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...]
Can I stay a vegetarian while breastfeeding?
Being a vegetarian will not affect your ability to produce milk. However if you are following a more strict vegan diet as opposed to lacto-vegetarianism or lacto-ovo-vegetarianism, be sure to consult with a nutritionist to make sure that you are consuming a balanced diet for your baby. Vegan should be sure that their diet includes proper amounts of: Vitamin... [Read more...]
How to stop breastfeeding?
When you have made the decision to stop breastfeeding, understanding will help you establish a firm plan and make the weaning process much easier for you and your baby. Some mothers decide to wean their baby when their child begins teething, other mothers wait for the baby to begin showing disinterest, and some mothers feel they cannot supply... [Read more...]
Good feeding
In this second clip of the series the child again has an active jaw and surrounding muscles for a good swallowing motion. You can see the pauses where the child waits for milk to flow into its mouth before swallowing again, it is a good feeding technique and definitely not as rapid as the child in the first video. Compare this child with the baby’s... [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...]
What foods might make my baby fussy?
While food sensitivities vary tremendously from baby to bay the following list are the most common foods with reputations for bothering babies: Raw Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Raw Cabbage Cauliflower Citrus fruits in excess Corn Dairy products Egg whites Hot peppers Iron Supplements Prescription and over the counter medication Onions Peanuts and peanut... [Read more...]
Breastfeeding and allergies
Research into the connection between breastfeeding and reduced childhood allergies is dynamic and growing. Public health studies have shown that breastfeeding can have a long term impact on your child’s immune system. Breastfeeding may protect your child against inflammatory and autoimmune disease. It was more than 75 years ago that the first study... [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...]
Four step fussy foods test
When breastfeeding, you don’t need to go to dietary extremes to learn what foods in your diet might be affecting your baby. Use this simple four step fussy food test: Step 1: Make a Fuss Food Chart - List the foods you think may be problematic and the symptoms and behaviors associated with those foods, such as colicky episodes, bloating, severe... [Read more...]
Sore Nipples
Sore nipples are a common and frustrating difficulty of breastfeeding. The most likely cause of sore nipples is mechanical- how the baby latches on or how the baby sucks. Make certain that when the baby is going to latch on, she opens her mouth wide first. If she fails to do this, she might latch by essentially chewing her way onto your nipple, which... [Read more...]
