Why doesn’t anyone talk about the ‘ how’ of bottle feeding?

Why doesn’t anyone talk about the ‘ how’ of bottle feeding?

[caption id="attachment_2553" align="alignleft" width="150"] breastmilk Dad feeding[/caption]

 

Breastfeeding and the benefits of breast milk are becoming more and more accepted and promoted worldwide. There have been and still are a number of initiatives to increase the number of women breastfeeding.

 

But where are the campaigns to educate formula feeding mums on safe and healthy feeding? The feeling is that formula and bottle feeding is now taboo and any education around it is frowned upon. So how did this come about when only a few years ago formula feeding was the norm?

 

The World Health Organisation, Unicef, Ottowa charter, IBFAN and many more organisations, committees and groups are doing their best to increase breastfeeding rate worldwide. As a part of this push there have been many programs and initiatives developed to promote and support breastfeeding. These organisations are attempting to undo the myths and  inaccuracies ingrained in thinking about infant feeding that came into being with the industrial age. Before we got better with research and expanding our knowledge about breastmilk and breastfeeding the myth that formula was better for babies took hold.

 

As a part of this breastfeedings push the ‘Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative’ was developed. This was mainly to assist birthing units to encourage breastfeeding. One of the guidelines on this initiative is to have no promotion of bottle feeding or formula at all. As a consequence of this any teaching about how to bottle feed, including cleaning bottles, and choosing formula was also stopped as a routine part of postnatal teaching.

 

Breastfeeding rates have increased. Many more women are commencing breastfeeding with every intention to sustain it. However, these women are coming up against challenges that they find hard to overcome, so breastfeeding continuation rates drop rapidly when women and their babies go home from hospital. Because of short post-birth hospital stays, women are often home alone with little support or expert knowledge to draw on to help manage  and understand normal changes in  breastfeeding development (here is last week's article http://insyncwithinfants.com/when-your-milk-isnt-good-enough-myth-or-truth/ ).

 

They feel overwhelmed and have no idea how to manage these changes, are exhausted and just want to make sure their baby is getting what  he or she needs. Hence they  reach for  need for bottles and possibly formula (our previous  webinar re: quittingis still available for  small fee). These women feel added pressure of trying to make the best choices without any guidelines as to which formula or bottles and teats to choose for them.

 

Even if you choose to not breastfeed from the beginning, there is limited trusted education around because of the “taboo” choice of formula feeding.

 

The hospital system and related pre/post natal support services really do not support new mothers very well at all. Both expecting perfection of them and not providing the expert support and education to support them through decision making and learning in a complex,  highly politically correct and pressured world.

 

Insync with Infants believes that babies need to eat - whether from a breast, a bottle or a little of both. For support with breastfeeding, formula feeding, mixed feeding or introducing solids visit here to find out how we could help you too    -  http://insyncwithinfants.com/in-home-services/

Balancing breast & bottle feeding

[caption id="attachment_2544" align="alignleft" width="150"] balancing breast and bottle feeding[/caption]

When breastfeeding just doesn’t go to plan, it can be really frustrating for the mother and the family. So many times I hear women say I had to give up because I didn’t have enough milk.

 

 

There seems to be this belief that their baby either does breast or bottle feeding.  This is not the case- you can do both.  Just because you have a low supply doesn’t mean you have to choose one or the other. You can do both.

 

 

When this is the case, we do talk about thinking about breastfeeding differently. It does involve some mindset adjustments to change the way you think about giving your best for your baby.

 

Usually we talk about satisfying your baby with formula (or donor breastmilk if you have that luxury) and then breastfeeding is for topups, soothing, comforting, a drink, dessert,  or an entree, an in between or overnight snack. So instead of relying on breastfeeding to satisfy your baby, your baby still gets whatever you can give but also receives calories to sustain his or her growth and development as well.

 

This can take a little work and a little perseverance as with all things worthwhile.

 

 

This is of course your choice and for some women their home life demands make this difficult to sustain. However I have helped so many women do just this thing.

 

So instead of feeling like a failure as a mother because their supply was low( for any number of different reasons) these women felt fantastic because they were giving their baby as much breastmilk as they could  for as long as they could while ensuring they received enough calories for growth and development.

Soothing a crying baby

I am not trying to be misleading with the title of soothing a crying baby, however I am going to talk about latch and breastfeeding. 

