Breastfeeding
Boosting Breastmilk Production (with recipe)
Making More Breastmilk!!
As you read through I want you to notice one common theme. No machines! A pump can be a very useful tool and I am thrilled we have so many wonderful pumps available now. There are so many times when the pump is the tool of choice, however, the best way to make more milk is by using this lovely, squishy, super cool “tool” God gave you in your sweet baby. They are the most well made, efficient, easy to clean pumps available. The do not run out of battery or require electricity nor should you be losing any of their parts. Save the pumps for when you really need them and try out your baby first.
1. Bedrest- Rest and supply go hand in hand so if your worried you are running low give yourself some extra rest. Pick a good movie, a book, a few snacks and a big bottle of water and relax.
2. Nurse More Frequently- More time at the breast will mean more milk in the breast. Frequent stimulation will secrete more of the hormone needed for milk making. Avoid big gaps (2-3 hours or more) between nursing. Frequent stimulation offers more benefit when attempting to boost supply than the longevity of each feed.
3. Super-Switch Nursing- Begin breastfeeding, watching your baby for the moment where they begin to slow down. At that point, break the latch and switch to the other side. Repeat this 2, 3, or even 4 times. This offers an excellent dose of stimulation.
4. Oatmeal, oatmeal, oatmeal…enough said
5. Mama’s Milk Tea– This is found in the vitamin section of most drug stores or markets. Be sure to seep it properly. It can be a more acquired taste! For more information on herbal supplements and milk boosting foods you can go to Dr. Jack Newman’s site http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-HRMS
6. Pull the Plug- Limit or stop pacifier and bottle use. Get rid of any extra “sucks” you can. If you need to supplement, use a medicine syringe or cup. You want your baby to have his sucking needs met at the breast while you are trying to boost your supply.
7. Lactation Cookies-see recipe below and when else can you say, “I need to eat these chocolate chip cookies because it is best for my baby!”
Mama’s Milk Making Cookies
1/2 cup butter,
1/2 cup sugar,
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar,
2 tablespoons water,
2 tablespoons flax seed meal,
1 eggs,
1/2 teaspoon vanilla,
1 cups flour,
1/2 teaspoon baking soda,
1/2 teaspoon salt,
2 cups oats,
2 cup chocolate chips,
3 tablespoons brewer’s yeast
Preheat oven to 350°.
Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let it sit for 5 minutes. Beat the brown sugar, sugar, and butter. Beat in the egg, the flaxseed/water mix, and vanilla.
Sift the salt, baking soda, flour, and brewers yeast and add to the wet ingredients. Stir in the chocolate chips and the oats. Scoop onto baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes, letting the cookies set for a couple minutes before removing from the tray.
For a yummy and healthier variation on this recipe, take out the chocolate chips and add in a cup or two of raisins and some cinnamon.
Breastfeeding Trials- Just Add Pasta
If I gave you a recipe for pasta and said boil 2 cups of water, add 1 cup of pasta, a 1/4 cup of milk, some salt and some butter and you did everything but add the pasta… it would be a pretty gross lunch. Would you say, “I tried everything but it just isn’t working?”
That is similar to how it is with breastfeeding. To be successful at breastfeeding you have to add the essential ingredient…the breast! We are finding many mothers cling to advice to feed every 3 to 4 hours and that simply is not enough for the first weeks. It is a ‘good enough’ average for a well established breastfeeding relationship but it is no where near enough. Every woman has milk ducts ready to perform but it takes weeks for the “system” to mature. During those weeks many breastfeeding troubles can be avoided by simply bringing the baby to the breast as often as possible. It is not a sentence..it is practice time! The more you practice…the easier and the better the game!! We know it can be hard and we know it can hurt. We know a baby changes EVERYTHING and sometimes we are less ready for change than we think and that is ok. Just be reminded that there is a recipe for a pain-free, easy-peasy lemon squeezy breastfeeding relationship. Commit to lots of time at the breast in the first few weeks and trust the pay off is wonderful. Take the “timed” feeding advice and put it somewhere for safekeeping. Try the “I feed my baby as often as I can” approach and then enjoy the benefits of your hard work.
There are lots of obstacles that arise when it comes to breastfeeding. Please do not throw in the towel any sooner than you would like to. Please reach out for help if you would like it.
And what ever you do…if you are to make pasta…add the pasta!!
Lots of love and hope for new breastfeeding moms!
When are you going to stop Breastfeeding?
