Topic Archive: breastfeeding

August 24, 2010

Breastfeeding Month 4

As second time “new mom” I am seeing some frustrating yet familiar problems I had with my first born. Getting started the second time, with Garrett, now four months, wasn’t nearly as hard as the first time around. I’m a well rehearsed veteran at this point, right?

Nolan, who is now 23 months and breastfed for 14 months, was extremely difficult to breastfeed. Flat nipples, tongue tied, and engorgement made the first three months painful and horribly difficult. No one is ready to be on the phone with you at 2:38 am to walk you through another painful latch and waiting for a let down. But just as I started to get the hang of it, it seemed that my milk supply tanked. I’d feel a let down and hear that little clicking swallow for a few minutes, then nothing. No swallow, just a cry and numerous attempts to re-latch to no avail. So frustrating!!!

The most useful information I got was from a LLL leader. With access to a pump I was able to do something called “Power Pumping.” This is where you spend an hour with your pump doing 12 minute intervals of on and off pumping. So while watching Grey’s Anatomy or a whole hour of The Office, I’d pump for twelve minutes then rest for twelve minutes, then jump back on. This is only three rounds of pumping. I did this at night as soon as the little guy went down.

Well, Nolan got through it. Now I’m working on Garrett. Here we are at four months and spending some “quality time” with my pump on the living room floor.

The difference between the first and second child is that Garrett has already been losing weight. This started before the supply problem. Right now, they’ve chalked it up to being an “active baby.” The only thing keeping me from getting excessively worried is the wet and poopy diapers I change all day, and the fact that Garrett seems to be a happy and healthy baby. The big picture looks good. As a mom, it’s my job to worry. I am confident I’ll get through this adjustment period again.

But until then, pump, drink dark beer, take fenugreek, and nurse all the time!

August 23, 2010

Breastfeeding While Pregnant

My journey as a breastfeeding mom got off to a bit of a rough start with some latching difficulties, but after a month, my daughter Layla and I had things figured out and it was all smooth sailing from there. Until I got pregnant again when Layla was almost 10 months old. I had not planned on having another baby so soon, and I was more than a little nervous.

My biggest concern was being able to continue nursing Layla to the 12 month mark. Would I be able to give her the nourishment that she needed? Was it safe to breastfeed during pregnancy? In addition to Hilary Flower’s Adventures in Tandem Nursing, I consulted KellyMom and La Leche League- two of my favorite breastfeeding resources- and was reassured that in the majority of cases, it is perfectly safe to continue breastfeeding your baby while pregnant, but it can present some challenges.

Possible Challenges

• Discomfort Many women who have gone through the first trimester of pregnancy are all too familiar with the breast sensitivity that can go along with a new pregnancy. Add a nursing baby to the mix and the problem can be compounded. I was lucky enough that I have not had any pain while nursing Layla during this pregnancy, but some women are not so fortunate. Some women even experience a creepy-crawly, or antsy sensation, which can take some of the joy out of the breastfeeding relationship.
• Your Own Nutrition When you are pregnant and nursing, you are supporting three people, and the nutrients are distributed according to priority. The growing fetus gets dibs, followed by your nursing child, and then you come in third. Ensuring that you are eating and drinking adequately is key. A pregnant woman needs 200 extra calories per day. A nursing mother needs about 500 extra calories daily. Making sure that you eat well can be difficult when you’re experiencing the nausea and exhaustion of early pregnancy, all while chasing after a baby or toddler. This is where your husband or partner really needs to help you out as much as possible to make sure you’re taken care of.
• Dip in Milk Supply Around the 6 week mark, I noticed that Layla was getting very fussy at the breast. She would would latch on only to pop off a few seconds later, acting very frustrated. I tried to hand express my milk and very little milk came out. I promptly freaked. The next day she did the same thing. Not only was I worried that she wasn’t getting enough milk, I was heartbroken, thinking that our breastfeeding relationship was over just like that. As a last ditch effort, I went online to look for pregnancy safe  galactogogues (herbs, medicines, and foods that increase milk supply) and I found More Milk Two , an herbal supplement that is safe to take during pregnancy. Within a few days of starting the  supplement, my milk supply was back and we were able to continue nursing. Every woman’s experience will be different. Some women I have talked to noticed absolutely no change in supply until well into the second trimester, while others had absolutely no milk by the time they were 10 weeks along.
• Nutrition and The Age of Your Nursing Baby When you are pregnant and nursing, your breastmilk will change back over to colostrum at some point in the second trimester, usually around 20 weeks gestation. If you are nursing an older infant or toddler, there will probably be no real nutritional issues to deal with. Toddlers’ nutritional needs can be met through whole milk and solid foods, but mothers of infants will need to pay close attention to make sure their babies’ needs are being met. Mothers of older infants that are close to turning one will likely have enough milk to at least make it to the 12 month mark, when whole milk can be introduced. The woman who gets pregnant while nursing a younger infant will likely have to make the switch to formula to meet her baby’s nutritional needs if her milk converts to colostrum before the baby turns one.

