Breastfeeding Love

I am linking up with Sister's N Cloth for the Breastfeeding Blog hop today.  And in honor of Valentine's Day we are writing about the things we love about breastfeeding.  In general I just plain love breastfeeding.  If you want to see all the reasons I love breastfeeding and why look at this post.  Today I  thought I would be super sappy in honor of Valentine's Day and write a poem.


Love, how I love, the way God made our bodies to be
a gift for of life for baby and me.
How incredible that the food my breast's provide
changes as baby's days fly by.
 Something that only I can do for you
I can't delegate this one but I don't want to.

Nestled close up against me, he starts to nurse
almost frantic as he begins.
Arms and legs squirming head bobbing.
Then comes the pins and needles of let down
the soft gulping of baby, the squirming all gone
He ends relaxed and asleep,

I know these days will end too soon even though
I expect we still have a year to go
But I've been here before with babes who came first
The beginning weeks are always the worst
This sweet snugly bonding time won't last nearly as long as I'd like
So this time I try to slow down and enjoy the ride.

First time nursing in public {Breastfeeding Bloghop}

Today I am linking up with Sisters 'n Cloth for the breastfeeding blog hop and discussing the first time nursing in public.  For me, being able to breastfeed comfortably in public enabled me to keep nursing my babies until they were 18 months old.  It meant that I didn't have to know how much milk I needed for the baby when I left the house.  I didn't have to worry about how I would keep the milk good or warm it up. 

I can remember the first few times I nursed Miss Froggie in public.  This was  in the year 2000 and in the summer in Texas.  It was over one hundred degrees every day.  And Miss Froggie was quite the hot water bottle.  I remember sitting on a bench and latching her.  I had most of my breastfeeding gear and a baby blanket.  But it was so hot and Miss Froggie was sweating already.  I just couldn't imagine keeping that blanket over us once we were latched. So I took it off.

To be honest, this was easy for me.  I mean I was SO HOT and so was Miss Froggie.  But it was a little more difficult for dear husband.  He had to be assured that I was not exposed but he agreed it was too hot for a blanket over us.  The next time I remember was in a restaurant.  I nursed her in the booth.  (I've found that if you sit in a booth and nurse on the inside breast, no one out of your table can tell what you are doing.  And in general, once latched it just looks like you are holding your baby.)  This time dear husband asked if it would be better to nurse in the bathroom.  I was honestly surprised.  I asked him, sitting on the toilet?   He said, "oh, no, I guess not". ( He had been under the impression that women had chairs or couches in the bathroom.)

After that, we were both pretty comfortable with the nursing wherever we were.  I have done different things with different babies to keep myself modest.  I like the new light weight nursing covers that keep you covered hands free, but I think they make it obvious what you are doing.  I use them with a new baby that is still learning to latch quickly.  If I am out with family or girl friends I am discrete but I don't worry too much.  If I am out in mixed company I usually keep everything very covered.  Although, some of my babies have liked to uncover themselves.  This can cause more of a scene than quietly latching.

I think the best advice I was given was to practice latching in front of a mirror.  That way you can learn to latch without showing anything.  This gets super easy as baby gets older, because they can do it all themselves.  Now, with the fourth baby 8 months old, we have nursed just about everywhere.  The park, the pool, the amusement park, in the car (not while moving), in the mall, in my office, in the doctor's office, on play dates, at church.  When we have moved or traveled, I have checked the laws in the new states.  Mostly they say the same thing.  Mother can nurse wherever she is legally allowed to be.  But so far, I have not been asked to move or leave anyplace.

I am thankful that I had my girls first.  It would be a little more awkward to nurse a baby in front of tween or teenage boys than teenage girls.

Top ten things to get breastfeeding off to a good start

With breastfeeding nothing is more important than getting off to a good start.  A rough start can be overcome, but as a sleep deprived postpartum mom you want to avoid it if at all possible. 

  What exactly is a good start?  I would define a good start as appropriate weight gain by baby, not supplementing with formula, and a good latch which means no pain for mom.

And is there anything an expecting mom can do to increase the odds of having a good start?   I would suggest that there are ten things you can do to make it as easy as possible.  The first five are things to know before giving birth.  The last five are things to do after the birth.

