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How exactly does one prepare to breastfeed or chestfeed?  Shouldn’t it just be natural?

Do you feel ready to breastfeed? Did you know there are things you can do BEFORE baby is born that will help you be more prepared?

First, what have you heard about breastfeeding / chestfeeding?  Is it natural, healthy, convenient and free?   Sure, Public health flyers will remind you all about that.  But what about painful, exhausting, hard and stressful?  You don’t see that on any posters, but that’s what many expectant parents hear from their friends! 

Well, which is it?  Is it a calm, enjoyable bonding experience or a gauntlet of pumps, cracked nipples and babies with excess weight loss?

Honest answer?  It can be both.

It is very common to have at least a few struggles with breastfeeding, especially in the first week.

Whether it’s a painful latch, a sleepy baby, constant crying or someone telling you that baby isn’t getting enough milk.  There are lots of challenges you might encounter, because most of us didn’t grow up in a village where everyone was topless and sat around a fire feeding their babies all day.  If we had, more of us would find breastfeeding/chestfeeding natural, instinctive and easy. But for many, it’s not.  

Feeding your newborn is something you need practice, information, support, and time to get good at.  Also, there are some great tricks that can make a big difference if you know about them ahead of time, so you can know what to expect and what to try before any trouble starts!

Learning about breastfeeding BEFORE your baby is born, is actually very helpful, although there’s nothing like the real thing when it comes to actually practicing latch, and holding a real-live baby!  Knowing what is normal (like REALLY frequent feeding so baby can tell your body how much milk to make) and what it’s supposed to feel like (it’t NOT supposed to hurt!) are really good to know ahead of time.  Trying to Google “what is clusterfeeding” or “How to breastfeed a sleepy baby” after 30 hours labour is not as much fun as you might think!

Seriously, SO MANY issues that people have with breastfeeding stem from not knowing what to expect, how to prevent nipple pain, and what to do if baby is not latching, is too sleepy to feed well, or when baby is losing too much weight… learning all the ins and outs ahead of time can prevent may of these issues!

Here are some of my TOP TIPS to get you started….

1. Learn about Hand Expression 

If there is ANY reason a baby is having trouble breastfeeding in the first few days after birth, hand express your colostrum every 2-3 hours for 10-15 minutes.  You might only get a few drops but it signals your body that you’re still ‘IN’ for becoming a breastfeeder and that you would like to request a great milk supply even if baby isn’t feeding well right now.  

We can figure a lot of things out later on about a deep latch, nipple comfort, sleepy baby and excess weight loss if your body is reminded to continue making milk.

2. Spoons are made for babies too!

If your baby isn’t able to get colostrum out of your breast the ‘usual’ way because he’s tongue-tied, sleepy, it hurts you or he just won’t latch, then use a spoon!  

First, read #1 …..  Now hand express right into a spoon & give it to the baby! Spoons are easy to use, hold small amounts (which is usually all newborns need anyway….seriously!) and you can express your thick colostrum right into it so you don’t lose your 3 precious drops in the pump valve thingy!

3. Take off your shirt and hold your naked baby!

This one seems simple and obvious once you learn about how much ‘skin-to-skin holding’ can improve breastfeeding outcomes.  Most parents however, think they’re supposed to immediately put their new baby in all the cute outfits and hats they’ve had washed and waiting for this moment. I don’t blame you, that outfit IS super cute, BUT if your baby is having trouble waking up, calming down, latching, or is cold, I promise that the science here is right.  Your chest is the place to be.  Put your feet up, get comfy and hold your baby.  

4. Keep trying, and get help.
Ask for help, ask for more help, then if you still need help, find different help. (Yes, I do LIVE private virtual sessions ANYWHERE!)

5. We recommend that all our pregnant clients take this on-demand, online Breastfeeding Prep class :

“How to Breastfeed” from our Virtual Academy! 

(use code NUTMEGMOM50 any time to get 50% off!!)

This Breastfeeding Prep course will teach you

* how to sit * how to hold * how to latch * how to know if baby is getting enough milk… and what to do if they aren’t * what to expect in the first few days * how to avoid nipple pain * how to get a great milk supply * what to do with a sleepy baby * what to do if baby won’t latch

…. and how to get breastfeeding off to a great start!!