[caption id="attachment_2346" align="alignleft" width="150"] better latch helps to soothe a crying baby[/caption]

It does make a difference to a crying baby who is trying their best to do the feeding but getting no joy and ultimately staying hungry, hence crying. It can be confusing when you start and your baby is feeding for lengthy period of time regularly but you are getting nowhere.

I was helping another cousin with breastfeeding yesterday and it prompted me to write this so that you can pass it on. Just a little about basics.

I am noticing a trend where mothers are being told to hold their breast away from their baby's nose when feeding. In her case it has caused her baby to suck only the nipple leading to bleeding nipples which has then led to low supply and early mastitis.

Baby's noses are designed to be flat and flanged so that they can get up close to the breast so the nipple can get drawn to the back of their mouth. If your baby can’t breathe he or she will detach from the breast.

This is important in the beginning , not so much  later on.

 My cousin said that she had mentioned while she was still in hospital that it was hurting.  The response was that it looks ok, yes, keep going you are doing great.

  She was doing great from the outside but when it still hurts and it looks ok , there is something else going on. Often I see the baby doing funky things with his or her tongue that is not easy to see from the outside. Sometimes it is more indepth but often it is reasonably simple.

  Usually all you need to do  when it looks good but still hurts, is to make sure the baby is better attached to the breast. This means that the baby has a mouthful of breast tissue not just nipple.  From the side their mouth would like the special K symbol with their lips flanged back.

 This means their tongue can extend forward, the nipple can get right to the back of their mouth where it I protected from being squashed and is more efficient and comfortable for both mother and baby.

  Your baby’s chin should be right into the breast  so it can also massage the breast and help get the milk out more efficiently.

If something is preventing all  or any of the  above to occur, latch may well be painful and damaging.  Once early interruption to milk supply occurs, it is harder to re-establish it again.  It is not impossible by any means  it just takes a little longer and with more effort.

 If you can get any tenderness or discomfort sorted early, your outcomes will be much better and often only takes a little tweak with attachment, or latch and positioning.  Your baby will be much more settled when feeding is more satisfying for him or her and soothing your crying baby will be easier.

Giselle Bundchen breastfeeding

[caption id="attachment_2338" align="alignleft" width="150"] Giselle Bundchen breastfeeding her one year old[/caption]

 

I came across this image of Giselle Bundchen breastfeeding her 1 yr old. The article (link below) goes on about the usual argument of reality. Of course she has the luxury of having lots of people to help her. And good on her.
I like that she is a celebrity breastfeeding. We all know that celebrities have influence on huge on trends and choices people make- rightly or wrongly, but it's a fact.
I am hopeful that there will be more of this in the public eye to normalise breastfeeding and make assistance and support more readily available and acceptable. Any breastfeeding is good. As we educate not only women, but men too, about breastfeeding and how it works, we will achieve more women feeling like they have successfully breastfed their child or children for as long as it works for them. With understanding and knowledge we can achieve better experiences with breastfeeding for more individuals.


 

http://startwithmom.com/article-gisele-bundchen-rebrands-breastfeeding

Little known Breastfeeding Facts for success

[caption id="attachment_2306" align="alignleft" width="150"] Breastfeeding secrets of lactation consultants[/caption]

 

Most babies will feed very soon after birth and it goes very well.
Probably the most confusing thing for parents particularly, is that after the first feed sometimes it can seem like your baby doesn’t know what to do and can’t find the nipple again. Your baby may cry, get on the nipple, come off, cry again, move his or head mouth over, on, around the nipple, come off , cry and repeat a number of times.
For us looking on, it can be a bit frustrating. We think “ just get on, you are on it, just close your mouth and suck”.

