Breastfeeding benefits, let's remember some important facts

What are the benefits of Breastfeeding? 

BENEFITS FOR BABY: 

• Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth and development. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula. 
• As a result, breastfed infants grow exactly the way they should. They tend to gain less unnecessary weight and to be leaner. This may result in being less overweight later in life. 

•  Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula. 
• A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth and development. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula. Breast milk has agents (called antibodies) in it to help protect infants from bacteria and viruses and to help them fight off infection and disease. Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile. 

 BENEFITS FOR MOM: 

• Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth. 
• Breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding (no supplementing with formula), delays the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. (However, you should still talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control choices). 
• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.  
• Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night!   
• A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction by providing her breast milk when her baby is hungry.  
• Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby.   
• Breastfeeding can help a mother to bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted. 
• Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and feelings of closeness and bonding with their infants. The U.S. Surgeon General Recommends Breastfeeding. The U.S. Surgeon General recommends that babies be feed with breast milk only - no formula - for the first 6 months of life. It is better to breastfeed for 6 months and best to breastfeed for 12 months, or for as long as you and your baby wish. 

 BENEFITS FOR SOCIETY:

• Breastfeeding saves on health care costs. Total medical care costs for the nation are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants since breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations. 
• Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce. Breastfeeding mothers miss less work, as their infants are sick less often. Employer medical costs also are lower and employee productivity is higher. 
• Breastfeeding is better for our environment because there is less trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies. 

Remember, breastfeeding is the BEST gift a mother can give to her child. 

Make NO mistake formula is NOT similar in any way or form to breastmilk and never will

Mothers make the best food, make no mistake on that. No matter what deceitful formula companies advertise and say on their commercials, formula is nothing like mothers milk, and never will! Unfortunately here in America formula companies don't face any restrictions when it comes to the claims can or cannot put on the commercials they create, to increase their sales. They create commercials with beautiful happy babies, that seem to be so healthy and happy, because they are on that formula. They tell you about the wonderful beneficial new ingredients they have added to "improve" the taste and quality of their product. and even have the "nerve" to claim that their formula contain ingredients found on breastmilk. They emphasize the word breastfeeding, making sure that stays in your head. 

They want you to think that not only formula is very healthy for your baby but is actually similar or as good as a mothers milk. And that not only is inaccurate but is a huge lie! NO formula can come even close to a mother's milk, not in taste, quality, health benefits. It is free, available 24 hours, convenient and what mother nature intended for babies to drink. They can market their product as much as they want, but NOT in hospitals by giving a "gift" to new moms, it is not a gift is a set up!! According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF about 1.5 million babies die every year because they were not breastfed. Many more millions suffer from infectious diseases and malnutrition, never reaching their full potential because they were bottle-feed. Furthermore, The ingredients in formula are unhealthy, unsafe and unnatural and for sure the last thing we should put into a baby's body. 

"Unless you've seen this image before, it may shock you to realise that these babies are twins. The woman was told that she would not be able to sustain both babies, and so breastfed the male twin and had her grandmother bottlefeed the female. The girl died the day after the picture was taken".

In closing,

Make no mistake, formula cannot even be compared to breast milk and any advertisement that claims or want to make you believe the opposite is lying to you. They put profit above human life, create misleading commercials making false claims. So if you are buying this or any other formula because the manufacturer said it has ingredients found on breast milk, think twice.

GERBER^® GOOD START^® Protect PLUS^®Formula

Good start 'protect plus"? really?? it is not a good start for a baby and for sure it does NOT protect in any way or form. Please get this straight and get the facts. Have you ever read the ingredients on this baby formula (or any other) for that matter? Don't get fooled by the fancy names they choose to add as is i this case "B. Lactis Cultures. But they say it is found on mother's milk right? and have you noticed it is the very last ingredient? Did you know that the most important ingredients on any product and what counts for 90% of the total content are the first three ingredients on a product? as the rest of the ingredients are added from the first to the last, the quantity can be insignificant, meaning the nutritional value may be irrelevant to the quality of the product. And did you know that "whey protein hydrolyzed"contain MSG(monosodium glutamate? Please find below some important links about MSG and educate yourself.