Breastfeeding takes practice.  Learning about what to expect in REAL life can make a big difference in your confidence.  The sooner you find help the better, but even if things aren’t perfect right from the start, try these things and reach out! Your breastfeeding career really can continue almost always with the right information, if you are a bit stubborn, and just a little bit lucky.

Angela Grant Buechner, BA, BScN, RN, IBCLC is a Registered Nurse • Lactation Consultant • Birth Doula • Postpartum Doula • Newborn Care Specialist • Educator in Toronto offering LIVE virtual support sessions worldwide!

The post Preparing to breastfeed? 5 tips to avoid problems! appeared first on Nutmeg Consulting.

Now your baby is three months old and wait….WHAT IS HAPPENING!!?

Breastfeeding concerns are really common at three months because a few new things can happen all at once, and it can really freak parents out!  If you have had a sufficient milk supply, baby has been gaining well up to this point, and you have been only been breastfeeding, then these changes can be totally normal, and here’s why!

This is the age that babies can completely change their ‘usual’ feeding behaviour in a few different ways:

1. They can become distracted at the breast.

Your perfect, calm little baby that could nurse in the middle of a concert until now, will suddenly start popping off during feeds to look towards any sound! If someone even tries to talk to you while you’re breastfeeding, baby will unlatch and stare… as you drip or spray milk all over baby and yourself. The trouble with daytime distraction, is that babies will usually start needing to nurse more often at night to make up for it. This phase hopefully lasts for just a little while and they eventually stop caring about every little noise, but it can be totally normal and necessary when this ‘reverse cycling’ happens.

2. At the same time, babies around three months can suddenly become really efficient nursers.

Feeds that once took 40 minutes to happen in the early days, can now become really short! Some babies can seriously nurse for just a few minutes, and they can still get enough! If your baby’s weight gain has been good with breastfeeding alone (we’re looking for an average 1-2 pounds weight gain per month at this stage) then its ok to continue to feed on demand, and just feed for those few minutes and follow her lead!

3. Another fun thing they switch up at the same time is that they change all their feeding cues!

You were cruising along, nursing your baby whenever she ‘asked’ for it, and now your baby starts refusing the breast!! This can be very confusing for parents…..but wait, your baby has her hand in her mouth, so she must be hungry, right? At three months, the answer might be NO! The hunger cues or signals (like hands in the mouth) suddenly can mean something completely different… Now when your baby jams a fist in her face, it just means that she has found something new to play with and chew on, and doesn’t always mean hunger anymore. Often, parents are offering the breast and trying harder and harder to nurse, while baby is trying harder and harder to refuse.   Although this can seem bizarre, it can be a normal phase.  At this age (if you have been exclusively breastfeeding and all is well) then you are ok to just follow baby’s lead, and let them say no!

4. Simultaneously, they can now want to breastfeed less often too.

If your baby wants to nurse less often then YOU think they should, and you continue to offer them the breast as usual (based on timing or the ‘old’ cues), the refusal may just be their way saying “no thanks”. Parents can get frustrated or scared when baby is pushing the breast away, arching their back and getting upset at the breast, because they think baby is on a nursing strike or isn’t feeding enough. Babies can get frustrated when we try to force them on the breast at this point, because they just don’t want to eat right now! Try to remember that it’s ok to trust your baby at this age (not so much with a sleepy one week old)…because at 3-4 months, they can reliably tell you when they’re hungry, but also when they’re not.

If you have had a sufficient milk supply, baby has been gaining well, and you’ve been breastfeeding, then this is totally normal stuff.  If you have been offering bottles more and more often, then it may be a good idea to chat with an IBCLC in case the fast flow is getting baby a bit frustrated at breast….. or milk supply has been affected.

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                            Will any of my pre-pregnancy work clothes ever fit the same?

                            Will making a decision about daycare/nanny/part time/full time/gradual start/home daycare be easy?

                            Do I have to stop breastfeeding if I’m going back to work?

answer to all of the above? NO. One of the most common questions I get is how to prepare for going back to work if you’re breastfeeding. If you’re lucky and live in Canada (and can live off Maternity leave for a year) then you may have a very different experience than most parents living south of us in the United States who have to return within weeks of their birth.

Although we can feel lucky that we have a whole year to be with our babies, and get a chance to establish breastfeeding in the early weeks and months, we also go through very different phases and many babies have never had a need to drink their breastmilk in any other way then straight from the tap.

