an 87% success rate with breastfeeding.