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Tuesday, June 30, 2020
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COVID-19: the importance of healthcare professionals in protecting human milk and breastfeeding
It is clear that the world will never be the same since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our daily routines and the healthcare system will be forever changed. Nonetheless, families will continue to conceive and bring new lives into the world. Now more than ever, families need access to evidence-based lactation care and support. With social distancing there are both opportunities and risks: opportunities to improve breastfeeding outcomes; risks that families may not be able to access much-needed lactation care or lactation technology.
To view article abstract click here
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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard
Monday, June 22, 2020
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Nutritious Oatmeal Cookies
If you think being a parent is a strange new world, think again. It’s even stranger as a lactating mother.
I went into Motherhood pretty cold because I refused to go down the rabbit hole. I didn’t want to scare myself. Those who know me will know that anything I put my mind to I go in with deep abandon.
Breast feeding, is a wonderful experience and for most part, it is what they say – a great way to bond with your newborn. The chemical release of oxytocin floods through you – and for me, my tear ducts always flow.
Then there’s the byproduct of the process – the glorious breast milk. Filled with it’s own cocktail of nutrients that miraculously changes as your infant grows. A mixture of vitamins, anti-bodies, fats, I think it’s a super food!
With Ciaran, my first born, I only managed up to 6 months. The stress at work at my previous company got the better of me and a first-time mum navigating the feelings and emotions of such a role that is motherhood — I had so many unrealistic expectations.
That was when I first encountered this delicious word - galactagogue.
To this day i find it hard not to chuckle. My first thought was Galactica Monologues? What fantastical thing could this be?
It originated from the Greek word “galacta,” meaning milk.
Galactagogues help you with your breast milk. And apparently it’s a whole list of foods that ‘triggers’ or encourages your glorious pair of boobies to continue feeding your precious child.
Fatty foods and a whole lot of herbs make the bulk of the list. From nuts to seeds, to garlic and fenugreek, it’s an interesting make up.
Then there’s oats. Oats is the most popular one – as it’s the most commonly found ingredient and easily available. Oh and you can keep it for long.
Having nursed my second child Eoin for the past 8 months, I was feeling rather good. But my supply has dipped of late.
And I’ve taken it upon myself to make sure I catch up on my galactagogues. Lactation cookies were my immediate choice as I do love my oats. But I prefer not to call them lactation cookies because they are really just souped up oatmeal cookies that are ultra nutritious (and really shouldn’t be limited to lactating mothers).
Brewer’s yeast and flaxseeds, almond butter is the brilliant trigger. And chopped chocolate chunks make them irresistible to other non-lactating humans. My son and husband enjoys them just as much as I do.
It has been a week since and my supply has been steadily increasing. Try making these for yourself if you find yourself requiring some assistance (or even just an excuse to eat a cookie in the name of health). Brewer’s Yeast, a common key ingredient in lactation cookies is a rich source of B-complex vitamins, protein, and minerals, including a biologically active form of chromium. It is also said to be effective at supporting the nervous system and enhancing the immune system.
Recipe
Ingredients:
- 227g butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 1 tbsp barley malt* (optional)
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1/3 cup brewer’s yeast
- 2 tablespoons almond butter (substitute in peanut butter or leave out altogether)
- 3 cups rolled oats (Bob’s Red Mill Thick Cut is my favourite)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped chocolate chunks
*Note: Barely malt is an excellent sweetener for baking and especially helpful for lactating mothers. It is barley grain that has been allowed to germinate. When this happens, the barley turns into a sweet syrupy malt that also contains a lot of beta-glucan (a prolactin stimulant, what lactating mothers need).
Method:
- Preheat oven to 175 °C. Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
- Using a mixer, beat together the butter, sugar and barley malt until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla.
- Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, ground flaxseed, and brewer’s yeast. Add this to the mixing bowl and beat until just combined.
- Add the almond butter and oats, mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chunks
- Drop 1.5 tablespoons of dough onto the lined cookie sheets. Bake s20-30 minute, or until the bottom is golden brown. Cookies will puff up a bit in the oven; if you prefer flatter cookies, press down on the top of each cookie with a fork.
- Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store cookies in an air-tight container for up to a week; cookies will keep frozen for up to 3 months. Cookie dough can be made in advance and kept in the freezer 6-12 months (make sure it’s tightly sealed).
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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard
Thursday, June 18, 2020
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Monday, June 8, 2020
How to become a Lactation Consultant
What is your end goal?
A “Lactation Consultant” can mean a few different things. Technically, any lactation professional can refer to themselves as a consultant. However, there are different levels of lactation support. The first step is figuring out what your end goal is.
- Where do you see yourself?
- Where would you like to work?
- How much time/resources are you willing to invest?
You need to know the difference in the credentials to pick your path. Below is a chart describing a bit more about “Who’s Who?” in lactation support.
Who’s Who? provided by http://www.USLCA.org
What are my options?
Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) $625 with a $120 exam fee –
This course is through The Healthy Children Project, Center for Breastfeeding. They offer two classes: one week in person course or a self paced online. In person will be 5 full days with an exam at the end which certifies you with The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP). This certification needs to be renewed every 3 years by obtaining 18 L-CERPS (Lactation Continued Education Recognition Points).
For more information or to sign up, click here. Here’s where to learn about the ALPP.
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) $645 + Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Book (sold seperately- link to purchase)
This is a 45 hour basic lactation course through Lactation Education Resources. This is a self paced online course that is not offered in person. You have 12 months to complete the coursework. Once the coursework is completed, you will take the end exam for your certification. This is also “Phase 1” of their Lactation Consultant Training program. The CBS certification is valid for 5 years with 20 L-CERPS in order to renew. I’ll get into more detail about them after. They do offer a full Lactation Consultant Training package if you’re looking to become an IBCLC, I’d recommend that option.
For more information or to sign up, click here.
These are the two most popular and recognized credentials that I’m aware of. There are other options, refer to the “Who’s Who” chart. Links are provided for further inquiries.
What’s the difference between these courses and becoming an IBCLC?
These are very basic lactation education courses. It doesn’t get into the “nitty gritty” about breastfeeding problems and resolutions. They also do not provide you with “hands on” or “clinical” skills. Basically, anyone can be a CLC or CBS. There are no education or experience requirements to obtain these certifications. Your mechanic down the street can take this course, pass the exam and be considered a CLC or CBS.
What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)?
An IBCLC is “The Gold Standard” of lactation care. This is the highest level of lactation support. It requires several health education science courses, lactation specific training courses (90 hours) then lactation specific clinical experience. Becoming an IBCLC is a lengthy process.
Health Education Science Courses
There are a couple ways to complete this requirement.
- Complete the required (8) classes
- Biology
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
- Infant and Child Growth and Development
- Introduction to Clinical Research
- Nutrition
- Psychology or Counselling Skills or Communication Skills
- Sociology or Cultural Sensitivity or Cultural Anthropology
You will also be required to complete (6) subjects
-
- Basic Life Support
- Medical Documentation
- Medical Terminology
- Occupational Safety and Security for Health Professionals
- Professional Ethics for Health Professionals
- Universal Safety Precautions and Infection Control
2. Be an IBCLE Recognized Healthcare Professional
-
- Dentist
- Dietician
- Midwife
- Nurse
- Occupational Therapist
- Pharmacist
- Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist
- Physician or Medical Doctor
- Speech Pathologist or Therapist
Information obtained from the IBLCE website.
Many people pursuing this career are advised that you need to be an RN, IBCLC to get a position. Although many hospitals do require those specific credentials, not all do! There are plenty of other options. Don’t let that detour you from doing something that you want to do. Many lactation professionals work for themselves in private practice, too!
Lactation Specific Education
The 90 hours of lactation specific education can be achieved a few different ways. You do need to be aware when you’re signing up to complete these hours that L-CERPS are awarded. These can be obtained by completing the online lactation training, in person lactation courses or lactation conferences.
A few places to obtain online L-CERPS:
- Gold Learning
- Lactation Education Resources
- ICLA International Lactation Consultant Association
- Galactablog
- Breastfeeding Outlook
- iLactation
- Health e-learning
- Marie Biancuzzo
There are plenty more, this list is just to name a few. For information on conferences, check online or in/around your area. State breastfeeding coalitions, Le Leche League and local hospitals may also have conferences available. Some conferences may also be listed here. Here’s more information on what L-CERPs are approved.
