All About Your Child

I have never tried breastfeeding in public. I was just too concern over how passerby would look at me. My attitude was wrong. That does not mean that I stayed at home for the entire 6 months when I was totally breastfeeding Binbin.

I will go to places where there are nursing rooms. In fact, nowadays I realise that such nursing rooms are more easily accessible now than in the past and I believe the trend will continue to increase as more mummies choose to breastfeed now.

Watch this video, it changed my way of looking at breastfeeding in public. If I have my third child, I will give it a try. Yup, practise at home first, before trying it in public. When you have gained your confidence in breastfeeding, your movement becomes natural.

Have you tried breastfeeding in public before?

Have you heard of breastmilk jaundice? Sounds unfamiliar, I was ‘lucky’ to have such an experience.

As you know I fully breastfed my second boy fully for 6 months. On the first week, his jaundice level was quite high, the polyclinic doctor was ready to send him for Phototherapy but was held back because the level drop down to below ‘dangerous’ level.

Binbin’s jaundice level just went up and down like a yo-yo, that is when the doctor conclude that it was Breastmilk Jaundice.

No one knows what the cause of breastmilk jaundice is. In order to make this diagnosis, the baby should be at least a week old, though interestingly, many of the babies with breastmilk jaundice also have had exaggerated physiologic jaundice. The baby should be gaining well, with breastfeeding alone, having lots of bowel movements, passing plentiful, clear urine and be generally well.

Breastmilk jaundice peaks at 10-21 days, but may last for two or three months. Binbin’s jaundice lasted for 3 weeks. Breastmilk jaundice is normal. It is not necessary for breastfeeding to be discontinued even for a short time. Only very occasionally is any treatment, such as phototherapy, necessary. Binbin need not go for that even though the level was relatively high.

There is not one bit of evidence that this jaundice causes any problem at all for the baby. Breastfeeding need not be discontinued “in order to make a diagnosis”. If the baby is truly doing well on breast only, there is no reason, none, to stop breastfeeding or supplement with a lactation aid, for that matter. To find out more read this….

Have you heard of breastmilk jaundice?

Always choose a Position that YOU ARE MOST COMFORTABLE with.

The Cradle Hold

This classic breastfeeding position requires you to cradle your baby’s head with the crook of your arm. Sit in a chair that has supportive armrests or on a bed with lots of pillows. Rest your feet on a stool, coffee table, or other raised surface to avoid leaning down toward your baby. Hold her in your lap (or on a pillow on your lap) so that she’s lying on her side with her face, stomach, and knees directly facing you. Tuck her lower arm under your own.

If she’s nursing on the right breast, rest her head in the crook of your right arm. Extend your forearm and hand down her back to support her neck, spine, and bottom. Secure her knees against your body, across or just below your left breast. She should lie horizontally, or at a slight angle.

Best for: The cradle hold often works well for full-term babies who were delivered vaginally. Some mothers say this hold makes it hard to guide their newborn’s mouth to the nipple, so you may prefer to use this position once your baby has stronger neck muscles at about 1 month old. Women who have had a cesarean section may find it puts too much pressure on their abdomen

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The Cross-Cradle or Football Hold

In this position you tuck your baby under your arm (on the same side that you’re nursing from) like a football or handbag. First, position your baby at your side, under your arm. She should be facing you with her nose level with your nipple and her feet pointing toward your back. Rest your arm on a pillow in your lap or right beside you, and support your baby’s shoulders, neck, and head with your hand. Using a C-hold (see picture), guide her to your nipple, chin first. But be careful — don’t push her toward your breast so much that she resists and arches her head against your hand. Use your forearm to support her upper back.

Best for: You may want to try this hold if you’ve had a Cesarean section (to avoid having the baby rest on your stomach). And if your baby is small or has trouble latching on, the hold allows you to guide her head to your nipple. It also works well for women who have large breasts or flat nipples, and for mothers of twins.

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For those of you who prefer to see the positions demonstrated, you can see this video. There are alot of pointers mentioned in the video. So mummy, tune up the volume and make sure you are paying attention.

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Side Lying Down Position

To nurse while lying on your side in bed, ask your partner or helper to place several pillows behind your back for support. You can put a pillow under your head and shoulders, and one between your bent knees, too. The goal is to keep your back and hips in a straight line. With your baby facing you, draw her close and cradle her head with the hand of your bottom arm. Or, cradle her head with your top arm, tucking your bottom arm under your head, out of the way. If your baby needs to be higher and closer to your breast, place a small pillow or folded receiving blanket under her head. She shouldn’t strain to reach your nipple, and you shouldn’t bend down toward her.

