Welcome to Breastfeeding Place's World Breastfeeding Week Photo Contest! World Breastfeeding Week runs from August 1-7 this year, and we want your help to celebrate all families who have gone through the joys and struggles to attain their breastfeeding victories! To celebrate, during World Breastfeeding Week, we will be sharing breastfeeding victories from mamas and daddies and babies all over the world. So, we want you to share your victories and your photos in our Breastfeeding Victories Photo Contest! Each day this week, we will be announcing a new category in our World Breastfeeding Week Photo Contest. To enter, simply use the form to … [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.
Our Breast Advice: Breastfeeding seems too sexual to me, how can I get over it?
Breastfeeding Question: "I am 32 weeks pregnant and have fully decided not to breastfeed. My husband is beginning to really push for it. I have no desire to breastfeed. It seems uncomfortable and awkward for myself. I cannot imagine a child sucking on my breast to be a positive experience. To me, it just seems so sexual. I do not know how I would ever enjoy doing this for my baby. Any advice?" Answers: Jennifer says... It is definitely difficult to comprehend what the breastfeeding experience will look like. It is different from woman to woman and even from child to child. Some women enjoy it, others struggle through, while others … [Read more...]
4 Critical Things You Should Know About Weaning Babies onto Solids
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When it's time for weaning babies onto solids, everyone has an opinion. "Did you see that?! Look, he did it again—he's watching me eat. I'll bet he's getting ready for real food." "Aren't you going to feed him something from the table? A little bit won't hurt him." "If she's not sleeping well you should feed her rice cereal. That will make her tummy full." Have you ever heard comments like this? I know I did. Weaning babies onto solids is the decision of the parents, not well-intentioned friends and family. But at the same time, it's hard to know when to do it. I speak from experience. I started giving my first son rice cereal and … [Read more...]
About Breastfeeding: Getting Started
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There really isn't much about breastfeeding that you need to know to get started. Here are the basics to get you going: About Colostrum Colostrum is your first milk and the perfect first food for your newborn. It has all the nutrients and antibodies that your baby needs to get a good, healthy start in life. You might notice that it is a pale golden yellow and rather thick. Your body does not make a lot of colostrum at a time. Your newborn's tiny stomach can't handle large amounts all at the same time, so you might be nursing frequently. This will also help establish your milk supply when your regular milk comes in. Proper Latch Getting … [Read more...]
Breast Milk Handling: stirred not shaken!
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"Shaken, not stirred." No! Stirred not shaken! Oh my goodness, who would have thought that it made any difference how you mix up your breast milk. Breast milk handling is important though. It needs to be done delicately. Gently swirling the breast milk is the optimal way to mix your expressed breast milk. For those of you mamas who take the time to pump for your babies (that takes some dedication), be sure to take an extra minute to gently mix your breast milk. Breast Milk Handling: Why you shouldn't shake it! Breast milk is amazing. It is made up of living cells: living cells that are susceptible to physical damage. When you shake … [Read more...]
Low Milk Supply: How to Remedy a Common Breastfeeding Problem
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Women can have a variety of breastfeeding problems, low milk supply being one of them. This can be the hardest part of nursing in my opinion. It is so hard as a new mom to simply trust your body to do what it was designed to do! Most moms have no issues with supply whatsoever, even if they fear they might. Why so much concern about supply? How do you know if you have low milk supply? These are not indicators of Low Milk Supply Growth spurts early on can be a blow to mom’s confidence in her body. Baby may always seem hungry and may nurse practically around the clock without ever seeming satisfied. Trust your body. This behavior is … [Read more...]
Why Breast is Best: The Superior Components of Breast Milk
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We believe breastfeeding is best for both you and your baby. Maybe you already believe that it really is best. Maybe you think formula is so advanced that it really doesn’t make much difference. But if you look at the components of breast milk, it's easy to see why this is really the perfect food for your baby. Before digging in, I want to acknowledge: at times, some babies must have alternatives to breast milk. All of the authors here hope to explore some of those options here. We desire to encourage, inform, empower, and inspire you so you can make the best decisions for you and your baby. The Components of Breast Milk are … [Read more...]
Dispelling 12 Breastfeeding Myths
What's a breastfeeding myth, and what is the truth? Sometimes it's hard to tell fact from fiction. Dispelling myths about breastfeeding has been a huge passion of mine ever since I began to realize that low breastfeeding rates can be attributed to the massive amount of misinformation out there. I have talked to so many women who thought they had to stop nursing for one reason or another, even though the nursing relationship was still mutually beneficial for them and their babies. Obviously each family must make decisions that are right for their individual circumstances. Making these decisions in a fully informed manner can help mothers … [Read more...]
Udder Cover: A Great Nursing Cover Up
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I’ve breastfed my babies in a variety of locales all over the US. With Bradley, my firstborn, I used a light-weight blanket when I was in mixed company or sitting in a public place. It gave me privacy—for a while. Once he got a little older, he wanted to see what was going on. He hated being under wraps! The whole ordeal turned into a big mess and breastfeeding was not very discreet. Udder Covers: Nursing Cover Up After I had my second born, I discovered Udder Cover. This is a nursing cover up a baby can’t pull off. The covers goes on around your neck, sort of like an apron. You can tighten or loosen the strap to make it most … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding Beyond One Year: Common Questions & Answers
Breastfeeding beyond one year ranges from unthinkable to some parents, to the norm for others. Its acceptance varies from one culture to another. Breastfeeding into the toddler years is very beneficial in terms of health. But many parents still have questions about breastfeeding beyond one year. Why do it at all? One of the first times I ever saw (or at least noticed) someone breastfeeding a baby was when I was 19 years old. I was having a chat with my pastor’s wife on their back porch when her then 15-month-old toddled over to where we were sitting. She nonchalantly lifted her shirt and very discretely nursed him for a few seconds. … [Read more...]
