The most important aspect of being able to continue to breastfeed especially for a new mom is to not give up on the practice of breastfeeding when the uncertainties creep in on you. Continue to breastfeed as you explore the options open to you. It is especially tempting to give up breastfeeding in the first few days or first few weeks of breastfeeding when the pressures of a new baby can be overwhelming or you may be getting advice from others to stop. Breastfeeding gives both you and your baby many benefits including the fact that the time the two of you spend together can be very relaxing and stress reducing for both of you. The nursing mom releases a hormone called, prolactin that relaxes the mom as she nurses. Breastfeeding can therefore actually help you to cope with the early stresses of adjusting to being a mom, and caring for a newborn.

To avoid some of the difficulties of breastfeeding make a commitment right from the start to breastfeed exclusively for the first 2 to 4 weeks of the baby’s life unless there is a medical reason for supplementation. This exclusive breastfeeding will avoid nipple confusion, allow your milk supply to build in response to the baby’s sucking and his/her need and will give the mom many physical benefits such as returning the uterus to pre-pregnancy size and shape faster and to lose those extra pounds that may have been gained during pregnancy. Your baby is receiving many important protective and nutritional benefits in these first early days and weeks of breastfeeding that you do not want the baby or yourself to miss out on.

Don’t listen to those who may criticize breastfeeding by saying it can spoil the baby, or that your baby is not getting enough milk. You cannot spoil a baby by caring and loving the baby. You can always tell if a baby is getting enough breast milk if the baby is having approximately 2 mushy poop diapers a day and 6 to 8 wet diapers a day and is gaining appropriate weight according to your baby’s doctor.

Busy moms appreciate the fact that while breastfeeding the baby there is no need to take the time to wash bottles, prepare bottles, prepare formula, shop for formula or warm the formula filled bottle up. It takes far less time to just pop the breast into the waiting rose-bud mouth and lay back and relax while the baby receives breast milk that is already at the perfect temperature, clean, perfectly prepared and already includes all the nutrition the baby needs.

Busy moms can pump or manually express breast milk so that baby will continue to drink her breast milk even when she is away from baby. Keeping up your breast supply of milk is not all that difficult once you learn the techniques and have the proper equipment. Your lactation consultant, La Leche International group leader or healthcare provider can instruct you on how to provide for your breastfeeding baby while you are busy doing what keeps you busy whether that is because you work, have an active social life or have other commitments that keep you busy.

When leaving your baby with others make sure you breastfeed just before you leave and as soon as you return. Your baby will recognize that she or he receives the breast from you and supplemental bottles or a cup from others. You can still breastfeed successfully and you can your baby can continue to reap the many benefits of breastfeeding.

Related posts:

1. Finding Support When You Desire To Go Back To Work And Continue To Breastfeed Breastfeeding is a wonderful decision for you and for your...
2. There Are Many Important Reasons Why You Should Breastfeed Breastfeeding is becoming more prevalent as the art of breastfeeding...
3. Can I Breastfeed My Adopted Baby The answer is a resounding, yes; you can breastfeed an...
4. Preparing For Breastfeeding Before Baby Arrives Like most moms, those who anticipate breastfeeding as a choice...
5. Why Breastfeeding Is Best For Baby And Mom There are many reasons why breastfeeding is best for the...

For example, considering that you have just spent nine months denying yourself foods you would normally enjoy, lived through the aches and pains of pregnancy, and then endured labor, it is not surprising that breastfeeding may be viewed at yet another thing you have to do. Initially this is made even more difficult by trying to learn your new baby’s body language, differentiate her cries, and of course figure out the best position during breastfeeding. Add to this the pains your body undergoes as it gets into its pre-pregnancy shape, the pains your breasts experience from milk engorgement and the frustration you may feel from dealing with a less than cooperative infant, and you know why so many new moms reach for the can of formula within the first week.

