Parenting and Breastfeeding

I don't know if Im the only one noticing a huge increase in "baby training" ? You know those books that most new mothers buy? Im loath to even name them ! But it comes up in every class I teach. Its part of the process of becoming a parent where the mother/father searches for information ( because they feel they don't inherently know how to do it . ) This stage is called the anticipatory stage of parenting. 


 Nancy Morbachers son is 30 today , Nancy is one of our Lactosauruses  ( one of the original IBCLCS )- an amazing lady who has done so much for breastfeeding. I have her new book Breastfeeding Answers Made Simple on my amazon wishlist.  On her blog today  she writes here about how breastfeeding and parenting has taught her so much about herself. The piece that jumps out at me is where  she let her baby cry one night ( probably because someone told her ) then noticed she was less responsive to his crying during the day. I've been there too . Now I know (at last) that if something feels wrong in my gut , it is wrong . simple as that.  Babies learn to soothe themselves but they also learn that nobody is coming, how scary must that be? I believe that early childhood experiences shape our personality later in life. Babies need to be held , kept safe and secure , not broken . 

http://www.infantsleep.org/images/WAIMH_Handout2.pdf  
Have a read of this poster unfortunately I cant upload it -  Id suggest you read page 2 first about whats normal because page 1 is a bit disturbing . 

Support Groups

Its funny really , I was in breastfeeding heaven yesterday ! Sometimes you don't know how much you needed something until you get it .. I went along to a breastfeeding support group here in Dublin for National Breastfeeding Week.  There was LOADS of mums and babies there ( who says our breastfeeding rates are low ? well they were not in South County Dublin yesterday .)
Its just so normal , mothers sitting around having a chat , breastfeeding their little ones without really thinking about it . There was a couple of mums with new babies,  Liz and Ruth the wonderful Cuidiu counsellors were only too happy to help with their queries.
My own little lassie Eliza ( 7 months on Sunday!)  rolled around on the floor and  my 2 year old ate far too many cakes , kindly donated by Superquinn. I got to chat , drink coffee and most importantly to remember that this is where I started 13 years ago with my first baby. I still need it on my 5th ! I'll be back.

www.cuidiu-ict.ie  

Laid Back Breastfeeding

or Biological Nurturing . Truely the easiest way to breastfeed - but because its so easy , people are sceptical about it. Heres what I said on a private form last year ( when I was a sceptic :) ) 

 I took a leap of faith this morning and tried biological nurturing

with a mum and baby . Mum had sore nipples , very anxious tense mum

but baby was great. It was pretty amazing - fabulous latch , the baby

looked soo comfortable and the mum couldnt believe there was no pain.

I was just relieved it worked :)

I hope I instilled enough confidence in her that she needs to do

nothing except lie back , be comfortable and let her baby do the work

...Im still smiling .

And guess what - if you open the latest edition of the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding  you will find that quote aswell as a great chapter on Laid Back Breastfeeding .
And here's the recipe from Suzanne Colsons website ( the founder of BN )
http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/pages/recipe.html

My Top Ten Breastfeeding Websites.

Remember to come back here now! 
1) kellymom.com  The queen of breastfeeding sites . Still the best one stop place for all breastfeeding info. 


2) bestforbabes.org This is my type of thinking : I really like their  attitude about respect for all mothers and their feeding choice ( as long as its informed) . 


3) breastfeedingmadesimple.com  Lovely latching animation and a great book. 


4) dr.jacknewman.com  Probably the most widely respected male in breastfeeding circles ??


5) ameda.com  Code compliant and great latching video .


6 breastfeeding.ie Our National breastfeeding site has been updated in the last few years and has good downloads for GPs and Pharmacists. 


7) the breastway.ie  Again another  great Irish site - highly recommend the section on "ask the experts " . Safe sound information from  Dr.s and IBCLC's . 


8)  Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition I have found of teaching resources here and I really like their iphone breastfeeding app. 


9) infact canada. Since I began in private practice I have used the best start sheet for mothers, this is its home .  


10) uppity science chick  Kathleen Kendall Tacketts website . Lots of info on PPD and breastfeeding . She is also an expert on post traumatic stress , child abuse survivors and its impact on breastfeeding. 




