I breastfed like a champ with both of my kids, even nursing my daughter while I was pregnant with my son. It was not seamless, however, because when I initially started breastfeeding my first-born I felt like I had no idea what I was doing and spent a lot of time frantically trying to work through the process. I consulted the library of pregnancy books I had, but none of them were specific to breastfeeding so I don’t think they offered as much information as I actually needed.

This is one of the reasons why I was really impressed by The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding by Marianne Neifert, MD. The main emphasis of the book is the art of breastfeeding, but it also has other topics including dealing with sleep deprivation and  eventually starting solid foods. While most baby books are written with the perspective that moms want to learn about caring for a baby and will maybe breastfeed, this book is written with the perspective that a breastfeeding mom also needs to know about dealing with other aspects of raising a baby. I really wish  I would have had this book when I was a new mom.

Babies Online is giving away a free copy of The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding. Simply leave a comment on this post to be entered to win.

The book also dedicates a full chapter to how dads can assist mom with breastfeeding. After all, nursing a baby can be really hard, so when a dad isn’t on board it can be downright impossible. The book covers just about every aspect a nursing mom might need to know about, whether it’s pumping, nutrition or postpartum depression. Everything is presented in a very readable way, so even though it’s written by a pediatrician it doesn’t read like a medical manual.

I give this book a huge thumbs up.

This is the type of book that should be given to pregnant moms as they prepare to have their babies and start nursing. It’s a book that will sit at the mom’s bedside and will undoubtedly be thumbed through over and over again for reference.

The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding is appropriate for any nursing mom, whether she will stay home with the baby or return to work as soon as possible. Pick up this book if you are pregnant or new to nursing because it will probably answer all of your questions (and the questions you don’t know you have yet).

The sculptor Daniel Edwards always like controversial subjects. I mean, remember the nude statue of Britney Spears giving birth to her son Sean Preston? Or Suri Cruise’s baby poop in bronze? Or Paris Hilton’s unborn twin fetuses?

This time it’s Angelina Jolie and her twins who inspired Edwards. If you remember, Jolie posed for the cover of W magazine last year while breastfeeding her then newborn twins. Inspired by that photo, the latest piece is called Landmark for Breastfeeding, depicting a life-sized nude Jolie sitting on a park bench and double breastfeeding two babies. According to this ABC report, Edwards depicted one baby as African-American and the other not. Sorry, I can’t confirm this. I can’t really tell from the photos. But I can tell that Jolie is breastfeeding the babies using the so-called “football hold”, something which I’ve tried with my twins, too (not very comfortable for the mom, believe me).

The work is supposedly on display at the Mainsite Contemporary Art Museum in Norman, Oklahoma starting September 11 but will be traveling to London soon for an exhibition

According to Edwards, his new work is meant to raise global awareness of breastfeeding and encourage women to breastfeed in public. Edwards claims to be a social activist, using his works as social commentaries. But he also loves controversy, thus choice of celebrity subjects.

What do you think?

Do you think Edwards is sincere about supporting breastfeeding? Do you think the sculpture is serving its noble purpose?

As a little girl, my ultimate dream was having a doll that could walk. I can’t remember when Santa Claus finally granted my wish but yes, I eventually got my walking doll. Since then, the whole toy industry has rapidly undergone a revolution, with dolls which can talk, cry, sing, dance, drink and do anything else that is close to a little girl’s heart. Anything that technology can do.

Thus, it is not surprising that somebody came up with a breastfeeding doll. Meet Bebe Gloton, the creation of the Spanish toy company Berjuan, the company that makes Munecas con Corazon (Dolls with Hearts). Bebe Gloton translates as “Greedy Baby” in English and it definitely tries its best to simulate one.

Here is how Bebe Gloton works:

It comes with a bra-like halter that “mommy-child” can wear. Two flowers represent the nipples. The doll latches on to the flower and make suckling sounds (”chup, chup, chup”). After feeding, the baby needs to be burped to stop its crying.

It is also not surprising that such a toy can trigger strong reactions both negative as well as positive. Here’s what parents have to say about Baby Gloton:

Positive Opinion of the Breastfeeding Doll

Bebe Gloton encourages the natural process of breastfeeding. Some parents think that many women are uncomfortable with breastfeeding, especially in the public. They feel that incorporating breastfeeding in a child’s play can help girls get used to the natural process early in life. Indeed, that is how the toy company is promoting the product – the first step towards breastfeeding.

Negative Opinion of the Breastfeeding Doll

Bebe Gloton is inappropriate, and promotes sexualization of little girls and the act breastfeeding. While many parents believe breastfeeding is a natural process, they feel it is inappropriate to allow young girls to mimic it. Breastfeeding is for adults only and such a toy is absolutely age (not to mention socially) inappropriate.

The doll is quite life-sized, like the average size of a real new-born baby (19.6 inches) and is available either as boy or a girl. It costs about 44 Euros and is currently only available in Spain. It goes without saying that there is a whole collection of wardrobe and accessories available for Bebe Gloton.