Looking Back

Layla and I were able to continue breastfeeding past her first birthday, and now at 13 months (and 18 weeks pregnant) we are on the road to weaning. I find myself treasuring these last few weeks that we get to share this special bond. It makes the difficult times we had at the beginning and toward the end feel so worthwhile. I am glad (and darn proud!) that I was able to provide her with the best nourishment that I could for her first year of life. Like many other areas of motherhood, the decision to continue nursing during pregnancy and beyond  is a personal one, and the needs of all parties involved- the mother, the nursling, and the fetus need to be balanced, but it’s good to know that a new pregnancy does not mean that your breastfeeding relationship has to come to an end.

August 22, 2010

My Breast Was Not Best

I am a big supporter of breastfeeding. In fact, I wanted nothing more than to breastfeed my newborn son. Back then, I thought women who said they “couldn’t”, were just not given the support and education they needed, that they lacked the commitment and sacrifice needed to establish a good milk supply and routine. I was in for quite a rude awakening.

We did all the “right things” when Quinn was born–we were skin to skin almost immediately, he was latched on within his first 30 minutes of life, and I religiously logged how long he was on each breast. Soon however, I watched my sweet newborn turn an interesting shade of yellow and wondered if his tiny, very absorbant little diaper had any urine in it–it can be hard to tell (I love the nurse who taught me to place a tissue in the diaper to see if was wet). They sent me home assuming that my milk was just slow to come in.

The details are a bit fuzzy almost 5 years later, but I know there was very little sleep and much worry that my son was starving and I was to blame. Our pediatrician had a lactation consultant who was immensely helpful–she set me up with a turbo-charged, hospital grade breast pump and a supplemental feeding system.  Another lactation consultant and friend told me what herbs to take, how much water to drink and I followed all orders as directed–to the point of what felt like insanity.

Despite all of these interventions, my milk never came in. I cried tears of guilt and shame as I doomed my baby to a life of ear infections and decreased intelligence. It was a whole new level of failure to know that I was depriving my child of this essential concoction which Mother Nature had intended for his optimal growth and development.

I do support breastfeeding and my mind understands and supports the zealous campaigning being done to promote it. My heart still feels sad that Quinn and I began our bond together distressed over the fact that my body just would not work the “right” way. We moms are all in this to grow healthy babies. The breast is best, it is good for the baby and good  for the mom–but,  if breastfeeding is not possible, it is reassuring to know that a formula fed little munchkin can turn into a healthy, vibrant child who has only had two ear infections in five years and is well-bonded with his mommy.

August 8, 2010

Confessions of a Nursing Mom

By Jessica

I don’t like breastfeeding.

There, I said it.

Alert the Bad-Mom Police if you must.

When I was pregnant, I imagined what breastfeeding would be like. Baby Charlie would nurse as we sat in a sunbeam in the warm afternoon sun. There’d be soft music in the air, most likely sung by angels. A warm glow would surround us as we oozed love for one another, and I’d be at peace knowing that I was giving my son the best nutrition that nature could produce.

