French Toast Casserole Recipe

A few of you who follow me over on instagram saw that I made this french toast casserole recipe for a friend & client of mine who is freshly postpartum. I promised to share it with you so here I am!

This recipe is FABULOUS for new moms, busy moms, soon-to-be moms, etc. It is simple, quick, freezer-friendly, and can be prepared ahead of time so that all you have to do when it’s time to eat is pop it into the oven. It is INCREDIBLE. I found the original recipe over at Sally’s Baking Addiction and I’ve only tweaked it ever so slightly. 

I first found this recipe when I was searching for freezer-friendly recipes to make and store in our deep freeze while I was pregnant with Zeke (my second son). Let me tell you– out of all the food I made and stored in our freezer (over 200 servings!)– THIS recipe froze the best. Plus it is SO easy to make four of these at once. The other night I made two for myself and two for my friend in just under two hours. You can really crank these babies out! 

Without further ado, here is the recipe:

French Toast Casserole Recipe

Ingredients:

French toast base:

• 1 (12-14 ounce) loaf sourdough bread

• 1 cup (180g) fresh or frozen blueberries 

• 8 large eggs

• 2 and 1/4 cups (540ml) whole milk

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 3/4 cup (150g) packed dark brown sugar

• 1 Tablespoon (15ml) vanilla extract

Streusel Topping:

• 1/3 cup (69g) packed dark brown sugar

• 1/3 cup (42g) all-purpose flour 

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Directions:

1. Grease a 9×13 inch pan with nonstick spray or butter. For freezer-friendly meals I have used the 9×13 nonstick foil baking pans without spraying anything first. 

2. Slice & cut the bread into cubes, about 1-2 inches in size. Spread cubes of bread into the baking pan and sprinkle the blueberries over the top. Set aside.

3. Whisk the eggs, cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla together. Add milk and whisk to combine. Pour over the bread. Cover the pan tightly and stick into the fridge overnight.

4. **Note: The topping can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge OR it can be made the morning of. I usually make it the night before. If you’re freezing the recipe, make the topping right away and sprinkle it over the casserole before freezing. To prepare the topping:  Whisk the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Cut in the cubed butter with a pastry blender or two forks. 

5. After soaking the bread overnight, preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Take your casserole out of the fridge and sprinkle the streusel deliciousness over the top. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve immediately. Cover leftovers tightly and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Freezing Instructions: If you intend to freeze the casserole, be sure to make it completely (streusel topping and all) before sealing it up well (with foil or a container with a tight lid) and placing it in the freezer. It will stay good in your freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to make it, thaw it overnight in the fridge, then bake as directed. I always freeze it BEFORE baking but the original recipe does say a baked casserole can be frozen for up to 3 months. Then you thaw it overnight in the fridge and warm it up in a 350°F (177°C) for 35 minutes or until warm in the center.


Well, that’s it! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have! It is my GO-TO for freezer meals or a yummy meal to deliver to postpartum families. 

Leave me a comment if you try it, I’d love to know what you think. 

7 Fascinating Facts About Umbilical Cords That Will Make You Think Before You Cut

Learn More About Umbilical Cords and The Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping

Before becoming a mother and Doula, I didn’t realize there were so many questions about umbilical cords. Honestly, I kind of took them for granted. I knew that somehow they were the connection between mother and baby, and I knew that they were responsible for nourishing the baby in the womb. Once I delved into the birth world, I realized there is SO MUCH the average person does not know about umbilical cords and the pivotal moment when babies officially separated from their mothers.

Here I have listed some of the most common questions that I have received about umbilical cords and delayed cord clamping.

Umbilical cord cutting:

Why should the partner cut the cord? Shouldn’t I let someone more trained do it?

Partners are asked to cut the cord is because it is a way to include them in the process. It has become a common ritual for the partner to sever the tie between mother and baby. Care providers would not be willing to pass the responsibility of this task to the partner if it were dangerous. No skill is required if the cord is already clamped by the care provider. Freebirthing couples clamp or tie off the cord themselves, then cut it or burn it when the time is right.

Is cutting the cord only for birth partners?

I’ve had a father say, “Well, I don’t know if our baby would ever forgive me for severing their physical bond.” I chuckled, but he had a point. The father or partner is not the only one who can cut the cord! Many mothers choose to do this task themselves. It is ok to think outside the box. I do get a little sad though when people brush it off completely, telling the doctor to do it as if it means nothing. Of course, I’m always looking for deeper meaning in everything and I’m a sucker for rituals and symbolism.

What if I mess it up and their belly button is too big or too small?!

This is a common misconception: the size of our belly button (and whether we have an “innie” or an “outie”) is determined by where our umbilical cord was cut. The umbilical cord is clamped in two places. One clamp is very close to baby, and the other an inch or two down the cord, closer to the placenta. Then the cord is cut between the clamps, and the baby’s end is tied off with string or a rubber band-like closure made especially for this task. Then, for the first week or so of life, the umbilical cord that is left attached dries up and actually falls off. This leaves the baby’s true belly button. Thus, belly buttons are predetermined by our genetics, and have nothing to do with where the cord was cut.