GOOD START Protect PLUS Formula Powder Ingredients

Whey Protein Concentrate (From Cow's Milk, Enzymatically Hydrolyzed, Reduced in Minerals), Vegetable Oils (Palm Olein, Soy, Coconut, and High-Oleic Safflower or High-Oleic Sunflower), Lactose, Corn Maltodextrin, and less than 2% of: Potassium Citrate, Potassium Phosphate, Calcium Chloride, Calcium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Magnesium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenate, M. alpina Oil*, C. cohnii Oil**, Sodium Ascorbate, Inositol, Choline Bitartrate, Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Phylloquinone, Biotin, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12, Taurine, Nucleotides (Cytidine 5'-Monophosphate, Disodium Uridine 5'-Monophosphate, Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate, Disodium Guanosine 5'-Monophosphate), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, L-Carnitine, B. lactis Cultures, Soy Lecithin.


http://www.truthinlabeling.org/formulacopy.html infant formula contains MSG
http://www.advancedhealthplan.com/msgstudy.html MSG study and facts
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item1225  MSG side effects

Breastfeeding 'prevents baby infections,' research suggests

Exclusive breastfeeding for six months wards off baby infections, further evidence suggests.

Regardless of other factors, such as good healthcare and vaccination programmes, breastfeeding still gives babies a boost, say Greek researchers.

They say it is the composition of breast milk that helps babies fight infections.

The findings, from a study of 1,000 vaccinated infants, are published in Archives of Diseases in Childhood.

Researchers say the benefit only comes with exclusive breastfeeding - mixing breast and bottle will not achieve the same.

World experts already recommend that infants are exclusively breastfed for at least the first six months of life.

Natural boost
For the study, the researchers tracked the health of 926 infants for a period of 12 months, recording any common infections these babies had during their first year of life.

All the newborns were routinely vaccinated and had access to a high standard of healthcare.

Almost two-thirds of mothers were breastfeeding at one month, but this figure dropped to just under a fifth at six months.

Overall, 91 of the infants were exclusively breastfed for a full six months.

Subsequently, these infants had significantly fewer common infections during their first year of life than their peers who were either partially breastfed or not breastfed at all.

These included respiratory and ear infections, as well as thrush.

And the infections they did pick up were less severe, even after adjusting for other factors that might influence infection risk, such as number of siblings and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

Professor Emmanouil Galanakis and his team say it is the composition of breast milk that explains their findings.

Breast milk contains antibodies passed from the mother, as well as other immunological and nutritional factors that help the baby fight off infections.

"Mothers should be advised by health professionals that, in addition to all the other benefits, exclusive breastfeeding helps prevent infections in babies and lessens the frequency and severity of infectious episodes," the researchers say.

Janet Fyle of the Royal College of Midwives said: "This research is very welcome and adds to the growing weight of evidence about the many benefits of breastfeeding.

"We know that breastfeeding is the default method of infant feeding for babies; good for mothers and good for the health of the nation. That is why we need to continue our efforts to ensure that we maintain a high rate of breastfeeding in the UK.

"The UK needs to see breastfeeding as a normal process, and to move away from some of the outdated and negative stigma that is depressingly still attached to it, specifically breastfeeding in public."

Thank you to janet Fyle from the Royal College of Midwives for this wonderful information.

Great customers reviews for Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers

I have write in previous posts about Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers, a wonderful natural herbal formula exclusively formulated to help breastfeeding mothers to increase their breast milk production. In this post, I wanted to highly the excellent testimonials and feedback, this wonderful product receive every day, by satisfied customers.

I am so proud to have found this product. I find myself looking forward to my tea time. My father was diagnosed terminal when my daughter was a month old. With the stress I began to not produce enough milk. With the tea, I have enough, and the added bonus of my daughter not being so gassy. Personally I don't add regular tea, I just drink the formula. Anna... thank you from the bottom of my heart. Kelly D. Louisiana

I can't thank you enough on my sister's behalf. She has been taking the sacred tea and the baby has been feeding very well ever since. My sister has now made sure that she has the sacred tea every alternate day and recommended her friends (new mothers) the sacred tea as well! A very big thank you once again for all your invaluable kind advice. Regards, Rafida Raslan

Amazing! Tea works to produce more breast milk quickly and substantially!! This tea Actually Works! I was skeptical but ordered it anyway in a last ditch effort to improve my poor milk production. Within an hour of drinking a few ounces my milk production more than doubled. I have ordered much more and wont be forced to stop breatfeeding. Couldnt be more thrilled with this tea! Tastes decent also... a bit like black licorice. Kristin, G. Woodstock, VT

I'm BEYOND excited to get this tea again!! When I used my first bag last week, it was incredible. I was able to get 4 oz while pumping when I had never gotten more than 2.5oz! it was in the middle of the night but that's ok!! I was thrilled!! Your tea is wonderful and I can't wait to get it! Thank you. Dana, P. Elmont, NY

I want to say that the tea is amazing............... ! Thank you so much for the advice that using the pump is for work. I have gone back to breast-feeding all thru the evenings after work,and 2-3 times during the night has really helped get my milk back in. I've enjoyed the tea and find it relaxing. I'am feeling so much more confident about being able to continue breast-feeding as long as possible. Very Much Pleased!!!!!!!!!!! Sandy in SC


Dearest Ana, when I first came upon your website I was a desperate mother. I have had gone through a couple of other "remedies" to help my milk production, but of course they did not work. I had even been tried one Danish beer a day, which worked but the thought of the alcohol content bothered me.