Ha!

As cliche as this sounds, breastfeeding would be much more satisfying if it weren’t so damn difficult. And Charlie and I were beset with problems from the start.

My labor was loooong (listen to my birth story on PregTASTIC), and painful, and the aftermath was pretty brutal, too. Like all moms, I fumbled the first few times nursing him. The hospital nurses told me different things. I asked twice to see a lactation consultant, but she never came.

Then I didn’t sleep for several days. And I don’t mean I barely slept, or only caught cat naps here and there. I DID NOT SLEEP AT ALL FOR SEVERAL DAYS. Zero. Zilch. The lack of sleep triggered crazy anxiety, which only exacerbated the insomnia.

Through all of this, Charlie was desperately hungry and constantly screaming. My milk hadn’t come in by his wellness check four days later, and he’d already lost more than a pound. We began supplementing at the breast. Charlie stopped screaming.

On day six (after I finally got some sleep) my milk came in dribbled in. I put him to the breast at every opportunity to increase my supply, but we were hit with the typical problems: It was painful. My nipples bled constantly. I couldn’t figure out how to hold him. He couldn’t figure out the latch. When he finally latched, he’d fall asleep instantly and nothing – not even touching his skin with an ice-cold glass of water  – could rouse him. I was angry and exasperated and deflated and stressed out of my mind. I wanted to strangle people who told me, “Just relax. The baby can feel your tension, you know.”

When I pumped, I’d only get about half an ounce – total. At this point, he was easily guzzling three ounces of formula/pumped milk every 2-3 hours. There was no way I could keep up. I felt guilty. I felt like a failure. I felt like a bad mother.

Things got better once I saw a lactation consultant. She showed me how to get Charlie to latch, and for the first time I thought, “I can do this!” When I saw the consultant a week later, we were both doing much better. To increase my shred of a supply, she recommended fenugreek and mother’s milk tea. She even lent me a hospital-grade pump!

And my milk did increase. Slightly. Instead of pumping half an ounce total every 2-3 hours, I now get something closer to one ounce per breast. At 10 weeks, Charlie is eating four (combo of formula/pumped milk).

Yet now he’s started to reject me when I try to nurse him. Sometimes he has complete meltdowns if I put him in ANY nursing position, even sitting up. Or he’ll latch, suck a few times, then scream, pull back, and pound his fists against me as if trying to get away. I’ve attempted all of the tips on all of the web sites: breast compressions, expressing before he latches, skin to skin, every position imaginable, dietary changes, breaks. I’ve bared it all in front of fellow mamas who’ve unsuccessfully tried to help. Suffice it to say, I have another call into the lactation consultant.

So, as you see, breastfeeding is not fun for me. There’s no sunbeam. There’s no oozing of love. I’m usually stressed, or fighting an angry baby, or fighting feelings of failure and rejection. During the good nursing sessions, I’m on edge, expecting the melt down. I cry occasionally. I want to quit constantly.

But every day I reaffirm my commitment to nursing Charlie. I don’t care if he only gets one ounce a day from me; he’s going to get that ounce, and he’s going to like it. I am deeply committed, despite how difficult it is for me. I believe too much in the importance of breast milk. I’m too damn stubborn.

Each day that I don’t quit is another victory for me and for Charlie. Each day I take the time to congratulate myself. Breastfeeding is by far the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life, but it’s also given me a great deal of pride.

And that’s something even the Bad-Mom Police can get behind.

August 6, 2010

PregTASTIC Supports Breastfeeding Awareness

As many of you know, August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. To help support this endeavor, our new PregTASTIC blogging team will be sharing their personal experiences when it comes to breastfeeding. We’re telling it all… the good, the bad and the ugly. Breastfeeding can be difficult, and the more we can support and encourage one another, the better off we’ll all be. We firmly believe that.