Before Birth:
1) It is helpful to know if you have protruding, flat, or inverted nipples.  Prior to breastfeeding, nipples are perceived as only sexual and so women often have no idea which type of nipple they have.  By the way, inverted nipples are not inverted all the time, they go in instead of out when compressed for breastfeeding.  Check out Anne Smith's directions and photos if you want to check whether you have flat or inverted nipples.   Wearing breast shells for a few hours a day during the last trimester can really help if you have inverted nipples.
2)  Watch someone else latch a newborn (30 days old or less)
3)  Get educated.  Know what's normal for breastfeeding newborns.  If you know that it is normal for breastfeeding newborns to lose 10% of their weight the first week, it is not as scary.  Knowing that babies digest breastmilk in two hours and that they should be hungry an hour and half after you started the last feeding will make the whole process easier.  So what should you know?
Feeding pattern
Normal diapers
Normal weight loss/gain
Signs of Hunger
Newborn reflexes and how they can affect latch
Breastfeeding positions.
4) Write your birth plan.  This does not have to be elaborate.  Actually I think that the more simply they are the more the nurses are able to accommodate them.  But consider putting in it what your plans are for feedings, rooming in, supplementing with formula, and pacifiers.  If you have inverted nipples it would be a good idea to request that a breast pump be available immediately after birth.
5)  Find your cheerleader. If things are great and easy, your husband may be the only cheerleader you need.  But having a friend, mother, mother-in-law, or sister who has done this before may be what keeps you going if things get a little rough.  And remember, you are not the only one learning how to do this.  Baby is too.

1)  Get baby to breast within 30 minutes of birth if at all possible.  Why? So they don't "forget" how to do the birth crawl.
2)  It is not supposed to hurt.  If it does, get a lactation consultant to help with latch.  If your nipple looks like a new tube of lipstick after baby comes off the breast, latch isn't good enough.  With enough feedings this will turn to a cracked or bruised nipple. 
3) Room in (so you don't miss early signs of hunger)
4)  Keep a log of wet and poopy diapers and time at the breast until baby is back to birth weight.
5)  Drink enough water and be sure to feed yourself.  Sleep whenever you can.

Letter to myself (BFBloghop)

Today is the breastfeeding blog hop over at Sisters in Cloth and we are writing letters to ourselves as first time moms.

Dear a younger Nataline at the birth of Miss Froggie,

    Congratulations!  Miss Froggie has been born and will bring such joy and change to your life at home.   I have written and rewritten this letter, trying to get it just right.  You are now a mother and your number one job is to get to know your baby, to be an expert on her.  Trust yourself, trust your gut.  All the clichés about them growing up to fast, they are true.  Even the one about cooking and cleaning can wait until later... I wish I had learned live in the moment when she was born instead of when she was a middle-schooler.   And made the time to journal and keep a very good baby book for each baby.

     Take as long as you can for maternity leave.  Because once you go back it is harder to quit.  Having a car and stuff, it really is not as important as you think.  You can live with less.  You think that you will have more time and more money later… You will always want 10% more time and money than you have.  Figure out how to make time for what is important and how to spend less than you make now.

    That pacifier that you think is evil?  It is not.  Let her have it early or she won’t take it later.  You can wait until your milk comes in, but if she stays at the breast 24/7 you will have WAY too much milk.  And you will need a pump.  Because when your milk does come in, Miss Froggie won’t be able to latch on a bowling ball.  And while you are at it, get a good EXPENSIVE one.  But keep it forever!  (Even if you think you are done having kids.)

     If you want her to take a bottle, start her on it before 6 weeks.  And then make sure the milk is hot (100 degrees) because your breast milk is hot.  And at four months, when she starts to refuse the bottle you have a decision.  If you nurse her before she takes that bottle, she will quit taking a bottle all together.  It is ok if she won’t take a bottle, so if she is more stubborn than you fine.  But know that is the choice you are making. 

     And finally, you will love your babies so fiercely that you will be tempted to get your priorities out of whack.  Keep God first and husband second.  And make sure your husband knows he is more important than your babies by your actions not just your words. 

                                                                                                                Signed,

 An older Nataline

More breastfeeding goals?

Today’s Topic on the Breastfeeding bloghop is goals, which is appropriate for January and a new year. I have previously talked about what my personal breastfeeding goals have been and what influenced me to have those goals.  But as I was pondering the topic of breastfeeding goals, I realized that I am most likely breastfeeding my last baby.  (God can always do the unexpected, but we do not plan to add any more children to our family.)

