Babies & Toddler

Archive for the ‘Breastfeed’ Category

Product Description
The Very Hungry Baby Bottle Set from Mimijumi was designed with input from mothers, doctors and lactation experts, in order to best meet the needs of both mother and baby. The one-piece, easy-to-attach nipple, snap-off c… More >>

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Product Description
The Purple Tiare Nursing Cover is used by mothers who have the desire to breastfeed discreetly in style. The nursing cover measures 41 inches wide and 24 inches long and the fabric is 100% Cotton.  The lightweight ma… More >>

Product Description
Benefits
– Supplemental feeding assistance for mothers and babies facing special long-term challenges
– Inducing lactation
– Keeping special-needs babies at the breast

Features
– Adjustable flow-rate system
– Col… More >>

Product Description
Who said nursing Moms can’t accessorize? In the days gone by, woman used a safety pin to remember which side baby nursed on last. Today, Mama Jewels are a nursing moms best friend! Nursing evenly across both breas… More >>

Common breastfeeding problems

Moms think they can’t breastfeed. Many moms feel inadequate. So many moms out there think that they are not capable of breastfeeding; most of them assume that they have a low milk supply.

Moms are not educated about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is natural, but the process of breastfeeding doesn’t always come naturally. You need to educate yourself before you breastfeed…read and read some more! It will really be worth it.

Lack of support. You need to surround yourself with individuals who are like minded and that support breastfeeding. Also it is always nice to have someone around who can help with a few things around the house.

Moms supplement with formula. The first few weeks are crucial for developing a good milk supply. When you supplement with formula you taking away that stimulation on the breast that is needed for milk production since milk supply works on a supply demand basis.

Mom thinks she can pump her breast milk instead of breastfeed. Some moms might think they are producing too little and try pumping to see how much is coming out. A breast pump can never extract milk like your baby and should never be used to estimate how much milk you are producing. Also a breast pump can never stimulate your breast like baby and therefore your milk supply will decrease if you replace normal breastfeeding with pumping.

Moms feel uncomfortable. Breastfeeding is a learnt skill, as time goes by it becomes easier and easier so don’t expect it to be comfy the first few times. Try all the different breastfeeding positions like holding baby on your side (football hold breastfeeding position)  or keep baby in an upright position on your knee (Australian breastfeeding hold)Baby has some sucking breastfeeding problems that go undetected.

Your baby might not be latching on properly and this can cause allot of frustration. You should get your baby checked out for things like tongue tie, tongue thrust etc.

Mom has terrible nipple pain. In the beginning some nipple sensitivity is normal but if it continues it can sometimes cause mom to stop breastfeeding. Nipple pain is usually connected to a bad latch. Mom should try get her nipple and part of her areola into baby’s mouth so that your nipple is against his soft pallet. A shallow latch is when baby has your nipple on he’s hard pallet which will definitely cause pain during breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding has lost and gained popularity and favor over the past century. Like other mammals humans are designed to nurse their young. Human breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby might possibly need and much more.

Breastfeeding and the development and marketing of infant formulas have created many issues over the last 50 years. One company producing infant formulas has been implicated in several scandals involving the unethical marketing of infant formulas in the developing world.

Campaigns to increase awareness regarding the benefits of breastfeeding are a worldwide effort to save children’s lives by ensuring they are breastfed.

Celebs Catch On

Over the last year we’ve seen a boom in Celebville baby making. Stars like Halle Berry, Charlotte Church, Christina Aguilera, Nicole Richie, Naomi Watts and Salma Hayek have spoken openly about breastfeeding their babies Christina Aguilera told Ellen DeGeneres how breastfeeding had helped the 27-year-old regain her pre-pregnancy figure while Helena Bonham Carter, famously known as Bellatrix in the Harry Potter series and mother of two, admitted to breastfeeding her first child until he was four years old. She claims the enhanced cleavage is a great aspect of breastfeeding.

Stars like Julia Roberts and Marcia Cross managed to breastfeed twins and even Britney Spears managed to breastfeed her babies for a few weeks.

Stars who Didn’t Breastfeed

Stars like Katie Price (aka Jordan) and Jennifer Lopez came under fire when they didn’t choose to breastfeed. The outcry regarding their refusal to even try breastfeeding illustrates how much our attitude towards breastfeeding has changed. Moms who don’t breastfeed are almost frowned upon. While it may be true that breast is best, many children are successfully formula fed and at the end of the day it is a decision each mom has to make for themselves.

Is Breast Best?

Certainly scientific research over the last few decades has illustrated benefits associated with breastfeeding we never even imagined existed. Breast milk contains not only minerals, vitamins and energy the baby requires, but also important antibodies – an immune system boost – which formula can never provide. Children who are breastfed are less likely to be obese in later life, they’re smarter, they bond better with their moms and they’re less likely to develop allergies. Children who are breastfed are also less likely to develop infections, juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer before the age of 15. Moms who breastfeed lose pregnancy weight faster and often find the experience incredibly fulfilling. They are also less likely to develop breast cancer in later life. If that’s not enough motivation, breast milk is cheaper than buying formula.

Can You Harm your Baby by Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is not ideal for all moms. Certain diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B can be passed through nursing the baby. Other active infections like chicken pox, herpes and Hepatitis A could also be cause for concern while breastfeeding. Moms on certain medications may also not be able to nurse their babies. Many over-the-counter and prescription medications can also find their way through the breast milk into the sucking child.