I am all for breastfeeding but I don’t really believe that the company is simply doing this to promote the natural process of lactation. In the end, it’s all about making money. However, I also do not believe that Bebe Gloton can lead to sexualization. It’s just a doll.

What do you think?

What is your opinion about the Bebe Gloton brestfeeding doll?

We’re mid-way through World Breastfeeding Week, but it’s not too late to get involved. The theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week is “Breastfeeding: Prepared for Life.”

The health benefits of breastfeeding through the first year and beyond are well established. But many people don’t think about nursing mothers during times of tragedy such as earthquakes, floods, or war. There is no better comfort, both physical and emotional, for a mother and baby in the midst of a disaster, than nursing. It’s especially important that nursing mothers receive the support they need, including water, healthy food, and a comfortable place to nurse.

World Breastfeeding Week, taking place from August 1 – 7, 2009 is organized by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. According to the organization, breastfeeding advocates in more than 150 countries will take part in the celebration, now in its 18th year.

Breast is best, even in a crisis

The World Health Organization and UNICEF have joined WABA in the celebration. Both organizations issued a press release explaining the importance of a mother breastfeeding her infant or toddler in the midst of a crisis.

Historically, well-meaning groups have cited “inadequate milk supply” brought on by stress and/or malnutrition as a reason to provide nursing mothers with formula. In reality, breastfeeding through a crisis helps the mother maintain her milk supply (as most nursing mothers know, the more you nurse the more milk you produce), as well as offering emotional benefits throughout the tragedy. The endorphins released during breastfeeding can actually help a mother cope when everything she has known is in upheaval. Meanwhile, the nursing infant or toddlers regains a sense of normalcy from the familiarity of his mother’s milk.

Even more important, the antibodies present in breast milk can help children fight off infections and disease that may result from less-than-sanitary conditions, a lack of clean water and inadequate food supplies.

Breastmilk (unless it is pumped) needs no refrigeration for storage, requires no heating or added water, and involves no sterilization of bottles and nipples. As far as a convenient, nutritious “emergency” food, it really doesn’t get any better!

Local activities

Several local organizations, including various chapters of La Leche League, are hosting fundraising and awareness activities in honor of World Breastfeeding Week, with a specific emphasis on this year’s theme.

Some of the activities include picnics, bake sales, walk-a-thons, potluck dinners and more. You can find out more at the La Leche League USA Web site.

You don’t even have to leave your house to support the message of World Breastfeeding Week, though. The Mother’s International Lactation Campaign (M.I.L.C.), non-profit organization, dedicated to the normalization, protection and promotion of breastfeeding, is holding a Virtual Nurse-in until August 7 at 6 PM.

Get involved

No one likes to think about tragedy striking, but natural and man-made disasters can occur anywhere. There’s no reason for a nursing mother to curtail her breastfeeding during challenging times.

It’s easy to get involved in raising awareness of the importance of breastfeeding during emergencies. You can participate in any of the activities going on worldwide, join M.I.L.C’s efforts as part of the virtual nurse-in or simply take a few minutes while you are nursing to think about those experiencing difficult times – and then spread the word to others about how important it is to consider nursing mothers during emergency preparedness.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I read article after article about how babies would get hooked on pacifiers. I read about moms who were desperate to figure out how to get their older babies to stop using their beloved pacifiers, how frequent pacifier use might cause delays in speech as well as eventual dental problems. I also read commentaries that stated these babies would never learn how to deal with their emotions if a pacifier was shoved in their mouths every time they got upset.

It seemed like the best solution to me was to simply not give my baby a pacifier. I announced to every nurse who came into the room after my baby was born that my daughter was under no circumstances to have access to a pacifier. Any pacifier we got as gifts was unopened and given to charity. It seemed like I was avoiding a huge hassle and felt good about what I was doing.

After a few weeks it became obvious that if my daughter wasn’t going to have access to a pacifier, I would become her pacifier. No matter why the baby was crying, which happens a lot with newborns- she wound up nursing. Whenever she was tired but wouldn’t fall asleep -which also happens a lot with newborns- she wound up nursing. I’d had enough, so I researched the best pacifiers online and then sent my husband out to buy a wide assortment. I was anxious to start her on pacifiers so I could get a little rest.

Some Babies Just Don’t Want a Pacifier

Guess what? She didn’t want anything to do with the pacifiers. I tried all the tactics the experts talked about to entice babies to suck on pacifiers, but it was all to no avail. She wasn’t having anything to do with pacifiers no matter what brand I presented and no matter what tactic I tried to use.

I wondered if the reason my daughter didn’t take to pacifiers was because I didn’t allow her to experience them in the first few weeks life, so when my son was born I wasn’t going to make the same mistake. I had pacifiers at the ready when he was born. I looked forward to the opportunity to give him an option to self-soothe that didn’t involve him spending long hours nursing when he wasn’t even hungry.