Turn your chore mentality into a more joy oriented experience by using technology. Breast pumps are wonderful devices that allow you to relieve the engorgement of your breasts and at the same time get your baby’s father involved in taking over feeding duty. You will be surprised to learn how just a few hours of uninterrupted sleep will heighten your willingness and ability to deal with a frustrated baby as you work out the best breastfeeding position that works for the both of you. In the same vein, getting her dad involved early on also sets up their relationship for a good start, enabling you to get further rests and breaks that are sorely needed; some new moms – and dads – fear that feeding breast milk from a bottle confuses the infant and they will not go back to the breast.

This is incorrect; there are now plenty of bottles on the market that come equipped with nipples which closely mimic the breast and which will not offer any kind of confusion to your baby. Moreover, do not feel that investing in a good nursing bra is an expense best eschewed for yet another baby toy. Nursing bras should be considered necessary hardware and going without will make you feel uncomfortable, less likely to engage in breastfeeding, and of course frustrated at the cumbersome feel of the regular bras that were not at all designed for nursing mothers.

Do not sabotage your breastfeeding success by skimping on what is perceived to be a luxury but in all actuality is a necessity. The same holds true for the other incidentals you may have read about but not considered actually investing in, such as nipple cream or nursing pads. Even as they may not have been around a few centuries ago, given their current availability, there is no reason to not use them and make your breastfeeding experience a joy rather than a chore that must be endured.

Related posts:

1. Five Must Have Items For First Time Breastfeeding Moms You have a beautiful baby and you want to be...
2. Manual Breast Pumps For Breastfeeding Moms Breastfeeding moms know that sooner or later it will come...
3. The First Few Weeks Of Breastfeeding You will experience several things in the first few weeks...
4. Breastfeeding Primer For Working Moms Is it possible to work and continue breastfeeding? Considered one...
5. Nursing Pillows Make Breastfeeding A Joy Is a nursing pillow on the top of your shopping...

Engorgement is when the breast undergoes a postpartum change in hormone level, which kicks off the milk production process and increases the blood circulation to the breasts called, physiologic engorgement. Sometimes the new mom can run a slight fever at the time that her breasts become engorged. It can be uncomfortable to have your breasts become so full and tight feeling. The prevention and treatment for breast engorgement is the same thing: frequent breastfeeding. The baby emptying the breast is what brings relief to the mom experiencing breast engorgement. Teaching your baby how to latch-on properly can also help to lessen the risk of breast engorgement. Nurse frequently both day and night.

Did you know that breast-fed babies feed upon the areolas, and not the nipples, so it matters little that you may have flat or inverted nipples.

The best time to teach the baby how to latch on is to expose and teach the baby to nurse within the first few days of birth.

If you have inverted or flat nipples try paying close attention to how the baby latches on, get as much beast tissue as possible into the baby’s mouth. You can also use a breast pump, which can draw, out the nipples before feeding the baby.

Another common problem is when baby gets his/her first teeth in and wants to gum or bite on something in response to the discomfort of teething. When an unexpected bite occurs there are several things you can do: allow baby to associate the act of biting with an unpleasant reaction from you and an immediate removal from the breast. Immediately return to breastfeeding and if you encounter another bite, repeat the response until your baby catches on and stops biting.

A breast abscess is another common problem discussed among breastfeeding moms. A breast abscess is also called a “plugged duct”. Untreated it can lead to episodes of mastitis.

Common breast feeding problems include baby refuses to nurse, leaking milk, bleeding nipples or fissures in the areola or on the nipples, baby only wants to nurse on one breast and overfull nipples.

When your baby refuses to nurse it is often called a, “nursing strike” when the baby is too young to wean or you are not in the process of weaning your baby. Reasons the baby may be refusing to nurse include mouth pain from teething, an infection in the mouth such as thrush, or a cold sore. If your baby is teething and has teeth already your baby may stop nursing if you previously have screamed out in pain if the baby accidentally nipped you. Other reasons could be an ear infection, cold or stuffy nose or perhaps someone has given your baby bottles or pacifiers and now your baby is confused or your milk supply has been reduced due to a reduced demand for milk from the baby.

