Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How

Pregnancy & Newborn magazine's review of our book.

Pregnancy & Newborn magazine reviewed our book - Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How - in its January issue calling it a "A helpful breastfeeding aid and a must-have for moms new to nursing."

You can buy our e-book online at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and iBooks.

Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How - Available Now

The Number One breastfeeding book in the Southern Hemisphere is finally available world wide today.

In honour of World Breastfeeding Week, Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How, by Melissa Macdonald & Tatyanna Wright - launch their book to celebrate, support and encourage the beautiful gift of breastfeeding.

The book includes videos kindly provided by the Interntational Breastfeeding Clinic. It also features a great list of products nursing mothers can purchase right form the e-book. 

Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How is available on Amazon.com and at BarnesandNoble.com retailing for $7.99 making it affordable and accesssible.

Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How

The number one breastfeeding book in Australia comes to the US next month - The internationally best seller "Breastfeeding: Real Mums Tell You How" - in its first year sales were compared to that of “What To Expect When You Are Expecting” a book that to date has sold over 15 million copies - Has been adapted and revised for the US market with additional sections and August 1st will be available as an e-book with enhanced features like videos and the ability to purchase products right from the page.

Despite what most people think, breastfeeding does not come naturally, it has to be learnt and most women are starved for information and support. “Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How” is based on the premise of encouraging and supporting women, not just giving them a whole bunch of information to read in the hope it all works out for them. Written by a ‘Breastfeeding Champion’ and a ‘Bottle Babe’ together they give their tips and words of wisdom from one mother to another.

Co-Authors Melissa Macdonald and Tatyanna Wright interviewed thousands of women to hear their baby feeding stories gathering advice that only mothers can offer and share with other mothers. This is a no-guilt, zero pressure approach to a growing dilemma new mothers face: breastfeeding.

It’s very difficult to get breastfeeding right and it can be extremely painful during the first couple of weeks post birth. This combined sends many women running. It’s also difficult to understand how your baby should latch on without having actually had a baby. It’s a learned technique. With kind permission from Dr. Jack Newman and lactation consultant Edith Kernerman of the International Breastfeeding Clinic, “Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How” offers videos of actual nursing mothers and babies to show you correct latching and other important elements of breastfeeding that can be difficult to envision or learn when you’ve never had a baby.

“Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How” has been featured in leading Australian pregnancy magazines, including Cosmopolitan Pregnancy (10 page spread), Practical Parenting, Pregnancy and Birth, Child Magazine (syndicated nationally) and a string of websites including, BubHub.com.au and the top baby blogs including Babble.com.au. The book was featured on The TODAY SHOW (Nine Network, Australia) to a phenomenal response with sales sky rocketing after the author’s appearance.

To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week “Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How” is out August 1st through Diversion Books on all e-readers (Kindle, iBooks, Sony Reader, Droid, Iphone, Nook, etc).

HIV and Breastfeeding - Part One

For most babies, breastfeeding is without question the best way to be fed, but unfortunately breastfeeding can also transmit HIV. If no antiretroviral drugs are being taken, breastfeeding for two or more years can double the risk of the baby becoming infected.

While some HIV-positive mothers in high income countries may wish to breastfeed their child the advice from national health agencies is straightforward: they should avoid breastfeeding altogether because the risk of HIV transmission far outweighs the risks associated with replacement feeding. Replacement (sometimes known as formula) feeding is the only infant feeding method that does not expose an infant to HIV, and in regions of the world where clean water and facilities are available; it is usually promoted as the only option.

For HIV-positive women in low and middle income countries, advice on infant feeding differs from high income countries to reflect the fact there are limited resources and infrastructure. It is known that where there is little access to clean water, sanitation and health services, that not breastfeeding can greatly increase the risks of disease and even the death of the baby. So as most HIV-positive women in these countries cannot safely formula feed their infants breastfeeding is the only realistic option available.