Then I went online and I googled "increase breast milk supply" and by God's merciful grace your page caught my eye. As soon as the website opened up I began to relax to the beautiful music. As I began to read about you, your credentials and how you and your husband came to create "the secret tea", I knew this was the way to go. The fact that is 100% organic gives me peace of mind that my child is only going to get good, healthy milk. I ordered it that night and received it within 3 days. Within 24 hours of drinking the tea I could feel that the production of the milk glands was more intense.

I prayed to God and asked him to help me out and he sent me you.

Thank you for your time to hear me. What you do is such a beautiful ministry. It enforces what was mean for us and our children by God. Your sincerity and compliments are humbling.
I sent you several pictures to show you the prograssion of our blessings!

Peace & Love
Ima Padgett, Fayetterville, GA

To read more testimonials or to learn more about this fabulous product click here.

The Best Product To Increase Breast Milk Supply

Do you need to increase your breast milk supply? Did you know that Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers is the #1 natural selling product in the USA?

Are you a breastfeeding mother in need to increase your milk supply? Did you know that you can increase your breast milk production FAST, Naturally, and without using drugs? Just the way Mother Nature Intended.

Without using toxic chemicals, artificial ingredients, or prescription drugs that in most cases have negative side effects, for both Mom and Baby.

Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers is an 100% Certified organic herbal formula, exclusively formulated with specific ingredients proven to not only successfully increase milk supply within hours of use, but also to protect both mom and baby’s digestive systems from common stomach upset, indigestion, constipation and gas.

Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers was exclusively created to help you. The Unique combination of our ingredients makes this herbal formula a powerful cocktail of Vital Nutrients that will help your body to increase your milk supply within hours of use*.

Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers is recommended by pediatricians and other health care professionals. It is safe for Mom and Baby, it is an excellent alternative to conventional drugs and it is 100% Certified Organic!

WHY ORGANIC INGREDIENTS?
Drinking 100% Certified organic herbal teas to increase and support your breast milk, will avoid passing into your baby unnecessary artificial herbicides, pesticides and other unhealthy toxic additives.

The company that formulated Sacred Tea for Nursing Mother believe in the importance of nurturing you and your baby in the most healthy way possible. That's the reason why all the herbs used in Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers have been carefully selected and are 100% Certified Organic.

Click here to learn more about the benefits of drinking Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers and how it can help you, to increase your breast milk production fast.

How To Increase Breast Milk Supply

Are you one of the many mothers that worries about not having enough breast milk supply for your baby? Did your doctor told you that the only way to increase your supply, is by using a prescription drug? Are you concerned about the side effects of conventional drugs? Are you looking for alternative solutions? If you say yes to any of these questions, I encourage you to read this article.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF about 1.5 million babies die every year because they were not breastfed. Many more millions suffer from infectious diseases and malnutrition, never reaching their full potential because they were bottlefed.

We know that breastfeeding is the healthiest choice for a baby. Most women plan to or want to breastfeed. However, many experience fear, are worry, and have many doubts and questions unanswered.

Right after the birth of their babies and for the first few days, even weeks, many mothers are concerned about not having enough milk. But what most women don't know is that the likelihood that a woman will be physically unable to produce sufficient milk for her baby is actually low. But we wonder why are so many women out there that believe or worry about not producing enough breast milk?

In our current society, we have lost the Art of Breastfeeding. Many mothers have grown up in families where they are the first women in generations to breastfeed. These mothers don't have a role model to look up to, so they do the best they can with the information and support available to them. Now the real problem as I see it, is that because we are living in a formula-feeding culture, the information they receive may be inaccurate and the support they have may be inadequate-which can discourage their efforts to breastfeed.

Most importantly, is the exposure to formula advertising women are subject to. We just have to look at the message we receive from the hospitals. The very first thing women are given as soon as they leave the hospital, is free formula, which brings the wrong message to new mothers, lowering confidence of mothers in their ability to breastfeed. They told them that IF they want to breastfeed their babies, they MUST make sure the baby is getting enough milk to support her growth. Of course, they also encourage women to NOT FEEL BAD if they have to supplement the feedings with some formula. This, automatically send a message to the new mothers, as if their breast could or could not develop enough milk. So instantly, a concern has been created in the women's mind, about their ability to produce enough breast milk. They also are told not right after a few days of birth, they must take the baby to see a pediatrician.

