Link Roundup: World Breastfeeding Week

As World Breastfeeding Week came to a close yesterday, I wanted to share with you all the wonderful information I compiled throughout. There were hundreds of articles shared and passed around on facebook, and I wanted to have this post as a place we could come back to when we need the info later. So here goes, enjoy all the breastfeeding love!

Psychology Today: A Series of Posts on Breastfeeding
100 Reasons to Breastfeed - Excellent!
LLL World Breastfeeding Week Page - TONS of great info!
Dr. Sears on Breastfeeding - And here with several articles on Benefits of Breastfeeding
Dr. Jack Newman Breastfeeding Articles - And more Here
The Enteromammary Pathway - Babies Secret Weapon
The Birth / Breastfeeding Continuum
Helping Your Baby Take the Breast 
Watch Your Language - Dr. Momma
Hospitals Need to Do More to Help Moms Breastfeed
WHO - Exclusive Breastfeeding
How to Breastfeed in a Ring Sling - Video
Breastfeeding Doesn't Suck - Video
Nursing is Normal - Video
Relaxation for Breastfeeding Mothers who Pump - Audio Clip
Baby Reacting to Mother's Food
Coconut Oil and Breastmilk
It's Thrush. Or is it? 
5 Reasons Your Birth Can Affect Your Baby and Parenting - not strictly about breastfeeding, but a GREAT article!
moosh in indy about her experience with not being able to breastfeed
10 Things About Boob Feeding - LOL!!

Tomorrow I will make a list of my favorite facebook Breastfeeding pages! :-)

Sidebar - Sometimes I Feel Bad

I love to read. I love information and sharing and teaching. I especially love it when it comes to my job as a doula. The physiology and psychology of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period fascinate me, and I love to pass along that knowledge to new and expectant mommies.

I am also a big believer in informed consent. Big. Huge. (name that movie). I believe that most mamas and daddies in this day and age don't get all the info from their care providers when it comes to the interventions of birth. I have heard many an anesthesiologist give the "informed consent" speech for an epidural but leave out everything but the most basic medical info. While the mother is writhing in pain and probably not hearing a word, natch. Is this informed consent? No.

In order to have true informed consent, parents must do their homework ahead of time. They must know all about birth interventions BEFORE hand, so that they can create a birth plan and do their best to stick to it once they enter the birthing zone. Occasionally this is not possible. Most of the time it is. Being informed gives you power. Being uninformed takes that power away.

So yes, I love to share what I learn. I share it in prenatals, emails, via this blog, and via facebook. I share a crazy amount of articles on facebook every month, for this very purpose. Not to bore people, or annoy people, but to inform them, because this is my PASSION.

Still, sometimes I feel bad. I love all my clients so much, and there have been a few times when births did not go according to plan, and interventions were had. Not because it was the mamas fault, but because it just happened. And I feel bad because here I am sharing all this wonderful, important, powerful information, and always in the back of my mind is a little voice that says "I hope this doesn't make so and so feel bad." "I hope whosywhats doesn't read this and feel like a failure." etc.

Take World Breastfeeding Week for example. Do I love breastfeeding? Yes. Am I passionate about it? Yes. Do I want to shout it's benefits and all my support from the rooftops? Yes. Do I know people who didn't breastfeed and feel bad about it? Yes. Do I want to make them feel bad by all this talk about how great it is and how good for the baby and the mama and on and on and on. NO. There is NO CONDEMNATION in my words or my heart. It breaks my heart that any mama would feel like a failure or look back at something she CAN'T CHANGE now and feel bad about it. That is the LAST effect I want my information to have.

However, I can't stop teaching, and I have hope that not only is the information helpful to mamas ahead of time, but also that maybe it will help some mamas the next time around.