For more information on lactation specific training approved by IBCLE, click here.
Now, back to where we first started. If you take one of the courses we first discussed to become a CLC, CBS or other lactation professional credentials, those hours will count towards the 90 hours of specific lactation training that the IBCLE requires. Keep in mind, all lactation hours need to be obtained within 5 years of your IBCLC exam date. If they are more than 5 years from your test date, they will not be counted or accepted. The IBCLE also only offers the IBCLC exam twice a year.
If you plan to take the exam after April 2021, you’ll also be required to take 5 hours of education focused directly on communication skills.
Lactation Clinical Experience
Here’s where things get tricky and confusing. There are 3 different pathways you can pursue to complete the hours. All hours must be completed within 5 years prior to your test date. Here’s a link for information about clinical experience.
Pathway 1 – 1,000 clinical hours
**This pathway is often used by recognized healthcare professionals BUT you do not need to be one in order to pursue this pathway.**
Pathway one is usually ideal for healthcare workers such as nurses, midwives and doctors working directly with breastfeeding families. Many peer counselors who work for WIC or other supportive agencies that work with breastfeeding families, may also use this pathway. You can also follow pathway 1 if you’re a volunteer with an approved organization such as Le Leche League, Breastfeeding USA or Baby Cafe.
Basically, if you’re directly supporting breastfeeding families through an approved avenue, the hours will count towards the required 1,000 hours.
Guidelines for approved hours have recently changed per IBCLE. In the past, you needed to complete these hours in person. Now, with the new guidelines, some of these hours can be obtained through supporting families online or through telehealth. They have also changed with approved volunteer organizations. You used to get automatically approved for 250 hours per year (12 months) just for volunteering with approved organizations. This has changed and starting January 2022, hours will be on an hour by hour basis only.
For more details on Pathway 1, click here.
Pathway 2 – 300 clinical hours
This pathway is specifically for those who are pursuing lactation degrees from a handful of universities. The clinical hours are provided through the schools’ academic program. These hours were also completed in person until recently when guidelines changed due to COVID-19. Obtaining the 300 clinical hours may now be completed in full online under direct supervision from their program.
For more details on Pathway 2, click here.
Pathway 3 – 500 clinical hours
This pathway is under the supervision of an approved IBCLC. You may personally seek out a mentor yourself in private practice, hospitals, WIC and various other settings. You may also use an internship program arranged through businesses such as Lactation Education Resources. Mentorship agreements should be set in place. Cover yourself and your mentor by signing a contract and working out what will be required from both of you. These mentorships can also vary in price depending on what is required and what you/your mentor is comfortable with. You used to need to complete these hours in person as well but now 100% of the 500 hours can be completed through technology platforms. This opens up opportunities! You’re now able to find mentors around the world instead of just locally – which was challenging for me.
For more details on Pathway 3, click here
Review the updated information on obtaining hours through technology platforms here.
Then what?
Exam time! As I’ve mentioned, it’s only twice a year. This exam is a global exam so it takes time to analyze. It can take roughly 3 months to receive your test results. The cost of the exam is also about $660 USD. In order to keep this credential, you’re required to complete 75 CERPs every 5 years and re-certify by exam every 10 years. Although there has been discussion to no longer require the retesting.
I think that about sums most of it up! I’m no pro, so this is just information I’ve gathered and my understanding. Don’t hold me to it. Things change all the time. Make sure you do your own research to ensure you’re going to achieve your goals accordingly.
I will add, I, personally, feel it is beneficial to have hands-on experience no matter which route you take to support breastfeeding families. Each situation is different. There are also two (or more) different people involved in each dynamic (dyad). Each baby can create a different experience for the same parent. Hands-on experience really helps you learn to consider what THAT specific baby or parent can do.
There are also some really awesome peer mentors that have no certifications and really bad IBCLCs who have all the credentials and vice versa. The credentials don’t always mean everything, but an IBCLC “should” be the highest level of lactation care. You get out of it what you put into it and who teaches you along the way 🙃
Whatever you choose…do your best, to be the best!