Alcohol can also find its way into the breast milk and moms who are nursing should refrain from drinking more than two units of alcohol a day. Smoking is not a good idea while breastfeeding as your child will be exposed to nicotine – an addictive substance.

You should make a point of asking your doctor and pharmacist which medications are safe to take while breastfeeding. Certain antidepressants, aspirin, tranquilizers, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics and contraceptives are not be taken while breastfeeding. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you find an effective alternative. Don’t use any illicit drugs while breastfeeding. Cocaine, marijuana, tik and most other drugs pass into the breast milk.

It is very often a frustrating situation for the mother if her new born baby is in deep slumber for hours which results in insufficient breast feeding. This is not at all desirable as the baby may not gain the sufficient weight and remain under nourished. New born babies are notorious for their long spells of sleep as if they are enjoying the comfort of being in mother’s womb.

Generally a baby must feed 8-10 times a day with frequent spells in the day time and short spells at night. Assuming the baby is satisfied if he sleeps for longer hours does not always prove that the baby is properly nourished. If there are long gaps in nursing, the milk supply of mother will be inadequate, as the mother’s milk supply is dependent on the demands of the new born. This problem of breast feeding the sleepy new born is faced in the initial weeks post delivery and this goes off as the baby develops the reflex to demand the nourishment when he is hungry. Then the feeding-on-demand strategy can be applied.

Reasons for the new born being sleepy

1. In case the delivery and the labor is difficult and long and the mother is given special medication to relieve pains.

2. If the baby suffered from jaundice or any other infection or circumcision he may be weak and tend to be sleepy.

3. Too much intake of milk can also make a baby sleepy.

4. Inadequate supply of milk can lower the blood sugar levels of the baby making him weak.

Useful tips to nurse the sleepy new born

It is often very difficult to wake up the new born from deep slumber and breast feed him, but some postures and strategies work to nurse the sleepy baby:

1. By observing the sleep cycle of the baby by his rapid eye movements and facial expressions it is easy to wake him up and start nursing. In light sleep cycle the baby starts showing the above expressions and some body movements.

2. By removing the diapers and undressing the swaddling clothes the baby can be made alert and it becomes easy to wake him up and start breast feeding.

3. Switching off the bright lights and putting the dim lights on helps the baby to open their eyes as they are sensitive to bright lights and tend to shut their eyes and go off to sleep.

4. Position of the body is important to avoid his sleepiness during feeding. Talking to the baby, rubbing the feet, arms, spine gently helps to keep him awake aiding in proper feeding.

This feeding must be monitored in the initial weeks and the output of urine and stool must be observed which is indicative of the proper nutrition of the baby.

Is your baby approaching his or her first birthday and you’re considering weaning?

The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends that “breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.”

If you and your baby are still enjoying the nursing experience, why not take a look at some of the advantages of nursing beyond that first year?

1) Immunological Benefits

Contrary to popular belief, mother’s milk does not have an expiration date!

Your baby continues to receive all the benefits of human milk for as long as he is nursing. In fact, your milk changes to meet your baby’s changing needs. For instance, did you know that the milk of a Mom whose baby delivers prematurely is different from that of one whose baby is full term? The milk of a Mom whose baby is older has more protein, fat and more lysozyme (which destroys E. coli and salmonella bacteria) than it did when her baby was younger.

Now that your toddler is, well… toddling about, he’s exposing himself to more germs. He’s mouthing everything in sight and it’s getting harder to keep his toys clean. And what about those bits of carpet fluff and who-knows-what he always seems to find and quickly consume?

The immunological benefits of breastmilk may be even more important now. When your toddler does get sick and refuses food, he may even revert to almost totally nursing again. If this happens temporarily, you can rest assured that he’s getting his nutritional needs met. If he’s vomiting or has diarrhea, breastmilk is far superior to keep him hydrated than the popular rehydration drinks.

In addition, breastfed children tolerate vaccination better and are less likely to have adverse reactions.

In the Journal of Human Lactation, September 1995, several studies are cited which show that exclusive breastfeeding may continue well into the second half of the first year with no detrimental effects, and many positive effects. If you have a picky toddler or one with food allergies, your breastmilk serves as “nutritional insurance” for him and peace of mind for you!

2) Nursing makes discipline easier

A toddler’s life is full of frustrations. Having to hear the word “No”, wanting to do things that your uncoordinated body can’t do, learning to communicate with Mom and Dad and learning to accept limits is hard on a little person!

Nursing is a way of quickly calming a toddler, and it makes every boo-boo better. At our house we refer to nursing as “Baby Prozac”. It’s also a way to ease the suffering of a child cutting molars.

Nursing is an effortless way to calm a toddler to sleep, making naptime and bedtime easier for everyone.

3) Extended nursing and Mom’s health

Breastfeeding helps lower Mom’s risk of certain cancers for several reasons. Firstly, the fewer times in a woman’s life she ovulates, the less her risk. For some women, their fertility doesn’t return until the end of breastfeeding. I’ve known Moms who went 2 years without a period because their tot was still nursing.

Secondly, breastfeeding lowers a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer, and the longer she nurses, the higher the benefit.

Breastfeeding showers a woman’s body with hormones that help make her a calmer, less stressed out, and more relaxed Mommy. I’ve talked with women who had to wean suddenly and they report that they were shocked at the change in their attitudes compared to when they were nursing!