What should a breastfed newborn’s diapers look like?
Your newborn’s diapers are a good indicator of whether or not your baby is getting what they need from being breastfed. A newborns’ stools are initially thick and tar-like and will become more of a greenish-yellow color as they consume more of your milk, about 3 or 4 days after birth. Generally, the more your newborn nurses, the more dirty... [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...]
What if my breasts are small?
Don’t worry of your feel your breasts are small, as size of your breasts is not an indication of how much milk your breasts will produce. What matters more than the size of your breasts is the increase in the size of your breasts during pregnancy. If you end up one to two bra sizes larger at the end of your pregnancy versus the start then you... [Read more...]
Upset Stomach or Diarrhea Relief
If while breastfeeding you find yourself suffering from upset stomach or diarrhea you have a few choices. For milder upset stomach and diarrhea, the best approach is to keep drinking water and eat simple foods such as Bananas Rice Applesauce Toast Also called the BRAT diet. It is extremely important that yo as the mother remain hydrated. If you... [Read more...]
Colostrum, the wonder food
Colostrum is the name of the first milk a woman produces after delivery of her baby. It is very concentrated, and there is not very much of it. A newborn baby’s stomach is only about the size of a marble, so not very much volume is needed. Colostrum acts as a laxative, to help the baby pass her first stool, known as meconium, which in turn lowers... [Read more...]
What is Human Milk Banking?
Human Milk Banking is an effort that collects donated human milk, ensures milk safety and quality and makes it available for infants in need. Primarily the goal is to make quality human breast milk available to all premature and critically-ill babies. The Human Milk Banking Association of North America and the National Milk Bank are two of the major... [Read more...]
Breastfeeding while Pregnant
Pregnancy and lactation are quite compatible and continued breastfeeding helps the older child feel secure during a time of change. During your pregnancy you and your toddler will have to accommodate some changes. Beginning about the fourth month of pregnancy your breast milk may decrease in volume and begin to change to colostrum. Your toddler may... [Read more...]
Breastfeeding – the first 6 months of life
Breastfeeding – the first 6 months of life Increasing optimal breastfeeding practices could save an estimated 1.5 million infant lives annually. Up to 55 percent of infant deaths from diarrhea disease and acute respiratory infections may result from inappropriate feeding practices. Optimal feeding for sustained child health and growth includes... [Read more...]
Breastmilk Weaning and Diarrhoea
Weaning a Critical Time for Diarrhea Transmission Infants are at greatest risk of diarrhea when foods other than breast milk are first given. This is because during weaning infants are being exposed to food-borne germs for the first time and they are losing the protection of breast milk which has anti-infective properties. High levels of contamination... [Read more...]
Bottle Feeding
You may find that bottle feeding is the only alternative feeding method that works after exploring the other ways. Bottle feeding can be useful if the infant has difficulty opening their mouth to get good latch on the breast. A word of caution, babies who switch back and forth between bottle feeding and breast feeding are likely to suffer from... [Read more...]
