BREASTPUMPING TIPS When you pump you may find it helpful to select a place that is as comfortable and relaxing for you as possible. Choose a chair that will provide good back and arm support, or use a nursing pillow. Prop up your feet if possible, perhaps with a nursing stool or stack of books. Make sure that you are not too cold or too warm. Get yourself something to drink and eat if you like. Soft music and a picture of your baby or an item of his clothing may help with eliciting letdown as well. Before you start you may want to apply heat to your breasts. This can be done with a warm washcloth, heating pad, or you may even choose to take a shower or bath prior to pumping. also work well and will mold to the breast and can wrap around the pump flange/breastshield. As you apply the heat, massage your entire breast with your palm and fingertips. Stimulate your nipples by gently rolling or tugging on them. It may also be helpful to apply a little coco oil to your nipples/areolae and/or to the inside of the pump breastshield in order to provide lubrication and promote a tighter seal around the breast. Moistening the breastshield with water will have the same effect. Take several deep breaths, close your eyes, and begin pumping. As you pump continue the massage if possible. Once the initial flow slows down or stops, take down the breastshield and massage your breast for a few more minutes. Begin pumping again. If using a single pump, switch sides as soon as the flow begins to slow and back and forth again as needed. Some moms find pumping is easier if baby is nursing on one side at the same time. You also may have better pumping results in the morning hours when milk supply is greatest. A lot of moms pump about an hour or so after baby's first morning feeding. Should your baby want to nurse soon after pumping do not be afraid to put him to the breast. There will still be plenty of milk for him as he actually causes you to produce more milk as he nurses! Never pump longer than 20 minutes at a time. If pumping is painful, something is wrong - either you are using the pump incorrectly or your pump is an inferior one. Pump yield is NEVER a reliable indicator of milk supply. The baby will always be able to get more milk than you can even with a high quality pump because he not only suckles but also compresses your breast tissue with his gums. With letdown, more milk is released. When nursing a health baby with an effective suck, most mothers experience multiple letdowns during a feeding even though they may not be aware of all of them. When pumping, eliciting more than one or two letdowns is more difficult.
 
Hi Zeny,
i am attaching jackjack's latest picture. just to give you an update, he weighs about 5 kilos now. he's still a bit underweight for his age (6months) so while i'm breastfeeding him, his pedia prescribed an infant formula medicated with additional growth boosters to help catch up. as you remember, we rushed him again to the hospital last april due to severe malnutrition and dehydration which were complications following colostomy. again, it was breastmilk that saved his life. while he was hooked up to IV, breastmilk was flowing non-stop thru a tube on his nose to help repair his damaged intestines. thanks to breastfeeding moms like jane cu and rachel lingao, there was always breastmilk. on the third day from admission, he was strong enough to nurse. a month after that, his intestines were reconnected and was on the road to recovery.
thank you for all the support you have given us during this trying time. i highly encourage every mom to exclusively, if possible, breastfeed her baby as long as she can. it can do wonders for mom's soul and greatly help her baby.
Wonderful moments in breastfeeding I love when DD has fallen asleep at the breast. She usually has one hand resting on top of my breast and is using it as a pillow.
I love knowing that every bit of growth is due to me.
I love when she lunges at my breast when she's hungry. I call it the boob dive. Kristy looking at my daughters chubby little thighs and double chin quite confidence inspiring. My body did that. I did that as a mother. My baby is healthy because I am feeding her the best way I know how. It gives me the confidence to handle other things as a mother as well. Luv I thought it was simply amazing when DS turned one year. He didn't eat really at all or drink anything. It was my breast and my body that grew him and sustained him for the first year of life. Powerful stuff!
I loved the nursing sighs, the drunk nursing look, the smiles and giggles while nursing. The hand wrapped around my nursing tank or bra. The frantic head bob when they want to nurse so badly but you just aren't getting it out fast enough. How it always soothed him. I could go on... I can't wait to nurse again! Apelilae Seeing them grow and know YOU and YOU alone are what is making them grow that you're giving your child all they need, oh and I love it when he nurses and wants to just touch my face and look at me its so sweet, oh and the convienience IDK why on earth I ever bothered bottle feeding my first 2 at all bc man was it a pain trying to find warm water or something to warm the bottle and carrying around a can of formula and bottles just a PITA to do when w/ bf'ding you can feed them whenever wherever on the spot w/ no worries its just the most awesome thing ever. Ellymay I have a pic on my cellphone of my little chubbykins' face before she latches on. Her mouth is wide open, and her eyes are smiling. It's that little face that makes the challenges of breastfeeding worth facing.
