How You Give Birth Affects Your Breastfeeding Relationship

By Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

When thinking about birth option, mothers often fail to take into account the impact of birth on the initiation and establishment of the breastfeeding relationship. In this video I talk about that impact, and offer suggestions for mothers who want to get off to the best possible start.

Several key points to remember include the following:

• Research shows that babies born in an unmedicated birth tend to latch better right after birth than babies born to mothers with epidurals.
• Regardless of birth method, the single most important factor is skin-to-skin contact with your baby.
• It has been suggested that frequent feeding during the first 96 hours of life help to create prolactin receptors on your milk glands increasing the total amount of milk your body will ultimately produce. It isn't unusual for a newborn to nurse as many as 18 times a day in the early days. Let your baby nurse as frequently as he wants to.
• If you have a Cesarean, push for skin-to-skin in the operating room. If your hospital does not allow it, provide evidence for its efficacy and push. (the article referenced above includes several studies). The more mothers who push for it, the more quickly it will become accepted as routine practice.
• Make sure your care team is aware of your breastfeeding plan. As long as you and baby are both healthy, there is absolutely no reason for you to be separated at all. The AAP recommends that the newborn remain with mother throughout the recovery period. 

How did your birth impact your breastfeeding? Please leave a comment to help other mothers!

Suck Training Might Help Your Baby

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

For many years, I have been teaching parents how to use suck training to help their babies suckle more effectively. While the majority of babies have no problem suckling correctly, some babies truly do struggle with achieving a correct suck which involves the tongue over the bottom gumline and a consistent motion of the tongue from the base of the nipple toward the tip.

Recently I was able to demonstrate this technique on video as I worked with a mother whose baby needed some help with suckling effectively.

This video can help you figure out how to use this technique to help your baby learn to organize his suck, or learn to suckle more effectively. Suck training ing is especially useful for babies who have had a tongue-tie revision. It could even be effective with some babies who present with symptoms of a posterior tongue-tie as a conservative initial approach to treatment. While revision may still be necessary in most cases, this technique may allow some babies to suckle normally and effectively.

Always consult your lactation consultant  healthcare professional working with your baby's tongue-tie for specific guidance about your baby's situation

Handout for Busybody Breastfeeding Critics

By Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

I've heard one too many mothers say that they were victims of harassment while breastfeeding a hungry baby. Unfortunately we just do not have a breastfeeding culture in this country. Therefore, it is up to us to help educate the people we meet. Most mothers really never have an issue with anyone making ugly comments, but just this week a mother was told by a department store associate to nurse in the ladies' lounge. While the mother was nursing her baby with a cover in the lounge, an older woman told her that she was disgusting and should have brought a bottle! THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!!!! 

To help combat this incredible cultural stupidity, I created a two-sided document that you can print and cut apart so that you have an immediate response to anybody who tries to harass you for breastfeeding. Just copy the two pictures below and insert into a document (landscape orientation), then scale to fill the page. The front side contains a copy of the Alabama law, and the back side gives a rundown of just a few of the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby.

A Nurturing Moment Live: Milk Supply

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

Today we kicked off our new series, A Nurturing Moment Live. Each Tuesday between 10:00 and 11:00 am Central time, we will go live talking about a specific issue related to breastfeeding and babies. This week we talked about milk supply.

We highlighted the importance of early, frequent feeds for establishing a strong supply. Then we also talked about diet and hydration. Finally we focused on the use of galactagogues when necessary.

Let us know what topics you want us to deal with in future weeks!

Here is today's video. Let us know what you think!

Cold & Flu Season Protection for your Baby

Photo courtesy of  Babycenter.uk

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

One day it's snowing, and the next day it's 60 degrees. No wonder people get sick during this weather! Did you know that just by giving your baby your breastmilk, you are helping keep him healthy during cold and flu season? Yep, that's right, every time he nurses, your baby is getting a variety of amazing components that help keep him healthy! So just what is it about your milk that makes such a difference?

Your Magical Milk

Breastmilk is a living fluid filled with many kinds of cells. Some of those cells are immunoglobulins (primarily secretory Ig-A, but others may be present as well); others are infection-fighting leukocytes.  They are produced in direct response to a pathogen. So for example, if you and baby are exposed to Great Aunt Jean's nasty cold and cough, your body goes right to work producing antibodies to exactly what Aunt Jean so kindly brought into your house. Your sister decided to visit just as she was coming down with the flu? Your body gets busy making antibodies to the very strain of flu she has. And you pass all these antibodies right to your baby every time you nurse.

Research has shown that when a baby is fighting infection, the content of his mother's milk is significantly higher in leukocytes. That is awesome; but even more intriguing is the theory proposed by researcher Katie Hinde, PhD, at Arizona State University. She and her team hypothesize that one of the ways your body knows what your baby needs is due to elements in baby's saliva that enter your breast as you nurse, stimulating your body to produce elements in your milk designed to specifically fight whatever baby is dealing with.

If You Get Sick

Regardless of how your body knows that it should produce these antibodies and leukocytes, the fact remains that it DOES! You are like a walking medicine cabinet for your baby.  Sometimes a mother may think she shouldn't be around her baby or nurse if she's got a nasty cold or flu. Actually just the opposite is true. When she nurses she is protecting her baby who has already been exposed to her illness. Not nursing will result in a sicker baby. So if you start feeling bad yourself, be extra sure to nurse as often as you can because your baby definitely needs protection from whatever it is that you might have.