You may have guessed where this is going; he didn’t like pacifiers either. I was amazed because this time around I had set out with all the intentions in the world of getting him started on pacifiers early on and would just deal with any consequences later. The lesson learned is this: Some babies just don’t like pacifiers.

If you are like me, you have probably heard stories from seasoned parents who had to resort to the “Pacifier Fairy” or some other tactic to get their babies (or toddlers) to shed the pacifier habit, but you should know that your problem may instead be like mine. I never even got far enough with pacifiers to have to worry about weaning my babies from them.

I guess it just goes to show that you never really know what to expect when it comes to your baby.

It stinks to be a sick mom. There’s no way around that. Housework still needs to be done, dinner cooked, children cared for – even if you feel as if you just want to down a shot of Nyquil and crawl under the covers for about a week.

When you’re a nursing mother – whether your baby is newborn, close to a year, or older – you don’t even have the option of downing Nyquil due to concerns about alcohol and breastfeeding. It can be pure torture. What can you do?

When I came down with a cold last week – at the same time my nine-month-old was battling a double ear infection – I devised a few coping strategies.

Napping

Sleep when baby sleeps. Remember what they used to tell you in those first few weeks after childbirth? That’s right … take advantage of naptime to catch some ZZZs yourself. If you have to, lie down with your nursing baby in the middle of the day. Whatever it takes, get your rest.

Medication

Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl and Chlor-trimeton are approved for use while breastfeeding. Be aware that Benadryl may reduce your milk supply and also may make the baby drowsy. (I know it’s politically incorrect, but if you’re sick, is this really so horrible?)

Keep in mind that most antihistamines and decongestants, including Dimetapp and Sudafed, are not recommended while breastfeeding, as they may substantially decrease your milk supply. Any products with menthol, including menthol cough drops, may also decrease your milk supply. Find out more information on medicine and nursing mothers.

Vaporizers

Research shows that putting Vicks or other menthol products in a vaporizer can be harmful to an infant’s lungs. However, a humidifier with plain filtered water can do wonders to clear and moisten your nasal passages.

Vitamins

This is one of my favorite natural cold remedies, and most doctors say it’s safe if you’re breastfeeding a baby. Every two hours, I alternate a vitamin C drop with a zinc-gluconate drop, such as Cold-eeze. Oddly, vitamin C blocks the positive effects of zinc, so make sure to wait an hour between each drop. Do not drink any citrus for an hour before or after taking zinc, either.

Neti Pot

Highly recommended for people with recurring allergies or sinus problems, a neti pot works well to clear the nasal passages during the common cold, as well. Since it’s all natural and you’re not actually ingesting anything, it’s 100% safe for a nursing mom. It’s not the aforementioned Nyquil, but hey, we’ll take what we can get, right?

Drink Water

If you’re sick and run down, and possibly stressed out as a result, your milk supply may drop. To maintain your supply, make sure you get plenty of rest, drink water, and take in enough calories. A nursing mom needs about 500 more calories per day to compensate for the extra work the body does to produce milk. Since you’re probably not very active if you’re sick, you may get away with eating a little bit less than usual since you’re not burning as many calories. Still, remember to follow the old adage and “feed a cold.” Drink water, tea, juices – anything you can in order to stay hydrated and keep your milk supply up.

The good news, as a breastfeeding mom, is that your body is producing antibodies to fight your cold, and passing those antibodies onto your little one. That’s not to say your breastfed baby won’t get sick if you’re sick, but there’s a good chance she won’t. If your baby does get your cold, it might be a milder version.

I’ve had three colds in the past nine months – my most recent bout passed my daughter by, although she did catch the two colds prior. As she gets older, her immune system is getting stronger and I’m sure the fact that I’m still nursing her has helped a lot.

What do you think about the mother in this case? A 26-year-old North Dakota mom was arrested for breastfeeding her baby while she was drunk.

Police were called to her home to investigate a domestic disturbance, and found Stacey Anvarinia breastfeeding her 6-week-old baby. The officers believed that she was drunk and arrested her. Last week she pleaded guilty to child neglect charges, and is due to be sentenced next month.

North Dakota authorities said that they believed that the police were correct to make the arrest, even if the mother hadn’t been breastfeeding, out of concern that the child was being taken care of by someone who was intoxicated.

Getting falling-down drunk then breastfeeding is one thing. But having a glass of wine in the evening – is that something that a mom could be arrested for? I hope not. Unwinding at the end of the day when baby is in bed with a little TV and a glass of wine is sanity-restoring to many moms.

The La Leche League says that light drinking is compatible with breastfeeding, and that one drink a day or less isn’t harmful to your baby.

So can you drink alcohol if you are breastfeeding? And should you be worried about being arrested? Alcohol certainly gets into breastmilk in small quantities.