This is all normal behaviour and is just your baby imprinting on the nipple, finding his or her way to the nipple, co –ordinating the suck and generally just imprinting into his or her brain abut feeding. The important thing is to be patient and let your baby go through this. He or she will get it again. If you try to force it by pushing your baby’s head onto the nipple it won’t work. Your baby will push back against what ever is touching the back of his or her head. Support the head if you need to but never force them.
Most babies don’t like the back of their head being touched . In fact most people don’t like the back of their head being push so it is easy to understand .
Often during this time a lot of babies will move their head back and just look at their mother, at the world around them and generally take it in. This is another time when I see a lot of parents be impatient and think something is wrong. It is not wrong, just your baby getting a handle on thing around him or her. Let your baby look around, do their thing and within a few minutes they will usually look for a feed again.
Sometimes, your baby will try to feed, get frustrated, have a little sleep and then wake up after 30-120 seconds and look for the nipple again. All this is normal. Sometimes they may have a little sleep a couple of times and then wake up and have a try. In normal circumstances this is normal and will pass. Sometimes it may take up to 20 minutes of on and off , looking around to get on, this is all normal especially if your baby was crying and distressed for quite some time before the feed.
Allow baby to bob his head around on your nipple. It may take him a little while to get there, but if he can do it himself , he will achieve a much better latch usually. Everyone needs to be patient at this time and allow your baby time to do his or her thing. If we take the pressure off around feeding for your baby, it usually helps it go much smoother.

Patience is key for breaastfeeding success.

Tongue tie and newborn feeding care

Tongue tie

 

Tongue tie is a relatively common occurrence in babies and adults.  It is often a family thing with either mum or dad having a tongue tie also.

 

After a long time where health practitioners didn’t really give much thought or credence to tongue tie and some of the challenges it can provide, we are thankfully knowing more about it and also taking action to help those for whom it causes discomfort.

 

Very broadly there are 2 types of tongue tie-

Anterior tie-  can see tight frenulum ( bit of skin in the centre underneath the tongue ) under tongue – often has a heart shaped tip.

Posterior tie- not so easy to identify – back of tongue is bunched or elevated.  When baby cries  tongue tip is up. Usually baby can’t extend tongue over bottom lip.

What to do with a tongue tie??

Anterior tie- can get it snipped by someone skilled in this . It is a simple procedure that takes a few seconds. In some cases the frenulum is embedded in the tongue making it difficult to snip.  This makes it a much more complicated intervention than a simple snip.
Posterior tie- there is nothing to snip.

 
We don’t always automatically snip a tongue tie.  We generally only snip a tongue tie in the case of breastfeeding when it causes poor latch for the baby and pain and damage to the nipple for the mother.  When a baby is bottle fed, there is not usually a problem with feeding and certainly no discomfort, so usually it does not become an issue.  Sometimes even with breastfeeding, the tie may look significant however if there is no discomfort and the baby is satisfied, there is no indication for snipping the tie.

 
Typically what happens is that the mother will breastfeed reasonably comfortably for the first 3-7 days. After this time as the baby’s feeding requirements increase and the baby also gets more co-ordinated and strong with their feeding, we see mothers in extreme discomfort -pain, with very damaged nipples.  It is at this point that many women stop breastfeeding – understandably.  Some women  at this point find help from a lactation consultant to work out what to do and why this is happening.

[caption id="attachment_2270" align="alignleft" width="150"] tongue _tie_in Newborn_baby[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2271" align="alignleft" width="150"] frenulum_under_tongue_in_newborn[/caption]

When things don’t go to plan

 
At times despite our best intentions and preparation, things just don’t always go to plan.  I regularly see  new mums really wanting to breastfeed their little one because they know it is right for them and their baby.



They have done their research, they are well informed of their role and what they need to do the set up good breastfeeding habits for success from the beginning. Then  the dream birth just  doesn’t go to plan and all the things they had planned to do are just not achievable.

 

In those first days when mums are recuperating they get by. It is later when they have time to think back that they often feel a failure or feel sad at the turn of events. It is often a grieving over what they feel they have lost.

 

In those first days when mums are recuperating they get by. It is later when they have time to think back that they often feel a failure or feel sad at the turn of events.  Mums often feel cheated or that they somehow failed.  All feelings are normal. There is not one right way to feel.

 

It is easy for me to say don’t worry about, you did your best, but that often sounds like platitudes and often feel that way for these mums.

 

Often the best thing to do as a friend or supportive person is to ask them about their feelings.  It is better to get it out of their heads than mull over it going round and round in their heads not making sense of it for themself. Often once they say it out loud it makes more sense and they can get clarity a little sooner.  If it is you who has had the experienced  talk about it. Tell people how you feel.  What would help you feel better about it?

 

The other concern in this instance is for the baby.

Babies are robust. Babies adapt fairly easily. Babies are hard wired for survival.

