Breastfeeding Questions: Is my baby eating enough? Can I give water to my newborn?

I bumped into this information that I really believe this to be very important. I'm crediting the author and posting this a whole below. It's a reminder to all mothers that we are all what our babies need with regards to their sustenance, most especially from newborn up who "feed on demand".

The post below is from Katie Wickham RN BScN IBCLC of Babiesfirstlactation.com.  They have a facebook page here that you can follow. I encourage you read it to further help you build your confidence and take out any doubt that your baby is not getting enough milk.

Is my baby eating/getting enough milk?"I see many new families in the hospital, as a staff Lactation Consultant, and in their homes, with my private practice, and I hear many similar questions.  One of the recurring themes comes across in statements like “my baby can’t be getting very much” or “my baby is feeding so frequently, I must not have milk. This cannot be normal!”  There are many charts on the Internet that show an illustration of the size of a newborn’s stomach, I felt putting these illustrations into real world sizes we can see would be helpful.

Below is an illustration I have created showing the approximate size and volume of a newborn’s stomach on day one, day three, at one week, and at one month.  Newborns’ tummies are tiny, and cannot/should not take in large volumes, so they need to feed frequently.  In the first day or two, their little tummy fills with 5-15 ml during a breastfeed, and then, snuggled in close to your warm chest and familiar heartbeat, they fall asleep.  Just as you may be drifting off to sleep or decide that you too should eat something, they start to wake up and show signs of hunger; their sweet little fists fly frantically to their mouth and their lips start smacking together.  Their little tummies have started to digest that perfect amount of colostrum, and they are starting to get hungry again.  A newborn baby feeds 8-12 times in 24 hours, which means they will be feeding about every 1-3 hours.  They often cluster feeds together; this means your precious little one may breastfeed for 45 minutes then fall asleep, then wake 30 minutes later and feed for another 30 minutes, and fall asleep.  The next feed may happen 2 hours later, then 3 hours after that, then an hour later… I’m sure you get the idea; there is no set schedule.

Many families feel the need to supplement their baby; maybe they are concerned with the frequent feedings, or feeling pressured from their doctor or family.  I often hear my clients comment that they hear their well-meaning family members say “The baby is crying again, she must be hungry” or “The baby is fussing, are you sure you have milk?” or “the baby just ate an hour ago, you must not have enough if he is hungry already.”  This can create, or further feed the insecurity a new mother may already be feeling, and often leads to unnecessary supplementation.  Some families feel they need to supplement due to pressure from the Doctor, and other families are supplementing for legitimate medical reasons.  When you are supplementing it is crucial that you keep in mind how small those little tummies are.  If you supplement too much this will cause baby to sleep longer and feed less frequently and any time they are supplemented away from the breast you losing the stimulation  and removal of milk needed to signal your body to make more milk; this will directly impact your milk supply.  If you are supplementing always seek guidance from an expert in feeding- a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) will help guide you through how to supplement and how to wean the supplements when the time is right.

Understanding the size of your Baby’s stomach, the average volume taken in during a breastfeed and typical newborn feeding frequency can help alleviate some anxiety a mother feels when she is trusting her body to nourish her child.  Newborns are only this tiny for a short time, those stomachs grow quickly and they get more efficient at breastfeeding which means breastfeeding sessions become less frequent and shorter.  For now enjoy those snuggles, and feel encouraged that your baby is feeding frequently and doing a fantastic job of “demanding” a healthy supply of breast milk.  The great effort you and your baby put in during the first few days establishes a solid start for a happy and healthy breastfeeding relationship."

 ~ Katie Wickham RN BScN IBCLC

Can I give water to my newborn child?

No, newborns are not advised to give your newborn water. Even when a mother's milk supply is just coming in during the first few days after delivery, the baby is getting colostrum, which is enough to keep her well hydrated. Water can interfere with a young baby's ability to absorb the nutrients in breast milk and may prevent her from feeding as much as she should. Most importantly, it can also cause water intoxication, a serious condition that happens when too much water dilutes the concentration of sodium in the body, upsetting the electrolyte balance and causing tissues to swell. It's uncommon but serious, potentially causing seizures and even a coma.
~ reference KellyMom

It's N@W or Never: Breastfeed Your Child - A Photo Exhibit

In line with another breastfeeding month events around town that I was able and honored to join is a photo exhibit titled "It's N@W or Never! Breastfeed Your Child".  For more information about the exhibit, kindly read the below.