In my many years as a breastfeeding consultant, I have grow tired of hearing pediatricians tell mothers, that the baby was not getting enough weight and they MUST supplement with formula. Of course, for many women hearing this from a pediatrician means... you must do what he said or else...However, what doctors don't tell mothers is that it's totally normal for a baby to loss weight within the first days of her life. Also, they don't encourage them to trying first other alternative methods such as, herbal remedies and nutrition. The doctors of the old days (my grandmother used to tell me this) would tell women, to just simply put the baby on the breast constantly on demand. The more the better, they also focused mainly on the foods they were eating and encourage them to eat more of others, as chicken soup, lentil stew, even herbs my grandmother always told me. Most importantly, making sure the mother drinks plenty of fresh water every day.

Milk supply is dynamic. It follows the law of supply and demand. The more frequently and effectively a baby breastfeed, the more milk the mother's breasts produce. Sometimes for new moms, not understanding their baby's behavior can lead mothers to think they don't have enough milk even though they actually do.

Before or after the birth of a baby, Breastfeeding Consultants and La Leche League Leaders can help mothers tremendously. They can help mothers learn about positioning and latch-on so that babies can effectively obtain milk, how to tell a baby is getting enough milk, and how to increase milk supply, if needed. They can also refer mothers to healthcare providers to determine if there are any physiological causes of low milk supply in mother (e.g., a hormonal imbalance, retained placenta, previous breast surgery) or other related to baby (e.g., tongue-tie, low muscle tone, respiratory problems)-many of which are treatable.

There are however, special situations when a mother does suffer from low milk supply and additional help is needed.

What about "natural remedies" versus prescription drugs?

Reglan and domperidone, are prescription drugs that can help women increase their milk supply.Reglan is an older medication that is known to increase milk production, but it has frequent side effects which have made its use for many nursing mothers unacceptable (fatigue, irritability, depression). Another drug is domperidone, which has many fewer side effects because it does not enter the brain tissue in significant amounts (does not pass the blood-brain barrier).

I personally don't like these or any other drug to be prescribed to a breastfeeding woman, knowing that there are some other more natural and healthier alternatives. Unfortunately, conventional medicine is much against natural remedies and preventive health care. The problem with reglan , donperidome and others alike," as many women claim to have" besides the side effects described above, is that the same way that may help you to increase breast milk supply initially while taking it, it will as well decrease, even stop your milk supply once you stop taking it. It is like Prozac and other depression drugs they (work?) While taking them. However, studies have revealed of people committing suicide once they stop taking the drug. Sad but true, conventional medicine and it's approach to "healing" is quite invasive and with a large list hidden side effects.

Is there any natural product available to increase breast milk supply without side effects for both, Mom and baby?

If you need to increase your milk supply, I'll highly recommend you to try any natural product, before using prescription drugs.

Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers is an 100% Certified organic herbal formula, formulated with specific ingredients proven to not only successfully increase milk supply within days, but also to protect both mom and baby's digestive systems from common stomach upset, indigestion, constipation and gas. Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers was exclusively created to help you. The Unique combination of our ingredients makes this herbal formula a powerful cocktail of Vital Nutrients that will help your body to increase your milk supply within hours of use*.

However, to increase breast milk supply, it is very important to understand that you MUST nurse your baby on demand, making sure, you are positioning the baby on the breast correctly. You must follow a healthy diet, drink plenty of fresh water, get plenty of rest, manage your stress levels and be patient. Breastfeeding is a learning experience for mom and baby. To guarantee a successful breastfeeding experience, it is recommended for you to exclusively breastfeed your baby on demand for the first few weeks, right after birth. Joining a La Leche League group near you is a good idea; having a professional breastfeeding consultant visiting you at home, is highly recommended.

Here is some basic information to remember:

Step 1- Breastfeed your baby on demand; remember you are going to have to be really patient and consistent, especially within the first few weeks. Milk supply is dynamic. It follows the law of supply and demand. The more frequently and effectively a baby breastfeed, the more milk the mother's breasts produce. Sometimes for new moms, not understanding their baby's behavior can lead mothers to think they don't have enough milk even though they actually do.

Step 2- Make sure the baby is latching on correctly and vigorously. If your baby gets sleepy on the breast, try to gently pinch her cheeks, or tickle her feet. if she get sleepy, remove her from the breast and put her to latch again, making sure she have the entire nipple on her mouth and her lips covers most of your aureole. Remember her jaw needs to be doing the work, not her checks. Place your finger on her throat to make sure she is swallowing.

Step 3- Remember to drink plenty of water! at least 1.5 liters of water a day. Buy yourself a plastic cup with straw have it close to you and drink ships of it all the time. Dirking plenty of water is very important.