Tomorrow - Laid back breastfeeding or Biological Nursing . 

My Top Ten Breastfeeding Books

There are great web resources now for breastfeeding information but I've got to say each time I had a newborn I loved having a book nearby to browse. 

These are not listed in order of preference,  if I had to pick one for a present to a pregnant mother, it would be Breastfeeding Made Simple (no. 8) . Its a easy to read , calm and respectful book to mothers and babies. Backed up by a great website. 

Feel free to add more in the comments section , if there's a book you particularly liked or found useful. 

Here we go...

1) The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding - LLL- Diana West, Diane Wiessinger, Teresa Pitman.

 The new edition has just been published and its fantastic ! Theres a comment from a breastfeeding supporter in Ireland on page 66, its me !  It's the first time I've been acknowledged in a book  ( I'm named twice in the acknowledgements . It made my day. )

2) So That's what they are For - Janet Tamaro

 A witty , girlfriend type book with accurate info for all stages of breastfeeding. 

3) Bestfeeding - Mary Renfrew, Chloe Fisher . 

The first book on breastfeeding I ever read. Twas in my bag in the Coombe all those years ago ! Lots of illustrations - needed in the first few days as most new mothers cant process text when sleep deprived . 

4) Saggy Boobs  and other Breastfeeding Myths- Valerie Finnigan , Lou Gardnier. 

Great book for a breastfeeding Support group , just leave it lying around for mums to browse though. 

5) The Breastfeeding Mothers Guide to making more milk- Diana West, Lisa Marasco

I recommend this one to mothers who had problems breastfeeding on a previous baby. Most of the time its just poor management but sometimes there are other issues that can be helped if caught early. 

6) No Cry Sleep Solution - Elizabeth Pantley. 

When the lack of sleep starts to bother you , this book will give you hope. 

7) Supporting Sucking Skills - Catherine Watson Genna. 

More of one for professionals but I ate it one day  for lunch and dinner. If you want to know more about tongue ties , Catherine Watson Genna's your woman. 

8) Sleeping With Your Baby - Dr James McKenna

See number 6 - you really do get more sleep . Here's the research to back it up and feel  to safe when some "well-meaning" person tells you otherwise. 

9) Breastfeeding Made Simple - Nancy Morbacher , Kathleen Kendall Tackett

Probably my favourite at the moment , looking forward to a new edition due out in December 2010.

10) Breastfeeding Answers Made Simple (2010 ed) by Nancy Morbacher . 

This is really for breastfeeding counsellors but its an excellent resource guide , the  a-z of breastfeeding .  

Links to Amazon 

1) Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

2) So Thats What they are for. 

3) Bestfeeding 

4) Saggy Boobs 

 5) Making More Milk 

  6) No Cry Sleep Solution

7) Supporting Sucking Skills

 8)Sleeping With Your Baby

 9)Breastfeeding Made Simple

10) Bf answers made simple

Tomorrow I'll list my favourite websites . 

Guess what this is made of ?

Toy cherries? Red marbles ? Christmas tree decorations? 

No .. a breastfeeding bra made from formula scoops . Now thats what I call recycling! 

From the www.breastmates.co.nz site..  McInnes spent many hours crafting the art piece, which is made from an ambitious two year collection of baby formula scoops (the free scoops that come in formula tins), thread onto a hand woven wire frame, lined in felt, and painted red.

McInnes, who six years ago founded online maternity store Breastmates.co.nz explains: "I'm an advocate of happy mum equals happy baby. Whichever way mothers choose to feed their baby, they should be supported as they begin motherhood, and that's what we advocate".   It was with the help of some of her Breastmates customers that Frances was able to collect enough formula scoops to make the costume (and several trial runs).

Im not sure my boobs would fit into though Id say Eliza would be delighted as she fiddles alot when feeding these days ! 

The Learning Curve of Breastfeeding

This is taken from the best for babes website . If there was one message I could tell pregnant women it is - be informed,  give it time , get good  effective help  if you have any concerns , but it takes most mothers a couple of tries to get the baby attached . That is of course, unless they are using the laid back method or biological nurturing ( more about that later in the week). Don't sit, in pain, thinking its going to get better . 

Theres lots of help out there ...