Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash Breast milk contains good bacteria that help the baby stay healthy by colonizing the baby's gut thereby building his or her immune system and preventing allergies among other benefits. Research shows that these good bacteria sourced from the mother influence many bodily processes and functions including the mother’s breast health. Up to … Continue reading Mastitis and… Probiotics?
How others can bond with the baby
First things first, breastfeeding is not selfish. A breastfeeding mother is not preventing others from bonding with the baby. Feeding, though a basic and necessary function, is not the only method by which others can bond with the baby. How can others bond with the baby? Some suggestions apply to the other parent, while others … Continue reading How others can bond with the baby
Support
How can you help support a breastfeeding mom? 1. Let her know you value her efforts. Often simple gestures and statements of support go a long way. 2. Help manage visitors. Sometimes visitors can feel overwhelming. Sometimes the unwanted comments and advice can feel overwhelming. Help manage the number of visitors, length of visit, and … Continue reading Support
One Bowl Molasses Raisin Breakfast Bread
When I was young, my mother occasionally made a rich and dense quick bread that I loved. It had honey and molasses and raisins in it for sweetness. She would slice the bread and over toast each slice to get it a little burned in areas and slightly caramelize the exposed raisins. She then would … Continue reading One Bowl Molasses Raisin Breakfast Bread
Biting
My brother-in-law was visiting our house one early spring day in the first months after my son was born. He was straightforward that breastfeeding made him very uncomfortable and that he did not want me to do it in front of him. Among other pieces of advice, he proclaimed that I should stop breastfeeding once … Continue reading Biting
More on the Workplace II
Continuing from my last post, returning to work can complicate the goal of continued breastfeeding, but we can ease that tension with support. That support can come from a variety of places including the government in the form of legislation, employers through mandated or voluntary breastfeeding (family) friendly work policies, and social and educational efforts. … Continue reading More on the Workplace II
More on the Workplace
After my last post, I read a few recent articles about breastfeeding and the workplace. Returning to work still may act as an impediment to continued breastfeeding. So, how can we support mother's in this process? A two year study out of the University of Cape Town (UCT) showed that mothers with employers who supported … Continue reading More on the Workplace
Break Time For Nursing Mothers
I recently read an article about a paramedic in Arizona who was awarded $3.8 million by a jury as a result of a lawsuit she filed against her employer, the City of Tuscon Fire Department, for failing to provide her with a place to pump breast milk and retaliating against her after she complained. The … Continue reading Break Time For Nursing Mothers
Obiter Dictum
I started receiving comments and (unsolicited) advice from a few specific people about how long we would or should breastfeed starting about the first week after our son was born. Breastfeeding is not the only topic subjected to their advising, but it's the one of relevance here. If there's one thing to know about me, … Continue reading Obiter Dictum
Alternative Milks – Cashew, Coconut, and Almond
My husband and I stopped drinking cow's milk a long time ago. I can't actually remember the last time I drank a glass of cow's milk. It's certainly been over a decade. We switched to cashew, coconut and almond milk mostly. We also experimented with some other alternative milk products like cheese, ice cream and … Continue reading Alternative Milks – Cashew, Coconut, and Almond
