Posts tagged ‘milk’

December 4th, 2010

Breastfeeding Tips: tip 9 for new mamas

Motherhood and fatherhood are new roles that need to be learned together. Keep the lines of communication open!

Contact with other breastfeeding mothers is important for confident breastfeeding.

Don’t keep concerns to yourself. There are many groups and individuals available to help you, including: public health nurses, lactation consultants, the La Leche League, your doctor or midwife, family members, or friends who have breastfed. Do something fun every day; relax in the bathtub, take a walk with your baby, keep in touch with family and friends – don’t become isolated.

- excerpted from Public Health Agency

 

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November 21st, 2010

Breastfeeding Tips: tip 8 for new mamas

Thoughtful Reminders

 

Try to sleep when your baby sleeps.

Accept and/or ask for help with housework and meals from your partner, family and friends.

Invite visitors only when you feel ready.

Eat healthy and drink when you feel thirsty. You’ll find you may be extra thirsty, so have a glass of water, milk or juice every time the baby nurses.

While you are breastfeeding, you may gradually lose some of the extra weight gained during pregnancy as it provides part of the energy needed to produce breast milk.

Remember that cigarette smoke is harmful, especially to babies. If you smoke, it is still important to breastfeed but look for ways to decrease your baby’s exposure to cigarette and second hand smoke.

Alcohol and other drugs can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Check with your doctor, nurse, midwife, lactation consultant if in doubt about any medications or other substances you are using that might affect your breast milk.

 

-excerpted from Public Health Agency

 

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July 25th, 2010

Breastfeeding Tips: tip 7 for new mamas

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy

Exclusive breastfeeding (no food or liquids other than breast milk are given to baby) for the first 6 months of baby’s life may delay the return of your menstruation, but ovulation can still occur, so you and your partner should discuss other birth control methods with your doctor, nurse or midwife.

–excerpted from Public Health Agency

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April 6th, 2010

Breastfeeding Tips: tip 6 for new mamas

Working and Breastfeeding

Your baby can have all the benefits of your breast milk even if you plan to go back to work or school. When breastfeeding is well established, you can express milk and leave it with your caregiver for feedings throughout the day. Your breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator (3 days) or frozen (about 6 months). Refrigerate or freeze breast milk in clean bottles or bags and date them. Warm up the breast milk by standing it in hot tap water before it is used. Microwaving breast milk, or heating it on the stove, is not recommended because it can cause a loss of Vitamin C content and some of the milk’s special anti-infective properties. Microwaving and stove heating also causes the milk to have hot spots that can scald your baby.

Ask your employer about some flexibility to have breastfeeding or pumping breaks, and access to refrigeration to store your breast milk. Some mothers have childcare facilities at their place of work, school, or nearby, so they can breastfeed during their breaks.

–excerpted from Public Health Agency

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March 23rd, 2010

Breastfeeding Tips: tip 5 for new mamas

Looking After Mom

In the early days, try to rest when your baby sleeps.

Eat healthy meals and drink when you feel thirsty.  When your baby feeds, you may want to have a snack and something to drink.
If your nipples are tender, make sure your baby is latched properly to your breast when feeding (see tip #1). Ask a nurse, midwife, lactation consultant or a successfully breastfeeding mother for help to achieve a comfortable breastfeeding technique.
For the first few days, expose your nipples to air or light after each feeding. Allow some breast milk to dry on your nipples; it has lubricating and anti-infective properties.
If your breasts get swollen and painful (engorged), cold compresses decrease swelling, then gentle massaging and warmth (warm towels or taking warm showers) will help the milk to flow. Expressing some milk before feeding to relieve fullness and breastfeeding more frequently will help your breasts to feel more comfortable.

–excerpted from Public Health Agency

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March 18th, 2010

Breastfeeding Tips: tip 4 for new mamas

The Complete Food

Research shows that breast milk is so important that it is the only food or drink your baby needs for the first 6 months of life. Remarkably, as your baby grows your milk will also change to keep up with your baby’s needs and continues to have just the right amount of nutrients.  Breast milk also contains antibodies and other immune factors that help protect against infections and disease — benefits that last a lifetime.

Beginning at 6 months of age babies need to replenish their iron reserves by adding a variety of foods in addition to breast milk, which continues to provide nutrition and protection. Many mothers continue to breastfeed until their babies are two years old or more.

Breastfeeding has many health benefits for mom too, including nurturing a special relationship between mother and baby.  Breast milk is convenient, always the right temperature, economical and better for the environment!

–excerpted from Public Health Agency

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March 10th, 2010

Breastfeeding Tips: tip 3 for new mamas

Milk Production

The more your baby breastfeeds, the more milk you produce.  As your baby gets older, he may breastfeed for a shorter time or less frequently and be satisfied.

Your baby will have periods of growth spurts in the first few months. During these growth spurts your baby will feed more often for a few days, to satisfy an increased appetite. During these times, your breast milk will increase to meet your baby’s needs.

–excerpted from Public Health Agency

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