So, enjoy the stories this month… and if you’re interested in sharing your own personal experience, please contact us. For additional information about breastfeeding, listen to the following episodes of PregTASTIC:

Breastfeeding Basics, Part 1 of 3
What are some advantages for both mom and baby? When will your milk come in? How much and how often should you feed your newborn? When should you consider purchasing a breast pump, bottles and other breastfeeding gear? When is your window of opportunity to introduce a bottle? Plus, common breastfeeding hiccups and ways to overcome them. Is there a genetic factor? Dr. Eyla Boise, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at University California San Diego School of Medicine is this weeks breastfeeding expert.

Tips for a Healthy Breastfeeding Diet, Part 2 of 3
A mom’s healthy, balanced diet is essential for future breastfeeding. Mothers often have questions about which foods are important to eat and which foods should be avoided when nursing their babies. What are some helpful nutritional guidelines? How important is calcium, iron, protein? What foods and snacks are best? And the importance of staying hydrated. April Boyle, a board certified lactation consultant and registered dietitian is this week’s expert.

Positions and Proper Latch-On Skills, Part 3 of 3
During the early weeks, optimal positioning and a proper latch are especially important. When you and your baby are well positioned and latched correctly, your nipples stay healthy and your baby can feed most efficiently. Eve Moran, this week’s breastfeeding expert, joins us with information, tips and techniques on the proper way to position and hold your baby while breastfeeding and the importance of a proper latch.

Also, coming this month… we’ll be taping new PregTASTIC episodes focusing on “Baby-Friendly” Hospitals and “Breast Milk Banking”. Watch these tapings LIVE on our website Saturday, August 14th.

July 8, 2010

Dr. Jack Newman

Pediatrician, Lactation Expert, Author

Dr. Jack Newman is a Toronto pediatrician who has practiced medicine since 1970. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto medical school. In 1984, he established the first hospital-based breastfeeding clinic in Canada at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. He has practiced as a physician in Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. He now holds breastfeeding clinics in several hospitals in the Toronto area. He is a consultant with UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and is a popular speaker at breastfeeding conferences across North America and beyond. He is the father of three children, all breastfed.

Dr. Jack Newman  = Episode #64 – Dr. Jack Newman & Helping Mothers Achieve Their Breastfeeding Goals

Episode 167 | March 11, 2010

Baby Carriers. Find the perfect carrier for you!

Baby slings, wraps, pouches, oh my! The Maya, Moby, Baby Bjorn, Ergo, The Peanut shell… So many to choose from, but which carrier will suit you best? Will you be the only one using it? What’s your budget? And, will you carry your baby on your hip, in the front, or on your back? Vera Casey from babywearingsandiego.com is this weeks baby carrier expert.    (YOU CAN LISTEN/DOWNLOAD THE AUDIO PODCAST OR WATCH ON VIDEO)

Episode 151 | August 18, 2009

Breastfeeding Pt. 3 of 3: Breastfeeding Positions & Proper Latch-On Skills – PLUS WIN A BABYHAWK BABY CARRIER!

During the early weeks, optimal positioning and a proper latch are especially important. When you and your baby are well positioned and latched correctly, your nipples stay healthy and your baby can feed most efficiently. Eve Moran, this week’s breastfeeding expert, joins us with information, tips and techniques on the proper way to position and hold your baby while breastfeeding and the importance of a proper latch. Plus your chance to win a 100% organic baby carrier from BabyHawk.   SHOW NOTES

Episode 150 | August 10, 2009

Breastfeeding Pt. 2 of 3: Tips for a Healthy Breastfeeding Diet

A mom’s healthy, balanced diet is essential for future breastfeeding. Mothers often have questions about which foods are important to eat and which foods should be avoided when nursing their babies. What are some helpful nutritional guidelines? How important is calcium, iron, protein? What foods and snacks are best? And the importance of staying hydrated. April Boyle, a board certified lactation consultant and registered dietitian is this week’s expert.   Show Notes

Episode 149 | August 4, 2009

Breastfeeding Pt. 1 of 3: Breastfeeding Basics

Breastfeeding Basics: What are some advantages for both mom and baby? When will your milk come in? How much and how often should you feed your newborn? When should you consider purchasing a breast pump, bottles and other breastfeeding gear? When is your window of opportunity to introduce a bottle? Plus, common breastfeeding hiccups and ways to overcome them. Is there a genetic factor? Dr. Eyla Boise, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at University California San Diego School of Medicine is this weeks breastfeeding expert.