Best for: You may want to nurse lying down if you’re recovering from a cesarean or difficult delivery, sitting up is uncomfortable, or you’re nursing in bed at night or during the day

For me? The Cradle because I was most comfortable in it. For Matin’s mummy, its definitely the Side Lying Down Position and she often continues her sleep while little Matin is nursing, she still does that for her second son, Hadi.

What is your favourite position?

Mummy must have enough rest. I understand that there are bound to be alot of visitors for happy occasions like these, especially if this is your first baby. However, it would be better to limit visitors to allow more nursing opportunities.

Mothers and babies should learn how to sleep in the same rhythm. Thus, when the baby starts waking for a feed, the mother will also start to wake up naturally. The baby would normally shows signs before he starts crying that he is ready to feed.

His breathing may change or he may start to stretch. The mother, being in light sleep, will wake up, her milk will start to flow and the calm baby will be content to nurse. The amount of rest you have do affect the supply of your milk.

I remember there were a few days when Keatkeat was sick and I had to take extra time to take care of him. Binbin did not feed as well as he usually does, he would want to feed more often then usual and my breast gets emptied faster. Yet this was just a matter of a few days of less rest.

A baby who has been crying for some time before being tried on the breast may refuse to take the breast even if he is super hungry. Mothers and babies should be encouraged to sleep side by side in hospital. This is a great way for mothers to rest while the baby nurses, especially when you are nursing using the ‘lying down’ position. Breastfeeding should be relaxing and enjoyable, not tiring and frustrating.

Please, leave the household chores to your husband, get him to play his part to show his support in your duty to breastfeed. At this moment, really want the world to know how blessed I am to have Allan as my husband.

So did you have enough rest?

Review : Breastfeed with confidence tip 1-Timing, tip 2-Comfort, tip 3-Latching, tip 4-Milk Supply 1, tip 4-Milk Supply 2, tip 4-Milk Supply 3

There are no specific foods to eat that will stimulate production of breast milk, but there are things that can help with milk production. More important than what you eat is how your baby eats. When a baby is properly positioned, well-attached and sucking effectively, the longer a baby nurses at your breast the more milk will be produced. This is the single most important way to increase your milk production.

There are two important factors critical to producing milk. The first is drinking enough fluid. It doesn’t have to be milk; water or juice is fine. But I did drink 2 cups of milk that are meant for breastfeeding mothers, once in the morning and another at night.

You may be producing from 20 to 40 ounces of fluid a day, and that’s quite a lot. So when do you know you need to drink? I normally drink a glass of water after every feed or whenever I feel thirsty. It is also a good habit to fill a glass of water for yourself to drink while your baby is nursing. Drinking sufficient fluids won’t make you produce more milk, but is important in replenishing lost fluids.

Nursing requires about an extra 500 calories per day. Women that go on restricted diets in an attempt to lose weight while they are nursing may be eating too few calories, which leaves them fatigued and without the energy necessary for optimal milk production. In fact by breastfeeding, mothers WILL lose weight gain during pregancy, my cousin and I are the best proof. *wink* So please do not cut down on the things you eat when you choose to breastfeed.

Beer has been touted for years as being a stimulus to milk production. However, research shows that babies don’t like alcoholic breastmilk, and actually drink less of it, resulting in less stimulation to the breast. Ultimately, this means a decrease in milk production.

Stress can negatively affect milk production. Find an alternative way to rest and de-stress. Have a sitter come in so you can nap. Always sleep in the same momentum of the baby, meaning, when baby sleeps, you sleep too. Get your spouse to do the household chores. The better you rest, the better the supply.

Caffeine stimulates milk production, but it also stimulates your baby. Caffeine finds its way into breast milk and large amounts can act on your baby as it does on you, that is keeping your baby awake longer than he should. Caffeine stays in baby’s system longer than in an adult’s, which will prolong its effect. Also, caffeine can make your baby irritable, as well as interfere with his sleep. One cup of coffee or a soda will not be a problem, but in large quantities (five or more cups of a caffeinated beverage a day), this level of caffeine in breast milk can reach amounts that affect your baby.

The best prescription for maximum milk production is effective and frequent breastfeeding, plenty of fluids, adequate calories and rest. If you feel your supply is low, ask yourself, have you been doing this?

Review : Breastfeed with confidence tip 1-Timing, tip 2-Comfort, tip 3-Latching, tip 4-Milk Supply 1, tip 4-Milk Supply 2