A big "thank you" to The Midwives of Bethany Womens Healthcare for their gracious invitation to join you in cyberspace and post breastfeeding information. I'm Sharon Olson, the lactation consultant at BWHC. I've been board-certified since 2002, and have been helping mothers breastfeed their babies since 1992 when I became an accredited lay breastfeeding counselor. During this time, each of my four breastfed daughters played a role in teaching me something new as well as providing impetus for continuing to learn more -- which continues to this day since research and new findings are ongoing!
I teach our breastfeeding classes, facilitate our weekly nursing mothers group, and help mothers during private consultations. Look for my posts regarding new information as well as details about upcoming events at the Breastfeeding Support Center, which is located in Building C, the building closest to Bethany Home Road.
FAQ #1:
"Breastfeeding is natural. Why do I need to take a class?"
You are right! Breastfeeding is a natural process. It is also a set of learned behaviors for a mother and baby which new mothers have traditionally learned from other experienced breastfeeding women. If you don't know anyone who is enjoying a successful breastfeeding experience with her baby and YOU want to breastfeed, you will benefit by taking the classes we offer and starting to form your own support network.
In generations past when extended families lived closer together, young women and expectant mothers learned how new mothers interacted with their babies by watching others and asking questions. In this way, lots of feminine knowledge about breastfeeding was transferred from one generation to the next.
In the last 100 years, as feeding methods changed, much of this feminine knowledge about breastfeeding has sadly been lost to our culture. Many new mothers live far away from their families of origin, and some have never held a baby until their own infant is placed in their arms. Science now proclaims that breastfeeding is best, and we're also learning that without the practical information of times past, some mothers can (and do) struggle with it. And THAT is why taking our Breastfeeding Works! class during your second trimester can make all the difference to you and your baby!
Upcoming Classes
Call our main number, 602-973-3200, to register for classes so that I prepare enough materials for everyone. Please arrive 15 minutes early on the day of class to pay the fee and pick up your class materials.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Cost: $20
Breastfeeding Works! - Spend 3 hours learning about the normal process of breastfeeding, including your baby's normal behavior and feeding cues, as well as how your body will respond and make milk. Learn practical information so you are comfortable, Dad knows how to help, and your baby thrives! Dads and/or a suspport person are welcome to attend with you. Sitting through this class is more comfortable during your second trimester!
Monday, April 18, 2011
7 - 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $10
Employed and Breastfeeding Seminar - Spend 1.5 hours learning how to ease the transition when you return to work or school and desire to continue breastfeeding. Dads, a support person, and baby are welcome to attend with you. We'll discuss pumps, pumping routines that work, storing human milk, and balancing employment with childcare concerns.
Nursing Mothers Group
Bethany Womens Healthcare
3660 W. Bethany Home Road
Phoenix, AZ 85019
March 2011
Wednesday Mornings: 10 a.m. - Noon
PLEASE PARK ON 37TH AVENUE; CROSS INTO THE PARKING LOT ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF BUILDING A. WE ARE LOCATED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT IN BUILDING C.
Join us in the Breastfeeding Support Center. Babies and toddlers always welcome. Bring your questions and concerns. In addition to the discussion topic, we'll explore answers that work for YOU. This is informal and fun!
March 23 - Preparing to Breastfeed
Let's start at the beginning. What preparations did you make? Share what was helpful. Share what was not!
March 30 - Arizona's Breastfeeding Report Card
We'll discuss the statistical findings by the Centers for Disease Control about breastfeeding initiation and duration nationwide and in Arizona.
Showing posts with label breastfeeding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breastfeeding. Show all posts
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Nursing Mothers Group Discussion Topics for June
Nursing Mothers Group Discussion Topics
June 2010
Wednesday Mornings: 10 AM – Noon
PLEASE PARK ON 37TH AVENUE; CROSS INTO THE PARKING LOT
ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE CLINIC
Join us in the Breastfeeding Support Center. Babies and toddlers
always welcome. Bring your questions and concerns –
In addition to the discussion topic, we’ll explore answers that work for YOU. This is informal and fun!
June 2 Breastfeeding Myths – There is a lot of information out there about breastfeeding. How do you separate what is good information and what is not? We can help!