Many people think that it’s expected that they will just stop at a year because they’re going back to work (and we’ll talk about how to approach that if it’s your choice) but MANY parents decide to continue breastfeeding once or twice per day or more, even if they are going back to work full time.

Breastfeeding an older baby is very different than breastfeeding a newborn. Often, many day-to-day things are intertwined with breastfeeding, including nap time, meal time, the need for magical nursing sessions to cure any problem/injury/injustice and even just chilling out and snuggling. Many moms don’t know that they can absolutely continue to breastfeed, even if they also want to make sure that baby can drink from a bottle/cup/straw so they can go to daycare, still have naps and have a way to get liquids when their usual source is at work.

1. FIGURE OUT YOUR PERFECT PLAN

What would your perfect scenario be for nursing/pumping/bottle/cup/weaning be?

There are many ways to continue breastfeeding even if you are going back to work full time. Many people breastfeed just first thing in the morning, right when they pick up baby or get home, or at bedtime. Some babies will nurse once overnight or early morning instead, and some will do any combination of these. Whatever works, what do YOU want to do?

2. DON’T PANIC!

Many breastfeeders think that they have to plan for MONTHS ahead of time for their return to work at a year, but many people need almost no drastic changes ahead of time. I usually say about 4-6 weeks is enough time for most plans, even if you want to drastically reduce the number of nursing sessions that you do per day.

Many people just continue to nurse as usual right up until the first day of daycare/return to work, and they may just have had their baby practice with a cup/bottle ahead of time so they know that their baby can take liquids in another way. Recommendations say that a child at a year doesn’t necessarily need replacement ‘MILK’ (pumped/cow/ formula etc) as long as they are breastfeeding two or more times per day. Water and food can be enough during the day, and baby can nurse and make up for it when you’re together again….. get ready to be tackled!!

3. BE READY TO PUMP OR EXPRESS IF NEEDED.

Sometimes moms are told that if they pump they will increase their milk supply (which can be helpful if needed see blog HERE. )…. If you are stopping, reducing or skipping a feed, then your body is still expecting that you will need that feed as usual and the milk will be ready. If you skip the feed then you may become very full and uncomfortable. Pumping or hand expressing just a little bit (not to empty the breast as much as usual) can be helpful and necessary to prevent painful engorgement and even mastitis. You’d still be removing less milk than usual, so you would still technically be weaning.

If you want to maintain your milk supply, or collect and provide expressed breastmilk for baby while you’re away, then you may want to pump once or twice for 10-15 minutes, and collect as much as you can. More pumping advice HERE.

4. TEACH BABY ANOTHER WAY TO FALL ASLEEP

If you nurse your baby to sleep, it can be very helpful to give them a chance to ALSO learn another way of falling asleep. I never stopped nursing to sleep whenever I was home, at bedtime or on weekends, but I made sure that during the few weeks before my return to work, my babes were able to practice being rocked, walked in a baby carrier, back rubbed etc to sleep.

If possible, ask your daycare provider what they are able to do for nap time, and what the usual routine is. Will they be willing to provide individual care? Rocking babies etc? Then have another member of your family give it a try a few times. At around 1 year, most babies are able to figure out that when mom is here they get to breastfeed, but when dad/partner/nana/friend/caregiver is here, I get the other way.

5. KNOW THAT IT WILL GET BETTER WITH TIME….

Everyone needs time to learn a new thing, practice a new way, and get used to a big change. Just like we can feel sad or nervous, babies will still have big feelings and nursing when we are with them can be a wonderful way to re-connect. Research shows that nursing even a couple of times per day can be very helpful for reducing illness during the transition to a new daycare situation, so it can really be worth it to keep it going if possible. Your body and your baby will adjust to the new routine.

If you need more help setting up a plan or want to discuss all the options for you and your situation, feel free to reach out for a chat, or schedule a ‘Return to Work’ consult with us.  We’d love to help!

http://www.nutmegconsulting.ca

The post Returning to Work AND Breastfeeding? It can be done! appeared first on Nutmeg Consulting.

