The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog

Blog Action Day: How breastfeeding fights poverty.

Welcome to this month's special Carnival of Breastfeeding/Blog Action Day post!

Our regular bloggers have teamed up with Blog Action Day to bring you posts on the topic of poverty.  Tens of thousands of blogs will feature posts on this year's topic.  Check out the other contributing bloggers below, and at Blog Action Day.

For my part, I'm writing about how breastfeeding in the developing world fights poverty, and ways you can help. 

So, how does breastfeeding fight poverty here and in the developing world?

Breastfeeding fights disease in impoverished regions.  As you know, breastfeeding provides critical support against many diseases, and it is nowhere more important than in the developing world.  This quote, from James P. Grant, former executive director of UNICEF, says it far better than I can:

Breastfeeding is a natural "safety net" against the worst effects of poverty. If the child survives the first month of life (the most dangerous period of childhood) then for the next four months or so, exclusive breastfeeding goes a long way toward canceling out the health difference between being born into poverty and being born into affluence .... It is almost as if breastfeeding takes the infant out of poverty for those first few months in order to give the child a fairer start in life and compensate for the injustice of the world into which it was born.

Purchasing formula can drive families into poverty.  Breastfeeding is free.  Formula can bankrupt an already poor family.  In the Philippines, a small can of formula is equivalent to a day's worth of work for a minimum-wage earning parent.   This forces some parents into choosing between feeding their babies and feeding themselves or older children.  Or they make the dangerous decision to dilute the formula to stretch it further, and babies suffer as a result.

Breastfeeding helps control fertility in the developing world.  Breastfeeding is a primary way women in developing countries control their fertility.  This control over family size helps mothers provide better for the children they have.  Breastfeeding plays such an important role in fertility that La Leche League's Breastfeeding Answer Book cites an estimate that if all breastfeeding were to stop, within a year there would be a 20 to 30 percent rise in the birthrate worldwide.

Breastfeeding uses fewer natural resources.  As I've written before, breastfeeding uses far less natural resources than formula feeding.  The manufacture of formula leads to deforestation for cattle grazing, and uses resources for manufacturing, packaging, and transport.  Poor families in developing countries will be hard hit by the effects of global climate change.

Looking for a way to support breastfeeding directly in the developing world?  How about a "Breastfeeding Kit" from the Mercy Corps?  Here's what your support buys:

Breastfeeding has been called "a natural safety net against the worst effects of poverty."  But breastfeeding rates are alarmingly low in one place where that safety net is needed most: downtrodden neighborhoods in Jakarta — Indonesia's sprawling, 23-million-person capital.

The Breastfeeding Kit covers the cost to train a breastfeeding counselor to support mothers and their families at a neighborhood health clinic in Jakarta. Proceeds from the kit fund Mercy Corps' Healthy Start program, which works in 270 of Jakarta's poorest neighborhoods to protect and promote breastfeeding by:

• training health providers and clinics
• creating neighborhood support groups
• organizing awareness events
• lobbying policymakers

Of course, UNICEF also does incredible work supporting breastfeeding around the world, which is one of the reasons we'll be collecting change for them this Halloween. 

Check out these other posts for this special Carnival/Blog Action Day (updated throughout the day):

• Breastfeeding 1-2-3:  Five damaging myths about breastfeeding and poverty.
• Breastfeeding Mums:  How poverty of knowledge about breastfeeding hurts society.
• Babyfingers:  An ounce of prevention.
• Mama Knows Breast:  Breastfeeding can fight poverty.

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Motherwear Podcast: So, you want to work in breastfeeding support.

Please note that the IBLCE eligibility requirements have changed.  The link below is current, and the podcast will be updated soon.

Welcome to the September Carnival of Breastfeeding and another Motherwear Podcast! This month features posts on breastfeeding and education.  Be sure to check out the posts from other carnival participants at the bottom of this post.

My contribution is a podcast on training programs and certifications for working in breastfeeding support.   

You can listen to it using the player below, or download it from our iTunes store.

Here are some links mentioned in the podcast.

• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant: Pathways to becoming an IBCLC
• La Leche League Leader: Thinking about LLL Leadership?
• Certified Lactation Counselor:  Healthy Children's Center for Breastfeeding, UC San Diego Extension online Course, UCLA Extension Lactation Educator course
• Breastfeeding Peer Counselor: LLL Peer Counselor Program, WIC Peer Counselor Program, NY State WIC program "How to become a peer counselor," Nursing Mothers' Counsel of Oregon peer counselor program.  Note that the process may be different in your state.

And here are more great Carnival posts on this topic from other blogs (updated through the day):

• Breastfeeding Mums:  The perfect breastfeeding teacher
• Breastfeeding 1-2-3:  Breastfeeding education
• Hobo Mama: Breastfeeding education
• The Beautiful Letdown:  How I learned to breastfeed
• Momopoly:  Q and A with my mom-in-law, a lactation consultant
• Babyfingers:  Let's take our perverted society to school
• Stop, Drop, and Blog: Breastfeeding: With a little help from my friends, books, and professionals
• Nurturing Notes:  Breastfeeding and the Registered Dietician
• Poked and Prodded Health:  You have to prepare for breastfeeding success

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Join the September Carnival of Breastfeeding: Learning about breastfeeding

For the back-to-school season, our upcoming carnival will be on the topic of breastfeeding education.  Please join in by submitting a post!

You might write about:

• How you learned what you needed to know about breastfeeding.
• Training to become a La Leche League leader, lactation consultant, or breastfeeding peer counselor.
• Breastfeeding education in schools and universities.
• Your experience in a breastfeeding class.

We'll be looking for posts that are:

• Well written and grammatically correct
• Thoughtful and directly related to the carnival subject
• Submitted from blogs related to breastfeeding or parenting

Email me your submission by September 15th, 2008.  The carnival will be on Monday, September 22nd, 2008.  Please note that, if your post is selected for inclusion by our regular group of bloggers, you will be asked to link to each of the other participants in the carnival.  We reserve the right to choose posts for inclusion.  Examples of past carnival posts can be found here.

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The 17th Carnival of Breastfeeding: Taking a bottle.

Welcome to this month's Carnival of Breastfeeding!  June's theme is pumping, and since all that pumped milk has to go somewhere, I thought I'd write about breastfed babies and bottles.  Be sure to check out the great posts from other bloggers on the topic of pumping at the bottom of this post.

Whether you're introducing a bottle because you're going back to work, or you want to share some feedings with your partner, there are some tips below that can help.  I've also included some strategies for dealing with a baby who won't take a bottle.

Speaking of which, here's a great example of a baby who isn't at all interested in bottles.  Thanks to Alicia for posting it!

Tips for introducing a bottle:

• Wait until roughly the end of the first month to try a bottle.  Before that time, some (not all) babies develop a nipple or flow preference and may have a hard time latching on to the breast correctly, or even refuse it.  The danger of this is greatest in the days and weeks right after birth.

• Don't wait too long, since at some point babies will reject the bottle.  In my experience this happens most often with babies who haven't tried one by six weeks.

• If it's important that your baby be able to take a bottle (for example, you'll be returning to work), after introducing the bottle at four weeks, continue to re-introduce the bottle at least a few times a week.  Don't go overboard with it, though.  Up to a bottle a day is usually fine, but too many may cause latch difficulties or breast refusal.

• Have someone other than yourself introduce the bottle.  Babies are smart, and some won't take one from you because they know you have the goods.  Some books recommend that you stay out of the room when a bottle is given.

• Practice "paced feeding (halfway down page)," which helps the baby manage the flow of milk.

• Use a bottle nipple which is more like a breast (with a wide base), and use the slowest flow nipple at first.  You'll probably also want to look for bottles that are BPA-free.

• If you're going back to work, gradually increase the frequency of bottle feedings so that your baby is solidly taking the bottle by the time you return to work.

Tips for babies who refuse bottles:

• Don't force it.  This doesn't work, and often makes the situation worse.  If your baby refuses, like the one in the video above, take a break and try again at a better time (see below).

• Experiment with different nipples, different size nipple openings (for flow).  Try to match the nipple shape and flow with your own.

