Recent Articles
But I’m Not Ready To Wean
Some women struggle to breastfeed for six months, while others hold tight beyond a year, and some moms are happy to make it long enough to return to work. Whether you set a goal for you and your baby or just went with the flow, we can all agree how disheartening it is when your baby starts weaning before you planned.
BenefitBump Bumpinar Q & A
If you watched our Breastfeeding 101 Bumpinar with BenefitBump, thank you! We hope you learned something valuable to help you reach your breastfeeding goals. We know that it was quite a bit of information packed into a short session, so we had a quick Q&A at the end.
Why Can’t You Just Breastfeed?
We all truly want what is best for our children. If you ask me, the biggest divider in our motherhood community is the breast vs. formula groups. With the recent shortage of formula across the US, the same question continues on social media forums, in conversations at the park, and even in the grocery store aisles, "Why can't you just breastfeed?"
Can You Get Botox While Breastfeeding?
Botox injections contain far lower doses of the toxin than those that result in Botulism, so it is unlikely this will pose a threat to your baby’s health and it is unlikely that toxins will pass from your breastmilk to your baby following Botox injections.
Can I Take Cough Mixture While Breastfeeding?
Certain cough syrups may also pose a potential danger to the infant. It is good to understand why and what ingredients to watch out for.
What is a Milk Bank?
It only makes sense that a place that stores precious liquid gold would be called a "bank." However, with the recent formula crisis in America, Breast Milk Banks are becoming a more significant topic of interest in mom groups.
Infant Formulas that Ship to the U.S.
The formula shortage crisis has been a few months in the making. It started in February 2022 when suspected contamination of Similac led to the recall of products countrywide and the shutting down of a manufacturing plant in Michigan. This plant supplied as much as a fifth of the infant formula products on the market. It is also a critical supplier of specialized formula products for babies with allergies or other health conditions.
Finding an Alternative Formula
On 17 February 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it was investigating several reported cases of Salmonella Newport infections in infants and toddlers likely linked to the infant formula produced in the Abbott Nutrition’s Michigan Facility. This was only the beginning of what would turn out to be a national crisis. No one could imagine that the USA would face a formula shortage, leaving parents in a state of panic about how to feed their babies.
Formula Shortages in the US
Following the baby formula recall in Spring of 2022 ago, mothers who depend on formula are now undergoing another stressful situation. Since the recall of Similac Formula, in fear of contamination by the bacteria, Cronobacter sakazakii, supply chain issues following COVID, palm oil shortages, and international trade issues in combination have created a massive lack of formula.
How to Deal With a Nursing Strike
You grab baby, sit down in your favorite spot, and latch your baby… except they won't latch. So what in the world is happening? Not to fret, mama, whether this is the first time this has happened or a new trend that you've noticed over the past few days, we have been there personally, and we are here for you!
How Does Exercise Affect My Breastmilk?
However natural breastfeeding is, it may not come easy for some moms - many of us have to put in a lot of effort to increase our milk supply. So it is no wonder that we were very wary of anything that may compromise that precious nectar, including exercise.
Pumping Strategies For Working Moms
Pumping while away from your new baby or even pumping full time is A LOT of work. Often, there are so many questions about where to start, how to set it up, how long and often to pump, etc. Our IBCLC here at Leva, also a breastfeeding and pumping mama, has found some strategies that really work:
When Should I Give My Baby Water?
Water is essential for life. The human body needs water to function properly because it carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, protects body organs and tissues, and helps the kidneys and liver flush out waste products. Water essentially balances all our bodily systems. An adult should drink about 3 liters of fluid per day.
However, as counterintuitive as it may seem, babies under the age of six months should not be fed water, read on to learn why.
Choosing the Correct Flange Size
Whether you are pumping to increase your supply, pumping for your infant in NICU, working away from baby following maternity leave, or an exclusive pumper, knowing how to select the correct flange size can be confusing. Read on to learn more about how to select the correct flange size to optimize your milk output.
How Do I Stop My Baby From Biting Me While Breastfeeding?
You’ve moved past the initial nipple pain from the early newborn stages, and now your bundle of joy has just cut their first tooth. This is new territory for both you and your little one, and you may be nervous about dealing with biting while breastfeeding. Read on to learn more.
Breastfeeding for Two (Twins)
Congrats! It's twins! Double the cute, double the cuddles, and double the feedings. Even if you've had a successful breastfeeding journey in the past, it's not uncommon to find yourself overwhelmed over breastfeeding two babies. Or maybe you've never breastfed before and want to be successful with both sweet babes. Scheduling and tracking breastfeeding twins can seem overwhelming in the beginning. You may have questions like: Who do I feed first? Do I feed them both at the same time? What if one doesn't latch? Read on to learn about what it takes to breastfeed twins.
Your Partner’s Role in Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can be one of the most beautiful experiences. The closeness between mother and child, the sense of meaning and purpose, the continuation and the strength of life, the most natural and pure experience - words fail to describe what it means to us. But what about the partners? How can we get them to share these precious moments of bliss and wonder?
Breastfeeding Your Premature Baby
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm every year. If your baby was born before 37 weeks of age, they would fall into the "preterm" category. As an L&D nurse, I have witnessed 35-week babies come out thriving with no issue. On the other hand, some 37-week babies come out and need extra assistance or have trouble transitioning from utero to the outside world. Read on to learn more about breastfeeding your preterm baby.
The Willow Breast Pump- My New BFF
Finally, someone gets it. One of the hardest things about pumping is being tied down. We all have unending lists of errands to complete, which becomes more stressful when you have to stop and pump for hours each day. The Willow Breast Pump has changed the game for breastfeeding mothers. Pregnant with my second child, I was given one of the best gifts I could ask for by a fellow nurse/ friend, her Willow Breast Pump. I was ecstatic. I knew that having a Willow Breast Pump meant that I could pump hands-free without being tied to a wall outlet.
Colostrum - Every Drop Counts
Colostrum is often described as liquid gold, and for good reason too. While it does have a golden tinge, it is also the most precious and valuable food your newborn will receive. Produced in the smallest amounts, colostrum plays an important role in the start of your breastfeeding journey. Read on to find out more about the benefits of colostrum for your baby and why every drop counts.