 

This is a good thing. It means that when things don’t go to plan, there are ways of giving babies what they need for survival in the immediate sense.  Most parents  ultimately  want a healthy baby.

In our Western culture we are very lucky that we have available health care for when things don’t go as planned. I do think we can make huge improvements in  postnatal and birthing care and options for women but in comparison to third world countries we are very lucky.

 

When birthing doesn’t go to plan breastfeeding is often delayed. Sometimes it is delayed for a few  days or weeks and in some cases, I have seen it come in in abundance at 6-8 weeks postnatally.  Breastfeeding is often  quite forgiving. If the mother is unwell after the birth, nature will take care of mum first. Then when mum is better, the milk often appears. It is not impossible for babies to learn how to breastfeed in this scenario. It does take perseverance, patience and balancing breast and bottle.  It does require extra support for the mother, but it can be done.

 

All is not lost if your plans do not go as expected.  Formula may not be your preferred method.  However until sharing human breastmilk becomes accepted and easily available, formula is our next  option.  There is a growing movement of sharing breastmilk and if you know  someone well and you trust them and  who  is willing to share- go for it I say.

 

I believe that sometime  in the future, this will become normal- at least for young babies. I think our health will depend on it.

 

We are happy to drink the milk of a cow, goat, alpaca and sheep - Why is it that human milk sharing grosses us out??

Trivia for you

Human breast milk is the sweetest of all mammal milks - just a bit of trivia for you

Breastfeeding and the Law

I thought I would just put a little something here about the rights of breastfeeding mothers in the context of the law in Australia.

It is every woman's right to breastfeed where ever her baby needs to be fed.  That may be on a park bench, in a shopping centre, on a bus, public swimming pool or the corner store. Someone could ask a woman who is breastfeeding in public to stop, however it is the woman's choice whether she does stop or not.

Each state in Australia has their own law own this topic.  Most of them state -  Breastfeeding is a protected attribute. Discrimination on the basis of breastfeeding is explicitly illegal in all areas of public life.

  It is illegal in Australia to discriminate against a person either directly or indirectly on the grounds of breastfeeding under the federal Sex Discrimination Act 1984.

In another time and place we will think it preposterous to have a law to protect breastfeeding.

 

This link to the Australian Breastfeeding Association spells it out more clearly for anyone wanting to read more.

 

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/breastfeeding-and-law/legalright

Breastfeeding problems

 

 

I thought I would share for those few of you who have experienced a sensation of dread or deep emotion in the pit of your stomach relating to breastfeeding- there is something called dysmorphic milk ejection reflex. It is real and affects only a small percent of women. The feeling is fleeting- lasts up to a few minutes with the let down. For those of you thinking you are weird- you are not alone- and not weird. ♥ Leisa

Newborn baby help

            Crazy busy week this week with lots of newborn baby help.  It's energising and  love seeing

mums & dads see a new way and possibilities when they overcome some obstacles

with little ones.

Sore & Damaged nipples

For any of you with sore and particularly cracked or bleeding nipples.- IT IS NOT NORMAL WITH BREASTFEEDING.

It means that something is not right either what your baby is doing or with what you are doing.

If this is you or someone you know, please get help early.  This is something I deal with regularly.

Often it is relatively easy to fix.  Very commonly, you start with sore, then cracked then bleeding nipples then most times mastitis follows.

Get help early and you may prevent it getting to the point where you really want to give up because it is excruciating.

Breast surgery and breastfeeding

Breast surgery and breastfeeding

I was listening to the radio this week and heard reference to breast surgery and breastfeeding on a number of occasions.

There seems to be genuine and wide spread interest,  confusion and concern in whether  breast surgery is compatible with breast feeding.

The answer is it can be, it just depends on a number of factors.

The factor that influences the outcome the most is the type of surgery and where the incisions are.  If the incision is around the nipple or the outside of the breast towards the arm, where the nerves come from the spinal cord,  the nerves are often cut.

This is important because, the nerves in the nipple are really important for relaying messages to the brain to give feedback about what is going on there with feeding.  If the nerves are cut, they take years to regrow. Nerves can regrow but they are very slow and unreliable as to how much.

This is for any type of breast surgery including making breasts larger or smaller and removing a part for any other reason.  So if there is no message getting back to the brain, breast milk supply can be an issue.