• Use distractions like movement, talking and singing, going outside.  The Nursing Mother's Companion has a good picture of an outward-facing hold which seems to work for some babies.

• Try at times when the baby is sleepy, in a good mood, or not hungry.  In general, the more hungry and distressed a baby is, the more "disorganized" he/she is likely to be.  In that state a baby is less likely to do something new or difficult.

• Make sure that your milk doesn't taste or smell "soapy."  This may mean that you have excess lipase in your milk. 

• In a pinch, try other feeding devices, like a medicine cup, finger feeder, syringe feeder, or sippy cup.

• Know that your baby will be fine even if she/he only "sips" while you're gone.  He/she will make up for it when the two of you are together, a pattern known as reverse cycling.

• Say to yourself, "this too shall pass."

Be sure to check out these great posts from our blogging friends (updated throughout the day):

• Raising Baby Bee writes about pumping at work (and shares a great 'do not disturb' sign).
• Breastfeeding Mums says "electrify me!"
• Breastfeeding 1-2-3 writes about exclusively pumping for a baby with a cleft palate.
• Hobo Mama writes about donating milk for an adopted baby.
• Adventures of a Breastfeeding Mother shares her pumping tips.
• The Attached Mother writes about pumping and becoming a milk donor.
• Mama Knows Breast invites you to enter to win a free Medela Freestyle pump.
• Mike and Toni's writes about how a pumping experience turned into a business idea.

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Join our next breastfeeding carnival: Pumping it up.

Our next carnival of breastfeeding will be on the topic of pumping and hand expression.

You might write about:

• Your experience pumping
• Tips on pumping or hand-expression
• Going back to work
• Exclusively pumping
• Offering bottles
• Breastmilk donation
• Any other pumping topic!

We'll be looking for posts that are:

• Well written and grammatically correct
• Thoughtful and directly on point for the carnival subject
• Submitted from blogs related to breastfeeding or parenting

Email me your submission by June 17th, 2008.  The carnival will be on Tuesday, June 24th, 2008.  Please note that, if your post is selected for inclusion by our regular group of bloggers, you will be asked to link to each of the other participants in the carnival.  We reserve the right to choose posts for inclusion.  Examples of past carnival posts can be found here.

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The 16th Carnival of Breastfeeding: A breastfeeding-friendly birth plan.

Welcome to the 16th Carnival of Breastfeeding!  This month's theme is pregnancy and breastfeeding.  Be sure to check out the great posts from other bloggers at the bottom of this post.

When I was pregnant I worked pretty hard on developing a birth plan, and it was worth every minute.  Everyone involved with the labor and birth were knowledgeable and respectful of our choices.

I recently re-read our birth plan and found that it didn't contain much in the way of breastfeeding.  I did make it clear that I was aiming for a natural delivery with as few interventions as possible.  It did say that I wanted no pacifiers or bottles if the baby had to be separated from me.  But there was nothing about how I wanted things to go immediately after the birth, or how I'd like to be supported in establishing breastfeeding.

So when we decided on the theme of pregnancy and breastfeeding for this carnival, I decided to try to list some elements of a birth plan which focus on breastfeeding.

To create the list below, I've taken elements of breastfeeding-friendly care from three well-referenced sources:  the International Lactation Consultants Association's Clinical Guidelines for the Establishment of Exclusive Breastfeeding, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine's Model Breastfeeding Policy, and UNICEF's 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.  Research has shown that these things matter in the success of breastfeeding.  You'll likely find all of these things at a hospital that has been certified as Baby Friendly.  I added a few things based on my experience, and I hope that you'll leave additional ideas in the comments section.

Since this list doesn't address birth itself, I should say aiming for a low intervention birth is also breastfeeding-friendly.  For most women, this means choosing care providers and exploring birthing options carefully, as well as having a doula or other skilled support person present.  You'll find that this list assumes a hospital birth, but many of these elements are relevant to home birth as well.

