When women ask me what the postnatal essentials are - in addition to frozen condoms (google it, it’s a thing…), large black granny undies and some ultra comfy pants, postnatal support tights are always at the top of my list. Here’s why:
With all of this in mind, we set about creating a pair of postpartum support tights that give you *all* of the support and have the bonus side effect of looking flattering as all heck. And TA-DA - that’s exactly what we did. Crafted with premium italian compression fabric and super power mesh across the waist band, these tight are an absolute essential as you enter the fourth trimester. Designed to support women who have birthed in the traditional manner and those who have used the sunroof, the band won’t irritate or annoy recovering c-section incisions.
Anyone that knows us, knows we’re big fans of women. In a purely platonic but wildly enthusiastic kind of way. We have a particular penchant for the mum variety of said women, because, well heck, we know it’s freaking hard work and think that all the bad ass sisters doing it for themselves need a little recognition. This International Women’s Day, and from one woman to another, we want to acknowledge all the fierce, fabulous, perfectly imperfect women that inspire us to keep going.
We can’t acknowledge you all by name (that would be a *very* long blog) but wanted to take today to honour some women that we look to with admiration and awe through our bleary sleep-deprived eyes, because we think they are doing incredible things.
Summer Daniels - CEO of Little Rae Prints
When someone says authentic, kind, business savvy and oozing style we immediately think of the inimitable CEO of Little Rae Prints and our favourite artist, Summer Daniels. Summer has built Little Rae Prints from humble beginnings at her dining table to a multi million dollar empire in six years.
Allowing us a sneak peek into her beautiful home and enviable style we admire Summer’s positive approach to parenting her beautiful girls and life in general. With an energy and zest for life that’s contagious, a smile that’s magnetic and a wardrobe to lust after, we’re putting Summer on our list of Women to Watch in 2021.
Casey-Lee Lyons - Live Love Nourish
Long time fans of Casey-Lee and her no fuss approach to family nutrition, we couldn’t go past her when putting together our list of Women to Watch in 2021. A champion of the ‘Healthy not Hard’ movement, Casey-Lee inspires Mums and Dads to create easy, nourishing meals for the entire family without breaking the bank or their sanity.
Casey-Lee has built of loyal following of parents looking to make meal times simple,fun and full of nutrition. I still get a tic when she shares that ‘embracing the mess’ in cooking with children is all part of the fun, but I am working on it daily.
Abbie Edwards - Co-owner of Inflow Pilates
If you’ve been following Mammojo for a while, you might know we are massive Pilates tragics. In fact, we’ve never met a reformer we didn't like. We had the pleasure of meeting Abbie at her beautiful Caloundra based studio, Inflow Pilates, during the third trimester of her pregnancy.
Since becoming a Mum to beautiful Billie, we have watched Abbie continue to create a community of supportive women as she shares the honest joys and hardships that come with the newborn days. We know Abbie is cooking up something B-I-G in the wellness space and we are *pumped* to see what genius she puts out into the world.
Lyndi Cohen - The Nude Nutritionist
Synonomous with a no-nonsense approach to nutrition and spearheading a campaign against the anti-salad dressing movement (salad dressing is life, obviously), the incredible Lyndi Cohen is a regular feature of programs like The Today Show. Lyndi has provided a platform where she has championed real women bodies, her own struggles with binge eating and how to end the cycle in a healthy way.
Lyndi welcomed baby Leo to her family recently and we have been inspired by the down-to-earth content around real postpartum bodies and how to fuel them. We’re not afraid to tell you that we’re also a bit in love with her delightful Golden Retriever, Panko.
Claire Holt
Maybe it’s our dirty little obsession with H2O Just Add Water and The Vampire Diaries, but we have to tell you that we love Claire Holt. Buy us a t-shirt with her face on it and find us wearing it on repeat 24/7. Wildly amazing actress, mermaid tail wearer and Mum to two, Claire has shared beautifully raw moments of parenthood with her 6.2 million Instagram followers.
After the birth of her first child, son JJ, Claire shared a moment of great vulnerability and boy, did it go viral. Claire keeps us snort laughing with her witty content and self deprecating humour that feels reassuringly Australian. If you want to see someone roast themselves over their less-than-perfect weight lifting form, we highly recommend hitting up her stories.
Zoë Foster-Blake - Business Owner, Author Total Legend and Probable BFF
When I say PR mastermind, hilarious as heck, skin dewier than moon pools and super business woman, you say…
Zoë Foster-Blake.
Proving that nice gals can actually finish first, the savvy owner of Go-To Skincare and Mum of two wee people is the BFF we always wanted. Zoë charms us with her witty banter, insight into top notch skincare and her recommendations, (boy oh boy do we love those recommendations - we can’t overstate this, you need to check her book recommendation highlights on Instagram), a level of authentic and genuine rarely found on social media (and let’s be real, in life) we find it pretty hard, nay impossible, to find anything about Queen ZFB that’s anything short of inspirational. She’s a massive and selfless supporter of other businesses and women in general and we think that is as cool as it gets. You can find us wearing her new Go-To clay mask, while we listen to her audiobooks before falling asleep on her signature silk pillowcases any given Sunday because, #selfcare.
What amazeballs women are you watching in 2021? (In a purely non-stalkery kinda way….)
Happy International Women’s Day you heckin’ legends.
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When I was pregnant with my first baby, I wondered about how we would go with breastfeeding, how I would cope with the broken sleep, what the baby would look like and what kind of Mum I’d be. One thing I was blissfully unaware of until my sweet baby arrived earth side, is just how much of my time, energy and search history would be dedicated to human faeces.
To be a Mum, is to google baby shit.
That should be some sort of proverb they slap on the free bags of samples you get in hospital. At some point, you’re going to be staring into a soiled nappy thinking IS THIS NORMAL? Then, completely dissatisfied that it is or is in fact not normal, you’re going to take a photo to send to a horrified recipient because you’ve lost all sense of social appropriate texting norms. I can assure you sharing unsolicited photos of excrement, particularly to non-parent friends, is a faux pas akin to the now long-forgotten Tinder dick pic. Save that one for the doctor or those wonderfully strange friends who request them. Simultaneously you’re going to be googling things like 'green baby poo’ ‘mucus in baby poo’ and 'how many times should a newborn poo?’. Mark my words.
