Breastfeeding is the norm. It’s what are bodies were created to do. Not only is breast milk far superior to formula and provides baby with many health benefits now and in the future, but breast milk also provides many health benefits to you as the mama! You probably knew there are dozens of benefits of breastfeeding for your baby. But did you know that as a mom, there are benefits of breastfeeding for you too? 1. Reduces Mom's Cancer Risk Possibly on of the most loudly touted benefits of breastfeeding is it’s potential to reduce the risk of cancer. Breastfeeding has been shown to lower the risk of breast, ovarian, uterine, and endometrial … [Read more...]

Ah, all the wonderful benefits from breastfeeding! Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mom and baby. Breastfeeding is the best thing that you can give to your new baby, and it also helps mom relax in those first few weeks after bringing baby home. Nothing is more special than laying with your baby, enjoying those new baby smells and sounds..until you get that sharp pain and a lump in breast while breastfeeding. What the heck is that? I remember when I was pregnant with my son, now 3 months old. I had a terrible breastfeeding experience with my first 2 children and wonderful experiences with my other 2 children. Here I thought I knew … [Read more...]

Before having a child, a lot of parents like to take classes to help them prepare for the brand new baby they are going to be bringing into this world. One class most hospitals and other facilities offer is a breastfeeding class. It's usually a low cost class, one or two nights, that explains nearly all of the details of breastfeeding. But are these classes really necessary? Won't breastfeeding come naturally? These may be some questions you are asking yourself, so here is a little information about breastfeeding classes to help you answer those questions. What Will You Learn At a Breastfeeding Class? Each breastfeeding class will vary a … [Read more...]

.The nutritional advantage breast milk provides translates into real, tangible short and long-term health benefits of breastfeeding for baby. Despite scientific advances, breast milk is still superior to formula. Before we dig in, I want to mention that the primary source I used in my research for this post is the report: Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries.1 This document includes information from 400 different studies on breastfeeding. As the title states, it examines breastfeeding outcomes in only developed countries. This is significant because some argue that we see such positive outcomes … [Read more...]

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to surround yourself with other breastfeeding women. Whether you are a first time mom or more experienced, there is so much to be gained from friendships with women in the same stage of life. I did not connect with my breastfeeding network until my first child was 6 months old, and I realized after talking with them that there were likely solutions for the breastfeeding problems I faced in his early days if I had just known who to ask for help. Our children were all born within 7-8 months of each other, and as they moved into toddlerhood, we compared notes on growth, development, and talked … [Read more...]

Your new baby has arrived and it's time to begin to breastfeed. How can you help ensure a successful breastfeeding relationship? Let me share with you some techniques that will help you to have optimal success. Breastfeeding Technique: Latch The first and most important is the baby's latch. Latching on should not be painful. You may feel  some tugging and slight tenderness but if your baby is latched on correctly it should not hurt. Here is one technique to use to properly latch your newborn onto your breast. Hold your baby so his body angles across yours, his hip resting on or near your thigh, with his whole front against your front. … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]