Step 4- Nutrition is very important as well remember this. Try to have a diet rich in whole foods. Eat whole grains, as is wild rice, brown rice, quinoa (very important grain) oats, and amaranth. Eat fish especially salmon and if you can many avocados, very rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Eat roasted chicken and make sure to eat the skin as this has rich nutrients that can help you to increment the milk supply. Try to have snacks during your meals. Eat seeds, nuts, and hummus with crackers, energy bars, and fresh fruit.

Step 5- Try to control your stress levels and remember that stress is the worst enemy of a breastfeeding woman. Stress can actually be a factor in decreasing the production of milk supply.

Step 6- Forget about schedules for the first few weeks/moths and try to get some rest. Sleep when the baby sleep and get as many naps as you can. Sleep deprivation ca be another factor altogether with stress that can influence your ability to produce more or less milk supply.

Step 7- Drink Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers if you need to increase your milk supply. This herbal formula is made with 100% certified organic ingredients, is very concentrated, and can increase your milk supply within hours of use.Most importantly, is to trust your body, have patience and if you think you need it, seek professional help right after the birth of your precious baby. Hope this helps. God bless you all .

Thank you for reading this article, and I hope it was helpful to you.

In Light, Love and Health

Sincerely

Ana Sola, CLA, CHBE, BC

Ana Sola is a Professional Labor Assistant, Breastfeeding Consultant,Hypno-Childbirth Educator, Wellness Consultant, Women's Spiritual Counselor, Motivational Speaker and an Author.
Today, Ana Sola dedicate her life and work to educate women about the benefits of breastfeeding, natural family living, and preventive health care. She educates women about the importance of good nutricion and following a whole foods diet. As a wellness counselor she works with Women, Mothers and their Children.

Are you having a low Breast milk supply?

Right after the birth of their babies and for the first few days, even weeks, many mothers are concerned about not having enough milk. But what most women don't know is that the likelihood that a woman will be physically unable to produce sufficient milk for her baby is actually low.

But we wonder why are so many women out there that believe or worry about not producing enough breast milk?

In our current society, we have lost the Art of Breastfeeding. Many mothers have grown up in families where they are the first women in generations to breastfeed. These mothers don't have a role model to look up to, so they do the best they can with the information and support available to them. Now the real problem as I see it, is that because we are living in a formula-feeding culture, the information they receive may be inaccurate and the support they have may be inadequate-which can discourage their efforts to breastfeed.

Most importantly, is the exposure to formula advertising women are subject to. We just have to look at the message we receive from the hospitals. The very first thing women are given as soon as they leave the hospital, is free formula, which brings the wrong message to new mothers, lowering confidence of mothers in their ability to breastfeed. They told them that IF they want to breastfeed their babies, they MUST make sure the baby is getting enough milk to support her growth. Of course, they also encourage women to NOT FEEL BAD if they have to supplement the feedings with some formula. This, automatically send a message to the new mothers, as if their breast could or could not develop enough milk. So instantly a concern has been created in the women's mind, about their ability to produce enough breast milk. They also are told not right after a few days of birth, they must take the baby to see a pediatrician.

In my many years as a breastfeeding consultant, I have grow tired of hearing the pediatricians tell mothers, that the baby was not getting enough weight and they MUST supplement with formula. Of course, for many women hearing this from a pediatrician means... you must do what he said or else...However, what doctors don't tell mothers is that it's totally normal for a baby to loss weight within the first days of her life. Also, they don't encourage them to trying first other alternative methods such as, herbal remedies and nutrition. The doctors of the old days (my grandmother used to tell me this) would tell women, to just simply put the baby on the breast constantly on demand. The more the better, they also focused mainly on the foods they were eating and encourage them to eat more of others, as chicken soup, lentil stew, even herbs my grandmother always told me.

Milk supply is dynamic. It follows the law of supply and demand. The more frequently and effectively a baby breastfeed, the more milk the mother's breasts produce. Sometimes for new moms, not understanding their baby's behavior can lead mothers to think they don't have enough milk even though they actually do.

Before or after the birth of a baby, Breastfeeding Consultants and La Leche League Leaders can help mothers tremendously. They can help mothers learn about positioning and latch-on so that babies can effectively obtain milk, how to tell a baby is getting enough milk, and how to increase milk supply, if needed. They can also refer mothers to healthcare providers to determine if there are any physiological causes of low milk supply in mother (e.g., a hormonal imbalance, retained placenta, previous breast surgery) or other related to baby (e.g., tongue-tie, low muscle tone, respiratory problems)-many of which are treatable.

Breastfeeding is the natural, physiologic way of feeding infants and young children milk, and human milk is the milk made specifically for human infants. Formulas made from cow’s milk or soy beans (most of them) are only superficially similar, and advertising which states otherwise is misleading. Breastfeeding should be easy and trouble free for most mothers. A good start helps to assure breastfeeding is a happy experience for both mother and baby.