So the most sensible thing for nursing mom to do is just a little planning. It takes a couple of hours for your body to process one drink – like a glass of wine or a bottle of beer. So if you have a glass of red wine in the evening just after you put baby to bed, knowing that the next time you’ll need to nurse won’t be for a couple of hours at least, then you and your baby should be fine.

And if you have more than one drink? What if you are going to a wedding, or a night out? Some mothers avoid breastfeeding their babies for several hours after drinking, either pumping breastmilk beforehand to feed the baby, or using formula. Then, after drinking alcohol, pumping milk and dumping it eases any engorgement and gets rid of any milk which may have alcohol in it.

What do you think? Are you a nursing mother who drinks alcohol? How much is too much? Or should nursing moms never drink alcohol?

Breastfeeding is the best for baby as well as for mommy. Yet, there are women out there for whom breastfeeding just wouldn’t work no matter how much they tried. Most often these women are confronted with frustration not to mention guilty feelings. “Where did I go wrong?” is the question always asked.

Researchers have now found the reason why many women cannot produce breast milk in ample amount and the message is clear – it’s not your fault, mom. It’s something in the environment. And you are not alone, either. There are between 3 to 6 million other moms like you in the US who are facing a similar problem.

The reason why breastfeeding doesn’t sometimes work may be due to dioxins.

So what do we know about dioxins?

• It is produced when waste, especially plastics, is incinerated.
• It is present in large amount in the environment.
• It is can enter the food chain and get into our food – e.g. fish, meat, and dairy products.
• It accumulates in our fatty tissues.
• Prolonged exposure may affect the immune system and developing organs.

So how is dioxin linked to breastfeeding and breast milk production?

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center has found that dioxins can

• Affect breast tissue development during pregnancy. It can, for example, interfere with the proliferation of breast cells a well as six days into the pregnancy – even before mom knows she is pregnant.
• Change the induction of milk-producing genes, which usually happens on the 9^th day of pregnancy
• Decrease the number of ductal branches and mature lobules in the mammary tissue.

Unfortunately, the researchers cannot give information on how to protect ourselves. However, there is an indication that watching what we eat during pregnancy might help reduce dioxin’s adverse effect on breast development. Timing is also of importance. It seems that when the harmful exposure occurs early in the pregnancy, the mammary gland still gets to recover. Later exposure might cause irreversible damage.

It is not clear what the effects of dioxin are on newborns but it can’t be any good. Who knows? Maybe it is for the best that breasfeeding moms don’t get exposed to dioxins that might get into the breast milk.

The swine flu (now referred to as the Mexican flu or Novel H1N1 flu) has now spread to 41 states in the US with 642 confirmed cases (as of May 6) and 23 countries worldwide. The US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has provided recommendations for the general public but also to specific sectors for the population. Here are some info and recommendations for parents and parents-to-be:

• For moms who are breastfeeding
  According to the CDC, breast milk is one of the best defense against the flu for your baby. Do not stop breastfeeding even if you or your baby are ill. Continue to breastfeed even if you are being treated for the flu.
• For women who are pregnant
  The CDC does not know what the effect of this novel flu will be on pregnant women and their unborn babies. Pregnant women are thought to be very susceptible and are advised to take extra care. The CDC also cannot give much information about the effects of the antiviral agents on the pregnancy. Pregnant women who present with flu symptoms should contact their doctors immediately.
• For pregnant women who work in education, child care, and health care
  Pregnant women who work in schools, daycares, and hospital are especially vulnerable. Like all pregnant women, they should take extra precautionary measures in their workplace. Pregnant healthcare workers should consider temporary transfer to lower risk assignments.
• For parents with daycare- and school-aged children
  Parents should closely monitor their kids for early symptoms. They should also discuss the issue with their child care providers/teachers. Children who present with flu symptoms should stay at home and parents should inform the school/daycare immediately.
• For child care providers
  The CDC has also issued recommendations for child care providers, both center-based and home based. It has provided Child Care and Preschool Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist for caregivers.
• For parents who want to talk to their children about the flu
  The CDC is encouraging parents to talk to their children openly about the flu. This is the best opportunity to focus on health and hygiene.

Click on the links for the full CDC recommendations!

One of the challenges facing moms after giving birth is getting rid of the excess weight gained during pregnancy. Everybody loses weight at a different pace, and for women who had to have c-sections, there is the other issue of waiting for the incision to heal properly before embarking on a weight loss regimen.

Actress and former model Rebecca Romijn seems to be one of the lucky ones where losing baby weight is concerned. According to reports online, she lost a whopping 60 pounds in just four months. Even more surprising, she claims to have done this mostly through breastfeeding.

She was quoted on the TV show Extra, “I haven’t been able to work out that much because I have twins. It’s impossible to get back into a regular schedule. Breastfeeding is the very best diet I’ve been on. It’s amazing. It’s like you have to eat 5,000 extra calories a day or you can’t produce enough food for them. So, that’s been fun as well.” The most obvious question here is, will this work for most women?

