Introduction/Disclaimer

Ok, if you’re reading this “book”, I’m giving it to you with the hope that what I’ve learned may be helpful to you. I’m not trying to tell you what to do, and I did not write this book for any one person; but these are things I’ve researched, learned through trial and error, or learned from other women’s experiences. In fact, I’ve really just compiled a bunch of replies to other friends, or from some Internet breastfeeding boards I post on, in hopes that it would be useful to someone – I know I would have loved to have this info all laid out for me when I started planning to nurse my baby! If you hold another view on what’s best for your baby, no problem – this is what we have found to help provide our baby with what we feel is the very best start in life – breast milk! Feel free to pass it around to friends if you like.

Here is my experience: I absolutely love nursing. It's been the very best part of having a baby. Providing superior nutrition for him from my own body is so rewarding, and I feel I'm a much more complete woman now as I've watched my body fulfill it's purpose. I'm much more self confident with my body, it is powerful and womanly and motherly. Now that my baby is older, it's the only time that he has time to love on me and snuggle with me. When I had to put him in daycare, pumping at work made me feel that I was still doing my job as his mother, and giving him the best, even when I couldn't be with him physically. It was nice knowing that he still had his milk that tasted just like his mommy; during those long hours we were apart.

I hope you enjoy this material. And I wish you all the best for the most rewarding nursing experience possible!

Christine

P.S. I happily accept email for any questions at [email protected], or feel free to call me any time. I love to help where I can.

I’m going to be going to be going back to work. Should I breastfeed? Is it difficult? Does it hurt? Will my boobs get huge?

Absolutely, you should try to breastfeed! It is nowhere near as expensive as formula, your baby will be healthier which possibly means less sick days for you; and since you will be away from your baby while you work, breastfeeding is a wonderful, special thing that only his mommy can do - which will help you reconnect and enjoy each other when you come home to him. Here’s a few links about the many benefits of breast milk:

Dr. Sears' Breastfeeding Index

ProMom's 101 Reasons to Breastfeed

The Many Benefits of Breastfeeding (links) from www.kellymom.com

Why Breastfeed? ...Did You Ever See a Smart Cow?

For the real, authentic, bottom-line, LONG report, check out the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Policy Statement regarding Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk.

If you invest in a good breast pump, you can pump at work for your baby. In the first couple months, I had to pump every 2-3 hours just like my baby’s nursing schedule, in order to keep up with his demand. However, as time goes on, it’s easier to produce more milk to save up, and you can pump less often. For the rest of the first year I only had to pump 2 times a day, and could go about 4 hours between pumping. I can set up, tear down, refrigerate the milk, and wash the pump parts in 15-20 minutes. Here are a couple links that have a lot of resources on working as well as pumping and bottle-feeding.

Your employer will probably be very accommodating if you need to pump on your breaks or at lunch. Check out your state’s breastfeeding laws if you have any problems with this! Here are some links & articles you may want to share with your employer if he or she is on the fence – it is actually in their best interest to help make it possible for you to pump:

http://www.motherwear.com/Services/community/outreach/main_gate.asp?Page=3

http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/support-workplace.htm

http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Issue-Papers/Workplace.pdf

http://www.breastfeeding.com/workingmom/corp_lact.html

http://www.momobile.org/breastfeeding/empowerment.html

Assuming you have at least 6 weeks off, that should give you time for your supply to regulate and to get used to your pump. Make sure you store up some milk before you go back, so you have some to practice bottle-feeding, and some to send with him on your first day back. You can replace that milk when you're apart. Milk, if immediately refrigerated, will keep up to 8 days, or longer if you freeze it. My son prefers fresh unfrozen milk so I pump & refrigerate my milk and he gets it the next week from the sitter (I’ll sometimes mix in a bottle of thawed milk into his fresh milk to “rotate” the stock… but I’m getting way off track here, back to the subject.).

Until at least 12 weeks old, your supply will still be regulating itself, so pump at least 10 minutes each side (or 10 minutes simultaneously if you get the double electric *DO GET ONE*) at least every 2-3 hours so you don't diminish your milk supply. I would recommend at least in the early days, you never pump less than 10 minutes, as you might not get the “hind milk” which is the rich, creamy milk that comes in after the “fore milk”, which is thinner and sweeter. After 12 weeks, I started pumping less often, for about 15 minutes per session. Then I would usually nurse at 7am, then pump at work around 10:30 & 2:30. I got home at 6:30, so I usually either nursed as soon as I got home, or I pumped right before leaving work, or as soon as I got home if he wasn’t ready to eat yet. Eventually my son settled into somewhat of a schedule, and started eating solids during the daytime. This allowed me to cut back on pumping to only 1-2 times a day, and since I could expect him to nurse at 7:30 pm, I never had to worry about whether or not he’d be hungry when we were reunited.

BREASTFEEDING DOES NOT USUALLY HURT IF YOU DO IT CORRECTLY! (I never had a bit of pain, at all, ever.) But - every woman is different, so that is by no means a rule. Many of the books say it should never hurt, but from my experience, there are still many women out there who seem to be doing everything right and are still experiencing pain in the beginning. If you do have pain, don’t try to just suffer through it – find out if you have latching problems or anything else that can be “easily” corrected. If you do have to just have to “grin and bear it” and outlast the pain, steel your will and remember your goal – you can do it because you’re tough, wonderful, and love your kiddo! (this statement given to me by my dear friend Cathy who did have difficulties in the beginning but when still happily nursing at 8 months said, “I LOVE breastfeeding now and will miss it so much when I stop!”) Dedicate yourself for the first 6 weeks - no turning back, and don't keep those free formula samples – they’ll be too tempting in the middle of a long night and they’ll only sabotage your breastfeeding relationship. If you do have any pain or problems, they should be gone in the first 6 weeks. Then go for 6 more weeks... just take it one step at a time! By the end of 12 weeks, you will find that your breasts aren't so full anymore; they should feel a lot like their "old selves" again! Up until that point though, they may become large and engorged when your breasts are full of milk, until your milk supply regulates to meet the demand of your baby.

Read, read, read all you can – knowledge is, most definitely, power. Try to attend a breastfeeding class or go to your local La Leche League meeting. Use the nurses and Lactation Consultant at the hospital - don't let them leave the room until your baby's latched on right! It is not as easy to learn as you might think, but after you get the hang of it, it's soooooo much easier than formula feeding.