In an effort to aid you on your sleep-deprived quest for poo answers, we’ve rounded up the top offenders and given them cutesy names you can share at the dinner table when your partner arrives home because they’re the only adult you’ve seen all day. Who says you can’t hold an intellectual conversation anymore?
Much like those amphibious vehicles you’ve likely overpaid for on a holiday, baby poo is notoriously adventurous and enjoys both land lubbing and aquatic adventures. I have learnt in my seven years of being a Mum that some children are bath crappers and some just aren’t. It’s as simple as that. My first born child was a prolific Aqua Turd-er and we joked that all her baths were officially concluded when she crapped in them. Literally every bath time her grand finale would be to shart. My second and third children have been far less frequent bath bombers but I’ve still had to push more than my fair share of corn-laden shit down the bath plug. It’s actually a far more delicate operation than you might expect; you have to really assess the logs and decide which can be flushed via the pipes and which require a manual extraction. My third born recently stepped up his game and has started Shower Shitting straight after we remove him from the bath he just laid an egg in, to wash away the sins in the shower. So yes, don’t use the guest bathroom at our house.
If you thought new baby milk-fed poo was interesting? Well lady, strap yourself in for a HOOT when solids come around! Boy oh boy, are you going to study that poo with intrigue. There are a few foods which tend to look quite alarming when making their exit from your small humans body, and blueberries, sultanas and raspberries are repeat offenders. Blueberries look like blueberries for the most part. I mean, you can look at them and wonder quietly to yourself if you could wash them off and re-serve them. But alas, that’s not the most interesting part of post-blueberry poo; no that would be the colour. IYKYK. Somewhere between an inky midnight and straight out black, it can look horrifying for the uninitiated, particularly given that babies and toddlers are known for their tendency to eat an entire punnet at once. Similarly shocking, sultanas can balloon to ten times their ingested size if swallowed without being chewed. Yikes. And, funny story about raspberries. I once got a call from my daughters’ daycare about a rather alarming gift she had left them in the toilet. They were so aghast they called me AND kept it in the toilet for me. This thing was PINK. It looked like Barbie herself had visited the lavatory. An entire punnet of raspberries will do that to a kid. Kudos to the daycare centre for their commitment.
Babies, much like volcanos in the south east asian region, are prone to bouts of explosion that you don’t always see coming and can strike at any time of day or night. It’s almost inconceivable that such small creatures are capable of such powerful anal projections. I’m talking up to the shoulder blades power. I’ve actually got a lot of questions about the velocity of some of the Kilimanjaros my kids have produced over the years. My first questions are what and how the actual f*ck? My first born (she was kind of a shitty kid in retrospect) was especially fond of a middle of the night Kilimanjaro so powerful we were left with no other option than to completely strip and bathe her. Peak times for a lethal explosion typically include; when you’re rushing out of the house with somewhere urgent to be and when you’ve quickly ducked out without any nappies, wipes or fresh clothes. Pro tip: I once got caught in an airport with 5 minutes to board my flight with a toddler Kilimanjaro that covered both of us. Whilst I had the foresight to pack HER a change of clothes, I didn’t have anything for me. If you want to know how quickly someone can drop $300 in Country Road and get changed, I’m the current record holder at 85 seconds.
Some babies, even breastfed ones, seem to have a delightful predilection for constipation. You can spot such a child in the wild by observing the bright red tensed face, and tears welling in their eyes as they perform a reenactment of their own entry into the world. In the aftermath you’re often greeted by a collection of pebbles reminiscent of an English beach or a packet of chocolate covered peanuts. This is one you should definitely bring up with MCHN or GP. My veteran Mum advice for these ones is a warm bath with a belly massage and cycling legs, and prune juice in food (or water) for bigger babies. But also don’t take advice from (highly intelligent and hilarious) strangers on the internet and visit your small humans’ healthcare provider. Constipation ain’t fun for nobody.
In summary, rest assured that your fascination with your child’s bowel movements are very normal, will likely draw to a close, typically around the time they toilet train, and you get enough distance from bodily functions that you begin to feel disgusted by them yet again (I am truly repulsed when my 6 year old leaves me a gift in the loo, I am no longer studying it for signs of what she ate). In the mean time? Share this handy, shitty reference guide with your fellow Poo Patrollers.
What faecal focus area have you encountered?
Speaking from experience, at the very top of that list, will be a new pair of exercise tights. Now, it’s a bit of a running joke that mums live in activewear but as you will discover, quite literally, if the tights fit, (and there will come a point when that’s all that will fit) wear them! It’s amazing how quickly your regular leggings start to cut in around the waist and good quality maternity tights in compressive fabrics can actually help alleviate some of the typical pregnancy aches and pains. WINNING! Whether your fitness regime includes a gentle walk, Pilates or something more intense, a good pair of maternity leggings can make all the difference. Plus, keeping your body moving during pregnancy is super important. Research shows it can assist with your mood, sleeping and even contribute to an easier birth and recovery period. Sign me up!
Maternity tights are one of those things that you really want to invest well in: as tempting a price as cheap tights may represent, do your research because you generally get what you pay for. You’ll often end up having to buy more pairs because cheaper options stretch, are see-through, fall down, pill, fade or just plain wear out fast. Pregnant women have special needs when it comes to maternity tights so we’ve gone ahead and been ridiculously helpful and compiled the top things to look for in maternity leggings to ensure you get a great pair which will see you through your first trimester, throughout your pregnancy and beyond.
Call us biased, but incorporating all of the above things are the sensational Mammojo Ava Maternity tights. Road-tested, pregnancy-tested, postnatally-tested, park-tested and playground-tested by real pregnant mums and real postnatal mums and available in sizes from XS – 3XL these tights are, in our humble opinion, the unicorn of the maternity tights world.