The vast majority of mothers are perfectly capable of breastfeeding their babies exclusively for four to six months. In fact, most mothers produce more than enough milk. Unfortunately, outdated hospital routines based on bottle-feeding still predominate in many health care institutions and make breastfeeding difficult, even impossible, for some mothers and babies. For breastfeeding to be well and properly established, a good early few days can be crucial. Admittedly, even with a terrible start, many mothers and babies manage.

The trick to breastfeeding is getting the baby to latch on well. A baby who latches on well, gets milk well. A baby who latches on poorly has difficulty getting milk, especially if the supply is low. A poor latch is similar to giving a baby a bottle with a nipple hole which is too small— the bottle is full of milk, but the baby will not get much. When a baby is latching on poorly, he may also cause the mother nipple pain. And if he does not get milk well, he will usually stay on the breast for long periods, thus aggravating the pain. Here are a few ways breastfeeding can be made easy:

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1. The baby should be at the breast immediately after birth.
The vast majority of newborns can be put to breast within minutes of birth. Indeed, research has shown that, given the chance, babies only minutes old will often crawl up to the breast from the mother’s abdomen, and start breastfeeding all by themselves. This process may take up to an hour or longer, but the mother and baby should be given this time together to start learning about each other. Babies who "self-attach" run into far fewer breastfeeding problems.

This process does not take any effort on the mother’s part, and the excuse that it cannot be done because the mother is tired after labor is nonsense, pure and simple. Incidentally, studies have also shown that skin-to-skin contact between mothers and babies keeps the baby as warm as an incubator.

2. The mother and baby should room in together.
There is absolutely no medial reason for healthy mothers and babies to be separated from each other, even for short periods. Health facilities which have routine separations of mothers and babies after birth are years behind the times, and the reasons for the separation often have to do with letting parents know who is in control (the hospital) and who is not (the parents). Often bogus reasons are given for separations. One example is the baby passed meconium before birth. A baby who passes meconium and is fine a few minutes after birth will be fine and does not need to be in an incubator for several hours’ "observation".

There is no evidence that mothers who are separated from their babies are better rested. On the contrary, they are more rested and less stressed when they are with their babies. Mothers and babies learn how to sleep in the same rhythm. Thus, when the baby starts waking for a feed, the mother is also starting to wake up naturally. This is not as tiring for the mother as being awakened from deep sleep, as she often is if the baby is elsewhere when he wakes up.

The baby shows long before he starts crying that he is ready to feed. His breathing may change, for example. Or he may start to stretch. The mother, being in light sleep, will awaken, her milk will start to flow, and the calm baby will be content to nurse. A baby who has been crying for some time before being tried on the breast may refuse to take the breast even if he is ravenous. Mothers and babies should be encouraged to sleep side by side in hospital. This is a great way for mothers to rest while the baby nurses. Breastfeeding should be a relaxing, not tiring or a difficult one.

3. Artificial nipples should not be given to the baby.
There seems to be some controversy about whether "nipple confusion" exists. Babies will take whatever method gives them a rapid flow of fluid and may refuse others that do not. Thus, in the first few days, when the mother is producing only a little milk (as nature intended), and the baby gets a bottle (as nature intended?) from which he gets rapid flow, he will tend to prefer the rapid flow method. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out, though many health professionals, who are supposed to be helping you, don’t seem to be able to manage it. Nipple confusion includes not just the baby refusing the breast, but also the baby not taking the breast as well as he could and thus not getting milk well and /or the mother getting sore nipples. Just because a baby will "take both" does not mean that the bottle is not having a negative effect. Since there are now alternatives available if the baby needs to be supplemented, why use an artificial nipple?

4. No restriction on length or frequency of breastfeedings.
A baby who drinks well will not be on the breast for hours at a time. Thus, if he is, it is usually because he is not latching on well and not getting the milk which is available. This, not a pacifier, not a bottle, not taking the baby to the nursery, will help.

5. Supplements of water, sugar water, or formula are rarely needed.
Most supplements could be avoided by getting the baby to take the breast properly and get the milk that is available. If you are being told you need to supplement without someone having observed you breastfeeding, ask for someone to help who knows what they are doing. There are rare indications for supplementation, but usually supplements are suggested for the convenience of the hospital staff. The best supplement is your own colostrum. Formula is hardly ever necessary in the first few days.

6. A proper latch is crucial to success.
This is the key to successful breastfeeding. Unfortunately, too many mothers are being "helped" by people who don’t know what a proper latch is. If you are being told your two day old’s latch is good despite your having very sore nipples, be skeptical, and ask for help from someone who knows. Before you leave the hospital, you should be shown that your baby is latched on properly, and that he is actually getting milk from the breast and that you know how to know he is getting milk from the breast (open— pause—close type of suck). If you and the baby are leaving hospital not knowing this, get help quickly.