“how long will my nipples feel like fire?”….
“when will breastfeeding feel better?”….
“is breastfeeding supposed to hurt so much?”…

What follows is usually an onslaught of answers from well-meaning moms who remember their own struggle. Their suggestions can sometimes be confusing, because they can be all be so different. Each answer comes from a real wish to help, but what they share is what worked for them in THEIR situation, including:

“just slather on the nipple ointment, that stuff is magic!” …
“FIND A LACTATION CONSULTANT ASAP!  You don’t want to wait or things will get worse!”…
“it will get better if you just keep at it for a few weeks, your nipples have to toughen up”…This is where I feel like I have to say something….

As a Lactation Consultant who primarily does home visits for new families, I usually meet them on their worst day. Maybe they’ve had a day or two of ‘pretty good’ breastfeeding, and things are really starting to hurt, or maybe it’s hurt from the first time they tried to latch that baby on.

I know a thing or two about nipple pain.

When the Facebook talk goes to the place where new moms are told that ‘nipple pain is just something you need to push through’ and ‘you have to wait until your nipples toughen up’, I feel like I have to say something.

Here’s the deal about nipple pain…
..although it’s VERY COMMON that breastfeeding hurts in the first week or two as you’re learning what to do, it’s really not SUPPOSED to hurt.

Since most new moms are not experts in breastfeeding (and may never even have seen someone breastfeed before!) they are learning this new skill, and don’t know exactly what they’re doing yet. ALMOST ALL new mothers will have a bad latch at some point in the middle of the night, because we’re too tired to care or to even notice. Once there’s a bit of damage to the nipple, then it can definitely be painful to latch for a day or two after that, even when you are getting a nice DEEP latch every time. This makes it seem like breastfeeding is actually supposed to hurt.

Most moms lean forward and lean down to give the breast to the baby, but this makes it easier for baby to slide away, and can end up with a bad and painful latch because baby’s mouth is compressing your nipple. Getting a DEEP latch where there is enough breast tissue in the baby’s mouth (it’s breastfeeding, not nipple feeding!) can usually make the whole situation feel better. You need to wait until you see a BIG open mouth before you let baby on to the breast.

Also, when the latch isn’t great, baby usually won’t get as much milk or colostrum. Don’t be a martyr, get help!

After there’s some damage to the nipple. even with a good latch it may hurt just for the first 10 seconds, but it should start to feel better and then be ok for the rest of the feed. This means that it’s a good latch, and that your nipple should start to heal.

There are some instances, like hidden Tongue Tie (which are often missed, even by Pediatricians, Midwives, Lactation Consultants and Nurses!) that can be causing you pain even when everyone says ‘it looks like a great latch’. Positioning and breast shaping techniques may help, but release may also be helpful in some cases.

No matter what you’ve heard, use your instinct. No one wants to keep having to nurse their baby over and over (it never seems to stop in those first few days/weeks!) and it’s really NO FUN if it’s also hurting you. Try a clinic, watch the videos, but if it’s still hurting, give me a call.

The sooner we can fix it, to sooner you will get to enjoy this experience!

The post Why breastfeeding can hurt, even when it’s not supposed to…. appeared first on Nutmeg Consulting.

Maybe you got scared that your baby wasn’t eating enough and you sent your partner out for some formula?

Maybe your doctor told you your baby was losing too much weight so you needed to start giving bottles? Did you know that you can still breastfeed?No matter what’s going on with you and your baby, there are always options if you want them. Even if it’s not going according to plan, if you want to keep breastfeeding, there is almost always a way to make things better. Even if you’ve started using, want to keep using, or need to keep using bottles, formula, pumping (or some combination) forever, YOU DON’T HAVE TO STOP BREASTFEEDING … even if you’ve entered the ‘Breastfeeding Grey Zone’.

What is the Grey Zone?

If we can agree that the usual definition of breastfeeding is the pretty traditional version where mom just sticks her baby on her breast and exclusively breastfeeds right from the source; then a mom enters the ‘Breastfeeding Grey Zone’ once she starts using any other method to feed her baby. Whether it’s using formula or donor milk, or if she has to start pumping or using tubes or bottles or cups, finger feeding or nipple shields, there are lots of things that can complicate breastfeeding. Even when these things are absolutely necessary, entering ‘The Breastfeeding Grey Zone’ can make things really hard.

Often, I meet new parents when they are in the thick of it. They are trying to latch their baby and nurse, they are pumping after feeds, AND they are giving supplements too. Their nipples hurt, they’re worried that their baby might be starving, and they haven’t slept in days. There’s a lot of crying, their crotch hurts and their boobs feel like they might explode, and they don’t know what to do next.