Suggestions: nurse while your baby is asleep or very sleepy, make a pediatrician’s office visit to see if there is any medical reason for the nursing strike, change your nursing position, nurse while walking or rocking your baby and nurse in an environment where there is no distractions.

Leaking or spraying breasts can leave you with wet shirts, which can be embarrassing. Sometimes mom-to-be may leak during pregnancy, other may leak as the milk comes in, and others may never experience leaking. Breasts leak when they are overfull with milk or when the letdown reflex happens unexpectedly.

Suggestions: nurse before your breasts become overfull, and establish a breastfeeding timing and positions that are comfortable for you and your baby that will be a routine that will help to avoid overfull breasts. Wear nursing pads to protect clothing from the occasional leakage.

Cracked or bleeding nipples or areolas are not a normal part of breast-feeding. Nursing your baby should NOT be painful. Pain or bleeding is a sign that there is a problem with the positioning of the baby on the breast that needs to be corrected.

Suggestions: Learn better nursing techniques and positioning. Check to see if your baby has thrush an infection that can cause cracked nipples. Your baby’s doctor can diagnose and treat thrush. If you have severe dry skin you can also experience cracked and bleeding nipples or areolas. Use a breast pump until your nipples or areolas are healed, change positions at every nursing, and try to nurse more frequently but for shorter periods of time until you are healed. You can rub a little bit of your breast milk on your nipples after each nursing and then let the milk air dry as the milk has great healing powers! Never use soap, products that contain alcohol, lotions, or perfumes on your nipples. To keep your breasts and nipples clean – all you need to do is bath them in clean, clear water. If you are in pain, take doctor approved pain medication.

Related posts:

1. Coping With Some Of The More Common Challenges Of Breast Feeding There are many problems that may be encountered as you...
2. The Special Health Benefits You And Your Baby Will Receive While Breastfeeding Breast milk has real healing powers to your baby and...
3. Your Health Regarding Breastfeeding Breastfeeding can be a time of intense bonding between you...
4. The First Few Weeks Of Breastfeeding You will experience several things in the first few weeks...
5. Debunking The Breastfeeding Myths Like most any topic there are myths floating around about...

While you were pregnant hopefully you were careful to eat nutritious foods because you understood the connection between what you ate and how well your baby was nourished as he/she developed inside you. That same connection you had while pregnant is present when you breastfeed your baby. Your body supplies your baby’s milk and the quality of your milk depends on the nutrient value of the foods you eat and the volume of fluids you drink. How will you know if you are eating the proper foods for breastfeeding? How will you know if you are drinking the proper amounts of fluids and the right fluids? These are the questions conscientious breastfeeding moms ask.

If you ate a healthy diet while pregnant you already have an excellent foundation for your breastfeeding diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and cereals and making sure you receive adequate amounts of calcium, iron and protein are the important factors that should be included in a healthy breastfeeding diet. The other factor is the fluid content of your diet. Typically the healthy adult requires 8 – 8 fluid ounces of water every day, more if they participate in a sport or do extensive exercising. When providing breast milk for your baby it is vital that you ingest plenty of fluids approximately 12 – 8 oz. glasses of water a day.

One unique thing about breastfeeding that you may not know is that while breastfeeding your body releases oxytocin, a substance that can make you thirsty (sort of nature’s way of insuring that you will drink enough water).

Things to avoid in your diet while breastfeeding are pretty much the same things you avoided in your pregnancy diet including alcohol and caffeine as these substances can be absorbed into your milk supply and have an adverse affect on your nursing baby. If these substances do get into your breast milk they can make your baby very fussy, irritable, cry a lot and have difficulty sleeping. These things are obviously bad for the baby, but a mom needs her sleep and you would not want to do anything that will keep your baby awake, crying, fussing or being cranky! That would not be good for either of you and could definitely affect your ability to get good sleep time in so remember to avoid caffeine and alcohol in your diet while breastfeeding.

