Starting Solid Foods

I would like to take some time to talk about delaying the introduction of solid foods in a breastfed infant. As a Mom you receive advice from many different people on many different issues. One thing that is commonly heard is about starting solids. So many people think that babies should start solid foods at 4 months or 4-6 months. I want to offer you some information I have come across during my research:


My favorite resource on this is: kellymom.com

I also like: askdrsears.com

Another interesting link: breastfeedingbasics.com

So in summation, delaying the introduction of solid foods until after 6 months of age is so important. After 6 months you need to be looking out for those developmental milestones as indications that your baby is ready. Please remember that when you do start introducing your baby to solid food that it is not as a replacement to breastmilk! Offer your baby solid food at mealtimes and offer it in minimal amounts as not to replace nursing. A good thing to remember is that your baby's tummy is only the size of his or her tightly clenched fist. So only a few spoonfuls is really necessary! The goal is to introduce your baby to different tastes and textures! Breastmilk is their main nutrition for the first 12 months!


Something else that might be worth thinking about is making your own baby food. It is quick, and easy! I always liked that idea better than feeding my baby something that has been in a jar sitting on a shelf, in the store for who knows how long! I like to use organic foods. A nice tip for making your own baby food is to use an ice cube tray and freeze your home made baby food. This makes convenient little serving size portions!


The AAP's new recommendation for solid foods is that you start out giving your baby meats, then vegetables, and fruits last. No rice cereals! With all the emerging research and the startling increase in childhood obesity and diabetes in children... This is so important!


I hope you will take the time to research the links I've provided as well as do your own research on the subject of solid foods :-) Comments are welcomed!

Breastfeeding & the working Mom

A lot of women feel like they need to give up breastfeeding when they go back to work. Whilst I will tell you that is certainly not easy, it is possible to continue to breastfeed your baby after you go back to work! I am currently a stay-at-home Mom, but when my first child was born I was working and going to school full time. Thru many sleepless nights and endless dedication, I did manage to breastfeed my son for a solid 13 months. It is possible! So let me go over some things that may help you!

Know your rights! There are laws in place to protect you as a breastfeeding Mom! Please check out these links for more information:

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs73.pdf

Breastfeeding State Laws

I do have some tips that worked for me as far as pumping while I was at work and school. Letting down to a pump is definitely an acquired skill. There are some things that can help you let down, and to maximize your amount of expressed milk. For some Mom's just thinking about their baby is all it takes, but with technology these days... You can do even better! I found that looking at a current picture of my baby definitely helped me let down, and also looking at a video of my baby was an even better trick! My video I made was of my son actually crying when he was hungry! It was right there on my cell phone whenever I would go to pump. I will tell you that this did have a funny side affect. I was so trained to let down at the sound of a hungry, crying baby that if I was in Walmart and someone else's baby cried... I would let down! Ha ha.

Something else to think about is investing in a good quality pump. If you only need to pump occasionally for the evening out with your spouse, then a hand pump may do just fine. However, if you are working and pumping on a regular basis you might want to consider getting a really good breast pump. I personally recommend Medela products. I used their Pump In Style, and really loved it! You can even rent a hospital grade pump, a lot of Hospitals offer their pumps for rent :)

I mentioned in a previous post that the best way to ensure a good milk supply is stimulation from your baby. So if you are away from your baby during the day and pumping, it is still very important to make sure you nurse baby as much as possible when you get home! Spending lots of skin-to-skin contact your baby will also help to maintain your milk supply. One way I did this was by wearing my son as much as possible when I was with him. A second way I got lots of skin-to-skin time with my son was when we shared sleep at night.

Please visit this kellymom.com link for more information on maintaining a good milk supply:
Establishing & Maintaing a Good Milk Supply

***I would like to invite any Mom's who have experience with pumping at work to please comment on this post with any other helpful tips!! Thank you!!