• I would like the baby to be placed skin-to-skin with me immediately after the birth.
• If I have a c-section I would like to hold the baby skin-to-skin as soon as possible after the operation.  If I am unable to for some time, I would like my partner to hold my baby skin-to-skin.
• I want to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour.  I would like to give the baby an opportunity to self-attach, and I do not want the baby forced into the first feeding.
• I would like all newborn procedures delayed until after the first feeding, and done with the baby lying on me or being held by me.
• I want my baby to stay in my room with me, and I want to hold my baby skin-to-skin as much as possible during our stay.
• I would like help in establishing a comfortable and effective latch, and learn different positions for nursing my baby.  I would also like assistance in learning hand expression, how to recognize swallowing, and what to expect in the days following discharge.
• If I encounter any breastfeeding problems, I would like help from an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (hereafter 'lactation consultant').
• I do not want any water, glucose water, formula, bottles, or pacifiers given to my baby.  If there is a medical need for supplementation, I would like the opportunity to discuss it with a pediatrician and lactation consultant first.
• If I am separated from my baby for medical reasons, I want to use a breastpump to help establish my milk supply.
• I do not want any formula promotional material to be given or shown to me, including formula diaper bags and crib cards.
• I would like to receive information on sources of breastfeeding support in my community.

We have some great posts from other bloggers on the topic of breastfeeding and pregnancy.  Check them out!  (List will be updated throughout the day).

• Natural Moms Talk Radio - Carrie shares practical information on breastfeeding while pregnant.
• Permission to Mother - Dr. Denise writes about a milk supply mystery.
• Crunchy Domestic Goddess - Amy writes about the ups and downs of nursing during pregnancy.
• Breastfeeding Mums - Sinead shares advice on preparing for breastfeeding.
• Attachment Parenting International Speaks - Julie writes about breastfeeding during her pregnancy.
• Breastfeeding 1-2-3 - Angela contributes 10 tips for pregnant women preparing for breastfeeding.
• Milk Donor Mama - Jessica writes about her breastfeeding experience and shares advice for pregnant women. 
  

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The April Carnival of Breastfeeding: "Thrush and mastitis and blebs, oh my!"

Welcome to the April Carnival of Breastfeeding!

This month we're bringing you posts on the topic of breastfeeding problems and solutions.  Be sure to check out the posts below for great stories overcoming thrush, blebs, plugged ducts, oversupply, and other breastfeeding challenges.

I'm very pleased to share a story of overcoming a tongue tie problem, written by Lisa, a mother I know and admire.  A picture of him as a baby is to the left.

In the hospital, one of the nurses looked into my son Joe's bassinet and said offhandedly, "looks like he's tongue-tied."* My husband and I were confused because the kid was crying at the time but she was gone before we could ask her what she meant. 

I was determined to breastfeed, and while the milk was there and the effort was definitely there on both of our parts, Joe was not able to get a good latch.  He would get just about in the right place, but there wasn't the right seal and he couldn't stay on the breast.  The nurses told me that I didn't have any of the common problems like inverted or shallow nipples, so surely it would work out fine. We both kept trying and were told that it takes time and is a learned process.

When I took him to his first doctor's appointment after we got home from the hospital, I told the doctor that I was still having trouble breastfeeding.  She told me "Oh, it's easy" and that was the end of it.  I showed her what I was doing and she said it was right, just keep trying.  My mother told the doctor that she thought Joe had "brick dust urine," and she said she'd never heard of that. I said that I had heard that he might be tongue tied, and she said that he wasn't. It was very discouraging because my nipples were cracked and bleeding, I was tired, sore, and now starting to panic that my son was starving.

Luckily, our hospital offered an evening breastfeeding clinic, so I left the doctors and went to see Tanya. She was calm, reassuring and took the panic-y edge off.  We tried different positions, and she suggested trying a nipple shield to see if it would be effective, but nothing seemed to help; he just couldn't get that seal right.  He would try to latch on and then just scream. Tanya noticed that Joe's frenulum (that little piece of skin that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth) was very short and it was up near the tip of his tongue. His tongue only moved back; he definitely could not stick it out. When he cried, his tongue looked kind of heart shaped. Tanya also looked up the signs of dehydration, and he had several.

