Recent Articles
The Most Important Breastfeeding Accessories
In this modern internet era, it is easy to get caught up in buying all the latest breastfeeding gadgets that supposedly make the process easier. While most of the accessories advertised on the market can be helpful, they are not always necessary. However, there are a few items that we consider essential. These items include a double electric pump (often covered by insurance), nursing bras, lanolin or nipple care cream, and storage bottles/milk bags. Read on to find out why these accessories can improve your breastfeeding outcomes.
Don't Give Up Breastfeeding Too Quickly!
Mothers typically have two versions of breastfeeding. On the one hand, they believe it's natural, and "breast is best," so it must be easy, which can lead to disappointments or unrealistic expectations. On the other hand, moms hear horror stories from friends and family about how difficult it was for them and quickly become discouraged. Because breastfeeding isn't always a fairytale story, determination and dedication are key.
Which Formula is Best for My Baby?
Sometimes, as much as we want to parent “by the book” as it were, life has other plans for us. Breastfeeding may be causing so much discomfort and stress, that in many ways, formula feeding is a better alternative. Some of us experience severe pain, cracked nipples, mastitis, or simply have to return to work and cannot find an extra thirty hours in our week to exclusively breastfeed/pump. Read on to find out about the most popular formulas on the market and the pros and cons of each.
Birth Control During Breastfeeding
As advised by medical professionals waiting for six weeks after giving birth will not only let your body heal sufficiently but ensure that your milk supply is firmly established. When you decide to start using contraceptives, consult with your infant’s pediatrician and your gynecologist first. Those months of breastfeeding are also no easy feat. It takes a lot of work and care to maintain your supply, so you want to make a birth control choice that does not interfere but also works for your needs, health, and lifestyle.
Nipple Shields
Although nipple shields have proven helpful for many breastfeeding mothers, there is some contradictory data regarding the long-term effects of its use and the best method for weaning off the nipple shield and introducing the bare nipple. Read on to find out about the pros and cons of nipple shields.
How Much Milk Does My Baby Need?
Are you wondering how much milk your baby needs? How big is your baby’s tummy, and how much can it hold? Find these answers here, and we will show you an easy way to calculate how much milk your baby needs and how many ounces your baby should eat.
Is It OK to Breastfeed and Formula Feed at the Same Time?
While many of us understand the benefits of breastfeeding, for some moms, exclusive breastfeeding is not always an option. In this day and age, many moms have to return to work within a few months of their baby’s birth, and being able to pump is non-negotiable. However, many moms experience difficulties with pumping and then don’t have enough milk to give to babysitters. Additionally, many moms struggle with issues such as getting their baby to latch, low milk supply, or nipple pain. For these and other reasons, the decision to supplement with formula becomes the only viable option.
The Benefits of Breastfeeding
Did you know that the Liquid Gold flowing from your breasts is doing just as much to protect your health as it is your baby’s? That’s right, the benefits of breastfeeding are not exclusive to your baby. Breastfeeding is beneficial to your own health as well, and a recent focus on the long-term benefits of breastfeeding has added new value to the Good Ole Liquid Gold. Read more to learn the many ways that both you and your baby benefit from breastfeeding and how long these benefits last.
How to Latch Your Baby for Breastfeeding
The big secret to a good latch is a tiny space at the back of your baby’s tongue. Many mothers make the common mistake of stopping just short of this space, an area which we call the “NO ZONE”. Learn here the simple concepts of a good latch and how to get a good latch when breastfeeding your newborn. As well as, how to recognize a bad latch and what you can do to fix it. And learn why the ”NO ZONE”, is no place for a nipple.
How Many Times Can You Safely Reheat Breast Milk? Updated Guidelines
As a breastfeeding mother, you know how challenging it can be to express and correctly store your breast milk. It takes enormous effort to follow safe storage rules when half asleep after a 3 am feed or when you're running late for a 10 am meeting, and so you really don't want to see that precious liquid gold wasted. What happens if you've heated a bottle of expressed milk that was stored in the fridge and your baby doesn't finish it? The answer varies and will depend on a few factors. Read on to learn more.
The Best Breastfeeding Positions
Breastfeeding a newborn is very different to breastfeeding a six-month-old or even a 3-month-old baby. Learn which positions are best for breastfeeding your newborn, what a good latch feels like, different techniques for achieving a deeper latch, and how to know when your baby is full.
Returning To Work While Still Breastfeeding
One of the biggest concerns you may have about returning to work after maternity leave is maintaining your breast milk supply. For most moms, the only option is taking out time every few hours to pump. Many organizations realize the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and their infants and have discovered the cost savings and increase in productivity are worth creating supportive breastfeeding environments. Talk to your boss and co-workers about your decision to breastfeed and what you need to make this possible.
Pumping Tips - Pump like a Pro
Breast pumps have come a long way in recent years, and you now no longer need to sacrifice style or convenience. Studies show that pumping reduces stress and releases endorphins, the chemicals that regulate feelings of love and happiness. Regardless of whether you are pumping to initiate milk supply or maintain an established supply, use these tips to work out the kinks and Pump like a Pro.
Breastfeeding and Baby Poop - What’s the Scoop?
Knowing the signs of healthy baby poop helps you keep a handle on whether your baby is feeding enough and if there may be indications of an illness. There is no 'normal' pooping frequency in a breastfed newborn. Some babies will poop after every feed, while others poop once every three days. As long as your baby is producing soft, mustard-colored poop with a seedy consistency and is steadily gaining weight, you have nothing to worry about.
Everything You Need To Know About Breastfeeding vs Formula
There are so many reasons why a breastfeeding mom might need to add formula into the mix. Contrary to popular belief, supplementing with formula isn’t the end of the world. Doing so doesn't have to wreck your breastfeeding relationship, and you can still retain many of the benefits of breastfeeding. Read on about breastfeeding vs formula.
How Meditation Can Help Boost Your Milk Supply
Many mothers find that their milk flows more readily after a meditation or guided relaxation session. Read on to find out how meditation can help improve your milk supply.
Can Breastfeeding or Breast Milk Cause Jaundice?
After the birth of your baby, exclusive breastfeeding is advocated for the first six months of his or her life. However, it has been found that the yellowing of skin, medically termed, jaundice, is higher amongst breastfed babies than those who are bottle-fed. Patterns of jaundice that are associated with breastfeeding are called ‘breastfeeding jaundice’ or ‘breast milk jaundice’.
Why Do Babies Spit Up So Much?
Spitting up during or after a feeding is common. The Mayo Clinic estimates that half of all babies spit up during the first three months, and most babies outgrow spitting up by a year. Most cases of spitting up have to do with the fact that your baby’s digestive system—specifically the muscle between their esophagus and tummy—isn’t fully mature yet, so the milk they consume is more likely to come back up.
Is Breastmilk Different on Each Side?
It is common to have one breast that is smaller than the other and which produces less milk. While this is nothing to fret about, it is possible to even out the milk supply of both breasts. This can be achieved by starting your breastfeeding sessions on the less productive side, nursing your baby on that breast more frequently, pumping that side more often, and taking steps to improve your let-down reflex.
Colostrum vs. Milk: What New Parents Need To Know
Colostrum is the yellowish milk you produce right after your baby is born. After about 3-4 days, colostrum transitions to mature breastmilk. Mature milk is similar to colostrum, but has a different balance of nutrition, is whiter in color, and is much greater in volume.