June 9 What Do Babies REALLY Need? – How did you get to know your baby and what he or she REALLY needs?
June 16 Celebrating Dads & Breastfeeding - For as long as there have been babies, there have been fathers! We’ll take a look at the unique ways that fathers can nurture their babies – which differ from a mother’s ways, of course!
June 23 Your Baby’s Cues and Reflexes – Learn a little more about how to “read” your baby and appreciate infant body language.
June 30 Coping with the Crying Baby – A fussy, crying baby is usually NOT what new mothers expect. BUT, if YOUR baby is fussy and inconsolable, we have
tips for perspective and coping until “this too shall pass.”
June 2010
Wednesday Mornings: 10 AM – Noon
PLEASE PARK ON 37TH AVENUE; CROSS INTO THE PARKING LOT
ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE CLINIC
Join us in the Breastfeeding Support Center. Babies and toddlers
always welcome. Bring your questions and concerns –
In addition to the discussion topic, we’ll explore answers that work for YOU. This is informal and fun!
June 2 Breastfeeding Myths – There is a lot of information out there about breastfeeding. How do you separate what is good information and what is not? We can help!
June 9 What Do Babies REALLY Need? – How did you get to know your baby and what he or she REALLY needs?
June 16 Celebrating Dads & Breastfeeding - For as long as there have been babies, there have been fathers! We’ll take a look at the unique ways that fathers can nurture their babies – which differ from a mother’s ways, of course!
June 23 Your Baby’s Cues and Reflexes – Learn a little more about how to “read” your baby and appreciate infant body language.
June 30 Coping with the Crying Baby – A fussy, crying baby is usually NOT what new mothers expect. BUT, if YOUR baby is fussy and inconsolable, we have
tips for perspective and coping until “this too shall pass.”
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Nursing Mothers Group Discussion Topics for May
Nursing Mothers Group Discussion Topics
May 2010
Wednesday Mornings: 10 AM – Noon
PLEASE PARK ON 37TH AVENUE; CROSS INTO THE PARKING LOT
ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE CLINIC
Join us in the Breastfeeding Support Center. Babies and toddlers
always welcome. Bring your questions and concerns –
In addition to the discussion topic, we’ll explore answers that work for YOU. This is informal and fun!
May 5 Happy Mother’s Day
This holiday is earned day in and day out! Candidly discussing the ups and downs of motherhood can help new mothers cope with the reality behind the holiday.
May 12 Breastfeeding Hormones
Understanding the effect of the hormones involved in breastfeeding will help you understand WHY culturally-popular suggestions for when and how long to breastfeed can backfire.
May 19 Milk Supply Issues
What is the difference between true insufficient milk supply and perceived insufficient milk supply? Sometimes, it is a lack of information – which we will happily share!
May 26 Thriving Breastfed Babies
A brief look at the components of human milk that help your baby absolutely thrive.
May 2010
Wednesday Mornings: 10 AM – Noon
PLEASE PARK ON 37TH AVENUE; CROSS INTO THE PARKING LOT
ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE CLINIC
Join us in the Breastfeeding Support Center. Babies and toddlers
always welcome. Bring your questions and concerns –
In addition to the discussion topic, we’ll explore answers that work for YOU. This is informal and fun!
This holiday is earned day in and day out! Candidly discussing the ups and downs of motherhood can help new mothers cope with the reality behind the holiday.
May 12 Breastfeeding Hormones
Understanding the effect of the hormones involved in breastfeeding will help you understand WHY culturally-popular suggestions for when and how long to breastfeed can backfire.
May 19 Milk Supply Issues
What is the difference between true insufficient milk supply and perceived insufficient milk supply? Sometimes, it is a lack of information – which we will happily share!
May 26 Thriving Breastfed Babies
A brief look at the components of human milk that help your baby absolutely thrive.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Consistent lactation lowers maternal vascular risk
I recently read that women who have more than 3 children are at increased risk for cardiovascular events such as heart attack and strokes later in life. The research study postulates that this may be related to the changes in the circulatory system brought on by repeated pregnancies. If there ends up being some founding to this then breastfeeding may be a counteractive measure that moms can take...