For some women who have even had a relatively minor procedure such as an abscess drained or a chest tube inserted at some stage, there may be nerve damage.

It isn’t a given, it is individual just like most situations.  And you won’t know until you  give it a go.

Obviously if it is a choice then delaying any breast surgery until after you have had your children  is the safer way to go.

 

Breastfeeding as a SIDS preventor

 
I heard this week that the SIDS organisation have recently announced that breastfeeding definitely is a protective factor against  SIDS.

For those who work with infants particularly, this is a long suspected fact however there has been no definitive announcement until recently.

The SIDS organisation was commenced in the mid 1980’s and since its inception, has significantly reduced the number of SIDS deaths in Australia and around the world.

The statistics since it’s inception are available on their website if you are interested. SIDS and Kids has over 20 years of research on infants and unexplained deaths.  The highest risk time for SIDS is between 2-4 months, continuing till 6 months at a high rate and on to 18 months at a lower rate.

From their research and statistics they have recently reviewed and come up with the recommendation that you breastfeed for as long as possible.

This is nothing startling to anyone I know, however from a safe sleep point of view it is a new statement.

I am guessing it is to do with the fact that breastfed babies tend to stir more frequently and so not get into such a deep sleep for as long.   Their research suggests the risk is reduced by half when you breastfeed for as long as possible.

All their previous recommendations apply. Their updated recommendations are as follows.

The six ways to sleep baby safely and reduce the risk of sudden and unexpected death in infancy:   

1.Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side   

 2.Sleep baby with head and face uncovered   

 3.Keep baby smoke free before birth and after   

 4.Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day   

 5.Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult care-giver for the first six to twelve months   

 6.Breastfeed baby if you can.

In the times when breastfeeding is interrupted prematurely, implementing the additional recommendations about safe sleeping will continue to offer steps to reduce the risk of SIDS.

The link to their website-   http://www.sidsandkids.org/category/news/

Nipple shields and Breastfeeding

A quick overview about nipple shields. Giving you the basics:
 

Generational allergy

 
I thought I’d share more interesting learnings from this weeks’ conferences. I have learned a few things to tweak my beliefs about breastfeeding, food, formula , allergy and more.

One of them is about the generational effects of formula. Even though I had learned of this previously, I now understand it much more clearly.

Basically, we are affected in part, by what our grandmothers ate and were exposed to as well as our mothers and of course our own exposure. It is widely accepted that it takes at least 3 generations to fix what has become problematic. Some of these unfortunate outcomes were forced upon our predecessors such as war, famine, government and clever marketing campaigns, to dupe people into believing untruths because it suited someone else’ interests (think Hitler for an extreme case).

Allergy is an interesting, upsetting and confusing topic. Breastfeeding is the number one element in addressing this out of control issue. It is a complex issue and I am not suggesting that addressing it from only one angle will fix it.

As I understand it, if we can support and educate families to breastfeed babies exclusively for as long as possible (up to 6-9 months), avoid giving anything artificial for as long as possible (including formula), over a number of generations we can reduce the number of people with reactions.

There are a number of hurdles to achieving this, but it is up to us to be committed and make change for the better. This includes being sensitive to those who dearly wish to breastfeed but cannot for whatever reason.

I think in time, human milk sharing will return as an accepted and necessary part of life.

Until then, supporting and educating people widely about the benefits of breastfeeding is our best chance . We can do the by supporting more people to consciously choose to breastfeed rather than formula. Many think choosing formula over breastfeeding is like making a choice of rice bubbles over cornflakes.

I could easily write for days on the benefits of breastfeeding not only for the baby, but for the mother, father, family and community.
Education and adequate support with sensitivity is the best way forward.

Managing Sore Nipples From Breastfeeding

There are a number of reasons for developing sore nipples during breastfeeding and each can be easily managed and treated.  However, before treating the pain, it is important to determine the cause of the soreness and to treat the root of the problem first or the soreness will keep recurring.

Here are some reasons why your nipples might be sore from breastfeeding and what you can do about it. It is important to note that many of these reasons can overlap, for instance having a cracked nipple and a blocked duct at the same time.

1. When your baby hasn't latched on properly.

When you're new to breastfeeding, it can be difficult to tell what a proper latch should be like. To top it off, there are many other factors that can compound the problem, such as short nipples, inverted nipples, breast engorgement, etc.