Delayed Cord Clamping

What is delayed cord clamping?

Delayed cord clamping means that instead of clamping the umbilical cord immediately following your baby’s birth, you or your care provider wait for an allotted period of time before clamping. Your baby is still laid on their mother’s chest immediately after birth. They lay there for warmth and comfort at LEAST until the cord has been clamped and cut.

Is there a benefit to delayed cord clamping?

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):

“In term infants, delayed umbilical cord clamping increases hemoglobin levels at birth and improves iron stores in the first several months of life, which may have a favorable effect on developmental outcomes.

In preterm infants, delayed umbilical cord clamping is associated with significant neonatal benefits, including improved transitional circulation, better establishment of red blood cell volume, decreased need for blood transfusion, and lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and intraventricular hemorrhage.

Delayed umbilical cord clamping was not associated with an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage or increased blood loss at delivery, nor was it associated with a difference in postpartum hemoglobin levels or the need for blood transfusion.”

The fact that delayed cord clamping improves iron stores in babies is an important one. Nature did not intend for babies to be iron deficient! Ever since we have been practicing immediate cord clamping, we have also found it necessary to fortify rice cereal and formula with iron to make up for what they are lacking from birth. Iron is immensely important for neurological development; necessary in order for babies to become smarter at a fast pace.

According to this source, babies that receive delayed cord clamping have 40% more blood volume compared to babies that received immediate cord clamping.

This article states that “The evidence of benefit from Delayed Cord Clamping is so compelling that the burden of proof must now lie with those who wish to continue the practice of immediate clamping, rather than with those who prefer—as nature intended—to wait.”

How long should we wait to clamp the cord?

The ACOG recommends a delay in umbilical cord clamping in term and preterm infants for at least 30-60 seconds after birth. Delayed cord clamping causes 40% increase in blood volume, 45% increase in hematocrit, 50% increase in total red cell blood cell volume. 50% of this change happens within the first 60 seconds.  So giving your baby at least 60 seconds of delay is better than nothing.

It is common in the hospitals in my town to wait 90 seconds.

Many traditional birth workers believe the cord should stop pulsing completely before it is clamped and cut. This is the protocol I have followed with both of my boys. It doesn’t take as long as you’d think to allow the pulse to stop. It takes approximately 5 minutes. This guarantees the maximum benefits are achieved.

Is milking the cord the same as delayed cord clamping?

Many providers are too impatient to wait for delayed cord clamping. They “compromise” with their clients by telling them they will “milk the cord” and give baby the same benefits. Visualize squeezing “Gogurt” out of the container. This is what they mean by milking the cord. The truth is that milking the cord is NOT the same thing as delayed cord clamping AT ALL. Stripping the cord leaves babies with too high of hematocrit levels (too much red blood cells) aka polycythemia.

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Do you have any questions about umbilical cords? Did you do delayed cord clamping, or do you plan to? Do you or your partner plan to cut the umbilical cord (or have you already)? Drop me a comment! I’d love to hear from you.

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The full book contains:

• 20 pages of black & white mandalas with positive birth affirmations

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• 25 mandalas TOTAL for you to color in and use as decor in your birth space

50+ Ways To Support Your Partner During Labor

How To Provide Quality Support During Labor

The big moment is here! Your new baby is on the way! You’re thrilled, but your partner is focused on the gripping sensations of labor. Maybe she is irritable or seemingly difficult to please; maybe you are having trouble thinking of ways to comfort and support her. Perhaps you are just interested in finding a way to participate in this life-changing event.

No need to sit there befuddled, worried about what to do with your hands! I have typed up this handy cheat sheet full of tips for the you (the birth partner), all about how to provide support during labor. I have even created a printable PDF that you have the option to download at the bottom of the page, so you can reference it once labor is underway. You’ll be all set to provide loving care for your partner as she brings new life into the world.

Ways to Support Your Partner During Labor:

How To Support Your Partner During Early Labor:

• Help her get ready for labor

• Encourage her; say that she’s strong and ready

• Make her tea (red raspberry leaf is a bonus) or broth to drink

• Make her something to eat

• Distract her with games, TV/Movies, or take her to get a foot massage

• Suggest a shower or bath

• Suggest a nap

• Remind her to relax and save her energy for later

• CALL THE DOULA – Keep her informed!

