The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog

My favorite moments from breastfeeding classes.

I taught my last prenatal breastfeeding class this week.  I've been teaching these classes as part of childbirth series for about three years.

Last night's class was a really great group, and it got me thinking about some of the more memorable questions and comments I've heard while teaching at several hospitals.  Here are some, to the best of my recollection:

Me:  I wasn't always a lactation consultant.  This is a career change for me.  See if you can guess what happened.  About three years ago I had a... (no response) It starts with a 'b...'
Expectant mom:  A breakdown?

Me:  Let's say you're engorged and it's 4:00 am and the supermarket's closed.  What do you have in your house which you could use as a cold compress?"
Expectant dad:  Steak!
Me:  Steak?
Expectant dad:   Don't you remember that Brady Bunch episode where Bobby gets a black eye and they put a steak on it?

Expectant mom:  Can you eat while breastfeeding?
Me:  Do you mean are there certain things you should or shouldn't eat?
Expectant mom:   No, I mean can you actually eat while you're nursing the baby?
Me:   Oh, yeah.  I used to spill salsa on my baby all the time.

Expectant mom:   I'm definitely going to try to breastfeed, but if the baby bites my nipple off I think that's the point where I'd have to draw the line.

Expectant dad:   Upon seeing that the baby doll he had chosen had a heart sticker on it:  My baby's pimped out!

Me:  So, what do you want to know about breastfeeding?
Expectant dad:  How to make ice cream.

Expectant mom:  In my country, we say that one breast is for the baby, and one breast is for the husband.

Me: So, I want to encourage all of you dads to hold your baby skin-to-skin, too.
Expectant dad:  But if the baby latches on to me, how do I get him off?
Other expectant dad:  And get all of the hairs out of his mouth?

I'll also remember: 

Watching all the dads (it never fails) take the baby dolls we're using to practice positions and turn their heads around like in The Exorcist.  Apparently the hospital has to replace the dolls more often because of this - eventually this makes their heads pop off.

It's been a lot of work, but also very fun.  Except for the class I taught with my fly down...

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Seven myths about thrush.

For a while now I've had a serious bee in my bonnet about thrush treatment.  Thrush can be so painful, and so hard to get rid of.  But worst of all, it seems to be the problem which elicits the worst advice and treatment. 

Here's my list of myths around thrush and thrush treatment.  Feel free to add your own in the comments section.  And here is Dr. Jack Newman's Candida Protocol, a wonderful resource on thrush treatment.

1)  There is a reliable test to diagnose thrush. There is no reliable test for thrush, so you have to go on difficult to detect detect things like the shininess of skin, the type of pain, the color of skin.

2)  If the baby doesn't have yeast in the mouth, you don't have thrush.  Lots of mothers are told this.  Then they treat for thrush, and the symptoms go away. 

3)  All burning pain is thrush.  Lots of women are treated repeatedly for thrush before discovering that they have Raynaud's Vasospsam of the Nipple.  The pain with Raynaud's is similar to thrush, so they are confused often.  La Leche League offers a list of other possible causes of pain here (scroll to the bottom).

4)  Nystatin is a good anti-thrush medication.  Nystatin is the medication most doctors prescribe, but it's effectiveness is pretty limited.  When I heard Jack Newman speak last year he said that it works on about 30% of yeast.  While it works sometimes, it often takes a full 10 day course to see a big improvement, and that's just torture for most mothers.  See #5 for a much more effective treatment.

5)  Gentian violet is a dangerous treatment.  Gentian Violet got a bad name from a really bad study, and now doctors are reluctant to recommend it.  However, the American Academy of Pediatrics' Breastfeeding Handbook for Physicians lists it as one of two recommended treatments.  Yes, it is messy and gives your baby a bit of a goth look.  And somehow thrush always knows to strike just before a big family gathering where lots of pictures are going to be taken.  But it's very effective against thrush, and it's considered safe. 

6)  If you have deep breast pain with thrush, you should take a one day course of Diflucan.  I've seen lots of women who have been diagnosed with yeast inside the breast (intraductal yeast).  But they've been prescribed a one day course of Diflucan.  This would be great for a vaginal yeast infection, but for intraductal yeast, they need a longer course, usually two weeks worth.