Much Love,
Elyse

Breastfeeding Quotes

A newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts, and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three. ~Grantly Dick-Read

While breastfeeding may not seem the right choice for every parent, it is the best choice for every baby. ~Amy Spangler

Nursing does not diminish the beauty of a woman's breasts; it enhances their charm by making them look lived in and happy. ~Robert A. Heinlein

A pair of substantial mammary glands have the advantage over the two hemispheres of the most learned professor's brain in the art of compounding a nutritive fluid for infants. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

There are three reasons for breast-feeding: the milk is always at the right temperature; it comes in attractive containers; and the cat can't get it. ~Irena Chalmers

If a multinational company developed a product that was a nutritionally balanced and delicious food, a wonder drug that both prevented and treated disease, cost almost nothing to produce and could be delivered in quantities controlled by the consumers' needs, the very announcement of their find would send their shares rocketing to the top of the stock market. The scientists who developed the product would win prizes and the wealth and influence of everyone involved would increase dramatically. Women have been producing such a miraculous substance, breastmilk, since the beginning of human existence. ~Gabrielle Palmer

It is only in the act of nursing that a woman realizes her motherhood in visible and tangible fashion; it is a joy of every moment. ~Honore de Balzac

Mother's milk, time-tested for millions of years, is the best nutrient for babies because it is nature's perfect food. ~Robert S. Mendelsohn

The benefits to the mother of immediate breastfeeding are innumerable, not the least of which after the weariness of labor and birth is the emotional gratification, the feeling of strength, the composure, and the sense of fulfillment that comes with the handling and suckling of the baby. ~Ashley Montague

No one could give her such soothing and sensible consolation as this little three-month-old creature when he lay at her breast and she felt the movement of his lips and the snuffling of his tiny nose. ~Leo Tolstoy

Breastfeeding is an unsentimental metaphor for how love works, in a way. You don't decide how much and how deeply to love - you respond to the beloved, and give with joy exactly as much as they want. ~Marni Jackson

Who fed me from her gentle breast
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
~Anne Taylor

I am beautiful as I am. I am the shape that was gifted. My breasts are no longer perky and upright like when I was a teenager. My hips are wider than that of a fashion model's. For this I am glad, for these are the signs of a life lived. ~Cindy Olsen, co-owner of The Body Objective

Breastfeeding is an instinctual and natural act, but it is also an art that is learned day by day. The reality is that almost all women can breastfeed, have enough milk for their babies and learn how to overcome problems both large and small. It is almost always simply a matter of practical knowledge and not a question of good luck. - La Leche League

From the God of thy father, who will help thee; and from the Almighty, who will bless thee, with blessings of heaven above, with blessings of the breasts, and of the womb;
—Genesis. XLIX, 25-26

Take Back Your Breasts

In Honor of World Breastfeeding Week

Breastfeeding is not something that is learned innately. It is learned by observing other women doing it, seeing it in everyday life, and it's success is dependent upon support. Even gorillas in captivity will not breastfeed if they are not shown how. The movement to bring more awareness to breastfeeding is about the children - their comfort, their needs, and their health. Formula, while sometimes necessary, will always be sub-optimal. Breastfeeding also enhances a mother's health and reduces her risk of various cancers. Put another way, by *not* breastfeeding, a woman could increase her chances of breast, ovarian and other cancers.

Woman of the world, take back your breasts from the abuse that the advertising industry has done to them, by making them purely objects of lust. Help teach our upcoming generations how to feed their babies by being an example. We need our villages. "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior.. so that they may encourage the young women" Titus 2:3,4

(shared with permission - from an awesome Facebook user, Michelle)

My Breastfeeding Journey

Today is the first day of World Breastfeeding Week, so I am going to try and post breastfeeding related articles throughout the week. I thought a good place to start would be my own breastfeeding story!

My daughter, Arabella, was born one November evening, and I was ecstatic to start breastfeeding her. There had never been any doubt in my mind that this was the path I would go down - formula feeding was never an option and in fact I was dead set against it. I can't tell you why I felt so strongly - I didn't know much about the benefits or risks either way - I just knew that I was going to breastfeed my baby.

We had trouble with latching in the hospital. It's true when they say that you can't really "practice" before the baby is born - it is a dynamic experience, with both mommy and baby learning and finding their way! So in those first couple days I was calling the nurses station every time she would feed, and they would come in and help get her latched on. They were great! I remember talking to one nurse on the second or third day and feeling discouraged. She said something to me that I still remember. She told me, "Don't worry, in a few months, you'll be able to hang her upside down and she will latch on!" This brought me a chuckle and such relief. (And she was right.)

My milk came in on the fourth day, and oh boy, did it come in. I had a new meaning for the word "cantaloupe". (haha!) By then latching was getting better and everything was great!

