Surviving Breastfeeding by Frankie Dahl
After my daughter was born, she was weighed, briefly poked and prodded, and all her digits were accounted for. Swaddled and squirming, she was then laid onto my stomach, and with no hesitation she made eye contact with me and latched onto my right breast. After a long pregnancy filled with worry and stress, this was a very simple but profound act for me. I sighed the deepest sigh possible, the room melted away and it was just her and I. Baby brain and sleep depravation, that cruel but inevitable duo, take away a lot of your memories, but I will never forget that moment.
The Breast Milk vs. Formula Debate
After ten months of pregnancy, the day finally comes when that baby decides to experience life on this side of the uterine wall. Screaming and pink they’ll come into this world knowing only a few things: they are cold, wet and hungry. Advocates the world over will advise breast-feeding over formula to sate the baby’s nutritional needs, but infant formula sits for sale in the grocer’s aisle for a reason. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each form of food.
Lactating Men and Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a hot and heavy subject. Every mom seems to have an opinion. Some see breastfeeding as the only option – others see formula as an alternative to breast milk. What if we could take the mom out of the equation? What if it wasn’t only up to the mom to breastfeed?
US Hospitals Not Supporting Breastfeeding
A shocking 80 percent of hospitals are giving breastfeeding newborns unnecessary formula, a practice that makes it more difficult for new mothers and infants to learn how to breastfeed and how to continue when they go home. This is despite the well known fact that babies who are fed formula and stop breastfeeding
Nursing Moms are Mother Tigers
According to recent research, breastfeeding mothers protect their babies and themselves more aggressively than mothers who bottle-feed, or women without children. The study of 18 nursing mothers, 17 formula-feeding mothers and 20 non-mothers also found that aggression in breastfeeding moms is associated with reduced blood pressure.
Are Medications Safe While Breastfeeding?
Want to know what is safe and what isn’t when taking medicines while breastfeeding? Breastfeeding.com provides the must-know details about taking medicines while breastfeeding, how safe they are for baby, and how they may affect your breast milk.
A Special Breast Milk Courier Service in Indonesia
New service in Indonesia keeps babies breastfed all day. This exclusive Indonesia breast milk courier help mothers balance their work and home lives.
Helping Your Baby Breathe Better by Breastfeeding
A new study shows that breastfeeding can lead to moderate improvement in mid-expiratory flows in children. This means that a breast-fed child is more likely to have a larger, stronger lung capacity by age 12 than a child who was bottle-fed. This is especially true of children born to mothers with asthma. Although breastfeeding rates are on the rise, many mothers are finding that they are unable to produce enough milk for their child's nutritional needs. If you are finding your milk production rate is lower than needed, talk to your doctor about domperidone, a gastric motility medication that is may have breast milk side effects.
Breastfed Babies are Less Likely to Become Obese: Study Finds
It is no secret the multitude of benefits for both baby and mother when it comes to breastfeeding, but a recent study indicates that breastfeeding your baby may also help prevent infants from becoming overweight adolescents.
Breastfeeding Lowers Your Risk of Heart Disease
Heart disease, the number one killer in America, is actually a group of diseases, the most common one being coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is a narrowing of the vessels leading to the heart, which may eventually cause strokes or heart attacks. Many of the medications on today’s market are aimed towards preventing heart diseases. However, a new study has been released stating women’s’ extra prevention method…breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding Leads to Better Lung Function
A second study has come out corroborating the results of one recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory Care and Critical Care Medicine. It states that babies who were exclusively breastfed are more likely to develop better lung functioning than their formula-fed counterparts. This is especially true for babies born to an asthmatic mother.
Why Water is Important During Breastfeeding
One of the most important tips we hear about breastfeeding is about staying hydrated. It seems to be common sense – you need liquid input to create liquid output. However, a lot of our breastfeeding mamas forget they need to hydrate both themselves and their child. That’s a lot of water. One friend of ours brought in a mini-fridge for the nursery, specifically for water and pumped milk. She says having water bottles within easy reach made a huge difference.
Breastfeeding Myths Debunked
Breastfeeding can be stressful for moms if it doesn’t happen right away, or their newborn simply doesn’t have a perfect latch. It comes with practice, time, and bonding. New moms may also be worried about some things they have heard from family or friends. Here are some of the top breastfeeding myths - debunked.