7)  Treating only the mother, or only the baby, is effective.  Some doctors won't treat both the mother and the baby, even though the yeast is being passed back and forth.  This just makes the recovery take longer and prolongs the agony.

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The 14th Carnival of Breastfeeding: What's so funny about breastfeeding?

Welcome to the 14th Carnival of Breastfeeding!  This month we're featuring posts on breastfeeding humor.  Be sure to check out the other bloggers' posts at the bottom of this one.

I'm reviewing two new breastfeeding humor books.  That's right, two books on the humor in breastfeeding have been published in the last six months.  Looks like the universe thinks we need a laugh.  For more breastfeeding humor, check out these past posts!

First, The Breastfeeding Diaries (Meadowbrook Press 2007, 155 pp.) by Kate Davis, a stand-up comedian.  This is a compilation of some of the funniest breastfeeding stories I've ever heard. 

It starts with a story by the author about stepping nude (it was required) into the hot tub at her gym and spraying the other women with milk.  My favorites include a story about pumping during a conference call that turned out to be a video conference call, and (this one just amazes me) a mother whose breast reduction/lip enhancement surgery (yes, they moved it from there to there) goes horribly wrong when she starts to breastfeed.  There are fifty stories in all.  I can't share more without giving away some fantastic punchlines. 

This little book is just hilarious and would be a great gift for a nursing mom who could use a laugh.  I hope that there's a sequel in the works.

Next, If These Boobs Could Talk, (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2008, 96 pp.) by Shannon Payette Seip, and Adrienne Hedger.  This book is a very clever and wonderfully illustrated ode to breasts.  Actually, it's written for your breasts. 

The book features games (mazes and quizzes), breastfeeding trivia, doodling pages for filling out with you toes while nursing, how-to lists (How to reward your boobs when they produce more milk) and a boob advice column.  It includes drawings depicting bad times to breastfeed (while learning to inline skate, during acupuncture) and instructions on how to hold a Boob Retirement Party. 

One of my favorites is a picture of the "Breastfeeding Circle of Life," which shows a circle of mothers' faces in varying states of distress and happiness.  The captions read start with "This is so difficult!" and "What did these huge rocks do with my boobs?" to "Hmm...this is getting easier," then "I love breastfeeding!" and finally "I don't want it to be over!" before the cycle starts again.

Again, a great gift for the mother who has been there, or who is there now and could use a lift, as it were.

Don't miss these great posts on breastfeeding humor on these other blogs (updated throughout the day):

• Stacie at The Twinkies shares the breastfeeding conversation she fears.
• Andi at Mama Knows Breast shares a dads' nursing in public video.
• Sinead at Breastfeeding Mums shares a pumping multi-tasking disaster.
• Amy at Crunchy Domestic Goddess shares several funny breastfeeding items.
• Carol at Happy Sad Mama shares why she loves to nurse her toddler.
• Angela at Breastfeeding 1-2-3 shares some crazy search terms that led readers to her site.
• Renata at Nurturing Notes shares a weaning story that made me laugh.

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New posters on breastfeeding and the environment.

I just learned about these new posters from the Australian Breastfeeding Association.  The series is devoted to the relationship between breastfeeding and the environment.  These are my favorites, but there are more.

Now, the way many of us breastfeed may not be carbon neutral, considering all of the pumps, pads, and yes clothes we purchase in the service of nursing, but there's no denying that breastfeeding is the environmentally-friendly choice. 

No land is used for dairy farms, no energy is consumed in factories, no resources are used in packaging, and no oil is used in transporting breastmilk to a store and to your home.  The primary energy source for breastfeeding?  Your pregnancy fat.  Breastfeeding leaves no packaging waste, and saves our health care systems billions a year. 

And you can't eat much more local than this!

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The wonders of breastmilk: Cancer therapy and source of stem cells.

A couple of articles in the past week have highlighted the amazing properties of breastmilk. 

One, a nightly news segment from Texas, shows how increased demand for donor milk has left some cancer patients unable to obtain it.  But the parts that got me a little choked up were interviews with a cancer survivor and the mother of a premature baby born at 2 lbs.  Some comments are below, but it's really worth watching this clip.