The best thing you can do to identify whether your baby has correctly latched on is to check with a lactation consultant, a hospital nurse or another mother who is experienced in breastfeeding. Ask for advice and get them to check your technique when your baby is nursing.

One way to tell if your baby has a proper latch is to look and see how much of the areolar (the dark-skin area of your breast) is covered by your baby's mouth. Ideally, it should be most of the areolar, leaving only a thin ring of darkened skin visible. Another way (although I didn't find this particularly useful for me) is to check the shape of your nipple after a feed. It should still be relatively rounded after your baby comes off. A flattened nipple is potentially a sign of an incorrect latch.

To ensure your baby gets a correct latch on your breast, make sure that your baby's mouth is open wide with the tongue down before putting your baby on the breast. If the latch is incorrect, break the seal and try again. It is important to make sure your baby learns to latch on correctly because an incorrect latch will be the source of continued nipple soreness.

2. Cracked nipple

This is usually an indication of poor breastfeeding technique. In most cases, your baby isn't taking in enough of the areolar and is only suckling on the nipple. Sometimes it might be due to unusual anatomy within your baby's mouth, for instance a tied tongue. Getting someone experienced in breastfeeding to check will help you determine the exact cause if you aren't sure.

The first step is to correct the source of the problem, for instance, correcting your breastfeeding technique. To help your cracked nipples heal faster, applying a little breast milk onto the nipples after every feed can be helpful. Alternatively, you can apply a breastfeeding ointment like Bepanthen which promotes healing.

If nursing is too uncomfortable, try expressing the milk from the affected side until it heals sufficiently. You can also try nursing on the unaffected side first before switching your baby to the affected side as your baby usually suckles less vigorously on the second breast which shouldn't hurt as much.

Another option is to use nipple shields.  These are plastic coverings that cover your nipples and provides a barrier against the friction of baby's tongue on raw nipples.

3. Blocked duct

This is usually due to your baby not "milking" your breasts effectively. Your milk is being produced faster than your baby is consuming it. As a result, the milk travels back along the milk ducts and is forced into the surrounding breast tissue causing swelling, tenderness and pain.

Blocked ducts usually affect only one side and are localised. There is a hardened lump in the area of the breast associated with the blocked duct. Aside from the tenderness you feel, the skin in the area is usually reddened and feels warm to the touch. Blocked ducts can appear similar to mastitis with the main difference being the absence of fever and the fact that usually only one side is affected.

Managing blocked ducts:

Keep feeding your baby frequently on the affected side even though it hurts as this is the fastest way to clear the blockage. This is also the most effective way to clear the blocked duct above and beyond all the other measures listed below. With frequent feeds, a block duct can be cleared within 24 hours.

Vary your feeding positions as this will help your baby clear the milk more effectively.

Taking ibuprofen can help to reduce the inflammation and manage the pain if you find it unbearable.

You can also try expressing the milk with a breast pump or by hand, although I believe that no pump will be quite as effective as your baby.

Applying warm or cold compresses directly onto your breast, taking warm baths and massages can also be helpful.

4. Mastitis

Similar to the symptoms of a blocked duct, mastitis usually affects both breasts and is accompanied by flu-like symptoms. There may be an infection present which will require antibiotic treatment, though not always. If you suspect you have mastitis, consult your doctor for the best course of treatment. Aside from antibiotics, there are additional things you should do which will help to resolve the condition more quickly. Most of these are similar to what you would do if you had blocked ducts.

Rest with your baby and continue nursing regularly and frequently, especially on the affected side. Do not stop nursing as it can increase your risk of developing a breast abscess.

Nursing at this point will be painful so taking ibuprofen can help to alleviate the pain. Ibuprofen also helps to manage the accompanying fever.

Vary your nursing position to help baby empty your breasts more effectively.

Sometimes, though rarely, your baby may object to nursing because of the increased sodium content to your milk resulting from the inflammation. In this case, you will have to express your milk. However, your baby is still the best breast pump you have on hand so it is best to try persisting with nursing. As the inflammation begins to clear, the taste of your milk will return to normal.

Applying warm and cold compresses to the affected areas, taking warm baths and gently massaging the affected area.