The Office of Senator Pia Cayetano , together with Newlyweds@Work, proudly present this breastfeeding exhibit entitled “It’s N@W or Never: Breastfeed your Child”. The entire month of August has been designated as Breastfeeding Awareness Month under Republic Act No. 10028, or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009. This year’s theme is "Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers."

Newlyweds@Work (or N@W) is an online community/support group for Filipino couples on marriage, pregnancy, parenting, family life home improvement. N@W has also become a lifeline for new moms, especially regarding breastfeeding. The exhibit showcases N@Wies who breastfeed their children and provide breastfeeding support to their fellow N@Wies. These photographs were originally intended as personal keepsakes of each mom on their breastfeeding journey. The N@W community is honored to share these to a wider audience.

Blogger Jenny Ong of Chronicles of a Nursing Mom shares how N@W patched her up with breastfeeding supporters that eventually led to a successful breastfeeding relationship with her firstborn. N@W co-founder Benz Co-Rana likewise achieved breastfeeding success with the help of several N@W breastfeeding counselors. Jenny and Benz are just two of the growing number of N@Wie moms who opt to breastfeed their children despite the 21st century challenges that come with it.

This project is a collaboration between Stanley Ong Photography and LIFE at Imagine Nation Photography. Since 2008, Stanley has taken yearly breastfeeding photographs in support of the breastfeeding advocacy and his breastfeeding photographs have been exhibited in several locations. Despite being a male photographer, he has photographed almost 100 breastfeeding mothers.

Imagine Nation Photography is a team of young and creative photographers in pursuit of excellence and perfection in their field
because of their huge love for Jesus. It has been a known brand in wedding photography for 10 years. For family celebrations, victories, and bite-sized milestones, the team brings LIFE– its fresh new name for family, portrait, and lifestyle photography.

More updates and photos soon! For now, please check out the poster and a sneak peek of the exhibit.

 

Poster Credit:  Oj of The Pretty Palette by OJ for our Poster Design;

Mec Arevalo for the title

Sneak Peek Credit:  Chronicles of a Nursing Mom

Hakab Na 2013 ("Latch On 2013): A Breastfeeding Mob

Hi!

I am slowly moving to Wordpress to better suit the growing needs of this blog so kindly click on the link below for the details of this entry.  Enjoy!

https://multitaskingdoula.wordpress.com/2013/08/10/hakab-na-2013-latch-on-2013/

DIY Superhero Baby Shower

I'm doing some catch-up postings and I really wanted to post this DIY project I did for a friend's Superheros baby shower theme. When the date and theme was settled, I jumped into google and searched through as many inspiration and DIY projects as they come to pull off a good Superheros-themed baby shower.


I made a simple superhero (modern chibi take) invite to give a flavor to the party theme and the sky was the limit on creativity for this. The tags were also fun to make!

I thought of initially decorating their nursery to help the newbie parents before their bundle of joy arrived but due to time and location constraints (the room was still not ready to be decorated by the time the party rolled in) so I chose decoration where they can be displayed at the party and can be easily put up at their home or used by their little one when he comes out in May.
The very first thing that came into my mind that would look great in their nursery is the initials of their baby boy - "J" and "N", a DIY comic book covered letters and took inspiration and instruction from Bird's Party Blog and Cherish Bliss. I wasn't able to get wooden letters or know where similar items were sold so I did it via styrofoam and cut out the letters then wrapped used/old comic books around it. It was tough to fully cover a styrofoam letter since the surface was not flat compared to a wooden or cardboard letter but it will have to do. I was able to do thicker lettering than the normal wooden one, which came out quite nice. :)
I then bought some picture frames that would have cute baby chibi superheroes in them. The stuffed toys plaster on the windows are from a local stuff toy vendor.