[Dr. Don] Bauer had a cancerous tumor in his right vocal chord, severe enough to cut off his airway. Surgeons removed it, leaving him with a hole in his neck to talk and breathe.

"So I was bent on getting better. No matter what," he said, wiping his eyes.  But he didn't get better.

Bauer lost 35 pounds in one week, and his diabetes made recovery almost impossible. Then he discovered a new remedy: a mother's breast milk.

"It's just a boost of energy, and it's not like drinking an energy drink or a couple cups of quick coffee, but a slow process of feeling good," he said...

Dr. June Meymand runs a cancer center and says breast milk protects her patients' healthy cells, while killing the cancer at same time.

"What actually causes the damage to the body will be carried out through the intestine and will not become active," she said.

The second is a report from Australia documenting the presence of stem cells in breastmilk.  I remember reading a discussion of this in an article in 2006, in which breastmilk stem cells were described as "an important but so far unappreciated live, functional component of breast milk."  Looks like they're getting their due now:

[Dr. Mark Kregan and] his team cultured cells from human breast milk and found a population that tested positive for the stem cell marker, nestin. Further analysis showed that a side population of the stem cells were of multiple lineages with the potential to differentiate into multiple cell types. This means the cells could potentially be “reprogrammed” to form many types of human tissue...

“We have shown these cells have all the physical characteristics of stem cells. What we will do next is to see if they behave like stem cells,” he says.

If so, they promise to provide researchers with an entirely ethical means of harvesting stem cells for research without the debate that has dogged the harvesting of cells from embryos.

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How to choose a nursing necklace.

Today I'm happy to share some thoughts from Raelynn (shown to the left), owner of Mommy and Me nursing necklaces, and creator of some beautiful designs, on choosing a nursing necklace.  If you'd like to create your own, check out Angela's post for instructions.  At the bottom I've posted a picture of my old nursing necklace, which is a great reminder of those days.

The twisting, the pinching, the pull -- ouch!  How in the world can you alleviate the hair pulling and distracted twisting of a nursing baby?  Nursing necklaces can be a great solution.

Whether you're in the market for a bright, whimsical design or you'd rather go with something a little more subdued and stylish, there is something out there for everyone.  After making nursing necklaces for over three years, here are some recommendations I'd offer when you're ready to give one a try:

1.  Safety first.  You're probably feeling as though you can't take one more scratch, but it's important to buy something that will do its job and won't pose a choking hazard.  Make sure you are purchasing from a reputable company that has a proven track record and has invested the time and thought into their safety features and designs.  Look for their safety information, read through their purchase policies, and try to find a company that offers a breakage guarantee.

2.  Invest in quality.  Most moms are on a budget and are drawn to lower prices.  However, most nursing necklaces offered at cheaper prices use weaker beads and won't give you an all-around bang for your buck.  Try to find a retailer who makes an effort to offer good prices but also doesn't skimp when it comes to necklace composition and safety.  Compare photos from various vendors, really look at the nitty-gritty parts of the necklaces.  Invest in safety and functionality. 

3.  Consider your needs.  Depending on your baby's age and personality, you may need a totally different nursing necklace than me.  Do you have a gripper or a pincher?  A grabber or a twiddler?  Watch your baby while he nurses.  What does he do with his hands?  If your baby is a gripper or grabber, some of the more elegant, fixed-pendant designs may work for you, but if you have an extreme twiddler on your hands, you may want to look for a necklace that has moveable, engaging beads and will really keep him busy.  Plus, it's really great for tactile development! 

Whether you purchase a stylish Mommy Inspired Design or a playful Baby Inspired Design, wear it proudly!  Even after your nursing relationship has ended, your necklace can serve as a special reminder of that time you two shared.  Good luck on your search! 

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What happened to recess?

Taking a little break from breastfeeding for a moment to discuss a school issue. 

My son will start kindergarten in the fall, and my husband and I have been checking out our local public schools.  In general we're pretty happy with what we're finding (and we're both former teachers, so we're a little picky).  But one thing is really bugging me:  recess is almost gone.

The public schools in our district all offer full-day kindergarten.  This means that 5 year olds are in school from roughly 9:00 to 3:00.  There is one recess break after lunch, for about 30 minutes.  That's it.  When I taught, ten years ago, there was both a morning and afternoon recess.