The only “preparation” I would recommend is to stop using soap and start applying Lansinoh brand lanolin on your nipples & areolas a few weeks before your due date. This will condition your skin so hopefully you won’t experience tenderness or chafing. There are no grounds to “roughing up” your breasts with a loofah! After baby arrives, you can continue using the Lansinoh after every feeding, it is completely safe and non-toxic and you don’t have to wash it off.

Last of all; don't listen to all the horror stories from other women. Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience for most moms. But just like any part of parenting, everyone seems to want to offer advice and most feel that their way is the right way. Some women simply have a lack of knowledge on the subject of breastfeeding and will tell you things that may apply to formula fed babies, but not breastfed babies. Others gave up on nursing and may tend to give you a bunch of excuses on why it didn't work for them. Recognize excuses for what they are – often, they are trying to not feel guilty by subconsciously setting YOU up for failure too. You CAN do it if you want to!!! Also remember that your mother's generation and probably even your grandmother's generation don't understand or support breastfeeding. It's up to our generation to help support each other to get back to what nature intends for our bodies and our babies. A friend or a breastfeeding board, a Lactation Consultant, or the La Leche League will go a long way to helping you succeed - don't be afraid to ask for help!

If you are catching “hell” from your well-meaning parents, grandparents, or other friends & relatives, here’s some info you can provide them:

Handling Criticism about Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding & Attachment Parenting Resources for Grandparents

And for YOU, here are my ALL TIME FAVORITE THREE LINKS, which have answered nearly every question I’ve ever had about nursing:

§ Kellymom is a very well researched and thorough website.

§ Ask Dr. Sears is actually a father-son pediatrician team that has raised 8 breastfed babies themselves!

§ Lots of fun stories and hot topics at Breastfeeding.com

And here’s a site I found recently that has a zillion links to different sites with many, many helpful subject lines:

http://www.mommysthinkin.com/Articles.htm

But won’t the baby miss out on bonding with Daddy?

Husbands don't miss a bit of bonding by not feeding babies! That's just an excuse that keeps going around. My husband would snuggle with us while I nursed. He was able to kiss and talk to the baby while I nursed. He was able to change diapers, dress baby, and give baths. He had a special way of holding and soothing him when he was fussy or gassy, and I didn't have that same touch. It was "daddy's special trick". Our son loved to fall asleep on daddy's chest, because it was just the right size and shape and daddy's voice was so deep and soothing. Daddies have a different way of interacting and playing with babies that is unique to daddies. And if all that isn't enough, daddies can give baby pumped bottles of breastmilk if you really feel that feeding is the way to bond; or if you just need to get away for a while.

Breastmilk vs. Formula – I still can’t decide

No matter what you’ve heard, formula is not “extremely close” to breastmilk. Formula companies say their formula is closest to breastmilk, but they are just comparing themselves to other formula manufacturers. You can say that between Africa and Australia, Africa is closest to the U.S. Does that mean that Africa is close to the U.S.??? No... just that it's the closest choice you've got. Formula manufacturers are very deceptive in their advertising; but look right on the back of the can and it will tell you that breastmilk is best. There are hundreds of ingredients (including live, immunological ingredients) they are unable to duplicate, and many more ingredients that have not yet been identified. A hundred years ago people were told that formula was close to breastmilk, and every advance they make is making up for a deficit that existed before. And no matter how many more advances they make, they'll never be able to add the millions of living cells and immunities, or make the milk change every day to suit the baby's needs at that time and age. For more on what's really missing, check these links out:

What Breast milk Has That Formulas Don’t

How Does Formula Stack up to Breast milk?

Comparing Formula and Breast Milk

Infant Formulas Versus Breast Milk

Breastfeeding for Dummies

Yes, this is actually a book! I really enjoyed these articles because they’re very concise. I hope you do to!

Comparing Formula and Breast Milk

Reviewing Mom's Health Benefits of Breastfeeding

Battling the Green-Eyed Monster When Breastfeeding

Bonding with Your Baby

Going Over Breastfeeding Guidelines

Debunking Breastfeeding Myths

How long should I breastfeed?

A common reason I’ve heard for not wanting to breastfeed is that mom is going back to work and she doesn’t want to start baby out with breast milk just to have to switch to formula. But this should not be a problem! If there is no possible way that mom can pump at work, it is completely possible (and not too difficult) for her to transition her baby from breast milk to formula when it's time to wean. I would also challenge her to read this following link. This is a really neat summary of the breastfeeding benefits at all different ages, whether you nurse for a few days, a few months, or a few years. The point is - any breast milk is better than none at all. So even if you’re not sure you want to nurse for the full-recommended year or more, check out some of the more short-term benefits by clicking here!

I have a bunch of women in my family, and other friends, whose milk never came in! I’m worried that I won’t have enough milk.

OK, I have a surprise for you. There really is no such thing as your milk never coming in, unless you have a severe deformity (hypoplastic/tubular breasts which are obviously deformed and your ob/gyn would have probably already told you upon a breast examination, since they lack milk glands) or a medical issue such as cancer, some thyroid issues, or other serious disease.

I had read at some point that only about 1% of women CANNOT nurse, and it is usually due to one of the issues I just listed. However, I tried to search online for the actual statistic... very interesting, try searching:

- milk not coming in
- milk never came in
- poor milk supply
- insufficient milk supply

When you run these searches, you will find that there is hardly anything out there, even on LLL's site (or in their book) - the most you can find on the subject either gives advice for increasing low production (drinking enough water, adequate rest and nutrition, herbal remedies); or says that TRUE cases of inadequate supply are very rare.

My point is - it's not OUT there because it's really not OUT there. What you will find, as you venture into the realm of breastfeeding (and really, all parenting issues), is that EVERYONE has advice based on their own experience (or inexperience), and it's not always accurate. In fact, those who were not successful or who were not educated or didn't have the follow-through or the motivation to hang in there and make it work, often make excuses because subconsciously they want to believe it was not their fault. Keep that in mind and don't allow other's "horror stories" set you up for failure.

It's really too bad that insufficient supply is RARE, but concern over milk supply is the NUMBER ONE reason that women wean their babies early? What's wrong here? It boils down to a lack of education and support.

Educate yourself on the HOWS of breastfeeding and latch-on, use the nurses and lactation consultants, call anyone who nursed successfully, visit an online board - you'll learn much more from successful nursers than unsuccessful ones! Most nursing problems stem from the DELIVERY of the milk, not the amount of milk itself. Meaning, if baby is not latched on properly, then they're not going to stimulate milk production, or get the milk out if it's in there.