]]>Summer in Australia means endless days at the beach, BBQs and pool swims and levels of heat radiating off bitumen rivalled only by that on Mars. Being pregnant or breastfeeding in the warmer months can be particularly brutal for human makers.
The chafe, oh the chafe. Everything rubs. And the rubbing? It stings. And no, you’re not imagining it, you actually are 12 degrees hotter than everyone else. Whether your bakin’ a baby and sustaining human life with your breasts, your body is just running a wee bit warmer. Don’t even get us started on the sheer volume of water you need to drink in order to entertain any idea that you might be appropriately hydrated. You’re potentially even upholding yourself to pre baby beauty standards of shaved legs and bikini lines.
With all that in mind? You’re going to want to be C-O-M-F-Y. Enter the Jessica Dress.
A gorgeously lightweight bump-friendly and nursing dress that will see you through pregnancy and your breastfeeding period.
Crafted from beautifully soft cotton spandex fabric featuring a relaxed fit, allowing it to grow with your bump. We know you need to breastfeed with ease on the go, so we've included twin feeding vents to make discreet nursing and expressing a breeze.
A classic maternity LBD that can be worn every day with your favourite white sneakers (and slides when shoes that require you to bend over are dead to you) and dress up with some cute (sensible) heels and statement earrings when Mama wants to impress. Jokes, your sustaining human life, we're already impressed as heck.
We believe that making a baby and being glamorous need not be mutually exclusive, and that philosophy is at the forefront of every single piece we craft. Made by mothers for mothers
To celebrate the launch of your new favourite dress and the temperature rising, we’re giving one lucky lady her very own Jessica dress!
Want to win? Duh, of course you do. All you need to do is make sure you’re following our instagram and Facebook (you really should anyway, they’re fab) and comment on the giveaway post with three emojis that best describe your pregnancy and tag a friend! That’s it! The winner will be drawn on Sunday November 7th and is available to Australian residents.
]]>With the silly season well and truly upon us it’s time to start that Christmas list for the special people in your life. And who is more special that those superhuman women who are literally single handedly (or double-boobedly) sustaining human life! From cheap and cheerful to some more indulgent choices, we’ve assembled our top picks for nursing mothers this Christmas.
Nursing mummies will be the first to tell you that ‘breastfeeding shoulders’ is a very real and stinkingly painful thing. Give the gift of both a massage and an hour’s babysitting so the mummy in your life can enjoy some R&R and you’ll be loved unconditionally forever. Guaranteed. Separation from mum not yet an option? Just look for those savvy salons that are embracing the Mum n Bubs movement, like Haven Beauty Bar in Brisbane’s Morningside, who accommodate prams and grizzly babies like total bosses all the while performing divine facials, brows and pedis with mini-you in the room.
A two litre bottle of water might seem like a slightly weird gift, but breastfeeding mummies need to consume lots of water. It helps to ensure good milk supply, which in turn, helps bub sleep longer between feeds. As any new mum will attest, sleep = life so everyone’s a winner here. These larger bottles can really help you keep track of your daily water intake and are available at selected chemists and health food stores for less than $15. Make sure it’s BPA free.
Thirsty much? Not on my watch
I seriously never saw more movies than I did after having my first baby. And I loved it. Lots of cinemas host regular bring your baby sessions where special allowances are made for the tiniest movie critics. Think lower volume, slightly dimmed lighting and space for prams, plus the all important communal understanding that crying babies can and will strike at will. Tickets are only $8 at Palace Cinemas (kids under three free) or you can pre-purchase a five pack of movie tickets for $40 with Event Cinemas.
Nursing mummies tire of having to wrestle with buttons and clips and of wearing boring maternity wear, so give the gift of easy access and style that doesn’t scream breastfeeding with neon flashing lights. Call us biased, but we love the innovative Mammojo Signature breastfeeding hoodie for super easy and discrete feeding, whilst also being really, really, ridiculously good looking. Lightweight enough to be warn all year round, this item is a staple for every nursing mum.
The best breastfeeding hoodie on the planet!
If the special breastfeeding woman in your life has indicated getting back into exercise is on her list of priorities*, help facilitate this for her with some great items from the Mammojo Lactivewear® range. You won’t need to buy two separate garments as supportive feeding bras have been built in to all the nursing tanks and the one-handed easy-access clasps take the stress out of exercising with baby. ( P.S. Keep an eye out for some great Black Friday/Cbyer Monday offers.)
With a range of great Mum and Bubs classes run by physios and postnatal exercise specialists now available (try Mummy & Co), and gyms with creches accommodating babies as young as 6 weeks, babies or lack of supportive nursing-friendly activewear, need not be barriers to safely getting back into exercise. If exercising at home is more within reach, there are some great apps to help motivate mummy in the comfort of your own home. The Fit Mummy Project app is a complete postnatal health, fitness and wellbeing guide and can be dowloaded for less than $15. *If the special breastfeeding mother in your life has NOT indicated she intends to get back into physical exercise, please do NOT purchase her a 50 class pass to Mum and Bubs Bootcamp. It may cause great offence, familial exile or divorce.
We hope this list helps when shopping for your lactating super mama. And remember, if all else fails, the answer is always jewellery. Please, thank you and you’re welcome.
Perhaps you, like us, are missing your regular Pilates class, F45 session or gym workout. There’s even a good chance that you are also starting to feel the talons of cabin fever creeping up on you. Exercise is incredibly important for your physical health (yes, duh) but heck; those endorphins are pretty flippin’ important for your mental health too. Especially if the bulk of your day is now spent having very cute but very one sided conversations with an infant.
Well fear not! We present to you, the rise of the at home workout. Even we were skeptical about these. Would they really be good enough to distract us from the coffee machine and couch? We think so, and because we’re such good friends we’ve put together a list of our favourites so that you don’t have to schlep around the dark crevices of the internet. You’re welcome.
