Nursing Positions & Latching

I learned in my breastfeeding class that women learn how to breastfeed by watching other moms.  Well, sometimes it's difficult to get together with other moms and watch them.  I learned a lot from videos.  It helps to see what latching looks like and how the baby is suppose to respond.  This one has great information!

Pacifiers & Bottles

During my breastfeeding class I learned that if you introduce a pacifier or bottle too early it can interfere with latching. This is what I understood. Well, I was determined to breastfeed so I didn't let a pacifier or bottle near my baby for 2 weeks! 

Every baby is different, but mine didn't have a problem and she took to breastfeeding right away.  She always latched fine and she never refused to nurse.  During her 2nd day, I remember allowing her to nurse as long as she wanted.  She nursed a total of 45 minutes on one side!

Even though I was so happy that we were on a good path of nursing, when I finally introduced her to a pacifier or bottle - she refused it!  I tried and tried, but nothing worked.  I even dipped the pacifier in Karo syrup, and she still didn't want it.

From my experience I suggest introducing either a pacifier or bottle sooner than 2 weeks.  If you are wanting to pump and feed, a bottle is the only way you'll be able to feed your baby.  Also, a pacifier can come in handy.  Especially in public when you need to "pacify" your baby until you can nurse them.  We never had this option.  On the bright side, we won't have to take it away from her.  Take it from me, introduce what you plan to use early.


Here she is with a pacifier.  I think this is the only time we took a picture with it in her mouth.

Breastfeeding Tools

These were the tools I used in the beginning of breastfeeding.  They were very helpful for me and I wanted to share them with you!!  Pictured here is my boppy pillow, disposable nursing pads, prenatal vitamins, and nipple cream.

I became very attached to my boppy pillow.  Boppy pillows can be expensive, but you want to find one that you're most comfortable with because you will use it constantly. They are definitely worth the money!  I loved mine because I was able to breastfeed and have my hands free.  I took it everywhere. 

Disposable nursing pads are awesome because they are so absorbent.  I feel silly because I didn't have them in the very beginning, but I definitely needed them!  I always thought about nursing pads as an 'in between feedings' necessity.  What I didn't realize was that you need them during feedings for the other side.  Let down causes the flow of milk on both sides at the same time.  Be sure you have some of these handy.

Prenatal vitamins become your daily routine during pregnancy.  Continuing them while breastfeeding should be second nature to you.  They continue to provide you with the right vitamins while breastfeeding too.  They're great!  My doctor told me that I didn't have to take any of the expensive kinds.  I personally prefer the ones from Target. 

Nipple cream was given to me by my discharge nurse at the hospital.  I am so thankful that she gave it to me!  I hadn't purchased it ahead of time, and to be honest it wasn't on my list of necessities.   I recommend using it during your shower to protect your most sensitive area.  During the first few weeks you are very tender there and need protection.  This kind worked great!

 

Breastfeeding a distracted baby

Breastfeeding a distracted baby can be difficult.  Especially when they want to squirm around, unlatch, and look at everything else but you.  When babies are newborns it's hard to get them to do anything else but nurse.  When they are older, all they want to do is get down and play.  Here are a few tips that have worked for me.

First, we go into her bedroom, turn off the lights, and turn the fan on.  She sleeps with a fan at night.  It helps reduce any noise coming from the living room especially if her daddy is here. Her daddy is a big distraction because she sees him as a playmate who rough-houses.  It's very sweet, but when it's time to nurse, you need as few distractions as possible.

Second, I sit "indian style" so she's cradled in my lap.  I also sit on the edge of a bed.  If I sit in a rocking chair, she tries to roll over and twist around to an awkward position.  Plus, she'll unlatch and try to get down.

Third, I wear a necklace or earrings that she tries to play with.  You have to be careful though.  My little girl wants to pull the earrings out of my ear!  I won't let that happen, but the earring distracts her so she'll keep nursing instead of turn around.

Breastfeeding... is your baby getting enough?

Breastfeeding hasn't always been popular.  Sometimes you will hear critics while you're breastfeeding.  The most common comment is that your baby isn't "getting enough".