If your baby is wetting and pooping enough diapers, give yourself a break and don’t let the stress of “inadequate supply” worry you – I promise it will do much more harm than good. You are capable of nursing! Remember that it’s all about supply and demand. If you supplement “just in case”, you will jeopardize your supply. Let your baby set the pace, your body WILL keep up.

The Myth of Low Supply

Does Breast Size Affect Breastfeeding? This site has lots of other information about what is “normal” when it comes to breasts – including pictures of “normal” breasts.

I’m not sure I feel comfortable with having my breasts touched – I am a sexual abuse survivor and have a lot of issues involving my breasts. How can I do this?

Sexual abuse is actually a very big reason why many women are uncomfortable with the idea of nursing their babies. I'm so sorry you have that in your past. As you know, there is no changing the past. The only advice I can give you is to tell yourself that you will not let your abuser triumph over you in this situation. You will not let them take from you the ability and experience of providing this important thing for your baby. You will not let them rob you of this experience you deserve as a mature, healthy woman and mother. Be defiant. Break the control this person left over your breasts. Take them back, reclaim them! This could prove to be a very liberating and healing experience for you. It can help you feel whole again. You will be using your body in a powerful, womanly, and motherly way, and that feeling can be so freeing. My experience with sexual abuse was fortunately limited, as my mother was able to identify an unhealthy relationship before my body (but not my mind or my trust) was violated. But I can tell you, I had many insecurities about my body that I no longer carry with me now that I've seen everything it can do to create and sustain a child. I hope you will have the same positive experience.

One other thing: breastfeeding can be a sensual experience, beyond just direct nipple stimulation. There is a big difference between sensual and sexual. The word sensual relates to a feeling of bodily pleasure, without having to be sexual in any way. Although sensuality and sexuality are often hand-in-hand, they also come exclusively. Consider: your abuse situation was a sexual experience, not a sensual one. Breastfeeding is a sensual experience, not a sexual one. Hormones are released when breastfeeding that will awaken your senses, and relax you. Do not let yourself feel guilty by confusing those feelings with sexual ones. If that thought crosses your mind, let it go - that is a seed that was planted by someone who had no business planting it there. Don't let them continue to torture you with it.

Some links from www.kellymom.com:

Breastfeeding and the Sexual Abuse Survivor by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, from Breastfeeding Abstracts, May 1998, Volume 17, Number 4, pp. 27-28.

Breastfeeding and the Sexual Abuse Survivor by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, from Leaven, Vol. 33 No. 2, April-May 1997, p. 27.

Thoughts on how sexual abuse affects breastfeeding by Kathy Kuhn, IBCLC

The Impact of Past Sexual Abuse on Breastfeeding by L. Halliday-Sumner and Deborah Kozlick

The Long Shadow: Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Ph.D., IBCLC. Chapter from: The hidden feelings of motherhood: Coping with mothering stress, depression and burnout. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger, 2001.

OK, so it hurts. HELP!!!

I want to share a letter sent to me, and my reply (this is just easier for me than writing a whole section on the subject). This letter was from my girlfriend Lori, addressing concerns from new mom friend of hers. She asked me to chime in if there was any extra advice I could give. So here, without further ado, are our letters.

Christine,

I sent the following to a friend after she asked for breast-feeding help/advice. Since things are fresher in your mind than in mine, I thought I'd see if you know of something I should add. Maybe a new trick or a website???

~ Lori

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aleta,

I'm glad you're accessing the "sisterhood of motherhood" as a resource. It will offer you so much, if you learn to ask for help and accept it. I took a while learning that one.

I'm sure you're a great mom and you're doing a great job by just trying to breastfeed and by being so conscientious about it. If you can hang in there, things WILL get better! I promise! I understand what you're going through because I experienced just what you are describing. Cracked, chapped nipples are completely normal. When else are they under such wet conditions and having so much attention? Never - so they have to be toughened up.

Also, the shooting pain is normal. The nipple area is full of nerve endings. The cracked nipple is probably the cause, but you could also have a clogged milk duct. I had that twice, but knew what to do the second time so it wasn't bad.

I was determined to nurse but, after experiencing engorgement, cracked/bleeding nipples, and a clog, I wanted to give up. I visited with a lactation nurse at the hospital where I delivered. She was pleased that the baby had gotten colostrum, but encouraged me to keep going and gave me good advice. She asked me to hang in there a few days and, if I was still miserable, advised me to quit nursing and focus on bonding with the baby in other ways.

Here's some advice. I hope it helps...

First, call the hospital and see if there's a lactation nurse from your hospital who can address your concerns. It's usually free. If that resource isn't available, talk to your OB/GYN.

When you are done with each nursing session, blot your nipple DRY with something soft (like a cotton t-shirt) and apply "Lansinoh" to moisturize, protect, and heal. You can find it at Target, Wal-Mart, Babies 'R Us, etc. Use clean, dry breast pads to line your bra so catch leaks so moisture has minimal contact with skin.

To prevent or loosen a clogged milk duct, knead your breast with the pads of your fingers. Start from the armpit and slowly work around the breast in circles until you reach the center. Milk will shoot out, but that's good because the whole object is to push the possible clog out of the milk duct. Also, sometimes the suction of a breast pump can pull out a clog, but the pain that the pump can inflict on the nipple can be excruciating.

To get some relief, try placing bags of frozen peas or corn on your breasts (with a t-shirt in between you and the bags). The bags conform to the shape of your breasts so they're more effective than ice packs.

Well, sweetheart, I wish you the best and hope you will keep me posted on how things are going!

~ Lori

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lori,

Thanks for thinking of me as a resource for good advice!

I'd be happy to try to help.

First of all, I agree - Lansinoh, Lansinoh, Lansinoh. Rub some breastmilk around the nipples & areolas (incredible healing properties, that breastmilk, it'll also clear up pinkeye & other maladies on the little one!). Then when nips are dry, Lansinoh them. After every feeding. Religiously. I also love the Lansinoh disposable breastpads; in the first month or two I leaked so much I could have never used the washables. Nowadays I only leak when I've gone too long between feedings, so usually the Lansinoh pads last a whole day. They are so absorbent, and it's very important to keep things dry, for the health of your skin, and to avoid a yeast infection (thrush).

