Sometimes using a breast pump is painful and your breasts don’t seem to be emptying properly. What then? Well, then it’s time to check and see if your breast pump parts actually fit your breast. You can’t make an ill-fitting breast pump work correctly no matter how hard you try. (more…)
The breasts constantly make rich, fatty milk, but that milk is stored in the breast in such a way that over time there is a separation, meaning that the milk which comes out first will be different than the milk which comes out when the breast is nearly empty. (more…)
Australians seem to be waking up to the need for paid maternity leave for breastfeeding moms. Union groups are getting serious with their search for answers, citing the World Health Organization’s recommendation for babies to exclusively breastfeed during the first six months. (more…)
Question: What is tandem nursing?
Tandem nursing is when two siblings of different ages breastfeed together. It generally comes about because the older baby was too young to wean, and continued nursing throughout a pregnancy, although it is possible for a baby to temporarily stop nursing, only to start again after the new baby is born. (more…)
Proper latching and unlatching techniques are crucial to the success of your breastfeeding experience. Done improperly, your baby will not be able to nurse correctly, and you will end up with sore nipples. Here is a short tutorial on how to latch and unlatch your baby from the breast. (more…)
Question: What is colostrum?
When your baby is brand new, you will notice that the milk you produce is small in quantity and a yellowish color. It is also much thicker than the milk you will produce later on. This milk is called colostrum, and for 2 to 4 days it is all your baby will need. Often, the amount that is made at a feeding is less than ¼ of an ounce! (more…)
Question: How soon after birth should I start breastfeeding my baby?
Ideally, a mother should give birth vaginally and put her baby to the breast within the first 30 minutes following the birth. Also, if possible, rooming in with baby and sleeping with baby is helpful in establishing a strong bond and preventing engorgement, in addition to stimulating a good milk supply. (more…)
I didn’t get a breastpump when my first was born. I actually only got one after my fifth. In hindsight, I should have had one from the start. For one thing, engorgement can be painful for new moms and frustrating for the new baby. Engorged nipples are hard to latch onto and if the engorgement cannot be properly relieved, mastitis can even set in. (more…)
Lipase in breast milk that is pumped and stored can can give the milk an unpalatable metallic flavor in just a few hours. This is because lipase, an enzyme that aids in the digestion of fats, begins to break down the fat in stored breast milk. The fat contributes to breast milk’s appealing flavor, so when the lipase breaks down the fat before consumption, your baby may not like the taste. (more…)