Support families without judgement and be there for them. Provide the information they need to do whatever they choose with it. It’s their journey, you’re just there to help guide the path when needed.
Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions.
For a full guide for the IBCLE explaining how to become an IBCLC, click here.
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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard
Saturday, June 6, 2020
My Fourth Trimester
That’s right. There is a fourth trimester of pregnancy and frankly, I found it to be the most difficult period in my entire pregnancy. In my experience as a first time mom, the morning sickness and uneasiness in the first trimester; the odd cravings in the second trimester; the fatigue, nausea, frequent bathroom breaks, back pains, insomnia, heartburn in the third trimester — all these pale in comparison to the sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and above all, the mental and emotional toll of the fourth trimester.
When my son was born, I was the happiest I have ever been. Sure I was exhausted from the 20 hours of labour with over 2 hours of pushing (only to end up in a vacuum delivery); but as soon as my doctor placed my son on my chest and I heard his cry, I felt an instant burst of love, excitement and elation. All I wanted to do was hold my baby, hug him and never let him go. The next 24 hours at the hospital felt like a breeze because the doctors, nurses and residents were all caring and supportive of me; and they all attended to my and my baby’s needs. As soon as I was cleared to take my baby home, I felt even more excited because, at last, the life that I have been imagining ever since I found out that I was going to be a mom is finally here. Not having any idea about the fourth trimester, I did not know that everything was now going to be so different.
Of course I knew that it was not going to be easy. I heard the comment “you will never sleep again” multiple times when I told people that I was pregnant. In my mind, all the sleepless nights that I had when I was in school prepared me for this.
I was wrong.
Sleepless nights in school are far from sleepless nights with a newborn. But initially, I believed otherwise. So I had the expectation that I would mostly be awake and exhausted as I take care of my newborn and that I would be fine. However, besides the physical exhaustion, what was really difficult to deal with and what I was not ready to manage, was the mental and emotional anxiety postpartum brings. I did hear and read about baby blues, postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression as part of my preparation for motherhood but I always told myself that I am probably not going to end up having any of these because I am generally a happy and positive person. Fortunately, I never had issues with my mental health and I was confident that baby blues, PPA, or PPD wouldn’t hit me.
I was wrong, again.
I remember the nights when I was awake with my son as he breastfed. He stared at me with his innocent eyes and I looked at him and all I could think of was “you changed my life forever, and I don’t know if I am okay with it.” My thoughts centred around the fact that just a few days ago, I could spend so much time with my husband (watch our favorite shows on Netflix, prepare dinners together, eat together, shop for groceries together, etc.); I could read my favorite books; I could chat with my friends anytime I want; I could go out for dinner — I had time for myself and I could do the things that I wanted. I thought about how I had to put my career to a halt because now I had to take care of him. I felt like I had to live this life that was no longer for me, but for someone else. The tears would then roll down my cheeks.
And then I would feel terrible and would hate myself for having the thoughts that I was having. I would hate myself for feeling so selfish when my baby needed me the most. I would hate myself for not being excited about this life. I would hate myself for not enjoying the time with my baby when I knew I could never get that time back. My thoughts would go back and forth like this and there were nights when I would just wake my husband up, hand him our son, and tell him “take him from me because I can’t take care of him.” There was a time I did that while my baby was crying because he was so hungry. I did not want to feed him. I told my husband “give him formula if you want.” In the mornings, I would cry again and feel terrible about how I was from the night before. I would feel ever so guilty, so then I would hug my baby, apologize to him, shower him with kisses. I would not want to let him go until I broke down again at night. This continued on for weeks.
During one of my visits to a breastfeeding clinic, after checking my son the nurse turned to me and asked how I was feeling. I told her “I’m doing well” but then all of a sudden I broke down. I opened up to her about what I was really feeling and told her that every day I have thoughts that I’m not a good mom. She gave me a hug and told me everything that I was feeling is normal and that it was ok to feel that way. The hormonal imbalance after delivery had a lot to do with all the anxiety I was feeling. She said baby blues or PPA could last about 6-8 weeks postpartum. She had been doing the job for over 10 years and she had met a lot of new moms. Almost everyone goes through what I was going through and she advised me to take it easy on myself because she knew that I was doing the best job of taking care of my son. That conversation stuck with me although the anxiety continued on for several more weeks.