7. Free formula samples and formula company literature are not gifts.
There is only one purpose for these "gifts" and that is to get you to use formula. It is very effective, and very unethical, marketing. If you get any from any health professional, you should be wondering about his/her knowledge of breastfeeding and his/her commitment to breastfeeding. "But I need formula because the baby is not getting enough!". Maybe, but, more likely, you weren’t given good help and the baby is simply not getting your milk well. Get good help. Formula samples are not help.

Hope you enjoyed this article and that it was helpful to you.

In Light, Love and health
Sincerely
Ana Sola, CLA, CHBE, BC

Some of the most common Breastfeeding Myths

Today I wanted to look at some of the most common Myths about Breastfeeding. Women are misleading every day with wrongful information that does not encourage them to believe in their natural ability to breastfeed their babies naturally. So please read the following Myths and don't let any one mislead you.

Myth number 1: Many women do not produce enough milk. Not true!

The vast majority of women produce more than enough milk. Indeed, an overabundance of milk is common. Most babies that gain too slowly, or lose weight, do so not because the mother does not have enough milk, but because the baby does not get the milk that the mother has. The usual reason that the baby does not get the milk that is available is that he is poorly latched onto the breast. This is why it is so important that the mother be shown, on the first day, how to latch a baby on properly, by someone who knows what he or she is doing.

Myth number 2: It is normal for breastfeeding to hurt. Not true!

Though some tenderness during the first few days is relatively common, this should be a temporary situation, which lasts only a few days and should never be so bad that the mother dreads nursing. Any pain that is more than mild is abnormal and is usually due to the baby latching on poorly. Any nipple pain that is not getting better by day 3 or 4 or lasts beyond 5 or 6 days should not be ignored. A new onset of pain when things have been going well for a while may be due to a yeast infection of the nipples. Limiting feeding time does not prevent soreness.

Myth number 3: There is no milk during the first 3 or 4 days after birth. There is no (not enough) milk during the first 3 or 4 days after birth. Not true!

It often seems like that because the baby is not latched on properly and therefore is unable to get the milk. Once the mother's milk is abundant, a baby can latch on poorly and still may get plenty of milk. However, during the first few days, the baby who is latched on poorly cannot get milk. This accounts for "but he's been on the breast for 2 hours and is still hungry when I take him off". By not latching on well, the baby is unable to get the mother's first milk, called colostrum. Anyone who suggests you pump your milk to know how much colostrum there is, does not understand breastfeeding, and should be politely ignored.

Myth number 4: A baby should be on the breast 20 minutes on each side. A baby should be on the breast 20 (10, 15, 7.6) minutes on each side. Not true!

However, a distinction needs to be made between "being on the breast" and "breastfeeding". If a baby is actually latching on correctly for most of 15-20 minutes on the first side, he may not want to take the second side at all. If he latch only a minute on the first side, and then nibbles or sleeps, and does the same on the other, no amount of time will be enough. The baby will breastfeed better and longer if he is latched on properly. He can also be helped to breastfeed longer if the mother gently massages the breast to keep the flow of milk going, once he no longer swallows on his own. Thus it is obvious that the rule of thumb that "the baby gets 90% of the milk in the breast in the first 10-15 minutes" is in a sense accurate.

Myth number 5: A breastfeeding baby needs extra water in hot weather. Not true!

Breast milk contains all the water a baby needs.

Myth number 6: Breastfeeding babies need extra vitamin D. Breastfeeding babies need extra vitamin D. Not true!

Except in extraordinary circumstances (for example, if the mother herself was vitamin D deficient during the pregnancy). The baby stores vitamin D during the pregnancy, and a little outside exposure, on a regular basis, gives the baby all the vitamin D he needs.

Myth number 7: A mother should wash her nipples each time before feeding the baby. Not true!

Formula feeding requires careful attention to cleanliness because formula not only does not protect the baby against infection, but also is actually a good breeding ground for bacteria and can also be easily contaminated. On the other hand, breast milk protects the baby against infection. Washing nipples before each feeding makes breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated and washes away protective oils from the nipple.

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Breastfeeding Starting out right

Whatever shape or size your breasts are, they are all able to produce milk when the time comes, and their appearance is not a factor that has any effect on your ability to breastfeed. In fact, the breasts only store a small amount of milk in the ducts; it’s the milk-producing cells that determine milk production.Breastfeeding works by supply and demand; as long as your baby suckles frequently, the milk will be there for him, as he needs it. The keys to success in the early days are frequent feeding and correct positioning.

