I went back to work three months after I had my son. Lucky for me, it was only part-time (two-three days a week). It was quite a transition for my body to go from breastfeeding one day and the next pumping. Pumping breastmilk can sometimes be a challenge but hopefully these tips will help:.
1. Get into a pumping routine. I used to pump on my two 15 minute breaks (one morning, one afternoon) and at my lunch break. Liz Pevytoe RN, IBCLC recommends starting and ending your workday empty (Before you clock in and after you clock out, pump). Either way you choose to do it is fine, but the most important thing to remember is to stay on a schedule! Make sure you do not try to skip a pumping session as it could be detrimental to your supply or health. Every time I tried to skip a pumping I got a plugged duct and let me tell you that was not fun! I learned quickly the importance of a regular schedule!
2. Choose a good pump , cheap pumps can cause injury,low supply mastitis from lack of emptying. Invest in a good pump. My pump was a manual express by Medela. Since I was just part-time I felt like it was ok, but it would have been quicker and nicer with an electric one. I would definitely suggest an electric pump for full-timers. Liz recommends these:
Pump In Style …Medela $270.99
Ameda Purely …Ameda $207.00
Hygeia EnJoye …Hygeia $186.66
Medela Pump in…Stanford Distribut… $329.90
Ameda One Ha…Ameda$29.95
Whatever pump you choose, make sure you are using the correct size flanges. Ask a lactation consultant to take a look.
3. Make sure your bra fits properly! This is critical because if not, you can get plugged ducts (I know because I did!)A great fitting bra shouldn't dig, pull, poke or otherwise cause discomfort. If it does, it's not the right size (or bra) for you. Make sure it feels comfortable when you are moving around. There shouldn't be any breast tissue spillage at the top, side or bottom of the cups. If there is, your cup size is too small. Try sizing up for a better fit. Your bra should feel comfortable and supportive. You shouldn't have to settle for a so-so fit. Sometimes you will have to go up a cup size or two. Don't let it concern you – sizes do vary among brands. Finding the perfect bra takes time and patience, but the way you will look (and feel) once you have found it will be worth all of your effort.
4. If you find you need to increase your milk supply, talk to a lactation consultant or your doctor for advice. We found that using a galactogogue (milk stimulating herb) to increase your supply typically works well, but only if you are frequently expressing breast milk with a pump or by nursing. Also, it can make you sick if you are one to skip pumping sessions/emptying. I have found Motherlove's products to work wonderfully and Liz recommends these:
Fenugreek Seed 610 mg - 180 C… -Nature's Way $4.89
More Milk Plus Alcohol Free 4 oz.-Motherlove
Nature's Way Blessed Thistle…$6.66
Organic Mother's Milk Tea 16 Bags-Traditional Medici…$6.86
5. Store your breastmilk in a cooler with icepacks so that you do not forget your expressed breastmilk at work!
Most important thing to remember is to keep your local lactation consultants number on speed dial for questions and support. They are an amazing resource!
Let us know if you have any additional tips! We would love to hear them.
Warmly,
Nicole
Nizo Wear Nursing Bras
Thank you Liz Pevytoe RN, IBCLC, for posting such great tips on askthelactationconsultant.com !
About Me
- Nizo Wear
- Admit it. Most nursing bras are kind of industrial-looking. At least that is what I thought when I was shopping around for a nursing bra. I also found that while breastfeeding is natural and wonderful, it is also difficult and complex and sometimes it really hurts! The best advice I could find was to use warm compresses before nursing and cold compresses afterwards. But nobody could give me any tips for how to make the whole compress thing practical or COMFORTABLE! So, my design was patented and Nizo Wear was born. I firgured while I was at it I should make them pretty as well. Nizo Wear makes nursing bras that are de both functional and pretty. Lace and rhinestones, playful prints, shapely lines, all designed to help you feel stylish and good again.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Breastfeeding since the late 1800s
I just discovered the following article and thought it was worth sharing. I love learning new and cannot resist sharing. I hope you all find it interesting too. Let me know what you think!! Best,
Nicole
(Thank you to examiner.com for sharing this article)In the late 1800's, large numbers of women began weaning their babies off the breast and on to cow's milk, often within ten weeks of birth. Economic class of mothers indicated different reasons for this early weaning, but the overall movement toward dangerous weaning practices did not seem to be limited by class distinction. Women who had to work didn't have much choice but to leave their infants with a caregiver, which made weaning necessary. Women who could afford to stay home with their children perceived this working-class trend as a chance to allow themselves an amount of freedom from traditional mothering challenges, and helped to make early weaning a fashionable thing to do. Infant mortality rates soon rose, with deaths commonly attributed to malnutrition, bacterial contamination, and diarrhea. The illnesses associated with feeding cow's milk to babies prompted dairy manufacturers to make pastuerization a standard practice.
Commercially available baby formula gained a cultural foothold in the 1950's, a time of modernization and progress following the Great Depression. Baby formula was a great help to mothers who needed or wanted to work after pregnancy. During this time when televisions were coming into the average American home, advertising shiny new products that automated household tasks, baby formula became fashionable for its ease of use. Most likely, the promise of maternal modesty played a role in the widespread cultural adoption of formula feeding. During the 1950's it would have been considered crude to use the term "pregnant" in advertising or on a television show, whereas a term like "expecting" would be considered more appropriate. Social dialogue regarding sexual matters in practical terms was taboo. For a generation that would have been horrified at the immodesty of seeing a single bed in Lucille Ball's television set bedroom, the idea of taking women's breasts out of the collective image of motherhood must certainly have seemed a favorable one. Due to a lack of research data and public education on the nutritional values of breast milk, formula feeding became the standard feeding method for infants in the U.S. Standardized formula use was considered an improvement on feeding practices of previous generations, and as a result, practical knowledge of breastfeeding became lost among generations of mothers who had never even attempted it. By the 1970's, breastfeeding began to reintegrate into popular culture. It is not widely known that the feminist movement is largely responsible for a renewed interest in the practice of breastfeeding children. Women began to feel more control of their bodies and sexuality, and as a result, began to feel more empowered and secure in their natural abilities. Embracing womanhood by way of feminism was a first step toward questioning the practice of formula feeding. Today, medical organizations the world over agree that breast is best for baby. An effort is being made to encourage women to use the tools nature has given them to care for their children. There is much cultural indoctrination against breastfeeding that must be dissolved over time, but the benefits of breastfeeding are slowly winning women back to nursing their own children.
Thank you Wikipedia for the great pic.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
All honey is the same, right??
I do not know about you, but I used to always buy the cheapest honey in the store and never understood the wide price range between brands. After seeing the 'queen of honey' (I'm not kidding, there is such a thing) at our State fair this past summer I changed my habits.
I just discovered this article and thought it explained the differences nicely. Most importantly it gives brands to stay away from as they could be dangerous!
Why we love honey:
"Raw honey is thought to have many medicinal properties," says Kathy Egan, dietitian at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. "Stomach ailments, anemia and allergies are just a few of the conditions that may be improved by consumption of unprocessed honey." At our house, we use honey before bed for sore throats! One medicine my son will not argue taking!!
Check out this article to know if the honey you and your family are consuming is safe! http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/
Monday, November 7, 2011
Formula ads found to impact moms' feeding decisions
Formula ads found to impact moms' feeding decisions
I recently read this article about how much formula ads impacted mom's feeding decisions and was quite shocked with the statistics! According to the World Health Organization (WHO)those who remembered a formula advertisement were two times more likely to formula feed over breastfeed. In addition, those advised by their doctor were four times more likely to feed formula rather than breastfeed. And if they started off breastfeeding, they were 6.4 times more likely to stop after seeing the ads or speaking with a doctor.
These statistics are so alarming because of the dangers formula feeding can pose in developing countries. The water used to mix with the formula can be contaminated, leading to serious health complications. Moms often use less formula than recommended to extend their supplies, resulting in malnutrition of their babies.
Now, I do not live in a developing country, but I do know that when I visited my doctor (towards the end of my third trimester) I received two coolers with formula names printed on them and two full size formula containers. I am pretty sure this is probably something that happened to many women and I can see how that is quite influential. Luckily, I was able to breastfeed and ended up donating what I received, but I can see how receiving the free stuff would easily persuade!
What was your experience?
Thank you oncloudmom for sharing this article!
view the full article here: http://blog.oncloudmom.com/2011/11/formula-ads-found-to-impact-moms.html
Friday, October 28, 2011
Breast Cancer Prevention: How to reduce your risk
Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month we decided to share some tips on how to reduce your breast cancer risk. (yes, breastfeeding is one of the four tips recommended!) I was shocked when I read one person will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the United States. But what is striking about this particular disease is that we have the ability to monitor for it in ways we don't necessarily with other types of cancer. Share this info and help save a life!
Get regular check-ups and do self-exams to make sure you're staying healthy! If you catch breast cancer early enough, the survival rates are very high.
(The following habits are provided by Mayo Clinic) Breast cancer prevention starts with healthy habits — such as limiting the amount of alcohol you drink and staying physically active. Understand what you can do to prevent breast cancer.
If you're concerned about breast cancer, you may be wondering if there are steps you can take toward breast cancer prevention. Understand the lifestyle factors that may affect your risk of breast cancer and what you can do to stay healthy.
What can I do to reduce my risk of breast cancer?
Breast cancer prevention begins with various factors you can control. For example:
Limit alcohol. The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer. If you choose to drink alcohol — including beer, wine or liquor — limit yourself to no more than one drink a day.
Control your weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause.
Get plenty of physical activity. Being physically active can help you maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, helps prevent breast cancer. For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity (think brisk walking or swimming) or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (such as running), in addition to strength training exercises at least twice a week. If you're just starting a physical activity program, start slowly and build intensity gradually.
Breast-feed. Breast-feeding may also play a role in breast cancer prevention. The longer you breast-feed, the greater the protective effect
Discontinue hormone therapy. Long-term combination hormone therapy increases the risk of breast cancer. If you're taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, ask your doctor about other options. You may be able to manage your symptoms with non-hormonal therapies, such as physical activity. If you decide that the benefits of short-term hormone therapy outweigh the risks, consider using the lowest dose that's effective for your symptoms, and plan to use it only temporarily.
Can a healthy diet prevent breast cancer?
Research shows that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables doesn't offer direct protection from breast cancer. In addition, a recent study of dietary fat and breast cancer showed only a slight decrease in the risk of invasive breast cancer for women who ate a low-fat diet. However, eating a healthy diet may decrease your risk of other diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. A healthy diet can also help you maintain a healthy weight — a key factor in breast cancer prevention.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Shocking breastfeeding interview
Interview with model and author Tara Moss on breastfeeding:
Hello! I came across this lovely interview with model and author Tara Moss who lives in Australia. What caught my eye, and shocked me, was learning that Australia’s breastfeeding rate is only 14% at 6months!
Tara was clearly as shocked as I am because she has teamed up with Unicef to help raise those rates. This is a great article that talks about our cultures ambivalence towards breastfeeding, especially in public. This is supported by the fact that we feel we have to create cover-ups and new laws to make it ok for a woman to breastfeed in public.
