Engorged Breasts

December 12, 2008 / 1:27   Breastfeeding   madelane

Within the first two to three days after you have
given birth, you may discover that your breasts
feel swollen, tender, throbbing, lumpy, and
overly full. Sometimes, the swelling will extend
all the way to your armpit, and you may run a
low fever as well.
(read more…)

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Health And Diet

December 11, 2008 / 9:22   Breastfeeding   gabrielle

The nutritional requirements for the baby will rely
soley on the breast milk, and therefore the mother will
need to maintain a healthy diet. If the baby is
large and grows fast, the fat stores gained by the
mother during pregnancy can be depleted quickly,
meaning that she may have trouble eating enough
to maintain and develop sufficient amounts of milk.
(read more…)

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How Breast Milk Is Made

December 11, 2008 / 8:19   Breastfeeding   gabrielle

If you’ve every been pregnant or if you are pregnant,
you’ve probably noticed a metamorphisis in your
bra cups. The physical changes (tender, swollen
breasts) may be one of the earliest clues that you
have conceived. Many experts believe that the color
change in the areola may also be helpful when it
comes to breast feeding.
(read more…)

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How To Choose A Breast Pump

December 10, 2008 / 11:16   Breastfeeding   gabrielle

The milk production in the breasts, much like so many
other things, work on the shear principal of supply
and demand. The more breast milk your baby consumes,
the more your body will need to make.
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How To Use A Breast Pump

December 10, 2008 / 10:12   Breastfeeding   madelane

Just like breast feeding, pumping is a skill that you learn. When first trying a breast pump, most mothers are only able to express a few drops of milk. With the proper practice and knowledge, the mother will be more efficient at pumping.

(read more…)

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Low Supply Of Breast Milk

December 10, 2008 / 7:09   Breastfeeding   gabrielle

Almost all mothers who breast feed go through a
period of questioning whether or not their supply
of milk is adequate. Some mothers simply aren’t
able to produce enough milk to meet the needs of
her baby. However, according to many experts, true
insufficiencies of milk are very rare.
(read more…)

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Other Foods While Breast Feeding

December 10, 2008 / 1:06   Breastfeeding   madelane

Breast milk is actually the only food your baby
will need until 4 months of age, although most
babies do well on breast milk alone for 6 month.

There is really no advantage to
adding other foods or milks before 4 - 6 months,
except under unusual circumstances.
(read more…)

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Poor Milk Supply

December 9, 2008 / 1:02   Breastfeeding   gabrielle

Almost all women don’t have a problem with producing
enough milk to breast feed. The ideal way to make
sure that your baby is getting enough milk is to be
sure that he’s well positioned, attached to the
breast, and feed him as often as he gets hungry.


Some mom’s that are breast feeding will stop before
they want to, simply because they don’t think they
have enough breast milk.

There are signs that might make you believe your baby
isn’t getting enough milk. If your baby seems hungry
or unsettled after feeding, or if he wants to feed
often with short pauses between feedings, you may
think he isn’t getting enough milk - which are often
times not the case.


There are however, two reliable signs that let you
know your baby isn’t getting enough milk. If your
baby has poor or really slow weight gain, or is
passing small amounts of concentrated urine, he’s
not getting enough milk.


All babies will lose weight within the first few
days after birth. Babies are born with supplies of
fat and fluids, which will help them keep going for
the first several days.

Once your baby regains birth weight, he should begin
putting on around 200g for the first four months or
so. To get back to their birth weight, it normally
takes a few weeks.

If the weight gain for your baby seems to be slow,
don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or nurse to observe
you breast feeding. This way, they can make sure
that your technique is right and if they think your
baby is breast feeding often enough.

To help you with your breast feeding, here are some
ways that you can increase your supply of milk:

1. Be sure that your baby is positioned
   correctly and attached to your breast.
2. Let your baby feed for as long and often
   as he wants.
3. If you feel that your baby isn’t breast
   feeding enough, offer him more breast feeds.
4. During each breast feed, make sure you
   feed from both breasts.
5. If your baby has been using a dummy,
   make sure you stop him.
6. Some babies may be sleepy and reluctant
   to feed, which may be the cause of problems with
   milk supply.

By following the above tips, you’ll do your part in
making sure you have enough milk when it comes time
to breast feed. If you are uncertain or have other
questions, be sure to ask your doctor, as he can
answer any type of question you may have.

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Reasons To Breast Feed

December 8, 2008 / 12:59   Breastfeeding   gabrielle

For many years, scientists have been playing out
the ingredients that make breast milk the perfect
food for babies. They’ve discovered to day over
200 close compounds to fight infection, help the
immune system mature, aid in digestion, and support
brain growth - nature made properties that science
simply cannot copy.


The important long term benefits of breast feeding
include reduced risk of asthma, allergies, obesity,
and some forms of childhood cancer. The more that
scientists continue to learn, the better breast
milk looks.

In addition to making your baby healthier, breast
feeding may also make him smarter. Many studies
have proved that breast fed babies tend to be
more smarter than babies who were fed with formula
or other methods. Breast feeding does help with
nutrients and the support of brain growth, which
is something every mother should think about.


The benefits for the nursing mom are just as
good as they are for the baby. The hormones that
are released during breast feeding will curb
blood loss post delivery and help to shrink the
uterus back to it’s normal size.


Long term, the breast feeding mom will have a
lower risk for premenopausal breast cancer,
which is the kind that strikes before the age
of 50. The benefits will begin to show with
three to six months of breast feeding and increase
the longer that breast feeding continues.


By now, you should realize that breast milk is
one power packed liquid. It offers more for your
baby than formula, or any other scientific
creation for that matter. As you begin to plan
for the future of your baby, make a commitment
to breast feeding him for as long as you possibly
can - as it will do both your bodies good.

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Refusal to breast feed

December 7, 2008 / 2:56   Breastfeeding   gabrielle

Sometimes, a baby that is breast fed may suddenly
decide to refuse breast feeding. The baby will
pull away from the breast, then toss his head from
side to side. This can happen at anytime, so there
really is no way to predict it happening.


Reasons why
Refusal to feed from the breast could occur when the
baby is in pain. Normally, this can be due to an
ear infection, sore head from vacuum delivery,
thrush in the baby’s mouth, or teething.

The use of dummies, teats or nipple shields may also
contribute to refusal. Some babies actually find
it difficult to feed from the breast and bottle as
the sucking action is very different. Some become
confused, therefore it’s always best to avoid using
any type of teats or dummies.


Sometimes, the milk just takes bitter. This can
be due to antibiotics, if you starting or in the
middle of your period, or nipple creams. If the
milk tastes bitter, your baby will normally not
want to feed.


Solving the problems
First, you should always try to identify what may
have caused the breast refusal then begin to treat
the cause. Always remain patient and gentle with
your baby. Be sure to hold your baby next to you,
skin to skin, so that he can take the breast when
he wants to, so that he begins to realize that
breast feeding is both enjoyable and comfortable.


Older babies may suddenly take shorter and fewer
breast feeds, although this can be normal with
some babies. Therefore, it’s always best not to
try and make the baby feed longer, but instead let
the baby decide how often and also how long each
individual feeding will last.

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