Healthy Pregnancy

Nipples shields are molded silicone “nipples” that fit over a natural nipple. They look a bit like a sombrero, and the rim or base of the shield extends out about an inch to adhere to the breast. There are usually 4 holes in the nipple that mom’s milk can flow through. They are very thin and made in several sizes and styles. They are designed so that baby can latch on to the shield and get milk from mom.

So why on earth would anyone want to use a plastic nipple?

Nipples shields can be helpful when a baby is unable to form a strong vacuum at the natural breast. Sometimes, if baby’s tongue is not doing what it should, a nipple shield can enable a baby to breastfeed who otherwise would need to be bottle fed.

Nipple shields are also commonly used when a baby has nursed incorrectly and caused nipple soreness. A shield can make breastfeeding more comfortable while mom and baby learn to breastfeed comfortably.

Always seek guidance from an experienced lactation consultant before considering the use of a nipple shield. Improper use can lead to inadequate milk intake and subsequent weight loss, which, in turn could lead to a decrease in your milk supply.

Whether to alleviate soreness, or to help a baby who is learning to suck properly, a nipple shield is a temporary fix. Your lactation consultant should provide you with a detailed plan for the use of the shield and when and how to discontinue its use. When your baby is ready, he will breastfeed happily and comfortably without it!

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

You CAN combine working and breastfeeding. It just takes a little preparation and some extra planning. Here are some helpful tips from moms who have done it.

Purchase the best breastpump you can afford. You will need a double pump. Avoid used pumps.

Make sure the pump fits you well and you know how to use it! You should be able to get enough milk for a typical feeding in about 15-20 minutes.

Learn about milk storage guidelines.

Talk to your employer about your plans to pump your milk at work. Agree on where you will be pumping and storing your milk.

Find a co-worker who has combined working and breastfeeding. You will need support!

Make sure your baby is comfortable with a bottle or other alternative feeding method. Give her at least 2 weeks to get used to the idea.

Stockpile a few bottles of milk in the freezer “just in case.” It will make you feel secure. You do NOT need a freezer full of milk. Remember you will be replacing the milk your baby drinks each day and storing it in the refrigerator.

Consider going back to work on a Thursday or Friday. It’s not as overwhelming as starting off with the entire week in front of you.

Do a practice run to see how long it will take to get you, baby and milk ready and where you need to go. Be sure to do this practice at the time that you’d actually be going to work.

Remember that providing milk for your baby when you’re at work serves everyone. You will be happy and productive and your baby will be healthy. This translates to fewer sick days for you and a grateful boss!

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

See also “Are Used Breastpumps are Bargain?” and “Storing Human Milk“

I am a lactation consultant in private practice. I see many moms struggle with milk production. As you can imagine, (and as many of you know!) it’s very frustrating to do everything “right” and still not have enough milk for your baby. Moms know that breast milk is the best thing for babies, yet when supply problems exist, it can be difficult to give baby 100% breast milk. I have found that moms will do just about anything to help increase their milk production—prescriptions medications, strenuous pumping regimens or drinking bitter herbal concoctions.

Recently I was approached by the founder of Milkmakers. She enthusiastically told me about her product—a cookie—that reportedly helps with milk production in breastfeeding moms. Some of the ingredients in Milkmakers are known to support milk production, but I was skeptical, to say the least.

Since this is a new product and an interesting idea, I decided to do a little research. Seattle moms with concerns about milk supply agreed to eat these delicious, nutrient-dense cookies for a week and let me know how they “worked.” Much to my surprise, the vast majority of the moms called with positive results. Many of the moms had returned to work and found that a nutritious cookie was the perfect complement to pumping.

I will continue to offer herbs, medications and other proven protocols for my clients with serious milk production issues. I will also offer cookies as part of the solution—particularly for moms who may need a boost when returning to work.

If you are having problems with supply, contact a lactation consultant for help. In addtion, give Milkmakers a try. They may be part of the solution!

Milkmaker cookies can be found at www.milk-makers.com.

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

One of the beautiful things about breastfeeding is that there are no worries about cleaning containers, refrigeration or expiration dates! Even so, many moms find it necessary or convenient to express milk for their babies when they’re away. In those situations, it’s important to know how to properly store milk so it stays fresh for baby.

Most of us are used to storing milk that has been pasteurized. Pasteurization is a method of heat-treating the milk so that harmful bacteria are killed. Unfortunately, all of the beneficial cells are killed as well. Because of this, we have learned to always keep milk and other dairy products refrigerated so that it won’t spoil.

Your freshly pumped milk, however, is dense with live cells—cells that kill nasty germs and keep the milk safe for your baby. Freezing the milk kills many of those beneficial cells. Previously frozen milk is, therefore, less stable than fresh milk. Whenever possible, feed your baby fresh milk, saving the frozen milk for emergencies.