They also touch on the subject that society has no problem seeing breasts in an ad to sell a product. But when a mother breastfeeds her baby in public there is an uproar. Which, I thought raised a really great point that I do not often think about.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the interview.
Peace,
Nicole
http://blogs.abc.net.au/nsw/2011/10/tara-moss-advocate-for-breastfeeding.html#
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Resources for family friendly activities in Madison WI
photo from Madisonloveskids.comHello! I was just introduced to a new website that lists hundreds of resources for families who either live in Madison, Wisconsin or who will be visiting. This is a great one-stop website for either Wisconsinites looking for something to do or for those of you planning a trip to Wisconsin and are not sure what to do with your children.
MadisonMamas.com includes resources for pregnancy, groups, classes, activities, fitness, services, dining and shopping. They also showcase local events, specials, books, project ideas, recipes, décor, new products and much more. Each listing has a short description and link to the business's website.
Another amazing website I love that lists many local events is Madisonloveskids.com . This website has wonderful up-to-date information and best of all, witty writings! Check it out!!
Have any other sites we should all know about? Share them with us....
Nicole
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
What makes Nizo Wear Nursing Bras different?
Nizo Wear nursing bras are different from all other nursing bras on the market because they add a discreet patented pocket to the pull down flap.
This pocket allows new mothers to place a heating and cooling pack comfortably to their
breast to aid in milk let down and for pain relief after nursing or associated
with plugged ducts and mastitis.
The pocket acts as a thin barrier between wearer’s skin and the heating and cooling pack, which increases wearer’s comfort and safety. This innovative design is offered in amazingly soft fabrics that boast flirty designs.
Not only are our bras functionally fabulous, but they are pretty! Admit it. Most nursing bras you are kind of industrial-looking. Nizo Wear nursing bras are designed to be both functional and pretty. Lace and rhinestones, playful prints, shapely lines, all designed to help you feel stylish and good again. And we know you just want to FEEL GOOD AGAIN!
Check out our products on www.nizowear.com ps. dont forget about our 30% off coupon on web orders with code: worldbfweek
The inspiration behind Nizo Wear Nursing Bras and why we love world breastfeeding week's theme!
Want to know what inspired our unique patented nursing bras? I am sure it sounds like many of your stories. We'd love to hear yours! Here is mine: (ps. dont forget about our 30% off coupon on web orders with code: worldbfweek)
I am a mom who almost gave up nursing within the first week. Best piece of advice I wish I had? Find an experienced lactation consultant, doula or midwife before you give birth that will come to you when you need her! Most moms have that time of need and it is the make or break point of continued breastfeeding.
But I thought hey, since I took the breastfeeding class the hospital offered when I was pregnant and then after I gave birth I talked to the lactation consultants multiple times at the hospital, I should be good! Breastfeeding is simple, right? Well, I could never have been more wrong. But that was my first lesson on this journey of motherhood. I am continuously reminded that I cannot learn it all from a book or a single class!
Looking back, I realized that I really had no idea what to expect no matter how many people told me what it is "suppose" to be like. All the lactation consultant at the busy hospital asked me was "does it feel normal?" And I thought to myself, "Normal!??? How am I suppose to know if THIS feels normal??!!"
Sure, my beautiful baby looked like he was latched on correctly from the outside. Little did I know that his tongue was hitting the tip of my nipple with each suck, which over the course of the next week caused me excruciating pain and my nipples to crack and bleed.
Unfortunately, I did not have an immediate resource outside of my hospital. I tried calling the lactation consultant at the hospital but had to leave messages. When they did get back to me all they could tell me was to put ice packs on and to leave some of my milk on my nipples after each feeding. Well, the cool packs helped to ease the pain a bit after wards, but the root of my problem was not solved!
After a week of agony, my sleep deprived mommy brain clicked and I made a desperate call to a county health nurse I had previously worked with at my job. Thank goodness I remembered her in my state of crisis as she rushed to my rescue. She took one look at my nipples and told me the problem! Yeah, one look and she figured out how he was sucking incorrectly!
She showed me how to train my baby to get him to quit using his tongue and gave me a nipple shield to use until I was healed. It worked! The personal touch of a one on one consultation with someone who knows what they are doing is priceless! She was so amazingly wonderful and her kindness is the only reason I was able to nurse my son for 15 months! This is why I love this week's world breastfeeding theme: This year’s theme established by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy (WABA) is: “Talk to Me: Breastfeeding, a 3-D Experience.” Their focus is on the importance of connection between mother and baby (2-dimensions) but also the third dimension of support from the health care provider, friend, family member, or citizen.
I have now made it my goal to help educate other women about breastfeeding through my patented nursing bra that features a built in healing pocket to hold a hot/cold pack and through my blog. Yes, breastfeeding can hurt but there are things you can do to help you get the relief you so desperately need to continue breastfeeding.
Nicole Zoellner
President
Nizo Wear Nursing Bras
www.nizowear.com
twitter@nizowear
facebook/nizowear
I am a mom who almost gave up nursing within the first week. Best piece of advice I wish I had? Find an experienced lactation consultant, doula or midwife before you give birth that will come to you when you need her! Most moms have that time of need and it is the make or break point of continued breastfeeding.
But I thought hey, since I took the breastfeeding class the hospital offered when I was pregnant and then after I gave birth I talked to the lactation consultants multiple times at the hospital, I should be good! Breastfeeding is simple, right? Well, I could never have been more wrong. But that was my first lesson on this journey of motherhood. I am continuously reminded that I cannot learn it all from a book or a single class!
Looking back, I realized that I really had no idea what to expect no matter how many people told me what it is "suppose" to be like. All the lactation consultant at the busy hospital asked me was "does it feel normal?" And I thought to myself, "Normal!??? How am I suppose to know if THIS feels normal??!!"
Sure, my beautiful baby looked like he was latched on correctly from the outside. Little did I know that his tongue was hitting the tip of my nipple with each suck, which over the course of the next week caused me excruciating pain and my nipples to crack and bleed.
Unfortunately, I did not have an immediate resource outside of my hospital. I tried calling the lactation consultant at the hospital but had to leave messages. When they did get back to me all they could tell me was to put ice packs on and to leave some of my milk on my nipples after each feeding. Well, the cool packs helped to ease the pain a bit after wards, but the root of my problem was not solved!
After a week of agony, my sleep deprived mommy brain clicked and I made a desperate call to a county health nurse I had previously worked with at my job. Thank goodness I remembered her in my state of crisis as she rushed to my rescue. She took one look at my nipples and told me the problem! Yeah, one look and she figured out how he was sucking incorrectly!
She showed me how to train my baby to get him to quit using his tongue and gave me a nipple shield to use until I was healed. It worked! The personal touch of a one on one consultation with someone who knows what they are doing is priceless! She was so amazingly wonderful and her kindness is the only reason I was able to nurse my son for 15 months! This is why I love this week's world breastfeeding theme: This year’s theme established by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy (WABA) is: “Talk to Me: Breastfeeding, a 3-D Experience.” Their focus is on the importance of connection between mother and baby (2-dimensions) but also the third dimension of support from the health care provider, friend, family member, or citizen.
I have now made it my goal to help educate other women about breastfeeding through my patented nursing bra that features a built in healing pocket to hold a hot/cold pack and through my blog. Yes, breastfeeding can hurt but there are things you can do to help you get the relief you so desperately need to continue breastfeeding.
Nicole Zoellner
President
Nizo Wear Nursing Bras
www.nizowear.com
twitter@nizowear
facebook/nizowear
Friday, July 29, 2011
World Breastfeeding Week
In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, Nizo Wear is offering 30% off any nursing bra purchased from their website http://www.nizowear.com/! Simply pick out what Nizo Wear nursing bra you cannot live without and enter coupon code: worldbfweek. You must hurry because this sale is only valid from Sunday July 31st thru Sunday August 7th!
What is World Breastfeeding Week??
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
This year’s theme established by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy (WABA) is: “Talk to Me: Breastfeeding, a 3-D Experience.” Their focus is on the importance of connection between mother and baby (2-dimensions) but also the third dimension of support from the health care provider, friend, family member, or citizen. I LOVE this theme. Support is such an important aspect of breastfeeding, as those of you who know my story know that I could not have continued to breastfeed without it!
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.
The challenge
Malnutrition is responsible, directly or indirectly for about one third of deaths among children under five. Well above two thirds of these deaths, often associated with inappropriate feeding practices, occur during the first year of life.
Nutrition and nurturing during the first years of life are both crucial for life-long health and well-being. In infancy, no gift is more precious than breastfeeding; yet barely one in three infants is exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life.
The response
The World Health Organization recommends that infants start breastfeeding within one hour of life, are exclusively breastfed for six months, with timely introduction of adequate, safe and properly fed complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding for up to two years of age or beyond.
The World Health Organization recommends that infants start breastfeeding within one hour of life, are exclusively breastfed for six months, with timely introduction of adequate, safe and properly fed complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding for up to two years of age or beyond.
Promoting sound feeding practices is one of the main programme areas that the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development focuses on. Activities include the production of sound, evidence-based technical information, development of guidelines and counselling courses, provision of guidance for the protection, promotion and support of infant and young child feeding at policy, health service and community levels, production of appropriate indicators and maintenance of a Global Data Bank on Infant and Young Child Feeding.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tips you always wish you knew on how to get the right bra fit
Tips you always wish you knew on how to get the right bra fit: 
1.The bra should be quite firm around the body, and ideally fitted on the 3rd eye adjustment.
2.Shoulder straps loosened or tightened as necessary.
3.Breasts well enclosed within the cup.
4.Center front going back reasonably well to chest wall.
5.Snug fit at neck and underarm edges (not too tight and not gaping).
If your bra looks like this your cup is too big,
1.The bra should be quite firm around the body, and ideally fitted on the 3rd eye adjustment.
2.Shoulder straps loosened or tightened as necessary.
3.Breasts well enclosed within the cup.
4.Center front going back reasonably well to chest wall.
5.Snug fit at neck and underarm edges (not too tight and not gaping).
Your bra doesn't fit quite right if...
If the back rides up,
try going down a band size, but up a cup size for similar cup capacity i.e. 36C to 34D.
try going down a band size, but up a cup size for similar cup capacity i.e. 36C to 34D.
If you are spilling out of the cup,
try going up a cup size or two, keeping the band size the same i.e. 34B to 34D
If your bra looks like this your cup is too big,
try a smaller cup size, keeping the band size the same i.e. 34D to 34C.
Spill-over
Low milk supply journey: Part 2
Low Milk Supply Journey: Part 2-
"Our journey towards weight gain continues. At my son's 4 mth check-up his doctor noticed a decline on his growth curve. For the next week I was instructed to start taking fenugreek as a supplement and to breastfeed my baby more often. In addition I was told to give him a 2 oz supplemental bottle after each nursing session.
I am incredibly fortunate to have an overproducing sister with a baby 2 months older than my son. She supplied me with frozen breast milk! After the first 9 days my son gained 14oz! The next week I was instructed to follow the same regime. After that week he gained an additional 6oz.