On that note - I don't think your friend should be having shooting pains! Especially in just one breast - that makes me tend to rule out painful letdown and start thinking more along the lines of a clogged duct or worse, an infection (unless the latch is incorrect). Your massage directions are correct there - she will probably have better luck doing that in the shower, as the heat will stimulate the milk to release, and the slip of the water will help (as she doesn't want to drag across her skin - more like rolling). Also - no soap on the nipples, they have glands that actually keep them germ-free, and soap will only dry and further aggravate the skin. Emptying the breasts thoroughly will help get rid of the clog, so nursing/pumping during/after the massage is a great idea. Then Lansinoh & cold therapy afterwards. Talk to doctor if it gets worse or a fever accompanies the other symptoms.

I hope she can hang in there. I feel for her! But just like childbirth, the pain is soon forgotten, and the experience soon facilitates SOMETHING WONDERFUL! Soon enough she'll be looking down at her little one and feeling nothing but pleasure, warmth, and serenity. As far as a time frame goes - she shouldn't be having discomfort past SIX WEEKS, MAXIMUM. That is the most I hear, unless something else is wrong, like a bad latch, or a clogged duct/infection. I post on the breastfeeding boards at www.pregnancyweekly.com and www.EarthyMommies.com, and I have found that very helpful and supportive. From discussions held there, it seems the average for painful latching is 1-6 weeks. Personally, I didn't have any problems, but perhaps I am the exception to the rule. I was really expecting some grief, based on stories from other moms! OK, I’m gonna get a little personal here. It seems like the shape & color of your nipples have quite a lot to do with it- my nipples are large and prominent, and very dark in color. That seems to be ideal (for breastfeeding, LOL), whereas any combination of small, flat/inverted, fair-skinned nipple/areola is often more susceptible to pain. This was a recent discovery, in talking to my mom who is fair-skinned, and also to the ladies on the breastfeeding board. My mom said the first month with all three kids was awful, and she was doing everything right - it just took time. She said the La Leche League meetings were a lifesaver for her. Personally I haven't been, but one of these days I'd like to. Sometimes I feel like an outsider - it's hard to find women to relate to in the area of breastfeeding! And more often than not, the women who didn't do it are big discouragers in so many subtle and not so subtle ways.

Pumping, if she has a good fitting pump, may actually provide a little relief from the latch discomfort. She could pump every other feeding, and that way maybe have 4-6 hours of relief instead of 2-3. Or take a whole day of pumping only, but depending how little the little one is, don't go too long without nursing or she may begin refusing the breast altogether. Try to keep baby awake during feedings, so she gets a full meal and eats less often. Also, a hungry baby will nurse more efficiently then a "snackish" one, and if she seems to just want comfort sucking - use that pacifier! Bonding and comfort nursing will come later - worry about healing first.

Get some help with the latch & positioning, if you have any doubts at all. She may be, in her fear of the pain, not allowing baby to take enough of the areola into her mouth.

That's all I can think of right now... she's welcome to call or email me directly as well!

Christine

I should have also mentioned that if worse came to worse, she could try using a nipple shield, which is a plastic piece that fits over and protects the nipple. If you are looking for one of these, I’ve seen them at Target but you may want to talk to the Lactation Consultant as she may be able to help you find different sizes if needed. The downside to using a nipple shield is that baby may suffer “nipple confusion” and forget how to latch on to the breast – necessitating use of the shield from that point on.

Remember – if you have pain or problems, turn to mothers with experience, turn to the Lactation Consultant at the hospital, turn to the LLL… don’t try to suffer through alone! Often times there are valid reasons for the pain and it is correctable.

More latching help

Using and Weaning from a Nipple Shield
Pressing Baby's Chin while Latching
Latch Resources
Latching videos can be located at http://www.breastfeeding.com/

Also, have your partner help you use a reflex point when positioning baby. As you pull baby toward your breast in your normal fashion, have partner hold baby's hand while squeezing her palm with his thumb. When my LC was helping us with this, she was kind of pulling the baby in by his hand while I moved his head and body toward me. The pressure point on the palm triggers their mouth to open wide! It doesn't last forever though; it's strictly a newborn reflex.

How long should baby nurse on each side?

The "times" they give you are an average, and every baby at every age is different. Always allow baby to empty one breast before offering the other - even if baby only takes one side per feeding. The calorie-rich hind milk comes behind the watery fore milk, and that's the stuff the baby really, really needs.

The reason you would start a nursing session with "last breast first" is if baby had previously eaten from both sides but had not finished side #2. This would give side #2 a chance to fully drain. But if baby only took one side previously, then offer the full breast at next feeding. I learned this myself, as my hospital and most of the books I read assume you will nurse on both sides at each feeding. So until I figured it out, I was offering the "empty" breast at the next feeding rather than the one that was busting at the seams! (By the way, lactating breasts are never really empty - they are always making milk). This wasn't a problem, really; just that he would spend a few minutes nursing the "empty" side, then he wouldn't finish the full side. Once I started only doing one at a time (unless he was still hungry), I was much more comfortable. Plus I didn't have to worry about which breast he nursed last; I could just feel for whichever side felt the fullest. A little self-groping never hurt anyone.

My baby took one breast per feeding until he was a few months old. The only time I would switch him is if he kept falling asleep without nursing much (then woke up hungry when I'd try to lay him down), I would switch him back and forth so the faster flow would keep him busy and alert.

The first few weeks, baby will be sleepy and want to spend lots and lots of time at the breast. They do get better as they get older. My got his nursing sessions down to 5-10 minute after a few months – and with a good long stretch between feedings, except for a period of time that he’d “cluster feed” in the evenings after we got home from work, before bedtime.

My newborn seems to nurse all the time. I’m always tired. Am I supposed to love this? AND… what about co-sleeping?

All I can tell you here is: This Too Shall Pass. There are so many reasons why the first six weeks with a baby can seem impossible and have no end in sight. Trust me, it’s not as far off as it seems, and the more you try to relax and just appreciate this time for all its ups and downs, the greater chance you have of making it through with your sanity intact.