PE with Joe - The Body Coach
A PE teacher friend of mine shared PE with Joe with me and I put it on for my kids to give them so physical exercise in the confines of our four walls. I jumped up and did it with them and boy oh boy, did I feel the burn. This is one we’ve slotted into our morning ritual now, to get our bodies moving before a long (lonnnng) day of various arts and crafts. A great one to do with or without kids, my five and two year old loved it and the one year old thinks we’re hilarious.
Joe is a fun online trainer who posts a daily workout Monday to Friday for kids that are missing their regular PE class at school. He also has a stack of more intense HIIT workouts as well as shorter workouts for kids and even ones tailor made for seniors. You can subscribe to his YouTube channel here;
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
Cosmic Kids Yoga
I’m late to the party with this one. So many of my friends have raved about Cosmic Kids Yoga to me and I never thought my kids would be interested. Let me tell you something, I was wrong! My kids have become so enamoured with doing their yoga every day I’ve had to buy them their own mats. I don’t know if you’ve tried to buy home workout equipment in the past week but it was no easy feat. You could definitely join in with them OR you can take the opportunity and five minute’s peace to enjoy a cup of tea. The choice is yours oh blissful one.
They have a TONNE of videos on YouTube as well as an app that has mindfulness and breathing exercises as well.
https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
Centr App
The good people at Centr have a pretty fancy app chock full of home workouts as well as meal and recipes ideas. They are currently offering a 6 week free trial to anyone who signs up! Loaded with HIIT workouts that can be done with or without equipment with the ability to cycle through the app to find something you love.
Oh, and did I mention, this app does indeed feature a swag of videos of one Chris Hemsworth working out and saying nice things to you. Enough said.
You can sign up via their website https://centr.com/join-us
Blogilates
Missing the incredible stretch and burn you work up in the Pilates studio? Blogilates is here to get you moving, with a cult following a heap of quick ten minute exercises, these are great workouts to fit in during the day when you’ve managed to get a baby to sleep but, you also have big plans to shower and eat, so time is of the essence.
Subscribe to her YouTube channel here;
https://www.youtube.com/user/blogilates
The Fitness Marshall
I have a confession to make… I’m a dancer at heart with the feet and ability of a newborn giraffe. I love me a good high intensity dance workout - it just feels fun! We love The Fitness Marshall in my house, we turn it up LOUD and my backup dancers (ahem, kids) get right into it too. You WILL work up a sweat while you’re having fun. We also love him for the fun effects in the videos, hilarious commentary and a huge round of applause for seeing dances of all shapes and sizes in his workouts.
Subscribe to his YouTube channel here and get your booty shaking;
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFitnessMarshall
Yoga with Adriene
Are you a Yogi at heart? You’re going to love the mindful workouts delivered by Adriene to help you find your zen in amongst the current madness in the world. She has a plethora of videos on YouTube so you can find something that suits. I’ve been trying to make myself do one before the tribe awakens for the day and it makes such a difference to my mindset when I do. Namaste friends.
You can find her on YouTube here;
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFKE7WVJfvaHW5q283SxchA
Art for Kids Hub
Okay okay, you got me, this isn’t a work out. But if you need something to keep the offspring occupied while you get your 30 minutes in, Art for Kids Hub is a pretty excellent place to start. Tutorials of guided drawings to help your little people create masterpieces that I promise you, you’ll genuinely want to hang on the fridge! Younger kids might need some extra adult help but I find my almost three year old is pretty capable without me. We’ve got a Bluey tutorial pencilled in (Ha! Art puns) for tomorrow.
You can see all the tutorials on their Youtube channel here;
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArtforKidsHub
All in all, we think you should try not to take exercise too seriously for the next few months. Now probably isn’t the time to be trying to hit your deadlift PB or train for a marathon (but if you can, you’re amazing). It’s also remembering that, for now at least, you are allowed to continue training one on one with a personal trainer which is a great way to get in an amazing workout and support someone who is probably having a pretty lousy time at the moment.
What other exercise apps/channels/options are keeping you sane? Send them my way!
There’s the severe shortage of sleep, an over abundance of coffee and beige foods (toast is a balanced meal, yeah?) and a bonafide explosion of love that feels so big and so tangible, you think you could reach out and touch it.
Ever heard the term ‘It takes a village’? Duh, of course you have. We’ve all heard this term and gosh darn it, it really DOES take a whole flippin’ village. Motherhood is not a ‘hood you should be tackling solo.
For many of us, The Village doesn’t exactly looked the way we envisioned when we had growing bellies and romantic ideas about parenthood. For one, you probably didn’t truly appreciate the amount of time each day you would spend removing bodily fluids not belonging to you, from your body and dang it, it really is that hard just to take a shower sometimes. Perhaps your parents are not as involved as you had hoped they might be or your mourning friendships with women who don’t have children and just don’t get it (although we know lots do, and these pseudo aunts are our faves).
Everyone’s village looks a little different. From hyper involved grandparents to community mothers groups, best friends who have babies at the same time, childcare, au pairs and meal prep businesses - your village is whoever makes this parenting jam easier.
We’re celebrating the very special friendships that we cultivate as mothers. Those women down in the trenches with you, changing nappies together, commiserating over the scarcity of sleep and toasting to milestones and successes! These relationships are the real MVP. I mean, who else can you text at 2am and actually expect a reply from (and lets be real, you’re probably bonding over shared middle of the night online shopping).
Until Sunday (26.1.20) you can buy any item from the Lactivewear®️ Range and get any other item for free! Buy one, get one for your Breastie. We can even post it straight to her - just leave her details and which item is for her and we’ll take care of the rest. But hey! Motherhood is a judgement free zone here, so if you need that second piece for yourself, then that’s okay too #youdoyouboo Checkout with code BREASTFRIENDS and psst there’s no returns on sale items so drop us a line if you want to talk sizing and fit.
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Whilst we love to have fun and incorporate humour into our every day at Mammojo HQ, as a company that operates globally, we take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. We believe everyone has an obligation to look after the environment for people today and for future generations and this drives our decision making at all levels.