Oh, and pinching her fat thighs while she's nursing! Monique
Very simply, babies fuss for the same reasons adults fuss: they hurt either physically or emotionally, or they need something. There is a wide spectrum of types of crying. At the quieter end is the baby who fusses to be picked up but is easily comforted and satisfied as long as he is held. At the other extreme is the baby who hurts – the inconsolably crying baby who merits the label "colicky." 1. FUSSES TO FIT While in the womb, the preborn baby fits perfectly into his environment. Perhaps there will never be another home in which he fits so harmoniously – a free-floating environment where the temperature is constant and his nutritional needs are automatically and predictably met. The womb environment is well organized. These babies miss the womb. Birth suddenly disrupts this organization. During the month following birth, baby tries to regain his sense of organization and fit into life outside the womb. Birth and adaptation to postnatal life bring out the temperament of the baby, so for the first time he must do something to have his needs met. He is forced to act, to "behave. " If hungry, cold, or startled, he cries. He must make an effort to get the things he needs from his caregiving environment. If his needs are simple and he can get what he wants easily, he's labeled an "easy baby"; if he does not adapt readily, he is labeled "difficult." He doesn't fit. Fussy babies are poor fitters, who don't resign themselves easily to the level of care they are being given. They need more, and they fuss to get it. 2. A HIGH-NEED BABY 3. BABY HURTS
BURPING BABY Besides the pat on the back, effective burping requires two actions: holding baby in an upright position and applying pressure on baby's tummy (parents often forget this latter step). You seldom see a baby being burped in non-Western, breastfeeding cultures. The belief that babies need burping after feedings, or help "bringing up the wind," originated with the spread of bottle-feeding. The faster flow of milk from bottle nipples forces babies to gulp air in between closely-spaced swallows. Breastfeeding infants have fewer problems with air in their tummies. They can control the flow of milk at the breast and so they suck with a slower rhythm that allows them to better coordinate breathing and swallowing. Also, breastfed babies tend to be fed in a more upright position and enjoy smaller, more frequent feedings – other conditions that lessen the swallowing of air. Yet, even breastfed babies need to be burped occasionally, especially if they are fast feeders and/or mother has a strong milk ejection reflex. To lessen the likelihood that baby will swallow air at the breast, feed baby in the upright position (at a 45 degree angle or greater). Help baby comfortably keep a tight seal during latch-on by supporting the weight of your breast and by wrapping baby around you rather than letting baby dangle away from the breast. Watch for signs that baby needs to burp during or after a feeding: she may balk at going to the other breast or she may squirm and grimace when you lay her down; there may be a painful expression on her face. If baby is content, the need to burp is past—if she needed to burp at all. Don't feel you have failed if you don't manage to bring up a burp after every feeding. Babies often don't need to burp with snack-type feedings; after a big meal, it's usually worth putting in some patient effort until baby burps. As babies get older and more proficient at feeding, burping becomes less of an issue. Try these burping positions: - Over-the-hand burp. Sit baby on your lap and place the heel of your hand against her tummy, with her chin resting on the top of your hand. Lean baby forward, resting most of her weight against the heel of your hand to provide counter pressure on her tummy, and pat her on the back to move up the air bubbles.
- Over-the-shoulder burp. Drape baby way up over your shoulder so that your shoulder presses against her tummy, then rub or pat her back. Hold baby securely by hooking your thumb under her armpit. If she's on your right shoulder, do this holding with your right hand.
- Over-the-lap burp. Drape baby over one thigh (legs crossed or spread) so that it presses upward against her tummy. Support baby's head with one hand while you pat or rub her back with the other hand.
- The one-arm burp. This position is particularly helpful when you're busy and baby needs to burp. You can simply stroll around the house and have one hand free. The only drawback is that spit-up may go on the floor or down over your arm and baby's legs.
- Sling burping. If the air just won't come up, place baby upright against your chest and wear her in a sling until the air comes up.
- Nighttime burping. Burping is often not necessary during night feedings, since babies feed in a more relaxed manner and therefore swallow less air. If a trapped air bubble seems to be causing nighttime discomfort, you can avoid sitting up and going through the whole burping ritual by draping baby up over your hip as you lie on your side.
- Burp and switch. Some babies are more comfortable if they burp when changing sides. Getting the air up makes room for more milk. This can help avoid large spit-ups when a bubble gets trapped under the milk.
- Knee-to-chest burp. Sometimes babies need help not only getting air out the top end, but also out the bottom. The knee-chest position (flexing baby's knees up against her chest) helps baby pass excess gas.
