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.

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

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