When my grandmothers were having babies, doctors were not encouraging them to breastfeed. They were telling them that formula was the best option because it gave specific vitamins and nutrients.  They didn't have the technology to study breast milk like they do today.  They also didn't know that it contains the best nourishment.  Human milk is best for human babies.

Growing up, I heard the phrases: "the baby's not satisfied" or "she didn't produce enough milk".  Even though these situations do happen, it may not be the case for you.  In spite of it all, you'll still hear criticism from some learking individuals out there.  How to feel secure?  Here's how...

Your baby should be wetting around 5-6 diapers per day and having regular dirty diapers.  Some babies will have a dirty diaper with each feeding.  Mine came close, but she didn't have one every time.  Click here to learn more about what is normal for your baby's dirty diapers.

Your doctor will schedule regular check-ups where you can keep track of his or her weight.  As long as the doctor says your baby is progressing in weight, you're fine. 

Another way to tell is that you'll feel the "let down" of your milk and you will hear your baby drinking.  If you still feel insecure about your milk supply, you can always talk with a lactation consultant and schedule a visit.  They can measure the amount of milk during the feeding.  They will weigh the baby before and after each feeding to see how many ounces were received.  It's quite interesting!

Unlatching & No Pain

The last thing you want to do is pull your baby off without unlatching properly.  I remember talking to a friend who said that she just pulled her baby off and it hurt really bad.  Yes it would hurt!! Ouch!  I have a tip on how to unlatch without pain.

During my breastfeeding class I was taught to stick my finger in the corner of her mouth to release the suction.  I've also read this in many books and online.  However, I have long nails and it didn't seem that comfortable for me at first.  It's also impossible to constantly wash your hands and keep them clean, especially when you're breastfeeding every 2 hours.  I also thought about how clean (or not so clean) my hands were.

This is what I started to do... I would take my thumb or index finger and touch right above her lip, kind of like in the "mustache" area and lift up her lip.  This sounds funny, but make your baby do the "Elvis lip"  LOL!  This releases the suction without putting your finger in her mouth, and potentially scraping her gums with your nail.  This has worked for me every time!

Weaning & Your Emotions

Breastfeeding creates such a beautiful bond between a mother and baby.  It’s a natural process that provides the best nourishment for a growing child.  Sometimes it’s not always easy and many mothers want to give up.  When weaning starts, and we come to the end, it can sometimes be emotional for us as mothers. 

I am encouraging of my daughter to grow and become independent.  I love watching her through all the stages of crawling, pulling herself up, and soon walking.  I want to guide her through these exciting stages.  It’s interesting and sad to think about ending this special era of breastfeeding.

I’ve recently read this excerpt from the book What to expect: The Toddler Years and I think it’s very helpful regarding weaning and your emotions:

 

If you wait until your son decides he’s ready to graduate to a more grown-up source of liquid nourishment, you may have a very long wait ahead.  Though some babies and toddlers cut back on or discontinue breastfeeding on their own, usually near the end of the first year, others never do.  If you are ready to wean, then you should initiate the weaning process yourself. This is, after all, a two-way partnership and either party can end it at any time.

Watching a child move from one stage of development to another is always a bittersweet experience – filling you at once with pride (how grown up he is!) and with melancholy (he’ll never be a baby again!).  Some rites of passage evoke more mixed feelings than do others.  For many women, weaning their children from the breast is one of those.

Breastfeeding is an undeniably gratifying experience, but breastfeeding indefinitely because you’re not ready to give it up isn’t fair.  If your toddler wants to move on, follow his lead.  Don’t take his rejection of your breast personally.  He isn’t rejecting you, he’s rejecting the babyhood he’s outgrown, and taking another step toward independence.  As unsettling as that may be for you, it’s a step he must take. 

It’s likely that at first you will miss the physical closeness to your toddler that nursing provided.  But if you think about it, there are a host of other activities (hugging, cuddling, playing together, reading together before bed, and so on) that reproduce that closeness.  Enjoy those more frequently instead. 

Because the sadness you’re feeling may be intensified by the haywire hormonal changes that weaning can trigger, you should consider weaning gradually over a period of weeks or even months.  Give both your body and your mind plenty of time to recover and they eventually will.