Then came the true test - stop the supplemental feeding, but continue the herbal boosters. The hope was to gain 0.5oz every day. Half way through this week I began taking Motherlove's More Milk Plus. My doctor - who is also a lactation consultant - was familiar with their products and pleased I was starting them.
Then came the true test - stop the supplemental feeding, but continue the herbal boosters. The hope was to gain 0.5oz every day. Half way through this week I began taking Motherlove's More Milk Plus. My doctor - who is also a lactation consultant - was familiar with their products and pleased I was starting them.
I had been emailing with Motherlove's local representative and she was fabulous in helping me get going! I can tell the More Milk Plus has been increasing my supply - my breasts have been feeling fuller in between nursing session and I just felt like I was producing more. I was very hopeful going into our next weigh-in.
On our own he did ok, but not great. His next weigh-in showed a 2oz gain. That puts us on the 2 week weigh-in plan, opposed to the weekly one we were on. I admit to being frustrated with the situation - this is my 4th baby and the first time I've had to go in for so many weight checks!
I knew sudafed would lessen any one's milk supply; through my experience I've also learned that sage is to be avoided while breastfeeding for the same reason. Throughout this whole ordeal I feel so fortunate to have a doctor who supports breastfeeding and all the natural ways available to keep that going! I also am impressed by companies like Motherlove who share the common goal with excellent representatives. There is hope for low milk supply!!" -Lisa
Here is a link to other herbs that may affect milk supply: http://www.babycenter.com/0_breast-milk-interactions-chart_8788.bc?page=1.
I was surprised to see peppermint, menthol and parsley on there! This shows you how naive I was when I breastfed. I knew to stay away from alcohol and caffeine but herbs were so not on my radar! I guess since I did not have a problem with that I did not research it. Plus, being a new mom we all have so many other things to worry about :).
I want to send a BIG thank you to Motherlove who continues to impress me with the quality of their products and the kindness and integrity of their company! Good luck to those of you out there struggling with low milk supply. We hope this helps you on your own journey!! - Nicole, Nizo Wear
Monday, June 27, 2011
10 things your breastfeeding boobs would say if they could talk
I was reminded that yes, breastfeeding can be hard! So, here is a little boob humor to pick up you breastfeeding mamas! (If you have any additions to this list we would love to hear it. Please SHARE :) My favorite's are number 4 and 10! What is yours?
found in "If these boobs could talk" by S. Seip & A. Hedger:
1. Since when are we open twenty-four hours?
2. Get the soothing gel. Get it now.
3. Sir, this is a "Babies Only" zone.
4. Kid, how can you not see our nipples when they're the size of paper plates?
5. Woo Hoo! We're spraying across the room!
6. Wow, we look spectacular!
7. Wait, now we look like old gym socks.
8. Hmmm, do we hear a baby crying somewh....and there's the milk.
9. Hey, we dont get paid enough to work this hard.
10. Oh great. A tooth.
found in "If these boobs could talk" by S. Seip & A. Hedger:
1. Since when are we open twenty-four hours?
2. Get the soothing gel. Get it now.
3. Sir, this is a "Babies Only" zone.
4. Kid, how can you not see our nipples when they're the size of paper plates?
5. Woo Hoo! We're spraying across the room!
6. Wow, we look spectacular!
7. Wait, now we look like old gym socks.
8. Hmmm, do we hear a baby crying somewh....and there's the milk.
9. Hey, we dont get paid enough to work this hard.
10. Oh great. A tooth.
Low milk supply journey
I have said many times that yes, breastfeeding is simple but it is not always easy! There are so many factors that come into play to make it difficult, like a poor latch, or low milk supply, or getting thrush or multiple other infections, or simply lack of support etc...
Recently I found out a good friend was having trouble in an area I had no problems with...milk supply (I was a milk machine, so much so that if I did not regularly feed every three hours or pump if I was away from my baby I would get a plugged duct.) But, there are many women out there that do have trouble with this issue. So many in fact that there are tons of products out there to assist these women. Since I am not the expert in this area my amazing friend has agreed to share her journey to boost her milk supply and her baby's weight with us! I will be posting the progress here so stay tuned!
My friend Lisa, who is a wonderful breastfeeding mother of 4, thought she would have nursing down to an art by now. But, she recently discovered that her fourth baby is falling on his growth chart. This is not something completely new to her as either her first or third baby prompted her to take fenugreek to help get her milk supply up. She is back on fenugreek now and with the help of Motherlove's More Milk Plus, her sister's excess milk and a strict regiment from her doctor she hopes to boost her lovely boy up the weight charts. Here, in her words, is the start of her milk boosting journey.
"I'm ready to up my dose (as per my doctor) and to also include Motherlove's More Milk Plus. We are on week 2 of giving supplemental milk after each feeding. I am so thankful to my sister for giving me her leftover pumped/ frozen milk! In 9 days my son gained 14 oz!!
He has a weight check next week, after which I will stop the supplemental milk and give it another week before yet another weight check. This week my instructions are to up the number of nursing sessions and also to try to get some pumping sessions in my day - not necessarily easy to do!
This is the most aggressive instruction I've gotten for feeding any of my babies; 2 others also had weight-gaining issues. I am somewhat annoyed at all the extra attention I have to give to feeding my baby - breastfeeding is supposed to be so easy! But I am thankful to have a plan to get us back on track. Until then I will continue to thaw extra milk every night and wash bottles daily in anticipation of maintaining a milk supply that will satisfy my hungry little baby!
And for anyone reading this who thinks that only first time moms make rookie mistakes, last week I was nursing my baby while enjoying crushed red pepper on my pizza. Somehow some of the pepper fell into my son's eye! He was quite upset, his eye got puffy and the skin around his eye was blotchy. The on-call pediatrician suggested to rinse his eye with contact solution and call Poison Control. The nice woman at Poison Control said to take a shower with him and let the water run down his face. We happened to be traveling so the shower was not an option. After a good 5 min my son finally stopped crying, opened his eyes and actually smiled at me! The puffiness went away and I am thankful he will not remember this incident as an adult." - Lisa
Recently I found out a good friend was having trouble in an area I had no problems with...milk supply (I was a milk machine, so much so that if I did not regularly feed every three hours or pump if I was away from my baby I would get a plugged duct.) But, there are many women out there that do have trouble with this issue. So many in fact that there are tons of products out there to assist these women. Since I am not the expert in this area my amazing friend has agreed to share her journey to boost her milk supply and her baby's weight with us! I will be posting the progress here so stay tuned!
My friend Lisa, who is a wonderful breastfeeding mother of 4, thought she would have nursing down to an art by now. But, she recently discovered that her fourth baby is falling on his growth chart. This is not something completely new to her as either her first or third baby prompted her to take fenugreek to help get her milk supply up. She is back on fenugreek now and with the help of Motherlove's More Milk Plus, her sister's excess milk and a strict regiment from her doctor she hopes to boost her lovely boy up the weight charts. Here, in her words, is the start of her milk boosting journey.
"I'm ready to up my dose (as per my doctor) and to also include Motherlove's More Milk Plus. We are on week 2 of giving supplemental milk after each feeding. I am so thankful to my sister for giving me her leftover pumped/ frozen milk! In 9 days my son gained 14 oz!!
He has a weight check next week, after which I will stop the supplemental milk and give it another week before yet another weight check. This week my instructions are to up the number of nursing sessions and also to try to get some pumping sessions in my day - not necessarily easy to do!
This is the most aggressive instruction I've gotten for feeding any of my babies; 2 others also had weight-gaining issues. I am somewhat annoyed at all the extra attention I have to give to feeding my baby - breastfeeding is supposed to be so easy! But I am thankful to have a plan to get us back on track. Until then I will continue to thaw extra milk every night and wash bottles daily in anticipation of maintaining a milk supply that will satisfy my hungry little baby!
And for anyone reading this who thinks that only first time moms make rookie mistakes, last week I was nursing my baby while enjoying crushed red pepper on my pizza. Somehow some of the pepper fell into my son's eye! He was quite upset, his eye got puffy and the skin around his eye was blotchy. The on-call pediatrician suggested to rinse his eye with contact solution and call Poison Control. The nice woman at Poison Control said to take a shower with him and let the water run down his face. We happened to be traveling so the shower was not an option. After a good 5 min my son finally stopped crying, opened his eyes and actually smiled at me! The puffiness went away and I am thankful he will not remember this incident as an adult." - Lisa
Monday, June 20, 2011
What is a bad latch?
I was very familiar with a bad latch, as that is what inspired me to create Nizo Wear Nursing Bras. My sweet son appeared to have a good latch from the outside and he did not make any smacking sounds while nursing, but oh did I experience the nipple pain!
Information from this post was based on personal experiences and information was collected from askthelactationconsultant.com
There was a point, about a week into my first breastfeeding experience, that I would cry every time I put my hungry son to breast. I felt like I was at my wits end and since he looked like he had a good latch I did not know what was going on or what to do to fix the problem.
Luckily I had a wonderful contact who came to my house, took one look at my nipple (all modesty was out the window at this point) and told me the problem. My son had a shallow latch and was not getting his tongue under my nipple far enough and was therefore brushing it with each suck. It felt as it someone had sandpapered my nipples raw and now I understood why.
This wonderful public health nurse showed me how to train my son to suck correctly and armed me with a nipple shield and miraculously I healed and went on to breastfeed my son for 15 months. Here is a great video showing you where your nipple should land in your baby's mouth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zln0LTkejIs&feature=player_embedded#at=52)
So, to help other breastfeeding moms out there I have found some tips from a great lactation consultant and thought I would share them with you. If you are having pain, I hope these help (check out the videos), and seek help immediately as there is nothing like personal touch. I also recommend a few products below.
Breastfeeding should not be painful. Good luck!
Below are listed the signs of a bad latch or a breast latch that might cause injury.
#1 SIGN = PAIN!!! Breastfeeding Pain is NOT normal. Breast feeding should not hurt. If it does, SEEK HELP TODAY.
Lips rolled in or circle “o” lips
Clicking, popping or smacking sounds at the breast.
Dimpling of infant cheeks
Mom reports “biting” sensation during feed
Compression stripe on nipple after feeding
Lipstick shape nipple after feeding (beveled)
Nipple easily slips out of mouth when baby pauses
Bleeding or injured nipple after feed
Baby is not gaining weight
Baby is not satisfied (this one can be tricky, because newborns can feed every hour to help your milk come in so until your milk comes in frequent feeds can be totally normal)
Lips rolled in or circle “o” lips
Clicking, popping or smacking sounds at the breast.
Dimpling of infant cheeks
Mom reports “biting” sensation during feed
Compression stripe on nipple after feeding
Lipstick shape nipple after feeding (beveled)
Nipple easily slips out of mouth when baby pauses
Bleeding or injured nipple after feed
Baby is not gaining weight
Baby is not satisfied (this one can be tricky, because newborns can feed every hour to help your milk come in so until your milk comes in frequent feeds can be totally normal)
Uncorrected latching can quite frequently lead to nipple injury. Nipple injury can make mommies want to quit breastfeeding. So, avoiding injury is important. If you are having any of the above signs, please make an appointment with your local lactation consultant as soon as possible.