Via Pinterest

If you are feeling just awful, you do need to take care of yourself. This Kelly Mom article has a lot of great information on things you can do to help yourself feel better. Generally it is better to avoid decongestants if possible because anything that can dry up nasal secretions could also have that effect on your milk. A Neti Pot is a great option. Most nasal sprays are considered safe. Guafinesin (Mucinex) is considered a safe cough medication during breastfeeding. It is best to look for preparations with a single ingredient.

Rest as much as you can and stay well hydrated. If you and baby can just curl up together in bed, snuggle, nurse and sleep, that is ideal. Make sure you've got a Big Gulp filled with ice water sitting right next to the bed! Your appetite may be off a bit, but try to at least snack on healthy high-fat foods like nuts or guacamole.

If Baby Gets Sick

It is heartbreaking when your little one doesn't feel well! If your baby does develop a cold or gets a virus, be sure to continue nursing as often as he will nurse. You may find that he won't nurse as long as he usually does,  so you might need to offer the breast more frequently. A cool air humidifier can help ease the discomfort for baby, too. A little bit of breastmilk in baby's nose will help you be able to suction it well. We really like the Nosefrida for stuffy little noses. 

Rest assured that the severity of whatever virus or cold baby may pick up will be mitigated by all the wonderful leukocytes and antibodies that he is getting from you. And cuddles from Mom as he nurses will help soothe him until he is 100% again. 

The MOM Foundation presents the first annual MOM Calender

Photo by  Wagon wheel Photography

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

I am so excited to announce that The MOM Foundation is putting together a calendar filled with beautiful pictures of North Alabama mothers nursing their babies. Thirteen North Alabama photographers are providing an incredible assortment of lovely breastfeeding photos. These tasteful photos show mothers in a variety of settings from a cotton field to a woodland setting to a comfy nursing chair. Some are taken from a distance to show the surroundings, while others are close-up pictures highlighting the beautiful expressions of the nurslings.

This calendar makes the perfect gift for any breastfeeding mother. It will look wonderful hanging in a physician's office, a WIC office, or any business that works with mothers and babies. It is the perfect gift to encourage an expectant mom who is looking forward to breastfeeding her child.

Your Support is Vital

All proceeds from the calendar will benefit The MOM Foundation. This North Alabama 501c3 organization is dedicated to supporting low-income and teen mothers in natural parenting practices. We offer Sliding-Fee Scale professional breastfeeding support services. We never ask for any proof of income; we just want to make certain that any mother who needs breastfeeding help gets it as quickly as possible without money being an obstacle. We also sponsor the Bosom Buddies project at A Nurturing Moment which provides gently used nursing bras to low-income and teen moms  If we don't have a donated bra to fit a mother, we will provide her one from store stock. Those mothers who are receiving WIC are also eligible to rent a hospital-grade Symphony breastpump at half the regualar price.

Photo by Earthy Moon Photos

In addition to supporting a wide variety of breastfeeding initiatives, The MOM Foundation also sponsors The North Alabama Cloth Diaper Bank which provides diaper grants to low-income families. Many families struggle to buy diapers, so we make sure they have enough diapers to adequately diaper their babies.

All of these efforts are completely dependent upon donations from our amazing mama community. Your donations of bras, diapers, time and money have enabled us to continue offering all the services we offer. We hope that this calendar project will provide much-needed funds to be able to continue providing for as many mothers as possible, and also to expand the services we are able to provide.

Who Is Involved?

We are so excited about the response we have received from local photographers. The following photographers have agreed to be part of this project:  Jamie Clauss of Count it Joy Photography, Amanda Argo of DoodleButt Photography, Sarah Buchanan of Sarah Buchanan Photography, Jessica Molepske of Wild Child Photogrpahy , Ashley White of A. White Photography & Creations, Wendella Graham of Pitter-Patter Photography, Melanie Kolowaski of Melanie Kolowski Photography, Adrianne Moon of Adrienne Moon Photography, Mary Ellen Pollard of Lighthouse Photography, Corey Anna Straits of Earthymoon Photos, Krystal Ness of The Paper Jay, Jennifer Myers of Jennifer Myers Photography, Mallory Clemmons of Oliver Fair Designs and Photography, and Brekke Johnson of Wagon Wheel Photo. When I mentioned this idea late Saturday night, I was overwhelmed by the response from so many talented photographers!

Photo by Adrienne Moon Photography

Get Your Calendar Now

Calendars will arrive the week of Christmas, just in time to be the perfect Christmas gift!  Each calendar will have a page of coupons worth well over $100. You can reserve your calendar NOW with a minimum gift of just $15 to The MOM Foundation. You can send your gift via PayPal to anm@knology.net or simply click the button below. Be sure to include your phone number. Or you can come into the store and make your donation in person.  If you don't live close enough to pick up your calendar at A Nurturing Moment in Huntsville, please include  your address. Shipping cost is $5 for 1-2 calendars, $7 for 3-5 calendars, and $10 for 6 or more calendars. Be sure to include shipping with your gift, please. Our goal is to raise $7000 by the end of the year, and we are on our way. Our Huntsville Mommy Milk Meet-up group has over 1300 members. Even if half our members donate, we will surpass our goal!

Win a Calendar!