5. Infections

Infections such as thrush can also cause sore nipples. Thrush is a yeast infection (caused by Candida) that causes the nipples to become red and tender, and may be accompanied by a burning sensation. If your breasts are infected by Candida, you will also notice white plaques inside your baby's mouth. Thrush is not an indication to stop breast feeding, however, both you and baby will require antifungal treatment for it. Your doctor can prescribe the appropriate medications.

6. Initial breastfeeding soreness

During the first couple of weeks of breastfeeding, there will be some soreness of the nipples - this is due to the friction of your baby's tongue against your nipples which can leave them feeling raw. As long as you are breastfeeding with good technique, this tenderness will eventually fade on its own as your nipples toughen up. In the interim, applying a little breast milk or breastfeeding ointment after every feed can help your nipples to heal sufficiently between feeds to reduce the sensitivity during nursing.

7. Teething

When your baby begins teething, you may experience something similar to the initial soreness you felt when you first started breastfeeding. This only occurs with the eruption of the upper front teeth since the lower front teeth are covered by your baby's tongue during breastfeeding. The sensitivity usually goes away quickly as long as your baby isn't using your nipple as a teething ring.

At this point, it is important to educate your baby that biting is not acceptable. If your baby bites, simply put away your breast and stop the feed. Your baby will soon get the message. Usually when your baby starts biting your nipple, it is a good indication that the actual feeding part is over and that your baby is just nursing for comfort or playing. A baby that is still actively suckling will be biting his or her own tongue if he or she attempts to bite the nipple.

Conclusion

There are several reasons why your nipples may be sore during breastfeeding. It is important to identify the cause of the pain and treat the underlying problem before applying methods to relieve the pain and sensitivity. Without treating the underlying problem, the pain and soreness of your nipples will continue to persist.

By: Shen-Li Lee  -   About the Author :
  Shen-Li is a stay-at-home-mum dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in parenting. She has a formal educational background and former work experience in healthcare. If you enjoyed this article, visit her blog Babylicious and follow her as she learns how to raise a happy, confident and successful person.

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The most important things you need to know for successful breastfeeding.

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How to Feel Confident Breastfeeding in Public

Breast milk is the ideal baby food, and many new mothers choose to breastfeed their babies.  Breastfeeding has all the nutrients your baby needs to thrive for the first six months of life, and research shows breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mother and baby. The best preparation for breastfeeding is good information – the more support and encouragement you have during the early days, the more likely you are to succeed in breastfeeding for as long as you choose. Breastfeeding works best when mums are feeling relaxed, so it’s important that you feel at ease nursing when away from home so you can enjoy being out in the world with your nursling.

When you have a baby you will find you spend a lot of time out of the house meeting up with friends, clinic appointments, baby activity classes and playgroups. Feeling that you have to hide away to nurse your baby will make it difficult to go out and breastfeed whenever your baby demands. It is very natural to feel a little hesitant about nursing in public, particularly when you have a hungry baby ready for a feed and you’re not used to using a nursing bra! The key to breastfeeding your baby whilst out is to practice feeding at home in the early days, until you feel comfortable and confident that you can settle your baby for a feed fairly quickly. Meeting up with other breastfeeding women, perhaps through an postnatal class or NCT group, gives you the support of other nursing mums, before trying trips out on your own.  In the early days you might also feel more confident going out with someone who boosts your confidence like your partner, mum or a friend.

Many new mums use a muslin cloth, shawl or pashmina to provide extra cover whilst they are breastfeeding in public. Nursing covers are especially popular in the USA, and are quickly becoming an essential for nursing mothers in the UK too. Whether you prefer a patterned or plain cover, cotton or jersey fabric, a traditional “apron” cover or a poncho, there are lots of options available. Baby Bubu offer a wide range of traditional covers and modern ponchos, in a gorgeous variety of fabrics and patterns giving you the confidence to feed your baby wherever you like whilst ensuring that you are fully covered whilst doing so. The adjustable necklines of these designs allows you to maintain eye contact with baby as you feed. Another wonderful new accessory for breastfeeding mothers is the Mamascarf. Designed by a nursing mother, the Mamascarf provides support whilst feeding your baby, as well as ensuring that you are covered as your baby feeds. The Mamascarf folds neatly, is lightweight and can easily be slipped into a bag so you can take it out with you.