Some products to help you now!
Three products I found to work wonders to get you through this painful period:
1. Motherlove Herbal Nipple Cream found at http://www.motherlove.com/ (to help your nipples heal)
2. Smart Choices Breast Soother warming and cooling packs found on http://www.nizowear.com/ (for immediate pain relief)
3. Nipple shield found at many stores like Target (this is great in extreme cases to let your nipple heal while still continuing to breastfeed. Some mothers have good luck pumping instead of nursing while they heal, but my case was so severe that this product was the only thing that helped me)
What mom should be doing for a successful breatfeeding experience:
Has Good posture Sitting upright or lying on side
Is Comfortable - starting out uncomfortable is not good
Well-supported with pillows (pillows are usually more managable than a nursing pillow in the first 24 hours)
Lap flat or slightly elevated
Cups breast with fingers off areola
Has Good posture Sitting upright or lying on side
Is Comfortable - starting out uncomfortable is not good
Well-supported with pillows (pillows are usually more managable than a nursing pillow in the first 24 hours)
Lap flat or slightly elevated
Cups breast with fingers off areola
Check out this video to see firsthand what this should look like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oQHe1eYsnE&feature=player_embedded
What should baby look like?
Tummy to tummy or Chest to breast
Ear, shoulder, & hip aligned
At breast level, nipple to nose
Body slightly flexed with head relaxed slightly backwards (drinking position)
Body supported on pillows and by mother
Mother supports infant’s neck, base of head, shoulder girdle
Ear, shoulder, & hip aligned
At breast level, nipple to nose
Body slightly flexed with head relaxed slightly backwards (drinking position)
Body supported on pillows and by mother
Mother supports infant’s neck, base of head, shoulder girdle
Information from this post was based on personal experiences and information was collected from askthelactationconsultant.com
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Surviving Colic
If you are trying to survive colic and breastfeeding, like I was, here are some tips!
I was once in the place where you are trying to manage both the colic and breastfeeding. My first tip: I completely recommend reading The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, MD. I found the 5 S's were the only long term solution. Yes, of course there were other tricks that often gave us brief relief like carseat on the dryer (yes, we held on the entire time for safety) or a car ride or running the vacuum cleaner. But when we did the 5 S's in order, no substitutions here people, it worked!
I know, some of you are saying "Ok, I can do four of the S's, but my baby loves to have his hands and legs free. I just do not feel right swaddling him". Well, I was one of you, before our colic got to the point of total frustration! Sure, my baby loved to explore with his hands but when it was time to settle down, he really needed the secure feeling that only swaddling could provide.
Now, I was given this book as a shower gift. I skimmed the important parts, dog-earring and highlighting. But when it came time to use it, I was so sleep deprived and crazed from the crying it took a while before I remembered I even had it! Then to find time to re-read to a point of retention so I could put the tools to use. Once we got the hang of it though, it was wonderful.
The most important thing for you to realize is that colic is not your fault and that breastfeeding is still the best thing that you can do for your baby. Switching to formula, as some people recommend, will only make it worse. In fact, some babies whose colic ends after three months seem to have it return when they are weaned from the breast!
What You Need to Know About Colic and Breastfeeding.
First of all, we need to understand what colic is. Colic is described as uncontrollable, extended crying in a baby who is well-fed, dry and otherwise should be fine. While every baby cries, some little ones cry for more than three hours a day, three to four days a week...these babies may have colic. My son was text book colic starting at about 5 weeks. Every night for about 4-6 hours he would just scream. No sitting the baby down to get anything done for us!
It is estimated that over 20% of babies have or get colic, and it usually starts around two to four weeks of age and can last for three months, or longer in some cases.
Tips: (I wish I had known this!!) If you are feeding from both breasts and have a fussy baby, I've been told that you may want to reconsider! Here is why, according to breastfeeding magazine: Breast milk changes during each feeding. One of the ways in which it changes is that the longer your baby feeds on a breast, the higher the fat content of the breast milk. (This higher fat milk is often referred to as hind milk.)
If mommies automatically switch the baby from one breast to the other during the feeding (before the baby has "finished" the first side) the baby may get a relatively low amount of fat during the feeding. Don’t be fooled by modern thinking…that is NOT good!
By doing this you are actually giving the baby less calories , and thus needing to feed more frequently. Also, if the baby takes in a lot of milk (to make up the low concentration of fat and calories,) she may spit up or cause acid reflux.
Due to the low density fat content of the milk, the baby’s tummy will empty quickly, and a large load of milk sugar (lactose) will arrive in the baby’s intestine all at once. The stomach proteins may not be able to handle so much milk sugar at one time. This will cause your baby to have some symptoms of lactose intolerance--crying, gas, and explosive, watery, greenish bowel movements. This may occur even during the feeding.
NOTE: These babies are not lactose intolerant. They are just victims of incorrect breastfeeding coaching and lack of awareness by moms. Learn more about breastfeeding oversupply here...
Don’t Blame Yourself! Many moms who are misinformed think it must be something the mom did or could be doing to prevent or cause colic. That is just not true! MOST cases of colic there is absolutely nothing that you can do to prevent it or stop it! Just remember that it is not your fault and more importantly--It will PASS!
If you feel your frustration getting out of control hand that baby off to your hubby or a good friend and to take a break…a bubble bath or a walk!! Both colic and breastfeeding can be hard on moms! If, or should I say when, it gets to you then give yourself permission to take a rest. Make sure baby is feed, changed and well-rested...and then PLEASE just take a break!
HANG IN THERE!
thanks http://www.breastfeeding-magazine.com/colic-and-breastfeeding.html for the helpful tips!
I was once in the place where you are trying to manage both the colic and breastfeeding. My first tip: I completely recommend reading The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, MD. I found the 5 S's were the only long term solution. Yes, of course there were other tricks that often gave us brief relief like carseat on the dryer (yes, we held on the entire time for safety) or a car ride or running the vacuum cleaner. But when we did the 5 S's in order, no substitutions here people, it worked!
I know, some of you are saying "Ok, I can do four of the S's, but my baby loves to have his hands and legs free. I just do not feel right swaddling him". Well, I was one of you, before our colic got to the point of total frustration! Sure, my baby loved to explore with his hands but when it was time to settle down, he really needed the secure feeling that only swaddling could provide.
Now, I was given this book as a shower gift. I skimmed the important parts, dog-earring and highlighting. But when it came time to use it, I was so sleep deprived and crazed from the crying it took a while before I remembered I even had it! Then to find time to re-read to a point of retention so I could put the tools to use. Once we got the hang of it though, it was wonderful.
The most important thing for you to realize is that colic is not your fault and that breastfeeding is still the best thing that you can do for your baby. Switching to formula, as some people recommend, will only make it worse. In fact, some babies whose colic ends after three months seem to have it return when they are weaned from the breast!
What You Need to Know About Colic and Breastfeeding.
First of all, we need to understand what colic is. Colic is described as uncontrollable, extended crying in a baby who is well-fed, dry and otherwise should be fine. While every baby cries, some little ones cry for more than three hours a day, three to four days a week...these babies may have colic. My son was text book colic starting at about 5 weeks. Every night for about 4-6 hours he would just scream. No sitting the baby down to get anything done for us!
It is estimated that over 20% of babies have or get colic, and it usually starts around two to four weeks of age and can last for three months, or longer in some cases.
Tips: (I wish I had known this!!) If you are feeding from both breasts and have a fussy baby, I've been told that you may want to reconsider! Here is why, according to breastfeeding magazine: Breast milk changes during each feeding. One of the ways in which it changes is that the longer your baby feeds on a breast, the higher the fat content of the breast milk. (This higher fat milk is often referred to as hind milk.)
If mommies automatically switch the baby from one breast to the other during the feeding (before the baby has "finished" the first side) the baby may get a relatively low amount of fat during the feeding. Don’t be fooled by modern thinking…that is NOT good!
By doing this you are actually giving the baby less calories , and thus needing to feed more frequently. Also, if the baby takes in a lot of milk (to make up the low concentration of fat and calories,) she may spit up or cause acid reflux.
Due to the low density fat content of the milk, the baby’s tummy will empty quickly, and a large load of milk sugar (lactose) will arrive in the baby’s intestine all at once. The stomach proteins may not be able to handle so much milk sugar at one time. This will cause your baby to have some symptoms of lactose intolerance--crying, gas, and explosive, watery, greenish bowel movements. This may occur even during the feeding.
NOTE: These babies are not lactose intolerant. They are just victims of incorrect breastfeeding coaching and lack of awareness by moms. Learn more about breastfeeding oversupply here...
Don’t Blame Yourself! Many moms who are misinformed think it must be something the mom did or could be doing to prevent or cause colic. That is just not true! MOST cases of colic there is absolutely nothing that you can do to prevent it or stop it! Just remember that it is not your fault and more importantly--It will PASS!
If you feel your frustration getting out of control hand that baby off to your hubby or a good friend and to take a break…a bubble bath or a walk!! Both colic and breastfeeding can be hard on moms! If, or should I say when, it gets to you then give yourself permission to take a rest. Make sure baby is feed, changed and well-rested...and then PLEASE just take a break!
HANG IN THERE!
thanks http://www.breastfeeding-magazine.com/colic-and-breastfeeding.html for the helpful tips!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Weaning Tips
Tips on weaning:
If you are ready to wean then there are several things you can do to ease the transition and possible engorgement that can occur while weaning.
The preferable method is to cut out 1 feed every 3rd day until you are "dried up". It can take weeks or months. This method is the least painful for you and baby. This worked REALLY well for me. It did not take long for me before we ended up only nursing before nap and bedtime. Then, when I was ready for that hurdle, I quit that as well. I did not need to use cabbage leaves or cold packs but I am told those really work.
The quick wean method is to cold turkey stop all feeds and stop ALL EMPTYING. If you keep emptying you will keep producing. DO NOT BIND your breasts, this not only is painful but it does not help.
You can however use cabbage leaves to aid in the process and reduce engorgement pain. Simply buy a head of green cabbage (red is ok but will stain fabric). Tear the entire leaves off, wash them, put them in a ziploc bag in the fridge to store and place one leaf in your bra until it is wilted. Throw away the wilted leaf and replace. Do this over and over until your milk is gone. It has been known to dry up milk in a day instead of a week.
some advice above was collected from askthelactationconsultant.com, which is a great resource for breastfeeding moms, and some is just what worked for me. I hope it helped. Share your weaning story!
If you are ready to wean then there are several things you can do to ease the transition and possible engorgement that can occur while weaning.
The preferable method is to cut out 1 feed every 3rd day until you are "dried up". It can take weeks or months. This method is the least painful for you and baby. This worked REALLY well for me. It did not take long for me before we ended up only nursing before nap and bedtime. Then, when I was ready for that hurdle, I quit that as well. I did not need to use cabbage leaves or cold packs but I am told those really work.