For the banner, I got the idea for the comics and bib & onesies banners at Thriftress and PampersPlaydatesParties. I was able to find/source old action figurines & kiddie toys at a thrift store and loot bags had the same superhero theme in it.

It was a definite labor of love to see the expressions on the new parent's faces when they saw the whole place. Happy partying!!!

Worst Breastfeeding Advice -- Ever! (from the Bump.com)

Fair Warning: this is no way to criticize mothers who use the bottle or formula for their babies. This post is to educate and correct what others inform pregnant/expectant and even breastfeeding mothers about breastfeeding practices that are scientifically incorrect or misleading. 

Take the below as an FYI from a Lactation Consultant, Deirdre McLary.

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Say what? Bumpies shared the most outlandish breastfeeding tips they’ve ever heard, and then we asked lactation consultant Deirdre McLary, IBCLC, RLC, CD, to explain why the advice is such bad news. Take note -- this is what not to do.

“My dad told me once, ‘You’ll know within two days whether or not breastfeeding is going to work for you.’ He told me this while I was still pregnant -- needless to say, my instinct told me this was bad advice.” -- danienross 

Why it’s bad advice: Breastfeeding usually starts out tough and then gets easier as time goes on. “It can take several days to weeks to feel in balance with meeting the needs of your newborn,” says McLary. “Plus, your milk doesn’t come in until two to four days after the birth, so each day brings a new and different adjustment as you transition.” If you’re struggling, she suggests getting help from a pro -- problems can be corrected with just a single visit to a lactation consultant.

“A pediatrician told me to let my husband give our LO baby formula at night so I could get extra sleep. Apparently he thought extra sleep would increase my low supply.” -- pitterpatter129 

Why it’s bad advice: The exact opposite is actually true. “Replacing feedings with formula will sabotage your milk supply,” says McLary. “That’s because milk supply relies on supply and demand. If you skip a feeding because some well-intentioned loved one wanted to let you sleep, you’re sending the message to your breasts: ‘Hey, we’re done here. No milk is necessary at this hour.’” And your body, as a result, will make less milk. You don’t want that!

“A friend who’s also a nurse told me to give my baby bottles of water over the summer when it’s hot. She went on and on about how I wouldn’t want to drink milk when it was hot, so obviously baby won’t want to either.” -- tokenhoser 

Why it’s bad advice: It’s not a good idea to give your baby water before he’s around six months old. That’s because he could fill up on it and drink less breast milk -- which has the nutrients he really needs. “Breast milk is all that your baby needs during the first six months of life,” says McLary. And as far as quenching baby’s thirst, breast milk will do that too. “It’s actually made of over 85 percent water,” says McLary, and we highly doubt he’ll turn it down when he’s hungry.

“Someone once told me to scrub my nipples with a washcloth to ‘toughen them up’ for nursing. Um, ouch!” -- museummaven 

Why it’s bad advice: You won’t do much more than make your nipples sore. “This is a ridiculous old wives’ tale that seems to persist in some cultures,” says McLary. “It’s absolutely unnecessary. The best preparation for breastfeeding is understanding that it is a natural, normal process.” Your body is naturally prepping itself for breastfeeding. All you have to do is, well, do it.

“My mother-in-law said that my breasts were too small to give my baby enough milk and that I should give him formula.” -- k-renee 

Why it’s bad advice: There’s actually no correlation between breast size and milk production. “Breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and unless you have glandular development issues (which is rare), your breast size will not compromise your ability to produce milk to meet your baby’s needs,” says McLary.

“My friend gave me this advice: ‘Don’t breastfeed. Breastfeeding makes your breasts saggy and gross.’” -- damabo80 

Why it’s bad advice: Research shows that saggy boobs are more likely to result from pregnancy in general than from breastfeeding. “Pregnancy and hormones make our breasts victims of gravity,” says McLary. “Breastfeeding has little to do with it.”