One thing that is important to do as you begin your breastfeeding journey is to have your blood iron level checked. During pregnancy you probably took a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement or other vitamin and mineral supplement to make sure that you were able to provide all the nutrients your body and your baby’s growing body needed during the time of your pregnancy. Now, that you have had your baby your iron needs will change and your body may or may not still be depleted regarding blood iron levels. It is important to have your levels checked to see where they are and if you still need a supplement that includes iron or not. Your doctor, midwife or other medical professional can look at the blood iron level and tell you if you still need an iron supplement or not. These professionals as well as a nutritionist or registered dietician can also tell you which foods are rich in iron and should be added to your diet.

Related posts:

1. Debunking The Breastfeeding Myths Like most any topic there are myths floating around about...
2. Why Breastfeeding Is Best For Baby And Mom There are many reasons why breastfeeding is best for the...
3. Preparing For Breastfeeding Before Baby Arrives Like most moms, those who anticipate breastfeeding as a choice...
4. The Special Health Benefits You And Your Baby Will Receive While Breastfeeding Breast milk has real healing powers to your baby and...
5. Can I Breastfeed My Adopted Baby The answer is a resounding, yes; you can breastfeed an...

Breast milk is still a nutritional value to a toddler because it still contains fats, proteins, and immunological factors that protect the child against infection and illness. Breast milk also contains factors that help the immune system to mature as well as to help the brain, abdominal organs and brain to develop and to mature better.

Toddlers are generally exposed to more infections and illnesses especially if they are in a daycare situation so the added benefits of being nursed during these years is wonderful. Not only does the toddler receive the protection from the breast milk but also the mom won’t have to take as many sick days because the toddler won’t be getting sick as often as others who are not being breastfed. Breastfeeding allows the toddler to fight off infections and to become immune to them naturally.

The toddler who has been breastfed receives the comfort he or she needs and also a sense of security from the breast that given the opportunity to wean naturally and when ready to do so will be able to feel as if the act of weaning is his or her idea and will instill a sense of pride that encourages growth and independence.

The toddler also receives a huge benefit from breastfeeding that is an emotional one. The ability of the mom to demonstrate an act of love that gives comfort and security at the same time nourishment that fills the belly is a unique mix that children respond to and remember. This reinforces the bond between child and mom that will be there throughout the child’s life.

Life as a toddler can be filled with new experiences, new challenges and yes, new hurts too and what a wonderful gift Mom gives in the form of breastfeeding. The comfort and security of the breast is familiar warmth in a world that is rapidly changing.

Breastfeeding can be a “forced” relaxing break for toddler and Mom in a day that is otherwise hectic.

The benefits of breastfeeding the toddler are as bountiful as the benefits of breastfeeding your infant. The act is a selfless one in which the mom gives of herself so that her child can have nature’s nourishment and comfort for as long as the child wants or needs it.

Related posts:

1. Breastfeeding A Toddler How Old Is Too Old It is customary to breastfeed a child during its first...
2. Breastfeeding Benefits Not Just The Mom And Baby What a concept, breastfeeding benefits not just the mom and...
3. The Special Health Benefits You And Your Baby Will Receive While Breastfeeding Breast milk has real healing powers to your baby and...
4. Your Health Regarding Breastfeeding Breastfeeding can be a time of intense bonding between you...
5. When Breastfeeding Is Not Best Nurses and lactation consultants alike have done a lot of...

Pregnant moms and new moms frequently ask why they should breast-feed when bottle feeding may seem to them to be much more convenient. There are many good reasons that are benefits for both the baby and the mom including that breast milk is the most complete and best nutritional “food” that you can give your newborn or older baby. The breast makes milk that naturally has all the right amounts of fat, protein, sugar and water that your baby needs for proper development and growth. Breast milk is easier to digest than formulas because it is natural and designed just for them.

Did you know that there are actual health risks if you chose not to breast-feed your baby?

Breast milk contains antibodies. Antibodies are in the breast milk to help protect your baby from bacteria or viruses in the environment. If a baby is not exclusively breast-fed for the first 6 months of life, they are more likely to develop multiple types of infections and diseases including bacterial and viral infections, diarrhea, ear infections, and respiratory infections. Formula-fed babies are sick more often, requiring more doctor visits than those who are breast-fed. In the United States, alone there is a 21% higher post neonatal infant mortality rate in bottle-fed babies than there is for babies who have been fed at the breast.