Newborns are notorious for sleeping through EVERYTHING, and your milk makes them sleepy. Later on this “sleeping pill” will work to your advantage, but now you have to go to extreme measures to keep this tiny person awake and interested in eating. Stroke underneath his jaw to stimulate the suck reflex, gently pull him away to encourage him by “use it or lose it” psychology (I guarantee he’ll start sucking again, if only for a little while), take his clothes off, rub his feet, use a cold wipe or washcloth on his face or feet… you get the picture. He’ll start waking up for good soon, and you’ll long for the days when you had a couple hours free while he snoozed. When you get the feeling he’s using you as a human pacifier, learn the art of unlatching him and slipping a real pacifier in his mouth. They do eat frequently those first few weeks, but should settle into a more predictable routine soon. And believe it or not, eventually a nursing session probably won’t last more than 10 minutes.

For the first few weeks, nursing will probably make you insanely sleepy yourself. Take this as a hint: your body is WORN OUT. Pregnancy and childbirth take their toll, no matter how good you feel (remember you’re comparing this “good” feeling to the previous nine months of physical torture – “good” is relative). That’s why they tell you to take it easy for six weeks! Also, not only are your hormone levels way out of whack as you adjust to your post-partum self; you have a surge of oxytocin, a very relaxing hormone, when you nurse. So master the side-lying nursing position and snooze away. Consider co-sleeping or bed-sharing at night if you haven’t already. In a few weeks, your body will be used to the hormone changes and you’ll stop feeling as if gravity has increased by ten-fold; you will be able to shake off the sleepies and get right down to business. Promise. In the meantime make everyone else cook and clean, you have the best excuse in the world to put your feet up and get to know your baby.

Are mothers supposed to love breastfeeding 24 hours a day?

Here's what Dr. Sears says about co-sleeping

Article: The Benefits of Co-sleeping

For the past few days, my baby wants to nurse CONSTANTLY! I can’t get a moment to myself, and I think that my milk supply must be low! Help!

A growth spurt may be the culprit! These occur during the first few days at home and around 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months (more or less). Babies don't read calendars, however, so your baby may do things differently.

Growth spurts don't stop after the first year – they continue to happen every few months during the toddler years and periodically thereafter on through the teenage years.

Growth spurts usually last 2-3 days, but sometimes last a week or so. During this time, your confidence and sanity may be challenged to their limits! As soon as you recognize it for what it is (which was always a couple days into it for me!), it will be easier because you’ll see that proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel”!!!

“Follow your child's lead. Baby will automatically get more milk by nursing more frequently, and your milk supply will increase due to the increased nursing. It is not necessary (or advised) to supplement your baby with formula or expressed milk during a growth spurt. Supplementing (and/or scheduling feeds) interferes with the natural supply and demand of milk production and will prevent your body from getting the message to make more milk during the growth spurt.”

(the above answer was adapted and mostly plagiarized from Growth Spurts - thanks again kellymom!)

My breasts feel empty. Has my supply decreased?

This is a normal feeling usually occurring from about 6-12 weeks after delivery. Every woman is different though. This is simply due to your supply regulating itself to your baby’s demand. Read more HERE.

I’m not pumping much milk. I’m worried about my milk supply. Is my baby getting enough?

Breastfed babies take in fewer ounces per feeding than formula fed babies, because it is better nutrition and more rapidly digested. My son took 3-ounce bottles every 3 hours for most of his first year – but every baby has a different appetite. I have a friend whose 2-month-old takes 6 ounce bottles every four hours!

I didn't pump much in the beginning either, maybe 2-3 ounces (eventually I got 6-8 ounces at a shot). Those first few weeks, you're best off to nurse on demand and don't worry about your output. He'll get enough. Only 1-2% of women actually have a supply problem, and this is often due to a medical issue. (Let me mention, while I’m on this subject, that although I didn’t pump much in the early weeks, it was because I had no idea how to operate my pump! I wish I would have figured it out, because there were some days there in the beginning where I felt like a tiger on the prowl, I was so full and ready to nurse and I would stalk back and forth just WAITING for him to wake up … I could have relieved a little pressure and saved up a little milk in the freezer!)

How much expressed milk will my baby need? (Includes a milk calculator)

Is your supply really low?

Not pumping enough milk?

All kinds of great links about supply

If you are trying to increase or maximize your milk supply, two things that worked great for me: root beer and old-fashioned oatmeal (not the quick-cooking kind). They stimulate production of oxytocin, which triggers milk production (and uterine contractions, in case you’re trying to jump-start labor!)

Sometimes pressing the pump flange firmly against my chest wall, and massaging around the breast with my other hand, will stimulate a let-down or just removing the flange and replacing it may help drain other milk ducts that had not already drained. Pumping after drinking a warm cup of tea or cocoa can help; as can looking at your baby or pictures of baby and visualizing your milk flowing.

Finally, if you need a little extra help to increase your supply, I've heard great things about Fenugreek, Brewer's Yeast, or even a beer a day! Also try pumping early in the morning when your supply is at its peak!

If you’re trying to pump a little extra milk to put away while you’re at home with baby, the best time to do it is in the morning when your supply peaks for the day, maybe an hour after he last nursed, or, if he nursed and you are still full, then immediately after nursing. If there's ever a time of day where he tends to eat from only one side, you might try pumping at the same time he nurses! That has worked great for me on mornings when I'm really full and there's plenty for the baby AND the bottle. The nice thing about pumping at the same time - when your baby stimulates a let-down on one breast, the other breast will let-down at the same time. This helps maximize the amount you can get out with the pump. If baby still wants the other side, let him nurse it, because there will often be milk remaining that the pump did not remove. Worse case scenario, he doesn't quite get enough and he'll want to nurse again soon; or you may have to give up a little of that freshly pumped juice. I only had to do THAT once, though... :)

Supplementing with formula will only cause your supply to weaken. Plus, you will detract from the health benefits your baby is receiving.

The Case for the Virgin Gut: Even the Occasional Bottle of Formula Has Its Risks

“Just One Bottle Won’t Hurt”---or Will It?

Health Risks of Not Breastfeeding

The Risks of Infant Formula Feeding

Breast pump info

I have both the Medela Pump in Style breast pump, and the Playtex One-step breast milk collection kits. Love them. The Playtex kits are a little expensive, and I found it necessary to have 4 kits (enough for 16 bottles) and at $10 a kit it got a little pricey. But I needed 8 to send with him, and 8 to take with me. Recently I found them at drugstore.com for about $8 a kit, so I bought 4 more - now I have enough for 32 bottles.