At three months, I had to go back to work. I was devastated and distraught at the thought of not being with my baby girl all day every day, but it was just something that had to be done. I started pumping and trying to give her bottles a couple weeks before hand so she would get used to it. When I did go back to work, I pumped 3 to 4 times per day. I was so blessed to work for a company who understood my needs as a breastfeeding mother, and they never gave me a hard time for being "gone" a few times a day and finding breastmilk in the company freezer, although we did joke about it a lot!

There were a few scares when she would drink 20 oz in one day and I would freak thinking, how am I going to make enough for her?! But it always worked out.

By the time she was 1 year old, I stopped pumping during the day and would breastfeed on demand whenever we were together. We had also been co-sleeping since birth, so that made nights easier and harder. Easier because she was right there and could just nurse when she wanted. (Oh and btw, the day I discovered the side lying position was the best day of my life!! lol) It was harder because she would want to nurse CONSTANTLY some nights. I felt like she was attached all night long. But I knew this was important because she was reconnecting with me after being away from me all day.

My baby girl LOVES to breastfeed. She calls them "tetas" and is just in love with them. To this day, mere months away from her 4th birthday, she continues to breastfeed occasionally. After 2 years I really started getting crap from people who would question why I was still breastfeeding and call it "gross" and "wrong" and "not normal". And I struggled with that for a while. But then I read hundreds of comments and stories by moms who assured me that it was normal and natural and perfectly healthy.

I am so so so blessed by my experience breastfeeding my daughter and so thankful for every moment I got to spend nourishing, comforting, and soothing her with my body. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences as a mother and I will cherish those memories forever.

New Mama Myths

I found this great handout on Penny Simkin's site and wanted to share it with all of you! Would you agree with these myths?

NEW MAMA MYTHS

By Timara Freeman-Young

Myth

Mothers fall in love with their babies upon first sight.

Truth

There is a wide range of reactions that mothers have upon meeting their baby on the outside for the first time. Some birth mothers have a rush of warmth and elation. However, surprise is the feeling most commonly reported by mothers upon seeing their child for the first time. It is not unusual for it to take days or weeks for a mother to feel love for her new child.

Myth

Breastfeeding is easy and painless

Truth

While some new mother/baby pairs have early and easy success with nursing, a great number of them require some support and/or skill building before breastfeeding becomes secondhand. It’s normal and expected to need some lactation consultation so set yourself up for success by knowing who you’re going to call ahead of time. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, breastfeeding can be painful in the beginning (though the pain DOES go away within days or weeks). Most women report a deep enjoyment of the act of breastfeeding once they and their babies have adjusted to the new skills.

Myth

Babies sleep

Truth

Some babies do, most don’t. Hence the 3 zillion “how to get your baby to sleep” parenting books. It would probably make more sense for someone to write a “how to survive without much sleep for the first year” book since that is the more likely scenario for most new parents. If your baby wakes up after every 40 minute sleep cycle or has confused day and night, know that you are in the norm. There are many great books to read written by authors with diverse parenting values so you’ll likely find one that works for you and yours. But remember that babies have very different sleep patterns from adults and that any behavior change takes time and patience (including with oneself).

Myth

It’s lazy to lie around after the birth. “I should be doing something.”

Truth

First, a reminder, you ARE doing something. In fact, you’re doing a lot of things. Most of them new and all of them in a somewhat altered state. Congratulations!

Some new mothers are compelled to return to their “normal” routine or to get out in the world soon after their baby is born. Others are content to snuggle in bed with baby for days. If it feels healthy and good for mommy and baby to get out of the house then by all means, get some fresh air. Kick your heels up (with doctor/midwife approval, of course)! But remember that, in the grand scheme of things, you are doing a huge amount by caring for your infant and yourself as you go through this gigantic adjustment period. If you want (and are able) to stay in bed for 3 weeks then dig in and catch as many zzzzs as you can.

