Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How

Breastfeeding Mix Up?!

How could this happen? A New York City mother claims her newborn was breastfed by another woman after hospital staff switched their babies. 

What would you do? To read more, click here.

 

Top Ten Breastfeeding Tips From Real Moms

1. Be informed - make sure that you feel really informed about breast and bottle feeding before giving birth. If possible take a breastfeeding class at your local hospital or  birthing centre or see a lactation consultant prior to the birth so you feel confident 

2. Be prepared -  before the big day arrives make sure you have set up where you are going to feed and have bought everything you need so when you bring your baby home, you are ready to feed.  

3. Ask for help  -  ask the midwife, lactation consultant, mothercraft nurse, your mum, a friend anyone who has breastfed for help and take all the information on board, try what you want and you will soon find out what works best for you. 

4. Get the attachment correct- this is one of the fundamental things to get right. If you don’t have the correct attachment things can go wrong very quickly ie. cracked nipples. So make sure you ask someone to help with the initial attachment, don’t continue to feed unless the attachment is correct. It shouldn’t hurt too much. If it does, try attaching again. Ask for help at every feed until you feel comfortable doing it yourself 

5. Learn to feed - don’t expect you and your baby will know what to do straight away. Everyone has to learn how to breastfeed and every baby feeds differently. So don’t feel bad if you don’t know what you are doing, you and your baby will learn together.

6. It shouldn’t hurt- it will feel uncomfortable and may sting or feel like pins and needles initially when your milk is ‘let down’ but after a while this should subside. If your nipple is hurting take your baby off immediately as the attachment may be wrong. 

7. Relax and Recuperate - Relax and don’t try too hard. You just gave birth to a baby and you will be exhausted. This is not the time to entertain lots of people, it is the time to relax and recuperate and bond with your baby. The less stressed and more relaxed and well you are, the better your milk supply and the easier it will be. 

8. Skin on Skin - When babies are placed undisturbed on their mother’s chest, between the breasts, they often will crawl towards the mother’s nipple and latch on unassisted. It is also a lovely bonding time. 

9. It takes 6 weeks - every mum will tell you that it takes around 6 weeks to get the feeding going well. If you are lucky then it may be immediate but for most it’s the first 6 weeks that are the hardest and it gets much easier and enjoyable after this so try to stick with it. 

10. Don’t feel guilty - if breastfeeding doesn’t work out for you or you choose to bottle feed from day one, don’t feel guilty your baby will still be healthy and happy.

Exert taken from Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How

Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How on The Today Show

 

Co-author Melissa Macdonald on Australia's Today Show. If you can't view the clip here, please click: here, and watch it on YouTube.

mothers2mothers

HIV is not something that we have talked about since the early 1980‘s when we saw horrific ad campaigns educating the world on HIV/AIDS. It is however, still a major issue for many women worldwide with over 16 million women currently infected with HIV.

With the World Health Organization calling for the ‘eradication of pediatric HIV by 2015’ there is a good chance that we will be able to wipe out this deadly disease in the not to distant future. “There isn’t a reason in the world why a baby should be born with the HIV virus. It is easy and cheap to prevent. It comes down to caring for the only people who can stop this tragedy -- the mothers”. A strong and honest sentiment from Robin Smalley, co-founder of mothers2mothers - a charity created to educate, counsel and support HIV mothers in an effort to prevent the transmission of the deadly virus to their unborn babies.

Smalley has turned mothers2mothers into a multinational nonprofit organization with more than seven hundred sites throughout South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Malawi. They employ almost 1,800 HIV-positive mothers, and enrolled nearly 300,000 unique HIV-positive pregnant women and new mothers reaching about one in five of every HIV positive pregnant women in the world last year with messages of empowerment and education. mothers2mothers has been honored at the White House, briefed the Senate, and won the prestigious Skoll Entrepreneurial Award.

Co-author’s Melissa Macdonald and Tatyanna Wright and the creators of this blog, have partnered with mothers2mothers to bring the message to Australia – that communication between women is key. We can help and support each other at a grassroots level by being supportive, encouraging and sharing information with issues such as Breastfeeding, just like mothers2mothers are helping these women in third world nations’, Wright says. Macdonald wrote the Australian version of the best selling Breastfeeding book - ‘Breastfeeding: Real Mums Tell You How’, and due to its overwhelming success she has partnered with maternity expert Tatyanna Wright to co-write a USA version due out in August in time for ‘World Breastfeeding Week’.

"It’s amazing that once you are a mother you discover your part of this wider mother network or club’ so to speak says Macdonald, ‘you share similar stories and experiences and it gives you a connection as a woman and as a mother and you reach out to each other in times of need".

Every purchase of the book “Breastfeeding: Real Mums Tell You How” donates to this mothers2mothers. The book is available online and in leading bookstores and baby stores nationwide. Visit mothers2mothers site - www.m2m.org - to find out how you can do more. To find out more about HIV-Breastfeeding, click here. 

Bringing Home Baby

Bringing home a new baby is the most joyous time in a woman’s life yet for some women the weeks preceding their babies arrival can be filled with tears and sadness.