We are going to give away a calendar to one lucky winner. Enter today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Cancer and Pregnancy Loss Didn't Deter this Mama!

by Megan White, Guest blogger

Isn’t it strange how one moment in your life changes it forever?

This is my journey. It starts out heartbreaking, but like all good stories, it has a happy ending.
When I was 21, I received the scariest news of my short life so far: I had cancer. I was a young mom, and I had cancer. Just the word strikes fear in those that have been touched by it—and most of us have in one way or another. I had a baby that needed me and I didn’t know if I would be around for all those wonderful moments all moms live to see. I held her a little longer, I kissed her a little harder, and I watched her a little closer. She was my reason to fight. I was told I would probably never have another baby. She was my one and only, and I was determined to be the best mom I could be, to cherish every moment I had with here, small or big.

Through treatments, I soon found myself in remission! I had a healthy, happy little girl and a wonderful, supportive husband. I was the happiest I could be, but that desire to have another baby never went away. I tried to push the longing as far back in my mind as I could. I had my girl! It was selfish of me to ask for more—but I did. Quicker than a blink of an eye, six years had passed. We were a family of 3 and we thought that was how it was always going to be. Then, on a rainy February morning, I did something I never thought I would do, I took a pregnancy test. Through shaking hands and a tear filled eyes, I saw the two pink lines show up. I was pregnant! Our family was overjoyed. My daughter was beside herself with excitement. After years of being told another baby was near impossible, we were going have a baby!

Then on May 22^nd, 2014 we went to a normal wellness check and heard news that shattered our little world into a thousand indiscernible pieces. We lost the baby. My heart was broken, and I didn’t think I would even be able to walk out of the doctor’s office. The hardest part of it all was knowing we’d have to tell our little girl that the baby was gone. How do you do that? How do you explain to a six-year-old that her brother or sister was no longer in mommy’s tummy? I still don’t know if we explained it right.
We all did our best to push forward, but I know I dropped the ball. I let my grief consume me, and the one that suffered the most was my daughter. I will always feel guilt over that. I pushed myself to do better, to be better. I dusted myself off and was determined to be the mommy that she needed—the one that she was used to.

Then, in mid-September, I had my annual check-up to see if I was still doing well. I was told that I was perfectly healthy. In fact, I was a perfectly health, 8-weeks-pregnant. ‘How is this possible?’ I thought to myself. How is it possible that after 6 years of trying that not only did I become pregnant once, but twice. I was terrified. I didn’t have that overwhelming joy that I felt the first time we were told that we were to have another baby. I couldn’t ; I wouldn’t let myself. I went to my appointments and heard the heartbeat every time, but I wasn’t going to let my hopes rise just to have them fall again. We didn’t tell our daughter about the pregnancy until it was getting obvious that mommy was getting bigger. We didn’t announce the pregnancy to anyone until I was 20 weeks. By then, we had a sex. We were having a boy!

There was no way that I could keep myself from feeling. We were going to have another baby! With every week that passed, I looked up if something were to happen, if the baby would have to be born early, would he survive. Those fears were squashed when I hit 37 weeks, then 38, 39 and then at 40 weeks, one day, our beautiful, healthy baby boy was born! There was only one way that I wanted to nourish him, and that was to nurse. There was not one moment, one experience that I wanted to miss out on. We had a few bumps in the road; we had to learn each other after all! But we have made it! At 8 weeks, our little boy is in the 75^th percentile on height, and the 95^th on weight! Not only have we made it this far, but I knew that if I was able, I wanted to donate my milk to another fanily that needed it. With an oversupply and an over-active let-down, I have been able not only to feed my son, but donate to 2 other babies! I cannot even begin to explain the honor I feel being a part of someone else’s breastfeeding journey as well as my own.

The pain of our loss will never go away, but we get better at moving forward. You take it day by day, and if you can’t manage that, take it minute by minute. Healing takes time, and my healing has been helped by my two beautiful children. Our journey isn’t over, not by a long shot, and I look forward to every second ahead of us.

Breastfeeding from a Dad's Point of View

Jason and Madelyn

Today's blog is very special. I really appreciate the time that this dad took to write it. I hope it reaches as many dads as possible!

By Jason Argo, Guest Blogger

The week of February 17, 2011, our daughter Madelyn was born. My wife was hoping to be able to breastfeed Madelyn when she came into this world, and it was a rough road of letdown, after letdown (no pun intended).  From the start, none of the first nurses we had in the hospital wanted to help with the situation, but rather always wanted to  stuff a bottle in our little girl’s mouth. The lactation consultant came in the next morning, but was of no help. She did not really evaluate the baby and did not tell us that Madelyn had a tongue tie, and that was going to make it difficult for her to latch on.

Our nurse that morning, Leah, was like ray of sunshine to the situation. She was so helpful to Amanda, first taking control and getting her physical pain to a manageable level. Then she lit a fire under the nutrition director because Amanda ordered lunch, and 2 hours later it still wasn’t there, but she hated being a burden and didn’t want me to go get it. However, her biggest task of all was guiding in breastfeeding – I do not think she was an IBCLC at that time, but but she offered wonderful nursing support. She also briefly pointed out that Madelyn had a tongue tie. I cannot brag enough on our favorite nurse on the delivery floor of Huntsville Hospital - Leah does an amazing job!  Leah felt the tongue tie needed more evaluation, so she brought the only available IBCLC back to the room which happened to be the same one who initially came in.

