TO HAAKAA OR NOT TO HAAKAA
The Haakaa has become a popular gift at baby showers and a commonly recommended tool for new moms. It’s marketed as an easy, hands-free way to collect milk, and it can indeed be very convenient. However, as with any tool, it’s important to understand both its benefits and potential drawbacks before incorporating it into your breastfeeding routine.
DO YOU REALLY NEED A FREEZER STASH?
Chicagoland breastfeeding expert Dr. Cindy Rubin takes on the topic of the freezer stash in this blog article. The Internet and Social Media have made breastfeeding people think they need to build a freezer stash and that having an overly plentiful milk supply is desirable. Pumping to create a freezer stash signals your body to produce more milk than your baby needs at that moment. While this may seem beneficial, it can lead to issues if you're making a larger breast milk supply than your baby requires. Overproduction can result in blocked ducts, mastitis, nipple blebs, nipple pain, and general breast discomfort.
WHO NEEDS A PRENATAL LACTATION CONSULT?
Even if you have no history of breastfeeding difficulties or concerns, gaining knowledge about how the first days and weeks after birth typically go, what to expect, and how to prepare can be very empowering. This information can lead to a more positive and informed breastfeeding experience, and overall better mental health. Feeling prepared is empowering in itself, and having appropriate and realistic expectations for your breastfeeding journey can really make a difference in preventing postpartum depression or anxiety.
Certain individuals, however, may particularly benefit from a breastfeeding medicine or lactation consult due to specific risk factors.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LAZY BABY
I want to address a term that often surfaces in consultations and pediatric visits: "lazy baby." I believe this term is not only inaccurate but also unhelpful. It suggests a negative connotation and unjustly assigns blame to your infant for challenges in breastfeeding, which is unfair and unfounded.
Understanding the Challenges of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding, while a beautiful experience, isn't always easy. Many new mothers intend to breastfeed exclusively but soon realize it's not as simple as it seems. Challenges like low milk supply or pain during breastfeeding are common and make reaching breastfeeding goals difficult. Besides these specific issues, breastfeeding is, quite simply, exhausting. Being a new mom is hard enough, and breastfeeding adds another layer of complexity. Remember, it's a task only you can do, and that can be daunting.
TIPS for NURSING Sleepy Babies
Newborns, especially those born preterm or early term (around 35 to 37 weeks), often exhibit sleepiness while nursing at the breast. I like to call them "pokey" babies. Baby pokiness can lead to breastfeeding session that take a LONG time, or a feeding may end with a sleeping baby who did not eat much, so they wake up again to eat shortly after putting them down. After a while, this can lead to an especially tiring breastfeeding experience and may make you seek out the help of a lactation consultation. Find out some tips and tricks to keep a sleepy baby eating at the breast in this week’s blog post.
investigating the tongue and breastfeeding
Lifting the Tongue: Arguably the most important skill is lifting the tongue. Not only does a baby need to learn how to lift the tongue, but the tongue needs to have the mobility necessary to do this. If there is a restriction of some sort, it may prevent your baby from lifting the tongue adequately no matter how hard they try. This restriction could be from a variation of anatomy (an "oral tie" would fall into this category). But it also could be a functional inability due to strength, tightness of the neck or jaw, or something else that is keeping that tongue from moving up as needed.
Understanding and Managing Fast Letdown in Breastfeeding
Some women experience a fast or forceful letdown when breastfeeding. While this isn't always a problem, it can be challenging for some babies to cope with milk flowing out faster than they can comfortably handle. Babies need to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing during feeding, and a forceful letdown can disrupt this delicate balance.
NEW REcommenda-tions for treating plugged ducts
If you’ve ever had a plugged duct, you know how miserable they can make you. They are painful, sometimes provoke anxiety, and can lead to decreased milk production (temporarily). Contrary to what you might think, plugged ducts are not little clumps of milk but Instead they are areas of obstructed milk due to inflammation that has developed in or around a milk duct. This inflammation gradually narrows the duct, making it difficult for milk to flow freely. While there may be a bit of congealed milk involved, it's primarily inflammation that's causing the blockage.
Understanding Engorgement in the Postpartum period
Breast engorgement is characterized by the breasts becoming hard, swollen, and painful. It happens not only because milk production increases but also due to inflammation and fluid buildup in the breast tissues. This swelling can make it difficult for babies to latch onto the breast and for milk to flow easily, causing frustration for both the mother and the baby.