How to use the "Moby Wrap"

When I first purchased my wrap, it took me a few tries to really master getting it on and getting my baby into it comfortably. So I have made some tutorial videos on how to do just that! I hope you find this helpful! I have used other baby carriers and ring slings and I must say that the moby wrap really surpasses the rest! As a Mom of two, it is a necessity for me. I can have all the benefits of wearing my baby without missing out on any time with me 3 year old! 

Start here! Getting the moby wrap on:

The hug hold:

Getting baby out of your wrap:

***I have amended this post! If you want to face your child outwards, please visit this link for directions on using the "lotus hold" which is safer for your baby!

Lotus Hold

Babywearing

Let's talk about babywearing! As with sleep sharing, there has been some negative media about babywearing. There have been some really unfortunate incidences that has brought some criticism over babywearing. When practiced properly, babywearing is completely safe. So let me start this post off by reiterating some safety measures for wearing your baby. Make sure you pay attention to baby's breathing while you are wearing him, if his breathing becomes shallow or raspy, take him out of your sling/carrier and readjust the positioning. Be sure that baby's chin is not pressed to his chest as this will compress his airway. Dress baby lightly because your body heat will keep baby sufficiently warm, you don't want baby to become overheated. If baby begins to feel clammy or sweaty, take him out for a little while, maybe think about adjusting your thermostat or removing a layer of clothing. 

Here is my youngest child enjoying some time in our Moby Wrap. With more than one child, I find my baby carrier to be a necessity! My baby is always easily accessible but it also allows me to still do things like go the playground with my older child!

For more information on the many benefits of wearing your baby please take a look at this link:

Babywearing - Wikipedia

My favorite tips for soothing a "FUSSY" baby

Both of my children were what most would call a "fussy" or "colicky" babies. As one of my favorite parenting resources, Dr. Sears, puts it... I have been blessed with "high needs" children. LOL. I would like to share some of my favorite tricks and tips that I have found that worked for us!

• Breastfeeding on demand: Whilst very time consuming for Mommy, and sometimes tiring, I've found that offering the breast at every sign of fussiness really helps! It doesn't always work... But most breastfed babies find that comfort nursing is very, well... comforting! :)

• Babywearing: The best thing my husband every gave me, was my Moby Wrap! I swear, I could not live without it! There are so many proven benefits to babywearing! If you don't believe me... Try wearing your baby for a day and see how much happier he/she is! Not to mention that you can get so much more done with two free hands! You can even nurse with baby in a sling!

• Swaddling: With my first child, swaddling was something that I hadn't really figured out. Nowadays, they make most blankets too small for swaddling any baby over 7lbs! Ha ha. With my second baby, I am a pro! My favorite blankets for swaddling are sold at Target by Aden and Anais. They are really big, and a really thin, woven, cotton so baby doesn't get too overheated.

• Sleep Sharing: I found that with both my kids, I get much more sleep with baby in the bed with me. The second they stir, I have a breast ready and waiting! Much faster and easier for getting them right back to sleep! And "high needs" babies seem to do better when they know Mommy is close. Please see my post on SAFE sleep sharing!

• Reflux: Some babies who are fussy are simply suffering from reflux. Reflux babies don't like to lie flat, so try some of the tips that most of the parenting guru's recommend... 

1.  Make sure you properly position your baby during feedings, with their head elevated. This can sometimes be tricky while nursing. I found that using the "football" hold was helpful for this. If your baby does indeed suffer from reflux you may want to avoid a "side lying" hold as it is more difficult to prop baby's head. If you share sleep with baby and find it easier to use this position to nurse for nighttime feedings you may want to try propping your baby's head up on your arm (this takes some practice).
2.  Make sure you efficiently burp your baby after every feeding. Excess gas can make reflux worse for your baby!
3.  Hold your baby upright for 30 minutes after each and every feeding. This gives baby time to digest the milk beyond their stomach. In a baby under 6 months, the valve that seals the top of the stomach closed doesn't fully function yet, so the goal is keeping the milk down in baby's tummy!
4.  Invest in a Nap Nanny it is a great contraption! It is a piece of foam shaped into a baby sleeping device. It keeps baby's head elevated to a 30 degree angle, optimal for reflux baby's! Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions! It is only for use on the floor, not inside a crib or on elevated surfaces!