She still didn’t touch the baby but instead pointed out everything my wife had done wrong, never anything positive.  “You used a pacifier, the baby is confused.” “You’re sitting with bad posture.” "You’re taking pain medication”. The latter two were unavoidable as my wife has several musculoskeletal conditions that left her in excruciating pain after 18 hours of induced labor, 13 of which were without an epidural, 4.5 with it, and the last 30 minutes when she delivered it had worn off.  Once she started spit-firing all the insults and discouraging statements, Leah took control and told the IBCLC we had it from there and she could leave.

Amanda and Madelyn

Then not long after leaving the hospital, more challenges were flying at Amanda. She faced opposition from her family and mine as well. She would get comments like, "You’re starving her; make her a bottle." Or "Nobody wants to see that;go to another room because you just want to do draw attention to yourself." We also heard this classic line, "Other members of the family want to feed her." None of these things is something a new mother wants to hear, especially coming from family. There were even times where I would unintentionally drop an unsupportive comment. Like most dads, I often have foot-in-mouth syndrome; sometimes I shove it in there up to my knee!

We soon realized though that something was not right when Amanda would try to nurse Madelyn, but she just could not latch. I could not stand to see how much physical pain she was in and how emotionally broken she was over the whole situation. Madelyn was not gaining weight, and this is how we found Glenni at A Nurturing Moment. We came home on Sunday, and by the next Saturday Amanda was in so much pain and so exhausted she was walking through the house like a zombie carrying a can of “just in case” formula the hospital sent home with us.  I was cleaning the kitchen listening to a local Christian radio station and heard an ad for A Nurturing Moment where breastfeeding support was mentioned.  So we called.

Glenni is also another ray of sunshine in this story because she helped in so many ways. She really helped Amanda physically and mentally on some the struggles she was facing. She did everything she could to try to increase Amanda’s supply. She even taught us how to get Madelyn latching the way she needed to be latching.

Amanda always did her best to pump while she was at work but was getting so little. We would move milk back and forth between home, work, and her Mom’s house.  Madelyn suffered from a severe case of silent reflux, never really spitting up, but choking and sputtering and sometimes struggling to breathe, so it was important to us not to have her in a day care with multiple kids per adult. Therefore, we commuted 2 hours each morning and 2 hours each evening to keep her with family.  Most work days we didn’t get home until 9 or 10 PM.  Amanda would take a shower and lie down to nurse the baby while I put away the pumped milk, and I would unpack and load all of her pump parts into the dishwasher.

Each morning I got up long before she did to pack her pump parts into her pump bag and pack snacks for her to eat while she pumped, and then I woke her up so she could nurse the baby while I made and packed our lunches.  Sure, I could have used extra sleep, but it was all worth it because even though we were primarily using formula by 8 weeks, she still got between 2 and 4 ounces of liquid gold every day. Other than the reflux and the occasional reaction to vaccinations, Madelyn did not once catch any cold or get sick at all until a month before she turned 1 when she got an upper respiratory virus.

Even Zeus the dog adores Madelyn!

I write this because men need to realize that if their wives (or significant others) want to
breastfeed the baby, they need to help them breastfeed. To be honest and truthful BREAST IS BEST!!! There are so many things that are put in formula – go read the labels, or open a can and smell it – it even tastes metallic, but there is nothing like mother’s milk. Daddy can do other things to bond with baby like bathtime – make it fun!  Act silly!  Some of the best memories Madelyn and I have when she was a baby are from bathtime!  She’s now almost 5, ask her about the adventures of Soap Monster!

Please, please, I ask the men of the families to encourage  your love to the best of your ability if she is breastfeeding. Don’t let her hide in stalls in the bathroom; don’t let her hide anywhere for that matter. If your child is hungry, your child’s hungry. Don’t run all over God’s creation trying to find a “private” place, because a mom should not be isolated and shamed during a time she deserves to be loved and celebrated. It is a special connection that no one else can have with the child besides mommy, but if daddy is supportive, it grows a special connection between mommy and daddy.

Determined Mom Breastfeeds Second Baby Successfully

By Lowie Morgan, guest blogger

Here's my story with my little nursling, 

I have an almost 8 month old little boy named Isayiah. But I want to rewind to a few years ago when I had my daughter. I was walking down a hall with no info or support with breastfeeding. I had a lactation consultant and doctors telling me to supplement to help her gain weight and help prevent jaundice. So because I knew little to nothing about breastfeeding I did just that. I would supplement more and more because she would prefer it. When she was 4 months old that journey ended; I was devastated. I cried for months and just learned to tell myself, "It's okay; you're a wonderful mommy either way. But I felt a bond was ripped from me because I had no support or good info. 

Fast forward almost 2 years when I got pregnant with my son. I was determined to breastfeed him. I researched, read articles, youtubed  info, read books, and asked questions. I told my husband my wishes, and he totally supported me like he always has. When my son artived, he was an amazing nursling; he came out ready to nurse. I felt complete, and I couldn't wait to nurse him. I nursed him on demand, feeding him any time he was hungry. At his check up they mentioned that if he needed to supplement, I could give him some; nurses even gave me formula. I threw it out and said, "Oh no, this is not the way we're doing this! " 

We kept going strong, and at 6 weeks my menstrual cycle came,  and my supply dipped. I just kept pumping and nursing. It picked back up, and we were nursing happily along. His 4 month check up came, and he was in the less then 10 percentile for height and weight, so here comes the doctor saying, "You may need to supplement." 