Expressing Milk Many women are under the impression that it is necessary to own or use a pump to breastfeed. This is not so. There are very few circumstances under which it is necessary to express your milk. But women are being encouraged to pump their milk and give it to baby via bottle for the most unnecessary reasons: Weddings, doctor’s appointments, shopping…why not take the baby with you? How can babies not be welcome at weddings? Or, “so the father can feed the baby”! Partners were not meant to feed babies milk, and giving a bottle is not really helping. But they certainly can help feed the baby by helping mother with compressions, for example The purpose of breast compression is to continue the flow of milk to the baby once the baby no longer drinks (“open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck) on his own, and thus keep him drinking milk. Breast compression simulates a letdown reflex and often stimulates a natural letdown reflex to occur. The technique may be useful for: 1. Poor weight gain in the baby 2. Colic in the breastfed baby 3. Frequent feedings and/or long feedings 4. Sore nipples in the mother 5. Recurrent blocked ducts and/or mastitis 6. Encouraging the baby who falls asleep quickly to continue drinking not just sucking Breast compression is not necessary if everything is going well. When all is going well, the mother should allow the baby to “finish” feeding on the first side and, if the baby wants more, offer the other side. How do you know the baby is finished? When he no longer drinks at the breast (“open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck). Breast compression works particularly well in the first few days to help the baby get more colostrum. Babies do not need much colostrum, but they need some. A good latch and compression help them get it. It may be useful to know that: 1. A baby who is well latched on gets milk more easily than one who is not. A baby who is poorly latched on can get milk only when the flow of milk is rapid. Thus, many mothers and babies do well with breastfeeding in spite of a poor latch, because most mothers produce an abundance of milk. 2. In the first 3-6 weeks of life, many babies tend to fall asleep at the breast when the flow of milk is slow, not necessarily when they have had enough to eat. After this age, they may start to pull away at the breast when the flow of milk slows down. However, some pull at the breast even when they are much younger, sometimes even in the first days. 3. Unfortunately many babies are latching on poorly. If the mother’s supply is abundant the baby often does well as far as weight gain is concerned, but the mother may pay a price—such as, sore nipples, a “colicky” baby, and/or a baby who is constantly on the breast (but drinking only a small part of the time). Breast compression continues the flow of milk once the baby is no longer drinking from (only sucking at) the breast and results in the baby: 1. Getting more milk. 2. Getting more milk that is higher in fat. Breast Compression - How To Do It 1. Hold the baby with one arm. 2. Hold the breast with the other, thumb on one side of the breast (thumb on the upper side of the breast is easiest), your other fingers on the other, fairly far back from the nipple. 3. Watch for the baby’s drinking, though there is no need to be obsessive about catching every suck. The baby gets substantial amounts of milk when he is drinking with an “open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck. 4. When the baby is nibbling at the breast and no longer drinking with the “open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck, compress the breast. Do not roll your fingers along the breast toward the baby, just squeeze. Not so hard that it hurts and try not to change the shape of the areola (the part of the breast near the baby’s mouth). With the compression, the baby should start drinking again with the “open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck. Use compression while the baby is sucking but not drinking! 5. Keep the pressure up until the baby no longer drinks even with the compression, and then release the pressure. Often the baby will stop sucking altogether when the pressure is released, but will start again shortly as milk starts to flow again. If the baby does not stop sucking with the release of pressure, wait a short time before compressing again. 6. The reason for releasing the pressure is to allow your hand to rest, and to allow milk to start flowing to the baby again. The baby, if he stops sucking when you release the pressure, will start again when he starts to taste milk. 7. When the baby starts sucking again, he may drink (“open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck). If not, compress again as above. 8. Continue on the first side until the baby does not drink even with the compression. You should allow the baby to stay on the side for a short time longer, as you may occasionally get another letdown reflex (milk ejection reflex) and the baby will start drinking again, on his own. If the baby no longer drinks, however, allow him to come off or take him off the breast. 9. If the baby wants more, offer the other side and repeat the process. 10. You may wish, unless you have sore nipples, to switch sides back and forth in this way several times. 11. Work on improving the baby’s latch. 12. Remember, compress as the baby sucks but does not drink. In our experience, the above works best, but if you find a way which works better at keeping the baby sucking with an “open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck, use whatever works best for you and your baby. As long as it does not hurt your breast to compress, and as long as the baby is “drinking” (“open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth type” of suck), breast compression is working.
 Welcome The 1st European Conference on the Kangaroo Mother Care method 6-7 October 2008 Main Topic : Why KMC in a high tech setting? Target grouped for the conference are persons involved in maternal care and child health care, perinatal, neonatal and pediatric care as well as peer counsellors - irrespective of profession. Workshop goals: To discuss obstacles to and possibilities for KMC in a high tech setting as well as settings in limited resources, and the revised WHO guidelines for KMC, currently under preparation. 
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has been variously defined, but two essential components are skin-to-skin contact (SSC), and breastfeeding (BF). From the biological perspective, in the immediate newborn period of Homo sapiens, skin-to-skin contact represents the correct "habitat", and breastfeeding represents the "niche" or pre-programmed behaviour designed for that habitat.
RESEARCH ON SSC
In the uterine habitat, oxygenation is provided through the placenta and the cord, as well as warmth, nutrition and protection. These are the four basic biological needs. Parturition (birth) represents a "habitat transition". In the new habitat, the basic needs remain the same. Research over the last ten years provides strong support for the contention that newborn itself in the skin-to-skin habitat, not the mother or the health services, provides these basic needs.
Oxygenation has been shown to be improved on SSC, to the extent that KMC is used successfully to treat respiratory distress. The breathing becomes regular and stable, and is coordinated with heart rate. When removed from incubator and placed SSC, oxygen saturation may rise slightly, or the percentage of oxygen provided to maintain good saturation can be lowered.
Heart Rate is increased when placed SSC. Though we can regard this increase as being with the clinically normal range, what is seen is actually a return to the physiologically normal heart rate, the lower rate being due to "protest despair behaviour". Infants removed from incubators and placed SSC show a rise in temperature and a dramatic drop in glucocorticoids, as predicted by the "protest-despair response". Mothers are able to control the infants temperature within a very narrow range, far better than an incubator. To accomplish this, her core temperature can rise to two degrees Centigrade if baby is cold, and fall one degree if baby is hot. Skin-to-skin contact is better than incubator for rewarming hypothermic infants.