Don’t give up. Get help

Unfortunately, there is a belief right now that breastfeeding is supposed to be some ‘perfect’ experience, but THAT JUST DOESN’T ALWAYS HAPPEN!!! Telling mothers that it’s ‘so natural’ and that ‘babies will just crawl up and latch themselves on’ and know exactly what to do, is unfair and often, unhelpful. Sure it’s good to teach that breastfeeding is a normal thing that our bodies can do, but I disagree that it’s natural for most women right now. Did we all grow up in some magical village where all the topless nursing mothers sat around breastfeeding all day? Did we get to spend our lives watching babies feed, so we could learn about normal newborn behaviour, how to deal with common breastfeeding issues, and the best way to get a good latch? Um…. Nope.

Well, most of us in Canada and the U.S. didn’t anyway, and that’s a BIG part of the problem. It’s not ‘just natural’ right now. It takes work. It is a learned skill, and just like with any new skill, it takes practice, and we might not be ‘perfect’ at it right away. Be gentle with yourself during this process.

It seems like there are two extremes right now, when it comes to feeding a baby. Some providers don’t know how to help, so they just tell parents to start formula feeding and don’t offer support for breastfeeding at all! Even on Facebook mommy groups, the desire to eliminate guilt about ever using formula is making the phrase #fedisbest the first response when moms really just want some breastfeeding support. This is not enough…. (#supportisbest #informedisbest)

On the other hand, even well-meaning Doctors, Nurses and Lactation Consultants sometimes confuse ‘support’ with a tendency to issue blanket statements of what HAS to happen to make sure that breastfeeding works. I don’t think this is always helpful either! I don’t think being strict and judgmental about things is the best way to support new mothers and breastfeeding parents. If parents feel like they’ll be judged for ‘doing it wrong’ then they may be reluctant to ask for help, for fear that they will be criticized. Sometimes breastfeeding is messy…. And that’s ok. Things aren’t always just black or white, and that’s where the ‘Breastfeeding Grey Zone’ comes in. Support should meet you where you are in the journey, and offer help… not ultimatums.

It’s true that supporting mothers in the Breastfeeding Grey Zone can be hard. The knowledge that any of the things I mentioned can complicate the breastfeeding process, can make us worry enough to even tell mothers that these things shouldn’t be used at all! To me, it all depends on the goals of the individual family that I’m working with. If THEIR goal is exclusive breastfeeding, then yes, it’s important to teach about the risks and benefits of each method, and go from there. If they WANT to use these extras, then we still need a plan.

It’s important to me, that we make a distinction for those moms who JUST want to breastfeed their babies, because they usually need more support and are sometimes just not getting it.

The trend of telling a mother who is struggling with breastfeeding, that ‘fed is best’ is similar to saying that it doesn’t matter how we feed our babies! To many women who REALLY want to breastfeed, it IS important. What they really need is better support, and help to actually breastfeed.

Now hold on there for a second…. You know that I support moms who WANT to breastfeed in the Grey Zone too, right?? This is absolutely NOT a discussion of how a mother is any less of a breastfeeder or less of a good mother if she WANTS to use any of those things, like formula, pumping or bottles. LOTS of moms simply chose to do ‘a bit of both’, or maybe they don’t want to breastfeed at all. As long as that’s because they WANT to, (and not because they are doing it due to lack of proper breastfeeding support) then that’s just fine.

The important thing to know, if you’re in the middle of Breastfeeding in the Grey Zone is that some mothers sometimes NEED to use these things on a temporary basis and it’s still ok… you don’t have to stop breastfeeding! You can end up needing these things if baby is sleepy, can’t latch, has a tongue tie, you had a traumatic birth, you are in pain, you have postpartum depression, you adopted your baby, had a surrogate, you had breast surgery, you weren’t taught about normal newborn feeding behaviour, you didn’t pump/express when it might have helped, you were told to give a bottle and just needed your baby to eat, and you didn’t know what to do next!! Not everyone can do it, but if YOU still want to breastfeed, there is almost always a way to keep going. It may not be ‘perfect’, but YES, you can still breastfeed.

I am a Private Practice Lactation Consultant, NICU Nurse and Doula who has worked with parents and babies for almost 20 years, and I have breastfed my three children (#3 is still going!) so I have seen a lot of breastfeeding in my day. Breastfeeding doesn’t have to be perfect to still ‘count’. I see so many mothers who are struggling in the first few weeks and they think they might have missed their chance. It’s not too late. Get help as soon as possible. Find someone who supports you and helps you reach YOUR goals.

