Image via Dr Momma
I thought I'd share with you this info I gathered when our son was a baby. I have passed it on to friends, family and clients over the past 6 years and have had lots of positive feedback. It seems to becoming a family heirloom of sorts!
Image via Breast Feeding Art
I am a great believer in breastfeeding - IF and I mean IF it's right for you and your baby. When my son was born there was so much pressure to breast feed amongst a hundred and one other 'right things to do'. Looking back, I wish I'd been easier on myself, just relaxed a bit and enjoyed those precious days more. Believe me they are gone so fast - it may not seem it sleepless nights after night, but they will be at school and talking Moshi Monsters before you know it! Oh and 'Bugger the housework' I say - it can wait, rest when your baby rests!
Image via Eysigns
Your Magic Milk
Anything wrong with baby or yourself skin wise - use your breast milk! It has antibacterial and other amazing healing powers. It contains antibodies which kill infection without the side effects of antibiotics. Extremely effective for conditions such as conjunctivitis, any rashes including nappy rash and eczema, ear infections, insect bites, cuts and scratches and sore nipples you or your baby! I and many clients and friends have had great success with this.
Image via Herbal Granny
Breastfeeding Timings Guide - remember this is a guide, every baby is different!
This guide was given to me by my sister who is a Doula, it really did help as I panicked when his times decreased from over an hour right down to 5 minutes - oh my goodness he isn't eating enough!!
By 6 weeks approx 20 minutes.
Eventually they do it in around 5-10 minutes once they become efficient.
Try not to have more than 5 hours between baby's day time feeds - breast or bottle, remember their tummies are tiny and they need to grow!
Expressing Milk
I highly recommend the Ameda Lactaline Personal Dual Electric Breastpump from the National Childbirth Trust (NCT). It is so easy to use, light and quick. If you want to go for comedy value like I did, why not try Easy Expression Halterneck - used with your breast pump, to enable you to pump hands free! Attractive and effective!
Hee hee brings back memories - not the working while pumping bit! Via Mommy News
Early evening is a good time to give expressed milk. As your milk levels are naturally low at this time - it's much easier to satisfy a hungry, angry baby and gives you a break! Our son was much happier on his 7pm (ish) feed when my husband started giving him expressed milk. The first few times he did it, I stayed out of the room so he couldn't smell me!
Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags are amazing to store your expressed milk. They are pre-sterilised, easy to pour, super easy to store and carry around and hardly take up any space. The milk lasts much longer (10 days I think - it's been a while!) Just pour in your milk, zip it up, write the date on and pop them in coldest part of fridge (bottom). You can buy them from NCT, Mothercare, Hello Baby Direct and Kiddiecare.
Images via Hello Baby Direct and Buzzillions
Freezing Expressed Milk
I was advised by my NCT breastfeeding councillor not to freeze the milk, unless your going use within a week or so. The reason being; if you store it for example a month, it wouldn't necessarily be at the same stage as your baby i.e. you're milk develops with your child. Hence why I used the bags, they have longer life than the pots.
Express when on your own if they don't like the sound of the expresser - like my son - the difficult little tinker!
Warming up your breasts with hot bath/shower or heat pad/hot water bottle before expressing really helps the milk flow come along quicker. Boots do a great plug in heat pad (like a mini electric blanket) Dreamland Thermo Therapy heat pad. I still use now when my back is sore or when I have period pains.
Image via http://azweddingguest.com/
Foods and Breastfeeding
Cabbage, onion, garlic, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and turnip can cause wind and restlessness in some babies.
Need to Increase or Stop or Reduce Breastfeeding?
Fennel tea can help increase you flow (also great for babies with sore tummies). Mint or sage tea can help decrease your milk flow, great if going back to work or stopping feeding.
Image via Health.com
Winding
Our son was in lots of pain with wind poor lamb, so we ended up winding after every feed and giving Woodwards Gripe Water which is made from Dill weed. Weak fennel tea is very effective too. Some say a breastfed baby doesn't get much wind - not for our precious one! Sometimes it could take 30 mins - 1 hour! Life got much easier when he could burp himself (probably about 4 months).
Mum Having an Illness
Don't panic, you will actually pass your immunity onto your baby, so it is actually a good thing (not for you though!) The milk is protected and it carries the antibodies you are producing to fight the illness. Our son was rarely ill when breastfeeding and if he was I am convinced it was less severe!
Links to Some of My Other Parenting Posts
Looking After Our Precious Teeth
Chicken Pox - Natural Remedies
I really hope this helps you as much it has me, my friends, family and clients. I am not a professional in these matters, I just received lots of advice and as I had famous gaga baby brain, I used to write it all down. I just think it's nice to pass on to others.
I would love to hear any other tips you may have.
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