My response: "Nope, not happening." We kept on  nursing. At 5 months we hit a nursing strike for a day; he was cutting teeth, and I was on my cycle again. I called a lactation consultant who said, "Keep trying, keep trying, unless you're ready for your journey to end." I said I was not even close. He came back full force, and at almost 8 months is going strong and growing like a little weed.

 My journey has had its ups and downs, days where I have said I'm done and days where it was such an amazing blessing to nurse him. There were days where I thought he wasn't going to nurse any more,  and I cried and cried. But the joys that come when his sweet little brown eyes look at me while he is nursing and he smiles at me outweigh any bad times. The fact that he can find comfort in his mommy and his milk that I make for him is beyond exciting and makes me proud to be a nursing mother. I have been on both sides of the table from an ashamed formula-feeding mom because I felt like I failed her, to a proud breastfeeding mommy. Either way, though, I was able to be a great mom to both of them, regardless of how I fed them.

I hope this helps or gives encouragement to another mom who is walking in the same shoes I was. 

Mom Achieves Beautiful Breastfeeding Goal Despite Difficult Hospital Start

by Kim Jones, Guest blogger

Hi my name is Kimberly Jones. I have one child who is 16 months old. From day one I knew I wanted to breastfeed.  I attempted to breastfeed her from the moment my daughter was born. Everything was going great for the first 24 hours, then the nurse gave her a pacifier (after my husband had written on the information card that we don't want to use a pacifier). My daughter refused to latch back onto the breast after that.

I asked the nurse for a pump and some bottle nipples so that I could feed my daughter. I continued to pump for her for 5 days. My husband went to the local Walmart to get me a nipple shield so I could get baby back on the breast. After I started feeling depressed from not being able to keep to my goal I posted to Facebook for help. One of my friends gave me information for a store on South Parkway named A Nurturing Moment. I called to speak to the lactation consultant so I could get help. She immediately told me to come in the next morning.

 I went to talk to Glenni Lorick the next day. She helped me with our latch issues and talked about more ways to work on getting her on the breast without the shield. I was so happy with our consult that within the next week my daughter was back on the breast without the shield. Glenni helped me continue breastfeeding! I was ready to give up and just start giving my daughter formula. I am glad she helped us achieve our breastfeeding goal.


Not only did I achieve our goal, but I also had to pump because I had an over supply. I pumped so much milk I had to store most of my milk in my husband's grandparent's deep freezer. I eventually couldn't store anymore there or at my house, so I had to donate it. I asked a few people who could use the milk and they sent me many names. I became a donor for a little boy that was only 1 month and 1 day younger than my daughter. My daughter is still being breastfed and will continue to be until she decides to stop. I love our bond and am not ready to stop yet. I will not let anyone tell me that I need to stop feeding because my daughter is a toddler.

Did Your OB Talk to You About Breastfeeding?

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

Most mothers make the decision about whether they will breastfeed or not during their pregnancy. The one health-care provider who is most likely to be able to influence that decision is the mother's own doctor or midwife. Yet many times, despite the recommendation from their own organization ACOG that they encourage mothers to breastfeed, some OB/GYN's remain strangely silent on this subject.

Why the Silence from Some Providers?

Although many OB/GYN's are quick to encourage mothers to breastfeed, some take a very neutral stance on the subject, despite the proven benefits of breastmilk and risks of infant formula. Why is that? We think there may be several possible reasons.

1. Lack of Education about the Benefits of Breastfeeding   Depending upon when and where your OB/GYN attended medical school, he or she may have had little to no instruction about breastfeeding. What instruction was given may have focused on problems related to the lactating breast as opposed to the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby. If your physician is closer to retirement age, he or she may have actually been taught that formula is the "modern" way to feed babies.
2. Relationships with Formula Companies  In a recent survey we did, many mothers reported receiving formula company gift bags from their OB's office. While it may seem like a nice little "gift," these samples coming from a physician actually tend to undermine a mother's confidence in her ability to exclusively breastfeed her baby.
3. Her own lack of breastfeeding experience  If your doctor formula fed and has healthy children, then she may truly not believe that breastfeeding is all that important, despite what all the professional organizations say about it. She might also feel like all of this talk about breastfeeding being so important somehow casts her in a negative light for having formula fed. Or perhaps she had some real difficulties with breastfeeding and just didn't have the support she deserved.

The Physician's Role as a Health Advocate

One of the primary roles that all doctors have is to advocate with their patients for healthy practices. Nearly all Ob/Gyn's strongly discourage expectant mothers from smoking because the health risks are very obvious for both mother and baby. Did you know that there are actually risks associated with formula feeding?  So often we frame our pro-breastfeeding language in terms of the "benefits of breastfeeding," when in actuality all babies deserve to have reduced rates of upper respiratory infections and juvenile diabetes. The truth is that babies NOT receiving breast milk, but receiving formula instead actually increases the likelihood that they will get ear infections. diarrhea, eczema, asthma, and even childhood leukemia. 

If their simple recommendation to breastfeed could help make all the babies in their practice healthier, then why aren't doctors everywhere telling every mother they see to breastfeed? When I was born, my mother's doctor literally did NOT give her a choice. He told her that she would breastfeed me because that was her only option. I am not advocating such a heavy-handed approach with mothers, but certainly all expectant women deserve to know the truth about infant feeding methods. It should be the responsibility of every maternal health-care provider to educate every patient about breastfeeding. 