If it is important to you, then is important to me. If you want to keep breastfeeding, don’t give up.

The post Are You “Breastfeeding In The Grey Zone”? appeared first on Nutmeg Consulting.

Between my 3 children, I have nursed over the span of 10 years for almost half that time. Actually for over 59 months (you have to use months when talking about anything to do with kids right?) so just about 5 years….and I’m not done yet. There will be no more kids here, of that I will make sure, but I am still nursing my son, who is almost 20 months old (yup, that’s him with his ‘digger’ in the picture)…

I’ve thought about how my own experiences have helped me to help others breastfeed. Of course I can give them tips about comfortable positions, how to latch and making a comfortable ‘nest’ to hang out in (with all your important supplies nearby, like snacks, water, cellphone, tv remote, diapers, wipes and more snacks)…but really, I think the most important thing that I have now that can help my clients, is my memory.

It was almost 4 years between weaning my 2nd child (at 2) and the birth of my 3rd child. My memories of the first 3 months of the newborn period (also called the 4th trimester) had begun to fade. Sure I had images in my head of my snuggly baby, holding her skin-to-skin, wearing her in a baby carrier so I could make lunch for her big sister, trying to fix her latch because she had a tongue tie (again, another story)…. But really I didn’t remember the intense first few weeks with a newborn anymore. I had forgotten the reality of it, how it feels to feed again and again and again, and to hold that baby all.night.long.

I remember now.

I think that having this new, fresh experience in my head helps me to relate better to new mothers because I can say out loud what they’ve been thinking and they feel like they’re not alone. I joke about how moms cry on day 3 or 4 after the baby is born and they look at me with relief that they’re not losing their mind. I mention how we all have the ‘what have I done to my life?’ thought in the middle of the night when you would pay a million dollars just to sleep for three hours in a row. I tell them how I co-slept with my son from the first night in the hospital (just like 70% of the world) and then I tell them how to do it safely. They feel like I’m in their secret club when I mention that I have to go and nurse my son before bedtime, and they know that I’ve been where they’ve been and I made it out alive.

Being a new mom is hard. Learning as much as possible about what to REALLY expect from a newborn, especially how often they want to breastfeed, that they don’t want to sleep anywhere but ON you, and that your need for a shower or a hot meal is NOT something that your child will EVER care about. Sorry.

It’s ok. Hang in there. Let me show you how to get comfortable, and let me get you the tv remote.

I don’t know how long it will take before these memories start to fade, but I’m going to do my best this time, to keep remembering. I want to be able to help mothers know the realities of having a newborn, so they know not to expect a baby that sleeps all night (for a VERY long time), or wants to be put down…ever! They get bigger, they need you less and less, and things change, I promise. They always do.

-Angela

The post The Lactating Lactation Consultant…. appeared first on Nutmeg Consulting.

Here are my top 7 ways to naturally prevent and treat colds and flu this season:

1-Get Rest    Getting adequate sleep is top of the list.  Poor sleep quality and quantity can raise inflammation in our bodies and can weaken immunity, thereby increasing our susceptibility to infection.  While it tends to be easier to rest more once we are already sick, think of getting adequate sleep as a good tool for prevention. (If you have a new baby, make sure to learn about safe co-sleeping, and *wink wink* feel free to check in about getting some Postpartum Doula visits so you can nap!)

2-Wash Your Hands     This may seem pretty basic, but hand washing is actually one of the best things we can do to help prevent the spread of germs.  Simply wash hands with soap and water regularly as a way to protect yourself this cold and flu season.

3-Load up on immune supporting vitamins and minerals
Vitamin C rich foods include oranges, kale, kiwi and red bell peppers. These foods contain antioxidants, fibre and also provide hydration for the body.
Vitamin D rich foods or a high quality vitamin D supplement are important for maintaining a strong immune system.  Consuming our vitamin D orally is especially important during the winter months when we are not exposed to as much Vitamin D making sunlight. Dietary sources include mushrooms and oily fish such as salmon. Zinc is an immune boosting nutrient that can be taken as a supplement or through zinc-rich foods.  While oysters have the highest amount of zinc, they are not exactly the most popular food item.  Meat, lentils and pumpkin seeds also contain some zinc.

