Will I lose calcium?
You may have heard that a woman can lose calcium when she breastfeeds and increase chances of getting osteoporosis. The truth is that during lactation the mother’s body takes calcium from her bones and uses it to make milk. This will happen regardless of calcium intake. Your body does all it can to increase calcium absorption from the food... [Read more...]
What are the drawbacks of bottlefeeding?
When deciding if breastfeeding is the choice for you, consider some of the drawbacks to bottle feeding: Organization and preparation. When planning to feed formula to your newborn enough formula must be on hand at all times and bottles must be prepared. Bottles and nipples need an initial sterilization and a good washing after every use. Bottles and... [Read more...]
What is in Breastmilk?
Breast milk contains everything that the growing body of your baby needs. But what exactly are you giving your baby? Breast milk is a living substance, similar in concept to blood, in that it changes based on the needs of your child and the environment that you experience. For example it has been discovered that mothers of prematurely born babies produce... [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 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...]
Breastfed Newborn Weight Gain
When comparing your breastfed newborn weight gain against that of formula fed children you may feel that your young one is not growing fast enough. Not to worry. Breastfed babies may not gain weight as quickly in the first few days when compared to formula fed infants but this disparity rapidly disappears. While formula and breast milk generally... [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...]
Bottle Feeding
You may find that bottle feeding is the only alternative feeding method that works after exploring the other ways. Bottle feeding can be useful if the infant has difficulty opening their mouth to get good latch on the breast. A word of caution, babies who switch back and forth between bottle feeding and breast feeding are likely to suffer from... [Read more...]
Truth behind a few Breastfeeding Myths
There are a few myths that every new mother confronts as they decide whether or not to breastfeed. Breastfeeding Myth #1 – Will you make enough milk? – Most certainly. According to the World Health Organization over 97% of all women are able to produce a sufficient milk supply for their child without any other help. In the first days after... [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...]
