Gabrielle Reece blogs about breastfeeding and weightloss

Volleyball player Gabrielle Reece and husband Laird Hamilton, 43, welcomed their second child together, daughter Brody Jo, on New Year’s Day, and the family is quickly adjusting to having a new baby in the house. Although older daughter Reece does have her moments!

Brody decided to come on the 1st of the year (makes the math easy), and gratefully is a healthy baby. Reece is transitioning as well as a four year old can (occasionally letting us know she feels jealous).

I always say when you have a new baby it feels as if time is standing still and one does become a Dairy Queen open 24 hours a day. I’m not sure if it’s being a bit sleep deprived, but new babies create the dream effect. The comedy really begins because only the Mommy is in the dream, and the rest of the family is plodding along per usual. I catch Laird looking at me occasionally like ‘Huh???’

The 38-year-old mom is trying her best to keep the milk flowing for the new baby, which includes drinking a dark beer nightly.

I feel like I can’t get enough calories to feed this child. I start each morning with a protein shake made with Hemp milk (chocolate or vanilla), a banana, protein powder, and a bit of peanut or almond butter. It’s quick and a good way to get something in my body while getting Reece set for breakfast, and I can do it one handed if I have Brody.

I don’t drink alcohol but (you knew there was a but) I have one dark beer (Newcastle) a night and the yeast helps me make more milk. Let’s see the guys have that excuse for drinking beer.

Gabrielle is known for staying in fit and that is no different now that she just had a baby. She couldn’t wait to start working out, but the fact that she needed to have a c-section did delay things a bit.

I had to have another c-section with Brody so the first week was slow, but by the 16th day, I started very easy workouts. Working light on the Pilates and doing very basic moves with the dumbbells. I have been wearing a belt that goes around my tummy to help my uterus get back down and in, and have been dry brushing my skin (especially around my upper and inner thigh area) to help with swelling.

To read the rest of the blog entry, click here.

Laird has an older daughter Izabella, 12, from a previous relationship.

Source: Go To Gabby

Comments

What is “dry brushing” and can I do it all over my body?

- JK on January 21st, 2008

JK you took the words right out of my mouth !! Does she just mean using a loofa on dry skin to get the circulation going?

- iluvallbabies on January 21st, 2008

JK, you can dry brush with a body brush i bought one from body shop and you use it in sweeping circular motions towards the heart all over your body, helps with circulation and cellulite

- maz on January 21st, 2008

oh, so she does call her daughter Reece? I thought it was written before that she calls her Viola…but anyway, I love the name Reece, so I’m glad that she calls her that.

Sarah’s note: I’ve heard they call her both, and that Laird calls her ‘Vi’ a lot. Not sure how true that is though, it’s just a heard through the grapevine thing.

- alexp on January 21st, 2008

I wonder what type of postpartum belt she uses. I heard they are very effective and am planning on getting one.

- rachel on January 21st, 2008

I’m wondering about the beer part. Isn’t that somehow affecting her milk? Could someone please explain?

Sarah’s note: The thought is that it aids in milk production — Gabby says it’s the yeast. I believe Gwyn Paltrow did the same thing towards the end of her pregnancy for iron, and after while nursing. Maybe someone else knows more specifics and could fill us in?

- Anna on January 21st, 2008

I heard you’re not suppose to use the belts (like Brooke Burke’s line) with a c-section. Please let us know what she’s using!

Sarah’s note: We don’t know what she’s using, sorry. She didn’t name it specifically in her blog.

- Jenn on January 21st, 2008

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooo dark beer every night???? If the yeast helps make milk , the beer has to be getting in the milk! YIKES! Not a good thing to post!

- Deb on January 21st, 2008

Oh please, one beer a night is not going to make her baby drunk. And she might be having the beer after she nurses Brody for the eveing … which would give her body plenty of time to process the alcohol. I have had a glass of wine now and then while breastfeeding both my daughters and never saw any negative reactions in them.

- charsmom on January 21st, 2008

I knew someone would make a negative comment about the beer. It’s ONE freakin beer! In Europe it’s a common belief that dark beer is actually good for pregnant and nursing mothers. Besides, alcohol in moderation is proven to have health benefits. It could be argued that almost any beverage, particularly those that are highly caffeinated or sugared, are not the best while breastfeeding. I think the point is moderation, which Gabrielle is clearly exercising. To say that it’s “not a good thing to post” is not necessarily true.

- gargoylegurl on January 21st, 2008

I found this link which might help explain the beer and nursing. http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nbreastfeed/0,,3x1m,00.html
“Not too many years ago it was common to hear nursing moms advised to have a drink in the evening to help them relax, and help their milk to flow. An ingredient in beer has been shown to increase maternal prolactin levels, but this is with non-alcoholic beers as well (DeRosa et al. 1981).”

- Jenn on January 21st, 2008

One occasional dark beer, it’s not that she’s some severe alcoholic drinker and downing hard liquor like water. And the alcohol does leave the blood after x hours. Besides, she’s been drinking protein shakes and everything else to make sure she has enough calories for Brody, besides the occasional dark beer! She’s health-conscious athlete, so give her some credit somewhere…

She must be doing something right. If you don’t believe me, look at Reece Viola.

Anyway, I laughed when she talks about Laird and how he tends to look at her. Reece wanting attention sounds funny. My nephew has his moments with his baby brother and how much attention he takes away from him, going about trying to get it back at times in his own way. Other times, he loves him and wants to be around him, hold him.

Only real problem is his showering affection. Sometimes he does it a little too roughly, like hitting instead a gentle pat, and has to be told to be a little more gentle…;) He is surrounded by all boys and his older brothers are all about the rough and tumble, so I guess he figures the same can go for his baby brother. But it’s not that bad…

- FC on January 21st, 2008

I like that middle name Jo, it’s cute

- gabriella on January 21st, 2008

My doctor advised one dark beer every other night, following feeding, to increase milk production. It worked and mommy and baby were both happy.

- brannonb on January 21st, 2008

At least it’s not Coors, the baby will have good taste

- Sasha on January 21st, 2008

I didn’t mean to make a negative comment about that beer thing, I was just curious. Sorry if my comment came across as negative or judgmental.

- Anna on January 22nd, 2008

I’ve heard it is the brewers yeast that is helpful for milk. My baby doesn’t seem to tolerate my drinking any alcohol, unfortuntely! She gets fussy and spits up more. Maybe once she is older and her feedings are far apart I’ll be able to drink beer again.

- Sami on January 22nd, 2008

This is very interesting info about the beer! and Anna, I don’t think anyone was referring to your comment as being negative. I think it was a different comment that came across that way.

- AshM on January 24th, 2008

I tried some Living Harvest Hemp Milk in my smoothie. Sooooo good and good for you. thanks for the tip Gabby.

- heather on February 3rd, 2008