Simple rules for milk storage:

Room temperature: 3-4 hours or until the next feeding. (Research indicates that milk can be safely stored up to 10 hours at room temperature—depending on the temperature of the room.)

Refrigerator: 5 days (Many sources quote 8 days, but that research was conducted under laboratory conditions not typical in a home situation)

Freezer: 3-4 months (varies according to temperature, frequency of opening freezer and location in freezer.)

Deep Freeze: 6 months or longer. (varies according to frequency of opening freezer)

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

The holiday season reminds us to be grateful for the many blessings in our lives. But what many of us may not realize is that practicing gratitude as a ritual impacts our health, leading us to feel healthier and happier. Current research at the University of California Davis, has revealed that practicing gratitude elevates our inner happiness and contentment with life. I first heard about the gratitude concept from Oprah who wrote that she kept a journal and made a list of all she was grateful for each day. If you are looking to make major shifts in your wellbeing and joie de vivre this New Year, consider keeping a gratitude journal. Studies have revealed that:

1. Those who keep gratitude journal on a weekly basis exercise more often, experience less illness and feel more optimistic about the week to come and their lives as a whole (Emmons & McCullough, 2003).

2. Tracking gratitude is equated to meeting personal goals (personal, health and academic).

3. Guided gratitude meditations elicit positive thinking, while increasing alertness, attentiveness and energy.

4. People who practice gratitude are able to support others.

5. Those with neuromuscular disease improved their quality of life with increased feelings of connectedness, positive moods and improved sleep.

6. Children who grow up on gratitude feel more positive towards education and family. (Froh, Sefick, & Emmons, 2008)

Looking for additional ways to bring gratitude into your everyday life?

Practice giving back: the simple act of giving spreads gratitude. Consider ways you can give to experience how much you receive from the profound act of giving.

Say thank you: the two words are so simple and yet when spoken with sincerity they acknowledge the feeling of gratitude for a gift received by another.

Smile: a simple smile amongst strangers and friends can change the entire dynamic.

Say grace before meals: blessing your food is one of the most profound acts to imbue your food with gratitude to nourish your cells.

Winter is a time of stillness and deep introspection. With the bare trees and colder weather, we are asked to go within and build up our reserves for a re-emergence come spring. Deep rest, quietude and contemplation help us to prepare for what we will be created when the sparse trees begin to blossom anew.

In Chinese medicine, winter is associated with the water element, the color dark blue and black and the emotions of fear and survival. The corresponding organs, the adrenals, kidneys and reproductive organs thrive when nourished and replenished through sleep, relaxation and wholesome foods. Stress, overactivity, toxins and noise increase cortisol levels, eliciting the stress response and taxing our reserves. Finding a gentle balance between outgoing holiday celebrations and time alone is especially important for health during the holiday season. To attune with the winter season, find ways to hibernate and nurture your deepest yin energies:

Sip tea
The ritual of drinking tea is calming and regenerating, not to mention a great way to warm up on the cold winter days. Licorice tea helps to build up the adrenals, supporting increased energy reservoirs.

Ease Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD)
Winter can big more dreary days, so be sure to stock up on sunlight when you can and supplement adequately with Vitamin D.

Eat soups and stews
Foods simmered slowly are warming during the winter season. Add small pieces of seaweed like kombu and wakame to soak up the minerals and build your inner reserves.

Choose black and blue foods
Since the corresponding color to the water element is black and blue, consume use black beans, black sesame seeds, blueberries and blackberries for kidney, reproductive and adrenal health.

Get more sleep
With the darker days you may be feeling an inclination to go to bed a little earlier and rise a little later. Follow your intuition and stock up on rest to attune with the winter season.

Sea salt foot soaks
Salt is the corresponding flavor and water is the corresponding element to the winter season. For deep relaxation, gently detoxification and grounding at the end of your day unwind with a warm candlelit soak.

Root vegetables
As Paul Pitchford says in Healing with Whole Foods: root vegetables “grow in cold climates and contain minerals and other elements that make it possible to survive in harsh weather and under snow. When eating, we take on their qualities and build resistance to cool weather and
disease.” (62)

With flu season upon us it is important to take preventative steps to stay healthy. Building up your immune system is an important element of keeping bacteria and illness at bay. Consider the following natural remedies to prevent illness during flu season:

1. Acupuncture
Oriental Medicine focuses on preventing illness and uses tiny needles inserted along the meridian lines to keep energy flowing freely and build up the body’s defenses or Wei Qi to stop germs and viruses from invading.

2. Eat colorful fruits and vegetables
Colorful foods contain the most nourishing antioxidants. To get all of the necessary vitamins and minerals and boost your immune system, create a plate with all the colors of the rainbow.

3. Take supplements
Supplementing your already healthy diet with vitamins is a sure way to stay healthy and make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need. Especially important for flu season are Vitamin D (sunshine), Vitamin C (oranges), Zinc (pumpkin seeds) and Selenium (brazil nuts).