During pregnancy, you might discover that you are starting to produce a little breast milk which may leak out from time to time. This is quite normal, but it is equally normal not to produce any. You may find that if you gently squeeze your nipple, some drops of milk will appear towards the end of your pregnancy. There is no need to make any physical preparations for breastfeeding. Ignore any old wives’ tales that you hear about toughening up your nipples. However, finding out about breastfeeding from someone who has breastfed their children, and having the phone number of a breastfeeding counselor, will mean that you are as well prepared as you can be.
Many first-time mothers find getting breastfeeding established difficult and combined with the baby blues it can be a very emotional time. Problems will not go away on their own so ask for help and support immediately, or you may be put off breastfeeding altogether.

First feeds
After your baby is born, you should offer him a feed as soon he is interested. Many mothers feed immediately after delivery, and there is evidence that the sooner breastfeeding begins, the more likely you are to be successful. But don’t worry if you don’t get off to a text-book start. A strong desire to breastfeed will make up for any delay. If you are keen to breastfeed, you should write this down in your birth plan, so the hospital staff can help you.

Your baby will follow his own pattern of feeding, but it is not unusual for the first 24 hours to be fairly quiet, as he rests after the birth. After that, you may find that he is feeding erratically; maybe every hour for five hours, and then a four-hour sleep. However, there is no pattern, no rights and wrongs, apart from letting your baby feed when he wants to. Don’t expect any routine to be emerging at this stage, and just rest when you can.

A good feeding position is vital during these first days. While a certain amount of discomfort at the beginning of a feed is not unusual, severe pain throughout the feed is sending you a message that something is wrong. Very often, the pain is caused by the baby being poorly positioned at the breast, which can be quickly remedied.

First milk
For the first few days your breasts contain colostrum, a highly concentrated creamy milk which is brimming with antibodies, proteins, vitamins and anti-infective agents.
At this stage, your breasts won’t look any different, and because the amount of colostrum your baby needs is small, you may think that you’re not producing anything. But you are, and you should let the baby suckle whenever he wants to. His suckling will stimulate your system into producing mature milk, and frequent suckling in these first few days will help prevent engorgement when the milk does come in.

Mature milk
After two or three days mature milk will appear. You will notice your breasts getting bigger and heavier as the volume of milk being produced increases, and that the milk becomes thinner and whiter.

At every feed your milk will include foremilk and hindmilk. The foremilk is a thirst-quenching drink, high in lactose (milk sugar) but low in fat, while the hindmilk that follows on is higher in fat and very important for your baby’s growth. Restricting the time your baby is at the breast can mean he gets too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk. This means he will become hungry again quite quickly, and may make him colicky. Let him feed for as long as he wants at one breast, to ensure he gets sufficient hindmilk.

Making plenty of milk
The more you feed your baby, the more milk you will make. Suckling acts as a trigger for producing more of it. Therefore, so long as your baby is well positioned on the breast and feeding regularly, he will be getting plenty of food. If your baby isn’t properly latched on, not only will you find it very painful, but also he won’t be able to take the milk he is ordering. You will make more and more milk, but he won’t be removing it, which may lead to you becoming engorged, or developing mastitis.

Some mothers worry about the amount of milk their baby is getting because it’s impossible to see how much the baby takes. There are other ways of identifying whether your baby is feeding well and has plenty of breast milk. If he’s producing plenty of wet diapers, is bright and alert and gaining weight steadily, then you can be reassured that he is getting all the milk he needs. If you feel concerned, ask your midwife or breastfeeding consultant for advice.

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Welcome to Breastfeeding News

Breastfeeding help, articles, aid products & more

Breastfeeding Mothers, Pregnant Women, Adoptive Families and Friends of Breastfeeding, will benefit for reading this site.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF about 1.5 million babies die every year because they were not breastfed. Many more millions suffer from infectious diseases and malnutrition, never reaching their full potential because they were bottlefed.

Without a doubt breastfeeding is the best gift any Mother can give to her baby. Unfortunately, living in a society were big for-profit corporations controls the media, and negatively influence hospitals and doctor's offices, breastfeeding have passed from been a necesity to be a luxury to a few lucky babies. Breastfeeding Myths, unfunded fears, initial problems, and especially the lack of support most mothers encounter end as a result, in formula feeding babies. Not only that, but many mothers feeling guilty and many babies having allergic reaction to the formulas feeding to them.

In this blog, you'll find a lot of healthy and educative information to guide you in your journey to breastfeed your precious baby. You'll find, breastfeeding related information, articles, professional help, recommended products and above all a lot of support and love. So go ahead take a look at all information within this blog, and may you have a happy and joyful breastfeeding experience.