“This week, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law both encouraged me to not breastfeed because it would take up too much of my time and I would end up a slave to my baby and boobs.” -- lolinshag 

Why it’s bad advice: Sure, you’ll find yourself spending a lot of time feeding your baby, but so do bottle-feeding moms. “Imagine the time you’ll spend buying formula and bottle gear, and cleaning, sorting, cooling and heating bottles,” says McLary. Plus, breast pumps make it possible to give baby breast milk while you’re away from her, so you don’t have to feel stuck if you want some “me time.”

“Drinking beer while breastfeeding will help baby sleep. Yeah, that’s gonna work….” -- dundasgirl 

Why it’s bad advice: “This is a scary and dangerous concept,” says McLary. Why? Alcohol can pass into breast milk like it passes into your bloodstream. Sure, baby will only be exposed to a small percentage of alcohol if you drink, but his body will process it at a slower rate. And rather than help him sleep, it actually could cause sleep problems for baby, not to mention impair his motor development (scary!). But McLary says that having a glass of wine on a date night with your hubby is okay: “The general rule on breastfeeding is, if she can drive a car, she’s okay to feed her baby. But don’t count on it making baby sleep any longer than usual.” So if you end up enjoying a glass of chardonnay at dinner, wait at least two to three hours before nursing baby -- just to be safe.

“My father-in-law believes that bottles are better than breastfeeding because ‘ you’ll know if the baby is getting enough.’” -- kelleylk 

Why it’s bad advice: Sure, if you breastfeed, you won’t have the luxury of ounce markings letting you know how much your baby is taking in, but there are ways to know she’s getting enough milk. “Make sure she’s happy, gaining weight, looking healthy and wetting between six to eight diapers in a 24-hour period -- and feeding every two to three hours,” says McLary. “Then, you’re meeting her needs.” And feeding her the healthiest way possible.

World Breastfeeding Week

August 1–7 is World Breastfeeding Week (based on the WHO website)!!! This is celebrated every year in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.

I am a firm believer that breastfeeding is the most precious gift a mother can give to her child(ren). It is not a forever thing (as what some other critics around me say) but the benefits of this can be seen in the child's lifetime.  I breastfed my son for about 21 months only since I was pregnant with my second child. I wasn't educated well that I can still continue breastfeed even up to the 8th month of pregnancy. Please see KellyMom on this. I regretted not doing my research and had my OB decide when to totally stop cold-turkey my son's breastfeeding journey.  My initial target for C was to reach 2 years old. 
Now that I have given birth to our second child, S, I am more determined to reach this 2 years old mark and enjoy my breastfeeding lifestyle with the support of breastfeeding coach friends and supportees. With new-found determination and a strong support system behind me on this, there is totally nothing I won't be able to do!
Getting back to breastfeeding and being one of the many supporters, I tell friends and relatives that this takes a lot of sacrifice, commitment and conviction to do that only a mother can decide for herself.  My decision to breastfeed had made me the woman/mother/partner that I am today. I had to learn how to be stronger for my kids and provide a more vocal supporter to other mothers who are going through what I did.

August Breastfeeding Month has a full schedule of events in and around town can be found at Chronicles of a Nursing Mom here. The breastfeeding community is all excited to kick them off!

One of those activities that will be important to S and me since we will be there is the Breastfreeding MOB set in Manila on August 3, 2013 - 3pm at Rajah Sulayman Park, Roxas Boulevard Manila. This is the park beside the original Aristrocrat and Max's Fried Chicken. It is open to all, not only breastfeeding families but also supporters and everyone that would like to help raise awareness in breastfeeding.
Registration is requested since there will be buttons for the mothers who will be attending this event. Please make sure you register at the Eventbrite page here to get your personalized button.
To know more about the event, you can find it here at the BFP Event Page. I hope you come and introduce yourself to us if you do come. :)
Spread the word - let's make breastfeeding a norm and not a taboo!

The below are some wonderful posters from the WHO site that provides ways of promoting breastfeeding whether you are a parent, relative, co-worker, etc. I cannot wait to attend the other activities this August to promote Breastfeeding in the Philippines.
For now, happy Breastfeeding month to all my readers!