5.  If all else fails, try talking to your pediatrician about trying some medications for reflux. Both my kids spent some time on Zantac, which really helped!

• Routine: I found that with both my kids, trying to have some sort of a routine for them to rely on really helped. My daughter LOVES bath time. So I try to have a bedtime routine of playtime, bath time, massage, feeding... BED! She knows when we take a bath, sleep is not far off!

• Lay baby down when DROWSY, not when fully asleep! Starting at 6 weeks, you should make sure that you rock/nurse baby only until he/she is drowsy NOT when fully asleep. That way they learn how to fall asleep on their own. So they are not dependent on you every single time. It really works! For more sleep tips, you should really read "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley. It's great!

SAFE Sleep Sharing

There has been a lot in the media lately about sleep sharing, formerly known as co-sleeping, that has cast a negative light on the issue. I fear that this negativity is taking something that many parents the world over practice, and outlawing it. Well you know what happens then? Parents are still doing it, but perhaps are doing it in an unsafe way! That is when terrible things happen. Instead, why don't we teach parents the SAFE way to share sleep with their infants?
I personally practiced sleep sharing with my son until he was 8 months old, and am currently sharing sleep with my 5 month old daughter. It is something that has worked well for our family and for many others as well. The only safe place to share sleep with your baby is in your bed! Not on your sofa, or couch. The bed should be free of fluffy bedding, pillows or anything else baby can become entangled in. Your clothing should also be free of any ties or strings baby could get entangled in. You should dress your baby warmly, but not too warm, keep in mind your body heat will also help to keep your baby warm. If your spouse is also in the bed, do not place baby in the middle! Dad's are not as physiologically in tune with baby as Mom's are and may roll over or thrash around too much. Same goes if you also share sleep with an older child (My 3 year old sleeps in the bed also from time to time). Never ever go to bed with your infant if you have been drinking or taking any medications that may alter your state of mind. That includes things like cough medicine that may make you drowsy. If you are a very heavy sleeper, you may want to consider a different sleeping arrangement.
The way I have slept with both my children is with myself laying on my side and my baby laying with their head in the crook of my arm. This is convenient for night time feedings and I always know where baby is during the night. A breastfeeding Mom is very connected with her baby and it has been proven that Mom's and baby's who share sleep on a regular basis tend to be on the same sleep cycle, entering light sleep at the same time so that when baby wakes, Mom is ready! It's quite incredible :) If it is possible, it helps to move your bed so that it is against the wall. That way you have: wall, baby, Mom, then Dad (if Dad still stays in the bed). You must however make certain that your mattress is flush with the wall so baby cannot get trapped in between. I have found that sharing sleep with my baby who is still young enough to need night time feedings enables both myself and baby to get more rest. I know the instant they stir so I can promptly respond instead of baby having to wake all the way up screaming before I realize what's going on. This means baby goes back to sleep more easily and I don't even have to get up and fully wake up myself in order to meet the needs of my baby.

Here is me and my first child, he was 2 months old:

For more information on safe sleep sharing please visit these links:

askdrsears.com - SAFE CO-SLEEPING
kellymom.com - The Family Bed

Milk supply problems & latching issues

So the problems I hear most about with nursing a new baby are milk supply, and trouble getting baby to latch on. Here is some information you might find helpful!

