Low Milk Production, Let's talk about Hypoplastic breast
By Diana Osorio
Hypoplastic breast is a condition where the breast, one of them or both didn’t develop enough breast tissue during puberty. This fact affects breastmilk production because there are not enough mammary glands to produce enough breastmilk.
Hypoplasia can be easily recognized by a Clinical Lactation Consultant, an OB Doctor, or a health care professional who specializes in women’s health.
Here in this article you will be able to learn how to recognize this condition.
Hypoplastic breast is a breast which doesn’t have a round shape. It looks more like an almond or also has tubular shape or elongated. The breast is small, thin and looks more like a tube. If you stand in front of the mirror without a blouse and bra and look at the shape of your breast, you will notice that the breast shape is either round, or a soft oval. If you notice that the breast shape is elongated or flat like an almond. And the areola from this breast is different to the other, is larger and puffy and the distance from where one breast starts to the other is wide, maybe one hand apart or 2.5 inches + apart; you are looking at a hypoplastic breast(s), also known as Tubular breast or breast with insufficient glandular tissue IGT.
How this affects you?
It means that this breast won’t produce enough milk. But if the other breast looks round and the areola isn’t puffy, then, that breast will be capable of producing enough milk for your baby.
Yes, one breast will be able to sustain your baby’s nutritional needs
What to do next?
First, stop all thoughts of guilt that you may have about not been able to produce enough milk for your baby. Always remember, that you are doing the best you can with the information and support you have.
Then, look for a Lactation Consultant or IBCLC, sometimes the WIC program has IBCLCs on their staff. There are many support groups from La Leche League that will be able to provide you support and advice at a low cost or free.
There is research that Goat’s Rue, which is an herb, helps to increase breast tissue and therefore your milk supply. You can find tinctures, drops that have been processed for you to take daily and help you to increase your milk supply.
Tips to breastfeed with hypoplastic breasts:
1-As soon as your baby is born start breastfeeding, you may know that the more the baby sucks the more milk you will produce. Keep the baby skin to skin or close to you as much as possible. Receive support from the start from a Lactation consultant.
2-If the baby is unable to breastfeed from the start, then start hand expression, which is much more effective than a pump during the first days after giving birth, If you don’t know how to manually express your milk, this is a link to a video from Dr Jane Morton from University of Stanford.
3-Because our colostrum is so thick, when we pump most of it gets wasted in the pump parts. That is why hand expression to collect the colostrum is the best way to do it and besides hand expression stimulates our breast to produce milk more effectively than a pump, when is done properly. You can feed your baby your colostrum with a syringe, plastic spoon, or small medicine plastic cup.
These are Links to Important sites that will help you to find solutions:
Guidelines for milk storage can be confusing. Many common recommendations are not evidenced based or practical, differ for term and preterm infants, and can lead to families wasting their precious milk.
BREASTFEEDING! Depending on where you are at in your journey, this word might make you cringe. I know I definitely did at the beginning of my breastfeeding journey. I had prepare myself for the painful sore nipples that I had heard about from so many other mothers; it still didn’t make it easy getting through those first few weeks but it helped me to have a more hopeful mindset. What I wasn’t prepared for was, CONSTANTLY being covered in milk. I could not even get out of the shower and dressed before starting to leak or even spraying all over the place. The night my milk officially came in was a disaster. It happened so fast and all of a sudden, we were both slipping and sliding. I was so engorged that I couldn’t get my daughter to latch and when she finally did she couldn’t help but start choking and pull back off again. After the first week or so I found a few things that helped a lot and I think made those first few weeks more bearable.
Lacti Cups
Once my milk came in, I felt like I was constantly covered in milk. I cried to my husband one night because I was always either wet or smelt like soured milk. Lacti-Cups popped up on a Facebook add (I wonder if big brother was tired of hearing me complain about my endless flow of milk) and I decided to give them a try. These helped relieve so much of the engorgement that I was experiencing between feeds and made it a little easier for my LO to latch on. I would simply put one on the side that LO was not nursing on and I could easily get 1-2 oz. to save in the freezer. See my post here about how I used Lacti Cups to store over 70 oz. without pumping! You can use extra milk for baby baths, to heal diaper rash or face rashes. I preferred the Lacti-Cups because passively collects milk. I wasn’t getting stimulated to produce more, like the Haakaa which causes suction, (extra stimulation can possibly increase milk-supply). You can find them on their website LactiCups and can get 10% off if you use the code EXHAUSTA-MOM.
Using Muslin Blankets while Feeding
I don’t mean for swaddling either. I eventually figured out that hand expressing before feeding helped my LO latch on much easier and be able to keep up. However, some of the burp rags that I had did not absorb the milk as fast as I needed and I wound up covered in milk anyway. There were also many occasions that LO would pop off at the wrong time and milk would just continue to flow everywhere; when this happened I could just fold part of the blanket over my breast until she was ready to get back on instead of trying to hurry and put it back in my bra. The muslin blankets were big enough that I could tuck part of it under my breast, use it to hand express, and use it for burping all at the same time. Cloth diapers also worked really well for absorption, but I really liked that with the muslin blankets I could use it for all 3 needs at the same time instead of having to move it around like I did with the cloth diapers
Only use a hand pump when absolutely necessary
My main goal was to get my milk supply regulated – not increased. While I know that many mothers wish they produced more milk, there are also many nuances that come with producing too much milk. Engorgement and problems with baby latching are just 2 of those. During the first few weeks I would constantly become painfully engorged and just wanted some relief. I wish that I‘ve known that if I did a full on pump session I would just be telling my body to make more milk. So, instead I used a hand pump to pump to comfort (usually 1-2 ounces). It was also much easier than pulling out and plugging in my electric pump with all of the pieces when is late and I have to wash them.
And lastly, reach out and be patient.
It won’t be like this forever. Your LO will soon (I know it feels like not soon enough) be able to handle the fast let downs a little easier and your supply will begin to regulate. My daughter is 14 weeks old now and only occasionally has to pop off when she can’t handle how fast my let down is. Although, it always seems to be in the front seat of my car and my dashboard winds up showered with breast milk. Reaching out to a local lactation consultant or breastfeeding group can be extremely helpful too. Getting tips from other moms or professionals and just hearing you are not alone can go a long way. Just remember, this is only temporary and you’re doing a great job!
]]>No falta quien piense que la lactancia exclusiva es un egoísmo de la mamá y que es injusto con papá porque él no puede pasar tanto tiempo con su bebé. Por supuesto que no hay nada más lejos de la verdad, porque si hay algo que no es egoísta, es amamantar. ¿Cómo podría serlo? Es dedicarse con todo el amor posible a esa nueva personita que vino a llenarnos la existencia.
]]>Tendríamos que entender que la lactancia es la prolongación de ese tiempo de unidad entre mamá y bebé, que fueron dos en uno por nueve meses y que, aunque ya haya pasado el parto, lo siguen siendo. A los tres meses que le siguen al parto se les conoce como el cuarto trimestre, porque bebé y mamá siguen siendo uno y la lactancia es parte integral de esa conexión de alimento emocional y físico.