March 1, 2010
Contemporary OB/GYN
Consistent lactation lowers maternal vascular risk
Breastfeeding may protect mothers against the development of vascular disease, according to a recent study. The new data add to existing data for the long-term health benefits of lactation.
The new finding comes from 297 women, 45 to 58 years old, who were enrolled in an ancillary study to the Study of Women Across the Nation (SWAN), called SWAN-Heart. SWAN is a community-based cohort study of racially diverse women conducted at 7 sites across the United States; SWAN-Heart participants were enrolled only at the Pittsburgh and Chicago sites. Women in SWAN reported at least 1 live birth at enrollment and were free of cardiovascular disease at entry.
Lactation history was assessed at enrollment and was self-reported. It was classified as no lactation, inconsistent lactation (breastfeeding at least 1 child for less than 3 months), and consistent lactation (breastfeeding each child for 3 months or more).
SWAN-Heart participants had subclinical cardiovascular disease measured at baseline by 2 screening tools: electron beam tomography with an ultrafast computed tomography (CT) scanner and B-mode ultrasonography (carotid duplex scanning).
Ultrafast CT provides a measure of calcification; in SWAN-Heart, calcification of the aorta and coronary arteries was assessed. B-mode ultrasonography was used to assess carotid adventitial diameter, carotid intima-media thickness, and carotid plaque.
After adjusting for age, parity, measures of socioeconomic status, and lifestyle and family history, a significant association was observed between aortic and coronary calcification and consistent lactation for 3 months postpartum, reported Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD, MS, assistant professor, medicine, and obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues.
The odds of aortic calcification was increased by a factor of 3.85, and the odds of coronary artery calcification by 2.78 in the mothers who did not breastfeed compared to the mothers who consistently breastfed. The association between lactation and less aortic calcification persisted after adjusting for body mass index and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. In fact, after adjusting for all potential confounders, the risk of aortic calcification increased by more than 5-fold in the mothers who did not breastfeed compared to those who consistently breastfed.
The authors wrote: "These findings build on previous work that has shown that women who do not breastfeed are at greater risk of clinical cardiovascular disease, by providing insight in to the early effects of lactation on a mother's body."
They speculate that the effects of lactation on prolactin and oxytocin may have positive long-term effects on cardiovascular risk profiles because these hormones have been shown to be associated with blood pressure, preclinical atherosclerosis, and vascular resistance.
Schwarz EB, McClure CK, Tepper PG, et al. Lactation and maternal measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease. Obstet Gynecol. 2010;115(1):41-48.
March 1, 2010
Contemporary OB/GYN
Consistent lactation lowers maternal vascular risk
Breastfeeding may protect mothers against the development of vascular disease, according to a recent study. The new data add to existing data for the long-term health benefits of lactation.
The new finding comes from 297 women, 45 to 58 years old, who were enrolled in an ancillary study to the Study of Women Across the Nation (SWAN), called SWAN-Heart. SWAN is a community-based cohort study of racially diverse women conducted at 7 sites across the United States; SWAN-Heart participants were enrolled only at the Pittsburgh and Chicago sites. Women in SWAN reported at least 1 live birth at enrollment and were free of cardiovascular disease at entry.
Lactation history was assessed at enrollment and was self-reported. It was classified as no lactation, inconsistent lactation (breastfeeding at least 1 child for less than 3 months), and consistent lactation (breastfeeding each child for 3 months or more).
SWAN-Heart participants had subclinical cardiovascular disease measured at baseline by 2 screening tools: electron beam tomography with an ultrafast computed tomography (CT) scanner and B-mode ultrasonography (carotid duplex scanning).
Ultrafast CT provides a measure of calcification; in SWAN-Heart, calcification of the aorta and coronary arteries was assessed. B-mode ultrasonography was used to assess carotid adventitial diameter, carotid intima-media thickness, and carotid plaque.
After adjusting for age, parity, measures of socioeconomic status, and lifestyle and family history, a significant association was observed between aortic and coronary calcification and consistent lactation for 3 months postpartum, reported Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD, MS, assistant professor, medicine, and obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues.