The quick wean method is to cold turkey stop all feeds and stop ALL EMPTYING. If you keep emptying you will keep producing. DO NOT BIND your breasts, this not only is painful but it does not help.
You can however use cabbage leaves to aid in the process and reduce engorgement pain. Simply buy a head of green cabbage (red is ok but will stain fabric). Tear the entire leaves off, wash them, put them in a ziploc bag in the fridge to store and place one leaf in your bra until it is wilted. Throw away the wilted leaf and replace. Do this over and over until your milk is gone. It has been known to dry up milk in a day instead of a week.
some advice above was collected from askthelactationconsultant.com, which is a great resource for breastfeeding moms, and some is just what worked for me. I hope it helped. Share your weaning story!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Weaning Tips
Tips on weaning:
If you are ready to wean then there are several things you can do to ease the transition and possible engorgement that can occur while weaning.
The preferable method is to cut out 1 feed every 3rd day until you are "dried up". It can take weeks or months. This method is the least painful for you and baby. This worked REALLY well for me. It did not take long for me before we ended up only nursing before nap and bedtime. Then, when I was ready for that hurdle, I quit that as well. I did not need to use cabbage leaves or cold packs but I am told those really work.
The quick wean method is to cold turkey stop all feeds and stop ALL EMPTYING. If you keep emptying you will keep producing. DO NOT BIND your breasts, this not only is painful but it does not help.
You can however use cabbage leaves to aid in the process and reduce engorgement pain. Simply buy a head of green cabbage (red is ok but will stain fabric). Tear the entire leaves off, wash them, put them in a ziploc bag in the fridge to store and place one leaf in your bra until it is wilted. Throw away the wilted leaf and replace. Do this over and over until your milk is gone. It has been known to dry up milk in a day instead of a week.
some advice above was collected from askthelactationconsultant.com, which is a great resource for breastfeeding moms, and some is just what worked for me. I hope it helped. Share your weaning story!
If you are ready to wean then there are several things you can do to ease the transition and possible engorgement that can occur while weaning.
The preferable method is to cut out 1 feed every 3rd day until you are "dried up". It can take weeks or months. This method is the least painful for you and baby. This worked REALLY well for me. It did not take long for me before we ended up only nursing before nap and bedtime. Then, when I was ready for that hurdle, I quit that as well. I did not need to use cabbage leaves or cold packs but I am told those really work.
The quick wean method is to cold turkey stop all feeds and stop ALL EMPTYING. If you keep emptying you will keep producing. DO NOT BIND your breasts, this not only is painful but it does not help.
You can however use cabbage leaves to aid in the process and reduce engorgement pain. Simply buy a head of green cabbage (red is ok but will stain fabric). Tear the entire leaves off, wash them, put them in a ziploc bag in the fridge to store and place one leaf in your bra until it is wilted. Throw away the wilted leaf and replace. Do this over and over until your milk is gone. It has been known to dry up milk in a day instead of a week.
some advice above was collected from askthelactationconsultant.com, which is a great resource for breastfeeding moms, and some is just what worked for me. I hope it helped. Share your weaning story!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Skin to win!
I LOVE the reminder from askthelactationconsultant.com about Kangaroo Care. What is Kangaroo Care you ask? It is another name for skin to skin contact with newborns. I had never heard this term, but apparently it originated from the ways Kangaroos carry their babies in a pouch (makes sense).
I do know that right after I gave birth to my son the nurse rapidly ripped down my gown (oh, yes she did) and put my son on my chest. I had read it was important to do but I found it interesting that the nurse did not ask, she just went ahead and did. Of course I am grateful, as I know the importance of the contact. In the first few days my husband also spent a lot of time having some Kangaroo time with our son and we all loved it as we felt it strengthened our bond!
Here is some more information about the benefits, which I did not know at the time:
The use of this technique has helped babies especially a premature baby to thrive. This simple action benefits the baby in many ways. To mention a few: helps to regulate blood sugars, temperatures and breathing.
The impact of chest to chest contact has on babies outcomes has been remarkable. Askthelactationconsultant has personally witnessed "a reduction in the "need" for formula supplementation due to low blood sugars, in my hospital setting, since we implemented this practice after birth."
Askthelactationconsultant urges moms (and Nicole says why not dads too! Heck even grandma or grandpa can right?!) to have a newborn placed on your chest as often as possible the 1st 24 hours. The benefits are many not to mention it is so precious.
Tip: Baby is stripped down to diaper, placed against the chest, blanket over both of you. Moms you may feel really warm while doing this, your body temperature will rise naturally to keep the baby warm. It is an amazing thing.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Profound new results that show excersizing helps strenghthen babys heart in-utero
I think the findings of this article are great! One more reason, and many of us need them, to stay active during pregnancy! I hope you are enlighted as I was...
EXCERSIZING FOR TWO
Almost anyone who’s been pregnant remembers the profound link that can develop between a mother-to-be and her unborn child. You feel that life inside you, both physically independent and braided with your own.
Now, new research suggests that the bond may be stronger than had been suspected. When you exercise during pregnancy, your baby is not, as most of us would have thought, a passive, floating passenger (and ballast on the bladder). Instead, he or she may be actively joining in the workout, with the fetal cardiac system growing stronger and healthier as a result of the workouts.
This training response lingers apparently even after birth, the new science shows. Babies born to mothers who exercised while pregnant were found to have healthier hearts than other infants a full month after delivery.
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences revisited a group of 61 healthy women, ages 20 to 35, who’d been part of a pilot study of exercise, pregnancy and fetal heart health. About half of the women had exercised regularly during their pregnancies, jogging, power-walking or otherwise working out at a moderate pace at least three times a week. Some also had lifted light weights or practiced yoga. But their primary activity had been aerobic. The other half of the mothers-to-be “were normally active but did not engage in formal exercise,” said Linda E. May, an exercise physiologist who led the study.
When Dr. May examined the fetal cardiac readings, in an earlier report published last year, she found that fetuses whose mothers had exercised showed lower heart rates and greater heart-rate variability than those whose mothers had not worked out.
For her most recent presentation, Dr. May asked the women to return to the lab again, this time a month after giving birth. The newborns, healthy and no doubt squalling, underwent another cardiac exam.
For her most recent presentation, Dr. May asked the women to return to the lab again, this time a month after giving birth. The newborns, healthy and no doubt squalling, underwent another cardiac exam.
The previous results held, Dr. May reported at the Experimental Biology meeting. The babies born to exercising mothers continued to have lower heart rates and greater heart-rate variability four weeks after delivery than the babies born to the other women. The effect was especially robust in the children whose mothers had exercised the most, Dr. May said; they had the slowest heart rates and presumably the strongest hearts.
“It’s exciting research,” Dr. May said, though it is also preliminary and incomplete. Just how a pregnant woman’s jogging or power-walking remakes her unborn child’s heart remains unknown, she said. Mother and fetus have, after all, completely separate cardiac systems and blood circulations. But certain hormones released during exercise do cross the placenta, Dr. May said, and could be stimulating changes in the developing fetus’s heart.
Read the full article here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/13/exercising-for-two/
Friday, April 15, 2011
Does it matter what material my bra is made of?
I am sure many of us have never thought twice about the importance and differences between the fabrics for our undergarments. But, it really can make a difference, especially in a nursing bra. Here is some information to shed some light on the topic!
First, materials for nursing bras should be stretchy. Quite simply, this is because elasticity helps to fulfill the function of support and comfort with breasts that might vary in size from hour to hour!
Another important concern is that the fabric should also be breathable in order to keep moisture and possibly yeast infections down. How long a nursing bra lasts and how comfortable it is, will depend upon the fabric it is made from. Here are some of the most popular nursing bra materials:
Cotton nursing bras are not what they used to be. Today they are considered the best choice by many, and recommended by professionals over any other nursing bra material. Cotton is lightweight, durable, and allows air to flow, which keeps breasts dryer. It also can be woven to have a moderate amount of elasticity. The drawback to cotton is that it lacks the elasticity of synthetic fabrics and is only moderately expandable and is not as absorbent as other materials so nursing pads should be worn.
Spandex nursing bras tend to be the most flexible and sizable of nursing bra materials. They shrink and expand to fit best of all. On the other hand, they are not usually very breathable and don’t allow the airflow to your skin that cotton does. They also are not as comfortable for many women as cotton or cotton blends.
Microfiber (Cotton/Spandex blend) nursing bras seem to combine the best of both worlds. This nursing bra material has the ability to stretch beyond that of cotton, and provide a nice firm support. The microfiber nursing bra material is also a lot more breathable than spandex and increased airflow which keeps the breasts drier and can enhance skin and breast health. Some microfiber nursing bras can be lined with bamboo. Bamboo provides a natural antibiotic effect that is eco friendly and can help prevent infections. It also has excellent absorbency and will wick water away from skin and can be luxuriously soft. On the negative side of the coin is that Microfiber nursing bra materials are usually synthetics, which is not a choice for those who prefer organic nursing bra materials. Many women hold the opinion that synthetic materials don’t last as long as organic materials.
We hope this helps you navigate the wonderful world of bras! Let us know what you think.
First, materials for nursing bras should be stretchy. Quite simply, this is because elasticity helps to fulfill the function of support and comfort with breasts that might vary in size from hour to hour!
Another important concern is that the fabric should also be breathable in order to keep moisture and possibly yeast infections down. How long a nursing bra lasts and how comfortable it is, will depend upon the fabric it is made from. Here are some of the most popular nursing bra materials:
Cotton nursing bras are not what they used to be. Today they are considered the best choice by many, and recommended by professionals over any other nursing bra material. Cotton is lightweight, durable, and allows air to flow, which keeps breasts dryer. It also can be woven to have a moderate amount of elasticity. The drawback to cotton is that it lacks the elasticity of synthetic fabrics and is only moderately expandable and is not as absorbent as other materials so nursing pads should be worn.
Spandex nursing bras tend to be the most flexible and sizable of nursing bra materials. They shrink and expand to fit best of all. On the other hand, they are not usually very breathable and don’t allow the airflow to your skin that cotton does. They also are not as comfortable for many women as cotton or cotton blends.
Microfiber (Cotton/Spandex blend) nursing bras seem to combine the best of both worlds. This nursing bra material has the ability to stretch beyond that of cotton, and provide a nice firm support. The microfiber nursing bra material is also a lot more breathable than spandex and increased airflow which keeps the breasts drier and can enhance skin and breast health. Some microfiber nursing bras can be lined with bamboo. Bamboo provides a natural antibiotic effect that is eco friendly and can help prevent infections. It also has excellent absorbency and will wick water away from skin and can be luxuriously soft. On the negative side of the coin is that Microfiber nursing bra materials are usually synthetics, which is not a choice for those who prefer organic nursing bra materials. Many women hold the opinion that synthetic materials don’t last as long as organic materials.