4- Consume a probiotic or probiotic rich foods      These can help to enhance our immunity and ward off colds and flus but can also be a powerful adjunct to take if you do need a dose of antibiotics for a bacterial infection.  Antibiotics kill a lot of our good bacteria, so adding a probiotic to your antibiotic regimen will help replenish these lost good guys.
Probiotic rich foods include raw sauerkraut, pickled vegetables and fermented dairy.  Extra tip: It is important to feed these probiotic bacteria with healthy foods high in fibre.

5-Stay hydrated      Water helps all your body’s systems function at optimal levels, including your immune system.  In addition to just plain water, try consuming more broth and water based soups, decaffeinated teas and hydrating fruits and vegetables.

6- Include herbs and spices in your meals       Ginger has anti viral and anti bacterial properties and has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body.  It also has a warming effect, which many find comforting when sick.  Garlic can help enhance immune cell function, reducing the severity of a cold or flu.  Both garlic and ginger can be added in whole form to add flavour to foods.  Turmeric is another spice that has become more popular lately as people come around to its host of purported anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits.  While research is still preliminary, anecdotal evidence and population studies, where a large percentage of people use turmeric, give us optimistic results.  Beyond that, the risks (when consumed in small doses) are quite low.  Turmeric can be added to dishes when cooking or to beverages (such as my immune boosting super smoothie below).  One thing to note: the bio-availability of turmeric is quite poor, however two things help increase its absorption and allow you to access all of its benefits: black pepper and fat (so try cooking with both spices or add a little fat to whichever turmeric spiced meal or beverage you make.)

7- Raw Honey  – Honey can be helpful in boosting the immune system and has antioxidant and antiviral properties. Honey can also be used as an effective cough suppressant.  However, while a tbsp. or two of raw honey can be effective, you want to avoid processed sugar and carbs, which suppress immune function. You also don’t want to give honey to any child under the age of one.

As a disclaimer, please note that some supplements, herbs and spices may be contraindicated in pregnancy or while nursing.  If unsure, check with your health care provider or Lactation Consultant.  This is why I generally recommend whole foods versus supplementation, such as foods rich in vitamin C and a whole garlic clove or piece of ginger versus a concentrated, powdered form.  Most side effects from the herbs and spices listed above come not from using them in a culinary capacity but from their supplemental, more concentrated doses.

Immune Boosting Super Smoothie (Serves 1)
Juice from one orange
1 Kiwi
1 tbsp Coconut oil
1 Clove of Garlic
1 tbsp of Grated Fresh Ginger or ¼ tsp of Powdered Ginger
¼ tsp of Turmeric
1 Cup of Water
1 tbsp of Raw Honey
Handful of Ice (optional; makes for a creamier smoothie)

Blend all ingredients together and serve immediately.

Allison Martineau is a Birth and Postpartum Doula with Nutmeg Consulting. She is also a Pediatric Nutritionist specializing in Prenatal & Postpartum nutrition, and childhood obesity prevention and treatment. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from Western University and a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Public Health from Columbia University. For more information please contact http://www.nutmegconsulting.ca.

The post 7 Easy Ways to Stay Healthy Naturally during Cold and Flu Season : and an amazing Recipe for my Immune Boosting Super Smoothie! appeared first on Nutmeg Consulting.

Whatever your breastfeeding story, it is very common to have at least a few struggles with breastfeeding especially in the first week. Whether it’s a painful latch, a sleepy baby, constant crying or someone telling you that baby isn’t getting enough, there are lots of challenges you might encounter. Most of us didn’t grow up in a village where all the mothers were topless and sat around a fire breastfeeding all day. If we had, more of us would find breastfeeding natural, instinctive and easy….but for many, it’s not. It’s something you need practice, help, and time to get good at. Also, there are some great tricks that can make a big difference if you know about them, so that’s where I come in!

Now Presenting: The top 4 things that will help you keep breastfeeding, even when things aren’t quite perfect at the start…..

