Hello!

Let me introduce myself.  My name is Amber. 

I am one of those 'crazy' attachment-parenting, breastfeeding, Christian moms who believes that the breast is best (even in public), that picking up her baby when he/she cries creates trust and doesn't spoil them. I believe in natural childbirth and no immunizations (damage outweighs the benefits). I believe in telling the truth, no matter how painful it can be.  I believe actions speak louder than words and that we should treat others with love.  I love, love, love co-sleeping and baby-wearing, spending 24/7 with the children the Lord blessed me with and treating them like the gifts they are!

I am often asked how I know my program is safe for breastfeeding moms. In 1999, my baby sister (who, by the way, has the IQ of a genius & must-have things confirmed and researched & researched some more lol) introduced me to some nutritional supplements (that she researched the safety on with a world-renowned physician for her own personal use as a breastfeeding mom).  I'm a non-medicinal kind of person.  By that, I mean, I would rather walk around squinting my eyes with a headache waiting on pressure points and the power of prayer to work before taking so much as Tylenol, especially if pregnant or breastfeeding.  Even then, I prefer a homeopathic solution.  My birth plans were all-natural, although the first didn't end up that way. As a breastfeeding mommy of our second daughter, I had the nutritional supplements re-approved by my 11 year practicing midwife. I believe breastfeeding is a gift and one of the best things you will ever do for yourself and more importantly your baby and would never want to mess with the perfect formula that the Lord gave us by taking any medicines. As if the research my sister, her physician & my midwife did wasn't enough, I also researched the supplements and found approval from the medical advisory board overseeing the making of the nutritional supplements to find that the supplements are simply food packaged differently and if harmful, would carry a warning label as required by law.  Therefore, yet again, confirming that the supplements are breastfeeding safe.

I used the supplements before getting married without changing my eating lifestyle and lost weight, but once I stopped the 'diet' I gained back the weight.  After the birth of our first daughter, my husband and I did a lot of self-educating.  We made some serious eating lifestyle changes.  By the grace of God, breastfeeding and the eating lifestyle change, I lost 90 pounds. 

AfterBaby.com was born just after my first baby turned two. I was at home with her for the 1st year of her life, until I was forced to return to the working world to earn an income in 2001. We were blessed to have family keep her for nine months, but then I had to move her to an outside caregiver. After three months with a caregiver, I noticed some language that I didn't care for and she was learning things (not bad) that I hadn't had the privilege of teaching her. My heart ached not to be the one with my baby girl on an everyday basis and I began praying, face-down in the carpet, crying like a baby. lol The next day, I went in for my annual review as a Dept Manager expecting a review & raise. The Director was in the office with someone from corporate and they informed me that my position with the company was dissolved.  I just lost my job!!  It was an answer to my prayer the day before, but I was freaked out!  I needed that income, but God had something else in store.

My baby sister was working with breastfeeding moms and suggested I do the same. Within two weeks AfterBaby.com was born!  I began helping a few breastfeeding moms lose weight, then a dozen and the number just continued to grow.  I truly feel that AfterBaby.com is a gift from God - my ministry. I have had the opportunity to make life-long friends through this ministry.  Moms call me at all hours to inquire about my program and sometimes they get started right away or simply receive encouraging words, prayer or even pray with me!  Other moms just need an ear to listen, someone to understand where they are coming from.  Some moms begin my program and return baby after baby and some I never hear from again, but each are appreciated.  I have had the opportunity to work with homemakers, career moms, La Leche League Leaders, doctors, nurses, military moms, military wives, moms from all walks of life in the US, Canada, England, and Australia just off the top of my head.  Moms that need vegetarian programs, Kosher programs, allergen-free programs or other needs.  I am touched and blessed by all of them.

As you may understand by now, my program isn't based on a supplement manufacturer's guidelines.  My program is based on my experience as an always hungry, breastfeeding mommy who believes in losing weight, but not at the risk of my baby's health.  I incorporated the nutritional supplements into the eating lifestyle changes that my husband and I made for a healthy, breastfeeding safe program.  To further explain, I don't encourage daily calorie restrictions to hamper your supply.  Nor do I encourage weight loss stimulants for breastfeeding moms or a 'diet' where you are trying to make temporary, unrealistic changes that may allow you to lose weight at first, but encourage you return to your old habits and gain back the weight because that just makes you worse off than when you started. I encourage a livable, realistic, eating lifestyle change; which incorporates the foods you enjoy along with an education to help you modify your eating lifestyle to develop new eating habits for long-term, healthy results.

The nutritional supplements I choose to use are simply food, packaged differently.  The supplements don't make you lose the weight.  They simply ensure that you and your baby are getting great nutrition while you are making changes to your eating lifestyle.  When you are eating the right foods at the right times of the day, your body will let go of the fat.  Our goal is to help you maintain lean muscle mass.  Muscle naturally increases your metabolism.  Then your own metabolism burns off the fat causing your body to shrink!  If you speak to your physician regarding losing weight while breastfeeding they will tell you to eat right and exercise.  75-85% of your weight loss has to do with what you put in your mouth & when; which is why my program works, even without exercise.  The average weight loss per week of 3-4 pounds or 3-4 inches I quote is what many moms experience.  You may experience 2 pounds and 2 inches.  Whatever it is that you lose is what your body is choosing to lose at a rate it chooses to lose it because you are not taking a weight loss stimulant that forces your body to lose weight.  If you did, that would be harmful to your baby.

Once you begin one of my programs, I will send you everything you need to know electronically.  You will receive eating guidelines, weighing guidelines, recipes, info of carbohydrates, protein, water and fat along with testimonials to give you inspiration.  You will also be invited to my AfterBaby.com moms support group consisting of over 550 moms.

Choosing a program depends first on your weight and then budget.  Moms weighing 150 pounds or more may want to begin with the AfterBaby.com 150 program because you need more protein and that program offers extra protein.  If the program is not within your budget, simply step down to the next program and so on.

I pray I have answered your questions.  I am not a physician, a corporation or call center, but just one mom, who's lifetime struggle with weight along with 9 years of experience being pregnant or breastfeeding has turned into a resource of hope and knowledge for breastfeeding moms worldwide.

You don't have to stop nursing to lose weight! I am here to help and truly care.  My mother taught me that birds have wings because there's air to fly in. Fish have gills because there's water to swim in and in our moment of despair, we call out to God because He is there to call out to.  It made sense and when I call out, He answers! :) I have this love for people.  I feel the Lord gifted me with this empathetic, compassionate love. I don't care if we share the same Christian beliefs or if you lack a belief altogether. I do care if you and your baby are healthy and happy.  I believe that we are meant to have life and it more abundantly! John 10:10

In Christ's Love,

Amber
AfterBaby.com

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18 ♥