Breastfeeding Questions Answered Here

What is Normal Weight Gain?

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:51:14 +0000

No matter what else is going on while you are breastfeeding (feeding pattern change, sleep patterns change, milk supply changes) if you are exclusively breastfeeding and your baby is consistantly gaining weight, then you can relax with the knowledge that you are doing well.

Your baby will gain weight at differing rates based on their age

Birth to four days: loss of 7 to 20 percent of their birh weight. This is mainly water weight that is lost.
Four days to four months: 6oz/170g per week weight gain (1.5 pounds/.68 kg per mmonth)
Four to Six months: 5-5oz/113-142g per week (1 pount/.45kg per month)
Six to twelve months: 2-4 oz/57-113g per week (.75 pounds/.34 kg per month)

A way to double check how much nutrition your baby is taking in is to watch how often they eliminate. This is fairly reliable up through week six, at this time some children change how frequently they eliminate.

If you have any concern about how much weight your child is gaining contact your pediatrician and schedule an offcicial weigh-in.

Three Things Everyone Thinks Dramatically Affect Milk Supply

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:48:17 +0000

There are three things you will find often repeated as ways to increase your milk supply, but in reality have little to no impact when the mother is already in good health.

Drink more fluids - Although your fluid consumption will increase as you breastfeed keep in mind that you only are replacing the amount your child consumes, which is about four ounces at each nursing session. Forcing yourself to consume extra fluids has no real effect aside from getting you to go tto the bathroom more frequently.

Eat a better diet – of course you should eat well, but as long as you are consuming foods that meet your nutritional needs than eating better will not promote increased milk supply. What it may do is provide a better quality breast milk but even that advantage is still dispute by health care professionals.

Get more rest - like eating well making sure you get adequate rest is important to your health, however no connection between the quantity of rest and breast milk production has been found.

Keep in mind that as long as you are in general good health these suggestions will have little impact on your milk production. They are however good guideines to follow to keep yourself feeling well and in good health.

Starting Solid Foods

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:45:42 +0000

The World Health Organization (WHO) released the results of thier in depth study on when to begin introducing solid foods into the diet of a breastfed or nursing baby. The WHO found that waiting until six months to start your baby on solid foods provides multiple benifits to both mother and child.

For the baby:

better neuromotor development
less infections diseas, particularly diarrhea

For the mother:

longer delay in return to fertility
had a faster weight loss and return to prepregnancy weight.

Introducing solid foods to early may slow your baby’s growth as their digestive system may not yet be able to digest this host of new foods. Studies have also shown that the earlier solid foods have been intr5oduced that those children are of higher risk for developing allergies. Introduction of solid foods will also have some impact on your milk supply which in turn may affect your long term breastfeeding goals.

Small Milk Storage Capacity

admin — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:36:33 +0000

If you have a small breast milk storage capacity, it is no reason to worry that you may not be able to supply enough nutrition for your child. You will have no trouble providing all the needed nutrition for your child but it will be on a different rhythm than mothers having a larger capacity.

One breast or two – Mothers with a smaller breast milk storage capacity will find that their baby will most often nurse from both breasts during feedings.

Number off feedings per day - Smaller breast milk storage capacity has a profound impact on the number of feedings your child will want during the day. Your child will want to nurse more frequently as they are not able to take in as much breast milk. Becareful not to “drop” feedings during the first six months. Your child’s nutrition intake may actually decrease with each dropped feeding becauseyour child is not consuming large quantities of milk during each breastfeeding session and so nurses more frequently to compensate. Another concern abo0ut dropping feedins is that your milk supply may decrease as a result due to your baby not consuming as much as you are producing.

Effect on sleeping patterns – a smaller breast milk storage capacity will usually mean that you will continue more frequent feedings during the night. This is a perfectly normal situation as your baby is working to take in enough nutrition to continue healthy growth and development.

The size of your breast does not always correspond to the amount of breast milk you can store. A woman with smaller breasts can store more milk than a woman having physically larger breasts.

Continue to feed your child as long as they indicate they are hungry. Your baby may nurse more frequently but this is just fine as long as they are healthy and growing.