Es normal que los papás sientan que no tienen cabida dentro del idilio de ese dúo, pero aunque así parezca, también ellos pueden estar incluidos dentro de la lactancia, no para dar el pecho por supuesto, sino para apoyar y facilitar que su pareja pueda amamantar sin problemas. Un papá que apoya a mamá en eso está cuidando de su bebé de la manera más maravillosa. Hay estudios que demuestran que mientras más se reciba apoyo del papá, la nueva mamá amamantará por más tiempo y tendrá más confianza en sí misma para lograrlo.
Los momentos de conexión con papá son otros muy valiosos que suceden naturalmente o que pueden propiciarse. Aquí doy algunos ejemplos para incluir a papá en la lactancia y darle espacio para que establezca también ese vínculo de amor entre papá y bebé.
Es bueno recordar a los papás que tener paciencia con su pareja es indispensable en los primeros meses de lactancia, ya que es ahí cuando se logra establecer ritmos y rutinas. Es muy importante que el papá de un apoyo amoroso, pues la lactancia exige mucho de mamá… es una tarea que a veces no es fácil y no hay nada mejor que contar con la presencia y disposición cariñosa de la pareja para que todo se dé con mucha más fluidez.
Como ves, aunque los papás no den pecho, pueden estar involucrados siempre y tener mucho contacto con el bebé para establecer los lazos de amor fuertes y necesarios para el bienestar emocional de todos en la familia.
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La lactancia es como la maternidad misma: cuando ya parece que lo hemos descifrado todo, nos cambian las reglas del juego y tenemos que empezar a buscar nuevas estrategias para navegar los retos. Esto sucede particularmente cuando el bebé está atravesando un brote de crecimiento.
Ese bebé pequeñito que parecía comer y dormir plácidamente sin exigir más que tu amor y mimos de repente se despierta un día y ya no cabe en su mameluco y presenta cierta rebeldía hacia el pecho, nada parece suficiente, llora, se tensa, quiere estar amamantando todo el día.
Así son los brotes de crecimiento que se pueden presentar durante los primeros 10 días de vida de tu bebé, luego cuando tienen entre dos y tres semanas de nacido, cinco y seis semanas, tres meses, cuatro meses, seis meses y nueve meses… es decir, ¡casi todo su primer año! Sin embargo, no es igual para todos los bebés, digamos que es algo común, que durante ese tiempo aumenten de peso y longitud a la velocidad del rayo y por eso mismo, necesiten más leche materna.
A estos brotes de crecimiento también se les conoce como “crisis” porque sin duda causan estrés y cansancio a las mamás que no entendemos qué ha pasado para que el bebé esté tan inquieto y demandante. Es entonces cuando se corre el peligro de dudar del éxito de la lactancia, pues nos asaltan preguntas como: ¿Es posible que su hambre se deba a que ya no produzco suficiente leche?
La respuesta es sencilla: mientras más demanda, más oferta. O en el lenguaje maternal: si lo pones en el pecho todo lo que el bebé te pide, tu cuerpo responderá produciendo más leche para cubrir sus necesidades nutricionales y afectivas, tan positivas para el desarrollo del bebé en esos momentos de crisis (y siempre).
Mientras encuentras ese balance entre el nuevo comelón y tu producción de leche, no hay nada más que hacer que tener mucha comprensión, paciencia y confianza en que tu leche se regulará de acuerdo con su demanda. Afrontar estos brotes o crisis de crecimiento con calma y mucho amor es la clave del éxito, como con todo en la maternidad.
Además, recuerda que la naturaleza es sabia y estos brotes de crecimiento no son más que la buena noticia de que tu bebé está creciendo sano y fuerte.]]>In just the first weeks, you will quickly find that feeding your new baby takes up so much of mama’s time, that she won’t have a free moment for anything else.
But don’t worry, there are ways you can help. Here’s a list of thoughtful ways the partner of a breastfeeding parent, can be involved with breastfeeding.
By being close-by to give her a water bottle, a burp cloth, brush her hair away from her face, or even put on her favorite show and offer her a snack, you’re showing you’re there for her and allowing her to relax just a little bit. She is going to be sitting in one spot and trying different positions to find her breastfeeding groove, and knowing you’re there makes everything that much easier.
Is mama done feeding baby? There’s still lots of work to do! Letting her rest when you can while you burp and change the little one, is a game changer. Are there pump and bottle parts to be washed or laundry piling up?
Breastfeeding is an amazing experience but it can also feel like a big chore. Any little thing you can do to help gives her time to visit the bathroom, apply nipple cream, change out her Lacti-Cups, and maybe even shower or nap. Its important mama knows she’s not alone and has a strong partner on her side.
Bringing home a new baby can often be overwhelming, and your partner may not even know what she needs. Asking her questions like “Are you hungry?” “Do you need a break?” or “Do you have everything you need to be happy today?” can help you know how you can help, and show your support. This way, she can focus on developing her relationship with her new nursling and know that she is being taken care of as well. Keeping communication open makes things run smoothly and helps avoid misunderstandings later.
If breastfeeding isn’t going well in the first few days, and it’s not getting better, she may need to get help as soon as possible. It’s so important to be supportive and even help her get the support she needs. She may need to visit a lactation consultant, visit her ob/gyn or attend a nursing group. Being proactive and doing your research will help you to be ready to offer solutions when your partner is feeling discouraged. Assure your partner that you support her decision to help her feel in control of the situation.
Bringing home a newborn baby is a full-time job and while mom is adjusting to her new routine, it’s unrealistic to expect her to clean and care for other children as usual. It’s important to have a plan so you both can handle things more easily. Divvy up chores, sign up for a meal service or do a meal train, have family members help with chores and errands while your new family adjusts to its new “normal”.
Know that neither one of you will sleep through the night for a while. Try to take turns with naps, tasks and anything else that will help you both get the right amount of sleep to be functional and healthy. Having family members come help if possible, is a great way to make sure you both even get some time to rest.
Other things may change during this time that put stress on relationships, such as mama’s mood. When her milk comes in, it brings a rush of hormones and usually a rush of emotions. Openly communicate with each other, work on your patience and understanding, and try to recognize when you both need a break. Having keywords to indicate when she needs a timeout may also help in clear communication when the right words can’t be found.
Postpartum depression or anxiety are both very real and potential issues, so knowing when to recognize one of the other can be helpful in understanding what your partner is going through and if and when she might need extra help. Don’t hesitate to get her in touch with her doctor in a supporting, loving fashion.
Breastfeeding takes up all your time. She won’t have time to do anything she is used to having time for, including shaving her legs, blow-drying her hair, and other things she used to do for herself. Try to notice when she hasn’t had time to take care of herself.
Has she stopped her nightly skin care routine? Is she still doing that? Or has her bedtime routine suffered because of her nighty breastfeeding duties? How about a massage? Or a pedicure? If these are things that your partner regularly enjoyed before having the baby but has since sacrificed, it may be a sign she has trouble asking for help when she needs it. She shouldn’t have to skip out on self-care in order to take care of the baby.
Don’t rush over to her and insist that she stop what she’s doing right now and “go shave her legs”, but do ask if she needs any extra time to spend on herself. Like saying “I’ll watch the baby while you get yourself a latte and a pedicure.” If you’re not sure just ask her what would make her feel pampered. It may even be as simple as an extra twenty minutes in the morning to herself, and she will appreciate it.