The odds of aortic calcification was increased by a factor of 3.85, and the odds of coronary artery calcification by 2.78 in the mothers who did not breastfeed compared to the mothers who consistently breastfed. The association between lactation and less aortic calcification persisted after adjusting for body mass index and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. In fact, after adjusting for all potential confounders, the risk of aortic calcification increased by more than 5-fold in the mothers who did not breastfeed compared to those who consistently breastfed.
The authors wrote: "These findings build on previous work that has shown that women who do not breastfeed are at greater risk of clinical cardiovascular disease, by providing insight in to the early effects of lactation on a mother's body."
They speculate that the effects of lactation on prolactin and oxytocin may have positive long-term effects on cardiovascular risk profiles because these hormones have been shown to be associated with blood pressure, preclinical atherosclerosis, and vascular resistance.
Schwarz EB, McClure CK, Tepper PG, et al. Lactation and maternal measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease. Obstet Gynecol. 2010;115(1):41-48.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
April Support Group Topics and a New Class
Nursing Mothers Group Discussion Topics
April 2010
Wednesday Mornings: 10 AM – Noon
PLEASE PARK ON 37TH AVENUE; CROSS INTO THE PARKING LOT ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE CLINIC
Join us in the Breastfeeding Support Center. Babies and toddlers always welcome. Bring your questions and concerns –
In addition to the discussion topic, we’ll explore answers that work for YOU. This is informal and fun!
April 7 He Can’t Be Hungry – He Just Ate!
Babies nurse for many reasons in addition to food. We’ll discuss normal feeding behaviors in breastfed babies AND how mommies can prepare to cope with the demands this can represent.
April 14 What About Dad?
A Dad’s role in the breastfeeding relationship might seem, well . . . invisible. Surprise! What Dads do for babies is also important, though very different from nursing mothers.
April 21 Ah Choo! Allergies and the Breastfed Baby
Breastfed babies have a reduced incidence of allergies. We’ll discuss the protective effective of breastfeeding.
April 28 Taking Fun Vacations with Breastfed Babies
Traveling with a breastfed baby? Join us for a fun discussion and learn some tips from the experienced travelers in the room. Plan ahead for your own get-a-way!
New Class from the BWHC Breastfeeding Support Center
In response to the NEEDS of nursing mothers who are returning to work, we are offering a new class beginning in April: Employed and Breastfeeding Seminar.
First, the basics:
Breastfeeding Works! is the class that ALL expectant parents should attend to learn about the basics of breastfeeding. This puts new moms ahead of the inevitable learning curve
when their babies are born. It includes information about comfortable positioning and latch, how to know that your baby is getting enough to eat, and basic information for trouble-shooting common breastfeeding challenges. You don't have to go it alone!
If you are returning to work, the Employed and Breastfeeding Seminar, is designed for you:
· from 7 to 8 PM, usually on the 3rd Monday of the month
· Call 602-973-3200 to register
· Dads/one support person are welcome and encouraged to attend
· The fee includes attendance for you and your husband, partner or a support person
· Babies and toddlers are welcome – you DON’T need a babysitter
· All class materials are provided, and space is limited.
After reviewing the critical importance of breastfeeding and how the breast makes milk, the evening will focus on:
· how to prioritize so that you can build an ample milk supply early on
· how to add a pumping routine to your life so that you have some milk stored before your return to work or school
· tips to make the transition back to work a little bit easier
· how to negotiate with your employer for a time and place to express your milk
· options to consider if reality is not ideal
· what to do if breastfeeding challenges arise
· information about pumps -- including how breast pumps work and what type of pump is appropriate for your situation
· how to manage the adjustments as you balance your return to work or school
Payment is made when you arrive at 6:45 p.m. the day of your class
· Fee: $10.00
· We accept cash, MasterCard, Visa, and checks payable to Bethany Womens Healthcare
I'm so proud of the many remarkable mothers in our practice who have overcome common challenges when they began breastfeeding. And, then they have adjusted to the return to work AND continued breastfeeding. It just proves that with a good plan, there is NOTHING a woman cannot do!