When I asked about it, the answer I got was 'we have a lot to cover' or 'we make the afternoon pretty low key academically.'  I could tell by the way the teachers answered that they were sympathetic to the concern, but aren't in charge of the policy.

What I didn't ask then, but will certainly do next year, is "Don't you think they'd learn more if they had the chance to run around a little bit?"  And while it's not tested on a state exam, aren't they actually learning something pretty important while they're outside shaking their sillies out?  Like how to be with other people?  Not to mention physical fitness in the age of childhood obesity.

I get where this comes from.  The public wants high standards, accountability, and good test scores, and this has translated into a lot of assessment and a lot of pressure on teachers.  But I just can't believe that kids as young as five learn more when they are inside all day.  I've also been reading about the death of outdoor play in general, so it's even more disturbing to see outdoor play even at school go away.

Is this the way it works in your community?

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Stone Soup comic strip takes on nursing in public this week.

The comic strip Stone Soup has been running cartoons about breastfeeding all week, complete with "nuk, nuk" captions for the nursing baby.  Check them out!  The titles below are mine.

• Monday:  "You can't do that here."
• Tuesday:  "You hang on to her..."
• Wednesday:  "Hooters"
• Thursday:  "Mooo"
• Friday:  "Teething"
• Saturday:  "Yikes"

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Link Love, part II

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

My blogroll is very limited, so to show my affection for those of you who link back to my blog, I'm posting your sites here.  I did this last year, and I'm happy to update it now with over twenty more.  Check out my alphabetizing skills, too.  Actually, please don't.

If I've missed your blog, or you're adding a link now, leave a comment with a link, or email me.  And if you're linking to me and we haven't "met," feel free to email me!

• A Booblog
• A Mom for All Seaons
• Adventures in Babywearing
• Adventures in Imperfection
• Adventures of a Breastfeeding Mother
• Another Work in Progress
• Baby GooRoo
• The Baby Gravy Train
• Baby Whys
• Black Breastfeeding Blog
• Blessed Quiver
• Breastfeeders Anonymous
• Breastfeeding 1-2-3
• Breastfeeding Mums
• The Breastaurant Baby
• Bumblebaby Mommy
• Cairo Mama
• Celebrity Baby Blog
• Charity Grace
• Crunchy Domestic Goddess
• Crystal Voice
• Elijah Zvi
• Ewokmama
• The Floyd Files
• Fot Life
• Half Pint Pixie
• Hilltown Families
• Hyperactive Lu
• iMom
• The International Breastfeeding Symbol Blog
• It's a Wonderful Life
• James and the Giant Moose
• Keep Abreast
• The Lactivist
• Learning a Little Every Day
• A Little Crunchy
• Lord Guard and Guide
• Mama Knows Breast
• Max Arthur
• The Milk Memos
• Mocha Milk
• Momma's Angel
• Motherlove Herbal Company
• My Adventures in Motherhood
• My Baby and More
• My Everyday Life
• Next Stop Wonderland
• On School Street
• The Only South Bay Mom without a Bugaboo
• Our Home on the Range
• Patience, Grasshopper!
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Boats
• Pregnantly Plump
• Pump Esteem
• Radical Catholic Mom
• The True Face of Birth
• Sidetrack'd
• Significant Self
• Sniggle Shack
• So Much for the Plan
• Spilled Milk
• The Sombat Family Blog
• Some Fine Taters
• Spit up on my Shoulder
• Such Great Heights
• These are the Days
• These Choices
• Twintastic
• UNM Breastfeeding Support Program
• The van Eaglegiessens
• Veggie Way
• The Whole Family

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Guess what?

We did it!  The Mothers Milk Bank of New England won $10,000 in the Ideablob contest!  The official announcement was made today at an event in Boston.

In addition to the prize, the Milk Bank got some wonderful publicity, and the whole idea of donor milk banking got some exposure to people who had probably never heard of it.  It's such wonderful news.

Thank you many times over to everyone who voted, who encouraged friends and family to vote, who blogged about it, and who wished us luck!  You made a big difference for the milk bank and for families in our region.

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