Is your partner a photographer? A surfer? An artist? Is there one activity she’s been missing out on that brings her a lot of joy? Don’t let her slip away from her passions, or she may end up resenting her new role.
Be open and encourage her to get back to doing the things she loves. She doesn’t have to sacrifice her former self to become a mom. Breastfeeding mamas can experience and enjoy all the amazing activities she enjoyed pre-baby. When she is spending her time on her talent or craft, it helps her stay in touch with herself and feel fulfilled and happy outside of her new role as a parent.
Breastfeeding is a team effort and remembering to communicate and be considerate of one another will make everything all that much easier.
Lacti-Cups® can help new nursing moms save 4–12 ounces of breastmilk and hours of pumping and cleaning per day.
They can be used in between feedings and while your baby is feeding from the opposite breast, by collecting all the naturally occurring leaks that are usually wasted in nursing pads.
Learn more at https://www.lacti-cups.com
You can also join us on Facebook @Lacti-Cups
Cuando mi primera bebé tenía 5 meses, hicimos un viaje largo y me hizo agradecer profundamente haberme comprometido con la lactancia materna. En el avión había otras mamás pidiendo agua caliente y llenando biberones, y la verdad que no las envidié para nada. Sus bebés lloraban mucho mientras esperaban. En cambio, yo sólo tenía que dar pecho para que mi bebita estuviera bien. Tanto así que muchas personas en el avión no notaron que ella estaba hasta que aterrizó y nos vieron levantar de la silla.
Es cierto que las comparaciones son odiosas, pero la verdad, cuando se trata de resaltar la comodidad de amamantar, es casi que inevitable. Cuando decidí amamantar a demanda a mis dos bebés lo hice sin dudar ni un instante que era la mejor decisión para su salud integral y para la mía. Pero no sabía que también estaba tomando una gran decisión que haría mi vida más simple y ligera.
Aquí te hablo de cinco formas en las que la lactancia materna te hace la vida más fácil:
Para salir de casa: Las mamás que amamantan pueden viajar ligero (ya sea emprender viajes largos o simplemente salir de casa por un rato). Toma mucho menos tiempo empacar la pañalera, ya que sólo necesitas pañales, pañitos y cambios de ropa para el bebé. Llevar a tu bebé en un fular, sling o portabebés es ideal para amamantar y también te quita el peso de llevar un coche o carriola cuando sales de casa por unas horas.
Puedes improvisar y demorarte más fuera de casa sin preocuparte por si tienes suficiente leche de fórmula, biberones limpios y agua potable. Así también podrás ir a más eventos sociales fuera de casa con tus amigos y familia y lo mejor de todo, es que amamantar te salvará de muchas visitas al pediatra.
Te ayuda a tener manos libres: Cuando usas un fular o cargador para bebés, tienes las dos manos libres cuando necesitas hacer otras cosas. Con la práctica, puedes amamantar sosteniendo al bebé con un brazo y con la mano libre puedes comer, contestar una llamada, leer, o abrazar a tus otros hijos si eres mamá de varios.
Hace que haya bebés más felices: cuando amamantas y estas cerca de tu bebé puedes calmarlo inmediatamente, lo que hace que tu bebé esté siempre más feliz y llore menos.
Ahorras tiempo y dinero: para dar pecho no se necesita preparar nada, ni limpiar. Tampoco necesitas gastar dinero en leche de fórmula, biberones, esterilizadores, cepillos y otros accesorios.
Te relajas y descansas: si bien algunas mamás encuentran demandante el tiempo que se necesita estar amamantando durante las primeras semanas, también es cierto que dar pecho es una oportunidad para relajarte y descansar. Yo recuerdo que cuando me acostaba en la cama a dar pecho a mis bebés, siempre me daba la oportunidad de cerrar los ojos a mí también.
Estoy segura de que estas son sólo algunas de las formas en las que la lactancia contribuye a facilitarnos la vida. Todas las agradezco porque sin duda me han permitido estar más relajada para disfrutar a pleno de la experiencia de hermosa cercanía que ha sido dar pecho a mis bebés.
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Hay siempre una primera vez para todo en la maternidad y una de las que no me gustó fue la primera vez que mis bebés sufrieron de resfriado o se enfermaron de gripe. Sentir su diminuta nariz congestionada y verlos querer amamantar, pero soltarse porque no pueden respirar bien, es realmente frustrante.
Sin embargo, la clave para que el resfriado y la congestión se curen pronto es precisamente seguir dando pecho. Con más paciencia, claro, pues al estar congestionados sólo pueden succionar por unos pocos segundos para poder respirar.
Darle pecho a tu bebé congestionado es importantísimo porque la leche materna contiene anticuerpos especiales para la enfermedad que el bebé padece en un momento determinado. También porque cuando el bebé succiona, el movimiento en todos los músculos de su cara hace que se despejen todas las vías que están congestionadas con mocos.
Yo siempre he creído en la magia pero creo que mi devoción por ella se hizo palpable cuando aprendí sobre las propiedades de la leche materna. Confieso que antes de ser mamá ni pensaba en la lactancia, imaginaba que la leche era un líquido estático que se produce para que el bebé se nutra, pero en mi profunda ignorancia pre-maternidad, jamás me imaginé que fuera un líquido tan absolutamente perfecto.
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Yo siempre he creído en la magia pero creo que mi devoción por ella se hizo palpable cuando aprendí sobre las propiedades de la leche materna. Confieso que antes de ser mamá ni pensaba en la lactancia, imaginaba que la leche era un líquido estático que se produce para que el bebé se nutra, pero en mi profunda ignorancia pre-maternidad, jamás me imaginé que fuera un líquido tan absolutamente perfecto.
Poco a poco fui comprobando por mi propia experiencia, que en realidad, como digo yo, el pecho lo cura todo. El hambre, la sed, la necesidad de cercanía, la irritabilidad, las enfermedades, el cansancio, el dolor. TODO.
Aunque se cree que la magia no tiene nada que ver con la ciencia, en este caso, ésta última también ha corroborado los súper poderes de la leche materna. Entre ellos:
Por: Ana María Hanssen
Siempre nos han dicho que amamantar es fácil porque es natural. Pero la verdad es que aunque hay mamás a las que se les da muy bien en el primer intento, hay muchas otras a las que no nos va tan bien la primera vez que ponemos a nuestro recién nacido en el pecho.
Fue mi caso: primeriza, llena de dudas y miedos que fueron despejándose cuando decidí confiar en mi cuerpo, en los ritmos de mi bebé y en mi infinita capacidad de entrega… así tuve una lactancia feliz con mi primera bebé. Lo más lindo de ese aprendizaje fue que con mi segundo bebé no tuve ningún obstáculo y ese amor por la lactancia siguió creciendo.
Soy defensora absoluta de la lactancia materna, y es por eso que me interesa compartir mis experiencias y reflexionar sobre ellas porque no hay nada que sirva más que la motivación y los aprendizajes de otras mamás para inspirar a las que están atravesando dificultades amamantando.
Por eso, cuando una mamá dice: amamantar es difícil, yo no la juzgo. Sé que existen muchas razones para que así parezca, para que a veces así lo sea. Sé que muchas de esas razones a veces son la causa de que una mamá deje de amamantar. Por ejemplo:
Todas razones válidas, pero en mi opinión, no definitivas. Siempre habrá una solución si existe la voluntad de encontrarla. Siempre habrá ayuda cuando se busca. La paciencia es clave para lograrlo. ¡No te rindas! Cada esfuerzo vale la pena.