The Playtex One-Step Breastfeeding collection kits are a system of rings that screw onto your breast pump so you can pump directly into the drop-in liners. You can then put a lid with a sealing disc on it to store the milk, and when you need to make a bottle, warm it up in hot water, just screw into the bottle (the Playtex Nurser shell, that is), and then replace the sealing disk with a nipple and TA-DA! You’re ready for feeding!

I find them so useful, because then I don’t have to pump into a bottle just to have to transfer into a bag. It saves me a lot of time at work; I can set up, tear down, refrigerate the milk, and wash the pump parts in 20 minutes.

They are compatible with just about every breast pump EXEPT the Avent. I use it with a Medela Pump in Style. I really wanted a good pump, even though I mostly nurse, because I didn't want to have to mess with a cheap, difficult, or time-consuming pump. I also didn't want to spend $250! So I bought mine off e-Bay, it came to about $90 including shipping. Love it. The only one that seems to get consistently better reviews (besides renting a hospital-grade pump, that is) is the Pump in Style Advanced, but I think it's new enough it may be hard to find cheap used. The cheapest I’ve seen it is at www.momsmaternity.com for $235. The Advanced is a little more efficient, and therefore a little quicker, and on this site it isn't any more $$ than the PIS is at most places. From what I’ve heard (from a mom of 6 who used to use the regular PIS with her first five, then upgraded) it’s definitely worth the $$.

Another double-electric pump that you can buy new for less money is the Ameda Purely Yours. I have been told that it is very comparable to the Medela Pump in Style.

Or try one of these other sites for pumps & pump accessories:

http://www.affordablebreastpumps.com I like this site a lot for their accessories.

http://www.breastmilk.com I got my Ultimate Baby Wrap from this site.

http://www.selfexpressions.com/index.html Lots of replacement parts, cigarette lighter adapters, soft flanges...

http://www.expressiva.com I got my “got breastmilk?” onesie here!

http://www.mommygear.com

If you like the Playtex One-Step system, you can find them cheap at www.drugstore.com - try this direct link - only $7.99 per kit! If your order comes to $49 or more, shipping is free. The kits are $10-11.00 at Target or Wal-Mart.

I started freezing my milk in these (when I only had 6 or so frozen bottles at once), which works great until you want to freeze more milk - eventually I started transferring milk that is to be frozen into freezer bags (at one time I had 65 bags of milk in the freezer). Keep in mind that your milk will keep in the fridge for about a week, plus it's most nutritious & tasty that way. So you may find yourself freezing only the extra while you just rotate your fridge stock on a daily basis.

If you start freezing milk for storage on a long-term basis, you may want to store it in freezer bags made by Lansinoh, Gerber, or Medela (in my opinion, Lansinoh is superior). These are much more space-efficient and won’t “tie up” your bottle collection. I’ve even heard of using ice cube trays to make one-ounce frozen cubes, and then only thawing as many ounces as you need at a time! The issue here would be marking them correctly so you use the oldest milk first.

If you are only pumping occasionally, you may just want to get a manual hand pump. I have an Avent Isis and although I can't get quite as much as with my Medela, I can usually manage at least 3-4 ounces per session with the Avent; and it’s a bit more portable/needs no electric or battery power, so it can be used when you need to just quickly relieve a little pressure in a public restroom or something to that effect!!!

How long can I store my milk?

HUMAN MILK STORAGE - QUICK REFERENCE CARD (from www.kellymom.com)

Freshly expressed milk
Warm room                        79°F / 25°C                       4-6 hours
Room temperature              66-72°F / 19-22°C             10 hours
Insulated cooler / icepacks   60°F / 15°C                       24 hours

Refrigerated Milk (Store at back, away from door)
Refrigerator (fresh milk) 32-39°F / 0-4°C 8 days
Refrigerator (thawed milk) 32-39°F / 0-4°C 24 hours

Frozen Milk (Do not refreeze! Store at back, away from door/sides)
Freezer compartment inside refrigerator (older-style)       Varies / 2 weeks
Self-contained freezer unit of a refrigerator/freezer         Varies / 3-6 months
Separate deep-freeze         0°F / 19°C                        6-12 months
These guidelines are for milk expressed for a full-term healthy baby.
If baby is seriously ill and/or hospitalized, discuss storage guidelines with baby’s doctor.

To avoid waste and for easier thawing & warming, store milk in 1-4 ounce portions. Date milk before storing. Milk from different pumping sessions/days may be combined in one container – use the date of the first milk expressed. You can also add fresh, cold milk to previously frozen bottles.

Breast milk is not spoiled unless it smells really bad or tastes sour.

To thaw milk:

Thaw slowly in the refrigerator (this takes about 12 hours – try putting it in the fridge the night before you need it). Avoid letting milk sit out at room temperature to thaw.
For quicker thawing, hold container under running water - start cool and gradually increase temperature. Previously frozen milk may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours after it has finished thawing. Do not refreeze.

To warm milk:

Heat water in a cup or other small container, then place frozen milk in the water to warm; or use a bottle warmer. NEVER microwave human milk or heat it directly on the stove. The cream will rise to the top of the milk during storage. Gently swirl milk (do not shake) to mix before checking temperature and offering to baby. If warming milk under warm water, the cream will usually blend back in with little or no effort.

If baby does not finish milk at one feeding, it may be refrigerated and offered at the next feeding before it is discarded.

NOTE: Also, the shelf life of breast milk is only good for ONE of each option, not a combination of any or all of them. For example, you can leave breast out in a warm room (79°F) for 4-6 hours, OR at room temperature (66-72°F) for 10 hours, OR in an insulated cooler with icepacks (60°F) for 24 hours, OR in a refrigerator (fresh) for 8 days, OR in a refrigerator (thawed) for 24 hours, OR in a defrosting freezer for 3-6 months, OR a separate deep-freeze for 6-12 months. You can't keep it at room temperature for 4 hours, then in a cooler for 12, then in the fridge for a week. If you were to keep it in a cooler for 12 hours, which is half of the recommended lifespan, then you wouldn't want to leave it in the fridge for more than a couple days (the other half of the lifespan) instead of all 8 days you may have if the milk had been placed in the fridge freshly pumped. Last of all, milk that has been frozen loses its living antibacterial properties, so it must be handled more like formula - kept cool until used, only warmed once, and used within an hour of being given to baby. If the milk is fresh (not previously frozen), those rules are a bit more flexible, and you can typically re-warm or pre-warm a bottle, or save it for the next feeding if baby doesn't finish at one sitting.