The best way to ensure a good milk supply is stimulation to the nipple/breast. The most effective method of stimulation is your baby! If you are having issues with milk supply the best thing you can do is to nurse as frequently as possible! As often as baby will allow! Make sure not to let baby go longer than 3 or 4 hours, even if baby is sleeping! A mistake that many new Mom's make is being fearful to wake baby up. Newborns need to nurse at least every 2-3 hours around the clock and definitely no longer than 4 hours! It is NOT normal for a newborn to sleep 7-8 hours without eating. Know that in the first few weeks you should be nursing your baby 10-13 times in a 24 hour period. There is no such thing as nursing your baby too much! You can nurse not enough, and cause your milk supply to drop. The soreness you may experience at first is only temporary, I promise!

Some other things to try are spending lots of skin-to-skin time with your newborn. This helps to increase your milk production and increase your already growing bond with your baby :) Sleep sharing has also been shown to increase milk production (see my post on SAFE sleep sharing!) as is babywearing. Anything that promotes closeness to your baby is shown to increase your milk. Bonding with your baby, believe it or not actually increases the release of the same hormones that cause your body to produce milk!

If your milk supply is so low that baby begins to lose weight (with the exception of the first few days, baby may lose up to 7% of their birth weight), you may need to supplement with formula. A lot of Mom's choose to use a bottle to supplement. If you do this, your baby may have what is called "nipple confusion". At the breast, baby has to work harder to get the milk, whereas with a bottle the milk instantly fills their mouth! The flow is much faster with a bottle, so baby can become lazy and refuse to latch onto the breast. The best way to supplement a breastfed newborn with formula is to get what is called a "periodontal syringe" that has a narrow, curved tip. While baby is latched on you will want to put the tip of the syringe in the corner of baby's mouth and slowly (a drop at a time) depress the plunger every few minutes. That way baby is getting enough to eat, and you are still getting the stimulation to your breast!

Another common misconception is that when a new Mom pumps, they will be able to gauge how much milk they are producing. This is NOT the case! If you only are able to pump a very small amount, this does not equal the amount your baby is getting at the breast! The pump does not provide the same stimulation as your baby, so you will not express as much milk with the pump! Baby is much more efficient at emptying the breast! It takes practice to learn how to "let down" with a pump. If you can also pump between feedings however, this is good for increasing your stimulation. The only accurate way to know how much breastmilk your baby is getting during a feeding is to set up an appointment with your lactation consultant to weigh your baby before and after a feeding.

As far as baby's who do not latch... Persistence is the key! A lot of women give up too soon and give baby a bottle. As long as your baby is having enough wet and dirty diapers (After your milk has come in baby should have 3-4 dirty diapers and 5-6 wet ones over a 24 hour period), baby is getting enough to eat! In most cases, when baby is hungry enough, he/she will latch on. Some things to try are: Use your hand to manually express some of your milk and gently rub your nipple on baby's lips, let baby practice sucking on your pinky finger upside down instead of a pacifier (make sure your nails are trimmed short!). If you do need to supplement as determined by your lactation consultant or pediatrician, again, use the syringe and if baby refuses to latch on to the breast use your finger instead, putting the syringe in the corner of baby's mouth. Still only drops at a time! Even if it takes several minutes to give baby an ounce or so. But that is ONLY as a last resort, if baby is losing weight. There are also nipple shields, they are great! They can be a pain in the butt, because you have to sanitize them after each use, but well worth it! They are great for babies that have nipple confusion, and to help reshape your nipple if you have nipples that aren't shaped too well for nursing. They come in different sizes, contact your lactation consultant to get fitted and learn how to use them.

There are also many over the counter and prescription medications that can help increase milk supply. Not to be tried without the supervision of a professional. Some herbal supplements like Fenugreek can work really well, and found at many health food stores. Metamucil is another good one! There are a few prescription medications that may also help boost milk production. With the help of your lactation consultant, and I urge any new Mom to have one, you can pick some methods that really work to help increase your milk production and overcome most latching issues! My hope is that with more CORRECT information available and easily accessible, that more Mom's will choose to and successfully nurse their babies!!

To learn more about how your milk production works, please take a look at this link:

kellymom.com - How does milk production work?