Cuéntanos, ¿cuál ha sido tu mayor reto durante la lactancia materna?
]]>For some mothers, it can be a useful tool that helps ensure their baby will start life without the need for formula supplementation. The importance of exclusive breastfeeding for all babies has been well-established by scientific research.
Colostrum contains vital immunological properties and helps to colonize the baby’s gut with healthy bacteria that protect against allergy and disease.
It also contains the perfect balance of proteins, fats and micronutrients needed for human babies as well as acting as a laxative to help the passing of the first tarry meconium stools.
Some babies may experience difficulties with feeding or maintaining their blood sugar levels during the first few days after birth and therefore may require supplementary feeds.
These include babies
For pregnant women who are diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure Antenatal milk collection is extremely helpful. Interestingly many of them will notice milk drips on the bra while they are still pregnant, to the point that some need to wear nursing pads. It's definitely important that they start collecting these leaks, date the bottles and freeze the colostrum. Some moms dealing with hypertension will not make it to the 37th weeks. The complications of this medical conditions and the labor can lead to fluids retention and their breastmilk production is delayed after giving birth. Is in this situation when the previously saves colostrum turns into a life saving idea for the baby.
The size of a newborn's belly holds between 5-7 mls, which is a small marble (a shooter ball) is easy to collect by hand expression and saved for future use.
It is preferable to express antenatally by hand and add it to the small tiny bottles or draw it with a syringe, rather than use an electric or manual breast pump. This is because colostrum will be produced in quite small quantities and can easily stick to the bottles or pump parts and be harder to collect.
If you hand express and use a syringe to draw up the individual drips of colostrum, you can use these syringes for storage prior to birth.
Antenatal expressing is expressing colostrum in the final few weeks of pregnancy.
It is advised for mothers to wait until around 37 weeks before starting antenatal expression with an electric or manual pump. Mothers who are having multiple births may sometimes start sooner as giving birth earlier is more likely.
A mother should discuss her plans to express antenatally with her healthcare provider. It may not be recommended if you’ve been at risk of preterm labour in previous pregnancies.
Where there is a family history of cow’s milk protein sensitivity or type 1 diabetes, families may be particularly keen to avoid the use of early formula supplementation.
There are also reasons why women may need to consider supplementing their baby’s feeds. These include women
How to hand express
Always wash your hands before expressing.
Applying a warm compress to your breast or expressing after a warm bath or shower can help the flow of colostrum.
Get yourself comfortable. Perhaps seated and leaning slightly forward but find what works best for you.
Start with a gentle breast massage, stroking from the back of your breast towards the nipple to facilitate the let-down reflex.
Put your thumb above the nipple and your first few fingers below the nipple. You will be cupping the breast in a ‘C’ shape.
Move your thumb and fingers a few centimeters back from the nipple
Press in towards your chest, press your fingers together and draw them forwards.
Repeat this process, building up a rhythm. It may be useful to look online for videos of hand expression techniques.
Colostrum should start to arrive drop by drop. Initially it may just be a glisten on the end of your nipple and it may take a few days of practice before drops appear.
Collect the colostrum into a clean container, a colostrum collection bottle or a syringe (1ml or 2ml syringe).
If nothing happens, adjust your finger position slightly to find the spot that works for you. You should not be pinching the nipple or sliding the fingers uncomfortably over the skin.
Rotate the position of your fingers and thumb around the areola (imagine a clock face) and repeat the expressing process to stimulate and remove colostrum from different parts of your breast.
Express each breast twice during each session. The oxytocin hormone released stimulates the uterus. If you experience any cramping in your uterus, you should stop and discuss your choice with your healthcare provider.
Colostrum can vary in appearance.
Sometimes it may appear quite thick and yellow or orange and at other times paler and thinner.
Storage of human breast milk
Colostrum can be collected two to three times each day in the same syringe. You will need to store the syringe in the fridge between uses.
At the end of the collecting day, the colostrum can be frozen — place the syringe into a zip-lock bag before putting into the freezer. Label the syringe and bag (separately) detailing the date and time of when you expressed.
The frozen colostrum can be stored for up to six months in the freezer. Once thawed, it should be used within 24 hours.
You can take syringes of frozen colostrum into hospital using a freezer block and insulated bag. The colostrum can be defrosted under a running warm tap or at room temperature.
It is a good idea to mention your colostrum stash on your birth plan and make sure hospital staff are aware in advance of your wishes in certain situations. The hospital may have access to have a freezer for storage once you arrive.
After the birth, breastfeeding should usually be unrestricted. Ideally, a baby should feed successfully at the breast and the antenatally expressed colostrum would remain unused.
If your baby is experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding at this time you may be encouraged to express some fresh colostrum to give to your baby. You may also use any colostrum you have brought into hospital with you in preference to using any formula.
If harvested colostrum ends up being ‘wasted’ because early exclusive breastfeeding was possible and successful, this is a cause for celebration rather than commiseration!
However the process of antenatal expressing gives you a back-up if things don’t go to plan which many families find reassuring. You’ll also start your breastfeeding with a good sense of how to hand express and confidence about how your breasts work.
]]>Por: Ana María Hanssen
Seguro lo primero que piensas es que es de color blanco. Es lo lógico. Sin embargo, te sorprenderá saber que la leche materna, como líquido vivo que cambia su composición de acuerdo con las necesidades de desarrollo del bebé y va de la mano con la alimentación de mamá, no es siempre del mismo color. Así lo descubrí en mis primeras semanas como mamá, cuando me sacaba leche con un extractor para medir de alguna manera cuánto me salía. Recuerdo que me sorprendí al ver que mi leche era primero muy transparente y luego tomaba un tono más cremoso.
Mi consultora de lactancia me advirtió que esos distintos colores en la leche materna son variaciones normales. Sin embargo, ver colores inesperados puede causarte preocupación. Por eso, aquí te cuento sobre algunos de los colores que puede tomar la leche materna para que no te sorprendas o te asustes:
Amarillo: Por algo a la primera leche que te sale después del parto, el calostro, se le llama “oro líquido” pues toma ese color. Si aprietas tu pezón suavemente en esos primeros días de maternidad, lo verás. La leche materna también toma un tono amarillo cuando la extraes y la congelas.
Azul o transparente: Esta es la primera leche que sale en cada sesión de pecho. Es una leche más líquida que sirve para calmar la sed del bebé y no es tan rica en grasas como la leche blanca que sale al final de cada toma.
Blanco: Es el color de la leche que ya ha madurado, aquella que sale después de la azulada o transparente al final de cada toma del bebé. Es la leche más rica en grasas y es la que llena al bebé.
Naranja: Si comes mucha zanahoria, calabaza, batata dulce y otros alimentos con alto contenido de betacarotenos, es probable que tu leche se tiña un poco de naranja.
Verde: ¿Te gustan mucho los vegetales de hoja verde? Si tu leche sale de tono verdoso, se debe a tu alimentación. Las bebidas que contienen colorantes artificiales (Gatorade, por ejemplo) también pueden teñir tu leche de verde si es que las consumes con mucha frecuencia.