Tanya was worried about Joe, and suggested that I give him a bottle of formula. It took him a very long time – maybe 40 minutes - to take a few ounces from the bottle.

It was pretty late by then, and that night Tanya faxed the pediatrician and told her of the problem. The next morning the doctor called four times to tell me that frenotomies are rare and "major surgery." She said that she consulted another pediatrician, who wouldn't do the procedure, and he in turn referred her to another pediatrician - best pediatrician in town – who also wouldn't do it but might refer us to see an ear, nose and throat specialist.  I immediately made an appointment with the "best pediatrician in town" and he sent me to the ENT specialist.

There was a consensus among everyone that yes, the frenulum was tight, but no one was sure that having it released would have any positive effect.  We did a little research, and decided that we needed to try something. Also, a big factor in my decision to go ahead with it was that I actually dated someone in college who was tongue tied. He didn't have a speech impediment or anything, but he was self-conscious of it, and truth be told...he was a very bad kisser (!).

The actual procedure was a lot like an ear piercing--a little numbing spray, one quick stroke and it was over.  I held Joe the whole time and he only cried for a minute. It took 30 seconds and there was as much blood as a tiny papercut.

Here's the best part:  he latched on perfectly in the waiting room-I could feel the difference.  His lips made a seal this time. He's been nursing like a champ ever since, and he's still nursing now - at 18 months!

The general attitude I got from all of the doctors was that I was making a big deal out of nothing. I heard a story later about midwives in olden days keeping one of their fingernails long so they could just slice through any frenulum that looked remotely tight.  How did we get to this?

Be sure to check out more posts on breastfeeding challenges on the blogs listed below (updated throughout the day):

• Mama's Magic writes about needing to supplement after birth complications.
• Half Pint Pixie writes about oversupply, blebs, plugged ducts, and mastitis.
• Speech Act writes about plugged ducts and blebs.
• Tales of Life with a Girl on the Go writes about milk supply and the mini-pill.
• Nurturing Notes writes about thrush and thrush treatment.
• Breastfeeding Mums writes about sore nipples, engorgement, and taking medications while breastfeeding.
• Blessed Nest Perch writes about sore nipples, mastitis, and low milk supply.
• Hobo Mama writes about supplementing with a finger feeder during the first week.
• Breastfeeding 1-2-3 writes about using Gentian Violet and grapefruit seed extract as thrush remedies.

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Join the next breastfeeding carnival: "Thrush and mastitis and blebs, oh my!"

Some of you have overcome some daunting breastfeeding problems like thrush, plugged ducts, Raynaud's, blebs, fast letdown, mastitis, low supply, nipple confusion, tongue ties, oversupply, breast refusal... the list could go on and on.  Here's your chance to write about it!

We're looking for posts that do two things this time:  1) tell the story of how you overcame a breastfeeding challenge, and 2) provide your links to your favorite online resources on that problem.  We hope that this will help other mothers find good information to help them through the same problem.

We'll be looking for posts that are:

• Well written and grammatically correct
• Thoughtful and directly on point for the carnival subject
• Submitted from blogs related to breastfeeding or parenting

Email me your submission by April 15th, 2008.  The carnival will be on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008.  Please note that, if your post is selected for inclusion by our regular group of bloggers, you will be asked to link to each of the other participants in the carnival.  We reserve the right to choose posts for inclusion.  Examples of past carnival posts can be found here.

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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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Join the next breastfeeding carnival: What's so funny about breastfeeding?

How about a little breastfeeding humor to brighten up this winter month?  This month our theme is breastfeeding humor, or "What's so funny about breastfeeding?"  Posts could be on your own funny breastfeeding story, something you've seen online, or even a few breastfeeding jokes (G-rated, please).

Email me your submission by February 19th, 2008.  The carnival will be on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008.  Please note that, if your post is selected for inclusion by our reglular group of bloggers, you will be asked to link to each of the other participants in the carnival.  We reserve the right to choose posts for inclusion.  Examples of past carnival posts can be found here.

We'll be looking for posts that are:

• Well written and grammatically correct
• Thoughtful and directly on point for the carnival subject
• Submitted from blogs related to breastfeeding or parenting

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed?  Click here.