Apricots Are A Delicious Feeding Food

Juicy, delicious apricots are full of beta-carotene and fiber. One of the first signs of summer, this happy orange fruit is a fabulous addition to the balanced diet of a breast-pumping mama.

The University of Wisconsin’s School of Health and Public Medicine recommends apricots as a natural galactagogue. Apricots (especially dried apricots) contain phytoestrogens, which help to balance the hormones involved in lactation.[1]

But wait. If you’ve been following our blog closely, you’re likely confused. The last post included apricots on a list of foods that may cause dehydration and should be avoided for breast-pumping mamas. So what’s the real deal with apricots?

Balance is the key.

Freemie’s Freedom Hands Free Breast Pump

As a premium medical supplier, Byram Healthcare only offers market-preferred breast pumps to our clients. And due to the Affordable Care Act, Byram Healthcare offers this variety of highly rated breast pumps - through most insurance plans - at no cost to you.

We hope to make your selection process streamlined and easy by offering this series of blog posts, highlighting the key features and user reviews for specific pumps. Today we’re focusing on Freemie’s Freedom Hands Free breast pump.

(To learn how easy it is to order your no-cost breast pump through Byram visit our earlier blog post entitled: How Do I Order My Covered Pump Through Byram Healthcare?) 

Hydration Fixation Part 4: What Dehydrating Foods and Drinks Should I Avoid?

In our series, Hydration Fixation, we’ve addressed the issues we’ve been asked by all you pumping mamas about staying hydrated.

In Part 1, we suggested how much water you should be drinking in order to maintain a healthy daily hydration. In Part 2, we shared some helpful tips on how to ensure you’re actually consuming 64 ounces of water daily. Our most recent post in this series, Part 3, offered a variety of hydrating food and drink options to supplement your water intake. Now, in our final post of the series, we thought it prudent to remind you which food and drinks are dehydrating and should therefore be avoided, especially while you’re nursing and pumping.

St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

There’s more to Irish food than bangers and mash.

If you’re bringing a dish to a St. Patrick’s Day party, or celebrating quietly at home, why not make something festive while incorporating milk-enhancing ingredients?

Remember from earlier posts that:

• Wild salmon is a lactogenic rock star. Because of its rich Omega-3 content, research suggests nursing and breast pumping benefit from two servings weekly in order to consume the appropriate amount of the essential fatty acid to promote a healthy baby’s brain development. [1]
• Spinach is a “super food” as well as a fabulous dietary element during pregnancy and lactation due to its rich content of folic acid. It’s even suggested to improve the quality and taste of your breast milk. [2]
• Asparagus is a “powerhouse” food for nursing and pumping mothers. It is chock full of Vitamins A, C, and K. Asparagus is also high in fiber and folic acid, both of which aid in maintaining a healthy milk supply. Additionally, this jolly green contains two power elements: phytoestrogens and tryptophan. Phytoestrogens assist in the milk production process. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which has proven to stimulate which has proven to stimulate prolactin production; prolactin is a major hormone involved in the lactation cycle. [3]
• Apricots (especially dried apricots) contain phytoestrogens, which help to balance the hormones involved in lactation. Apricots are high in fiber, Vitamin A, C, potassium and calcium.

Here are a few recipes to festively feast this St. Patrick’s Day while promoting milk production.

St. Patrick’s Day

Happy almost St. Patrick’s Day, all you breast-pumping mamas.

Whether or not you live in a Celtic-crazy city like New York, Boston, Chicago, or Savannah it’s quite likely you feel the urge to join in the festivities this year. We know you deserve some time to let loose.

For the occasion we thought it appropriate to give you a few refresher tips on how to enjoy alcoholic beverages while you’re nursing and pumping.

Spectra’s 9 Plus Advanced Double Electric Breast Pump

As a premium medical supplier, Byram Healthcare only offers market-preferred breastpumps to our clients. And due to the Affordable Care Act, Byram Healthcare offers this variety of highly rated breast pumps - through most insurance plans - at no cost to you.

This third post in our series to help you decide which specific breast pump is best for you features Spectra’s 9 Plus Advanced Breast Pump.

(If you’re curious how simple the ordering process actually is, visit our earlier blog post entitled: How Do I Order My Covered Pump Through Byram Healthcare?) 

Hydration Fixation Part 3: Can I Drink (or Eat) Anything Besides Water for Hydration?

In our continuing series, Hydration Fixation, we’re addressing the issues we’ve been asked by all you pumping mamas about staying hydrated.

Staying hydrated is a seemingly simple, yet absolutely crucial, piece of your personal well-being. In the first post of this series, How Much Water Do I Really Need As a Breast-Pumping Mom?, we determined that the general rule is to drink enough water to meet the needs of your thirst (approximately eight 8 oz. glasses of water, depending of factors of weight and overall health).

Obviously, water is the thing. It’s the best drink around for a healthy lifestyle and the even better, best drink when you’re nursing and pumping. But after dutifully consuming 8 oz. glass after 8 oz. glass, it’s natural to get a little “watered out.” Which brings us to the third post of this series: suggestions for alternative hydrating sources when you’re just plain sick of plain water.

Byram Healthcare and Breast Pump Accessories

You probably know that Byram Healthcare is a leading supplier of premium breast pumps. And thanks to the Affordable Care Act, breast pumps are covered under most insurance plans.

We carry five of the market’s most popular and user-friendly breast pumps: Medela’s PIS Advanced, the Ameda Purely Yours Ultra, Spectra’s 9 Plus Advanced, Freemie’s Freedom Hands Free, and Hygeia’s Q Model.

Ordering your breast pump through Byram is simple. Start here.

But you might not know that Byram Healthcare also offers a variety of accessories used and loved by throngs of breast pumping moms.

Hummus is Delicious and Nutritious for Breast Pumping Mamas

A food promoting or increasing the flow of a mother's milk is known as a galactagogue. While the term isn’t exactly appetizing, many of these lactogenic foods are. Rich legumes like chickpeas, lentils, lima beans or green beans all fall into this category.

Hummus, which is simply made by combining chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic (another galactagogue) serves up a complete protein, dense in nutrition. It’s a fabulously smart and delicious choice for nursing and pumping mamas.

Here are a few recipes: one to create your own homemade hummus and another in which to incorporate the delectable spread.