Lifestyle
Breastfeeding Is Challenging – But There Are Ways To Make It Easier

Experts recommend breastfeeding for the first year of life, including exclusively for the first six months, but according to the CDC, only about 35% of infants are still breastfeeding by their first birthday, and only 25% are breastfed exclusively until age 6 months. That’s no surprise, though, when we consider how challenging breastfeeding is on its own, and how much more difficult society makes it. In fact, hitting any of these landmarks is an achievement, but the good news is that there are also ways to make breastfeeding easier.
Don’t Wait
It’s a myth that you’ll only be able to breastfeed if you start immediately after birth, but doing so can make it easier. That’s because your infant’s nervous system is actually wired to seek out the breast in the hours after birth. Attempting a first feeding during this time, then, can encourage a natural latch and make subsequent feedings easier.
Invest In A Pump
Just because you’re breastfeeding, that doesn’t mean that you have to handle every feeding on your own. In fact, you shouldn’t. Instead, look into getting an insurance-covered breast pump and choose a storage system that lets you keep extra milk on hand. This will be particularly handy if you’re going back to work, but can also help you manage engorgement without wasting milk. If you really find yourself overrun with extra ounces, there are milk banks where you can donate excess breastmilk.
Buy Some Bottles
If you’ve got a breast pump, you’re obviously also going to need some bottles, and there are many different kinds on the market, but what kind you choose isn’t as important as you might think. Though some doctors recommend particular bottle designs for breastfed infants, the reality is that every baby is different and, since nipple confusion is a myth, you don’t have to worry about your bottle choice conflicting with breastfeeding. Plus, as any new mother can tell you, the most important thing about choosing bottles is that it means your spouse can take a few nighttime feedings and you can get a little sleep.
Develop A Routine
It’s important to develop a pumping routine if you’re going back to work while breastfeeding, but even if you’re staying at home, having a schedule can make things easier on your body. Many experts recommend beginning to pump around week 2 or 3 after birth and introducing a bottle around the same time. This will ensure that your baby is comfortable taking a bottle even if it’s not necessary yet – that way they won’t go on hunger strike for daycare or grandma or whoever takes over childcare when you’re away.
Know Your Rights
It’s important to know your rights as a breastfeeding mom, especially when pumping at work, but this also applies in other settings. Not only do you have a right to a private, non-bathroom place to pump at work, but you also have a right to feed your baby anywhere your baby has a right to be. That includes everywhere from restaurants and playgrounds to places of worship, and no one should tell you otherwise.
Breastfeeding is a serious commitment, but it’s also a beneficial and worthwhile one that contributes to your baby’s health and your relationship, so it’s worth considering what steps will help you navigate the process. Often, that means ensuring you have the right tools to help you navigate the process.
Breastfeeding can be complicated, yes, but at least the solutions for making it more manageable are simple.
Lifestyle
How To Combine Astrology With Self-Care Rituals To Enhance Daily Living

Self-care looks different for everyone. And it could look different day by day. Sometimes you just need meditation or journaling or a grounding ritual. Sometimes you need movement. Sometimes you need more rest. Have you ever wondered why it’s different day-by-day and why you can’t seem to “stick” to something?
Most of us know something about Western astrology, but have you ever heard of Vedic astrology (Jyotish)? Vedic astrology focuses on your moon sign (which may differ from your Western astrological chart), planetary transits, and Dasha period. These three areas shape how you feel, act, and process emotions every day.
The time management app align27 doesn’t just focus on your typical horoscope. It gives you a personalized Vedic birth chart and a daily favorability forecast based on planetary influences. It uses a simple yet powerful stoplight system — green for favorable times, yellow for neutral, and red for moments when it’s best to slow down — to help you navigate each day with intention.
Why Vedic astrology and self-care go hand in hand
Ever have days where everything flows effortlessly and others where nothing seems to go right? That’s not random — it’s the influence of the planets at play. Vedic astrology teaches that planetary transits and periods, and the Moon’s placement each day all impact your energy.