Large Milk Storage Capacity

admin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:33:46 +0000

A mother with large breast milk storage capacity will have a different breastfeeding rhythm for the first six months when compared with a mother having a smaller sorage capacity. Some of the ways larger sorage will affect feeding patterns:

One breast or two - Having a larger breast milk storage capacity may mean that your baby will only feed on a single breast during the first few months. This will mean that each of your breasts will have a longer interval before it is drained. Spacing out the feedings will help your body from producing too much milk for your growing child.

Number of feedings per day - A mother with larger storage capacity has the ability to offer more milk in a shorter time to her child. This may mean that your baby will feel the need to feed less frequently and consume more during each feeding.

Effect on Sleeping patterns – With the ability to take in more milk at each feeding a child may begin sleeping through the night at a much earlier age.

Some concerns:

An overly abundant milk supply may make you more succeptable to mastitis. Since your breasts may be drained less frequently be sure to pay closer attention to any changes or soreness in your breast.
Having a large breast milk storage capacity should not adversely affect your milk production. Since it takes longer to replenish your supply your body will not reduce milk production simply becasue your are going longer between feedings.

Human Milk vs. Formula Intake

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:31:42 +0000

When exclusively breastfeeding your baby you may find that your baby is not consuming as much (in volume) of your milk if you compare to babies on a formula only diet.

For example children of about four months old consume 33 percent more formula each day than breastfed babies. This has been well documented by helath professionals studying nursing mothers so is an accurate measurement.

Although resons for the difference are still being understood there are some fairly good ideas for why:

Because formula is from non-human sources babies must consume more to get similar nutritional content as breastfed babies.

Formula fed babies may not be able to easily process the formula requiring them to consume more at each feeding or have more feedings

Counterproductive Breastfeeding Strategies

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:29:06 +0000

Some strategies and suggestions you may encounter while breastfeeding may not actually help at all and overall may exasperate the very problem they seek to resolve.

Letting your breasts refill before feeding - first your breasts creat milk on demand and are always ready to provide your child with nourishment. Second as your breasts reach sotage capacity they produce milk more slowly. There is no reason to delay nursing a hungry child simply becasue your breasts are not “full.”

One size fits all feeding schedule - different milk production rates and nourishment needs between children mean that you and your child will develop a tailored feeding schedule that matches you to them. Trying to impose a feeding schedule can create much more drama and tears than solving problems.

Measuring your milk supply by pumping – self expressing your milk is a learned skill and even when you are at your best your baby will be much more effecient at getting the milk to flow.

The best thing you can do for your baby is to listen to their needs and work with them as you develop a breastfeeing schedule. Your body will respond to their nursing needs and create all the milk needed for your proper nourishment as your child grows.

Common Misconceptions about Milk Supply

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:25:58 +0000

New mothers often pay close attention to how thier child is nursing and may encounter some of the following conditions, mistaking them for a diminishing milk supply. Most concerns fall into one of two categories, worry about your baby or worry about your breasts.

Baby factors:

Your baby seems hungry sooner than expected – adjust your expectations and make a chart of feeding times to ease your worries

Feedings occur more often and last longer – a normal occurance during a growth spurt

Breastfeeding session suddenly get shorter – babies become more effecient at nursing as they gain more practice

Your baby is fussy – almost all babies no master how much they are fed go through fussy periods.

Mother factors:

Breasts feel softer – this is normal after three or foru weeks as your body’s milk production meets your baby’s needs.

Breast cease leaking – some mothers never incurr leaky breast while others find that leaking only happens for a short period during the first stages of breastfeeding

Milk release or letdown is not felt – there are occasions when you may not feel your breasts letdown even when it happens

You are unable to express quantities of milk – expressing milk is a learned skill and not a test of your milk supply.

As you continue to breastfeed you and your baby will devlop a rapport and begin understanding one another. Generally as long as they are satiated after nursing your milk supply is just fine and you are doing very well as a breastfeeding mom.

Baby factors:

Your baby seems hungry sooner than expected – adjust your expectations and make a chart of feeding times to ease your worries
Feedings occur more often and last longer – a normal occurance during a growth spurt
Breastfeeding session suddenly get shorter – babies become more effecient at nursing as they gain more practice
Your baby is fussy – almost all babies no master how much they are fed go through fussy periods.

