Nipple Preparation during Pregnancy
You may have heard it said that during your pregnance you need to prepare your nipples for breastfeeding. Some of the suggestions you may get are to rub your nipples with a towel or to continually try to express milk before your child is even born. Recent studies have shown that the body will prepare your nipples for breastfeeding and there is little... [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...]
Safe and comfortable exercising while you breastfeed
When your body belongs to both you and your baby there area some extra steps you should consider following. Get the milk out before the workout. Treat your baby and yourself to a long feed before beginning your exercise. This will not only help settle your baby but also make you more comfortable as your exercise. Support your breasts. Wear a well... [Read more...]
Sex and Breastfeeding
A few common myths and questions: Will there be time for my husband and I to be alone together? Absolutely! Remember that that there are two of you and one of your baby. You can put your minds together and find the time and place to be with your partner. You may find that you need to consider being more open about the place and timing, but where... [Read more...]
Is it normal for my baby to seem much hungrier than usual?
As your child begins to grow and gain weight you should notice an increase in the amount they eat at each feeding and also that your child should go longer between feedings. Still, it is normal for my baby to seem much hungrier than usual at times. Your baby may be going through a period of rapid growth, a growth spurt. Although the can happen at any... [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 helath professionals studying nursing... [Read more...]
Middle of the Night Feedings
One of the most dramatic adjustmens you will make as a new parent is a loss of control on your sleep schedule. Gone are the days (at least for now) of staying up as late as you want and sleeping as late as you want. Now the amount of sleep you get will depend on youru child. Newborns don’t have a schedule as they are adjusting to the world... [Read more...]
Can I take Herbal remedies while I Breastfeed?
Your first step before taking any new herbal remedy or medication should be to discuss it with your doctor or lactation consultant. Some herbs can affect your milk supply either increasing or decreasing production. While herbs may seem a safe or natural allternative to other types of medications keep in mind that many herbs are potent pharmacological... [Read more...]
Not feeding
When you compare this child to the other three babied in the series you can see that it is effectively not feeding. The slow rate of feeding may frustrate your child so keep aware of how they are reacting and be ready for additional patience and find ways to comfort the child during the extended sessions. Compare this child with the baby’s... [Read more...]
Will Breastfeeding help me bond with my baby?
As breastfeeding is one of the more intimate human experiences it provides the perfect way to bond with your child. One of the speculated reasons that bonding with your baby happens easier while breastfeeding is the realease of the hormone Oxytocin while you are nursing. It is believed that oxytocin helps a mother form attachement to her child and... [Read more...]