If she is feeling overwhelmed:

• Reassure her and praise her

• Give her an object or picture to look at during contractions

• Remind her of the reason she’s here (baby)

• Suggest a walk or position change

• Ask extra people to leave the room

• Place your hands on her face and breathe with her

If her belly hurts, you can:

• Remind her to go to the bathroom often

• Help her change position

• With a light touch, massage her lower belly and thighs

• Offer a warm heating pad

If she is having trouble relaxing, you can:

• Place a hand over her hand

• Have her shake both hands in the air

• Touch her and remind her to relax, one body part at a time

• Talk about a relaxing time

• Play music that helps her relax

• Read to her

• Rub her back or neck

If she is too hot, you can:

• Wash her face and neck with a cool, wet cloth

• Give her ice chips

• Fan her face and body

• Open a window or turn down the thermostat

If her back hurts, you can:

• Help her change positions

• Put a warm cloth or heat pack on her back

• Put a cold cloth or ice pack on her back

• Apply counter pressure with hands or tennis ball

• Sit back to back with her so your backs can press together

• Have her lean against the pain with her own fists

• Help her stand and lean against the wall

• Help her get on her hands and knees and rock back and forth

If her legs and arms shake, you can:

• Hold her steady so she feels more in control

• Use a soft touch or long, firm stroking on her legs and arms

• Rub her feet and hands

• Put a warm blanket on her

If her contractions stop, you can:

• Talk about labor and encourage rest and relaxation

• Help her with nipple stimulation

• Kiss her

• Tell her how strong she is

• Make sure she’s hydrated

• Suggest a hot shower

• Help her take a walk

• Rub her back

• Take her outside

• Encourage her to get some sleep; Lay down with her

What Inspired Me To Become A Doula

My journey into birth doula work began the year that my husband and I became pregnant. That year also happened to be one of the most tumultuous years of our lives. At the beginning of 2014 my husband accepted a job in Portland, Oregon. It was only a 6 month contract position, but we’d always wanted to live in the Pacific Northwest. We jumped at this opportunity, thinking once we were there we could just continue finding work. He accepted the job in January and we were expected to be there by mid-February.

One night, just after he accepted the job and we were making hasty plans to move, we were up late dreaming about our future together. He turned to me very seriously and said he felt in his gut that it was time to start trying to conceive a baby. I can remember starting to cry. Rationally it didn’t make any sense, but I felt the same way. I, too, knew in my heart and soul that it was meant to be. My mind flipped through the logical reasons we shouldn’t have a baby. We were about to make a big move to a new place where we didn’t have many friends or any family; we weren’t as financially stable as we would’ve liked to be; I didn’t know much about babies much less birthing them. This reasoning in my head couldn’t outweigh the intuitive initiative that now dwelled within my heart. Joel (my husband) even guessed that we were going to have a boy before we ever started trying to conceive.

It took us over 3 months to get pregnant. We totally assumed that the second we stopped trying to prevent it we would instantly become pregnant. I was honestly very let down every month we tried and I still ended up menstruating. I ended up buying the book “Real Food for Mother and Baby: The Fertility Diet, Eating for Two, and Baby’s First Foods” by Nina Planck. This was just the beginning of my baby-centered investigations. From that moment on, I researched fervently about anything and everything related to birth and babies. My overactive mind dreamt up so many questions, and I wasn’t going to feel qualified to be a mother without finding the best answers. I wanted evidence-based, conscious-minded answers. I read so many sources, comparing information, scrutinizing over biases and flaws, trying to sift through it all me find the answers that worked for me.

While I was attempting to research my way into motherhood, Joel’s job ended and it became glaringly apparent that he would not be able to find employment elsewhere. The job market in Portland was not as abundant as we were used to in Austin. After living on beans and canned tuna for a few weeks, we decided we needed to return to our home state before we didn’t have the money to get back. We sold most of our belongings- anything that didn’t fit in the back of our 1991 Mazda pickup truck- and drove over 2,000 miles back to Austin, TX.

It was a somewhat treacherous journey considering our truck was 23 years old, weighed down with an extremely heavy load for its size, and we were winding through hills and mountains. Every time we climbed upward we worried the truck would overheat and we’d be stranded. Somehow we made it. Once we arrived home we had friends and family who took us in. Through a friend, I became connected with an incredible home birth midwife. I had a midwife but no house! Luckily, we moved in to a rental home just a few weeks before my due date.

To add to all the stress, I went two weeks and three days over my due date. The dates weren’t wrong- I was diligently charting when we conceived and my LMP date matched the ultrasound date exactly. I think all the stress during my pregnancy caused my body to tell my son to stay inside where it was safe. When we finally settled into our house and I was able to relax, I went into labor and 37 hours later our son was born.

My labor was challenging. It was grueling. I thought I wouldn’t make it through. It peeled through every layer of my being and exposed my innermost self. It exposed my weaknesses and my fears. Then, just when I felt defeated, something incredible happened.

I let go of my desire for control, and prayed to the cosmos. My prayers were answered, because when I finally let go my body was able to work for me. I began to push and I felt so strong and so powerful. My baby boy was born an hour later but it felt like a mere 5 minutes. The euphoria I felt after he arrived was the most phenomenal feeling I had ever experienced. I fell so deeply in love with everyone who went through this journey with me. My husband and my baby, but also my Midwife and her apprentice. In my mind, we became eternally bonded that day.

Once I came out of my blissful early postpartum fog, I realized that I wanted to be there for other women as my birth workers had been there for me.

I wanted to tell others all the knowledge I had encountered on my journey to motherhood, I wanted to support them through the wildest ride of their life, I wanted to be there the moment they let their guard down to become raw and exposed; I wanted to bond with them through this incredible, shared experience. This desire is what led me to become a doula.