Sharon Olson, BS, IBCLC
April 2010
Wednesday Mornings: 10 AM – Noon
PLEASE PARK ON 37TH AVENUE; CROSS INTO THE PARKING LOT ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE CLINIC
Join us in the Breastfeeding Support Center. Babies and toddlers always welcome. Bring your questions and concerns –
In addition to the discussion topic, we’ll explore answers that work for YOU. This is informal and fun!
April 7 He Can’t Be Hungry – He Just Ate!
Babies nurse for many reasons in addition to food. We’ll discuss normal feeding behaviors in breastfed babies AND how mommies can prepare to cope with the demands this can represent.
April 14 What About Dad?
A Dad’s role in the breastfeeding relationship might seem, well . . . invisible. Surprise! What Dads do for babies is also important, though very different from nursing mothers.
April 21 Ah Choo! Allergies and the Breastfed Baby
Breastfed babies have a reduced incidence of allergies. We’ll discuss the protective effective of breastfeeding.
April 28 Taking Fun Vacations with Breastfed Babies
Traveling with a breastfed baby? Join us for a fun discussion and learn some tips from the experienced travelers in the room. Plan ahead for your own get-a-way!
New Class from the BWHC Breastfeeding Support Center
In response to the NEEDS of nursing mothers who are returning to work, we are offering a new class beginning in April: Employed and Breastfeeding Seminar.
First, the basics:
Breastfeeding Works! is the class that ALL expectant parents should attend to learn about the basics of breastfeeding. This puts new moms ahead of the inevitable learning curve
when their babies are born. It includes information about comfortable positioning and latch, how to know that your baby is getting enough to eat, and basic information for trouble-shooting common breastfeeding challenges. You don't have to go it alone!
If you are returning to work, the Employed and Breastfeeding Seminar, is designed for you:
· from 7 to 8 PM, usually on the 3rd Monday of the month
· Call 602-973-3200 to register
· Dads/one support person are welcome and encouraged to attend
· The fee includes attendance for you and your husband, partner or a support person
· Babies and toddlers are welcome – you DON’T need a babysitter
· All class materials are provided, and space is limited.
After reviewing the critical importance of breastfeeding and how the breast makes milk, the evening will focus on:
· how to prioritize so that you can build an ample milk supply early on
· how to add a pumping routine to your life so that you have some milk stored before your return to work or school
· tips to make the transition back to work a little bit easier
· how to negotiate with your employer for a time and place to express your milk
· options to consider if reality is not ideal
· what to do if breastfeeding challenges arise
· information about pumps -- including how breast pumps work and what type of pump is appropriate for your situation
· how to manage the adjustments as you balance your return to work or school
Payment is made when you arrive at 6:45 p.m. the day of your class
· Fee: $10.00
· We accept cash, MasterCard, Visa, and checks payable to Bethany Womens Healthcare
I'm so proud of the many remarkable mothers in our practice who have overcome common challenges when they began breastfeeding. And, then they have adjusted to the return to work AND continued breastfeeding. It just proves that with a good plan, there is NOTHING a woman cannot do!
Sharon Olson, BS, IBCLC
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Breastfeeding Corner: Time Management
In its most wonderful sense, breastfeeding provides a time honored bridge into motherhood. The time spent with a baby at her breast is an opportunity for a brand new mom to learn all about her brand new baby, every little detail! For the baby, the time spent at mom's breast eases the adjustment to "life on the outside" with the warmth and comfort of mom's body as the new habitat and the best restaurant in town. This time spent together also provides a new mother with a window of time in which to rest, heal from childbirth, and build a healthy milk supply. It's a responsive relationship where the physical and emotional needs of both mother and baby complement one another and can result in a strong bond that becomes the foundation for a lifetime of growth and trust.
There are many resources for new mothers to tap into when it comes to the common challenges of breastfeeding. A little time spent learning a new skill, patience, knowledgeable help and perseverance can overcome the great majority of breastfeeding challenges. Just ask, and you will be able to find the kind of help you need.
