This post was sponsored by #BumpUpYourCalcium with #Viactiv. All opinions are mine.
There are many bittersweet “last” experiences that come while nurturing the last newborn I will ever have. It almost makes me teary to type that. While I am comfortable and confident that our decision to not have any more children is the right choice, it’s still a rollercoaster of emotions when you know that the decision is firm. This is the last time I will have a baby in tiny clothes. This is the last time catching that first laugh. These are the last size 1 diapers. This is the last baby I will ever nurse.
I breastfed all three of my kids and each for different amounts of time. It’s something I was personally committing to doing, even though the challenges were real and sometimes I definitely wanted to give up. At the end of the day, I knew that the benefits they would get from milk specifically tailored to their needs were worth the sacrifice. Here we are, in the midst of the last breastfeeding journey I will ever be on. While I know what to expect this time, and I’m comfortable with my body’s ability to produce what my little one needs, it’s also quite possibly the most difficult breastfeeding experience so far.
Nowadays, I’m chasing a toddler and cutting nursing sessions short to pull Charlie off of something she climbed on. I’m too busy to remember if I ate, if I drank enough, or when I slept last. If you asked me if Lincoln was on a feeding schedule I would just laugh, because that word isn’t in my vocabulary anymore.
I do my best to make sure I am cared for (since I’m the food source), but it can definitely be a chore. I depend on Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews to make sure I am covered on calcium intake. Studies have shown that women can lose 3 to 5 percent of their bone mass during breastfeeding and it’s important to meet the daily calcium requirement of 1,000 mg of calcium per day. I still take a prenatal vitamin, but it only gives me about 20-30% of the calcium my body needs daily. Lincoln will always get the adequate amount of calcium from breast milk, but it’s important for me to keep my calcium supply sufficient for my own bone health. One Viactiv Calcium Soft Chew (500 mg of calcium in each soft chew) taken up to twice daily provides most women with the calcium they need daily (1000 mg total for two chews), plus vitamins D and K to help with calcium absorption. You can find them at most retailers like Target, Walmart and other major retailers nationwide. My favorite flavor is definitely the caramel, but you can’t go wrong with their milk chocolate flavor either!
What’s your best tip for staying healthy while breastfeeding when your world is always spinning?
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Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews are available in milk chocolate or caramel flavors at major retailers including CVS, Rite Aid, Target, and Walmart, as well as supermarkets nationwide.
This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation on behalf of Viactiv that contains affiliate links. I received Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews for my own personal use. This post is not intended to address or diagnose any medical conditions. All opinions, text and experiences are my own. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing or planning on becoming pregnant, speak with your healthcare provider if you have any specific health questions or prior to taking any dietary supplements.
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