Here is a very comprehensive website regarding storage & handling of breast milk:

http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/storagehandling.html

Nursing bras, nursing pads, and nursing tops

The In Due Time nursing tank from Target is great. It has great support for nighttime and around the house, it's like a sport bra built into a tank top and seems to be even more supportive than your average sport bra. Plus, it not only hides your belly, but you don't have to buy nursing clothes - just lift your regular shirt up for discreet nursing in public. I live in mine around the house with shorts or pants, or PJ bottoms for sleeping. Cost is under $20. Very similar to the Glamourmom tanks, but they only come in black & white, and the material is thicker = more support. And they are half the price of Glamourmom tanks. (I have both brands). Now, if you want a little variety, check out http://glamourmom.com - these are so cute. The problem? They’re like $39 each. The neat thing about the their regular tanks is that they have mesh pad holders to keep your pads from slipping around. Also, if you have problems with your nipples not being centered in the holes of the Target brand (as I do), the Glamourmom tank is a little better made to prevent this from happening. One thing that helps compensate for the higher price - they have a great referral system. If your friends buy 3 tanks under your GM code, you get a freebie.

I got a good nursing sport bra for $8 at Wal-Mart. I don’t wear it that much, just occasionally under a tank top if my nursing tank is too long or the weather is too hot to layer over a nursing tank.

Be cautious of underwire bras- the tight fit can cause clogged milk ducts.

Nursing tops – big waste of money, in my humble opinion, if you have a nursing tank. I did get a basic black nursing dress since otherwise it would be impossible to wear a dress.

Nursing pads – I have heard this from many women – Lansinoh disposables are the best. I also tried the Avent pads but they left fuzz on my nipples. You could always take the hippie earth-mother route and buy washables… for that I would commend you while calling you crazy behind your back. Have lots of them on hand because you’ll go through a bunch of them in the early months and you’ll be doing enough laundry as it is. Plus they leak through and don’t hold as much milk, and won’t keep you as dry so you’ll need to change more often. Some women prefer to use breast shells, which are little disc-shaped cups that have a hole for your nipple area, and they simply catch and hold the milk. You can’t use the milk for feeding, unless you put a clean shell on right before nursing the other side, and just catch what collects as your milk lets down during that nursing or pumping session. The primary use for breast shells is for women with flat or inverted nipples – they help make the nipples more prominent. They are also good if you experience nipple soreness, to keep anything from coming into contact with the tender skin.

Is this safe while breastfeeding?

Here is a link you should definitely bookmark:

http://www.kellymom.com/health/index.html

It will tell you about medications, caffeine, alcohol, foods, herbal remedies, etc.

Newborn Jaundice

DID YOU KNOW - Jaundice Helps Breastfed Babies!

(Excerpt from article by Dr. Jay Gordon)

Contrary to what you often will hear about how bilirubin levels increasing in a newborn is not a good thing, there is new research which is showing the importance of the presence of bilirubin.

Bilirubin has the ability to function as an antioxidant in the brain, scavenging free radicals and protecting the brain against oxidative damage.

"When women breastfeed, the babies have higher levels of bilirubin and are healthier. Babies with higher bilirubin levels are more disease-resistant," said Dr. Sylvain Dore of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. "Bilirubin also protects against
retinopathy in premature babies."

Dr. Dore has done research on the neuroprotective effect of bilirubin
in the hippocampus. His studies have indicated that low concentrations of bilirubin decreased oxygen-radical mediated injury, suggesting that bilirubin could act as an antioxidant.

Dore further experimented on cultured neurons showing that bilirubin protects against oxidative stress. The enzyme hemeoxygenase is responsible for making bilirubin. In these experiments researchers prevented bilirubin synthesis by eliminating the gene for
hemeoxygenase and found, as a result, twice the level of stroke damage in mice.