There is conflicting information out there about breastfeeding as a legitimate weight loss tool. It is reasonable to assume however that breastfeeding does not work as well for all women. In fact, according to WebMD, while it is advantageous for both mom and baby, it does not help the mom to lose the weight faster. The study looked at the weight loss of 326 new moms. Most moms who breastfeed would disagree with this, myself included. Breastfeeding can help with weight loss if the mom eats sensibly and breastfeeds exclusively or almost exclusively.

One breastfeeding website claims that breastfeeding can burn over 600 calories per day if it is done exclusively. The study was published in the Journal of American Dietician Association. It was appropriately titled Breastfeeding reduces maternal lower body fat.

So who do you believe? It is hard to say, but since breastfeeding has so many proven benefits for the baby, think of any potential weight loss as an added bonus. Post pregnancy weight loss can be a touchy subject for some women, especially if they don’t seem to be losing the pounds as fast as other moms seem to.

We may not all lose the weight as fast as Rebecca Romijn, but when you have a healthy baby to think about such considerations can seem pretty mundane. The most important thing is to stick to a sensible diet, and get some exercise when you are able to. At any rate, when they hit the terrible twos, you are bound to shed a few pounds running after them.

It’s a well-known fact. Breast milk is best for babies. In the process, mommy’s health is also benefited by reducing the risks of hormone-related diseases such as breast and cervical cancer.

Recent research indicates, however, that it’s not about the benefits of breastfeeding to mommy’s health. It’s more like the risks of not breastfeeding that should be looked into.

A recent study of 139,681 women indicates that breastfeeding even just for six months in a lifetime decreases a woman’s risk for developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD: hypertension, heart disease, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes) come postmenopausal stage. The female hormones render women some protection against heart disease and related disorders. Once menopause sets in, this protection wanes, resulting in creased incidence of CVD in women.

The study found that with increasing duration of breastfeeding (cumulative), the risks for CVD decreases. And this risk reduction didn’t have to do with weight because study participants who breastfed and who didn’t, did not significantly differ in terms of body weight and body mass index (BMI). It has always been thought that breastfeeding helps get rid of pregnancy fat reserves. The study results did not confirm this. However, other protective effects, possibly related to the hormone oxytocin, may play a role. Oxytocin is the “feel good” hormone responsible for mother-baby bonding and strong maternal feelings but may also have some anti-stress effects that contribute to the well-being of the breastfeeding mom.

So is it the benefits of breastfeeding or the risks of not breastfeeding to maternal health? According to Dr Eleanor Bimla Schwarz of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Healthcare, it must be the latter. Breastfeeding is part of the whole biological cycle of reproduction. Becoming pregnant and not fulfilling the cycle of nature by breastfeeding can have some adverse effects on the female body.

“During pregnancy, the body stores up a bunch of nutrients with the plan that it’s going to release much of this in the form of breast milk, a very calorific food. If this doesn’t happen, what we see is that the woman’s body pays the price. Breast-feeding really helps bring you back to your baseline, and it helps women recover from the stress test that pregnancy entails.”

This seems logical enough. However, we should bear in mind that there are women who are incapable of breastfeeding, for one reason or another, even if they want to.

My friend told me a story about when she was pregnant and her milk suddenly showed up unexpectedly. She was out to lunch with her husband and mother-in-law when she suddenly realized everyone was staring at her chest.  She looked down and was horrified to see that her breasts were leaking milk right through her shirt and everyone at the table was watching, wide-eyed.  Without warning, her mother-in-law burst into tears of happiness, announcing to the whole restaurant that her soon-to-be-born grandchild would indeed have milk to drink.  My friend was a little horrified, but at the same time was glad to know that she wasn’t going to have any problems with her milk.

My milk didn’t show up until after my baby was born, but I did have some warning signs that it was on its way. My breasts getting bigger was the first sign, but I think it was when I was around seven months pregnant that I started feeling soreness in my breasts that I had never felt before. It wasn’t necessarily painful, but it felt like something was going on. Changes were happening, and I was happy at the prospect of the milk getting ready to make its appearance.

When I was closer to my due date I noticed what looked like dried colostrum on my nipples. There wasn’t a lot of it and it wasn’t bothersome, but I was really happy when I noticed it. I think I was afraid that my milk might not ever show up and I wouldn’t be able to nurse my baby, but seeing this let me know that it was on its way.

I never did have a moment when any milk dripped out before I had my baby. Believe me, though, when I say that it didn’t take long after labor until suddenly my breasts were huge and I had more than enough milk available. If I hadn’t been looking for the signs beforehand then I may not have noticed all the changes my breasts were going through. For this reason, I urge you to not panic if you don’t notice any huge changes to your breasts indicative of milk on the way.

After all, if you’re anything like me you’ll have plenty of opportunities after the baby is born to have your milk leak while at a restaurant with in-laws.