The latest (2010) guidance produced by the WHO (World Health Organisation), and increasingly followed by individual countries, is that in order to reduce the risk of the baby becoming infected, mothers, or their infant(s), are advised to take a course of antiretroviral drugs whilst breastfeeding. While both mother and infant will take a course of antiretroviral drugs, who takes the longer course of ARVs is a decision for the national body but either option have a very high success rate. Mothers are also advised to exclusively breastfeed their infant for 6 months and, after time, introduce other food substances while continuing to breastfeed for up to a year.

HIV and Breastfeeding - Part Two

It has been clearly shown that when antiretrovirals are taken through the pregnancy and breastfeeding stage, there is a greatly reduced HIV infection rate. However, there must be 100% adherence to taking the drugs correctly or else there is a risk that the baby will become infected with HIV. There needs to be good support for mothers to help them adhere to an extended drug regimen as well as keeping to 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding. The organisation mothers2mothers, provides this support to mothers in need (for more info see www.m2m.org).

WHO says mothers may safely breastfeed provided that they or their infants receive ARV drugs during the breastfeeding period. This has been shown to give infants the best chance to be protected from HIV transmission in settings where breastfeeding is the best option. Many HIV-positive women will not be able to obtain an extended course of ARV drugs that not only includes the period when they are pregnant, but also includes the breastfeeding period. So many women will still face a dilemma about whether, and in exactly what circumstances, they should breastfeed.

All children born to HIV positive mothers should be tested for HIV to determine their status.: Babies that are HIV positive can be fed breast milk indefinitely. There is no additional risk from breast feeding an HIV positive baby. Early cessation of breast feeding for HIV positive and HIV negative babies has been shown to be harmful with increased mortality. So, in the absence of safe alternatives, HIV positive mothers of HIV negative babies should exclusively breast feed for six months and then add complementary, age-appropriate foods and continue with breast feeding until one-year. Ideally, these HIV negative, HIV-exposed babies either receive daily nevirapine or the mother is on ARVs for the duration of breast feeding.

Without question, breastfeeding should be promoted as ideal for most babies. But the drive to reinforce breastfeeding should not be a barrier to helping HIV-positive mothers choose the feeding method that is right for them. Policy makers and advocates must avoid unnecessary conflict between preventing HIV infection and improving child health in general.

Ultimately, the only way to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV is to prevent women becoming infected in the first place through education, empowerment and promotion of condoms. All women need access to HIV testing and counselling, but this is especially true for pregnant women and new mothers.

Those who test positive face a very difficult decision about how to feed their babies. What they need is accurate information, clear guidance and ongoing support to succeed with their chosen strategies.

Unfortunately, access to high quality counselling is scarce in much of the world, resulting in many mothers making inappropriate feeding decisions. There is a desperate need for more resources and better training of counsellors. Good quality programmes have the potential to save many thousands of infant lives. 

In order to inform, support and encourage these women and help them make the right decisions we are supporting the incredible organisation, mothers2mothers, and you can to by donating to help a mother in need. Donate Here. 

Note” - This information was taken from the website - http://www.avert.org/hiv-breastfeeding.htm, for more information and research on this topic click on the link provided.

 

mothers2mothers Tree of Hope - A Mother's Day Dedication

This Mother's Day, to celebrate a special mother in your life, add a leaf to our partners mothers2mothers "Tree of Hope" dedication tree.

Every dedication helps their tree grow larger, bringing more hope and strength to mothers in Africa living with HIV. You can make as many dedications as you wish - for free. Your special mom will receive notification of your dedication. You can also donate to mother2mothers. 

To dedicate a special leaf now, click here.

Dianne's Advice

Dianne's top 5 tips for surviving the first 48 – 72 hours:

- Until your milk comes in breastfeeding is hard, awkward, painful, so don’t overdo it.

- If you’re not having any success, relax and give your beautiful newborn a cuddle, let them snuggle into your boob and enjoy the moment. They won’t starve!