Self-attachment refers to the phenomenon that fullterm undrugged infants, left on their mother's chest and undisturbed, will all breastfeed spontaneously within one hour, with no help at all. But this behaviour is dependent on SSC. Mother and infant should NOT be separated. The stimulations the newborn gives the mother during SSC elicit caregiving and protective behaviours from the mother. The baby’s legs kicking on the mother’s abdomen cause the mother’s uterus to contract strongly, preventing post-partum bleeding.
Nutrition is improved, both with respect to the mother’s ability to breastfeed, and with respect to the newborn’s utilisation of the feed. The volume of mother’s milk is greatly increased, and the frequency of feeds provided likewise. Even without the increased milk, with the vagal stimulation the infant receives, the gut is better able to use the milk provided, and grows faster.
Immunity is improved, demonstrable even 6 months later. Prematures seem to have poor immune systems, and are susceptible to allergies, infections and feeding problems in the first year of life. Early SSC dramatically reduces these problems.
Infections are reduced when SSC and exclusive breastfeeding are firmly introduced. Necrotizing enterocolitis (a potentially lethal and very costly disease to treat) has been dramatically reduced in many units following a KMC programme.
In no published paper is a single adverse outcome reported for KMC. Positive effects on the mother are better bonding, healing of emotional problems associated with premature birth, among others.
Can you be a feminist and breastfeed? I want to talk about something complicated but really interesting. I was recently reading an article on breastfeeding and feminism called "Is Breastfeeding Fair?" by Dr. Deborah McCarter-Spaulding, IBCLC. The article outlines "the feminist problem of breastfeeding." What's that, you ask? McCarter-Spaulding provides a summary: "The problem arises because breastfeeding is sex-specific, and therefore challenges the feminist principle of gender-neutral childrearing. It is an even more difficult problem than pregnancy because whereas pregnancy is necessary for childbearing, many do not consider breastfeeding to be critical to an infant's survival, at least in industrialized countries." So, to summarize, feminist theory views social expectation and roles as potentially oppressive to women. Pregnancy is a part of parenting that obviously cannot be shared, but some argue that breastfeeding doesn't fall in the same category. Some feminists (see below) view infant feeding as an activity that can and should be shared equally. You can only get to this point of view, it seems to me, if you think that breastfeeding is not a biological imperative. And that is the argument that some feminists (not all, see below) make, questioning whether there truly are health benefits to breastfeeding. There are, however, several different feminist views on breastfeeding. I'll summarize them here: Liberal feminism: In this view, breastfeeding is a social arrangement. Lactation - making milk - is a distinctly female biological function which only women can perform, but feeding the baby is a form of social labor which can be negotiated. Proponents of this view question claims of superiority of breastmilk over formula. McCarter -Spaulding says that in this view, "Breastfeeding is seen as a gender difference that stands in the way of liberating women. Bottle-feeding in this perspective would be seen as liberating." Cultural feminism: In this view, breastfeeding is seen as a special female role which should be protected. In this view, complete gender equality may threaten those things that are uniquely female and male. McCarter-Spaulding states, "Cultural feminism strives to reconfigure social and economic structures to accommodate this gender difference without resorting to biological determinism." Feminist health activism: In this view, breastfeeding is part of a political agenda which is aimed at helping women take control back over their bodies with information and support (think Our Bodies, Ourselves, but also La Leche League). Viewed as a unifying perspective, this approach focuses on removing barriers which constrain women's choices, such as lack of paid maternity leave, the absence of break time or facilities to pump at work, and the particular challenges faced by disadvantaged women. I'd love to hear your perspective. Do you consider yourself a feminist and also a breastfeeding advocate? Do you think that it's possible to come up with an arrangement which allows for equal division of responsibility while allowing a mother to breastfeed? Which of the perspectives above, if any, appeals to you?
mama papa & tim papa, mama, caitlyn & timothy There are many things that you as parents can do to promote the health of your family—it's not always about making trips to the doctor. Changing habits, learning about other holistic approaches and considering alternative and complementary medicines are also wonderful ways you can nurture your family's well-being. But on top of it is trying to do the natural thing and bond to your child as you start it right by breastfeeding your baby even its full of confusion, frustration, pains, sleepless nights....and more! Jenn was referred to me by her sister-in-law who gave birth a few weeks ahead of her. I'm seeing them in one roof and both have one big goal.... to breastfeed their sons and each one are determine to empower one another and share every differences they encounter each time. I am so grateful to be of help to both moms and boys! they're now 7mos and never tasted formulas. Congrats Jenn! and even you are working you still do it. And I am sure, you will do it as long as you can.