Bringing About Change

How do we effect change? If those mothers who are passionate about breastfeeding would initiate a dialogue with their doctors, it might be a good first step. Make sure your doctor is aware of the tools
available to him or her. In a recent survey over half the mothers said that their Ob/Gyn did mention breastfeeding. But that leaves many, many doctors who aren't saying a word, as well as many doctors whose offices are handing out formula gift packs like candy.

If your doctor's office gives you a sample (usually it will be a receptionist, not the doctor) make sure to bring it to your next appointment along with information about breastfeeding. Ask your doctor why they are promoting formula feeding when their own organization wants them to promote breastfeeding. Share positive resources with your doctor to aid in the formulation of a positive approach to breastfeeding promotion.

If a lactation consultant works at the hospital where your doctor is, try to enlist her help in providing positive breastfeeding resources for your doctor's office. If your physician hears enough voices encouraging strong breastfeeding promotion as a pro-health activity, change will begin to happen. It starts with ONE MOM speaking up. Are you THAT MOM??

Formula Gift Bag Rates Plummet at Local Hospitals!

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

Recently we did an informal poll on the Facebook page for A Nurturing Moment. The post  reached over 4000 people and nearly 200 responded. A cross section of North Alabama hospitals was represented as well as a smattering of out-of-state facilities, but the majority of the respondents had given birth in Huntsville.

From the Similac site - free gifts....

The question asked was this: "Were you offered a formula gift bag or given free formula when your baby was born? If so was it at the hospital, a doctor's office (pediatrician? or OB?) or another location. Please answer for your MOST RECENT birth. Please give month and year. If you were not offered a gift bag, please respond with 'NO' and tell us where you had your baby."

We got some terrific data about the changing patterns of formula bag distribution. One of the steps for a hospital to become Baby Friendly involves the hospital no longer accepting free formula samples from the formula companies and not giving formula to breastfed babies unless there is a clear medical indication and it is ordered by a physician.

Hospitals in Madison County

There was a very obvious shift in lthe formula distribution at Huntsville Hospital over the course of the last year or so. Prior to 2014, 19 mothers indicated that they had been given formula. Since 2014 only 8 mothers were given formula, and 30 mothers said they were not given formula at all. As early as August 2013 one mother at HH was told that they no longer were giving formula bags. Several mothers who delivered there in the last year reported receiving a Huntsville Hospital bag with an insulated bottle bag, but no formula. 

Fourteen mothers reported giving birth at Crestwood in 2014. Nine of them did not receive formula, and 5 of them did. Fifteen mothers had given birth at Madison Hospital. Fourteen of those mothers received no formula, and one did, but she reported that there was a medical indication for the formula, and it was given by physician recommendation.

Other Local Hospitals

Three respondents had given birth at Athens-Limestone Hospital; all three received formula. Of the three who had given birth at Decatur in the last year, two did receive formula, and one did not. A mother who gave birth last February said the nurse told her they weren't trying to push formula feeding, but were required to offer it so they could give away the free bags. However, by November, a mother who gave birth there did not receive any formula at all. 

The Nurses at RMC in Anniston,
Alabama's only Baby Friendly Facility!

One mother gave birth at the state's only Baby Friendly Hospital, Regional Medical Center in Anniston. She was not offered formula. Two mothers had given birth in Cullman, and both were offered formula. Both Helen Keller and Eliza Coffee Memorial had one mother reporting; both hospitals gave formula. Marshall Medical Center was represented by one mother in each of their facilities (North and South). Both mothers reported receiving formula. 

Four hospitals from Birmingham were represented in the poll. One mother delivered at UAB  and one at Brookwood. Neither one received formula. One mother delivered at Princeton and did receive formula. Three delivered at St. Vincents, and all three received formula.

About 17 mothers had delivered in hospitals in other states. Eleven of them had not received any formula at all. Several other mothers had delivered at Birthing Centers or the Farm. As expected, they didn't receive any formula samples.

Physicians

Surprisingly, many mothers who didn't receive formula gift bags at the hospital did receive them from their OB/Gyn. Eight different OB/Gyn practices were mentioned as having given formula. One mother, however, made a point of saying that her OB, Dr. Conrad, never mentioned anything at all about formula! A couple of mothers mentioned receiving formula from their pediatrician, but one mother emphasized how thankful she was for it because she was having problems with milk production. 

In a final surprising note, one mother mentioned receiving a formula gift bag from 4D Mommies!

Madison Hospital gets our ANM "Formula Free" Award!

Why It Matters

Some mothers really liked the idea of getting the cute bag. Some actually donated the formula to a local food bank or a mother in need. That is wonderful; however, studies have demonstrated that when a mother receives formula from a health care provider, it subtly undermines her confidence in her ability to breastfeed. Health Care providers have an obligation to help mothers offer the healthiest possible start to their babies. When they give a mother a formula sample, they are in essence saying that breastfeeding might work, but it might not, so just in case, Mom needs a backup. The truth is that with proper support, the vast majority of mothers can provide sufficient milk for their infants. 