Myth

Parents (especially mothers) will instinctively know how to parent

Truth

While the act of becoming a parent may seem sudden (especially for partners who don’t have the physiological 9.5 month transition period), it can take months or years to discover who you are as a parent. Some new parents move into parenting quickly and seamlessly while others do so more gradually. Faced with decision upon decision, new parents may find themselves reflecting on their own parents’ choices and decisions, looking to friends and family, or searching through books for insights on how to best parent their child. Many parents (especially the primary caregiver) benefit from a close community of other mothers and caregivers to gain support, ideas, and companionship during this time, either in the form of family, friend groups, or programs structured for new parents. Even if you’re a do-it-yourself kind of gal, now’s the time to find some other DIYers to sort it out with.

Myth

Parents will be in a state of bliss and have only fond feelings for their new child

Truth

Being a parent, especially if you haven’t done it before, can be really frustrating at times.  While some new parents feel like having a newborn is joyful and fun, it is perfectly normal to feel frustration, sadness, jealousy, and/or anger about your new situation or this new member of your family. 10-20% of mothers experience postpartum depression and a number of fathers struggle emotionally with the adjustment to parenthood. If you’re feeling blessed as a new parent, then celebrate your good fortune, if you’re feeling not so blessed, know that your day will come and remember to be kind to yourself and ask for help.

Bottom line, mamas, whatever you are feeling is OK. Motherhood is a huge adjustment and takes time, love, and patience with yourself, your baby, and your partner. Don't forget it is essential to ask for help and get support during this important transition. 

Boobie Palooza!

I am so excited for this event, put on by the Berlin Wellness Group! It is going to be a breastfeeding funhouse with lots of activities for the whole family. There will be kids events, a sling discussion, chair massages, beer garden, breastfeeding panel of experts, and more! If you live in the area, I hope to see you there!! 

How Babies Latch!

Our Bodies Rock!

The way God created human bodies never ceases to fascinate me. We are so intricate, so complex, and our bodies do amazing things, from growing to digesting food to breathing... everything has to be just so in order for it all to keep going.

(photo source)

Another facet of our remarkable bodies came to my attention as I was reading through "Real Food for Mother and Baby" by Nina Planck. She discusses the various aspects of breastmilk and details the immunity factors it possesses. She writes and I quote: 

The immunity breast milk provides is tailored, reflecting the unique ecology you and your baby share. Within hours of encountering a pathogen, you produce antibodies which you pass to your baby through your milk. That's why it's natural for mothers to nuzzle, rub, kiss, and even lick their babies. You gather her germs with your mouth and skin, so that your breasts can make the antibodies she needs. 

How incredible is that!?!?! I did know this before --check out this article--but still, reading this just blew me away again.

Our bodies are capable of growing a baby from 2 microscopic organisms and nourishing that baby with our breasts. It's awe-inspiring.

Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding!

I just read the Call to Action to support breastfeeding and was very impressed! The Surgeon General launched it in January of this year (I guess I am way behind the times!) and I thought I would share some of the main points.

I find it very interesting and disheartening that 75% of mothers start off breastfeeding in the hospital, yet only 13% of babies actually end up being exclusively breastfed. I don't think it's because mothers can't breastfeed, rather, I think society has set them up to fail. Formula companies advertise rampantly and unethically, mother's are not allowed the proper and decent amount of time to be home from work for bonding with and breastfeeding their babies, they don't know where to look for support, and on top of that, they are often being told by peers or the media how hard breastfeeding is and that maybe they just can't do it. In the face of difficulty and disappointment, it's very hard not to give in to the message that breastfeeding isn't for everyone. In fact, it is. It is very very rare that a woman truly cannot breastfeed, and I hope this Call to Action makes great strides in helping all the mothers who CAN!

The notice starts off with a summary of the various benefits breastfeeding offers. I am going to paraphrase and quote below.

I love this line:

"Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children." (emphasis mine)

Risks associated with NOT breastfeeding:

• Increase in common childhood infections
• 100% (!) increase in acute ear infection occurrence
• Increase in the following:
• Lower respiratory infections
• Leukemia
• Hospitalization due to respiratory disease
• 56% increase in SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Asthma
• Childhood Obesity
• Eczema
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Breast cancer in mom
• Ovarian cancer in mom

Positive Effects of Breastfeeding 

Psychological

• Increased bonding and closeness between mother and baby
• Lower incidence of postpartum depression

Economic

• Breastfeeding saves between $1,200-$1,500 per year on formula costs. (And that was based on an estimate done 10 years ago...the prices have surely increased majorly since then!)
• Fewer co-pays, hospital bills, and other medical costs due to better health of baby
• Less sick time off from work
• If 90% of mothers exclusively breastfed for 6 months, it would save the US $13 BILLION annually!!