As you develop a bottle-feeding routine for you and your baby, the two of you will work out which formula is best, how much, and how often. This routine may change as your baby grows. As a general guide: Between birth and six months of age your baby will need an average of 2 to 2.5 ounces of formula per pound per day. So, if your baby weighs ten pounds, she will need 20 to 25 ounces per day. - Newborns may take only an ounce or two at each feeding
- One to two months: 3 to 4 ounces per feeding
- Two to six months: 4 to 6 ounces per feeding
- Six months to a year: as much as 8 ounces at a feeding
Small, more frequent feedings will work better than larger ones spaced farther apart. Your baby's tummy is about the size of his fist. Take a full bottle and place it next to your baby's fist and you'll see why tiny tummies often spit the milk back up when they're given too much at one time. IS BABY GETTING TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH FORMULA?
Signs that your baby may be getting too little formula are: - slower-than-normal weight gain
- diminished urine output
- a loose, wrinkly appearance to baby's skin
- persistent crying
Signs that your baby is being fed too much at each feeding are: - a lot of spitting up or profuse vomiting immediately after the feeding
- colicky abdominal pain (baby draws his legs up onto a tense abdomen) immediately after feeding
- excessive weight gain
If these signs of overfeeding occur, offer smaller-volume feedings more frequently, burp baby once or twice during the feeding, and occasionally offer a bottle of water instead of formula. One of our concerns is that even though formula-fed infants appear to grow normally, are they really thriving? Thriving means more than just getting bigger. It means developing to the child's fullest physical, emotional, and intellectual potential. So please think more than twice before you do mix feeding or totally give up BF and give instead Formula to your baby. Let me be clear—there is no real substitute for breast milk. It is simply the best food for your baby. It provides all the nourishment they require and builds immunities protecting your baby against developing certain infections to which they will be exposed. I have lots of patients that calls me for help after doing mix feeding / bottlefeeding and they want to increase their milk or simply they want to bring their baby back to their breast. It's really a natural thing that a mom can feel it and misses it ! How much more is your baby... who's only optimal food is your breastmilk and the chance to grow and develop fully is by having you and not the bottle and not even the yaya most of the time or half of his life. Think about it mom!
HOW FORMULAS ARE MADE Using human milk as the nutritional standard, formula manufacturers follow a basic recipe that includes proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. They combine various ingredients so that the nutrients in artificial baby milks follow the same rough proportions as human milk. The big difference between formulas is the different sources of these elements – cow's milk, soybeans, or something else. Most formulas are cow's-milk based, meaning that the basic nutritional building blocks of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are taken from this nutritional base. Cow's milk contains most of the nutrients necessary for adequate infant nutrition, although not in quite the proper proportions. Soybeans are also a ready source of certain nutrients necessary for human nutrition. Formula manufacturers start with the basic nutritional elements in cow's or soy milk and add ingredients until the mixture approximates human milk as closely as possible. They adjust levels of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat and add vitamins and minerals. COMPARISON OF FORMULAS AND BREASTMILK To be fair, formula companies have produced milk for babies which, at least on paper, seems to resemble the real thing. Formula is definitely better than it used to be. But on close inspection, what the factories make doesn't quite measure up to what mom makes. It is nearly impossible for artificial baby milk manufacturers to make a milk with nutrients even close to what mothers' bodies can make. And these companies' primary goal is to make a profit, so marketing and manufacturing issues influence what finally gets into the can. One of our concerns is that even though formula-fed infants appear to grow normally, are they really thriving? Thriving means more than just getting bigger. It means developing to the child's fullest physical, emotional, and intellectual potential. We just don't know about all the long-term effects of tampering with Mother Nature – though we do know that there are significant health differences between formula-fed and breastfed infants. Human milk is a live substance containing live white blood cells and immune-fighting substances, and is a dynamic, changing nutritional source, which daily (sometimes hourly) adjusts to meet the individual needs of a growing baby. Formulas are nothing more than a collection of dead nutrients. They do not contain living white cells, digestive enzymes, or immune factors. In terms of human history, they are a new experiment. Even though the Infant Formula Act passed by Congress in 1985 mandates the Food and Drug Administration to see that formulas contain all the nutrients that babies need, we don't really know everything there is to know about what babies need. The good news is that formula companies are constantly updating their recipe in order to keep up with new research into infant nutrition. The bad news is that each change in formula is really just a new experiment. COMPARISON OF BREASTMILK AND FORMULA | NUTRIENT | BREASTMILK CONTAINS | FORMULA CONTAINS | COMMENT | | Fats | Rich in brain-building omega 3's, namely DHA and AA. Automatically adjusts to infant's needs; levels decline as baby gets older Rich in cholesterol Nearly completely absorbed Contains fat-digesting enzyme, lipase | No DHA Doesn't change No Cholesterol Not completely absorbed No lipase | Fat is the most important nutrient in breastmilk; absence of cholesterol and DHA, vital nutrients for growing brains and bodies, may predispose child to adult heart and central nervous system diseases. Leftover unabsorbed fat accounts for unpleasant stools in formula-fed babies. | | Protein | Soft, easily-digestible whey More completely absorbed Lactoferrin for intestinal health Lysozyme, an antimicrobial Rich in brain and body-building protein components Rich in growth factors Contains sleep-inducing proteins | Harder to digest casein curds Less completely absorbed, more waste, harder on kidneys None or trace lactoferrin No lysozyme Deficient or lower in some Deficient in growth factors | Automatically adjusts to infant's needs. (e.g., higher in premature infant) | | Carbohydrates | Rich in lactose Rich in oligosaccharides that promote intestinal health | Some formulas contain