There is also some belief amongst medical professionals that bilirubin is a bacteriostatic compound which acts to slow or eliminate bacterial growth and therefore give an advantage to babies with higher levels of jaundice. This theory would contribute to the
fewer infections in breastfed babies, whose bili counts often descend at a slower rate.

~~~~

Similar Article by Dr. Alan Greene

And I really liked this paragraph from this article:

"The notion that there is something wrong with the baby being jaundiced comes from the assumption that the formula feeding baby is the standard by which we should determine how the breastfed baby should be. This manner of thinking, almost universal amongst health professionals, truly turns logic upside down. Thus, the formula feeding baby is rarely jaundiced after the first week of life, and when he is, there is usually something wrong. Therefore, the baby with breast milk jaundice is a concern and "something must be done". However, in our experience, most exclusively breastfed babies who are
perfectly healthy and gaining weight well are still jaundiced at 5-6 weeks of life and even later. The question, in fact, should be whether it is normal not to be jaundiced and is this absence of jaundice something we should worry about? Do not stop breastfeeding for "breast milk" jaundice."

Would you like to read more about how a managed fever is GOOD for your child?
Click Here

Amazing, huh? Everything really is by design…

Please note that not ALL forms of jaundice should be considered "healthy". Jaundiced infants still need to be monitored by a health care professional, who hopefully is aware of this newer information and can differentiate between a healthy and unhealthy jaundiced condition.

Is it OK to mix formula with breastmilk? I’ve heard it can break down the nutrients in breastmilk.

It's OK to mix them in order to "trick" him into taking it. I don't think that formula specifically breaks down any component of breastmilk. Unfortunately, introducing ANY other supplement in his diet will change how he's able to absorb the nutrients in breastmilk. This includes vitamin drops, formula, cereal, or other solid foods. Here's the reason. The nutrients in breastmilk are bound to proteins, which make them unavailable to bad bacteria. When you introduce any food other than breastmilk, the nutrients such as iron are available to the bad bacteria. This alters the balance in baby's digestive tract. (This is also why FF babies have such stinky poo). It can take weeks for baby's digestive tract to return to normal. A breastfed baby receiving even occasional supplements has a digestive tract more similar to a formula fed infant's than a breastfed infant's. Now, don't get me wrong, that's no reason to quit BF altogether, because there are still tons of things baby gets from the breastmilk that he would not get otherwise. But the problem with this altered digestion is that number one, when the bad bacteria are allowed to thrive, they are then capable of "stealing" the nutrients in breastmilk that were once unavailable to them. This can cause, for example, a drop in baby's iron levels (correctible by allowing the gut to return to its previous state in a few weeks time, or by consistently giving more supplements to compensate). Number two, allowing the bad bacteria to thrive in the gut is particularly problematic for babies less than 4-6 months old. Babies this young are not designed to consume anything other than breastmilk (formula included). They have what is called an "open gut" which means that anything in their digestive tract can pass freely into their bloodstream. Their little immune systems are then flooded with bacteria that they are not well equipped to handle. This is why you are told to wait on introducing solids until 4-6 months - at this age is when their gut begins to mature and become "closed" from instantly absorbing into the bloodstream.

Does my exclusively breastfed baby need vitamin supplements?

Does my baby need vitamin D supplements?

This section quoted directly from:

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamin-d.html

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Paediatric Society recommend vitamin D supplementation for all infants and children to ensure that the small percentage of infants/children who need additional vitamin D (due to the below mentioned factors) do not become deficient.

Is your baby at risk for vitamin D deficiency?

First of all, babies rarely need vitamin D supplements. The babies who do need these supplements need them due to a lack of sufficient sunlight. Factors that put your breastfed baby at risk for vitamin D deficiency (rickets) are:

Baby has very little exposure to sunlight. For example: if you live in a far northern latitude, if you live in an urban area where tall buildings and pollution block sunlight, if baby is always completely covered and kept out of the sun, if baby is always inside during the day, or if you always apply high-SPF sunscreen.
Both mother and baby have darker skin and thus require more sun exposure to generate an adequate amount of vitamin D. Again, this is a "not enough sunlight" issue - the darker your skin pigmentation, the greater the amount of sun exposure needed. There is not much information available on how much more sunlight is needed if you have medium or darker toned skin. See the section below regarding amount of sunlight needed.
Mother is deficient in vitamin D - this is rare in western countries. The amount of vitamin D in breast milk depends upon mom's vitamin D status. If baby gets enough sunlight, mom's deficiency is unlikely to be a problem for baby. However, if baby is not producing enough vitamin D from sunlight exposure, then breast milk will need to meet a larger percentage of baby's vitamin D needs. If mom has minimal exposure to sunlight (see above examples) and is not consuming enough foods or supplements containing vitamin D, then she may be vitamin D deficient. More below on supplementing mom with vitamin D.

Vitamin D supplementation is often recommended particularly in Canada and other northern latitudes, since these areas don't receive much sunlight during certain parts of the year. If you live in the far north and don't receive much sunlight, you might consider a vitamin D supplement. However, Dr. Jack Newman, a Canadian pediatrician and breastfeeding expert, indicates that Vitamin D supplements are rarely needed - even in Canada. The 2002 results of the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program confirmed 20 cases of nutritional rickets in Canada during 6 months of study. The researchers noted that:

"Intermediate- and dark-skinned children who were breast-fed without vitamin D supplementation were at risk for the disease. Among identified cases, the mothers were frequently veiled, did not receive vitamin D supplementation following delivery, and infrequently ingested milk (thus eliminating a potential dietary source of vitamin D)... A subset of residents in Canada are particularly at risk for nutritional rickets, including darker-skinned, breast-fed infants whose mothers adhere to a diet that is low in vitamin D and have limited sun exposure." [p. 43-44]

Cost benefits of breastfeeding!

Here's a LINK with calculators you can actually plug in formula costs and come up with yearly, monthly, and daily rates for formula feeding.

OK, so I wanted to do a little math experiment to see how time-consuming it is to formula feed (because so many people argue that FF is more convenient than BF). I figured up the daily costs of formula feeding at an average of 28 ounces a day. I ran the low end (.07/oz) and the high end (.28/oz), and then I added an extra 33% to represent BEFORE TAX COST.

I came up with a low end per day cost of approximately $2.60... and a high end of $10.40. Whew! So, let's take an average American mom making $7.50/hr. Sound fair?

Low end - she's working 20 minutes to pay for each day of formula feeding. If she's working 5 days a week, then on each of those 5 days, she's actually working 29 minutes to feed her baby formula all 7 days a week.

High end - she's working one hour, 23 minutes to pay for each day of formula feeding. If she's working 5 days a week, then on each of those 5 days, she's actually working one hour, 56 minutes to feed her baby formula 7 days a week. Oh my!!! And to think some babies wind up having problems with average formulas and can only tolerate these expensive ones... Ouch!

If I had more time, I'd love to get the statistics on average number of doctor visits & sick days that FF babies often necessitate for having more ear infections, RSV, colds, tummy troubles, etc. I know the numbers are out there... but someday I'll go back and factor in those additional costs on an hourly basis. Oh yeah, not to mention the time spent preparing and washing bottles - there's another 15 minutes a day.

Who knows, maybe this will help someone decide to at least TRY to breastfeed... it sure puts into perspective taking 20 minutes, 2 or 3 times a workday on a lunch hour or break to PUMP FREE BREASTMILK!

I quit nursing due to problems, but I really want to give it another shot. Will I be able to regain my milk supply?

Yes you can, but it's going to take more work and dedication (and pumping) then if you had maintained your supply. But if you're determined, you CAN do it!

Expect to take as long to regain your supply as the time that you have not been nursing - so if it's been 4-5 weeks, then it could be as much as 4-5 weeks to regain. You do have an advantage here, however - moms who attempt relactation within the first three months have a much easier time than those who try to do it after that time (or adoptive moms who have never lactated to begin with). The reason for this is that your supply is still regulating during the first 12-15 weeks, so it will respond a bit quicker to demand than an established supply would.

I would wholeheartedly recommend you contact a lactation consultant or La Leche League leader for help with this. You may also want to consider renting a hospital grade pump for at least a month or two in order to have the most efficient pumping sessions possible. But your LC or LLL Leader will have great advice on this as well as any other tools necessary such as a supplemental nursing system or nipple shields to help baby back to the breast, or even prescription drugs to help increase your supply.

Here's a LINK to get you started:

Good luck! You should be very proud of yourself for being willing to do this for your baby! I wish you all the best.

Lactivism – feeling passionate about breastfeeding advocacy? Here’s some interesting reading!

Breastfeeding And Artificial Baby milk; The Culture And Politics In Breastfeeding

Formula for Disaster

The Militant Breastfeeding Cult

National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign—Babies were Born to be Breastfed

The Campaign

Science Behind the Campaign

What the Ad Council has to say

View the Ad Council Breastfeeding Ads Here