Breast Milk Expression Tips
If you are going to be away from your baby for any length of time, here are some breast milk expression tips to help keep a stash of breast milk on hand. Storing some of your breast milk before hand is a great way to continue to provide the benefits of breast milk to your child while you are away. Pumping ahead of time also allows close friends and... [Read more...]
What is BBTD?
BBTD is commonly referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. It is most commonly found in children who are bottle fed or are in the transition period when your child is being weaned. BBTD is indicated by some of the following signs: Decay in two or more of the top front teeth, bottom front teeth are generally not affected Possible decay in other primary... [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...]
Breastfeeding Techniques Fine-Tuned
Once you have the basics down and your baby is eating and you are happy here are some fine tuning techniques to help make your breastfeeding experience all the better: Burping Cloths – keep some close when you breastfeed, especially in the early weeks. You may notice that you use several after a feeding so it is a good idea to keep 10-12 close... [Read more...]
Poop Colors
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...]
Weaning your baby
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 enough... [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...]
Diabetes and Breastfeeding
Although lactating can help you control your blood sugar as you transition from pregnancy to postpartum you’ll need to pay close attention to your diet. While you are breastfeeding keep water nearby and snacks within reach to help prevent becoming hypoglycemic while nursing. Although your normal insulin injections are generally safe to use while... [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...]
What are the different types of Breast Milk?
There are several different types of breast milk: Colostrum Mature Milk Foremilk Hind-milk Colostrum Colostrum is the initial milk made shortly after your child is born and is initially present in small amounts for the first three days to match the small size of your baby’s stomach Ideally you should begin breastfeeding as soon as possible... [Read more...]