We hope this helps you navigate the wonderful world of bras! Let us know what you think.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Reflections from a breastfeeding mom
My friend Lisa, wonderful mom of 4, recently sent me her reflection/thoughts on breastfeeding. She summed it up so nicely that I wanted to share with all of you. I'm sure many of you have had similar reflections. What is the weirdest place you breastfed or weirdest thing you did while breastfeeding? Mine was either on the Subway in DC (wierd for me as I had never ridden the subway before) or possibly in the backseat of the car as my husband drove. It is amazing how stretchy breasts are :)- I was not very risque. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Lisa. You are an amazing inspiration! "As a mother of 4 children, I've spent a lot of time breastfeeding. I've learned to preform many tasks in a few dire situations. I've played board games, cooked, gone to the bathroom and even walked through a park with my older two children while pushing the empty stroller - all while my baby nurses. My infant now is almost 2 months old. With three older siblings he's had to experience a lot "on the fly." But every now and then, when I give myself the opportunity to actually watch him nurse, it melts my heart. He is so calm, so peaceful. I love the feeling of being able to give him the gift of comfort so naturally!" Lisa
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
What to expect the first 2 weeks of breastfeeding
I found this great article on what to expect during the first 2 weeks of breastfeeding on askthelactationconsultant.com. She consistently gives great advice on breastfeeding topics most people do not talk about. I love this article because there are links to find out more if you want to know it. I hope this helps shed some light for those of you wondering... Pass it on to those it may help. I wish I knew this BEFORE I had my son! :) Nicole Days 2-10: Your milk will come in sometime between day 2-5. Your mode of delivery will impact when the milk comes in. As well as factors like illness, excessive blood loss, hormone levels, exhaustion and emotional state. Click here to learn how vaginal vs. c-section deliveries will impact your milk. The time your milk comes in can be affected by several factors. Your birth experience, health status, medications you are taking and exhaustion. Milk production is considered an "extra" function so if your body needs to concentrate on something more important, like keeping you alive due to excessive blood loss, milk production may have to wait until you are better. But lets now assume your milk is in. How do you know? Most women will experience engorgement. Click here to learn more about engorgement. If you do not experience engorgement (WHAT? Seriously, there are people who do not experience engorgement?!), then your first indication could be that you are now hearing your baby gulp with every suck. Or that your breasts are leaking. If you do not experience any of these signs by day 7 I highly encourage you to see a lactation consultant. When your milk comes in another sign can be LETDOWN . The letdown response can be uncomfortable at the beginning. For me it was. It felt like it feels when your hand or foot falls asleep and the blood is returning- that strong tingling sensation only on your nipple areola area. It was pretty intense. The good news is that it only lasts for 10-15 seconds. Not all experience this but most do. After your milk is in, you can change your feeding pattern up a little now to better empty the breasts by: Feed on one side per feeding instead of both sides at each feed. A simple way to do this is to feed for 10-15 minutes, take baby off to burp and put them back on the SAME breast until they fall asleep. Then for the next feed go to the other breast. Why change the pattern? We suggest changing the pattern because of the foremilk/hindmilk that you have once your milk is in. Once you have milk volume, the milk in is catagorized as fore and hind milk. Foremilk is a thinner/watery type milk that can be obtained at the beginning of a feeding. HIND milk is a fattier milk that can only be obtained toward the end of a feeding. The idea is that if you offer BOTH breasts for 10 min and 10 min your baby may not get to the hind milk thus causing them to feed more frequently and possibly be gassy because the of the foremilk. Learn more about ForeMilk and HindMilk here For the next week, you will have these days: Feeding every 2-3 hours, changing diapers, sleeping when the baby does, eating whenever possible, showering daily if possible, visiting with people that you will not remember visiting with, and repeating it over and over. Sounds crazy but it is pure bliss getting to know your child. Cherish it, the time is over before you know it. Go from days 2 to 10 to first 2 weeks main page Go from days 2 to 10 to askthelactationconsultant.com
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Genetically Modified Cows Produce "Human" Milk
I just read this article titled Genetically Modified Cows Produce "Human" Milk. As I read the first few paragraphs I could not believe China had pulled off genetically altering cows milk and more importantly I could not understand why. But once I got through the genetic make-up mumbo jumbo, I understood it and I dare say it is brilliant (if they actually pulled it off) but is something so complicated necessary?
I did not realize that 90% of the adults in China are lactose intolerant and that they recently had a sickening of nearly 300,000 infants fed the tainted milk powder, which is what inspired this 10 year genetic project. Could a simpler solution be found by increasing support for and awareness of the benefits of breast-feeding itself and increasing enforcement of food safety laws?
This is very interesting, informative and had me saying "really" throughout the entire article so I thought I would share it and possibly spark some conversation. Share your thoughts!
FUN FACT: In ancient China, only the emperor and the empress could drink human milk throughout their lives, which was believed to be the height of opulence.
Click on the link to read the full article http://paper.li/60secondparent/breastfeeding
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Top 7 must-haves in your postpartum kit
I was recently asked what I would have in my postpartum kit. That is one thing I wish I knew before I had my son so I thought I would share my insight. If you have a different item we'd love to hear it! Please share...
What would be in my postpartum kit?
*2-3 quality nursing bras: A quality bra is essential to maintain breast health. You should typically have one sleep bra and one soft cup to start with. Why 2-3? Because darn it, you will probably not be as on top of the laundry as you would like to be.
*reusable hot/cold packs: heat to help encourage your let down when you first start nursing(don’t worry, this will happen on its own once you become established. You will become so good at this that your boobs may respond to any crying baby, which is why you want the next item on my list) and for the cool relief on your tender nipples who are wondering what the heck is going on.
*soft, absorbent, reusable nursing pads-the key here is SOFT and ABSORBENT! The last thing you are going to want to place on your sore nipples is a scratchy nursing pad. Super absorbency is essential to prevent bacteria from forming on your breasts from a moist environment. I was not much of a leaker, but I liked to have the pad for the softness and the barrier for the cream so my nursing bras did not get gunked up. (softest I've seen is made by Willow Sprouts).
*nipple cream-make sure it is all natural and safe because inevitably baby will be coming in contact with it. This can rapidly improve healing if you should need that. (I like Mother Love nipple cream).
*phone number of a knowledgeable support person who makes house calls- because more than likely it is a factor of when you need her, not if you need her. I thought I was prepared since I had the phone number of the hospital lactation consultant, but really, this breastfeeding thing will be a piece of cake right? Boy was I wrong! Sure it is a simple process but it can be complex and sometimes painful. Having your support person come to you can be the single reason you decide to stick it out through the discomfort (and figure out what the real problem is) or quit. My breastfeeding support angel had helped hundreds of women and she took one look at my nipple (yes, there is no more dignity at this point) and gave me a nipple shield and instructions on how to prevent my son from continuing to cause me to crack and bleed (the tip of his tongue was flicking my nipple. from the outside, he looked like he had the perfect latch).
*reusable water bottle-and keep it filled because the minute you sit down you will think, darn I am SO thirsty! And believe me, the last thing you are going to think of when your baby is screaming to be fed is, “oh, hang on honey…mommy’s going to need some water”
*perineum bottle-no explanation needed here.
*good book on tape-this worked wonders to keep me awake for those middle of the night feedings. I learned early on that turning on a light to read an actual book was confusing my son to think that it was time to wake up! Bad.
What would be in my postpartum kit?
*2-3 quality nursing bras: A quality bra is essential to maintain breast health. You should typically have one sleep bra and one soft cup to start with. Why 2-3? Because darn it, you will probably not be as on top of the laundry as you would like to be.
*reusable hot/cold packs: heat to help encourage your let down when you first start nursing(don’t worry, this will happen on its own once you become established. You will become so good at this that your boobs may respond to any crying baby, which is why you want the next item on my list) and for the cool relief on your tender nipples who are wondering what the heck is going on.
*soft, absorbent, reusable nursing pads-the key here is SOFT and ABSORBENT! The last thing you are going to want to place on your sore nipples is a scratchy nursing pad. Super absorbency is essential to prevent bacteria from forming on your breasts from a moist environment. I was not much of a leaker, but I liked to have the pad for the softness and the barrier for the cream so my nursing bras did not get gunked up. (softest I've seen is made by Willow Sprouts).
*nipple cream-make sure it is all natural and safe because inevitably baby will be coming in contact with it. This can rapidly improve healing if you should need that. (I like Mother Love nipple cream).
*phone number of a knowledgeable support person who makes house calls- because more than likely it is a factor of when you need her, not if you need her. I thought I was prepared since I had the phone number of the hospital lactation consultant, but really, this breastfeeding thing will be a piece of cake right? Boy was I wrong! Sure it is a simple process but it can be complex and sometimes painful. Having your support person come to you can be the single reason you decide to stick it out through the discomfort (and figure out what the real problem is) or quit. My breastfeeding support angel had helped hundreds of women and she took one look at my nipple (yes, there is no more dignity at this point) and gave me a nipple shield and instructions on how to prevent my son from continuing to cause me to crack and bleed (the tip of his tongue was flicking my nipple. from the outside, he looked like he had the perfect latch).
*reusable water bottle-and keep it filled because the minute you sit down you will think, darn I am SO thirsty! And believe me, the last thing you are going to think of when your baby is screaming to be fed is, “oh, hang on honey…mommy’s going to need some water”
*perineum bottle-no explanation needed here.
*good book on tape-this worked wonders to keep me awake for those middle of the night feedings. I learned early on that turning on a light to read an actual book was confusing my son to think that it was time to wake up! Bad.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Surviving breastfeeding and colic
If you are trying to survive colic and breastfeeding, like I was, here are some tips!
I was once in the place where you are trying to manage both the colic and breastfeeding. My first tip: I completely recommend reading The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, MD. I found the 5 S's were the only long term solution. Yes, of course there were other tricks that often gave us brief relief like carseat on the dryer (yes, we held on the entire time for safety) or a car ride or running the vacuum cleaner. But when we did the 5 S's in order, no substitutions here people, it worked!
I know, some of you are saying "Ok, I can do four of the S's, but my baby loves to have his hands and legs free. I just do not feel right swaddling him". Well, I was one of you, before our colic got to the point of total frustration! Sure, my baby loved to explore with his hands but when it was time to settle down, he really needed the secure feeling that only swaddling could provide.
Now, I was given this book as a shower gift. I skimmed the important parts, dog-earring and highlighting. But when it came time to use it, I was so sleep deprived and crazed from the crying it took a while before I remembered I even had it! Then to find time to re-read to a point of retention so I could put the tools to use. Once we got the hang of it though, it was wonderful.
The most important thing for you to realize is that colic is not your fault and that breastfeeding is still the best thing that you can do for your baby. Switching to formula, as some people recommend, will only make it worse. In fact, some babies whose colic ends after three months seem to have it return when they are weaned from the breast!
What You Need to Know About Colic and Breastfeeding
First of all, we need to understand what colic is. Colic is described as uncontrollable, extended crying in a baby who is well-fed, dry and otherwise should be fine. While every baby cries, some little ones cry for more than three hours a day, three to four days a week...these babies may have colic. My son was text book colic starting at about 5 weeks. Every night for about 4-6 hours he would just scream. No sitting the baby down to get anything done for us!
It is estimated that over 20% of babies have or get colic, and it usually starts around two to four weeks of age and can last for three months, or longer in some cases.