Rosado: Al igual que con los colores naranja y verde, el tono rojizo de tu leche puede deberse a que consumes alimentos que son de ese color naturalmente como las remolachas (betabel) o que comiste algo con algún colorante fuerte de ese color.
También puede deberse a que tengas un poco de sangre en tu leche por la ruptura de algún capilar o por tener los pezones agrietados. No te preocupes que esto no es dañino para tu bebé.
Sin embargo, si ese sangrado no se resuelve en un máximo de dos días o si ves que es más que un poco de sangre, no dudes en consultar de inmediato con tu médico.
Negro: ver que tu leche se ponga de este color puede producir alarma y preocupación. Este color sólo se produce cuando se toma un antibiótico llamado Minocin, que no se recomienda durante la lactancia. Es por eso que es muy importante que hables con tu médico para que sepa que estás amamantando. Hay que tener precaución con ciertos medicamentos.
Cuéntanos, ¿alguna vez viste tu leche de un color inesperado?
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Breastfeeding mothers had questions like, “ Should I continue to breastfeed? If I’m weaning, should I stop? What important supplies should I put in my emergency kit? and, How long can pumped milk stay frozen?”
Here's some helpful information for those breastfeeding in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.
First, and most importantly, do not stop breastfeeding or attempt to switch to formula during an emergency situation. Interrupted breastfeeding, even for a brief period, can be detrimental to your breastfeeding relationship.
Breastfeeding is the absolute best option for your baby during a natural disaster. The CDC advises, “Breast milk helps protect babies from diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory infections and provides the calories and nutrients babies need. This protection is especially important during natural disasters when contaminated water and unsanitary environments can increase the risk of disease.” For many who do not breastfeed, a worst case scenario would be having to desperately search for a can of formula and clean water to feed their baby.
But, what if you are in the process of weaning? During an emergency situation, it is best to discontinue weaning until the danger has passed and everything is back to normal. The stress of a natural disaster can be enough for children to deal with, and the transition of weaning could be overwhelming for both mother and baby during this uncertain time.
If you have recently weaned or switched to formula, it is possible to start breastfeeding again, this is called relactation and could potentially be your only option if you are without water or formula. Learn more about relactation here.
When you can't, cup feeding/ donor milk or wet nursing is a great alternative.
A full freezer will continue to keep everything frozen for at least 48 hours after you lose power as long as you keep the door closed. If you are anticipating a power outage for longer, or your milk has already started to thaw, you can add 2-3 previously frozen breast milk bags in a larger ziplock bag filled with water and freeze it all together. After the water freezes will help to keep the milk bags inside frozen for a longer time. An emergency generator can be used to keep power to your freezer, or if you live somewhere where it snows, you can even store your milk in a snowbank. You can find more milk storage tips and tricks here.
When you live in a region where destructive weather patterns are generally anticipated seasonally, you most likely already have a kit or a practiced plan of action. So, aside from the basics, food, water, diapers, batteries, flashlights, and charging banks, we also suggest adding these breastfeeding supplies to your checklist:
As a parent, it’s extremely important to know what to do during natural disasters. And when you're a mom who is breastfeeding, the safety and well-being of your little one become a huge concern. Make a plan and discuss it with your partner and family members. Include a meeting place in case you get separated.
You never know when an emergency could potentially happen, so its best to be prepared. Most importantly, stay calm. During uncertain times and difficult transitions, your children will be looking to you to know what to do and how to feel. It’s important to stay level-headed in order to make important decisions and keep your children calm
WHO - Importance of Breastfeeding in Natural Disasters
United States Breastfeeding Committee
CDC Breastfeeding & Disaster Planning added
https://www.cdc.gov/features/disasters-infant-feeding/index.html
Disaster-preparedness-breastfeeding-matters-during-emergency
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Por: Ana María Hanssen
Recuerdo que en los primeros días de ser mamá, sentía que iba a desfallecer de cansancio sentada en una mecedora dando pecho a mi bebita. Paradójicamente pensaba que no estaba haciendo “nada” cuando en realidad estaba haciendo “todo”. Pero la mente en este mundo que no para nos engaña con pensamientos que nos exigen ser más a pesar de que ya lo somos: acabamos de parir a un bebé y nuestra única responsabilidad y actividad debería ser esa, estar con el bebé para alimentarlo y nutrirlo física y emocionalmente.
Por fortuna yo conté con el apoyo de mi mamá que aunque no vive en el mismo país que yo, pudo venir a estar conmigo durante los primeros meses en los que la vida laboral de mi marido no tuvo pausa. Sin ella, esas horas de “cansancio” se habría convertido en estresantes con todo lo que implica que una casa siga funcionando y que uno como nueva mamá, también tiene necesidades individuales.
Yo podía estar sentada en la mecedora, pero ella me charlaba, me preparaba comida, me sugería que después podríamos salir a tomar aire o ella se llevaba un rato a mi bebé. También conté con el apoyo de mis hermanas, de amigas que venían a traerme comida o a saludarme, de mi marido, que estaba de acuerdo con mi lactancia exclusiva aunque a veces me viera exhausta y me ofrecía darle de mi leche en biberón a mi bebita para que yo pudiera dormir cuatro horas seguidas.
Cuando mi mamá tuvo que volver a su casa, yo ya estaba más confiada y con la práctica logré que mi lactancia fluyera. Y pensé que durante los primeros días y al encontrarme con los primeros obstáculos amamantando, quizás no habría sido fácil superarlos si no tuviera el apoyo de mis seres queridos.
Sé que muchas mamás no cuentan con ese apoyo y que esa es la razón por la cual algunas dejan de amamantar antes de lo que quisieran. Por eso pienso que es fundamental el apoyo que también pueden encontrar afuera de su círculo de afectos más cercanos. Por ejemplo: grupos de mamás lactantes (reales o virtuales) en las que cada quien puede compartir sus inquietudes y preguntas -sin ser juzgadas-, y consultoras de lactancia.
Sé que hay muchas mamás como yo que viven lejos de su familia, de su país y que estos apoyos externos son indispensables también a la hora de tener éxito con la lactancia materna.
Para mí amamantar va más allá de ser un hecho biológico o natural. Es algo que implica una decisión basada en la información, aprendizaje, relación emocional cercana con el bebé, compromiso, tiempo y apoyo.
Dar pecho trasciende al círculo familiar y a la experiencia que hayan tenido las mujeres de nuestra familia. La lactancia es un derecho humano que se debe apoyar y que tiene repercusiones no sólo a nivel personal, sino en la salud pública y hasta en las decisiones políticas.
Como leí alguna vez estudiando sobre este tema: “no amamanta una mujer, amamanta toda la sociedad”.
¿Qué opinas al respecto?
]]>La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) recomienda que el bebé sea alimentado exclusivamente con leche materna por un mínimo de 6 meses y hasta los 2 años o más. Algunas mamás como yo, sin haber revisado bien las recomendaciones de la OMS, lo hemos hecho por tiempo indefinido, es decir, hasta que el bebé o niño pequeño decida.
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Por: Ana María Hanssen
Esta pregunta, en mi concepto, tiene tantas respuestas como mamás que dan pecho.
La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) recomienda que el bebé sea alimentado exclusivamente con leche materna por un mínimo de 6 meses y hasta los 2 años o más. Algunas mamás como yo, sin haber revisado bien las recomendaciones de la OMS, lo hemos hecho por tiempo indefinido, es decir, hasta que el bebé o niño pequeño decida.