4. Get lots of rest
Staying rested is one of the best ways to ensure your immune system stays in top form. Whenever possible, be in bed by 11pm and aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Listen to your body if it calls for a nap.

5. Exercise for replenishment
Daily movement is one way to ensure fresh blood supply and oxygen to all your organs. Resist the urge to over exercise which can tax your system and leave you feeling depleted.

6. Wash your hands often
Many germs are spread through contact from your hands to your mouth. Make a point to wash your hands frequently through the day and avoid touching public door knobs and potentially infected areas like unnecessary flights.

7. Drinks lots of water and hot tea
Staying hydrated flushes germs and keeps the body healthy. Consider gargling with salt water and drink lots of hot tea to prevent bacteria from forming in the throat and nose.

8. Avoid sugar and processed foods
Sugar and refined foods deplete the immune system by wreaking havoc on your blood sugar levels and your adrenals. Limit or avoid overly sugary treats to keep your energy reservoirs at peak performance.

9. Take a probiotic
Probiotics build the immune system by introducing healthy bacteria to the gut. Take a quality probiotic or be sure to get a healthy dose of cultured vegetables or fermented foods each day.

10. Avoid those infected with the flu
Of course, whenever possible, stay away from those already infected to ensure they don’t pass the flu to you. Ideally those with the flu will stay incubated for 7-10 days until they are feeling better.

Breastfeeding has many benefits to mothers—one of which is a delay in the return of fertility. Many mothers enjoy a year or more without periods after the birth of their babies. Breastfeeding as a birth control method is referred to as the lactational ammenorrhea method or LAM. LAM is over 98% effective* when the following conditions are met:

Your periods have not returned. It is possible to ovulate before your period returns!

Your baby is under 6 months of age. Although you may remain infertile long after 6 months, the reliability of this method decreases with the age of the baby—probably because of the introduction of solid foods.

Your baby has nothing by mouth except the breast. In other words, the baby is not supplemented with other foods and is not using a pacifier for long periods.

Your baby is breastfeeding at least every 3 hours during the day and at least every 6 hours at night. There IS a benefit to waking at night with your baby! If your baby is up frequently during the night, you’re protected from another pregnancy!

It is important to discuss birth control options with your partner and your doctor. Keep in mind that for at least 6 months any additional birth control you choose will be a back up to LAM.

*Please note: It is unknown whether pumping your milk for your baby provides the same protection as exclusive breastfeeding.

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

You may have read that it is necessary to restrict your diet in order to breastfeed. Or that spicy foods will upset your baby’s tummy. Perhaps you have heard that eating certain foods will make “better” milk. Thankfully, nature has ensured that we will make high quality milk for our babies no matter what we eat! In fact, when you eat a varied diet with a wide variety of tastes and aromas, your baby gets to experience a variety of tastes in your milk. This prepares her to enjoy the foods you love when she’s old enough to sit at the dinner table.

So where does this list of “bad foods” come from? It comes from well-meaning professionals and mothers like you who have seen a baby react negatively to a particular food or class of foods. When you see a list of foods to avoid while breastfeeding, use some common sense and consider the following:

If you have food allergies in your family, it may be a good idea to avoid those foods while breastfeeding.

Vary your diet. Don’t eat a lot of one food in the course of a day. I knew a baby who was quite fussy until his mom stopped drinking 8 glasses of orange juice a day! He handled one glass a day just fine.

Go ahead and eat that spicy Thai food. Thai mothers do!

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

This is a test! Please read the following statements and respond “true” or “false” to each one.

1. If I breastfeed, I have to eat a bland diet.

2. If I eat broccoli, my baby will have gas.

3. If I have a glass of wine, I have to “pump and dump.”

4. I cannot drink coffee while breastfeeding.

5. If I eat chocolate, my breastfed baby will get diarrhea.

6. I have to drink lots of milk to produce milk for my baby.

7. I can’t eat spicy foods and breastfeed my baby.

If you answered false to each question, congratulations! Your score is 100 percent!

1. Babies love a varied diet. One study demonstrated that babies nurse longer after their mothers ate garlic.

2. It is a rare baby who doesn’t like nutritious vegetables. On the other hand, if your baby seems to be gassy after a particular food, try avoiding it for a few days and then re-introduce it just to be sure.

3. Drinking alcohol when breastfeeding is NOT the same as drinking while you’re pregnant. An occasional drink is just fine while breastfeeding.

4 and 5. Caffeine and chocolate in moderation are fine for mom and baby.

6. When was the last time you saw an adult cow or any other adult mammal drink milk?

7. Spicy foods? Mothers all over the world breastfeed and enjoy the foods of their culture.

So, indulge in the nutritious foods you love. Enjoy the occasional pleasure of a glass of wine or some yummy chocolate. You deserve it!

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