Tips: (I wish I had known this!!) If you are feeding from both breasts and have a fussy baby, I've been told that you may want to reconsider! Here is why, according to breastfeeding magazine: Breast milk changes during each feeding. One of the ways in which it changes is that the longer your baby feeds on a breast, the higher the fat content of the breast milk. (This higher fat milk is often referred to as hind milk.)
If mommies automatically switch the baby from one breast to the other during the feeding (before the baby has "finished" the first side) the baby may get a relatively low amount of fat during the feeding. Don’t be fooled by modern thinking…that is NOT good! By doing this you are actually giving the baby less calories , and thus needing to feed more frequently.
Also, if the baby takes in a lot of milk (to make up the low concentration of fat and calories,) she may spit up or cause acid reflux.
Due to the low density fat content of the milk, the baby’s tummy will empty quickly, and a large load of milk sugar (lactose) will arrive in the baby’s intestine all at once. The stomach proteins may not be able to handle so much milk sugar at one time. This will cause your baby to have some symptoms of lactose intolerance--crying, gas, and explosive, watery, greenish bowel movements. This may occur even during the feeding.
NOTE: These babies are not lactose intolerant. They are just victims of incorrect breastfeeding coaching and lack of awareness by moms. Learn more about breastfeeding oversupply here...
Don’t Blame Yourself! Many moms who are misinformed think it must be something the mom did or could be doing to prevent or cause colic. That is just not true!
MOST cases of colic there is absolutely nothing that you can do to prevent it or stop it!
Just remember that it is not your fault and more importantly--It will PASS!
If you feel your frustration getting out of control hand that baby off to your hubby or a good friend and to take a break…a bubble bath or a walk!! Both colic and breastfeeding can be hard on moms! If, or should I say when, it gets to you then give yourself permission to take a rest. Make sure baby is feed, changed and well-rested...and then PLEASE just take a break!
HANG IN THERE!
thanks http://www.breastfeeding-magazine.com/colic-and-breastfeeding.html for the helpful tips!
I was once in the place where you are trying to manage both the colic and breastfeeding. My first tip: I completely recommend reading The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, MD. I found the 5 S's were the only long term solution. Yes, of course there were other tricks that often gave us brief relief like carseat on the dryer (yes, we held on the entire time for safety) or a car ride or running the vacuum cleaner. But when we did the 5 S's in order, no substitutions here people, it worked!
I know, some of you are saying "Ok, I can do four of the S's, but my baby loves to have his hands and legs free. I just do not feel right swaddling him". Well, I was one of you, before our colic got to the point of total frustration! Sure, my baby loved to explore with his hands but when it was time to settle down, he really needed the secure feeling that only swaddling could provide.
Now, I was given this book as a shower gift. I skimmed the important parts, dog-earring and highlighting. But when it came time to use it, I was so sleep deprived and crazed from the crying it took a while before I remembered I even had it! Then to find time to re-read to a point of retention so I could put the tools to use. Once we got the hang of it though, it was wonderful.
The most important thing for you to realize is that colic is not your fault and that breastfeeding is still the best thing that you can do for your baby. Switching to formula, as some people recommend, will only make it worse. In fact, some babies whose colic ends after three months seem to have it return when they are weaned from the breast!
What You Need to Know About Colic and Breastfeeding
First of all, we need to understand what colic is. Colic is described as uncontrollable, extended crying in a baby who is well-fed, dry and otherwise should be fine. While every baby cries, some little ones cry for more than three hours a day, three to four days a week...these babies may have colic. My son was text book colic starting at about 5 weeks. Every night for about 4-6 hours he would just scream. No sitting the baby down to get anything done for us!
It is estimated that over 20% of babies have or get colic, and it usually starts around two to four weeks of age and can last for three months, or longer in some cases.
Tips: (I wish I had known this!!) If you are feeding from both breasts and have a fussy baby, I've been told that you may want to reconsider! Here is why, according to breastfeeding magazine: Breast milk changes during each feeding. One of the ways in which it changes is that the longer your baby feeds on a breast, the higher the fat content of the breast milk. (This higher fat milk is often referred to as hind milk.)
If mommies automatically switch the baby from one breast to the other during the feeding (before the baby has "finished" the first side) the baby may get a relatively low amount of fat during the feeding. Don’t be fooled by modern thinking…that is NOT good! By doing this you are actually giving the baby less calories , and thus needing to feed more frequently.
Also, if the baby takes in a lot of milk (to make up the low concentration of fat and calories,) she may spit up or cause acid reflux.
Due to the low density fat content of the milk, the baby’s tummy will empty quickly, and a large load of milk sugar (lactose) will arrive in the baby’s intestine all at once. The stomach proteins may not be able to handle so much milk sugar at one time. This will cause your baby to have some symptoms of lactose intolerance--crying, gas, and explosive, watery, greenish bowel movements. This may occur even during the feeding.
NOTE: These babies are not lactose intolerant. They are just victims of incorrect breastfeeding coaching and lack of awareness by moms. Learn more about breastfeeding oversupply here...
Don’t Blame Yourself! Many moms who are misinformed think it must be something the mom did or could be doing to prevent or cause colic. That is just not true!
MOST cases of colic there is absolutely nothing that you can do to prevent it or stop it!
Just remember that it is not your fault and more importantly--It will PASS!
If you feel your frustration getting out of control hand that baby off to your hubby or a good friend and to take a break…a bubble bath or a walk!! Both colic and breastfeeding can be hard on moms! If, or should I say when, it gets to you then give yourself permission to take a rest. Make sure baby is feed, changed and well-rested...and then PLEASE just take a break!
HANG IN THERE!
thanks http://www.breastfeeding-magazine.com/colic-and-breastfeeding.html for the helpful tips!
Findings from Charlotte
Here is what Charlotte, Mother and writer for Baltimore’s Child, had to say when she discovered Nizo Wear Nursing Bras:
“This product could be a life saver for many women. It would have been for me as I was nursing my son for the first year of his life (he is now 3). I am due with my second child any day now and am nervous about nursing because I had so many problems with nursing the first time - constant hot/ cold compresses for sure!”
Here is what Charlotte told Nizo Wear after she had a chance to wear our Solace nursing bra:
“I think you have a wonderful, wonderful product!! I received your bra (Solace) in the mail when I had come home from the hospital. I have been wearing it every day and find it so much more comfortable than the nursing bra I purchased just a few weeks ago. The ice pack I already had fit perfectly. I can't wait to share this with our readers. By the way, the nursing of my second child is going much better. Perhaps it was the luck of your bra!
Thank you Charlotte for sharing your personal experiences and honest feedback with us!
Sincerely,
Nicole Zoellner
Nizo Wear Nursing Bras
www.nizowear.com
twitter@nizowear.com
facebook.com/nizowear
“This product could be a life saver for many women. It would have been for me as I was nursing my son for the first year of his life (he is now 3). I am due with my second child any day now and am nervous about nursing because I had so many problems with nursing the first time - constant hot/ cold compresses for sure!”
Here is what Charlotte told Nizo Wear after she had a chance to wear our Solace nursing bra:
“I think you have a wonderful, wonderful product!! I received your bra (Solace) in the mail when I had come home from the hospital. I have been wearing it every day and find it so much more comfortable than the nursing bra I purchased just a few weeks ago. The ice pack I already had fit perfectly. I can't wait to share this with our readers. By the way, the nursing of my second child is going much better. Perhaps it was the luck of your bra!
Thank you Charlotte for sharing your personal experiences and honest feedback with us!
Sincerely,
Nicole Zoellner
Nizo Wear Nursing Bras
www.nizowear.com
twitter@nizowear.com
facebook.com/nizowear
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Breastfeeding Humor-Firsts
What breastfeeding firsts will you not forget? Mine was trying to put my pump together for the first time! I am not good with following instructions anyway, which is apparent in my cooking! I was crying after about a minute, thank you hormones, and cried even harder when it only took my husband 2 minutes to figure the stupid thing out! Oh, the memories :) Nicole
Here are some Breastfeeding Firsts: according to If These Boobs Could Talk. by Seip & Hedger
You'll never forget....
-The first time baby looked up sweetly at your face while you were nursing her
- The first time baby pulled away from your breast and was startled by milk spraying in her face
- The first time you saw your breast milk when you pumped it out
- The first time you accidentally spilled the breast milk you just pumped, and began to panic
- The first time you forgot to wear a breastfeeding-friendly outfit
- The first time you leaked and realized you weren't wearing breast pads
- The first time you enjoyed a nice nursing session with baby, only to have baby spit-up all over your chest
Here are some Breastfeeding Firsts: according to If These Boobs Could Talk. by Seip & Hedger
You'll never forget....
-The first time baby looked up sweetly at your face while you were nursing her
- The first time baby pulled away from your breast and was startled by milk spraying in her face
- The first time you saw your breast milk when you pumped it out
- The first time you accidentally spilled the breast milk you just pumped, and began to panic
- The first time you forgot to wear a breastfeeding-friendly outfit
- The first time you leaked and realized you weren't wearing breast pads
- The first time you enjoyed a nice nursing session with baby, only to have baby spit-up all over your chest
IRS Says Breastfeeding Expenses Are Tax Write-Offs. Finally
IRS Says Breastfeeding Expenses Are Tax Write-Offs. Finally
Everyone markets it as cheap and easy. As in, "You can whip it out at any time." And, "It doesn't cost anything." And, "There's nothing to warm up."To a degree, that's true. Traveling and doing it is liberating. And the middle of the night? You can do it in bed; you can do it while you watch TV. But "cheap" isn't really a good descriptor for something so time-consuming and ultimately, especially, but not only, for women who work or want to step away from their child, so many accoutrements. And cheap isn't a good way to applaud something that provides so many benefits down the road. Cheap connotes easy. Cheap connotes worthless. And maybe that's the problem.I'm talking about breastfeeding, of course. Breastfeeding itself – which, if you count the countless hours breastfeeding women put in, is – while indubitably nutritious as well as wonderful -- far from free. And forget "free" when it comes to pumping. The state-of-the-art Medela backpack pump rings up at $264.99 (the "pump-in-style" hand bag can set you back $360). And that's before you extra valves ($7), bags for freezing ($10 for 50), extra tubing ($6), the "hands free" bodice that lets you pump and use a computer ($32). Some estimates put the yearly cost between $500 to $1,000.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has spent years trying to roll back the push of formula, trumpeting the benefits of breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life (the World Health Organization promotes breastfeeding for two years). Breastfeeding gives kids good antibodies, immunities, is said to potentially guard against asthma, allergies, diabetes and obesity -- keeping kids well, long after they give up the nipple. A Harvard Medical School study published last spring in the journal Pediatrics estimated that if 90 percent of American women breastfed, 900 premature infant deaths would be prevented and patients and hospitals would see savings of $13 billion in lost wages and saved health care costs – so you might assume that doing so would be a tax write-off.Until recently, you would have been wrong. As of this fall, the IRS position was that breastfeeding didn't have enough medical benefits to qualify as tax exempt.Last week, the Internal Revenue Service finally agreed to allow 2010 taxes to reflect the costs of pumps and milk bags, as all the myriad ways in which to maintain breastfeeding while working or on the road can make "free" suddenly cost quite a bit of cash. That means women with flexible spending accounts can use their pre-tax dollars to pay for nursing supplies. Those who itemize can add them in to their health care costs.Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., hailed the change in a statement. "This is good news for nursing moms, and a welcome recognition of scientific fact by the IRS: breastfeeding has significant health benefits -- it helps prevent disease, and is good for moms and for babies," Maloney said. "Anything we can do to encourage healthy choices is a good thing -- and this ruling definitely qualifies!"But the IRS is not alone in trying not to think about breastfeeding for as long as possible. Last week Noriko Aita, a Rockville, Md. mom visiting the Hirshhorn Museum, was asked to feed her baby in a bathroom stall. She left, went home and Googled that federal law allows breastfeeding on federal property – anywhere and at anytime.In response, a nurse-in was organized, and dozens of moms descended on the Smithsonian to breastfeed in public. "We're not protesting against [the museum]," one organizer told the Washington Post. "The nurse-in wasn't organized to elicit an apology. What happened to Nori happened because there was a lack of education and awareness. We want to ensure it doesn't happen to anybody else again."As Dr. Melissa Bartick, one of the lead doctors of the Harvard breastfeeding benefits study pointed out to a USA Today reporter, the problem is seeing breastfeeding as a "lifestyle" choice rather than a "public health" benefit. Winning over the IRS is a triumph, to be sure, but one that's come years later than it should have.