As part of our approach to sustainability, we use fabrics that come from ethical and environmentally sustainable sources. In fact, we have sourced the highest performance fabrics that are made using cutting-edge and environmentally friendly practices. For example:
- Our breastfeeding tanks and postpartum support tights are made from fabrics that are not only leading in terms of performance and quality, but are also derived from recycled materials. Using some kind of sustainable chemistry wizardry, the nylon and polyester in waste such as carpets, clothing and fishing nets is recycled and transformed back into virgin raw material without any loss of quality. Mind blown. The resulting fabric has proven to be more than twice as resistant to chlorine, sun cream and oils than other leading fabrics. Winning! Our fabrics have also have the additional super duper qualities:
Pill resistant – because no one wants pilly tights
Breathable – because no one likes to feel sweaty
Moisture wicking and quick drying – as above
Excellent UV protection – because no one wants sunburn
Durable and long lasting – because no one wants to have to buy 10 pairs of useless tights because they keep wearing out
Four way stretch for support – because no one wants to be uncomfortable or unsupported
Excellent shape retention after continued use – because no one wants saggy tights
Ultra chlorine resistant – because no one wants to have to buy separate swimmers
Machine washable – because no one has time to hand wash errrrything!
- Our signature lounge pants (legit the comfiest pants in the world ) are made with a botanic modal fibre that is naturally soft on the skin and exceptionally ecological. The fibers of the fabric are extracted from Beechwood, which comes from the Beech tree which multiplies by "rejuvenation", meaning that the trees propagate by themselves. No artificial irrigation or planting is required, lending itself to being an ideal natural and sustainable source of raw material. Far out. Beechwood is fast becoming my favourite type of wood.
Environmental sustainability is just one part of our goal to contribute positively to the world which we live in. Do you know where the fabric in the clothes you are wearing comes from?
It is well known that exercise during the postpartum period has many benefits for the new mother1; It contributes to improved cardiovascular fitness, facilitates weight loss and increases energy levels. Other benefits of a measured postpartum exercise program have shown to be a better sense of psychological well-being, a decreased risk of urinary stress incontinence (you know what I am talking about ladies) and reduced chances of decreased lactation-induced bone loss.
Equally, breastfeeding has also been shown to have many benefits to a new mother (that's even before we consider the positive impacts it has on her baby). In a study of postpartum women, those who breastfed for at least 12 weeks had the least amount weight gain post birth and also when measured a decade later2. The estimated energy expended by lactation is estimated to be approximately 2000 kJ (approx 500 calories) per day3 which is the equivalent of a 63.5 kg (140 lbs) person pound running on a treadmill for 45 minutes4. Every. Single. Day.
If those breastfeeding benefits aren't enough for you, there are a myriad of other positives including the release of feel good hormones (Prolactin produces a peaceful nurturing sensation and Oxytocin promotes a strong sense of love) and a reduced chance of breast and ovarian cancer in later life. Some studies5 have also found that breastfeeding may reduce risks of developing type 2 diabetes, rheumatiod arthritis and cardiovascular disease.
Ok, so breastfeeding and exercising are both excellent activities for the new mother, but.... yes, there is a caveat - any postpartum exercise needs to be introduced gradually. See our post on why the best first exercise for a new mother may be a good lie down. If however, you are ready and have cleared it with your medical practitioner, the following are some tips that can help ease you back into exercise while you are breastfeeding.
I know I sound like a broken record, but it is important to take it easy during the immediate postpartum period. The ability of the abdominal muscles to stabilise the pelvis against resistance diminishes during pregnancy and remains decreased at 8 weeks postpartum6. For those needing some extra abdominal support during this period, there are products that provide additional support to the belly mcbelly face, also known as the postpartum stomach. The patent-pending Mammojo Dimity compression top is a good option for those who want good core support, need the functionality of breastfeeding and don't mind looking stylish in the process.
Reduce the chances of blocked ducts by breastfeeding or expressing prior to exercise. In the early postpartum weeks, this will probably mean timing your exercise to suit your baby's feeding habits. If however, that child needs a top up during exercise, rest assured Mammojo Lactivewear® will have you covered. Or uncovered, discretely of course, as the case may be.
For all that is said about the weight loss benefits of both breastfeeding and exercising, it's important not to use up vastly more energy than you are consuming. Ensure a consistent milk supply by listening to you body and eating when you need to. Hydration is also key as you need additional water for both breastfeeding and exercising. You may also want to consider mineral and vitamin supplements, particularly if you are time poor or struggling to eat a well balanced diet.
Not all sports bras or tops are created equal, or specifically designed for taking care of lactating breasts for that matter. You will want support that is firm enough to keep everything snug but not so firm as to raise the risk of blocked ducts. Equally, as per during pregnancy, anything that incorporates underwire is best avoided.
Another reason to ease into postpartum exercise is being mindful of fatigue. Lack of sleep, breastfeeding, nutrition and exercise can all contribute to it. Exercise has however been shown to increase feelings of energy provided you don't push yourself too hard. If you are feeling fatigued, consider shortening your exercise period or trying again tomorrow. In my experience, fatigue can have a significant impact on milk supply and that can create a vicious cycle of hungry non-sleeping babies.
Most of us won't be running a marathon or kicking off our post birth exercise program with extreme weight lifting, but there are some activities that can facilitate a safe return to exercise and put you on the right path to more moderate activities. Some immediate exercises that you may find beneficial are:
Gentle yoga and stretching
Pelvic floor exercises
Taking your baby for a walk
A more moderate intensity exercise program should only be started after your first postpartum checkup and with the approval of your doctor.
This can be a bit of fun for both mother and baby and can help overcome some of the issues around separation anxiety for little ones. General rules for muscle conditioning exercises apply, in that fatigue, any exercise that is painful, and breath-holding should all be avoided. But before baby Betty becomes your kettle bell make sure that her neck strength is sufficient for such activity. Find a facilitated group class where you can be monitored during your exercises, particularly in the early days, and get ideas for appropriate conditioning exercises. Additional benefits include getting out to talk to another human adult.
There is a lot going on after childbirth. Remember above all else, to look after yourself and your little sleep depriver first and foremost, and gradually ease yourself back into exercise.
