With the incidence of food allergies (and the knowledge of such!) on the rise in recent years, it is understandable that moms would be concerned about the possibility of babies being allergic to their breastmilk. Fortunately, this is very rarely the case! A true inability to digest the galactose in breastmilk is called galactosemia. Galactosemia is a genetic mutation that affects the body's ability to convert galactose into glucose, and causes the galactose to build up in the blood. Most cases are diagnosed through the newborn screen completed 24-48 hours post-birth (the "heel prick test"). Galactosemia, in the western world, occurs in … [Read more...]
Please Note: This post may contain sponsor, affiliate, and/or referral links. Read my full disclosure statement.
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.
It’s OK to Bottle Feed Around Me: Encouragement from a Breastfeeding Advocate
By 2 Comments
Is it possible that in our current culture moms feel just as wary to bottle feed in public as they do to breastfeed? I lead a local breastfeeding support group. I'm not a certified lactation consultant or counselor, so our group is strictly for peer support. Still, I'm a mother of four breastfed children, and the combined wisdom of all the moms attending often leaves us feeling stuffed full of new knowledge and encouragement at the end of a meeting. A few months ago, a new mama attended who hadn't been able yet to successfully latch and transfer milk to her baby without the help of an SNS or bottle. She had struggled through a month … [Read more...]
Overactive Letdown: 6 Strategies to Help
In the first few weeks after my son was born (and after I dealt with engorgement from my milk coming in) I started noticing that my baby was coughing and choking every time he started to nurse, and he would frequently unlatch and fuss before resuming nursing. For a while I didn't know what the problem was, but after doing a little reading I realized we were dealing with overactive letdown. It took some time, and trial-and-error, but the two of us together have learned how to manage it and he nurses just fine now. If you've noticed that your baby gets frustrated when he or she starts to nurse, if they unlatch and your milk comes … [Read more...]
Why Use Infant Formula – When Breastfeeding No Longer Works
My first child was formula fed. I remember feeling so down on myself because I was not breastfeeding him. I vowed to myself to make breastfeeding work with my next baby, and I did it. I nursed her for two years. She only had a very small amount of formula during her first week when I was in so much pain I could not nurse her. My third child? He never had a single drop of formula. I thought I was some sort of breastfeeding rock star. Then, my fourth baby was born. Breastfeeding went wonderfully with him, too, until I got pregnant again only five months postpartum. If you're wondering to yourself, "Why use infant formula?" I have a few … [Read more...]
Signs of Weaning: How to Know It’s Coming
How will you know if your baby is truly weaning, or if it's a simple (yet incredibly frustrating!) nursing strike? There are several signs of weaning which can help you know the difference. Signs of Weaning Weaning happens over the course of months. Weaning from the breast is a very gradual process of a baby slowly cutting back on the number of nursing sessions and duration of each session. If the baby is suddenly refusing the breast, this could be for any number of reasons, including teething, illness, pain, or emotional stress. This is known as a nursing strike, and usually continues for several days, but does not indicate weaning. … [Read more...]
3 Tips for Breastfeeding with Postpartum Depression
After a new baby is born your hormones are out of whack. Thus it is normal for mom to feel sad and bluesy. About 85% of new moms get the baby blues. But if the sadness intensifies or lasts longer than a few weeks after delivery, that could mean postpartum depression has hit home for you. Depending on your ability to recognize the changes, having a healthy breastfeeding relationship is possible. Postpartum depression and anxiety disorders affect 20% of new moms. They can come on slow, hit suddenly, or anywhere in the first 6 months after the birth of your baby. The most important thing to know about postpartum depression is that it is … [Read more...]
How to Get Paid for Breast Milk Donation
By 13 Comments
I like donating to a milk bank because all of the donors are carefully screened, the milk is regulated, and I'm confident that needy babies are receiving the breast milk donations. However, I also like the idea of getting paid for all that liquid gold! Unfortunately, that is only an option through private breast milk donation. I'm not opposed to private donation, I've done it already myself, but there are some risks since things aren't as regulated. If you want to donate breast milk, you have to choose. Do you want things regulated or do you want to do get paid? Thanks to the Mothers Milk Cooperative in Oregon, you don't have to choose … [Read more...]
4 Breastfeeding Positions for New Moms
One of the biggest things most new moms get to learn is how to breastfeed. It looks easy and natural--and it is natural, and easy once you get the hang of it! But there is a learning curve, and it takes some moms and babies longer to learn than others. One important thing to know is that there are multiple breastfeeding positions that can be used, and each has its own benefits. 4 Breastfeeding Positions for New Moms The Football Hold This is probably one of the first breastfeeding positions your nurses or lactation consultants will teach you, because it enables mama to clearly see what's going on, and it is also particularly helpful if … [Read more...]
(Nearly) Perfect Foods for Breastfeeding Moms
By 1 Comment
Recently, we posted foods not to eat while breastfeeding. But a girl's gotta eat - especially a hungry mama feeding two (or more)! So what are some (nearly) perfect foods for breastfeeding moms? Nearly Perfect Foods for Breastfeeding Moms raw vegetables cooked vegetables healthy fats fresh fruit "clean" protein what you're craving lots of water! Having a baby can mess with the tummy (and the rest of the digestive system!), and hospital food is notoriously not good for keeping things moving. Getting plenty of raw vegetables like celery, tomatoes, salad greens, cucumber, peppers, and even cultured vegetables (a wonderful … [Read more...]
Breast Milk Storage Guidelines
By 1 Comment
Whether you're preparing to return to work or just want to freeze enough milk for emergencies, the idea of pumping and storing your breastmilk can be a bit daunting. How long can I leave breastmilk in the freezer? Is it okay to leave milk in a bottle from one feeding to the next? These simple breast milk storage guidelines can help reduce the stress of needing to express and store your breast milk! Breast Milk Storage Guidelines Room temperature. After expressing your breastmilk, it can safely be left at room temperature for four to six hours. If the room is very warm, it is ideal not to leave your milk out longer than two to three … [Read more...]