Now I consider myself lucky because my PPA did not turn into PPD. I think the support from my husband and my family had a lot to do with that. I also turned to support groups through an app on my phone and I constantly shared my thoughts and feelings on there. The support from that community, even if we are all strangers to each other, is so strong that it helped me navigate through my emotions much better. Moms empowering other moms. I think in those first few weeks with a newborn the most important thing is to have a very strong support system because otherwise it may lead to a very unhealthy path which could be dangerous not just for the mom but also for the baby.
Note: If baby blues or PPA lasts longer than the 6-8 week mark and the feelings (self-hate, self-pity, not feeling connected to baby, regrets) become much stronger, talk to your doctor as you might be diagnosed with PPD.
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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard
My Breastfeeding Story
When I learned that I was going to be a mom, I knew I was going to want to breastfeed. No doubt about it. I always found it fascinating that the human female body can adapt and be another person’s lifeline and primary source of nourishment.
At the hospital as soon as my son was born, the doctor put him on my chest right away to do skin-to-skin. It’s a feeling that I will never forget, a moment that I will forever cherish. From there, my son did not have a problem latching. The nurses that looked after us said it looked like he was latching and feeding well. So I was very happy to hear this because I knew my son was getting colostrum which is super important and healthy for the baby.
After we were discharged from the hospital, we had several appointments at a maternal and newborn care facility because my doctor had to monitor my son’s bilirubin levels. His initial tests at the hospital revealed that he was high risk for jaundice. My doctor did not want to put him under the light just yet. Rather, I was advised to feed my son as much as possible. If he were to poop and pee regularly, he would be able to flush the excess bilirubin out of his system. And so I was more determined than ever to breastfeed my baby.
The first few days after delivery are also critical in establishing milk supply. As the baby breastfeeds, something in his saliva gets transmitted through the mom’s breasts all the way to her brain which produces hormones (prolactin) that tell the breasts to keep producing milk. It’s a supply and demand system, a priceless mother and baby bond. And I’ve always been fascinated by that. So now, aside from wanting to provide nourishment, I was latching and nursing my baby to serve two purposes: a) help him flush out excess bilirubin and b) establish my milk supply.
My first visit at the maternal and newborn care facility was 2 days after giving birth. They found out that my son’s bilirubin levels kept increasing and were getting close to the level where he would have to be put under the light. A lactation consultant then came in to meet me and checked how I was breastfeeding. That’s when I found out that my baby had a shallow latch! This meant ineffective and inefficient feeding. This meant my son, no matter how much he would try, would not get that much milk. This meant signals to my brain that my body does not have to produce too much milk because demand was low.
I then had several more visits to the facility and more follow-ups with lactation consultants. It was a great resource for me because they were really helpful, caring and very determined to get me and my baby that perfect latch. Then came day 7 postpartum.
On day 7, my son went through a growth spurt. Research suggests that newborns go through their first growth spurts anywhere between weeks 3 and 6, give or take a week. My baby’s first growth spurt came in earlier. When a baby goes through a growth spurt, he or she cluster feeds, which means instead of feeding every two hours (which is typically the case for newborns), the baby feeds in clusters of 20-30 minutes with a few minutes of break in between. This could last in blocks of several hours.
My baby started cluster feeding on day 7. I was nursing him for over 3 hours that afternoon. My husband came home from work and saw me crying while nursing our son. He asked me what was wrong and I told him that our baby has been cluster feeding and my nipples have been so sore. When my son fell asleep, I saw the damage to my nipples.
The next day, I had another appointment with the lactation consultant. I showed her the nipple damage and her reaction was a big “uh-oh, that is not supposed to happen.” Unfortunately, we have not corrected shallow latch. I was told that I can continue breastfeeding despite the sore and bleeding nipples or I could use a breast pump in the meantime while I let the damage heal. I went for option 2 because I thought there was no way I would be able to breastfeed properly with those damaged nipples. At that time, I did not think of getting nipple shields as I thought they would slow down production.