Solving Sniffles from Kidspot.au

- from Kidspot.au

10 flu remedies to beat the bug

With winter well and truly on us now, it's only a matter of time before the flu will begin circulating at mother's group, preschool, big school or work. If you've been too slow in getting your flu shot for the season, or don't feel comfortable bringing out the big guns of antiviral medicines, there are simple ways you can help protect yourself from the flu virus.
Read our top ten ways you can reduce the length and severity of flu, if you catch it, and other simple remedies to make you more comfortable while you get through this too-common winter bug.

Echinacea

When it comes to cure-alls, Echinacea is a natural wonder drug! Numerous studies have shown that Echinacea contains active substances that boost the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. Particularly effective in fighting flu and cold viruses, Echinacea taken at the first sign of a cold or flu bug will reduce the length and severity of the illnesses and reduce the number of symptoms.

Liquid elderberry extract

Sold at chemists as Sambucol, liquid elderberry extract fights flu directly. Studies has shown that taking it immediately after the first symptoms of the flu appear will significantly reduce the length and severity of the flu. It seems that the compounds in the extract boost the immune system and stop the flu virus from sticking to cells so it is removed from your body faster.

Fluids

Drinking plenty when you have the flu is key to keeping your discomfort to a minimum, without continuously replacing the fluids you are losing through fever and mucous build-up, you can quickly become dehydrated which can delay your recovery as well as make you feel so much worse than you should. Cool drinks can be soothing when you have a fever and hot drinks can be soothing when you have a sore or tickly throat. Whatever you choose, just drink, drink, drink!

Blow your nose

It's true, when it comes to mucous, it's better out then in. Blowing your nose regularly when you're snotty is so much better than sniffing the mucous back and swallowing it. Do be careful, though, to blow gently as blowing your nose hard when you have the flu or a cold can cause acute ear pain.

Equalise your ears

One of the common symptoms of the flu is having blocked and sore ears as the fluid builds up in the middle ear. Equalising your ears regularly - pinching your nose with your fingers and gently blowing air into your nose for the count of 10 then releasing your nose, and then repeating this five times while you have flu or cold symptoms will keep the fluid moving and significantly reduce the chance of a secondary ear or sinus infection. Equalising will also provide temporary relief from the uncomfortable stuffed-up feeling many cold and flu sufferers experience.

Gargle

Gargling is a great way to tackle throat ailments, everything from a ticklish throat to a it's-too-painful-to-swallow throat. Whether you choose a gargle from the chemist or simply use warm water and salt, gargling will soothe and disinfect your throat membranes and moisten a dry sore throat.

Steam inhalations

Steam inhalations help thin the mucous that's making you stuffy and clogging your chest. Several times a day, pour boiling water into a bowl - you can add a couple of drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil into the water too. Place a towel over your head and then lower yourself so that your face is over the boiling water and the towel is creating a tent around you. Breathe the steam in deeply and slowly until the water begins to cool. As steam is generally good for getting mucous moving, hot showers also have a health benefit.

Chest rubs

There is something so automatically comforting about rubbing something menthol-y on your chest and back when you're sick that it has to be good, right? Happily, chest rubs do have a medicinal use beyond making you feel nurtured. Eucalyptus, camphor and menthol rubs all work to soothe chest congestion and the vapours that are released from contact with your warm skin will help clear your congested head.

Elevate your head when sleeping

Aside from the general aches and pains that come with the flu, chest and head congestion can make it really difficult to get the rest you need when fighting a bug. The best way to get and stay comfortable in bed when you have the flu is by elevating your head with an extra pillow or two. By keeping your head and chest higher than the rest of your body, you'll avoid them 'filling up' when you lie flat. Coughs too can be improved at night by simply sleeping with your head in an elevated position.

Cool compresses

If you're having trouble controlling your fever, use cool (not cold) compresses on the pulse points around your body - the wrists, neck and throat - to cool your blood as it passes close to the suface of your skin. You can also find relief from blocked sinuses by laying cool compresses across the painful areas of your face.