In conclusion, we want to applaud Huntsville Hospital for their elimination of formula gift bags and drastic reduction in infant formula being distributed. Actually, most of the formula that was distributed in 2014 was to NICU moms. But the hands-down winner of the ANM "Formula-Free" award is Madison Hospital! Congratulations are in order for the nursing staff and lactation consultants who have created an incredibly supportive environment for breastfeeding moms!

Your Superpower: Making Breastmilk!

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

Did you know that you have a superpower (well, maybe more than 1...but today we're just focusing on one)? If you are a female, your superpower is that you can make breast milk! You are able to completely sustain another living being on this incredible liquid that your body makes. It is really mind-boggling to think about, but the whole human race would have long since died out if you didn't have this superpower!

Your Amazing First Milk

The bottle on the left contains colostrum; the bottle on
the right contains mature milk. Picture from Wikipedia.

Some mothers actually begin leaking colostrum while they are still pregnant. As soon as your baby is born and the placenta is delivered, there is a huge hormonal shift that puts your body into milk-making mode. From the moment he is placed on your chest skin-to-skin right after birth and takes his first meal at your breast, you are giving him just the right amount of colostrum. His tiny stomach can only comfortably hold about 5-10 cc of fluid, and that is just what he gets in his first feed.

Colostrum is pretty thick and has a yellowish color. Some moms call it "Liquid gold!" It really is very valuable because it does some amazing things for your baby!

• It coats his intestinal tract forming a protective seal against any pathogens.
• It is very high in IgA and IgG, two immunoglubulins that offer your baby tremendous protection.
• It has higher concentrations of Vitamin K than mature milk.
• It is low in fat, but high in proteins and enzymes that a newborn needs.

From Familyholiday.net

Your Milk Keeps Changing

Between day 3 and 6 your milk will "come in." Your breasts will feel full, and the colostrum will begin changing to milk. It is really important to avoid getting engorged; the best way to do that is to nurse frequently. 

Your milk is absolutely amazing in so many ways:

• It has natural DHA and ARA, two fatty acids that are critical for brain development. Although many formulas have added artificially created forms of these two acids, they do not function the same way that the naturally occurring substances do.
•  Although it is relatively low in protein, it is high is specific proteins that your baby needs like taurine. 
• It contains lipase and lysozyme which helps breastmilk to be more rapidly digested and utilized by your baby. That's why breastfed babies need to nurse every 2-3 hours.
• It is low in iron, but lactoferrin makes that iron highly bioavailable to your baby!
• Specific IGA antibodies that form in response to any bacteria or toxin a mother is exposed to.

The Little Gourmet Nurser

By Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

No two babies are alike, and there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all breastfeeding advice. Certainly there are some basic important principles that all nursing mothers need to follow like early, frequent feeding, making sure baby is positioned so that the head and body are in line, and making sure the latch is deep. However, some babies do really well just nursing on one breast per feed, while others need to nurse on both breasts. And some babies need a technique called switch nursing to keep them awake and actively nursing throughout the feed. If your baby is a picky little eater who seems to want to nibble forever or a sleepy baby who falls asleep quickly at the breast, then this technique might be right for you!

Your Sleepy Nurser

Sometimes newborns just have a really hard time staying awake to finish a feed. I always encourage moms to use breast compression to keep baby actively nursing. Simply stroke the beast toward the nipple as you are nursing. This will accomplish 2 things: first it will move the nipple in baby's mouth reminding him that he is actually supposed to be suckling; however, it may also move some milk into his mouth, thereby triggering a swallow and continued sucking.

Once baby is no longer responding to breast massage and compression with active sucks and swallows, it is time to take him off and switch sides. Some babies will reach that point in as little as 5 minutes. That's fine. Take him off, stimulate him or burp him, and put him on the other breast. When he stops actively nursing there, you will go back to the first breast. 

You may end up nursing 2-3 times on each breast. Think of it as a multi-course meal. He starts with his appetizer on the right side for example, then gets his soup on the left. Then he goes back to the right for his salad and back to the left for his entree, if he's still hungry there's no reason he can't go back to the right for dessert and even get after-dinner drinks on the left. Remember to begin each feed on the opposite breast from the one you started with last feed.

Watch Your Baby, Not the Clock!

The key to switch nursing is watching your baby and being tuned into his eating. As long as he is actively nursing, he stays on the same breast. Don't worry about what the clock says. Focus on your baby's active nursing.

Mothers often experience a second letdown 7-12 minutes into a feed, so switch nursing allows baby to be suckling actively again the second time he goes onto each breast, thereby getting more calorie-rich, nutritious milk than he would get if he were suckling less effectively.

You will know baby is getting enough if he is content after nursing. Once your milk is in (between days 3 & 6 usually) a newborn should have at least 6 wet diapers a day and 3-4 poopy diapers a day during the first month or so.

Not for Everybody

This technique isn't for every baby. Mothers who are producing copious amounts of milk for example, would do better to just nurse on one breast per feed. Some mothers may find this works great in the newborn period, then find they are able to move toward just nursing on one side per feed or just one time each on both breasts. Remember that YOU ARE THE EXPERT ON YOUR BABY!  You need to do whatever works best for the two of you. If in doubt, contact a lactation consultant who can help you figure out what is best for YOUR baby!

Top Ten Gifts for an Expectant Mother (Who Plans to Nurse)

By Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

Best Chairs Story Time Series chairs
are ideal for new moms!