While I believe my family is complete,  I am a little sad that this is the last baby.  I pray that the youngest will not be the one to self-wean early.  But, it also means that it is a good time for me to set some breastfeeding goals that are bigger than my personal breastfeeding experience.

I have had the opportunity at three different jobs to work with mothers who were breastfeeding.  And I have always absolutely loved it.  It has been quite enlightening also.  Although I had tons of problems getting my first to latch correctly, all in all breastfeeding has been pretty easy for me personally.  But, some of the women I have worked with have had lots of trouble.  They have had to work really hard to breastfeed their babies.  Before seeing how hard it can be to breastfeed, I had been almost a breastfeeding Nazi.  Now, not so much.  I do think that there are lots of things about our current culture that make it harder to breastfeed.  In the past 10 years I think hospitals have been doing a better job of allowing moms and babies to stay together and nurse sooner after birth.  But there is still work to be done.  I have seen way too many stories in the news in the past year about women who were asked to stop breastfeeding or leave current stores.  And the whole Time magazine controversy.  I can definitely say that I agree with Support with Integrity.  We should not be judgmental about how a mother chooses to breastfeed.  I have signed the pledge and will display the button.

In general I like to have goals and a plan.  But right now I am still praying about what my long term goals or mission should be for breastfeeding.  So, instead I’ll give you my 2013 breastfeeding goals.

1.  Breastfeed baby (the entire year Lord willing) and then wean early 2014.
2.  Write a weekly post for the breastfeeding bloghop.
3.  Take one continuing education class on breastfeeding.
4.  Explore ways to support or encourage a culture of breastfeeding.
5.  Pray about my long term goals related to breastfeeding.

Gift Ideas for a Breastfeeding Mom

For this topic, I think there are two different categories of breastfeeding mothers.  Those expecting  or recently given birth to their first baby and everyone else who is breastfeeding.  The new breastfeeding mom has a longer gift list in my opinion.  And here it is:

Lanolin cream

Disposable breast pads or cloth breast pads

Breastfeeding tank tops or camis

Breastfeeding bra 1-2, plus sleep bra
Burp cloths or cloth diapers for leaky babies and leaky breast.
A sling or wrap 

Breast shells  (These are different from breast shields.  Shells help the nipple to be in the easiest shape for latch, they are essential for new mom’s with flat or inverted nipples.  Mom wears them for about 30 minutes before feeding.  They can also help protect sore nipples from rubbing on clothes).

A waterproof crib pad (for under mom while she sleeps/leaks)

Breast pump (which one depends on how often mom will be pumping)

Milkies milk-saver  may be invaluable to mom’s who leak while baby is nursing

Breastfeeding shirts and dresses are nice (but not necessary) and great gifts!  Especially for moms who have been nursing a while.  So are breastfeeding pj's.

And maybe it is just me, but I think thinks for a good soak in bathtub are always great gifts for a mom!

Breastfeeding gifts

There is a part of me that thinks that I should give you all the benefits of breastfeeding in general.  But I think instead I am going to write about the gifts that breastfeeding has given me specifically.  Hopefully I don’t get too personal for anyone’s sensibilities.

1)       I no longer have insomnia.  Before having my first daughter I had insomnia.  It took me at least thirty minutes to fall asleep and I frequently would wake up once or twice during the night.  I realized that I could wake my daughter up to nurse and I would fall asleep.  Horrible, I know.  But the process fixed my sleep problems, even when I went 5 years without nursing

2)      Weight loss while eating whatever I want.  I hate it when I quit breastfeeding and I have to watch what I eat again.  I’m not sure that we really save all the money on formula though, because we spend more on my food.

3)      Always having enough food for my baby.  I have often run out of diapers and clean clothes while out for the day or on vacation.  But I’ve always had enough milk (only because it’s attached).

Gift Boxes by FutUndBeidl on Flickr

4)      It may have saved my daughter’s life when she got pertussis at 3 weeks old because of the antibodies that are passed through breast milk from mother to baby.  And reduced countless other illnesses as well.

5)      Snuggle time

6)      Fewer dishes because of not washing bottles.

7)      Smart, healthy kids.

8)      Long periods of time without periods.

9)      As a small busted woman, I have enjoyed having some time being more ample busted.

10)   Passion.  I love breastfeeding.  I love helping other people breastfeed.  I love seeing the personalities of babies come out when they are days or even hours old.