Another frequently asked question concerns how long a mom should breast-feed her child for? The ideal length of time is for at least the first 6 months of life with solid food being first introduced after the first 6 months while continuing to breast-feed until the baby’s first birthday and then weaning when the mom and baby feel comfortable doing so. If breastfed for the first year of life both the baby and mom receive the maximum amount of benefits.

A commonly asked question from new and veteran breast-feeding moms is: How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk from my breasts? Right after birth you will be giving your baby colostrum, from your breasts this is the “first milk” and is thick yellowish milk. It contains antibodies and other nutrients that are very beneficial for the baby to receive. It is normal for a newborn to lose a little weight right after birth and is normal for babies whether they are breast-fed or bottle-fed but this initial weight loss can worry a new mom if she is not aware of the normalcy of it. The baby should not lose more than 7% to 10% of the birth weight though in those first 3 to 5 days of life, if the baby does lose more than this have the baby’s weight and health checked by the pediatrician just to be on the safe side. Besides weight gain, you can also tell that a baby is getting enough breast-milk by the number of wet diapers the baby has. On the first day (the birthday) the newborn should have at least one wet diaper, on day two there should be at least 2 wet diapers, on day 3 there should be at least 3 wet diapers and on days 4 through 7 there should be at least 5 to 6 wet diapers each day.

Breast-feeding books:

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers: The Most Comprehensive Problem-Solution Guide to Breastfeeding from the Foremost Expert in North America by Jack Md Newman, and Teresa Pitman.

The Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International

Mama knows Breast: A Beginner’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Andi Silverman

Websites:

www.breastfeeding.com

www.4woman.gov/breastfeeding

www.lalecheleague.net

Related posts:

1. The Basics Of Breast Feeding Every baby is born to breast-feed; it is a natural...
2. Giving Baby The Best Start In Life With The Breast Are you pregnant and pondering the important decision bottle versus...
3. An Electric Breast Pump Primer For Breastfeeding Moms Breastfeeding is hailed as the cheapest way of feeding an...
4. Educating Yourself About Breast Feeding Like most things the more knowledgeable you are about a...
5. Coping With Some Of The More Common Challenges Of Breast Feeding There are many problems that may be encountered as you...

Who has not seen the situational comedies where breast milk inevitably ends up in someone’s coffee or tea? While this routinely garners a few laughs here and there, the fact that proper breast milk storage is a critical component of feeding an infant in a healthy and hygienic manner cannot be denied. This begs the question just how to be sure that breast milk storage in the real world actually works with the options available to the mother. Far too often moms are trying to wing it, use odd containers, and sometimes simply do not even know what is appropriate and what might not be the most advantageous means of storing freshly expressed breast milk.

Learning from moms who have to undergo surgery is a great way of understanding how breast milk storage devices are quite often used. Hospitals do not spend a lot of time teaching this fine art, and there is little in the way of peer teaching that goes on between new moms either. Usually the main focus is on breastfeeding, not on actually expressing milk, storing it, and then later on heating it up to offer it to baby. The first and foremost bit of information women intent on storing breast milk must learn that this is a task best done before they may have to become too busy to actually do it on a consistent basis or before they have to use medication that could be passed on through the breast milk.

Secondly, the majority of high quality breast pumping kits come with a number of empty containers that may be sterilized and then used for breast milk storage. At that time moms may think of either refrigerating their breast milk to facilitate breastfeeding by bottle on the same day, or they may choose to freeze it for future use. Some moms are surprised to learn that breast milk can indeed be frozen. The ideal way of putting breast milk into longer storage is to pump the milk into individual serving sized containers and then freeze these containers. This reduces any wasted breast milk and at the same time ensures that just the right size serving is always available when needed. In deference to the reality television shows, some manufacturers have added a tongue in cheek printing on their bags, denoting them as “Mum’s Best” or “Mommy’s Milk.”