Disclaimer: This blog post is not intended to be a substitute for the medical advice of a licensed physician. The reader should consult with their doctor on any matters relating to her health prior to and during breastfeeding or embarking on any new exercise program.
References:
(1) Mottola, Michelle F (2002), Exercise in the Postpartum Period: Practical Applications, Current Sports Medicine Reports.
(2) Rooney BL & Schauberger CW (2002) Excess pregnancy weight gain and long-term obesity: One decade later. Obstet Gynecol 100, 245–252.
(3) Institute of Medicine (2002) Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, Amino Acids (Macronutrients). Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
(4) https://breakingmuscle.com/learn/20-ways-to-burn-500-calories
(5) New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding, 2nd Edition (Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics)
(6) Gilleard WL, Brown JM: Structure and function of the abdominal muscles in primigravid subjects during pregnancy and the immediate postbirth period. Phys Ther 1996, 76:750–762.
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Your house is going to resemble a zoo for at least the next 15 years. While this one can be a slow burner, don't be lulled into thinking it won't happen to you. Your house will be all display home, scented candles and perfectly styled sofa cushions until boom! - your little one is mobile. It ratchets up from there, especially if you are adding to an existing brood! Check out amotherfarfromhome's tips for trying to manage this the bombsite your home now resembles.
to the most ridiculous music you have ever heard. In. Your. Life. Nobody knows how it is possible for Michael Finnegan's chin hair to miraculously grow in again or why Bananas in Pyjamas feel the need to spend their Tuesdays catching teddy bears but you will soon be singing about these topics and many more with gusto. The Wiggles will replace your much loved classics and take over your Spotify playlists. Secretly you will love it.
You are not alone if your wee one isn't latching properly, you find breastfeeding painful or you worry your little one is not getting enough milk. There are people and organisations that can help you. The Australian Breastfeeding Association has links to a wealth of resources.
No longer will your you run out the door with a phone, an ATM card and your lipgloss stuffed into a teensy tiny clutch. Oh no, siree! Twelve nappies, 42 snacks, four changes of clothes, three packets of baby wipes, two sippy cups and a tube of nappy rash cream is about as light on as you get these days. The good news, is in the event of a natural disaster you'll be able to survive on the contents of your handbag for at least a week.
"My kid is only going to eat organic, home-made, healthy purees", "My child will never use an iPad at a restaurant", "I'll never let my kids watch more than 20 minutes TV a day". One day, after endorsing a potato chip sandwich for dinner while your child watches the 17th episode of a Peppa Pig marathon on the Ipad at the local Italian restaurant, you will realise how far you've come.
Over time, some women are able achieve a belly close to their pre pregnancy glory with apparent ease. Other mere mortals will have to work at it. While we don't think you ever really "go back" to anything after becoming a mum because you are fundamentally irreversibly changed as a person, we do think that mums should be able to feel fit, strong, healthy and happy. This idea was the inspiration behind Mammojo. Our Lactivewear® tops have been specifically designed to support the postpartum stomach, allow easy breastfeeding and allow you to do the things that make you feel good.
Sadly, there is no manual that comes with babies and children. You might feel out of your depth or grossly unqualified for the responsibility you have just inherited. What works for one mum does not necessarily work for another. What works for one child does not necessarily work for another. There are lots of people to judge and offer advice on the best way to raise your child. Just remember that no one has all the answers and no one else is the mother to your baby. Be patient, go easy on yourself and shower your little one with love. One book I can recommend if you are looking for a very gentle parenting approach is "Perfect parents, perfect children" by Dr Bob Jacobs: it is a short, easy read and made the most sense to me of all the parenting books I have come across.
Was your new year’s resolution to get healthy and active after the birth of your baby? On today’s blog, we check in with resident nutritionist Emily Osborne on why having a good lie down might actually be the best thing for a new mum looking to recover after birth.
After my first baby, I was chomping at the bit to start exercising and get “back into shape”. The elusive six week check seemed to take a long time to arrive and I was eager to fit back into my pre pregnancy clothes asap. Once the six week mark rolled around and I got the green light to exercise, I found myself feeling depleted – of energy, motivation and a whole lot of sleep. I was so keen to get back into things that I’d really denied my body what it needed most in those early weeks: rest.
Nutritionist Emily Osborne explains: “Nutrition goes so much further than just the foods you consume and delves into biochemical factors such as hormones and how they interact to influence processes within the body. “Pregnant bodies go through an enormous amount of stress in growing and bringing into the world a baby. Stressors are anything that put stress on the body – work, relationships, illnesses, injuries, physical stressors (ie birth!) and even exercise. What’s interesting about stressors is that your body can’t decipher between stressors so even things we perceive as being good for us like exercise can be detrimental if we over do it. “A lot of women are in a rush to regain their post baby bodies but resting and lying down after birth is absolutely critical for new mums.
In particular, allowing time to lie flat is important, as this takes weight and pressure off the pelvic floor and lower abdominals. “Not only does your physical body need to recover, but your hormones need to reregulate after the stimulation associated with giving birth. Your hormones play a huge role in your overall health and wellbeing, mood, weight and skin, hair and nails to just name a few, so ensuring you get adequate rest along with maintaining a good diet is the perfect coupling for postnatal recovery.”
Eating well increases your energy levels and is also good for your baby. If you’re concerned that your diet may not be adequate, please consult your doctor or health care practitioner regarding possible supplementation. And when you are ready to exercise, Mammojo Lactivewear® has got you covered.
Keep an eye on the blog for more great information from Emily around nutrition for pregnant, postnatal and breastfeeding mums.
Emily Osborne is a qualified nutritionist with a special interest in lifecycle nutrition, nutrition and beauty and the interrelationship between psychology and food behaviours. As a true believer in balance, when she's not working, you'll find her at Pilates or barre, travelling or socialising with friends.