Recently a friend asked me if I had a list of gift ideas for expectant mothers. I told her I would come up with one! So I immediately asked our ANM mamas for their suggestions. This list is based on their input combined with my own thoughts of what an Expectant mama really needs. Of course, the assumption here is that mom will be breastfeeding!

10. A comfy chair to rock and nurse baby. Some moms prefer a glider and some a recliner. Either is good, but it needs to be wide enough for mom to comfortably hold a nursing baby. Since this is a real investment, you need to make sure you get a quality piece of furniture that will last. Mom will spend many hours feeding baby in her chair, so she needs to LOVE it!

9. A place for baby to sleep right next to Mom and Dad's bed. A bassinet or Rock and Play will work. But our personal favorite is the Arm's Reach Co-sleeper. This unique co-sleeper adjusts to the height of the parents' bed and attaches securely to the bed via a strap that is secured between the mattress and boxspring. It allows baby to sleep in the separate but proximate environment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, while keeping baby close enough to easily bring into bed for middle-of-the-night nursing.

The Arm's Reach Co-sleeper is great for new parents!

8. Comfortable nursing clothes, especially loungewear. One of my favorite lines is Baby Be Mine. The soft fabric and innovative styling makes their maternity and nursing sets a favorite of our moms! Any new mom will love the versatility of loungewear that works well for going out or staying home!

7. Motherlove Nipple Cream - this is the most soothing nipple cream I have ever seen. It goes on very easily and does not have to be washed off before feeding baby. Actually the very best thing for mom's nipples is a little bit of her breast milk expressed and allowed to air dry on her nipple. But if she has any soreness or dryness, the Motherlove Nipple Cream is amazing!

6. Gift certificate for a home visit from a lactation consultant. Any new breastfeeding mother will have some questions during those early days when she's home from the hospital. Having a lactation consultant come to her home will allow her to relax in her own environment and get those questions answered. The consultant can actually work with her in the chair she normally nurses in and with the pillow that she has. This is a huge peace-of-mind gift!

5. A massage for mom. A prenatal massage done by a massage therapist certified in prenatal massage is a safe, wonderful way for mom to relax. Some massage therapists are even able to do a massage that will help prepare mom's body for labor.

The best nipple cream ever!

4.  A Baby Carrier. Being able to wear her baby makes a mother's life so much easier. Ring slings and Baby K'tans are the easiest for nursing a newborn. Soft Structured carriers like Tula, Boba or Beco are nice as baby gets older.

3.  A good book. There are several great books that are terrific for new mamas. The Baby Book by William Sears is a classic read for every new mama. Another terrific book is Attached at the Heart by local author Lysa Parker and Barbara Nicholson, the founders of Attachment Parenting International. Finally, the La Leche League classic, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a great read for every expectant mom who is planning to nurse.

2.  Create a Meal Plan. This great site will allow you to set up a schedule for the new mom and invite friends, family, co-workers, neighbors etc. to be involved by bringing her meals during the first few weeks postpartum. This is a terrific idea because the last thing she needs to think about for at least 6 weeks is cooking. This was one of the top gift ideas suggested by our ANM moms!

1. Housecleaning Service. The other top recommendation from our mamas was the gift of a housecleaning service. Mom's job is to take care of the baby and to get breastfeeding established. Giving her several months of housecleaning by a professional is one of the gifts that she will probably cherish the most!

Mom's Night Before Christmas

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

I wanted to give a very special Christmas gift to all our mamas this year as well as to my four
amazing children who are the reason I do what I do.This is the dedication I wrote for my kids:

Dedicated to Sarah, Daniel, Anna and John Carl

I am so proud of each one of you and the amazing people you have become. Thank you for making my life so rich, for being such great encouragers, and for making motherhood such a joy! 

Mom's Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Only one creature was stirring; it wasn’t a mouse.

Cloth diapers were hung by the dryer with care,

In hopes that new Rumparooz soon would be there.

The baby was nestled all snug in my bed,

While visions of mommy milk danced in her head.

With her cuddled next to me, Dad at my back,

She knew it was time for a post-midnight snack.

Anna snuggled in close with her little mouth wide;

Then I pulled her in tight as I rolled to my side.

Her mouth found my breast in what seemed like a flash

With sweet sucks and swallows she had a mustache!

My milk was a flowing and she loved the taste;

Nary a drop would she let go to waste!

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But big brother and sister. What are they doing here?

“Mom, we can’t sleep. We’re just too excited.”

So into our big bed they both were invited.

With Sarah between us and Daniel by Dad,

We all snuggled in – it wasn’t too bad!

"Stop kicking! Stop squirming! Now stay on your side!

If you don’t settle down we are gonna decide

That back to your beds you must go right away.”

So they both closed their eyes while they waited for day.

Meanwhile the sweet newborn had finished her feast;

The size of my right breast had surely decreased.

Like a cute little sailor all drunk on my milk,

Her hand grasped my sash that was made out of silk.

And then, in a twinkling, she was soundly asleep;

I knew that forever this memory I’d keep.

Surrounded by children I’d birthed and I’d nursed,

My heart was so full I thought it might burst.

With a smile on my lips I whispered a prayer

Thanking the Lord for this love we could share,

For my husband, my baby, my daughter and son-

I knew that my family might not quite be done.

Since then many Christmases came and have gone;

We added another sweet baby named John.

But the memories of breastfeeding each tiny tot

Are some of the most precious memories I’ve got!