Adjusting to a lack of sleep can be just the start of difficulties for many new mums especially those who are struggling with breastfeeding. Statistics tell us that in fact 80% of women struggle with breastfeeding, yet you ask any pregnant woman if they have prepared themselves for feeding and the majority would wonder why? For what would seem like such a natural thing to do, many women struggle with establishing breastfeeding and often experience feelings of failure and guilt if they turn to bottle feeding in frustration.

 

Author and mother of two, Melissa Macdonald is on a mission to help these women in their time of need. Her book “Breastfeeding: Real Mums Tell You How” was written by mothers for mothers. Melissa interviewed hundreds of women about their experiences with feeding their babies both breast and bottle and the ups and downs that came with it.

 

“Hospitals are generally very supportive with breastfeeding but it’s when you get home from hospital that there is a definite lack of continued support, especially if you don’t have any family around to help. It is the first six weeks when most women experience problems”, Melissa says. “It’s so important to support and encourage women at this time as it can be really difficult and depressing if breastfeeding doesn’t work out as you’d have hoped. I have received many emails from readers thanking me for being their support network in those first tricky few weeks which makes me feel so happy that I am helping out”. Melissa is set to launch her book in the United States at the end of the year after partnering with US based maternity lifestyle expert Tatyanna Wright.

 

Melissa’s book is available online at www.breastfeedingbook.com.au or at leading bookstores.

Why Are Women Failing At Breastfeeding?

It’s widely acknowledged that breast is best for babies for the health of mother and baby but why is it that women are giving it up so quickly? Young women used to being competent and capable in the workplace are questioning why they are failing miserably at something that is said to be such a natural thing to do.

Women who breastfeed in public are shunned, feel embarrassed to talk to friends or their mothers group about the problems they are having due to self pride and are living in smaller nuclear families these days and are often no longer in touch with their mother, grandmothers and aunties who can help them.

Statistics emphasise a lack of support and information for new mothers at what is a crucial time to establish breastfeeding. Women need information and support rather than guilt or pressure says author Melissa Macdonald of “Breastfeeding: Real Mums Tell You How”. “Breastfeeding seems to be a Taboo subject and therefore women simply don’t know that they need to learn how to breastfeed and that it’s not such an easy thing to do. Many are not finding out how to breastfeed or getting support when needed which could quickly resolve any issues or problems they are having.

“If women were better prepared for breastfeeding by learning how to whilst they were pregnant, then they would better their success”. Says Melissa

Author Melissa Macdonald got together with other mothers to document their experiences with feeding their babies and the highs and lows that come with it.

All mums agreed that a book like this was long over due and would be a great help to pregnant women and new mums. “Pregnant women should arm themselves with the basic fundamentals of breastfeeding to give themselves the best chance at success” mum Alison says, “It seems such a natural thing to do, but its not so easy and many women have feelings of failure when they don’t succeed.”

With women returning to work early and leading busier lives than ever before, the mums interviewed all agreed that there is too much pressure on women to solely breastfeed. All agreed that breast was best but they believed that society as a whole was changing and women were no longer only homemakers but were also involved in part or full time work. Many women run businesses from home or are the sole bread winner and this often calls for them to be separated from their babies and therefore a bottle of formula or expressed breastmilk was left for the babysitter to give the baby.

“I had to go back to work early and my husband stayed home to look after our baby” Lisa said. It was therefore necessary for me to give our daughter a bottle early on so I knew she would take it when I went back to full time work. I still breastfed her at night though.”

There’s a lot of pressure put upon women to solely breastfeed but quite often its not an option says author Melissa Macdonald. Feeding your baby a combination of breast and bottle is often what is most effective for mother and baby and the rest of the family. Its important for women to not feel like they are a failure or guilty if they choose to bottle feed. Yes breast is best but sometimes it’s not a realistic option.

‘Breastfeeding: Real Mums Tell You How’ is a book that gives women the encouragement and support they need to feed their babies, not the guilt and pressure that’s so often given to new mothers. The book is available at www.breastfeedingbook.com.au

Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How

Co-Author Melissa Macdonald shares her own personal story with breastfeeding:

As pregnant women, we don’t think so much about feeding our baby, rather the labour and the pain associated with it. We’re filled with the excitement of finally meeting our baby for the first time and so we should be, it’s an amazing time in our life.

As ‘soon to be mums’, we read so many books about conception, pregnancy, fertility and the like, before and during pregnancy, but we don’t seem to read up on what happens after the baby arrives.

Feeding your baby is your most important responsibility as a mother. Once your baby is in your arms it won’t be long before the first feed and you need to be prepared for it.

After talking with many women who have shared with me their joy and others anguish in feeding their babies, I found that new mums really need all the support they can get in order to successfully establish breastfeeding. Some of the best support comes from midwives, lactation consultants, mother craft nurses, family and the associations and hotlines available. When you don’t have access to these resources in the hospital or when you get home, are feeling alone in your experiences or simply can’t get the feeding right, the best people to listen to are other mothers and their first hand experiences.