Related posts:

1. Storing Breast Milk And Other Important Know How Fact About Breastfeeding When you tackle the awesome art of breastfeeding for the...
2. Three Things They Don’t Tell You About Using A Breast Pump For Breastfeeding There is no doubt that breast pumps are miraculous contraptions...
3. An Electric Breast Pump Primer For Breastfeeding Moms Breastfeeding is hailed as the cheapest way of feeding an...
4. Manual Breast Pumps For Breastfeeding Moms Breastfeeding moms know that sooner or later it will come...
5. Renting A Breast Pump For A Breastfeeding Mom A breast pump rental may not seem like an important...

The breast is best for you baby because the breast milk contains nutrients that no formula can duplicate. There simply is no comparison between breast milk and formula. Breast milk is designed for the nutritional needs of the human baby and the breasts are the best delivery method for giving baby this important nourishment.

There are many benefits of breast-feeding over bottle feeding including the fact that the stools of a formula fed baby are way stinkier than the stools of a breast fed baby! Believe me, when you are changing those messy diaper smell does make a big difference!

Have you ever noticed that the skin of a breast fed baby is softer and smoother feeling than the skin of a formula fed baby? The skin of formula fed babies can feel rough, dry, and often feel like sandpaper and also perhaps have patchy like appearance to the skin.

Believe it or not, researchers say that the subcutaneous fat in breast and formula fed infants has different compositions making breast fed babies feel more solid.

Breast milk benefits babies by building better brains, healthier bodies and better vision all do to the advanced nutrition in breast milk. DHA in breast milk may be one explanation for these better benefits.

Why does breastfeeding benefit the vision of the baby?

Studies have shown that the visual acuity in babies fed with breast milk is more advanced than that of babies fed with formula the reason can be found in the DHA present in breast milk and found in the structural components of the retina of the eye. If fed with better nutrition the tissues of the body grow better including the tissues of the eye. The better the tissues grow the better the body functions. It stands to reason that the better nutrition the tissue of the retina receive the better the vision of the individual. Breast fed babies receive DHA from the breast milk which nourishes the tissues of the retina thus the vision is better.

Giving baby the best start in life is what moms who care about their babies want to do and when they find out that breast milk contains the best nutritional value for their babies

Related posts:

1. Why Breastfeeding Is Best For Baby And Mom There are many reasons why breastfeeding is best for the...
2. The Basics Of Breast Feeding Every baby is born to breast-feed; it is a natural...
3. Questions Frequently Asked By New Breast Feeding Moms And The Answers Moms breast feeding for the first time often have questions,...
4. Breastfeeding Benefits Not Just The Mom And Baby What a concept, breastfeeding benefits not just the mom and...
5. Can I Breastfeed My Adopted Baby The answer is a resounding, yes; you can breastfeed an...

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics breastfeeding should be practiced for at least one entire year and the World Health Organization makes a further suggestion of breastfeeding for two years in order for both mom and baby to receive the maximum amount of benefits from breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding advocacy groups and governmental organizations all over the world are educating the global public about the economic value of breastfeeding. There are many financial benefits to offering the breast instead of the bottle that many pregnant women need to be aware of especially in the light of the harsh economic climate that we all live in today.

The estimated expense of feeding a baby commercial formula over the course of one year if $1,000 and that is just one baby, if the family has more than one young enough to be on formula the strain to the family’s budget is even greater.

There is also an economic savings when it comes to healthcare and feeding your baby. The Health Maintenance organization, Kaiser Permanente, did a research project to determine what if any value was there in providing lactation support to its healthcare membership and discovered that breastfeeding rates did indeed yield a positive economic return on the investment. The study revealed that babies who were breastfed for a minimum of six months on average saved $1,435 for their parents in health care claims over those infants who were fed formula.

Breastfeeding also saves future dollars because studies show that those who were breastfed as babies have a lower rate of insulin-dependent diabetes, Crohn’s disease, heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke, and ulcerative colitis. The fact that diseases can be prevented translates into saved dollars in insurance premiums companies and members pay out.