Mother factors:

Breasts feel softer – this is normal after three or foru weeks as your body’s milk production meets your baby’s needs.
Breast cease leaking – some mothers never incurr leaky breast while others find that leaking only happens for a short period during the first stages of breastfeeding.
Milk release or letdown is not felt – there are occasions when you may not feel your breasts letdown even when it happens.
You are unable to express quantities of milk – expressing milk is a learned skill and not a test of your milk supply.

A Brief History of Weaning

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:22:27 +0000

Looking at human society as a whole across history the average age of weaning a child fromt he breast has been between the ages of two to four.

Until the twentieth century children in China and Japan breastfed until ages of four or five. In 1967 anthropologist Margaret Mead collaborated with breastfeeding researcher Niles newton to publish an article describing the weaning practices of sixty-four cultures’ traitional weaning practices. They found that only one culture routinely weaned their children as young as six months.

Historically breastfeeding for years was common practice in many times and places. The Koran reccommends breastfeeding until age two and from the Christian Bible we find that Moses was breastfed for three years. In England and the US two to four years of breastfeeding was typical. Authors of child care texts published in the early 1700’s expressed disapprovement of breastfed four year olds, suggesting that there were many around at that time. however by 1850 breastfeeding for only eleven months was recommended and breastfeeding for two years time was criticized.

Weaning could also be a dangerous and deadly time for a child as weaning death was a fairly common epitath on a child’s tombstonesin the American Old West.

10 Reasons to Think Twice about Weaning

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:15:37 +0000

You and your child will know when it is time to wean from the breast. Here are ten circumstances that may not necessarily be a good reason to wean:

A breastfeeding problem you haven’t solved. A mother in the midst of a breastfeeding crisis can genuinely feel as if the situationis hopeless. If you have yet to discuss your problem with your pediatrician or lactation consultant you may belive that weaning is the only solution. Remember that babies are hardwired to beastfeed and that almost all problems are fixible with the right knowledge, so don’t give up before you’ve worked with an expert.
Return to work. Considering all of the benefits of breastfeeding even if you can supply a portion of your child’s nutritional needs you are offering them a great advantage. Many mothers have successfully balanced work demands with the ability to continue to supply breastmilk to their child. A solution may be as simple as expressing your milk more often.
A single medical opinion. Many times health care professionals not knowledgeale with your particular situation can provide less than helpful advice regarding solutions to your breastfeeding questions. One common area is with regard to taking medication while continuing to breastfeed. If your desire is to nurse your child be sure to seek out other medical opinions before making a final decision.
Mother or child is ill or hospitalized. If the child is ill this can be a very bad time to wean as your breastmilk is one of the best nutritional sources for your baby. If it is you that is ill or injured, with some exceptions, you can continue to breastfeed or at least express milk for you child until you have recovered.
Pregnancy. While some children may choose to wean themselves should you find yourself pregnant, there is no harm done to you as a mother to continue to breastfeed throughout your pregnancy.
Baby has teeth. In many places babies are breastfed well past the age of teething, If your child begins to bite your nipple or breast when nursing there are steps you can follow to alter that behavior.
Baby is on strike. If your baby decides to go on nursing strike this is not the same as choosing to wean. A change of your diet or in your bahavior can cause your child to push the breast away. several simple steps can help bring them back to the breast.
So baby will sleep better. There is no evidence that weaning or starting on solid foods helps babies sleep longer or better.
To encourage independence. There is no evidence that easrlier weaned babies are more independant than babies that nursed longer.
To make your life easier. There is no evidence that making a change like weaning wiill simplify your life. While you may no longer have the feedings to worry about your child may develop other behaviors that counteract any time savings, eg trouble sleeping, or more illness.

Breastfeeding Questions Answered Here

What is Normal Weight Gain?

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Three Things Everyone Thinks Dramatically Affect Milk Supply

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Starting Solid Foods

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Small Milk Storage Capacity

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Large Milk Storage Capacity

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Human Milk vs. Formula Intake

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Counterproductive Breastfeeding Strategies

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Common Misconceptions about Milk Supply

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A Brief History of Weaning

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10 Reasons to Think Twice about Weaning

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