As a doula I am constantly being asked for ways to increase milk supply. There are a ton of anecdotal ways to try to do this. I was VERY excited to hear about Breastfeeding Cookies! These have nutritionally dense ingredients as well as a kicker for your milk supply. AND the rest of the family can eat them, too. [Click to read more] … [Read more...]
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Disclaimer: The information in this post is for educational purposes only. I am not a doctor. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. None of the opinions are meant to diagnose or treat any disease or illness. You should always consult your healthcare provider.
Should I Use a Baby Nursing Cover When Breastfeeding in Public?
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Breastfeeding is a very personal thing between a mother and baby. There is so much love and bonding that happens when breastfeeding that it's quite hard to describe sometimes. But when out in public it becomes less personal as others are able to see what you are doing and possibly talk to you or ask questions about it. So you may be questioning whether or not you want to use a baby nursing cover when breastfeeding in public. Just like breastfeeding is a personal decision, so is the decision to use a nursing cover when breastfeeding in public. You have to decide what works best for you. I personally used a nursing cover quite often, while … [Read more...]
Antibodies in Breast Milk: Baby’s First Line of Defense
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Breast milk is pretty amazing. In addition to providing all the nutrients your baby needs for its first year of life (and longer!), there are also antibodies in breast milk that give your baby the defense it needs to fight sickness in the early years of baby's life. What Are Antibodies in Breast Milk? Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are special proteins used by your immune system to ward off the bad guys, such as bacteria and viruses. They come in five different classes, and although all five have shown up in breast milk, one in particular is the most prominent: secretory IgA (aka, sIgA, or Immunoglobulin A). These antibodies … [Read more...]
Your Questions Answered: Tandem Nursing Your Infant and Toddler
Are you expecting a baby any day now, but still haven't weaned your toddler? Are you wondering if tandem nursing your infant and toddler will work? Will your body continue to make milk for toddler or will it be making milk for the baby? Will you feed both at the same time or one after the other? Will your toddler even be gentle enough with the baby in order to nurse both at the same time? This post answers all of those questions and more. Stop by Intoxicated on Life to read more about nursing your infant and toddler. … [Read more...]
Common Breastfeeding Problems: Biting While Teething
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Breastfeeding is a beautiful act that encourages bonding, provides the best nutrition, and supplies comfort to a small child who depends on his mother to care for his every need. This doesn't mean that it is without its disadvantages. One of the more common breastfeeding problems occurs when baby begins to teethe: biting. Many people believe that it is at this point that a woman should begin to wean her child. After all, who really wants to be bitten in such a sensitive area? It hurts! However, there are some things that you can do to discourage and prevent your child from chomping down on your breasts so that you don't have to give up … [Read more...]
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: When to start weaning?
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Congratulations! You just found out that you are expecting again! However, you are still nursing your little one. A big question looms - pregnancy and breastfeeding: when to start weaning? I have nursed through part of three different pregnancies. I am currently 10 weeks pregnant and nursing my 2 year old. For me, I'm lazy. That's the truth. Weaning can be hard work and I'm just not looking forward to that! My first weaned on his own at 15 months when I was about 18 weeks. My milk was gone and he was tired of dry nursing - and so was I. Since my first was a preemie, I had been told to wean by 20 weeks to stay on the safe side. With my … [Read more...]
How to Donate Breast Milk
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Many people don't realize that they can donate their breast milk to help babies in need. It is really a pretty simple process, but some forethought does need to go into it. This post explains how to find a local milk bank and details the process from start to finish to donate your breast milk. Read more at...How to Donate Breast Milk Sharing at My Joy-Filled Life. … [Read more...]
Freemie Hands-Free Pumping System Giveaway
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I'm excited to bring you all this great giveaway for a Freemie Hands-Free Pumping System (a $160 value). This seems like a great product on the market that would be a huge help to a lot of mamas. Read on to see all the details and enter the giveaway below! A few months ago, a friend emailed me (Nissa from Cloth Diaper Guru blog) a link to a new product: Freemie hands-free pumping system for breastfeeding mothers. I was a seasoned, working and pumping mom and this was something new. I shared the link with a few of my followers and there was a huge interest in this product. While there are plenty of breast pumps on the market, Freemie is … [Read more...]
How to Deal with Breastfeeding and Afterpains
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After what can often be an uncomfortable third trimester (or maybe even entire pregnancy) and then the hard work of labor and delivery, there's certainly not a single mom on the planet who wants another round of intense pain or discomfort right after her baby is born. However, after a second or subsequent labor and delivery, many moms deal with strong afterpains. These afterpains are most coming during breastfeeding, too. What is the best way to cope with breastfeeding and afterpains? What Are Afterpains? Before you can learn to cope with after pains, it is helpful to know a little bit about them. Afterpains are caused by the uterus … [Read more...]
Stem Cells in Breast Milk: Why Breastmilk is Liquid Gold
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We all know that breast is best and that breast milk contains so many things that do wonders for our babies. We know that cancer patients benefit from breast milk, and the first milk (colostrum) is full of antibodies that help keep our babies healthy. What you may not know is that there are many types of cells in breast milk, including stem cells. Yes, those miracle cells can be grown into new healthy tissue! One study indicated that breast milk contains differentiated epithelial and putative stem cells. (Via PubMed) As time goes by more studies are finding these cells transfer between mother and baby from implantation to weaning! Sadly, at … [Read more...]