However many women don’t attend mothers group until their baby is 13 weeks old and  by this stage some women have been through hell and back trying to get the feeding right and in frustration and despair have turned to formula (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

I have two children and I experienced breastfeeding problems partly due to a lack of knowledge and the extreme stress I put myself under to solely breastfeed.  I didn’t understand why I was failing at what seemed such a natural thing to do.

In light of my experiences I set out to write a book that would give pregnant women and new mothers the information and confidence they need to have a successful feeding relationship with their babies.  I am happy to say my books have been printed and have been delivered and are now available online at www.breastfeedingbook.com.au and at all leading bookstores and baby stores across Australia.

The book covers the fundamentals of breastfeeding and what you need to know yourself the best chance. If you can’t or don’t want to breastfeed then there is practical information on how to bottle feed or even combination feed and with no judgement from anyone on what you decide.

I interviewed many mothers just like you, who shared their stories and their experience of feeding their babies and the highs and lows that come with it. I really hope this book gives modern women the confidence and knowledge to feel prepared to feed their babies whether it be breast or bottle or a combination of both. I promote breastfeeding wholeheartedly but there is immense pressure on women to solely breastfeed their babies and for some this is not so easy or a realistic option.

For those of you for whom breastfeeding comes easily, you are the lucky ones. There are many mothers for whom it doesn’t.

The best advice I was given was, “Do what is best for you and your baby” and this means both in the physical and emotional sense, whether it be breastfeeding, bottle feeding or a combination of both. As your baby’s mother, you have the right to choose how to feed your child. Yes, breast is best but sometimes it just isn’t an option.

For some, breastfeeding doesn’t come naturally, for others it’s smooth sailing all the way. Each child feeds differently, even siblings or twins vary greatly in the way they feed. You will not know how your baby will be until that first attachment. So by being well informed about what to expect prior to giving birth, we can give ourselves and our baby the best chance at a pleasurable breastfeeding experience.

So if you are pregnant, a new mum or looking for a gift for your pregnant friend or relative, then this is the book for you.

Breast Feeding & Post Natal Depression

About 50 to 85% of new mothers experience the baby blues in the first two weeks postpartum. Without any reason, they are all of a sudden in tears. They may feel sad, restless, exhausted, and worry about the lack of happy feelings that are supposed to come with the birth of the baby. In most cases, these baby blues are limited to about two weeks.
In some cases, the symptoms get worse or are developing after two weeks. Also insomnia, weight loss, confusion, anxiety or feeling emotionally detoached from the baby are part of the picture. If these feelings are not resolving on its own within about two weeks, or the symptoms worsen, it is wise to consult a physician to rule out postpartum depression or start treatment
In some cases a mother develops a postpartum psychosis. The symptoms and feelings are much stronger than with a postpartum depression and a mother may harm herself or her baby. Medical treatment is necessary, admission in a hospital may be needed.

With all the pressures on the modern mother whether it be financial, marital, maternal or work stress, its no wonder so many women are being effected. In fact the stresses of initiating breastfeeding also raise a womans cortisol levels which in turn decreases her milk supply- It’s a vicious cycle. Studies have in fact shown that once women got breastfeeding going successfully they had lower cortisol levels and lower levels of depression. (see attached article on depression and breastfeeding study)

If you're a breastfeeding mother, postpartum depression needs to be on your watch list. Having a baby causes so many changes in a woman’s life. The demands of caring for a new baby 24/7 and the accompanying lack of sleep, combined with the hormonal shifts of pregnancy and childbirth, can take a huge toll on new moms. Mood swings are very common during the postpartum period; many new moms report feeling elated one minute and sad the next. But for some woman, giving birth triggers something more serious than a simple case of Baby Blues. Postpartum Depression, also called PPD, can affect a new mom's ability to properly care for her baby, and thus requires immediate attention.

Breastfeeding difficulties can be a trigger for PND. Through standard health checks with baby nurses and GPs, mental health should be evaluated. The awareness of PND should be raised so that if a family member notices that a new mother is depressed – whether breastfeeding related or not – they take it seriously. And new mothers themselves should be urged to seek help, support or advice before it is too late.

Breast Feeding & Post Natal Depression

NEW STUDY FROM UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER ON BREAST FEEDING & POST NATAL DEPRESSION

The commonly held belief that mothers suffering from post natal depression will not be able to breastfeed has been challenged by research from the University of Leicester, which also suggests that the manner in which current breastfeeding promotion strategies are communicated may contribute to feelings of guilt and fears of inadequacy by mothers suffering from depression.

These results arise from research carried out by Ellen Homewood, Alison Tweed and Jon Crossley of the Department of Clinical Psychology at the University, and Michelle Cree of the Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust.

They found that mothers with post natal depression felt occluded in their attempts to meet their infants' demands for sustenance and nurturance. These feelings seemed to be triggered by experiences of feeding, as it represented a central aspect of the women's interaction with their infants.

In some cases, breastfeeding contributed to depression by increasing women's sense of being trapped by the dependency of their babies at the expense of their own well-being, and intensifying their feelings of responsibility for keeping their babies alive.