Llevo 7 años de mi vida amamantado. A mi hija mayor le di pecho hasta los 3 años y medio y a mi segundo hijo, todavía le estoy dando y va a cumplir 4 años. Y confieso que aunque me han mirado con esos ojos bien abiertos de quienes están listos para juzgar las vivencias de otros, poco me ha importado. Lo que vale, para mí, es el ritmo de esa relación íntima y especial que he desarrollado con mis hijos a través de la lactancia. Lo que cuenta, es que nosotros hemos construido nuestra propia historia sin rendirnos ante los prejuicios de los demás.
Así que cuando alguien me pregunta qué pienso sobre el tiempo ideal para dar pecho, les respondo: el tiempo ideal es el que es perfecto para cada mamá y cada bebé.
A nosotros nos ha funcionado sin fecha de vencimiento, pero nuestras circunstancias no son las de todas las mamás y bebés.
Yo he disfrutado, con sus sombras y sus luces, esta experiencia como creo que nada más en mi vida, pero a otras mamás les ha costado.
Así que la decisicíon de amamantar por tres o siete meses; por un año o por cuatro, es tan personal que las opiniones externas no deben tener cabida.
Lo que sí cabe, es ayudar a todas esas mamás que dudan de dar más tiempo del que les han recomendado porque están llenas de preguntas. Lo que sí es necesario es informarse sobre los beneficios de la lactancia a largo plazo. Lo que sí vale es dejar a un lado la mente calculadora que todo lo quiere fechar, empezar y terminar.
Más bien, si te estás preguntando cuánto debería durar la lactancia, puedes apostarle a tu instinto, a tus convicciones, a tus ganas, al amor, a esa oportunidad de conexión profunda de amor líquido que tarde o temprano tendrá fin, porque es cierto: ningún humano amamanta hasta los veinte años.
Así que si te dicen: “pero ya quítale el pecho o lo vas a traumatizar”, olvídalo. El amor y el fluir de algo tan natural como la lactancia, lo único que deja es huellas de bienestar para siempre.
¡Que tengas una feliz lactancia!]]>
Cuando estaba embarazada por primera vez, pensaba que el día en que naciera mi bebé, la lactancia iba a darse de forma automática y sin esfuerzo. Por eso, confieso que durante el embarazo fui a una o dos clases sobre lactancia, y no le dediqué mucho de mi tiempo a pensar en cómo sería dar pecho. Estaba segura de que mi cuerpo sabría.
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Cuando estaba embarazada por primera vez, pensaba que el día en que naciera mi bebé, la lactancia iba a darse de forma automática y sin esfuerzo. Por eso, confieso que durante el embarazo fui a una o dos clases sobre lactancia, y no le dediqué mucho de mi tiempo a pensar en cómo sería dar pecho. Estaba segura de que mi cuerpo sabría.
Es cierto, mi cuerpo sabía. Sin embargo, en esos primeros instantes de amor con mi bebita -a quien tuve sin medicamentos y en el agua me inundó la duda: ¿podré amamantar?
A las mujeres por tradición patriarcal, consciente e inconscientemente, nos han programado para dudar de nosotras mismas y del infinito poder de lo femenino. En parte creo que mi rebelión a eso fue haber decidido parir en casa, en el agua, acompañada por una partera a la que quiero y admiro por todo lo que me ha enseñado sobre mi esencia. Ella fue quien me recordó que debo confiar en mi cuerpo y me acompañó dos veces en la profunda transformación de la maternidad.
¡Claro que puedes! ¡acabas de parir a tu bebé! me dijo con firmeza y cariño para aclarar mis dudas sobre la lactancia.
Sin duda mi bebita estaba ahí para enseñarme mucho sobre mi misma.
Pensé entonces que la lactancia es como un bailar con una pareja nueva a un ritmo nuevo. Entonces, puse pausa a esta vida que no para ni aún cuando acabamos de dar a luz, cuando el universo interior nuestro se detiene para poder contemplar nuestro propio nacimiento como mamás.
Tuve momentos difíciles, pero siempre la certeza de que mi leche era y es (sigo amamantando a mi hijo de 3 años) perfecta y más que suficiente para mis bebés. Que es un líquido vivo, que se mueve y cambia en la intimidad de esa relación mamá-bebé; que es una fuente infinita de nutrición física y emocional.
Sé que las primeras dificultades que tuve con la lactancia hicieron que hoy sea la mejor experiencia de amor de mi vida. No eran problemas irremediables: en realidad, tenían que ver con mis ganas de medirlo todo: ¿cuánta leche me sale? ¿cada cuánto debo dar pecho? . Pero gracias a mis bebés, mis grandes maestros, entendí que lo mejor para que la lactancia materna se de en armonía, es dejarla que fluya sin la rigidez de los tiempos ni de los “deberías”; es liberarse de las fórmulas matemáticas que encasillan a los bebés en un patron robótico.
Entendí que se puede y se vale pedir ayuda cuando nos sentimos vulnerables recuerriendo a recursos como asesoría con una consultora de lactancia, apoyo de otras mujeres de la familia, el uso de un extractor de leche o los maravillosos inventos como Lacti-cups para no desperdiciar ni una gota.
La paciencia, la persistencia y la incomparable conexión cuerpo a cuerpo con ese bebé que salió de nosotras son la mejor receta para una lactancia feliz. Y por supuesto, confiar en que el cuerpo femenino en su infinita sabiduría, es capaz de dar vida y de nutrirla por el tiempo que esa poderosa unidad mamá-bebé, lo decida.
]]>Instead of providing a long list of baby essentials, here’s a list of what to skip! Leave these items off of you registry, so that your friends and family can give you gifts that you will need and use everyday. Not expensive baby gear that will end up on craigslist after only one use.
]]>Instead of providing a long list of baby essentials, here’s a list of what to skip! Leave these items off of you registry, so that your friends and family can give you gifts that you will need and use everyday. Not expensive baby gear that will end up on craigslist after only one use.
It's a nice concept. Cozy, warm wipes for your sweet baby's bottom. Sounds like a spa treatment, Right? But, Unless you keep your wipes in the freezer, there's no real reason to warm wipes before using them. Babies don't mind room temp wipes. Also, when you are out and about and need to change baby in a public restroom or the back seat of your car, heaven forbid you don't have the warm wipes they've become accustomed to. Add this to the list of items you definitely won’t need.
When it comes down to it, a small trash can with a lid serves the exact same purpose. No matter what kind of expensive pail you get, nothing completely eliminates the dirty diaper smell. Just make sure to empty your can regularly. If you have a particularly stinky diaper to dispose of, seal it in a plastic bag before tossing it in the can. Special pails that require a specific kind of liner are just frustrating to use, and cost way more to maintain than a normal trash bags.
You will be changing your baby multiple times throughout the day and night. Most likely you won't be in the same room of the house for every. single. change. Instead of having one, stationary changing table in the nursery. Buy a few changing pads and keep a basket with diapers and wipes in a couple different rooms of your house. This way you won't have to drop everything and carry the baby upstairs to the nursery every time she needs a fresh diaper. If you need a good spot in the baby’s room to store diapering supplies, convert a dresser into a changing station by filling the top drawers with diapering essentials and place a changing pad on top.
