Are Contractions and After-Pains Normal?
When breastfeeding after pregnancy you will feel some uterine contractions when your baby begins to nurse. These contractions are also called after-pains. With nipple stimulation, your uterus regains its tone and expels excess blood, so you may also feel a simultaneous gush of blood on your sanitary pad. These contractions are a normal occurrence... [Read more...]
Breast Milk Storage Tips
A few breast milk storage tips: Use only clean containers to store expressed milk. Screw top bottles work well as to hard plastic cups with tight caps. Stay away from ordinary plastic bags or formula bags for storing breast milk. Use sealed and chilled milk within 24 hours if possible. Do not refrigerate breast milk more than two days. Discard... [Read more...]
Alternative feeding methods
Situations may arise that require you to use an alternative feeding method for a short time to help build your milk supply. With the goal of exclusively breastfeeding you should practice any of the following methods only under the guidance of your doctor or lactation consultant. These methods should only be used on a temporary basis to correct breastfeeding... [Read more...]
Sore Nipples and Blisters
Most often cracked sore, or blistered nipples are a result from improper latch. When the baby feeds on only the nipple it can cause your nipples to crack and blister. Blistering can also be the result of your nipple being rubbed against the roof of your baby’s mouth or along your baby’s gums. The pain you experience from blisters and... [Read more...]
How to create a supportive breastfeeding environment
Six suggestions for creating a supportive nursing environment Find a peaceful atmosphere for nursing. Before beginning the feeding, unplug the phone, turn on relaxing music and do deep breathing. (Take four or five deep abdominal breaths.) If breastfeeding in public makes you uncomfortable, insist on your privacy and/or drape a light cover over your... [Read more...]
Twelve foods to eat while breastfeeding
This second set of twelve foods offers almost as many of the benefits as what was found in the 12 Fabulous Foods list, but these are sometimes hard to find, harder to prepare, or some other slight that kept them out of the top 12. Almonds – protein, fiber, riboflavin, calcium, zinc, iron, vitamin E, unsaturated fats Artichokes – protein,... [Read more...]
Breastmilk Trivia
So what is this milk that your body is producing? Your child seems to love it but really, what is it like? Here’s a little breast milk trivia to help you get a better understanding of this seemingly magical fluid your body is making. What does breast milk look like? – In the first few days after your child is born your breast milk... [Read more...]
The Flipple
This technique for getting your nipple into your baby’s mouth is called The Flipple. It is based on rolling the underside of your breast, but with a twist. As your baby opens its mouth wide press on your breast just above your your nipple with a finger running parallel to your baby’s upper lip. This will point your nipple up and away... [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...]
Co-bedding and breastfeeding
Although a cultural practice in most of the world, co-bedding isn’t for everyone. Some breastfeeding moms swear by it feeling that it helps then get in sync with their co-bedded infants. As sleep cycles are shared these mothers report feeling more rested as a result. It is also easier for a co-bedded infant to breastfeed and return to sleep. ... [Read more...]