Another benefit that companies realize when employees prevent disease is that there are less sick days used by employees, and improved worker productivity.

When children and adults are healthier and have fewer healthcare insurance needs everyone benefits because insurance rates go down when the cost of insuring people decreases. Breastfed infants are healthy and grow up to be healthy adults. Breastfeeding is the best cost effective way to insure that cost benefits and health benefits are realized now and in the future.

Breastfed babies are not hospitalized as often as formula fed babies in fact a 1986 Cunningham report states that infants fed formula were 10 to 15 times more likely to be hospitalized if they became ill. An example would be babies hospitalized for RSV that were admitted to hospitals. It is also known that low birth weight babies who are breastfed are returned to the hospital less often than low birth weight babies who are formula fed.

Related posts:

1. Breastfeeding Benefits Not Just The Mom And Baby What a concept, breastfeeding benefits not just the mom and...
2. Why Breastfeeding Is Best For Baby And Mom There are many reasons why breastfeeding is best for the...
3. Prevent Diseases While Breastfeeding You can positively influence your baby's immune system with your...
4. Is Breastfeeding The Preferred Method Of Feeding Infants For Good Dental Health There are many benefits that breastfeeding carries over bottle feeding...
5. The Benefits Of Breastfeeding Your Toddler The wave of women who are now enjoying breastfeeding has...

The breastfeeding mom going back to work faces many challenges that are the same as non-breastfeeding moms such as separation anxiety on her part (most newborns and young infants respond well to most who feed and care for them until the one they prefer most returns) it is the mom who suffers the most when leaving her young infant for the workforce. The nursing mom also has to deal with physical symptoms of leaving her infant for more than 2 to 3 hours that are associated with breastfeeding such as milk letdown at the time her baby typically is ready to nurse, which can also occur when she is thinking of her baby or hears her baby crying over the phone. She also has other physical needs such as the need to pump on a regular basis especially if she is working fulltime, in order to keep up the milk supply for her baby.

If pumping while at work, which most nursing moms do need to do; she will also have other special needs while at work including a place that is private in which to pump, a place to store breast milk until she can take it home, and if she is using an electric breast pump, a place to sit and pump, near an electrical outlet.

Nowadays more moms returning to work are breastfeeding and so their needs are more recognized at least by the larger companies who employ women.

Any woman returning to work after having a baby will have adjustments as she leaves a newborn in the care of others. She will feel tired from the demands of caring for a newborn, and will miss her baby because of the close bond forged during pregnancy, delivery and the early days of getting to know her baby. All of these adjustments will occur at the same time that she returns to work after an absence in which she may be faced with also adjusting to changes at work or perhaps a new job.

There are several things that can be done to make this a smoother transaction for both the mom and the employer.

A mom anticipating going back to work and who wishes to continue to breastfeed can educate the employer before she returns about what her needs will be that are associated with her desire to continue to breastfeed and return to work. Today many companies have already instituted programs for returning nursing moms such as prenatal education and post-natal counseling with an on-site lactation consultant, space and equipment for working moms to pump breast milk while at work and some even encourage employees to use these programs. Smaller companies in which perhaps have not have the opportunity yet to experience a nursing mom returning to work may require this prior education about the needs of a nursing mom and how to provide for these needs.

Fortunately the nursing mom has help in educating her company through organizations such as the La Leche League International and other community programs that support breastfeeding. There are also many online breastfeeding forums that offer tips on how to make the transition smoother.

Related posts:

1. Coping With Some Of The More Common Challenges Of Breast Feeding There are many problems that may be encountered as you...
2. Finding Support When You Desire To Go Back To Work And Continue To Breastfeed Breastfeeding is a wonderful decision for you and for your...
3. Are You A Busy Mom You Can Still Breastfeed Many moms today worry about being able to continue to...
4. Three Things They Don’t Tell You About Using A Breast Pump For Breastfeeding There is no doubt that breast pumps are miraculous contraptions...
5. Preparing For Breastfeeding Before Baby Arrives Like most moms, those who anticipate breastfeeding as a choice...