How long should I breastfeed?
The American Association of Pediatrics suggests breastfeeding your baby for the first six months after birth and encourages mothers to breastfeed at least a full year after their child is born. Your body will continue to produce milk at a level matching your child’s consumption as long as you the mother remain healthy and in physically good... [Read more...]
How will my breasts change during pregnancy?
The first changes you may notice in your breasts is a feeling of fullness early on in your pregnancy and can occur as early as your first missed period. One of the most noticeable early changes in your breasts during pregnancy is that the little bumps around your areole, the Montgomery’s tubercles, become more raised and pronounced. They... [Read more...]
Breast pumps
Breast pumps come in several general styles depending on their expected use. Hospital-grade electric breast pumps – As the name suggests these are generally used in hospitals or on occasions where an accurate substitute for a baby’s sucking is needed. These pumps are useful to stimulate milk production and larger volume milk collection... [Read more...]
What are the challenges of breastfeeding?
Common concerns of new moms, especially during the first few weeks and months, may include: Personal comfort. Keep in mind this will be a new experience for you and may feel a little awkward in the beginning, remember though that breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt. Latch discomfort is normal for the 7 to 10 days but should only last less than a minute... [Read more...]
How often should I breastfeed my baby?
Before your milk supply is established, breastfeeding should be “on demand” (or as often as when your baby is hungry), which is generally every 1½ to 3 hours. As newborns get older, they’ll need to nurse less frequently, and may develop a more reliable schedule. Some may feed every hour and a half, whereas others may go 2 or 3... [Read more...]
How do I burp my baby?
As your crash course into parenting continues and the first feeding are going well you are probable starting to ask yourself, how do I burp my baby? Not to worry for a few simple steps will get you moving in the right direction. Step 1 Use a clean soft towel, a clean cloth diaper or other soft blanket and place it where your baby’s head will rest,... [Read more...]
Warning Signs in Breastfeeding
As natural a process as breastfeeding can be there are occasions when you should seek help without delay. If you find that you fit into any of the following scenarios be sure to call your pediatrician immediately. 1, Your baby’s nursing sessions are very short. – Breastfeeding sessions consistently shorter than 10 minutes in the first... [Read more...]
How can I tell when my baby is ready to eat?
How can I tell when my baby is ready to eat? One of the easiest ways to tell if your new born is ready for their next meal is to check the clock. Too little time since the last feeding can indicate that there is something else bothering them. With that in mind here are a few signs that you can use to tell your baby is ready to eat: • moving... [Read more...]
Is Breast Reduction Surgery and Breastfeeding Compatible?
Breast reduction surgery will not prevent you from breastfeeding your child as most women who undergo the surgery can produce some amount of milk. However it is typical that you may not produce enough milk to offer your child an exclusively breastfed diet. You should investigate breast milk banking to help make up the difference. In some cases of... [Read more...]
What is Colostrum?
What is colostrum? Colostrum is a form of milk produced by the mother in late pregnancy and shortly after birth. As a new mother you can expect to generate colostrum beginning at some point during the day you birth your child. Colostrum is also known as besting or first milk or “immune milk”. It gets its nickname “immune milk”... [Read more...]