So I pumped my breastmilk.
I introduced the bottle to my one-week old baby. For 3 days, my baby was exclusively bottle-fed with breastmilk. In my mind, all was well. I would just go back to nursing as soon as my nipples healed.
My nipples healed quickly and I was ready to go back to nursing and perfecting that latch. To my surprise, my baby no longer wanted to nurse with me! In those 3 days, he quickly developed a preference for the bottle. No surprise there because he was getting more milk more easily. Despite that, I still kept trying to latch him. But he just cried and screamed at the top of his lungs until I would give in and provided him a bottle of breastmilk. At certain times, when he was super hungry and drowsy at the same time, he would latch and nurse. The pain would still be there for me so I knew the latch was still not perfect but because he was not nursing that often, I had limited opportunities to practice it with my baby. At that point, he was only nursing once or twice per day. I continued on with the breast pump for several weeks. In my head, at least I was still providing breastmilk and I was still able to tell my body to keep producing.
Sadly, I never got my baby back to enjoying nursing. Nursing ended about a month after I gave birth. It still saddens me to this day that I was not able to nurse and enjoy that special mother-baby experience for longer. However, I find satisfaction with the fact that a) I was still able to nourish my baby because by day 11 he was no longer high risk for jaundice and b) I was able to establish my milk supply and I am still producing breastmilk to this day!
See my post on my exclusively pumping journey.
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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard
My Fourth Trimester
That’s right. There is a fourth trimester of pregnancy and frankly, I found it to be the most difficult period in my entire pregnancy. In my experience as a first time mom, the morning sickness and uneasiness in the first trimester; the odd cravings in the second trimester; the fatigue, nausea, frequent bathroom breaks, back pains, insomnia, heartburn in the third trimester — all these pale in comparison to the sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and above all, the mental and emotional toll of the fourth trimester.
When my son was born, I was the happiest I have ever been. Sure I was exhausted from the 20 hours of labour with over 2 hours of pushing (only to end up in a vacuum delivery); but as soon as my doctor placed my son on my chest and I heard his cry, I felt an instant burst of love, excitement and elation. All I wanted to do was hold my baby, hug him and never let him go. The next 24 hours at the hospital felt like a breeze because the doctors, nurses and residents were all caring and supportive of me; and they all attended to my and my baby’s needs. As soon as I was cleared to take my baby home, I felt even more excited because, at last, the life that I have been imagining ever since I found out that I was going to be a mom is finally here. Not having any idea about the fourth trimester, I did not know that everything was now going to be so different.
Of course I knew that it was not going to be easy. I heard the comment “you will never sleep again” multiple times when I told people that I was pregnant. In my mind, all the sleepless nights that I had when I was in school prepared me for this.
I was wrong.
Sleepless nights in school are far from sleepless nights with a newborn. But initially, I believed otherwise. So I had the expectation that I would mostly be awake and exhausted as I take care of my newborn and that I would be fine. However, besides the physical exhaustion, what was really difficult to deal with and what I was not ready to manage, was the mental and emotional anxiety postpartum brings. I did hear and read about baby blues, postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression as part of my preparation for motherhood but I always told myself that I am probably not going to end up having any of these because I am generally a happy and positive person. Fortunately, I never had issues with my mental health and I was confident that baby blues, PPA, or PPD wouldn’t hit me.
I was wrong, again.
I remember the nights when I was awake with my son as he breastfed. He stared at me with his innocent eyes and I looked at him and all I could think of was “you changed my life forever, and I don’t know if I am okay with it.” My thoughts centred around the fact that just a few days ago, I could spend so much time with my husband (watch our favorite shows on Netflix, prepare dinners together, eat together, shop for groceries together, etc.); I could read my favorite books; I could chat with my friends anytime I want; I could go out for dinner — I had time for myself and I could do the things that I wanted. I thought about how I had to put my career to a halt because now I had to take care of him. I felt like I had to live this life that was no longer for me, but for someone else. The tears would then roll down my cheeks.