Enter another culprit among breastfeeding challenges: the time management crunch of the 21st century. The speed at which we live our lives, and the instantaneous-ness that has become a built-in part of our cultural expectations seem to be a major hurdle for more and more new mothers to overcome. We can google just about any question and have an answer in a snap. How can it be that it may take several attempts for a baby to latch on, and then the combination of nutritive nursing and non-nutritive/comfort sucking can add up to HOURS in the daily life of a newborn?! The process of breastfeeding requires the time spent with your baby. Time that should not be resented, but enjoyed. This is NORMAL -- but what if your expectations have not adjusted to allow you and your baby to thrive during this relatively short chapter in life? How will you ever adjust to this new reality?
As a mom of four, I've felt that my to do list and calendar have frequently required me to use a shoehorn to make all the "stuff" fit. I have done this for longer than I care to admit, but then what could be more important than meeting the needs of growing children? Time spent is an investment in both their well-being and in my enjoyment of them. I've come to appreciate that the time spent breastfeeding also can assist with the mental adjustment to motherhood. So, how can a new mother cope?
Step 1: Set Priorities
First, decide what is most important to you. Breastfeeding takes time -- and you save money, so it's not a bad trade-off! The time spent when babies are small and vulnerable doesn't last very long: needs change, babies grow and nurse more efficiently, your uncertainties will diminish as you learn more. The initial "work" of breastfeeding lessens considerably after several weeks when life begins to have more of a routine to it and you establish some balance and the "new normal" in your life. My favorite coping tool for stressful times like these is: simplify. Decide what has to be done and what you can live without while you attend to time spent breastfeeding. Your satisfaction and well-being are important here, so honor what you NEED. Simplify the rest.
Step 2: Get Help
Delegating, also known as "asking for help" is the next step in honoring what you and your baby need: time spent with each other. Dismiss the thought that you can or should do it all at the same time. You are someone's mother, not Super Woman! Surprise your friends and family who offer to help by actually telling them how than can. They will enjoy the satisfaction they feel when you actually ask them to shop for your groceries, fold a load of laundry, load your dishwasher, sweep the floor, or put a meal in your crockpot. Many household tasks can be delegated, but nursing your baby is NOT one of them!
Step 3: Surround Yourself with Supportive People
Without support, nursing can be a lonely endeavor. Too many questions can go unanswered, and your uncertainties can influence your enjoyment of the process. Family and friends who are willing to take care of you while you take care of your baby are priceless! Getting to know other mothers who are sharing a similar experience will do wonders for your social life and your sense of well-being. Stop by our Nursing Mothers Group on Wednesday morning if you don't know anyone who is breastfeeding.
Above all, amidst the busy-ness of life, don't forget to enjoy your baby as you ease into motherhood! This busy 21st century will surely survive while you take care of your baby and adjust to the "new normal" in your life. Don't let the sudden shift in your priorities surprise you. It is not uncommon for things that were once "so important" to become less so. Embrace that change. Re-prioritize your life to include the time spent breastfeeding, simplify according to your circumstances, delegate what others are able to do, and surround yourself with supportive family and friends. And, then the time spent breastfeeding becomes a mothering skill and a very sweet memory as your baby grows.
Sharon Olson IBCLC
There are many resources for new mothers to tap into when it comes to the common challenges of breastfeeding. A little time spent learning a new skill, patience, knowledgeable help and perseverance can overcome the great majority of breastfeeding challenges. Just ask, and you will be able to find the kind of help you need.
Enter another culprit among breastfeeding challenges: the time management crunch of the 21st century. The speed at which we live our lives, and the instantaneous-ness that has become a built-in part of our cultural expectations seem to be a major hurdle for more and more new mothers to overcome. We can google just about any question and have an answer in a snap. How can it be that it may take several attempts for a baby to latch on, and then the combination of nutritive nursing and non-nutritive/comfort sucking can add up to HOURS in the daily life of a newborn?! The process of breastfeeding requires the time spent with your baby. Time that should not be resented, but enjoyed. This is NORMAL -- but what if your expectations have not adjusted to allow you and your baby to thrive during this relatively short chapter in life? How will you ever adjust to this new reality?
As a mom of four, I've felt that my to do list and calendar have frequently required me to use a shoehorn to make all the "stuff" fit. I have done this for longer than I care to admit, but then what could be more important than meeting the needs of growing children? Time spent is an investment in both their well-being and in my enjoyment of them. I've come to appreciate that the time spent breastfeeding also can assist with the mental adjustment to motherhood. So, how can a new mother cope?