Environmental

• Breast milk is very eco-friendly and renewable (chuckle... well yeah!!)
• Breast milk requires no cans, no packaging, no manufacturing waste, no gas to get it to the grocery store

The Call to Action later addresses the barriers breastfeeding in the US. 
These include:

• Lack of knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding and the risks of not breastfeeding
• Lack of knowledge about how to actually accomplish breastfeeding (mechanics)
• Lack of access to mentors or role models
• Perceived inconvenience of breastfeeding ("I'll have to give up too much to breastfeed")
• Social norm of bottle feeding
• Formula companies unethical advertising
• Poor family and social support 
• Embarrassment over breastfeeding in public
• Lactation 'problems' such as sore nipples, engorgement, mastitis, leaking milk etc. 
• Employment and child care - having to return to work soon after baby is born
• Barriers related to health services - health professionals not being adequately trained to support breastfeeding

The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding 

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff. 
2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy. 
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding. 
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth. 
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants. 
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk, unless medically indicated. 
7. Practice “rooming in”—allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day. 
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand. 
9. Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants. 
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic. —Baby-Friendly USA 

A Call to Action:

1. Give mother's the support they need to breastfeed their babies
2. Develop programs to teach fathers and grandmothers about breastfeeding
3. Strengthen programs that provide mother to mother support and peer counseling
4. Use community based programs to support and promote breastfeeding
5. Create a national campaign to promote breastfeeding

6. Ensure that the marketing of infant formula is conducted in a way that minimizes its negative impacts on exclusive breastfeeding

7. Ensure that maternity care practices throughout the US are fully supportive of breastfeeding

8. Develop systems to guarantee continuity of skilled support for lactation between hospitals and health care settings in the community.
9. Provide education and training in breastfeeding for all health professionals who care for women and children.
10. Include basic support for breastfeeding as a standard of care for midwives, obstetricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and pediatricians.
11. Ensure access to services provided by International Board Certified Lactation Consultants.
12. Identify and address obstacles to greater availability of safe banked donor milk for fragile infants.
13. Work towards establishing paid maternity leave for all employed mothers.
14. Ensure that employers establish and maintain comprehensive, high quality lactation support programs for their employees.
15. Expands the use of programs in the workplace that allow lactating mothers to have direct access to their babies.
16. Ensure that all child care providers accommodate the needs of breastfeeding mothers and infants.
17. Increase funding of high-quality research on breastfeeding.
18. Strengthen existing capacity and develop future capacity for conducting research on breastfeeding.
19. Develop a national monitoring system to improve the tracking of breastfeeding rates as well as the policies and environmental factors that affect breastfeeding. 
20. Improve national leadership on the promotion and support of breastfeeding.

To read the entire Call to Action including implementation steps and other things not covered here, see the report here. 


To see the fact sheet about the report, go here. 


And here is the main web page with resources for mothers, employers, and additional resources at the bottom. 

I am very excited and optimistic about this call to action! I have already seen implementation of it around my community and am very hopeful that it will help mothers and babies have successful breastfeeding relationships across the US!

Breastfeeding after Breast Surgery - Resources

I haven't forgotten about my postpartum doula post; life has been so busy! Can I just say again and again - I love supporting women!

I wanted to share some links to articles and websites that discuss breastfeeding after breast surgery, specifically breast augmentation. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but a good place to start. I'll also be adding these to my resources page. I hope this is helpful to some mamas out there!

Websites/Articles:
BFAR - Breastfeeding After Breast and Nipple Surgeries
Breastfeeding After Breast Augmentation Surgery
La Leche League - Breastfeeding After Breast Surgery
Babycenter - Breastfeeding After Breast Augmentation

Books:
Breastfeeding After Breast and Nipple Procedures: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals (Clinics in Human Lactation) - Diana West & Elliot M. Hirsch
The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk - Diana West & Lisa Marasco 
Defining Your Own Success - Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery - Diana West