Establishing a routine
In the first few weeks of breastfeeding you will wish your baby had a routine. However your child is changing and learning how to live and you will find that a routine is already forming. There is value in routines as they help the baby to know what will happen next, providing a feeling of safety and security. In the early days you’ll be the... [Read more...]
Waking your Sleepy Baby
It may seem a little counter intuitive to wake your baby, but in the first few weeks your baby does not yet know to eat when they are hungry. Frequent feedings also help you establish your milk supply and avoid or reduce the discomfort of engorgement. So here are some tips and tricks to gently wake your baby and get them feeding: Change their diaper Wipe... [Read more...]
Pumping and Expressing Breast Milk
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Early Engorgement
Engorgement is technically breast swelling. In reality, it is when your breasts feel like full, hard, hot, painful watermelons. Engorgement comes in two varieties, early onset and late onset. Late onset engorgement will be discussed in another article. Early onset engorgement happens when the colostrum shifts to mature milk, usually a few days after... [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...]
Breastfeeding – La Leche League International
There are many support groups available for breastfeeding mothers but the most famous is the La Leche League International. The organization began with seven women and strives to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as... [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 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...]
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...]
Not feeding
When you compare this child to the other three babies 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...]