Here are the highlights on this study done by the Center for Disease Control, and called attention to by the Environmental Workgroup:

• Trace amounts of perchlorate contamination was found in samples of formula being tested
• No names of brands were released, but most of the contamination came from formula derived from cow’s milk
• Perchlorate is a chemical mostly found in defense and aerospace sites but can be found in some cities’ water supply.
• The exact negative effects of perchlorate is unclear, though it has been linked to thyroid problems which plays a role in metabolism and growth in humans.
• The perchlorate in formulas may be offset by iodine, also contained in formula, which acts against perchlorate.  Size of infant and extent of formula use also affects the risk.

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it may be lowering the level of perchlorate acceptable in a give drinking water supply.

If you are a new Mom, do consider breastfeeding.  There have been some disconcerting news out there regarding formula in recent times.  If not, try formula alternatives that isn’t derived from cow’s milk.

Source: NY Times

Do you nurse in public? When I first began breastfeeding my son, I was extremely shy about nursing in front of anyone. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to see any more skin than I might want to show someone, whether I was in public or even at home with guests. But after spending the Christmas holidays holed up in the bedroom nursing my newborn rather than enjoying the company of our visiting family members, I realized enough was enough. After all, no one was making me breastfeed my son in private – except me.

A quick survey would have found that our guests would not have been uncomfortable with me nursing in front of them. I was the one who was embarrassed.

Nursing in public can be challenging, especially the first time. But over the past few months I have come up with several tips and tricks for nursing in public.

• Find a secluded spot. If you can, try to find a low traffic site where you can nurse comfortably. This could be a corner booth in a restaurant, a dressing room at the department store, or a park bench.
• Make sure you’re comfortable. There’s nothing worse than hunching over to get baby to latch – and then getting stuck in that position for a half hour or longer. Bring a pillow if you need to, or use a folded up blanket to position yourself and your baby comfortably.
• Make sure others are comfortable. If I’m with a group, I ask if anyone would be uncomfortable with my nursing my son. In most cases, everyone is fine with it, but I think sometimes it doesn’t hurt to ask.
• Don’t over-expose. In the winter, a pashmina scarf around my neck and shoulders helps to keep people from seeing anything I don’t want them to see. In warmer months, I bring with me a receiving blanket that I can drape over my shoulder to shield baby from onlookers. Many online stores also sell special tops or covers to keep you covered during a feeding.
• Practice at home. Nurse your baby in front of a mirror or ask your husband or a friend if they can see more than you would want someone to see of you in public.
• Check the laws. Many states have laws regarding breastfeeding. Check out this link for your local laws. Some states allow breastfeeding in any public place. Some states will even let you get our of jury duty if you are a nursing mom!

Breastfeeding in public can be nerve racking, but with a few preparations you can do so comfortably.

I miss sleeping on my stomach.

Throughout pregnancy I laid on my left side as the American Pregnancy Association and most doctors recommend. This prevents compressing the inferior vena cava, which runs along the right side of your body. It also avoids putting pressure on the uterus, which happens if a pregnant woman sleeps on her back. Finally, sleeping on your left side increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta.

I realized how much I miss sleeping on my back the other day when a pregnant friend of mine asked about a comfortable sleeping position for the late stages of pregnancy. Since I’ve been breastfeeding, I avoid lying on my stomach because I’ve been told it can slow milk production. It would be uncomfortable to lie on my stomach, anyway, as my breasts fill up with milk about three hours into the night. So it’s been more than a year than I’ve slept on my stomach–formerly my favorite sleep position!

But back to my friend’s question: what are the most comfortable sleeping positions in the second half of pregnancy when your belly seems to get in the way no matter how you turn?

The answer lies (no pun intended) in pillows — and lots of them.

If your partner doesn’t mind and there’s room in your bed, you may want to place a pillow behind you to keep you from rolling onto your back in your sleep. As your pregnancy progresses and you get larger, the pressure on your uterus from lying on your back may wake you. And it’s not that easy to roll back onto your side.

I found it comfortable to lie with my legs bent and a small pillow between my knees, too.

Finally, the third—and some people may say the most important – pillow should go under your abdomen in front of you to support your belly. Personally, I also liked clutching a pillow to my chest. It made me more comfortable and helped alleviate the tenderness in my breasts.

If you have a full-size body pillow you can use it to support most of your body to keep you comfortable. Since pregnant women tend to be warm all the time you’ll want to opt for one with a cool linen cover.

If you are also suffering from heartburn, the American Pregnancy Association recommends sleeping propped up with pillows. I know pregnant women who slept sitting up in an easy chair because it was the only way they could get comfortable. Hopefully the pillows will help you and you won’t have to go to such extreme measures.

Pregnancy goes by so very quickly. Before long you won’t need pillows to help you find unusual but comfortable sleep positions. Instead, you’ll spend half the night be contorting to fit yourself and your spouse around a co-sleeping toddler who is taking up more room than anyone could imagine for a three-foot tall human being.