Timing Feedings

Some breastfeeding books will tell you not to time your feedings, or in other words, look at the clock.  Personally, the clock has helped me tremendously.  This may sound crazy, but in the first months of sleep deprivation I couldn't tell the difference between 10 minutes or 20 minutes.  While breastfeeding, you don't specifically know how many ounces of milk your baby receives.  For me, I would measure it by the minutes. 

I conveniently had a digital clock nearby, so I would watch the clock.  In the beginning my baby would nurse about 20 minutes per side.  Sometimes it would be necessary to unlatch her or encourage her to keep nursing. Most newborns will fall asleep at the breast, so it's important to know how much longer they need to feed or if it's okay for them to stop.  If they've gone too long, then it's like you are now the baby's pacifier.  I'd rather switch to the other side when that happens :-)

After a while, I was so used to the clock that I would watch it while on road trips.  We would stop at a gas station or resting area for me to nurse.  I would watch the radio clock.  I would think to myself "as long as we can get at least 10 minutes on each side, we'll be okay".  If I am somewhere that doesn't have a clock nearby, I use my cell phone. 

This tip has helped me to not only measure each feeding, but also see the progression of weaning.  It has been interesting in these last few months because sometimes she'll only nurse 3 minutes per side.  It's amazing how weaning happens naturally.  What a beautiful thing! 

Nursing Strike... Ouch!

A few weeks ago, my baby went on her first nursing strike.  It was an emotional and yet puzzling experience.  I found this article on BabyCenter.com that answered all of my questions. Please see below for some helpful information from the article:

What is a nursing strike?

A baby who refuses to breastfeed (and is not in the process of being weaned) is said to be on a "nursing strike." A nursing strike is your baby's way of telling you that something's wrong. And it'll probably take a little detective work to figure out the problem.

What causes it?

Here are some reasons your baby may go on a nursing strike:

• Mouth pain from teething, a cold sore, or an infection (such as thrush)
• An ear infection, which may cause pressure or pain while nursing
• A cold or stuffy nose, which can make breathing difficult while nursing
• Reduced milk supply or a slow letdown
• A major disruption in your baby's nursing routine or schedule
• If your teething baby has bitten you and your reaction startled him, he may be afraid to nurse after that.
• A change in soap or other toiletry that causes you to smell different to your baby
• A change in the taste of your milk, caused by a vitamin or drug or by hormonal changes (from pregnancy or your period, for example)

What can I do?

A nursing strike can be tricky for even the most dedicated breastfeeding mother. With patience and support, though, you can get through it.

A nursing strike usually lasts between two and five days, but it can go on longer.  While you continue to encourage your baby to nurse, you'll need to pump (or express your milk by hand) every few hours, or about as often as your baby had been nursing. This will help keep up your milk supply, prevent plugged ducts and engorgement, and provide your baby with the milk he needs. You can offer the expressed milk in a sippy cup, a bottle, a spoon, an eyedropper, or a feeding syringe.

Here are some ways to overcome a nursing strike:

• Try nursing when your baby is very sleepy. Many babies who refuse to nurse when they're awake will breastfeed when they're sleepy.
• Visit your baby's doctor to rule out medical causes (such as an ear infection or thrush) and seek feeding advice.
• Vary your nursing position. (Your baby may be more comfortable in one position than another.)
• Nurse in motion. Some babies are more likely to nurse when you rock or walk them than when you're sitting or standing still.
• Nurse in an environment that's free from distractions. It's common for a 6- to 9-month-old to go on a nursing strike as he becomes more aware of the world. Babies this age are easily distracted and often prefer to "snack" at the breast instead of settling down for a meal. Try nursing in a dimly lit, quiet room, away from the sound of the radio or television.
• Give your baby lots of skin-to-skin contact (try nursing without a shirt on or in a warm bath). A sling or carrier can help keep your baby close between nursing attempts.

It's easy to jump to the conclusion that a baby who doesn't want to nurse is weaning himself. But it's unlikely that a baby under a year old who has been successfully breastfeeding is ready to give up nursing. (An older baby may cut back in reaction to a new pregnancy, though.)

Breast Care & Frozen Diapers

As silly as it sounds, frozen diapers can provide relief to sore breasts during the first few weeks of breastfeeding.  Just add a little water to two newborn sized diapers and freeze them.  After a feeding, place the open diapers over your breasts.  They conveniently fit in all the right places, and provide a lot of comfort too.

