Category: Nutrition

Pumping Iron: Getting more when your Iron is low

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Iron: What is it and why is it so important? Iron is an important mineral that your body uses to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the substance in red blood cells that  is responsible for transporting oxygen through your body. When you get pregnant your blood supply increases causing you to need about twice the amount of iron you would need when not pregnant. About 20% of women will develop an iron deficiency known as anemia. The risks of anemia can...Read More
Healthy food, quick and easy summer dinner

5 Quick and Healthy Summer Meals

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Green Bean and Cherry Tomato Salad Two of summers best ingredients come together to make one amazingly healthy salad. Enjoy as a side or add grilled shrimp or chicken and make it the star of the show! [caption id="attachment_2379" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Green Bean and Tomato Salad[/caption] Ingredients: 2 lbs of Green Beans 2 Pints (1 lb) of Cherry Tomatoes 2 Teasp0ns of Salt 1 Teaspoon of Pepper 2 Teaspoons of Lemon Zest (or lime for a bit more tang) 1/2...Read More

Blue Apron : What is all the fuss about?

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Everywhere I look lately there are advertisements for Blue Apron. It's in my news feed, I hear it on NPR every day, even my favorite podcast hosts are touting it. Finally I decided to take the plunge and give Blue Apron a try. Signing up was super easy! I was given a code from a friend for a free box and I figured I had nothing to loose. You can choose to get the first shipment then cancel future shipments...Read More

Baby Led Feeding

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Baby Led Weaning / Feeding: A How To Guide Why would you want to? Baby led Feeding is an emerging philosophy that allows your baby to set the pace of trying their first foods. Food must be pureed for babies under six months because of the choking factor. However, there are no studies that show that pureed food is better for babies. In fact, many doctors who study allergens suggest waiting to introduce solids until around six months. By six...Read More

My House or Yours?

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Last year I made the decision to only offer placenta encapsulation in our clients homes. It was a completely different direction then all the other placenta encapsulators that I knew in our area, but I knew that it was the best decision for me and for Lancaster Doulas. So what led me to change the standard? Safety: Our clients love seeing our top notch sanitation process. It puts their minds at ease knowing that all of our Postpartum Placenta Specialists carry their bloodborne pathogen certification, and PA...Read More

World Breastfeeding Week 2016

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Last year Lancaster Doulas asked local women from Lancaster, Reading, York, and Harrisburg for their experiences breastfeeding their children. This year, we checked back in with a few of them to see how things are going! [caption id="attachment_2032" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Melissa Ishman[/caption] (Melissa Ishman) My sweet boy is still nursing at week shy of 15 months. Our beginning was rough since he would only latch on one side but that side pulled through and provided him with everything he needed...Read More
placenta encapsulation with amish

The Amish and the Placenta Revolution

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Living in Lancaster County is synonymous with the Amish. I get asked often from doulas all over the world if I work with them. The Amish community is shrouded in mystery because they choose to shy away from anyone who is "English", AKA not Amish. Because of this, it can be a difficult community to reach. Lancaster Doulas LLC has been blessed to have been welcomed into this community to serve them. My family has roots in the plain community (Amish and...Read More

Cut The Cord Already!

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Do I cut the cord now? (waits 30 seconds) How about now? (1 min later) Soooooo now??? Wondering when to cut your baby’s umbilical cord? Did you know you can have a say in when your baby's umbilical cord is cut? If you are part of the birth world (and yes, it is a world all its own), then you have probably had a conversation about this trendy topic. However, maybe you are new to this world and are just...Read More

The Great Date Debate: Do Dates Really Help You Go Into Labor?

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Maybe you have seen the study posted on social media -- maybe a friend swore to you it worked -- but does eating dates in the last month of pregnancy really help you go into labor? What Science says: According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information ....... maybe ?!?!? Basically they studies 114 women, 69 of whom ate 6 dates each day for 4 weeks leading up to their "due date." According to the study, the women who ate...Read More