I don’t know about you but the one question I get more than any other is, “when are you going to stop breastfeeding?” It comes harshly, softly, or with a scoff. It comes from doctors, family, friends, and perfect strangers. I have learned to say, “when he is done” and try to turn the conversation to something appropriate. The truth is I love to breastfeed. Not for any odd reason but because it makes life with my son so much better. I followed the “timeline” approach with the first two boys because I never knew there was another option. With our last boy I was introduced to extended nursing (usually means beyond the first year) and what a miracle it has been. I wish I had known for the first two but no regrets. I enjoyed, and continue to enjoy those two, daily. I have learned that breastmilk does not shut off the nutrition on his 1 year birthday. We quite effortlessly nursed through H1N1, cold and flu season, strep outbreak, etc… without getting sick. I love the “no extra co-pays” strategy of saving money. I have never been a pillar of health and I think so often how I am helping my little guy avoid a lifetime of poor health. Cancer runs deep in my family and I think often about what I am doing daily to lower my breast cancer rate and how I am lowering both childhood cancers and prostrate cancer for him later in life. I have a hole in my heart and have seen on the news the rate of heart disease skyrocketing and yet I am lowering my rate daily. My top enjoyment is the bonding though. I have a little boy who so completely trusts and loves me that his independence flows! I can have confidence that if I leave him to go out he will be completely secure and happy. I never worry my babysitter will tell me he was difficult to manage. I know too that I am helping to make school a little easier for him each month as his IQ gets a supercharged boost. The bottom line is, breastmilk is good the infant and good for the toddler. Breastfeeding is personal; the how long and the why behind your breastfeeding relationship is between mother and child and we should honor and encourage it. It is often hurtful when I am put down for it but the confidence I have in knowing it is a gift I am giving to both of us far outweighs any bad feelings. My little guy will be 2 next month…when will I stop breastfeeding him you ask? When he is done!
I wrote this about 4 years back when I was hearing so much kickback and pressure from others towards me and towards friends of mine. The idea is to breastfeed as long is as mutually beneficial to mother and baby.
3-12 months Gentle Guidance
Entering this next phase you are feeling a bit exhausted. During this phase you will be shaping some new structure into your day. You may be getting more creative now that nursing has been established. Maybe after the last nursing of the night/early morning, your partner puts on the wrap and allows you 2 hours of uninterrupted sleep. You have researched weaning and have decided that delaying solids until closer to the end of the year is best for his digestive system. Everyday you are making good choices while being sensitive to your baby’s needs. When he cries you hold him, nurse him, and meet his needs. You spend time reading with him, exercising his tiny little muscles, and teaching him about his world. You are instilling selflessness, self-control, patience, and kindness. You have been consistent and you never allow discourse to be in his presence. Anytime you have felt frustrated, you have sought out help from other moms while maintaining a calm demeanor with him. You child-proofed your house so he won’t get into trouble and you have begun to tell him no when he reaches for something dangerous. You talk to him when he nurses so he gets used to listening to your voice. You teach him his “nice words” like “gentle, sweet, kind, etc…” You teach him important words like “No touch, no bite,” and other small corrections. You can take his hand while he is nursing and stroke your face calmly and sweetly saying “nice or kind or gentle.” He is learning everyday so make the most of it. His understanding of these words will come in handy during the next phase!
0-3 Months- Discipline begins at the breast!!
Way to go mommy! You did it! You carried this amazing baby for 40 weeks (give or take). You may have been sick, you were uncomfortable, you watched your little jeans fade into the distance as they were replaced with cotton stretchy pants. You took those awful prenatal vitamins and you ate right, sometimes 10 times a day. You read books and you were given advice by hundreds of “helpful experts.” Now here you are…officially on to the next stage. You are now thinking about personality and wondering…how hard is this going to be? How is my life going to change? At this point you may automatically relate the word “discipline” to words like “time-out” or “grounding” or “spanking.” Discipline may seem like a tool for the future but it is not. It is now. It arrived at birth and begins at the breast. The very frist step is guiding your baby to latch properly. If it hurts, you break the latch and try again. You are teaching your baby what is right and what is wrong. You are doing this because you know what is best. You are unafraid, confident, patient, and best of all, consistant. You may work at this over and over but it is the right thing to do. You will also be waking him up so he can nurse every 1 to 2 hours. You know this is what is best for him and for you. He may be sleepy but you are a wise mommy and you are guiding him to bring your milk in and thrive. You will also be teaching your baby how to be content. You know “self soothing” is wrong and that babies are meant to be soothed by mommy and guided towards contentment and independence. He can’t walk or talk and you are learning to be a mommy. You start by responding to all of his cues to nurse. You keep your baby close to you night and day so that each time his eyes flutter, fingers twitch or he starts to fuss, he will be nursed right away. You are teaching him that he does not need to wail and cry to have his needs met and setting up the framework for less tantrums in the future. You have not allowed pacifiers or bottles. No! You want happiness and contentment for him and no substitute will work long term. You nurse on demand and wear him and pour love all over him. He is snuggled and nursed and soothed and this is beginning to shape his character into a lovely, happy, peaceful child.
Parent Blessing 