Be Selfish! Breastfeed!

Breastfeeding is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself and your baby. It is such a special time to share with your new little bundle of joy while also offering a plethora of nutritional, immunological, psychological, economical and environmental benefits. The first 6 weeks of breastfeeding are the most crucial because it is usually between this time that most mommies tend to get frustrated and give up. As a certified Lactation Consultant I love working with mommies to overcome any obstacles they encounter to help them try to breastfeed for as long as they can. Especially working mommies, because I know first hand how hard it could be to pump at work and get an adequate supply. I encourage women who breastfeed to try and keep it up as long as they can.

Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby include lowering the risk of SIDS, boost the babies immune system (even better than vaccines!), lower risk of obesity, protect against allergies by building antibodies, boost brain development and make stronger and healthier adolescents. Breastfeeding your baby for as long as you can helps give them the upper hand in the health and well being department over formula feed babies.  Most people are aware that breastfeeding has multiple benefits for babies, but many don't know about its benefits for the Mom as well. Breastfeeding helps offset type 2 diabetes and reduce cancer as well as reduce stress and lower the risk of postpartum depression.

One concern of mine after returning to work with my daughter, and now again with my son, is how to increase breast milk supply when returning to work. I did some pumping when I was on maternity leave but it's hard to pump when you are already exclusively nursing full time. When I returned to work I was worried because the amount I pump while at work is much less than my kids drank each day, which stressed me out because I was worried about what would happen when I ran out of my frozen milk supply. I began researching my options because I wanted to avoid giving my baby formula if possible. I learned a few tricks that worked for me and helped increase my supply.

It is important for moms to have an understand of the breastfeeding laws in the state in which she resides. http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389 gives alot of good information regarding these laws. Most states require employers to allow moms to take pumping breaks. Fortunately for me, my company is very Mommy friendly and has a private lactation room as well as a special fridge to store our milk which makes it really convenient and relaxing to pump while at work.

The problem for me, which I mentioned earlier, is that I don't get much output when I pump. I began to get discouraged and researched some sites to see what I could do as I want to try to breastfeed my son until he is at least a year old. I drink Mother's Milk tea by Traditional Medicinals as well as take some Fenugreek supplements which contain herbs that help increase milk supply. I also eat oatmeal in the morning as this is also considered a galactagogue, which means that it helps boost milk production. I also try and pump every 1.5-2 hours while at work. A couple of sites I found made the following recommendations which I follow. I feed my son before I drop him off to daycare and then when I get to work I try to pump within 20 minutes of arriving. I then pump every 1.5-2 hours until about an hour before I am supposed to go home. I have asked my daycare provider not to feed him too close to when I pick up the kids so that I can nurse right when we get home to re-establish a bond and keep my supply up. Pumping is not as efficient at getting the milk out as your baby is so the amount you pump could be significantly less then your baby gets in a feeding, so you don't want to get too hung up on the amount of milk you pump. As long as your baby is gaining weight and seems satisfied after a feeding then you shouldn't be concerned with your supply. With that being said, it's still helpful to be able to pump as much as you can to ensure that your baby can have enough to eat while you two are separated. I continue to nurse as much as I can through the evening and into the night.

I have noticed an increase in my milk supply in the past couple weeks and have been pleased. Unfortunately, I still do not pump enough to satisfy my little man during the day so in addition to the milk I have pumped for him, I also supplement with Dr. Meyenberg's Powdered Goat's Milk because Goats milk most closely resembles mother's breast milk, contains more calcium and is less allergenic than cow's milk formula. I add some cod liver oil to add some DHA to his supplement and have been very happy in my choice to supplement with goat's milk rather than commercial supplements for various reasons.

My favorite part about breastfeeding is just getting to share that special time with my beautiful baby. During our feedings we just stare into each other's eyes in amazement and I feel more and more bonded with my child each time. This has to do with the fact that breastfeeding releases endorphins in both mom and baby creating feelings of relaxation and well-being. I just love it and hope that I can breastfeed my son for even longer than I did with my daughter, obviously for the benefits, but also for my own selfish reasons of wanting to give my kids the best and doing whatever I can even if at times it isn't the most convenient solution.

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

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