By understanding these influences, align27 customizes your self-care rituals to work with the planetary energies rather than against them. The result? A self-care routine that feels more natural, restorative, and in harmony with your personal astrology.
How to align self-care with align27
1. Follow your moon sign for emotional well-being
In Vedic astrology, your Moon sign reveals how you process emotions, handle stress, and recharge. The align27 app provides real-time insights into your Moon sign’s current state, helping you plan self-care that supports your well-being.
- Fire Moons (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): align27 will highlight action-oriented times, which are perfect for movement-based self-care like yoga, walking, or a workout.
- Earth Moons (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Your best self-care moments often fall during grounding planetary periods. The align27 app helps you time activities like cooking, gardening, or Ayurvedic oil massages.
- Air Moons (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Mental stimulation is key for you. Use align27’s favorable green time slots to plan journaling, reading, or creative work.
- Water Moons (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Emotional balance is crucial; align27 suggests introspective yellow periods during which self-care like meditation, breathwork, or music therapy can help you reset.
By checking your daily Moon sign insights in align27, you can sync your self-care with your emotional energy instead of forcing routines that don’t feel right.
2. Sync with planetary transits for daily rituals
Planetary movements in Vedic astrology directly influence your daily energy. Instead of following the same self-care routine every day, use the align27 app to check which planets are strongest and which ones need balancing.
- Green periods: Ideal for action — schedule workouts, deep work, or personal projects.
- Yellow periods: Best for reflection — meditation, light reading, or connecting with loved ones.
- Red periods: Time to pause — prioritize self-care, avoid big decisions, and rest.
For example:
- If align27 shows a red period under Mercury’s influence, it’s a sign to unplug from tech and practice silence (Mauna) instead.
- A green period during a Moon transit suggests a great time for emotional processing through journaling or spiritual rituals.
- If Saturn is active, align27 might recommend structured self-care, like a disciplined yoga practice or fasting.
The daily timing feature of align27 takes the guesswork out of self-care, helping you plan around when the universe is actually working with you, not against you.
3. Use your Venus sign for beauty and self-love rituals
In Vedic astrology, Venus (Shukra) represents luxury, pleasure, and how you experience beauty. But your Venus sign in your birth chart tells you what kind of self-care truly nourishes your soul.
- Venus in Fire Signs: You love bold, energizing self-care. Ayurvedic herbal treatments, bright colors, and invigorating scents like sandalwood or saffron uplift your energy.
- Venus in Earth Signs: You prefer high-quality, natural self-care. Organic skincare, silk bedding, and nourishing food rituals align with your Venus energy.
- Venus in Air Signs: You thrive on social and intellectual beauty. Try mantra recitation, decorating your space with art, or engaging in deep conversations.
- Venus in Water Signs: You need emotionally fulfilling self-care. Essential oil baths, soft textures, and music therapy create a calming atmosphere.
4. Strengthen your planetary weaknesses through rituals
Each planet in your birth chart has strengths and weaknesses based on its placement. You can balance planetary imbalances through specific self-care rituals:
- Weakened moon? Drink warm milk with cardamom, wear white, and meditate under the full Moon.
- Struggling with Rahu energy? Reduce digital distractions, light camphor, and chant “Om Rahave Namah.”
- Mars overactivity? Avoid spicy food, practice slow yoga, and wear cool colors like blue or white.
The align27 app personalizes these remedies based on your birth chart and daily planetary shifts.
Align your self-care with the stars
When you integrate Vedic astrology into your self-care routine, you’re not just following trends but tuning into the ancient wisdom of timing and energy alignment. Instead of forcing yourself into a one-size-fits-all self-care plan, you can create rituals that genuinely support you based on the cosmic influences at play.
With tools like align27, you can easily track your best days for rest, action, and reflection — making self-care effortless and aligned with the universe. Because taking care of yourself isn’t just about doing more — it’s about doing what’s right for you, at the right time.
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