Tag: breastfeeder

How Can You Breastfeed With a Specific Diet? (Dairy-Free, Weight Loss, Religious Fasting, Vegetarian/Vegan)

January 25, 2017

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Here’s a little food for thought for those of you with alternative diet choices, or interested in making some changes to your consumption repertoire while lactating.

I’ve noted several popular ‘restricted’ nourishment styles on the table among breastfeeding mothers’ discussion groups: dairy-free diets; fad, crash and weight-loss diets; religious fasting; and vegetarian or vegan diets.

Let’s take a closer look…

*Please keep in mind that although I’ve been on the hiring end of nutritionists/dieticians for a number of years and aced a few human nutrition classes in university (ahem, just let me be proud), I am NOT a nutritionist, dietician, doctor, or licensed to give medical advice in any way. The following information is shared for educational purposes only. What you choose to do with it is strictly up to you. See my general Disclaimer for more details.*

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Let’s Stop Defending Ourselves With “Nothing Was Even Showing!”

February 4, 2016

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I hear it all the time — women defending themselves for breastfeeding in public. Adamant that they deserve to feed their babies whenever and wherever needed, they say: “It’s not like you could see anything! Nothing was even showing!”

Great, but if you could see ‘something’… or if it had been ‘showing’… so what? Is it truly a valid defense for nursing a child in non-private situations?

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Infant Feeding Today Pt. 4: Help With Mixed Feedings

February 2, 2016
Supplements

Via NancyMohrbacher.com

**Also read Part One (Why Isn’t Every Baby Breastfed?), Part Two (Cow-Made, Man-Made, or Mother-Made?), and Part Three (Making a Baby-Friendly Culture Amid formula Marketing) of this series.**

Mixed Feedings

One of THE most important things to remember for those who are struggling to meet the recommendations for mama milk exclusivity: Breastfeeding does NOT have to be ‘all or nothing.’ If you cannot breastfeed but can express some breast milk, some is better than none for as long as you can. If you’re a full-time working mom who cannot nurse on the breast very often, it will help to breastfeed when you can, even if it’s only at night to put your baby to sleep, or only on the weekend to mostly dry-nurse, or something in between.

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Infant Feeding Today Pt. 2: Cow-Made, Man-Made, or Mother-Made?

February 1, 2016
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Via Danielle Page (@TheVeganPage) on Twitter

COW-MADE, MAN-MADE, OR MOTHER-MADE?

  • Under the Microscope
  • Moo Milk vs. Mom’s Milk
  • Modern Formula vs. Human Milk

TOXINS IN INFANT FORMULA

**Also check out Part One (Why Isn’t Every Baby Breastfed?) and Part Three (Making a Baby-Friendly Culture Amid Formula Marketing) of this series.**

Cow-Made, Man-Made, or Mother-Made?

“Although most doctors avoid saying so, out of fear of alienating some clients, formula-fed babies are generally less healthy than breastfed babies. The cognitive development of babies fed formula doesn’t equal that of those who are breastfed. Breast milk protects against disease and promotes optimal brain growth. Formula does neither of these things.” – Kathleen Huggins, The Nursing Mother’s Guide to Weaning

There we go again: formula is not an equivalent substitute to breast milk, it’s just a good alternative. The only breast milk I’ve ever tasted is my own and I’ve been doing just fine (I think?) in my adult life as a previously formula-fed baby. So when I say a “good” alternative, I don’t secretly mean a “poisonous” one.

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Infant Feeding Today Pt. 1: Why Isn’t Every Baby Breastfed?

January 31, 2016
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Photo Credit: Getty Images/Tom Merton

In this series you’ll find information about formula and other milks commonly given to young children, presented as may be relevant to breastfeeding mothers and their babies. This is, after all, a site speaking mainly to mothers who wish to learn about breastfeeding.

I hope I don’t come across as a breastfeeding snob, as this is not a formula-user bashing blog. No one can guarantee that I won’t be a formula feeder myself one day, or that I wasn’t one in a past life… And I myself was a 100% formula baby. I was made from the stuff.

We’ve all heard “breast is best,” but some of us would still be hard-pressed to name all the benefits of breast milk over artificial milk if randomly questioned. Many women admit they didn’t breastfeed simply because they weren’t aware of much difference between human milk and artificial milk, and many say they wish they had tried — if only they’d known.

According to the most recent numbers, lots of mothers do supplement with formula or cow milk or at some point switch to them entirely. As such, a discussion about these alternatives as used by breastfeeding mothers is an unavoidable one.

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The Lowdown on Low Milk Supply and/or Slow Letdown

January 25, 2016
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Image text by Emma Pickett, IBCLC. Drawn by Estelle Morris. Via emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com.

Everyone wonders. Many are convinced.

Around the time of milk regulation when the breasts feel like they’ve turned into empty pita pockets seemingly overnight, the world shudders with populations of postpartum nursing women who cry in atonement for whatever sin caused their sudden lactational failure.

But are you sure you REALLY have low supply?

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Don’t Let a Breast Lump Turn You Into a Grump!

January 20, 2016
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Via Etsy.com

I know, an extra bump in the lady lumps can be annoying! And confusing. Or worrisome. Painful even!

But before jumping to conclusions (and the medicine cabinet), it’s important to first determine what the lump truly is. An abscess? A plugged duct? Something more serious? Your health provider can give you a diagnosis and treatment options, but most of the time lumps found during breastfeeding can be resolved without a trip to the doctor.

Read on to find out more…

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One in The Womb & One on The Boob: Breastfeeding During Pregnancy

September 19, 2015

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I really never imagined I’d be nursing during a pregnancy. It amazes me the endurance of this tradition we’ve made and how it’s seen us through so much.

I don’t know if almost three-year-old MaiTai will tire of it soon, or if aversion will strike the crazy into me and call a halt by my discretion. Or if we’ll just keep nursing like we always have, because it’s as normal a thing to do as would be not choosing to continue.

I do know that nursing isn’t so comfortable anymore. Aversion is milder so far than with bleeding cycles, but it just feels… different. Not all oxytocin-rush-of-pleasantness, squeeze-him-tight and never let go, butterflies of love swooping through my body kind of stuff like I wrote about here.

It feels how I imagine some people who’ve never breastfed might think breastfeeding feels like — a little person sucking on your skin, perhaps a most unwanted hickey? Still it’s not “gross” (he’s my baby, he’ll never be icky to me!) but it’s not a street paved in my favor as far as physical contentment. Emotionally though? Another story.

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