Step 1: Set Priorities
First, decide what is most important to you. Breastfeeding takes time -- and you save money, so it's not a bad trade-off! The time spent when babies are small and vulnerable doesn't last very long: needs change, babies grow and nurse more efficiently, your uncertainties will diminish as you learn more. The initial "work" of breastfeeding lessens considerably after several weeks when life begins to have more of a routine to it and you establish some balance and the "new normal" in your life. My favorite coping tool for stressful times like these is: simplify. Decide what has to be done and what you can live without while you attend to time spent breastfeeding. Your satisfaction and well-being are important here, so honor what you NEED. Simplify the rest.
Step 2: Get Help
Delegating, also known as "asking for help" is the next step in honoring what you and your baby need: time spent with each other. Dismiss the thought that you can or should do it all at the same time. You are someone's mother, not Super Woman! Surprise your friends and family who offer to help by actually telling them how than can. They will enjoy the satisfaction they feel when you actually ask them to shop for your groceries, fold a load of laundry, load your dishwasher, sweep the floor, or put a meal in your crockpot. Many household tasks can be delegated, but nursing your baby is NOT one of them!
Step 3: Surround Yourself with Supportive People
Without support, nursing can be a lonely endeavor. Too many questions can go unanswered, and your uncertainties can influence your enjoyment of the process. Family and friends who are willing to take care of you while you take care of your baby are priceless! Getting to know other mothers who are sharing a similar experience will do wonders for your social life and your sense of well-being. Stop by our Nursing Mothers Group on Wednesday morning if you don't know anyone who is breastfeeding.
Above all, amidst the busy-ness of life, don't forget to enjoy your baby as you ease into motherhood! This busy 21st century will surely survive while you take care of your baby and adjust to the "new normal" in your life. Don't let the sudden shift in your priorities surprise you. It is not uncommon for things that were once "so important" to become less so. Embrace that change. Re-prioritize your life to include the time spent breastfeeding, simplify according to your circumstances, delegate what others are able to do, and surround yourself with supportive family and friends. And, then the time spent breastfeeding becomes a mothering skill and a very sweet memory as your baby grows.
Sharon Olson IBCLC
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Another Benefit of Breastfeeding!
The Breast Cancer Fund published a report showing that formula feeding may be a contributing factor to puberty in girls starting at younger ages. Conversely, breastfeeding contains hormones that may protect against early puberty. See the report for more information!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Doula speaks on breastfeeding and labor similiarities, communication
This is a guest post by Katie Dibenedetto, who is a doula I have gotten to work with firsthand. Please enjoy ~ Tiffany
On Tuesday night D called, my new postpartum client. She was worried about her milk supply and is supplementing with formula on the recommendation of the hospital nurses. I sort of gently reminded her that breastfeeding is supply and demand and in order to increase her supply she needs to nurse, nurse, nurse! And also relax! Because so often I see women and they're so tense. They're fretful about the positioning or the baby not latching right away or the baby not nursing for very long and you can see the beads of sweat forming on their brows. But if you can relax and let go and let it flow....you probably will! Same with labor - if you're all tense and tight and holding your breath and clenching....that completely goes against what your body is trying to do - open up.
We talked about how, if she is going to continue supplementing, then for each supplement she needs to pump. Your boobs don't know the baby is getting formula so how will they ever know to make enough milk? I mean obviously I don't want her to be supplementing with formula to begin with - this is another "intervention", "risk", whatever you want to call it of birthing in a hospital with a typical OB and an uneducated nursing staff versus either birthing at home with a midwife or birthing in a hospital or birth center with a supportive team that you love and trust. Hospital staff are all too often completely ignorant about breastfeeding. So they of course encouraged her at the hospital to supplement with formula because she had a 9 pound baby and couldn't possibly make enough milk to satisfy such a big boy's appetite. First of all - way to set a mom up mentally! And second of all - what a great evolutionary design! Let's make women's bodies inadequate so that they don't produce enough milk for their babies. I understand, yes, sometimes there are issues with supply. But in most cases our bodies are perfectly designed to feed our babies a more than satisfactory amount. I just wish people would try more things instead of going straight to formula. But it's just like with birth - I wish people would try more things before going straight to a cesarean. But then you have the ultimate issue - going straight to formula is way easier (for the doctor, nurse, hospital staff, etc. not for the mother obviously) than sitting with a woman for an hour and helping her to relax, reassuring her, helping her find the right position, etc. And going straight to a cesarean is way easier (again for the doctor, hospital, etc.) than having her labor longer and staying with her and helping her walk or change positions or helping her to open up about anything emotionally that she may be holding on to.