Episode 145 | July 6, 2009

Everything Epidurals

Epidurals: 75% of women have one. What is the process? What is the epidural space? Does it affect the baby? The best position to make the insertion easier, epidural myths, patient controlled epidurals, and possible side affects. PregTASTIC welcomes back Obstetric Anesthesiologist and author Dr. William Camann.    SHOW NOTES

PregTASTIC Pregnancy Podcast #145

Episode 135 | April 20, 2009

Mindy’s Birthing Story and Win a PregTASTIC Prize!

Mindy’s four-week early birth, epidural bliss, dealing with pressure to feed her newborn, must haves at the hospital and what’s with the weird toe comment from the nurse? Plus, your chance to win!

Episode 107 | August 26, 2008

“First Series” show 2 of 3: First Days After Birth

What to expect during the first few days while caring for your new baby? How does your body and your baby’s body change? Danger signs, breast feeding cues, car seat tips and establishing visiting hours at home. Midwife, Gerri Ryan returns for part 2 of our 3 part series. Plus, win a BabyHawk baby carrier!

NEXT WEEK: PregTASTIC “Firsts Series”. Part 3: What to expect during the first few weeks after giving birth. And, your chance to win another BabyHawk baby carrier!

Episode 104 | August 6, 2008

Breastfeeding Myths and More

The 411 on breastfeeding. PregTASTIC celebrates Breastfeeding Awareness Week! Are you magically supposed to know how to BF? What does a hamburger have to do with breastfeeding? What is an enteromammary pathway? Hot or cold compress? Are breastfed babies protected from diseases mom was vaccinated against? Lactation Consultant and author Rose DeVigne-Jackiewicz RN, IBCLC gives the 411 on breastfeeding myths and more. Plus, another PregTASTIC contest!

Episode 65 | August 28, 2007

Notes From a Lactation Consultant

When should you hire a lactation consultant? How to handle those offering well meaning advice. How to tell family that you may not want to have visitors right after giving birth. What’s up with underwire bras? And, another PregTASTIC contest! This week’s guest, Margaret Goebel is the owner of “The Sweetest Milk” Lactation Consulting business.

Episode 64 | August 20, 2007

Dr. Jack Newman & Helping Mothers Achieve Their Breastfeeding Goals

What are two basic principles to understanding breastfeeding? How do they help new mothers? Leading lactation expert, Dr. Jack Newman discusses why there is more to BF than the breastmilk. Plus, breastfeeding myths, common problems, milk banks and more!

Episode 62 | August 6, 2007

Early Initiation of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding within the first hours after birth. The importance of the latch and colostrum. Breastfeeding right after a c-section? Lactation Consultant, Annie VerSteeg, addresses these concerns. Plus, tube/finger feeding, nipple confusion, and thrush.

Episode 61 | July 23, 2007

Annie’s Birthing Story

Why was Annie induced? Why did she break all the rules of delivery? And conflicting breastfeeding advice. Annie and Rob join us to talk about the birth of baby Matty. A contest winner! And a caller shares how she was the last to learn of her pregnancy.

Episode 53 | May 29, 2007

Formula Feeding Facts

What if breastfeeding does not go as planned? Maybe breastfeeding is not what you have in mind. What you can do to optimize the health of a formula-fed baby? Plus, formula options, new trends in homemade formulas and cow’s colostrum.

Episode 44 | March 26, 2007

5 Tips for Successful Breastfeeding

Many women plan to breastfeed although when the time comes many struggle with various issues. Learn what you can do before birth that will lead to success with breastfeeding.