Once your bottles have been initially boiled in hot water, there's really no need to sterilize them after each use. Hot soapy water or a run in the dishwasher work just as well and are far less tedious. These expensive sterilizers can cost over a hundred bucks and will take up a big spot on your kitchen counter. Try skipping this item and leave room on your registry for something you will actually use, like bottles, nipples and bottle brushes.
Other than the adorable shoes you use in your newborn pictures, baby shoes are totally non-essential. Since babies don’t walk, shoes are really an accessory item. To keep baby’s feet warm and cozy, register for cute socks instead. Lots of cute socks, and in the same color, because those tiny things disappear with each load of laundry.
Not that you won't need a breast pump. This is an absolute essential!
Now, most women can get a good quality, new breast pump for free through their insurance. Ask your doctor and see if they can help you submit the paperwork needed to get your breast pump before your baby arrives. When you go to the hospital, you can bring it with you so you can learn how to use it as soon as your little one is born. Ask your nurse if there is a lactation consultant available to help you get a good start.
Nursing pads are used to prevent your milk from soaking through your bras. Instead, opt for Lacti-Cups. These life-savers, protect your nipples from friction during the first weeks of breastfeeding, and allow them time to heal. Also, instead of absorbing the milk, Lacti-Cups saves all the leaks, and you can easily build up your breast milk stash without having to pump. Lacti-Cups even helps to prevent engorgement, allowing the milk to flow out effortlessly.
Now that you’ve got your list of what NOT to register for, you can get back to researching all those baby items you will need to add to your baby registry. Preparing your home for a new baby can be hard work, but once all the bottles are washed and baby socks are put away, hopefully you can relax and be confident that you have exactly what you’ll need to care for your new baby. Good Luck!
Lacti-Cups® can help new nursing moms save 4–12 ounces of breastmilk and hours of pumping and cleaning per day.
They can be used in between feedings and while your baby is feeding from the opposite breast, by collecting all the naturally occurring leaks that are usually wasted in nursing pads.
Learn more at https://www.lacti-cups.com
You can also join us on Facebook @Lacti-Cups
Does your baby pop off your breast when you are having a let down? Does she choke, gag or bite? Have you accidentally sprayed her with milk? If you feel like you are fire hosing your baby every time you nurse, you may have an oversupply issue.
Try reclining back onto a pillow and placing baby on top of your breast to nurse, the release of milk goes against gravity, slowing the pressure and lets your baby control the flow of milk. Your supply should even out after a few weeks, but if you feel like you need help, visit your lactation consultant.
If you're exclusively breastfed baby is starting to cut teeth and you want to try something all natural and good for her, freeze breastmilk in an ice cube tray and pop one out next time she gets fussy. You won’t have to worry about any unnatural ingredients and her sore gums will be soothed by the cold milk.
Make your own pumping bra from an old sports bra. Cut small holes in the cups where the pump flange fits. The bras with a zipper in the front work best, but any old bra will do in a pinch. KellyMom has a great DIY hands-free pumping tutorial online with step-by-step instructions.
If you are suffering from cracked nipples due to improper latch, teething baby or tongue tie, you can help heal your nipples by using breast milk as an ointment.
Hand express milk and pat onto nipple with your finger, let air dry before applying nipple cream. The antibacterial properties of breast milk will help prevent your breast from becoming infected and speed up healing. top-10-ways-to-prevent-and-treat-sore-nipples
Pump and freeze milk into syringes next time your nursing baby is fighting off a cold. This breastmilk will have added antibodies to help fight sick germs.
Even older kids can benefit from the amazing qualities of breastmilk. If your older child or toddler is coming down with a cold, give their immune system a boost with a syringe full of mother’s milk. Some mamas even use these handy syringes for pink eye, diaper rash and ear infections.
When every drop counts, and as every breastfeeding mama knows, it counts! Instead of wasting milk by frequently changing soaked through nursing pads, save each precious drop by using a milk saving Lacti Cup instead.
Want to save space in your freezer? Lay milk storage bags flat.
After you measure and label the storage bag, lay it horizontal so it freezes flat. This way you can stack bags on top of one another and save room in your freezer!
Hopefully you’ve found at least one good idea on this list. If you are still feeling overwhelmed with breastfeeding, the best “life hack” is to get help right away!
You can visit a lactation consultant, join a nursing mamas support group or contact your local La leche League to get the support you need to make your breastfeeding journey a success.
Lacti-Cups® can help new nursing moms save 4–12 ounces of breastmilk and hours of pumping and cleaning per day.
They can be used in between feedings and while your baby is feeding from the opposite breast, by collecting all the naturally occurring leaks that are usually wasted in nursing pads.
Learn more at https://www.lacti-cups.com
You can also join us on Facebook @Lacti-Cups
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As, you may have experienced at your baby shower, friends and family are quick to dole out advice. Especially when it comes to breastfeeding. Sometimes, advice you get from a good intentioned relative might actually be a common breastfeeding myth.
The following list will help you determine what’s helpful and what to ignore so you can stop worrying, and focus on your breastfeeding relationship with your new baby.
The only thing you need to do for your nipples to prepare them for breastfeeding is buy a good nipple butter. The myth that you need to toughen them or desensitize them can actually be harmful in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Do not scrub or hurt your nipples in any way, it can damage your skin which can make breastfeeding harder.
Nipple stimulation can actually stimulate labor. Trust that your body will prepare your nipples naturally as your pregnancy progresses, there is no need to try to move that process along.
Breastfeeding moms burn anywhere between 200-500 calories a day, make sure you are eating a healthy diet full of nutrient rich foods, and drink plenty of water.
Unless you notice your baby is reacting to a certain food in your diet, don’t deprive yourself of eating the normal foods you enjoy on a regular basis. Food reactions in breastfeeding babies are not that common.
However, if your baby is experiencing symptoms other than the normal amount of fussiness or gas after a feeding, consider checking your diet. The number one cause of allergies and food reaction is cow’s milk, 2nd is Soy products. Try removing dairy products from your diet and wait 2 weeks to see if you notice an improvement.
If your baby experiences excessive spitting up, vomiting or crying for hours. Then it may be necessary to seek the help of a medical professional. (Kellymom.com)
While there may be some pain and discomfort in the first few days as you get used to the new sensation of your baby latching and sucking, this discomfort should be easily to get over.
Tips to know what is normal: Latch-on pain that lasts no more than 30 seconds into the feeding. The pain should not continue through the entire feeding, and there should not be pain between feedings. There is not skin damage, no cracks, blisters or bleeding. Your nipple should look the same before and immediately after the feeding- not flattened, creased or pinched.
If you regularly experience pain while breastfeeding, the best thing to do is to seek help from a lactation consultant right away to ensure you have a positive breastfeeding experience.
Exclusive breastfeeding is a great way to prevent pregnancy and it works very well as long as you meet the following criteria:
If you are back at work and pumping regularly, there is a greater chance you get pregnant while you are breastfeeding, increases by 5.2%.
Hormonal contraceptives dry breast milk, since interferes with production of prolactin. Consider the use of condoms or other ways to prevent pregnancy.
