Infant mammals have one thing in common. They all breastfeed. In addition, they are all equipped to squirm, crawl or swim to the breast and latch and happily suckle without the help of their mothers.
But human babies are different than other mammals, right? Don’t they need someone to “latch them on”?
Yes, human babies ARE different from other mammals. They are smarter and even more capable than their furry counterparts. After some help to get to mom’s torso, a newborn will have no trouble finding the breast and suckling comfortably. You have probably noticed that when your baby is ready to breastfeed, she turns her head back and forth on your chest and moves her body toward one breast or another while her mouth is wide open. She may also bob up and down on your chest with an open mouth. When your baby does those things, she is looking for your breast.
If your baby has been having trouble with breastfeeding, you might want to try letting her take the lead. Sit in a semi-reclined position bare from the waist up. Place your baby (also shirtless) on your chest facing you. Keep your hands close by to protect her from falling—otherwise, let her move her way. Notice how she uses her chin, cheeks and mouth to find the breast, then the nipple. When she gets close enough, she will anchor her chin to the underside of your breast, throw her head back, open her mouth wide and latch on. It may take her a few tries to get it right. You can help her by lifting the breast if necessary.
Letting your baby show you how she wants to postion herself can help you understand how best to help her–even when it’s not practical to remove your shirt!
See also, “Let Your Baby Take the Lead”
Written by Renee Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC. Renee is a lactation consultant in private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is available for home/hospital visits and phone consultations. Renee can be reached at www.second9months.com
As a mother, you want to help your baby breastfeed. But many times our well-intentioned “help” confuses the baby and results in uncomfortable, ineffective breastfeeding.
To let your baby use her instincts, position her on your lap so her head is slightly under your right breast. Your right hand can support your breast. Your baby’s top lip will be lined up with your nipple and her head will be tipped back slightly. Support her with your left hand just behind her ears, at the base of her neck. Your hand should be between her shoulder blades. Do not touch the back of her head. Lift her so her chin touches your breast. Her nose should be away from your breast. If she’s interested in nursing, she will tip her head back and open her mouth wide. At that moment you can lift her torso slightly so she can latch on. Her upper lip will barely cover the nipple. Avoid pushing her nose to the breast. Do not try to center the nipple in your baby’s mouth.
You can also try positioning your baby on your lap, supporting her so that her left cheek rests on top of your right breast. Hold her so that her head can move freely and the nipple is just out of reach. She will open her mouth and turn her head to find your nipple and begin breastfeeding.
If your baby is latched on correctly, it will be comfortable for both of you. Her nose should be tipped away from the breast and her chin and chest tucked in firmly against your body. You will hear rhythmic swallowing.
See also, “Your Baby is a Mammal!”
Written by Renee Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC. Renee is a lactation consultant in private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is available for home/hospital visits and phone consultations. Renee can be reached at www.second9months.com
Sometimes when you are craving something sweet, chocolate is the only thing that will do the trick. Since it’s my sister-in-laws birthday and the weather is getting warmer, I wanted to make something that would be light, refreshing and delicious for dessert. So I pulled out this recipe that Tif and I created for the cooking DVD and am not going to tell anyone it’s made with tofu and avocado! Yes, you heard me correctly, what makes this chocolate mousse most unique is its use of tofu and avocado instead of whip cream and eggs. Experimenting with different ingredients is fun and sometimes surprisingly delicious. You’ll probably have to try this one to believe it!
Healthwise, we used a low glycemic sweetener to stabilize blood sugar levels, which is important for women in general, but even more so during conception and pregnancy. Dark chocolate has numerous health benefits including it’s arginine content which encourages blood flow to the uterus and ovaries for fertility. Tofu is a healthful alternative to whip cream and eggs and it preserves the creamy texture of this delicious mousse (along with the avocado).
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Serves 4 to 6
10 ounces dark chocolate, melted
1 package silken tofu (optional: 1/2 an avocado)
2 to 4 tablespoons agave syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
In a blender or food processor, puree tofu and optional avocado, with agave, vanilla and cinnamon until perfectly smooth. Add melted chocolate and mix until fully combined.
Pour mixture in a bowl, and let sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
Source: Cooking for Fertility DVD
We all love tight arms! Looking good in a tank top, short-sleeved shirt, or swimsuit means having tight arms. But what exercises really tone the biceps and triceps? According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, focusing a weights workout on biceps and triceps is unnecessary when lifting for the chest and back muscle groups.
How is that possible? When you’re doing a chest press, the triceps are stimulated, and when you’re doing a back pull, your biceps are stimulated. Think of it as multi-tasking. So, don’t feel guilty about cutting out the specific arm exercises. Your arms will become toned as you lift properly. The key is lifting enough weight during your chest and back exercises to reach fatigue at about 15 repetitions. Give it a try. Your arms will feel it!
When my friend Heather got pregnant she experienced morning sickness like few I have known. And I really do think that it’s one of those things you have to experience to understand: a myriad of joy mixed with the deep desire to stay in bed until week 12 is long gone. We have all heard how important protein is during pregnancy. Cells are replicating, your baby needs nutrients and so do you. But what to do when nothing is appealing and even worse: nothing stays down?
Heather actually lost four pounds and was at a loss for what to eat, until her husband Michael discovered the magical pregnancy protein shake. It’s actually quite a simple, nutrient dense concoction that helped her to begin to stomach food throughout the day. To create a pregnancy smoothie at home use a blender to mix together:
1 cup of organic greek yogurt (choose a brand with a high protein content- Heather found one with 24 grams, whereas the one I originally used had 4 grams)
1 cup of your favorite berries (frozen or seasonal)
1/2 cup whole fat milk or dairy alternative
1 banana (optional)
1 scoop of whey protein (find a low sugar variety- less than 2 grams)
Kathryn Flynn is the author of Cooking for Fertility: Foods to Nourish Your Fertile Soul. Kathryn supports men and women worldwide in achieving a healthy pregnancy through nutrition and lifestyle changes in her individual fertility nutrition consultations. For additional information, please feel free to email Kathryn.
If you are considering eliminating dairy from your diet, it’s important to find some great milk alternatives for your favorite dishes. Nut milks are delicious, easy to make at home and packed with protein and vitamins. All you need is a few basic ingredients and a blender. Enjoy almond or hemp milk frothed in tea, poured over oatmeal or blended into the fertility berry smoothie. You can also experiment with other nuts using similar proportions.
Almond or Hemp milk
1 cup almonds or chia seeds, pre-soaked overnight
3 cups purified water
1 tablespoon of agave (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
Blend pre-soaked almonds or chia seeds with water. Strain to remove pulp and put back into the blender. Add sweeteners if desired. Yields 2½ to 3 cups.
Source: Cooking for Fertility: Foods to Nourish Your Fertile Soul