Read the full article: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2011/02/14/irs-says-breastfeeding-expenses-are-tax-write-offs-finally/
Everyone markets it as cheap and easy. As in, "You can whip it out at any time." And, "It doesn't cost anything." And, "There's nothing to warm up."To a degree, that's true. Traveling and doing it is liberating. And the middle of the night? You can do it in bed; you can do it while you watch TV. But "cheap" isn't really a good descriptor for something so time-consuming and ultimately, especially, but not only, for women who work or want to step away from their child, so many accoutrements. And cheap isn't a good way to applaud something that provides so many benefits down the road. Cheap connotes easy. Cheap connotes worthless. And maybe that's the problem.I'm talking about breastfeeding, of course. Breastfeeding itself – which, if you count the countless hours breastfeeding women put in, is – while indubitably nutritious as well as wonderful -- far from free. And forget "free" when it comes to pumping. The state-of-the-art Medela backpack pump rings up at $264.99 (the "pump-in-style" hand bag can set you back $360). And that's before you extra valves ($7), bags for freezing ($10 for 50), extra tubing ($6), the "hands free" bodice that lets you pump and use a computer ($32). Some estimates put the yearly cost between $500 to $1,000.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has spent years trying to roll back the push of formula, trumpeting the benefits of breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life (the World Health Organization promotes breastfeeding for two years). Breastfeeding gives kids good antibodies, immunities, is said to potentially guard against asthma, allergies, diabetes and obesity -- keeping kids well, long after they give up the nipple. A Harvard Medical School study published last spring in the journal Pediatrics estimated that if 90 percent of American women breastfed, 900 premature infant deaths would be prevented and patients and hospitals would see savings of $13 billion in lost wages and saved health care costs – so you might assume that doing so would be a tax write-off.Until recently, you would have been wrong. As of this fall, the IRS position was that breastfeeding didn't have enough medical benefits to qualify as tax exempt.Last week, the Internal Revenue Service finally agreed to allow 2010 taxes to reflect the costs of pumps and milk bags, as all the myriad ways in which to maintain breastfeeding while working or on the road can make "free" suddenly cost quite a bit of cash. That means women with flexible spending accounts can use their pre-tax dollars to pay for nursing supplies. Those who itemize can add them in to their health care costs.Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., hailed the change in a statement. "This is good news for nursing moms, and a welcome recognition of scientific fact by the IRS: breastfeeding has significant health benefits -- it helps prevent disease, and is good for moms and for babies," Maloney said. "Anything we can do to encourage healthy choices is a good thing -- and this ruling definitely qualifies!"But the IRS is not alone in trying not to think about breastfeeding for as long as possible. Last week Noriko Aita, a Rockville, Md. mom visiting the Hirshhorn Museum, was asked to feed her baby in a bathroom stall. She left, went home and Googled that federal law allows breastfeeding on federal property – anywhere and at anytime.In response, a nurse-in was organized, and dozens of moms descended on the Smithsonian to breastfeed in public. "We're not protesting against [the museum]," one organizer told the Washington Post. "The nurse-in wasn't organized to elicit an apology. What happened to Nori happened because there was a lack of education and awareness. We want to ensure it doesn't happen to anybody else again."As Dr. Melissa Bartick, one of the lead doctors of the Harvard breastfeeding benefits study pointed out to a USA Today reporter, the problem is seeing breastfeeding as a "lifestyle" choice rather than a "public health" benefit. Winning over the IRS is a triumph, to be sure, but one that's come years later than it should have.
Read the full article: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2011/02/14/irs-says-breastfeeding-expenses-are-tax-write-offs-finally/
Michelle Obama works to remove barriers to breastfeeding
First lady Michelle Obama will be speaking out to remove barriers to breastfeeding, Politics Daily has learned, throwing the spotlight on nursing as a way to reduce childhood obesity.
This comes as the Obama administration in the past year has made several moves to encourage breastfeeding -- including a push for more flexible workplace rules and an Internal Revenue Service ruling on Thursday that breast pumps and other nursing supplies qualify for tax breaks. Mrs. Obama -- who has spoken in public about nursing her youngest daughter, Sasha -- is going to tread carefully in what might be a sensitive area for some women.
"Breastfeeding is a very personal choice for every woman," Kristina Schake, Mrs. Obama's communications chief, told Politics Daily. "We are trying to make it easier for those who choose to do it."
Looking ahead to what she will do in the second year of "Let's Move," Mrs. Obama said: "We also want to focus on the important touch points in a child's life. And what we're learning now is that early intervention is key. Breastfeeding. Kids who are breastfed longer have a lower tendency to be obese."
"Breastfeeding rates are low among African-American mothers compared to other racial and ethnic groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Mrs. Obama took note of this when she addressed the Congressional Black Caucus Conference on Sept. 10."And because it's important to prevent obesity early, we're also working to promote breastfeeding, especially in the black community -- where 40 percent of our babies never get breastfed at all, even in the first weeks of life, and we know that babies that are breastfed are less likely to be obese as children," she said.
Robin Schepper, executive director of "Let's Move," told Politics Daily, Mrs. Obama wants to increase breastfeeding rates but "is not telling women to breastfeed ... but wants to make it easier for moms by encouraging hospitals to change practices so after a baby is born, the baby is in the room with them."Toward that goal, Mrs. Obama is going to push more hospitals to be certified as "Baby Friendly" by Baby Friendly USA, a non-governmental organization that works with the United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, to increase breastfeeding opportunities. Only 3 percent of births occur at U.S. hospitals with the "Baby Friendly" designation.
"In a "Let's Move" policy report issued last May, one of the problems mothers may have with breastfeeding starts in the hospital where after birth, "many babies are unnecessarily given formula and separated from their mothers, making it harder to start and practice breastfeeding."
Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday that the costs for "breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation are medical care" are now, under the IRS code eligible for tax breaks. That means that breastfeeding supplies could be treated as deductible medical expenses and/or be reimbursed under flexible spending plans.
In the child nutrition bill President Obama signed Dec. 13, the WIC program for low-income women -- the nickname for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children -- provides more breastfeeding counseling and supplies to eligible mothers.
The Affordable Care Act signed by Obama on March 13 -- the health care overhaul Republicans are trying to repeal -- requires certain employers to give nursing mothers break time and a place -- not a bathroom -- to express milk.
Workplace rules have a major impact on a woman's decision whether to nurse."While 75 percent of women initially breastfeed their baby, after six months only 43 percent are still breastfeeding at all," Jarrett wrote. "One of the most common reasons mothers cite for discontinuing breastfeeding is returning to work and not having break time or a private space to express milk.
Check out the full article: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2011/02/14/michelle-obama-to-promote-breast-feeding-as-irs-gives-tax-breaks/
This comes as the Obama administration in the past year has made several moves to encourage breastfeeding -- including a push for more flexible workplace rules and an Internal Revenue Service ruling on Thursday that breast pumps and other nursing supplies qualify for tax breaks. Mrs. Obama -- who has spoken in public about nursing her youngest daughter, Sasha -- is going to tread carefully in what might be a sensitive area for some women.
"Breastfeeding is a very personal choice for every woman," Kristina Schake, Mrs. Obama's communications chief, told Politics Daily. "We are trying to make it easier for those who choose to do it."
Looking ahead to what she will do in the second year of "Let's Move," Mrs. Obama said: "We also want to focus on the important touch points in a child's life. And what we're learning now is that early intervention is key. Breastfeeding. Kids who are breastfed longer have a lower tendency to be obese."
"Breastfeeding rates are low among African-American mothers compared to other racial and ethnic groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Mrs. Obama took note of this when she addressed the Congressional Black Caucus Conference on Sept. 10."And because it's important to prevent obesity early, we're also working to promote breastfeeding, especially in the black community -- where 40 percent of our babies never get breastfed at all, even in the first weeks of life, and we know that babies that are breastfed are less likely to be obese as children," she said.
Robin Schepper, executive director of "Let's Move," told Politics Daily, Mrs. Obama wants to increase breastfeeding rates but "is not telling women to breastfeed ... but wants to make it easier for moms by encouraging hospitals to change practices so after a baby is born, the baby is in the room with them."Toward that goal, Mrs. Obama is going to push more hospitals to be certified as "Baby Friendly" by Baby Friendly USA, a non-governmental organization that works with the United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, to increase breastfeeding opportunities. Only 3 percent of births occur at U.S. hospitals with the "Baby Friendly" designation.
"In a "Let's Move" policy report issued last May, one of the problems mothers may have with breastfeeding starts in the hospital where after birth, "many babies are unnecessarily given formula and separated from their mothers, making it harder to start and practice breastfeeding."
Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday that the costs for "breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation are medical care" are now, under the IRS code eligible for tax breaks. That means that breastfeeding supplies could be treated as deductible medical expenses and/or be reimbursed under flexible spending plans.
In the child nutrition bill President Obama signed Dec. 13, the WIC program for low-income women -- the nickname for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children -- provides more breastfeeding counseling and supplies to eligible mothers.
The Affordable Care Act signed by Obama on March 13 -- the health care overhaul Republicans are trying to repeal -- requires certain employers to give nursing mothers break time and a place -- not a bathroom -- to express milk.
Workplace rules have a major impact on a woman's decision whether to nurse."While 75 percent of women initially breastfeed their baby, after six months only 43 percent are still breastfeeding at all," Jarrett wrote. "One of the most common reasons mothers cite for discontinuing breastfeeding is returning to work and not having break time or a private space to express milk.
Check out the full article: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2011/02/14/michelle-obama-to-promote-breast-feeding-as-irs-gives-tax-breaks/
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