no lactose. Deficient in oligosaccaharides | Lactose is considered an important carbohydrate for brain development. Studies show the level of lactose in the milk of a species correlates with the size of the brain of that species. | | Immune Boosters | Rich in living white blood cells, millions per feeding Rich in immunoglobulins | No live white blood cells. Processing kills all cells. Dead food has less immunological benefit. Few immunoglubulins and mostly the wrong kind. | When mother is exposed to a germ, she makes antibodies to that germ and gives these antibodies to her infant via her milk. | | Vitamins and minerals | Better absorbed, especially iron, zinc, and calcium. Iron is 50-75% absorbed Contains more selenium (an antioxidant) than formula | Less absorbed Iron 5-10 percent absorbed | Vitamins and minerals in breastmilk enjoy a higher bioavailability; a greater percentage is absorbed. To compensate, more is added to formula, which makes it harder to digest. | | Enzymes and Hormones | Rich in digestive enzymes, such as lipase and amylase. Rich in many hormones: thyroid, prolactin, oxytocin, and over fifteen others. | Processing kills digestive enzymes Processing kills hormones, which are not human, anyway | Digestive enzymes promote intestinal health. Hormones contribute to the overall biochemical balance and well-being of baby. | | Taste | Varies with mother's diet | Always tastes the same | By taking on the flavor of mother's diet, breastmilk shapes the tastes of the child to family foods. | | Cost | $600 a year, extra food for mother | Around $1,200 per year for formula; up to $2,500 a year for hypoallergenic formulas; plus cost of bottles, etc.; plus lost income when baby is ill | >Breastfeeding families save $600 to $2,000 a year, and often much more in medical bills since baby stays healthier; and employed breastfeeding mothers miss less work. | Please take note of the Ingredients thus a Breastmilk have than Formula and the big factor are the savings....health / life / money!!!
Aqua Baby: Birth at Home in a Tub
By Nicole Lundrigan
Issue 103, November/December 2000 Many people had questions and concerns about water birth. (Others did not want to hear a single word about it until the entire delivery was over. I must say that I appreciated the questions much more.) One of them was, "What if the baby starts to breathe underwater?" I learned that this is extremely unlikely. Research shows that breathing is stimulated by contact with the air or exposure to an extreme change in temperature. I knew the water should be maintained at around 99o F. In part, this was to prevent my becoming overheated during labor, but it is also a temperature that comes very close to the amniotic environment. When my baby emerged, there would be no temperature shock and no exposure to air, so she would not breathe. It should be noted, however, that if a baby's head goes above water level as the mother moves during the birth, care should be taken to ensure that the head is never re-submerged. Infection is also a common concern for people contemplating waterbirth. I was giving birth in my own home, where the germs were familiar and posed minimal risk. Water dilutes germs, making a water birth potentially less risky than a "land" birth. Water need not be sterilized like the instruments in a delivery room: if I could drink it, I could give birth in it. I suggested that we have a rinse pail available for people's feet if they planned on getting in and out of the tub frequently, as at several points during labor and delivery my husband was in the tub with me. The student midwife also stepped in the tub a couple of times when I was interested to learn how far I had dilated. At one point I left the water, and the "land" contraction almost floored me. So I decided to pass altogether on leaving, and the student midwife did not mind putting on a pair of shorts and stepping in. I had total control during the pushing stage, as is common for women who give birth in water. In fact, I don't recall actively pushing the baby out. It was as if my body took over; it knew exactly what to do. The baby helped a little bit, though, as she was pushing with her legs. The delivery was slow, and my perineum stretched gradually. There was no tearing, just a couple of minor abrasions--again, a common benefit of a water delivery. In hindsight I wondered if doctors would have opted for forceps or suction, as the pushing stage was longer than the statistical average. The baby's heart rate remained perfectly normal the entire time. As she moved from one warm liquid environment to another, the transition was minimal. Sophia never cried. She simply opened her eyes and looked around at her world in a state of quiet awareness. With the rising sun casting an orange glow into the room, she looked absolutely beautiful. For me, the key to a healthy and natural childbirth was knowledge. My labor was not an easy or painless one by any means. In fact, I moaned so loudly that the neighborhood dogs joined in. But I recognized that the pain was normal--the stronger the contraction, the closer my baby was to being born. I worked very hard to keep the pain where it belonged--in my abdomen not my head. Many women underestimate their own capacity to give birth and rely too heavily on the technology that exists. When people state that a doctor delivered their baby, it completely nullifies the hard work of the mother and father. My husband and I delivered our baby right here at home with the unobtrusive assistance of our midwife. It was the most remarkable moment of our lives. I had one patient who delivered her 3rd son again thru waterbirth just last month and her OB-GYNE is from Makati Med who was assisted by Deborah (Midwife) and a MADS member. A week ago I saw another mom who delivered her 3rd child thru waterbirth same OB-GYNE and with Deborah. It is so true that healing and recovery is much faster and the attachment is so quick! No interruption. No confusion. This is another for my view and experience... helping them with the ease pain and determine to breastfeed immediately. If you are planning to have the same delivery just email me and I will give you their contacts. Me, I am considering waterbirth when I am going to deliver my first born ;-)
FUSSINESS Young babies, both breast and formula fed, are often fussy. It is not unusual for this to happen during the late afternoon and evenings, and is usually NOT due to hunger, wet/dirty diaper, or anything that mom or dad can fix. It is usually NOT related to milk supply, although some mothers may worry about this. Normal infant fussiness starts at about 1-3 weeks, peaks at about 6-8 weeks and is gone by about 3-4 months. Most babies will "fuss" about 2-4 hours per day, no matter what you do. They want to be "in arms" or at the breast very frequently and fuss even though you attempt to calm them. They often seem "unsatisfied" with their feedings and even seem to reject or cry at the breast.