Pregnancy and childbirth should be a time of excitement and pride yet when you consider that every two minutes, a woman dies from complications in childbirth, mostly in developing countries and often completely preventably, the prospect of birth seems a little more daunting for these women. Mammojo is proud to partner with Birth Kits Foundation Australia to support the world’s most vulnerable and hard to reach women.
]]>Unfortunately, many women and young children are not as fortunate. In developing countries, nearly 300,000 women and three million newborn babies die each year from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Mammojo is proud to be supporting the Birthing Kits Foundation Australia who aim to change all this by providing these women and their communities with safe and clean birthing environments. The solution costs just $3 and fits inside a small ziplock bag.
Birthing Kits are a wonderful little creation that can drastically reduce the risks that come along with childbirth. Here’s what they include:
Mammojo is honoured to working with such a wonderful organisation that allows mothers to safely bring even more joy into the world. We contribute 2% of each sale towards funding birth kits for women in developing countries. We are also hoping to hold a kit assembly day of our own soon! (Keep your eyes and ears peeled for how you can get involved!)
For more information on the Birthing Kits Foundation Australia hand you can help head to their website.
Birthing Kits Foundation Australia:
WEBSITE www.bkfa.org.au
FACEBOOK @birthingkitfoundationaustralia
INSTAGRAM @birthingkitfoundationaustralia
BKFA YouTube http://bit.ly/bkfayoutube
]]>But then it all goes to custard.
The little cherub quickly turns into something from the Evil Dead. There's screaming, crying, red faces and the baby doesn't seem too happy either. But why the sudden turnaround, you were sleeping so soundly 10 minutes ago, little one?
So you start moving down the baby-needs-checklist:
Do not lose hope! Here are some other mum-tested tips to try when all the obvious solutions fail!
Magdalena explains:
Most of the most common mistakes are all closely related. And to be honest, I was guilty of most of them.
1. Doing too much too soon
There is loads of pressure on new mums to get that pre-baby body back ASAP! That pressure isn’t just from TV or social media. We always complement people if they lose weight and say how good they look. New mums can be particularly sensitive about their bodies and want to look good, too. So as soon as they get a green light from the doctor to commence exercise (and scarily some mums don’t even wait for that), they want to train hard and get quick results and often don't think about all the changes their bodies went through during pregnancy and labour. Many mums don't stop to consider they might need more time to heal and ignore the fact that they should ease back into exercise gently. Saying that, it’s not always about losing that baby weight. Some mums, especially those who keep training during pregnancy, just want to get back into their normal routine so they don’t lose their fitness (this was me) or they just love the buzz they get from working out hard. Some feel exercise helps to keep them sane, maintains a bit of their sense of self or gives them that much needed “me” time mothers often lack. However, new mothers often have pelvic floor issues, abdominal separation, carpel tunnel issues, or back issues, and all of these issues need to be taken into account when returning to exercise post-birth. Similar to your energy levels, when you are sleep deprived and your body is trying to recover from birth, doing high intensity sessions might not be the best idea.
2. Skipping rehab exercises
If you had a knee surgery, you would do rehabilitation exercises after surgery before returning to things like running or heavy lifting, for example. Exactly the same principle applies post-birth. Our tummy muscles stretch and lose strength during pregnancy, and mums often have issues connecting with the deep abdominal muscles and pelvic floor post-birth. We need to work on our weakest link first, and, in the majority of cases, for new mothers, that’s our core and pelvic floor. We need to learn to reconnect with these muscles first to ensure we can engage them properly and strengthen them before we get back to higher impact activities such as running or lifting weights. These muscles are really important, as they support your spine and internal organs. It’s also important to work on your body alignment and your breathing, as both have an impact on the pelvic floor and diastasis healing.
3. Doing nothing before clearance from the doctor
We are told not to exercise before we get a clearance from the doctor, but that doesn’t mean that we should do absolutely nothing. There is so much we can be doing to help with recovery. Start simply by re-connecting with your core and pelvic floor and start working on your breathing and body alignment. You can even start gently working on your glutes, which are very important for your pelvic floor’s health (strong glutes and a strong pelvic floor are best friends).
4. Doing hundreds of crunches to get rid of that “mummy tummy”
If you have trouble getting rid of your mummy tummy, you should get checked for diastasis recti (also known as abdominal separation). Diastasis is the stretching or weakening of the linea alba and the entire abdominal wall that occurs during pregnancy. It usually happens during later stages of pregnancy butt can be earlier during subsequent pregnancies, and it’s a very normal part of pregnancy. Sometimes it doesn’t go back together afterwards, which is why you still have that mummy tummy. Diastasis recti reduces the integrity and functional strength of the abdominal wall and can aggravate lower back pain and pelvic instability.
If you have abdominal separation, you should focus on working on your deep abdominal muscles (transverse abdominus or TA) and avoid exercises that can increase intra-abdominal pressure like sit ups. Working your TA will take pressure off your healing six pack muscles (and crunches focus on your six-pack muscles not TA)). Also, working on your posture and breathing will help with healing the separation. Just as poor posture can lead to neck, back, shoulder pain, and other problems, it can also put your pelvic floor in a vulnerable position and prevents the diastasis from healing. Support tights can also serve as a good reminder to maintain and encourage better posture and also support the abdominal muscles to repair, so you might find these useful for the postnatal period.
5. Not getting your abdominals and pelvic floor checked by a women’s health physio
I honestly think every mum should get checked by a women’s health physiotherapist (often clearance from GP is not enough) so they know the true state of their pelvic floor and abdominals. Both mothers who have had a vaginal birth and mothers who have had a c-section can really benefit from seeing a women’s health physio, who can check if you are engaging your pelvic floor properly (50% of women do it incorrectly), can check for abdominal separation, and, if you had a C-section, can help you with your scar tissue. It doesn't matter how good a postnatal personal trainer you may work with, is. We simply cannot assess your pelvic floor or give you proper exercise instruction without the help of a women’s health physio.
Magdalena Hawley is a Qualified Personal Trainer and Food & Wellness Coach. She is a founder and head trainer of Mums Going Strong Fitness, a group and personal training company specialising in postnatal fitness with a focus on core and pelvic floor recovery, and a creator of Busy Fit Mums - 6 week online program for busy mums. She is currently pregnant with her second child.