You cannot hold, cuddle or breastfeed your baby too much. An exclusively breastfed baby will only nurse as much as needed. Frequent nursing in the first months is normal and helps establish milk supply. Babies nurse for reasons other than just food. They nurse for closeness, comfort and warmth.
The idea of spoiling a baby simply doesn’t make sense. Newborns are too young to understand how to purposely manipulate or use bad behavior to get what they want. It’s best to give your baby all the care and attention she asks for so she learns she can trust you to meet her needs. Holding your child and comforting her when she needs it, helps parents bond and is necessary for healthy development.
If you believe your baby may be nursing too much, you may want to get help from a lactation consultant, if baby is not transferring milk effectively, you may need help adjusting her latch.
The best thing for a breastfed baby who is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea is breastmilk. Nursing helps your baby stay hydrated, breastmilk is rapidly digested and the composition of your breastmilk will change to meet the needs of your baby. Your body is already making antibodies to fight the virus or bacteria and by breastfeeding you are making your baby stronger to fight the sickness that he has. The antibodies present in your milk are specific to your baby’s illness and will help your baby recover quickly.
If you are sick with a virus, its most likely that you’ve already exposed your baby to your illness even before you had symptoms. Your breastmilk will contain antibodies that help to protect your baby against your illness. There are very few illnesses that would prevent you from breastfeeding.
Even if you are sick with food poisoning, you can continue to breastfeed because it will not transfer through breast milk. The most important thing for you to do when you are sick is to make sure that you are getting enough rest and plenty of fluids to help you get healthy.
Most medications are compatible with breastfeeding. You must know that medications that dry your sinus (runny nose) also dry breastmilk. There are website that you can check for medication safety during breastfeeding, we recommend LactMed.
The benefits of breastfeeding don’t suddenly stop after a certain period of time. In fact breastfeeding benefits work for a lifetime since they contribute to your baby's organs development. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding up to the age of two years or beyond. How long to breastfeed is up to each mom. Just as breastmilk changes throughout the first year, it continues to adapt for the needs of your growing toddler. As long as you and your baby are happy and wish to continue breastfeeding, you should.
The amount of breastfeeding information and advice from other mothers out there can be overwhelming for a new mom. Hopefully now that these breastfeeding myths have been dispelled, you can distinguish the difference between the facts and myths so you can decide what’s best for you and your baby. (themilkmeg)
Lacti-Cups® can help new nursing moms save 4–12 ounces of breastmilk and hours of pumping and cleaning per day.
They can be used in between feedings and while your baby is feeding from the opposite breast, by collecting all the naturally occurring leaks that are usually wasted in nursing pads.
Learn more at https://www.lacti-cups.com
You can also join us on Facebook @Lacti-Cups
I worked as a Clinical Lactation Consultant in Postpartum and NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for over 17 years.
During that time, I provided care and support to over 40,000 babiesand their families, encouraging and leading them to achieve their breastfeeding goals.
As a professional, I felt frustrated while I noticed how much breastfeeding mothers struggle to collect their milk, especially for babies in intensive care, and the significant amount of breastmilk that is wasted in traditional nursing pads between feedings.
As a mom, I experienced all the fear and anxiety when I almost lost one of my babies to Meningitis at 6 months of age.
By witnessing and living all these struggles, I committed to find a solution to help moms to provide more of their precious breastmilk to their babies and for longer periods, breastfeeding is a gift that last a lifetime and impacts the lives of moms and their babies forever.
I invented Lacti-Cups to solve some of the most basic challenges of breastfeeding and facilitate mom’s breastfeeding journey in the USA and around the world.
Roughly 4 million babies are born in the USA every year, and 72% of newborn babies are breastfed for some time. After just six weeks 28% of moms quit breastfeeding, due to the challenges they face. This fact prevents babies from receiving all the immune protection that they need during their first year of life. The USA has 5% infant mortality rate, which is the highest for an industrialized nation.
Early Breastfeeding Challenges
Sore Nipples
Low Milk Supply
Breast Pain due to Engorgement
Reduction of Breast milk Supply due to Engorgement.
Difficulty to pump while at work
Milk Stains at work on in Public places.
Sub-optimal breastfeeding rates in the U.S. alone result in an estimated $2.2 billion annually in direct medical costs. The mortality rate in the USA is higher than many other industrialized countries.
Relieves Sore Nipples from Friction
Collects 4–16.oz/day more milk between feedings, without pumping
Prevents engorgement by allowing the milk to flow
Prevents milk stains on public places or at work
Facilitates pumping and latch
Lacti-Cups breastmilk collection cupsincreases breastmilk availability by 46%, breastmilk that was never accounted for and was wasted in nursing pads.This 46% can mean 4–16 ounces more breastmilk per day.
Breastmilk can mean the difference between life and death to a premature baby. Breastfeeding is not only important to the baby’s health, it also plays an important role in women’s health.
By creating products that make it possible to overcome the most common challenges of early breastfeeding, moms could effortlessly extend breastfeeding and protect their babies from serious medical conditions that threaten their lives during the first year of life.
Lacti-Cups helps moms in so many ways that I consider them an Essential; a Must-have for every breastfeeding mom.
]]>Along with nerves, excitement, fun (and possibly hectic) family visits and everything in between, a new mother’s biggest concern is, of course, the health and care of her beautiful new-born baby.
First thing’s first - don’t worry, take a breath, and do the best you can, because you are doing great.
Next, let’s talk about how to get your baby to latch on.
Pain is one of the first indicators that your baby is not latched on properly.
The secret? Tilt back, open wide.
Try this. Drop your mouth down to your chest, then open your mouth. A bit tricky, no? Now tilt your head back slightly and open it again. See how much easier that is? The easiest way to help our babies to latch properly is to make sure their heads are tilted back a bit.
You can help support them in that position by holding your baby by the base of his/her head. Open your hand wide and let your baby’s head rest on the palm. Your thumb and middle fingers are almost touching the back of their ears, and when you do this your palm is almost on the top of their back, in this way you actually have full control of the baby’s head. Now, make sure your baby’s nose is in front of your nipple, sometimes you need to slide the baby a bit lower to make this happen.
Next, since you have full control of the head, tilt their head back a bit and brush their lips with your nipple from the top lip down, this initiates a reflex to open their mouth. Do it until they open wide and at that moment shovel the breast deep inside their mouth, use the fingers from the same hand that you are using to hold the breast, to pull the lower lip down or to help them open the mouth wider.
Now softly replace your hand and arm by using a rolled receiving blanket or small towels.
There many things you can look for to make sure your baby is latched on and comfortable. The first thing that you must keep in mind is that, if you are feeling pain while you are breastfeeding, is because your baby is not latch properly.
Take him off the breast by breaking the seal, slide one of your fingers through the corner of his mouth and detach him and start again.
But there are a few other clear ways to tell if the baby is latched on properly.
Here are 9 ways to make sure your baby has the right latch:
Every new mother’s experience will be different, so remember to be patient with yourself, your newborn and your partner during this phase. Stay hydrated, practice self-care, and most importantly, get plenty of rest.
Lacti-Cups® can help new nursing moms save 4–12 ounces of breastmilk and hours of pumping and cleaning per day.
They can be used in between feedings and while your baby is feeding from the opposite breast, by collecting all the naturally occurring leaks that are usually wasted in nursing pads.
Learn more at https://www.lacti-cups.com
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