There is now some wonderful nursingwear available for new mums. Nursing tops offer you quick and easy access to the breast for nursing your little one, whilst keeping your chest, tummy and back covered.  Many designs work well during pregnancy and afterwards for nursing, giving you fabulous value for money.  These dual purpose tops (“transition clothing”) ensure you look fabulous from your first trimester to your fourth. Well designed nursing tops really help with feeling confident nursing in public. With a little practice you simply pull aside the nursing opening and feed your baby, without anyone being any the wiser.  Different tops give different access – from pull over crossover fronts, double layers with vertical nursing openings to simple modesty panels – there is something to suit every nursing mother. Details like ruching and flowing fabric give a flattering fit on post-natal figures. Each type of nursing access has been skilfully designed and the nursing openings in the clothing are well disguised so you really cannot tell they are nursing tops at all.

Confidence is a major factor in ensuring you are able to breastfeed wherever you are. If mothers feel comfortable nursing whenever and wherever they choose, they will breastfeed for longer. Many new mums feel well designed nursingwear and breastfeeding accessories have made a real difference to their experience breastfeeding in front of friends, family and whilst out and about. Stylish nursingwear and accessories helps challenge the perception of breastfeeding as frumpy, and ensures breastfeeding stays fashionable.

By: Kirsten Baxter  -   About the Author :
  The author Kirsten Baxter is Director of UK based online maternity and nursingwear store Bella Mama ( http://www.bellamama.co.uk )

Bella Mama is a stylish Breastfeeding and Maternity clothing boutique offering a fabulous range of stylish maternity and nursing dresses, chic breastfeeding tops, pretty nursing bras, gorgeous baby bags and other accessories.

Breast IS Best! About Breastfeeding Benefits

Deciding to breastfeed is an extremely individual subject. It might be a decision which is very likely to bring about solid views from acquaintances.

Countless of medical gurus highly recommend breastfeeding your baby. Yet both you and your newborn are unique, and that's why the judgement depends only on you. To help you make up your mind, here is some info on the several breastfeeding benefits common today..

So... What Is Your Baby Getting From Breastfeeding?

Breast milk offers the ideal health food for newborns. It provides the best mixture of vitamin supplements, protein, plus fat. just what your child requires to develop. And it's presented within a form easier to digested as opposed to milk substances.. Breast milk contains antibodies which help your baby protect against viruses, bacteria and infections.. Breastfeeding your baby lowers your baby's risk of having asthma or perhaps allergen hypersensitivity. Children who are breastfed particularly during the first six months, without consuming milk substances, possess a lot fewer ear infections, breathing diseases, in addition to involving intestinal colic and/or diarrhea. They also have much less hospitalizations and trips towards the doc.

Breastfeeding is linked to elevated IQ results in later years, especially for toddlers that were born before time. Your body closeness, friction, along with eye contact each and every one assist your child connect with you and really feel protected. Breastfed children are more likely to attain the correct amount of callories when they get bigger and not developed into heavy kids. Many studies have also revealed association between breastfeeding a baby and a smaller threat of sudden infant death syndrome (Sudden infant death syndrome), being diabetic, obesity, in addition to certain cancers.

What Are The Breastfeeding Benefits For You?

Nursing your baby requires extra energy: about 500 additional calories every day . this means you lose pregnancy body-weight faster. It releases the hormone oxytocin, which assists your uterus to resume its pre-pregnancy proportions and may even cut down bleeding after giving birth. Breastfeeding brings down your possibility of breast and ovarian cancer. Some may not know this, however It could furthermore reduce possibility of osteoporosis and hip crack after women's menopause.

Given that you won't need to invest in and measure milk substances, clean bottle nipples, and also heat baby bottles, breastfeeding your baby helps you to save your and your whole family time and money. Determining to breastfeed affords you regular enough time just to stay quietly together with your new baby while you become close and emotionally attached.

So as you can easily observe, there are quite a few breastfeeding beenfits. Not just for your baby, but also for yourself. Nevertheless, although It is better to breastfeed, will certainly help you save time and money and is in most cases very satisfying, it does not always come without pains!! Should you go through difficulties with your breastfeeding, be sure to get breastfeeding advice, because there are a lot of techniques you can use to help make breastfeeding simpler for both you and your child.

Good luck!

By: Idit Gal  -   About the Author :
  Get all the info you need about newborn care and Newborn Feeding