- Newborns don’t have big mouths and so attaching is difficult in the first few days – it won’t be like it is on the posters and videos.

- You will cry in the first 48 hours – it’s like PMT personified!

- Don’t rely on the midwives to help attach at each feed, they’re great but usually overworked and can take an eternity to get to you.

Here’s my top 5 tips for breastfeeding mums:

- If you’re not comfortable expressing, don’t worry. You might feel a bit trapped now, but really it’s only a short time before you’re down to five feeds, then three, then weaned.

- If you can afford a lactation consultation get one from day one.

- Don’t ever feel uncomfortable about breastfeeding in public. 99% of the time no one will notice or care, and if they do it’s their problem not yours.

- I get really upset when I read in Parenting magazines about mums who’ve been to hell and back and are really emotionally scarred from the breastfeeding experience. It shouldn’t be like that. So I think the most important piece of advice that I can give to a new mum is that breastfeeding should be a positive, nurturing experience for both mum and bub. If you can’t do it, if it’s all too overwhelming and painful, it’s okay to say no and to bottle feed instead.

 

Diannes' Story: Part Two

I had nipple soreness with both bubs for the first few weeks, and cracking with the first bub. I found that by not trying so hard to ‘get it right’ straight away with the second my nipples were in a better state than with the first bub.

Unfortunately I had mastitis within the first few weeks with both kiddies – unlucky!! My biggest piece of advice on this one is if you think you’ve got it, you probably have, and time is everything... get to the doctor quick! You’ll feel a bit off one minute and then 3 hours later you’re hot, cold, aching, almost delirious and can’t get out of bed.

I was incredibly lucky with both of my children as the first few months of feeding were fairly easy. My biggest emotional scar from breastfeeding is the fact that I couldn’t express, try as I might it was an impossible task. I’m happy to say I took my own advice rather than others and gave up on it and felt much happier. I didn’t even bother trying with the second bub and although it meant I was tied to bub for feed times for the first 8 months I’m very happy with my decision.

I started the weaning process with both bubs when they were 7 months. My youngest just turned 8 months and is now completely weaned – she loves formula and decided to give breastfeeding the short shift quite quickly. As I’m sitting here writing this my boobs ache from a too quick weaning process... fingers crossed I’ll not get mastitis again!

I am one of those mums who breastfed everywhere, restaurants, parks, cafes, airports, and although I was discrete my boobs became public property. So although it’s sad to have stopped breastfeeding, I’m also excited to get my own body back.

 

Dianne's Story: Part 1

I was a bit naive before the first child came along, but being a fairly organised and results-driven individual, I was determined to ‘get it right’ from the beginning. So, we went to the breastfeeding class and listened intently during the pre-natal sessions. My lasting memory of it was a) it’s alright to sit in your backyard half naked airing your nipples if your breastfeeding b) you’re nipples will never be the same again! As you can tell, I hadn’t retained the most useful information for the task at hand!

When bub came along I had high expectations, no experience and lots of ‘well meaning’ advice. Needless to say, the first few days were a bit of a disaster.

I hated that all of a sudden my breasts weren’t mine - various well-meaning midwives would race in, grab hold of my breasts and slam bubs face into them. ‘there’, they’d say, ‘now you try’. Then they’d race out again to answer the buzzer of the next distraught new mum.

My biggest anxiety was that my baby would starve while I was trying to learn how to attach properly. The whole chin to breast and wide-open mouth to nipple confounded me - he was too small and I was too big!! On, off, on, off, and on it went, until..... my milk came in and it was like one of those hallelujah moments, my son realised there was something worthwhile to have and on he went, and I realised it was all going to be okay.

By the time my second child came along it was the opposite – I was much more relaxed and knew to ride out the first 48 hours and the rest would come.

 

mothers2mothers Site Coordinator Maureen Olaka's Story