Maternity Leave
Canadians receive 50 weeks of partially paid maternity leave. Mexicans receive 3 months paid 100% of their salary. Swedes are at the upper end of the scale with 16 months of fully paid maternity or parental leave. The United States currently doesn’t offer any federal funding for maternity leave. So unless you live in a “family-friendly” state such as California or Hawaii…you will receive barely any leave, and none of it paid when you have a child. This great article details the effect that this lack of support has on our growing families.
Celebrity Quotes on Breastfeeding
TIME’s breastfeeding cover inspired US to round up nursing from Jennifer Gardner, Gwen Stefani, Gisele Bundchen and more…
Top 4 Reasons for Stopping Breastfeeding
Reason #1: a rough start. All those beatific pictures notwithstanding, breastfeeding can be hard work, especially at the beginning. It can take a little time for both mom and baby to get the hang of it--and throw in sore nipples and the exhaustion of just giving birth and it's easy to understand why some moms reach for the bottle (of formula).
Thirteen Ways Breastfeeding Saves You Money - Part 1
Babies are expensive. From hospital costs, to maternity clothes to diapers, having children is one of the most expensive undertakings in our lives. Raising a child to the age if 18 is estimated to cost a minimum of $200,000. It will be more if you live in an expensive area, or send them to private school or include them in team sports. Here are the first six of our 13 ways breastfeeding saves you money.
Nursing Mothers
We love this LA Times post about nursing mothers. There have been many small incidents about nursing mothers' rights in the news recently. This article and comic give a great description of why that is, and how we can fix it.
Breastfeeding Makes Your Baby Smarter
There are several studies discussed the connection between breastfeeding and smart babies. New evidence found that babies drink mother’s breast milk makes them grow smarter and healthier. We should overlook breastfeeding has so many benefits for bother mother and child. It’s definitely the smart thing to do.
Four Awesome Apps for Breastfeeding
As we hit the middle of National Breastfeeding Month, we thought it fitting to pull together a list of useful apps that will help you nursing moms keep track of those feedings, after feedings (after feedings).
One More Reason to Breastfeed
By now, most women know how great breastfeeding is, for both mother and child. It enhances bonding between the two, and is by far the best nourishment you can give your child. Although the emotional bonding is an obvious plus, what happens to the breast after feeding? It was once common knowledge that continual feeding, jostling, etc. would eventually wear down the breast tissue. But is that true? A new study says that breastfeeding can have the opposite effect – slowing down the aging process for post-baby breasts.
Ouch! Overcoming the Pain of Breast Feeding
Breastfeeding your baby is one of the most natural things in the world but it doesn’t always feel that way. Many women experience pain and discomfort during breastfeeding and that can take away from the joy and pleasure of feeding your baby. Some types of pain are normal and usually subside quickly and others could signal a problem that may require a doctor’s attention. Breast pain can happen for a variety of reasons.
Breastfeeding in Public
Breastfeeding in public has been a hotly debated issue for a long time. That is not to say that in all cultures the idea of feeding your little one in a more open manner is looked down upon. There are places in the world where it is considered a perfectly natural thing to do. However, many modern women who are committed to breastfeeding their babies may find that they run into a few raised eyebrows if they try to pursue those same liberties. The most recent news story about the American professor who opted to nurse her baby during class is a dramatic example of how things can get tricky for a nursing mom who decides to push the public envelope, so to speak. The Washington Post wrote, “Now Pine finds herself at the center of a debate over whether she did the right thing that day...”
Breastfeeding and Pumping – 5 Tips for a Little Freedom
Now that you have decided to breastfeed your baby, you may have a few questions about pumping. After all, there is a first time for everything, and pumping, although a relatively uncomplicated process, may initially be frustrating. There are some good reasons for doing it, however. For moms preparing to return to the work force, it gives them the chance to continue supplying their little one with nature's milk. Even a stay-at-home mom will appreciate a little flexibility in their lives. Preparing bottles of breast milk in advance of a commitment or a leisure activity away from the baby offers enough freedom to make the process worthwhile.