It most commonly happens in the evening hours, and usually the baby will take their longest stretch of sleep after this fussy time. The best thing to do is offer the breast as much as the baby wants it. If she fusses at the breast try to calm her in other ways such as "dancing" with her, gentle bouncing and rocking, and just giving big doses of TLC. You can tell it is normal fussiness if it occurs about the same time each day, if your baby has other times of the day when feedings are calm and she seems happy, and if she is growing and gaining well per her pediatrician and having plenty of wet and soiled diapers. Many times during a baby's fussy timethey will refuse the breast. After several frustrating attempts at nursing, the parents may "break down" and offer a bottle of expressed breastmilk or formula thinking that the fussiness is related to low supply or something wrong with mom's milk. Parents who don't know this is "normal" frequently respond as you did by giving a bottle because they think the baby isn't "happy or satisfied" with the breast. When the bottle goes in the baby's mouth the mouth fills with milk, the baby is obligated to swallow and the action of swallowing initiates another suck. The suck again fills the mouth and the cycle repeats, giving an appearance of the baby "gulping the bottle down hungrily".
This of course only contributes to mom and dad's fear that the baby wasn't getting enough at the breast and they keep offering more and more bottles (understandably). Which then causes a true low milk supply. Often the baby falls asleep peacefully after this episode which also reinforces to the parents that the bottle was just what the baby needed. What has really happened is the baby has by coincidence come to the natural conclusion of the fussy spell (most parents give the bottle as a last resort which means the fussiness has been going on for awhile) and/or the baby has withdrawn because "gulping" down the bottle was actually stressful and NOT what the baby wanted but she could not stop the flow, so exhausted, she falls asleep. So don't offer bottles during any fussy time. By Kathy S. Kuhn,RN BSN IBCLC
MAKING COMBINATION FEEDING WORK Many mothers would like to continue breastfeeding once they return to work, but have either no time to pump or no place to pump while at work. If you would like to continue breastfeeding during the time you are at home with your baby, and cup/ bottle feed ONLY while you are at work, the following tips can help you to succeed: ~ Nurse exclusively for the first THREE weeks. This will ensure your milk supply, and help to avoid nipple confusion. ~ At three to four weeks, offer a cup/bottle of expressed breastmilk. Have Dad, Grandma, or someone other than Mom, offer the first few bottles. Once the baby is used to taking a bottle/cup, begin by offering the express milk at a time when mom would be at work, say at 10 AM. Mom should hand express or pump if she becomes uncomfortably full. She should only eliminate that ONE particular feeding, and nurse as usual at all other times. ~ Continue eliminating that one particular feeding for two to three days. When mom notices she's not "full" during that time, she can then eliminate another feeding. She should continue in this way so that by the time she returns to work, she has trained her body to produce milk during the time when she would be with her baby, but not during the time she'll be working. ~ Always nurse when you are together with the baby, to maintain milk supply for the times you are together. Many mothers prefer to offer formula during the day while they are at work, but nurse exclusively through the evening hours and during the nights if the baby wakes. ~ Weekends mom can either continue the pattern she uses on weekdays, or she can nurse exclusively on weekends. It may take two or three weeks for the body to understand, but eventually it will "know" when to produce, and when not to. ~ If you ever experience a time when you feel your milk supply is low, please contact your breastfeeding support network, for information on how to increase your supply.
Copyright © 2000 - 2006 Jim Yount
Antibiotics and Breastfeeding SHE magazine is currently working on a feature aimed at women in their 30s-40s who have had a negative experience following a course of antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection. The article focuses on the fact that as more and more of the same antibiotics are prescribed by GPs, the more ineffective they are becoming and subsequently they do not work after someone has had one or more courses of them.
Doctors have been told to stop prescribing antibiotics for colds, coughs and many chest and throat infections as their overuse is ineffective and is fuelling the spread of fatal super bugs.