And then I would feel terrible and would hate myself for having the thoughts that I was having. I would hate myself for feeling so selfish when my baby needed me the most. I would hate myself for not being excited about this life. I would hate myself for not enjoying the time with my baby when I knew I could never get that time back. My thoughts would go back and forth like this and there were nights when I would just wake my husband up, hand him our son, and tell him “take him from me because I can’t take care of him.” There was a time I did that while my baby was crying because he was so hungry. I did not want to feed him. I told my husband “give him formula if you want.” In the mornings, I would cry again and feel terrible about how I was from the night before. I would feel ever so guilty, so then I would hug my baby, apologize to him, shower him with kisses. I would not want to let him go until I broke down again at night. This continued on for weeks.
During one of my visits to a breastfeeding clinic, after checking my son the nurse turned to me and asked how I was feeling. I told here “I’m doing well” but then all of a sudden I broke down. I opened up to her about what I was really feeling and told her that every day I have thoughts that I’m not a good mom. She gave me a hug and told me everything that I was feeling is normal and that it was ok to feel that way. The hormonal imbalance after delivery had a lot to do with all the anxiety I was feeling. She said baby blues or PPA could last about 6-8 weeks postpartum. She had been doing the job for over 10 years and she had met a lot of new moms. Almost everyone goes through what I was going through and she advised me to take it easy on myself because she knew that I was doing the best job of taking care of my son. That conversation stuck with me although the anxiety continued on for several more weeks.
Now I consider myself lucky because my PPA did not turn into PPD. I think the support from my husband and my family had a lot to do with that. I also turned to support groups through an app on my phone and I constantly shared my thoughts and feelings on there. The support from that community, even if we are all strangers to each other, is so strong that it helped me navigate through my emotions much better. Moms empowering other moms. I think in those first few weeks with a newborn the most important thing is to have a very strong support system because otherwise it may lead to a very unhealthy path which could be dangerous not just for the mom but also for the baby.
Note: If baby blues or PPA lasts longer than the 6-8 week mark and the feelings (self-hate, self-pity, not feeling connected to baby, regrets) become much stronger, talk to your doctor as you might be diagnosed with PPD.
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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard
Friday, June 5, 2020
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Food for boob milk
With many things to think about when it comes to boob milk like how to keep up supply, is the milk good enough? One thing I kept being complimented on in hospital after tandem feeding twins was how fatty and rich my milk was (as I had to give the nurses the milk to keep in the fridge and freezer in the start)
This came as a surprise to some considering how skinny I was right after birth and many nurses observing my diet realised I wasn’t eating anything high calorie or fattening/ unhealthy at all.
The best way to understand how your diet impacts your milk is observing shop milk- Skimmed, semi skimmed, whole and full fat or even the ones with the cream on top. If you’re not eating well or enough as well as a balanced diet you can be sure to find yourself in the skimmed or semi skimmed section/ lacking an effective supply.
It’s important to remember that you as a mum are doing a wonderful job by even trying. It’s a journey that is personal to you. Each mum has her own obstacles with boob feeding however know you are amazing simply for trying.
Now I’m not saying stuff your face galore, simply have a normal balanced meal amount with the right intake of proteins, fruit and veg as well as other beneficial snacks. And remember the more different and ranged your flavour palette the more variety your baby tastes and will be less likely to fuss about food in the future.
When you eat a healthy and balanced diet this 100% impacts your milk. As your body is getting the right nutrients and essentials it needs to support your babies milk and you. However there are some foods out there that help you get there.
1. 💦Water, water and oh did I say water💦?
Love it or like it- water is a must, however you can make things interesting so you’re not bored of water.
- I love infusing my water with fruits or vegetables as that gives it a flavour rather than just drinking water constantly. 🍊🍓🍋🥒
- Twinnings tea company introduced this cold tea line where they have tea bags you drop into water and you get infused water/ cold tea. I love using these.
