Five Signs the Time to Wean has come
There are a few good signs that indicate time to wean has come. You’re ready. Your breastfeeding goals have been met or you have decided to wean based on your unique considerations. Your child is ready. All children will eventually wean sometimes before their mothers are ready to wean. Natural weaning can happen as early as twelve months. A confirmed... [Read more...]
What is Normal Weight Gain?
No matter what else is going on while you are breastfeeding (feeding pattern change, sleep patterns change, milk supply changes) if you are exclusively breastfeeding and your baby is consistently gaining weight, then you can relax with the knowledge that you are doing well. Your baby will gain weight at differing rates based on their age Birth to four... [Read more...]
Three Things Everyone Thinks Dramatically Affect Milk Supply
There are three things you will find often repeated as ways to increase your milk supply, but in reality have little to no impact when the mother is already in good health. Drink more fluids - Although your fluid consumption will increase as you breastfeed keep in mind that you only are replacing the amount your child consumes, which is about four ounces... [Read more...]
Starting Solid Foods
The World Health Organization (WHO) released the results of thier in depth study on when to begin introducing solid foods into the diet of a breastfed or nursing baby. The WHO found that waiting until six months to start your baby on solid foods provides multiple benifits to both mother and child. For the baby: better neuromotor development less... [Read more...]
Small Milk Storage Capacity
If you have a small breast milk storage capacity, it is no reason to worry that you may not be able to supply enough nutrition for your child. You will have no trouble providing all the needed nutrition for your child but it will be on a different rhythm than mothers having a larger capacity. One breast or two – Mothers with a smaller breast... [Read more...]
Large Milk Storage Capacity
A mother with large breast milk storage capacity will have a different breastfeeding rhythm for the first six months when compared with a mother having a smaller sorage capacity. Some of the ways larger sorage will affect feeding patterns: One breast or two - Having a larger breast milk storage capacity may mean that your baby will only feed on a... [Read more...]
Human Milk vs. Formula Intake
When exclusively breastfeeding your baby you may find that your baby is not consuming as much (in volume) of your milk if you compare to babies on a formula only diet. For example children of about four months old consume 33 percent more formula each day than breastfed babies. This has been well documented by health professionals studying nursing... [Read more...]
Counterproductive Breastfeeding Strategies
Some strategies and suggestions you may encounter while breastfeeding may not actually help at all and overall may exasperate the very problem they seek to resolve. Letting your breasts refill before feeding - first your breasts create milk on demand and are always ready to provide your child with nourishment. Second as your breasts reach storage... [Read more...]
Common Misconceptions about Milk Supply
New mothers often pay close attention to how thier child is nursing and may encounter some of the following conditions, mistaking them for a diminishing milk supply. Most concerns fall into one of two categories, worry about your baby or worry about your breasts. Baby factors: Your baby seems hungry sooner than expected – adjust your expectations... [Read more...]
A Brief History of Weaning
Looking at human society as a whole across history the average age of weaning a child fromt he breast has been between the ages of two to four. Until the twentieth century children in China and Japan breastfed until ages of four or five. In 1967 anthropologist Margaret Mead collaborated with breastfeeding researcher Niles newton to publish an article... [Read more...]