]]>How do you survive those first weeks with a newborn? Follow these tips to help stress less, enjoy your baby more and ease the transition into motherhood.
Image: Esther Anderson (YouTube)
I can’t remember how many people gave me this advice when I was pregnant with my first child. And for good bloody reason. Initially, I foolishly attempted to accomplish superfluous tasks like washing clothes, cleaning up the slum that my house had become or taking the occasional shower (pffft, what was I thinking?) before I came to the glaring reality, exhausted and cranky, that this stuff could wait. You getting a decent amount of sleep in the early days is your number one priority. You’re no good to nobody if you’re so tired you you’re putting your toast in the washing machine. (True story). Accept that a few months of sleeplessness is inevitable, and give yourself and your baby a chance to find your own natural rhythm, but always look for opportunities to rest or be still. Eventually you probably should also take that shower.
We all know that eating well during pregnancy is important but postnatal bodies need special nourishment too, especially if you’re breastfeeding bub. If you are feeding or expressing you might also find your appetite increases quite significantly while that little love parasite literally sucks the sustenance right out of you.
New mums need special care and really good nutrition to help their bodies heal and recover and to support a good milk supply. A great way to ensure you eat well after birth is to pre-make and freeze some hearty and healthy meals that will sustain you for those sleepless months after your bundle arrives. Baby Centre also has some great tips for post natal nutrition.
A quick walk around the block can do wonders for your peace of mind and sanity. Often it also has the added benefit of encouraging that cheeky rascal baby of yours to finally nod off to sleep, in which case – quick, refer to point number 1 – get home or find a comfy park bench stat.
First things first, you are Wonder Woman – you literally just carried and gave life to an actual tiny human being person. That is mind-blowingly amazing. But even superheroes need a little help from their friends sometimes.
Before you flippantly disregard the offers of assistance from friends and family, think about some things that would actually make your life easier. In my experience, good friends don’t mind, and actually even enjoy helping out by doing things like picking up some bread and milk on their way over to visit, or hanging out the occasional load of washing so you can finally change out of the spew stained tracksuit you’ve been sporting for the past three days.
An extension of this point, when your friend/colleague/family member offers to take your bundle for a walk or mind him/her while you take that elusive shower, take the hint and say yes, for the love of all things pleasantly scented.
To co-sleep or cot sleep? To breastfeed or bottle-feed? To sleep train or soothe? Let me just prepare you for the onslaught of unsolicited advice you are about to receive from an army of well-meaning (but sometimes highly irritating) people. I know I tried way too hard to do what others told me was the “best thing” for my baby before I realised that #asamother (too soon, Sonia?) the person who knew what was best for my baby and I was, funnily enough, me. Mothers are great at supporting each other, but only you know what is best for you and your baby. Follow your heart.
Ha! ”You” time?! What a joke. But seriously, stop laughing. This is important. You’ve just achieved this miracle of birth and your heart could possibly spontaneously burst at any given moment over the pure and unbridled joy this tiny creature has brought into your life. You spend ALL your time feeding, bathing, changing, settling, burping, cuddling, ogling, swaddling this little creature, and that’s obviously important stuff, but it’s also vital to retain your sense of self. Whether it’s as simple as sitting down and enjoying a hot (are you with me ladies?!) cup of tea, watching an episode of Game of Thrones (Just one? Really?), right up to enjoying a bit of pampering while Daddy is on duty, don’t forget that mamas need to be nurtured too.
Image: The Yoga Tree
While most of us won’t be racing out to start training for that bucket list marathon straight out of hospital, a few minutes of gentle exercise can do wonders for us all. Gentle postnatal exercise has shown to help restore muscle strength, improve your energy levels and sense of wellbeing and even help prevent postnatal depression. Before embarking on any crazy training regime, get the all clear from your doctor or midwife and start slow: we don’t want you popping your foo foo valve now. Choose something you enjoy and don’t push yourself too hard – take a walk to the mailbox, do some gentle stretching in your living room or take junior along to a mum and bubs exercise class. Just moving will get those endorphins flowing and make you feel good.
Don’t worry about how quickly that Hollywood celeb got her pre-baby body back or how immaculate your neighbour and her eleven day old in matching Ralph Lauren vests appear. We’re all on our own journey and comparing yourself to others will only make you Cray Cray with a capital C. Nobody knows the truth behind an apparently insta-perfect life, so instead, focus your energy on the stuff that really matters. Like chocolate. And Pinterest. And that gorgeous, intelligent, amazingly advanced baby of yours.
True, you’re probably not used to neglecting your personal hygiene on this scale (I once went a possible Guinness-World record breaking 10 days without running a brush through my hair), your house doesn’t usually resemble a zoo and at six months post birth you are still wearing your elastic-waisted pregnancy jeans. Sigh. This may be hard to process right now but in the grand scheme of things this stuff simply DOES. NOT. MATTER. I recall moments of believing that the sleepless nights and monotonous repetition of being a stay at home mum to a newborn could quite literally tire or bore me to death. Guess what? Just like my teen obsession with Taylor Hanson, this stage too, passed. (I still love you, Taylor). Remember that everything is temporary. Soon enough, you’ll be moving on to new and exciting phases. Like teething. And tantrums. Let go of all your expectations and be in the moment with your baby.
Image: @wonderfilledworld
The life of a new mum is seldom glamorous. In fact, it can be gruelling, tiresome and even lonely at times. I once opened the door to a delivery guy with my left breast completely exposed and didn’t realise until my husband came inside 45 minutes later. Really nailed it that day. On another occasion, I ran errands feeling immense pride at how *together* I had it being able to leave the house with my baby in tow, not realising I was sporting the hugest projectile vomit stain you’ve ever seen down the back of my jumper. One day, I was so tired that I fell asleep at a table and later couldn’t work out why there was liquid all around the house. Turned out I’d inadvertently dipped my pony tail into a cup of cold tea whilst having an impromptu nap on the dining table.