- Eat water/ fluid high foods like watermelon, cucumber, oranges.🥒🍊🍉
- Drink other fluids like tea, juices, smoothies. I like some herbal tea or store super smoothies/ juices that have fruit, veg and vitamins in them. Especially when I’m having a lazy/ busy day as I get what I need without over worrying.🍵🧃
- Soup- is very filling and can help you intake the water and vegetables you need if you’re not a fan of either.🍜
On my own journey I have seen the difference and lack of supply when I haven’t drunk enough water. You may think you have drunk enough but sometimes you really haven’t- I had to make myself drink lots of water and saw the level I actually needed to be drinking. With my feeding twins I think I underestimated how much actually goes to the milk- after all nearly 90% of the milk is water.
A clever and natural way to know if you’re hydrated is the colour of your urine (and dry lips). If it’s dark yellow then you know your very dehydrated, if it’s a bright yellow still need to drink more water and only when you reach the light yellow colour you know you’re hydrated to your body’s needs. When you pee clear that’s already too much water.
2. Oats
Oats are high in nutrients and in iron, meaning it helps promote milk supply as well providing you with your essentials.
Oats are magic ☀️- you can eat them in so many ways. So find what works for you! With my twin group ‘boobjack’ has been a favourite. I made my own personal recipe after trying out a few times. It’s the perfect flapjack for super boob milk.
Examples to help you- porridge, flapjacks, oat soup (my mums own homemade creation- she made a wonderful soup that’s savoury and super yum with oats- if you want me to share her recipe like and comment), protein bars, biscuits, popped oats etc.
Milk
Cows/ goats milk- provided you aren’t vegan/ plant based or allergic/ intolerant, is actually beneficial to breastfeeding mothers as it makes milk fatty (in a good way).
Calcium is highly important generally but more so when feeding your infant. However animal milk isn’t the only place you can intake this with many foods ranging nuts, greens like kale or if you’re struggling supplements.
While drinking cows/goats milk doesn’t change the amount of fat in breastmilk, it does change the type.
Apricots
Apricots (also figs and dates are beneficial- I just love apricots the most😂💪🏼) naturally are high in vitamins A and C, potassium and as mentioned before calcium which helps with milk production.
Apricots🍑help increase prolactin levels (the hormone that tells you body to produce milk)
Almonds
Nuts generally are pure goodness for you and lactating mums, they’re full of protein and nutrition. Almonds aren’t an exception.
With the wide range of vitamins and minerals they contain you’re not only boosting your babies recovery and immune system but also yours too. Once the baby is born all the attention shifts away from the mother ignoring the high risk/ potentially life threatening journey she just endured and that she needs recovery time like any other patient.
Be it almonds or almond milk there is a lot this magic but does for your production of milk. As well as making it taste nice for your little one.
Walnuts
My mum bought me a few packs and told me walnuts help with making milk have good fat as do pine nuts (next one on my list) and shortly after forcing myself to eat them for a few days I saw the difference in my milk- it has a much more creamy texture rather than thin. With my sons needing to gain mass this was like heaven. Mum also made a note on walnuts being good for the brain so I was happy to help the boys by changing my diet to foods that benefit them. Also probably explains how I bounced back quickly into a size not far off my pre pregnancy body (walnuts help with anti inflammation, weight loss, lowering blood pressure and healthy ageing.
However I did feel like a squirrel eating fruits and nuts all day.🐿
Don’t want to make a huge list of the benefits but walnuts are wonderful for omega 3s, antioxidants, vitamin E- reducing oxidative stress, decreases cholesterol.
Pine nuts
I mentioned before my mum told me to eat these for my milk to have a good fat level that’s healthy for my boys to bulk up as well as the health benefits.
They’re full of good fat, protein, fibre and minerals however they’re low in calories with 10 pine nuts=11 calories, meaning much more filling than a high calorie snack like a cake.
Similar to walnuts; they help the mind and according to Huffington Post a regular intake reduce Alzheimer’s disease up to 35%. And again with the vitamin E and other vitamins your cells are protected from damage and your more likely to be receiving the balance of nutrients you and your baby needs.
Love how they taste too!
These are my top favourites and I hope it helps someone learn more about food that’s good for breastmilk production and quality. If you need professional help seek out a breastfeeding professional or speak to your doctor/ healthcare worker. I’m just a mum learning as I go. Hope my advice helps xx
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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Monday, June 1, 2020
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