My five-month-old daughter is a sporadic eater. Some days, she wants to eat every hour, for an hour at a time, and I can’t make enough milk to keep her satisfied. Other days, she’s on a nice every three or four hour schedule. On those days, I keep walking into stuff with my boobs because I forget how big they’ve gotten, engorged with milk. (I was a small B-cup before pregnancy, and I really sympathize with large-chested women now!)

I didn’t have much luck with a breast pump. I purchased a decent, mid-priced, multi-speed electric. It doesn’t work for me, but since I work at home, I couldn’t justify spending more to get a better pump for the handful of times I might use it. I really don’t mind the engorgement; I like knowing I have milk available in case my daughter wants it!

However, if I could pump, my supply would probably be more steady. Instead, I’ve had to resort to other tactics to keep my supply up for those days when she is an insatiable eating machine.

Here are my best tips for increasing your milk production.

• Pump or nurse a lot. When I first started nursing, I also had issues with my milk supply. My pediatrician recommended supplementing with formula, which turned out to be counterintuitive. I increased my supply simply by letting my daughter nurse A LOT. I used olive oil or Lansinoh on my nipples to prevent soreness.

• Relax. A few weeks ago, every magazine I write for was on deadline, clients were slow to pay, and I was stressing big time. My milk production dropped—at an inopportune time, when my daughter was going through a growth spurt. Nursing moms, remember, whatever else you have going on in your life at this time, your primary job is to make milk to feed your baby. *Everything else takes a back seat.* (Well, except your other kids, if you have them, of course). I can’t stress this enough. The second I made my deadlines and got some money in my bank account, my milk production increased again. But I made the mistake of letting outside stressors get to me. Meditate, exercise, take deep breaths, soak in a tub, take a few hours and spend some time with your friends. Whatever you need to do to relax, do it! You owe it to yourself and your baby.

• Stay hydrated – I notice my supply drop slightly if I don’t stay hydrated. The recommended amount is 8 glasses—that’s 64 oz., or a half gallon—of water a day.

• Oatmeal – When my milk production dropped last time, I realized I had switched from having oatmeal every morning for breakfast to eating whole-grain waffles. Again, no one knows why it works, but steel cut oats (not that fake instant oatmeal) supposedly increases milk production. I’m back to oatmeal and I’m back to a good supply.

• Fenugreek – This herbal supplement has been used for thousands of years to help nursing mothers produce more milk. You should take approximately three 590 – 610 mg. capsules three times a day, or until your sweat and urine begin to smell like maple syrup. Do not use Fenugreek if you are pregnant. Read more about this powerful herb.

• Blessed Thistle – This is supposed to work in combination with Fenugreek to increase milk supply. I had success with Fenugreek alone, so I haven’t tried Blessed Thistle. Read more about it.

• Eat enough. Nursing moms need 500 calories above their recommended usual caloric intake. While it’s nice to treat yourself to dessert every once in a while and not have to worry about it going straight to your hips, try to get those extra calories from healthy foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and a tiny bit of extra protein. Remember, if you exercise, you need to take in those calories you burned PLUS an extra 500.

Nursing moms, what tips did I forget? What worked to increase your milk production?

Nursing your baby should be a comfortable and enjoyable experience for you both, right? Then why is it that so many women find the experience to be difficult, uncomfortable or pain-inducing? Before you throw in the towel and turn to formula, there are a few things that you can try to make the process of nursing more comfortable.

First, make sure you are relaxed. Choose an area in your home where you are comfortable, such as a cozy and supportive chair, preferably with arms. Put your feet up on a foot rest or stool and relax. Use pillows to support your back or arms, and a nursing pillow to prop up the baby to the correct position and make feeding easier on your back. Take deep breaths, relax, and enjoy the closeness of your baby.

Have your essentials nearby. Before you begin nursing, make sure there is a table or other surface within arm’s reach, and place your essentials there for easy access. You might be there a while, so plan to have a big glass of water, snacks, a book, the television remote, a phone or any other items you might need.

When beginning the nursing session, be sure you’re comfortable. Resist the urge to hunch forward when getting your baby to latch – instead, use those pillows to prop the baby up and to support your arms.

Take care of yourself. If you are beginning to get sore nipples, treat them with lanolin made especially for nursing moms. Also be sure to get plenty of rest, as well as healthy foods and plenty of water. In addition, if you are feeling pain or discomfort while nursing, contact your doctor or a lactation consultant as soon as it starts so that you can be treated right away. Mastitis, plugged ducts and other problems can make nursing difficult for both you and baby – the sooner you are treated, the sooner you will both feel better.

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy, but you can do some simple things to make the experience more comfortable and relaxed.

Another plus for breastfeeding – it may actually reduce the risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse, according to a study that will be presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Seattle this coming April-May.

The study followed up 32 women with MS and 29 without MS during their pregnancies and up to 1 year after delivery. During the follow-up period, 36% of women with MS who breastfed for at least 2 months had a relapse. This seems high but if you consider that 87% of non-breastfeeding women with MS had a relapse, then the message becomes clear.