Now this is often the hardest part for me about being a doula - to be able to communicate effectively with my moms in a way that is educational and informative, but doesn't make them feel like they have done or are doing anything wrong. And I always try to take an attitude of 'you know, let's acknowledge what we maybe could have done differently and let's deal with any emotions regarding that (I'm not a big fan of denial), but let's move on and focus on what we can do now'. I think this is actually harder for me because I generally just blurt out whatever I am thinking at any given time. Trust me, my husband has spent the better part of our three year marriage trying to teach me "tact". And boy, can I rant and rave with the best of them. It's just another way that being a doula has made me a better person. These communication skills I've learned serve me in all aspects of my life. Anyway, I encouraged D on the phone and she seemed to feel better just talking it out. We set up a time for me to come over the next day."
To be continued...
On Tuesday night D called, my new postpartum client. She was worried about her milk supply and is supplementing with formula on the recommendation of the hospital nurses. I sort of gently reminded her that breastfeeding is supply and demand and in order to increase her supply she needs to nurse, nurse, nurse! And also relax! Because so often I see women and they're so tense. They're fretful about the positioning or the baby not latching right away or the baby not nursing for very long and you can see the beads of sweat forming on their brows. But if you can relax and let go and let it flow....you probably will! Same with labor - if you're all tense and tight and holding your breath and clenching....that completely goes against what your body is trying to do - open up.
We talked about how, if she is going to continue supplementing, then for each supplement she needs to pump. Your boobs don't know the baby is getting formula so how will they ever know to make enough milk? I mean obviously I don't want her to be supplementing with formula to begin with - this is another "intervention", "risk", whatever you want to call it of birthing in a hospital with a typical OB and an uneducated nursing staff versus either birthing at home with a midwife or birthing in a hospital or birth center with a supportive team that you love and trust. Hospital staff are all too often completely ignorant about breastfeeding. So they of course encouraged her at the hospital to supplement with formula because she had a 9 pound baby and couldn't possibly make enough milk to satisfy such a big boy's appetite. First of all - way to set a mom up mentally! And second of all - what a great evolutionary design! Let's make women's bodies inadequate so that they don't produce enough milk for their babies. I understand, yes, sometimes there are issues with supply. But in most cases our bodies are perfectly designed to feed our babies a more than satisfactory amount. I just wish people would try more things instead of going straight to formula. But it's just like with birth - I wish people would try more things before going straight to a cesarean. But then you have the ultimate issue - going straight to formula is way easier (for the doctor, nurse, hospital staff, etc. not for the mother obviously) than sitting with a woman for an hour and helping her to relax, reassuring her, helping her find the right position, etc. And going straight to a cesarean is way easier (again for the doctor, hospital, etc.) than having her labor longer and staying with her and helping her walk or change positions or helping her to open up about anything emotionally that she may be holding on to.
Now this is often the hardest part for me about being a doula - to be able to communicate effectively with my moms in a way that is educational and informative, but doesn't make them feel like they have done or are doing anything wrong. And I always try to take an attitude of 'you know, let's acknowledge what we maybe could have done differently and let's deal with any emotions regarding that (I'm not a big fan of denial), but let's move on and focus on what we can do now'. I think this is actually harder for me because I generally just blurt out whatever I am thinking at any given time. Trust me, my husband has spent the better part of our three year marriage trying to teach me "tact". And boy, can I rant and rave with the best of them. It's just another way that being a doula has made me a better person. These communication skills I've learned serve me in all aspects of my life. Anyway, I encouraged D on the phone and she seemed to feel better just talking it out. We set up a time for me to come over the next day."
To be continued...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)