Another tip: before a feeding, place a warm heating pad or warm wash cloth over your breasts.  The warmth helps the let down of your milk and it helps discomfort.

I remember wearing the frozen diapers after feedings.  They used to stick out of my nursing tank top. :-)  I must have looked silly, but it definitely helped!

Gripe Water

I had never heard of gripe water until a friend recommended it to me.  It is very helpful!  It helps to relieve discomfort with stomach upset, teething, and hiccups.  My baby never took a pacifier or a bottle, so gripe water is what I turned to many times.  The dispenser is easy to use, and it relieved her hiccups every time!  I used Mommy's Bliss Original Gripe Water.

Click here for more details.

Surviving the nighttime feedings

Sleep is a valuable thing!  Have you ever heard the expression... you'll never appreciate something until you lose it?  When you lose sleep it affects every part of your day.  You can't think, talk, or sometimes eat.  I remember when sleep was more valuable than food.

How do you survive the around the clock feedings?  It's not just "midnight" feedings.  It's around the clock!  Here are a few tips to help you...

Tip # 1 Use a night light during the night.  It's never too early to start teaching your newborn the difference between night and day.  I use the Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light.  

It's a little ladybug that projects stars in colors of red, blue, and green. It's great! It's perfect for nighttime diaper changes and feedings.  It continues to be something my baby loves.  She'll be able to use it as a night light for years to come.

 

Tip # 2 When you're a breastfeeding mommy, you need to drink lots of water so you'll have frequent trips to the bathroom.  Use a night light in the bathroom too.  If you keep your environment dim during the night, it also keeps you in a "sleepy" state so you can go back to sleep easily.  Nothing is worse than a bright shining light blaring in your face at 4:00 am!

 

Tip # 3 Use black out curtains in your bedroom.  You never know when your little one will decide to sleep for a couple of hours.  It could be 2:00 pm and the sun is shining bright!  If you keep your room dark it will be easier to sleep in the middle of the day.

 

Tip # 4 Schedule your doctor's appointments, visitors, and trips during a convenient time of day.  If it's difficult to make an 8:00 am doctor appointment, then schedule it for the afternoon next time. 

 

Tip # 5 If you need help, ask for it!  Daily tasks such as laundry, cooking, and cleaning shouldn't get in your way of rest.  I remember wanting to do another load of laundry as soon as my baby went down for a nap.  True, laundry needs to be done.  Just make sure you're taking care of yourself :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nursing Bras

Nursing bras... full coverage and clip down.  Shopping for these for the first time can be a little strange. Bra advertisements sell us on how their bra will lift, support, and flatter.  However, it's not the same feeling when shopping for a nursing bra.  The goal is to provide comfort, support, and accessibility.  Accessibility??  Something that's not so common :-)

While I was pregnant, I went into Motherhood Maternity to shop for a nursing bra. I was approached by a sales woman.  I thought she was trying to "sell me" and pursuade me to buy several bras. I didn't realize at the time that she was actually giving me helpful advice.  Do not buy a nursing bra while you're pregnant.  Wait until after your milk comes in.  So helpful!

The style that I prefer most is the Seamless Lift Up Nursing Bra.  Click here to view this style.  This bra is the absolute best in my opinion!!!  You can wear any shirt in your wardrobe, you avoid the "bulge" in between feedings, and it provides great coverage with the built-in pads.  It is also very comfortable!

Girls, I promise you can go back to your cute and flattering bras after nursing.  Go for comfort now! 

Welcome to The Nursing Mommy Blog!

During the past 11 months of motherhood I have experienced many moments where the "light bulb" came on for me.  I thought "Goodness! If I had just known about this a month ago, my life would've been so much easier!" 

The purpose of this blog is to share all of these "light bulb" moments with you.  I want to encourage and empower all mothers through the journey of motherhood.  I plan to share tips on caring for a new baby, living with sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, and much more.

Breastfeeding isn't easy, however the benefits for you and your baby are priceless.  Join me as we embark on this journey together.  Share with other moms, moms-to-be, and grandmothers.  This is going to be fun!!