52% of those with MS did not breastfeed or only did for a very short time and the main reason why they chose to do so was because they wanted to start taking their MS medications again. Most MS drugs cannot be taken while breasfeeding because they can get into the mother’s milk and affect breastfed babies. Unfortunately, the study showed that restarting medications within two months of delivery actually increased, rather than decreased the incidence of relapse.

The findings suggest that stopping breastfeeding early in favor of MS treatments may not be that beneficial to the mom after all. However, the mechanisms behind the breastfeeding – MS relapse link are not clearly understood and the study population was too small to be conclusive. Bigger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

This news item took my breath away and the mother’s response knocked me over – well not literally. Stories online indicate that Genine Compton was seen  breastfeeding her baby while driving. When police tracked down Compton, who had been reported by another motorist, she admitted to police that she had to feed her hungry baby. Not only was she breastfeeding, Compton, who is from Harrison Twp. was also chatting on her cellphone while taking her other three children to school. The 39-year old could face up to 6 months in jail and face a fine of between $1,500- $1,800 on child endangerment charges.

Published reports online quote Compton as saying, “If my child is hungry, I’m going to feed it.”  While I can’t fault her for that, why doesn’t she just pull over and feed the child instead of endangering not only the baby but the other children as well? What really surprised me about the whole story was Compton’s comment (according to what was reported) that she would possibly BWD (breastfeed while driving) in the future if she found it necessary.

I come from a country where most women breastfeed just about anywhere. Some, if in a very public place or if they are young and shy, will throw a towel over their breast while feeding, but I have never seen anyone breastfeeding while driving. But, then again you learn something new everyday. I hope this wont give rise to a new term, BWD, because other women feel that they too can try their luck.

I am happy that no one was hurt, although the mom’s defiance in that she would possibly do it again is sad.  A mother’s first instinct is to protect and care for her young, not to endanger them. Pull off the road; the few minutes it takes to assuage a child’s hunger will not put you that far off track from getting where you are going.

Perhaps one of the most nerve racking feats for a new mom is the first time you nurse in public. I tried to avoid doing it, and got away with quick exits to my car, or nursing rooms that some wonderful buildings provide for almost three months, but eventually there was a time where my son was hungry, no, make that HUNGRYFEEDMENOW, with nowhere to go, so deep breath, deploy blanket, shirt up, nurse. I survived.

What I was worrying about most, and I know that it’s something breastfeeding women should not have to care about, is what did other people think? Was someone going to say something, or ask me to stop, or to leave?

Breastfeeding in public is legal everywhere in the USA.  If you and your baby are legally allowed to be somewhere, you have the right to nurse your baby there. That means stores, restaurants, public places, at work, at a park, the market, the library, the mall. This law supersedes laws about indecent exposure, meaning that it’s ok to show breast or nipple when breastfeeding a baby.

This month, a breastfeeding mother was asked to cover herself up at a Denny’s restaurant in North Carolina after other customers complained. The manager told a local newspaper that “In this particular case, this guest was exposed in a manner that was causing discomfort toward other guests to the point of them complaining to management and leaving the restaurant.”

Generally, us nursing moms don’t want or mean to flash anyone. Nursing babies have zero concept of indecent exposure and just want to get fed, or decide to be awkward about getting fed, which is responsible for the majority of nip slips. And then there’s all the babies who don’t want to eat with a blanket over their heads.

The mother is seeking an apology from Denny’s. So far, none has been forthcoming, so nursing mothers are planning a nationwide nurse-in at Denny’s restaurants on Sunday 22nd February at 1 p.m. If you want to join in, just show up at your local Denny’s, and nurse. There’s a Yahoo group to organize meetings with other mothers, or invite your mom friends to go with you.

This isn’t the first nursing incident to garner national attention. In 2007, a woman was asked to cover her baby with a blanket after another customer complained in an Applebee’s restaurant. Almost 2,000 nursing moms joined in a national nurse-in after Applebees refused to apologize, instead offering to carry blankets in their restaurants so nursing moms could cover up.

And the most unintentional ironic breastfeeding dispute? In 2006, A women who sat down in Victoria’s Secret to nurse her baby was told to move to a restroom. Why? “because the sight of her breasts might offend a customer”.

I tried to nurse as discretely as possible, I never really felt comfortable doing it. I was relived that I was never hassled over it. I have friends who whip a boob out and start nursing their babies without a care as to who might be looking, and I admire their attitude.

After all, breasts are to feed babies, and really it’s ridiculous to take offense to it. The common theme in all these incidents isn’t bad attitudes at the businesses where they took place, rather complaints from other customers which caused managers to take a misguided action. It’s hard for a manager or employer who may not know the rules, and I expect the managers thought that asking the mother to cover up her baby was a reasonable request.

So I don’t know how much good a nurse-in at Denny’s will do.  Unless it changes a few attitudes amongst the general public, and helps stop people complaining about nursing mothers.