Since antibiotics are commonly prescribed to treat mastitis their researcher, Sarah, is interested in speaking to any breastfeeding mothers who have had a negative experience with antibiotics whilst breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding Problems Mastitisis, a common, uncomfortable, often painful condition from which many breastfeeding women suffer at some point. It usually occurs when a milk duct becomes blocked, sometimes as a result of incorrect positioning of the baby at the breast or using a breastpump too soon after birth. Current medical advice is to continue feeding the baby with the affected breast as his suction will help drain the breast. However, if you are unhappy with this or just too uncomfortable you can always try expressing from that breast and disposing or storing the collected breastmilk until you are no longer sore. Other signs of mastitisare flu-like symptoms, a high temperature and a thumping headache. You may also notice an inflamed patch on your breast which feels hot. Sometimes massaging the breast in a warm shower or bath helps ease the discomfort or applying hot or cold compresses can help. However, if all your efforts are in vain and the mastitis does not clear up within a few hours a visit to the doctor will be necessary. The blockage may have become infected and if left untreated may result in a breast abscess. You may be given some strong painkillers and an antibiotic.Make sure the doctor is aware that you are breastfeeding so that the medicationhe prescribes is suitable for use when breastfeeding. Whilst taking an antibiotic you may notice that the baby is more unsettled or windy. His nappies may smell and have a different appearance. Sometimes babies develop thrush as a result of the presence of antibiotics in breastmilk. He may have difficulty feeding and your nipples may feel very sore. Mention this to your doctor as additional treatment for thrush may be required.
Infant mortality Infant mortality is the death of an infant in the first year of life. Infant mortality can be subdivided into neonatal death, referring to deaths in the first 27 days of life, and post-neonatal death, referring to deaths after 28 days of life. Major causes of infant mortality include: dehydration,infection,congenital malformation, and SIDS. This epidemiological indicator is recognized as a very important measure of the level of health care in a country because it is directly linked with the healthstatus of infants, children, and pregnant women as well as access to medical care, socioeconomic conditions, and public health practices. Care and feeding -
 An infant feeding from bottle shortly after birth. Infants cry as a form of basic instinctive communication. A crying infant may be trying to express a variety of feelings including hunger, discomfort, overstimulation, boredom or loneliness. Feeding is typically done by breastfeeding,which is the recommended method of feeding by all major infant health organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, if breastfeeding is not possible or desired, bottle feeding may be done with expressed breast-milk or with infant formula. Infants have a sucking instinct allowing them to extract the milk from the nipples of the breasts or the nipple of the baby bottle, as well as an instinctive behavior known as rooting with which they seek out the nipple. Sometimes a wet nurse is hired to feed the infant, although this is rare, especially in developed countries. References : dictionary.com. Simkin, Penny; et al. (1992 (late 1991)). Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide. Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of newborns dying under a year of age divided by the number of live births during the year. The infant mortality rate is also called the infant death rate. In past times, infant mortality claimed a considerable percentage of children born, but the rates have significantly declined in the West in modern times, mainly due to improvements in basic health care, though high technology medical advances have also helped.
The newborn  APPEARANCE
A newborn's shoulders and hips are narrow, the abdomen protrudes slightly, and the arms and legs are relatively short. Immediately after birth, a newborn's skin is often grayish to dusky blue in color. As soon as the newborn begins to breathe, usually within a minute or two, the skin's color returns to its normal tone. and allows newborns to feed.Newborns lose many of the above physical characteristics quickly. Thus prototypical older babies look very different. While older babies are considered "cute", newborns can be "unattractive" by the same criteria and first time parents may need to be educated in this regard. The newborn's senses Newborns can feel all different sensations, but respond most enthusiastically to soft stroking, cuddling and caressing. Gentle rocking back and forth often calms a crying infant, as do massages and warm baths. Newborns may comfort themselves by sucking their thumb, or a pacifier.The need to suckle is instinctive and allows newborns to feed. Newborn infants have unremarkable vision, being able to focus on objects only about 18 inches (45 cm) directly in front of their face. While this may not be much, it is all that is needed for the infant to look at the mother’s eyes or aerola when breastfeeding. Depth perception does not develop until the infant is mobile. Generally, a newborn cries when wanting to feed. When a newborn is not sleeping, or feeding, or crying, he or she may spend a lot of time staring at random objects. Usually anything that is shiny, has sharp contrasting colors, or has complex patterns will catch an infant's eye. However, the newborn has a preference for looking at other human faces above all else. While still inside the mother, the infant could hear many internal noises, such as the mother's heartbeat, as well as many external noises including human voices, music and most other sounds. Therefore, although a newborn's ears may have some catarrh and fluid, he or she can hear sound from before birth. Newborns usually respond to a female voice over a male voice. This may explain why people will unknowingly raise the pitch of their voice when talking to newborns (this voice change is called motherese). The sound of other human voices, especially the mother's, can have a calming or soothing effect on the newborn. Conversely, loud or sudden noises will startle and scare a newborn. Newborns have been shown to prefer sounds that were a regular feature of their prenatal environment, for example, the theme tune of a television programme that their mother watched regularly. Newborns can respond to different tastes, including sweet, sour, bitter, and salty substances, with a preference toward sweets. It has been shown that neonates show a preference for the smell of foods that their mother ate regularly. A newborn has a developed sense of smell at birth, and within the first week of life can already distinguish the differences between the mother's own breastmilk andthe breast milk of another female.
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