1. Learn about Hand Expression

If there is ANY reason a baby is having trouble breastfeeding in the first few days after birth, hand express your colostrum every 2-3 hours. You might only get a few drops but it signals your body that you’re still ‘IN’ for becoming a breastfeeder and that you would like to request a great milk supply. We can figure a lot of things out later about a deep latch, nipple comfort and excess weight loss if your body is reminded to continue making milk. Check out a great Hand Expression video here

2. Spoons are made for babies too!

If your baby isn’t able to get colostrum out of your breast the ‘usual’ way because he’s tongue-tied, sleepy, it hurts you or he just can’t latch, then use a spoon! First, read #1 and watch that video. Now hand express right into a spoon & give it to the baby! Spoons are easy to use, hold small amounts (which is usually all newborns need anyway….seriously!) and you can express your thick colostrum right into it so you don’t lose your 3 precious drops in the pump valve thingy!

3. Take off your shirt and hold your naked baby.

This one seems simple and obvious once you learn about how much ‘skin-to-skin holding’ can improve breastfeeding outcomes. Most parents however, think they’re supposed to immediately put their new baby in all the cute outfits and hats they’ve had washed and waiting for this moment…. I don’t blame you, that outfit IS super cute, BUT if your baby is having trouble waking up, calming down, latching or is cold, I promise that the science here is right. Mama’s chest is the place to be. Put your feet up, get comfy and hold your baby.

4. Keep trying, and get help.

Ask for help, ask for more help, then if you still need help, find different help…and CALL ME! Breastfeeding takes practice. Learning about a few ‘normal’ things can make a big difference in your confidence too.

• Shaping your breast the SAME direction as the baby’s mouth will help him get a deeper latch
• The tiny amount of colostrum that babies actually need
• That weight loss in the first week is NORMAL (get help if it’s more than 10-12%) because of ‘water weight’
• That breastfed babies need to SUCK! (That’s what brings your milk in so don’t expect to sleep longer than an hour or two in a row for a while!)

The sooner you find help the better, but even if things aren’t perfect right from the start, try these things and your breastfeeding career really can continue almost always, if you are a bit stubborn, a bit knowledgeable and just a little bit lucky.

The post TOP 4 Things You Can Do if Breastfeeding Your Newborn Just Isn’t Working… appeared first on Nutmeg Consulting.

Kangaroo Care, also known as skin-to-skin, helps give even the smallest of premature babies a better chance at life.

This is why:

It’s something that no expectant parent can prepare for. Most parents won’t even let themselves think it could happen …. never, no…not to them and their baby-to-be. Luckily, most will never know how it feels to have a premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Most mothers will never give birth to a micro preemie born at the cusp of viability. Most people will never know what it’s like to have their baby born too soon, but for many parents it will become a reality.

Premature birth is a global issue and the numbers are alarming. Worldwide, an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm every year. That is more than 1 in 10 babies. The numbers are similar in Canada where currently, 1 out of every 12 babies is born prematurely.

The good news is that treatment and care for premature infants continue to improve. Neonatal intensive care units across the country have adopted new standards of care that have resulted in better survival rates. The simple power of touch is proving to be one of the most effective methods.

THE POWER OF TOUCH

What could be more natural than a mother holding her ‪‎newborn baby skin-to-skin close to her chest? As a neonatal nurse, I have been fortunate to help facilitate this moment hundreds of times. Known as Kangaroo Care for premature infants, this powerful interaction of mother and child benefits babies in more ways than we think. Holding your baby skin-to-skin during the first moments of life is an opportunity to shape your baby’s overall health, and it is one of the most beneficial things that a mother can do for her newborn baby.

Why is touch so vitally important? Touch is one of the first senses to develop while the baby is still in the womb (between 7-8 weeks gestation). From their earliest weeks, babies depend on touch for exploring their world. There are many medical benefits too.

BENEFITS FOR BABY

Research on Kangaroo Care shows that it helps babies in the NICU regulate their heart rate, breathing and temperature, improve head circumference, growth and weight gain. It also helps stabilize baby’s organ function and self-regulation abilities, experience less pain and less crying, facilitate better sleep patterns and improves breastfeeding outcomes. Research shows that skin-to-skin time with parents is calming, which positively impacts their brain and emotional development, and it can even shorten a preterm baby’s hospital stay.

CAN I REALLY DO SKIN-TO-SKIN WITH MY TINY PREMATURE BABY?

Depending on your baby’s condition, Kangaroo Care can begin immediately after delivery or start once your baby is more stable. Even very small babies with major health issues can benefit from short sessions. Once baby is stabilized, sessions should be at least an hour (NICU policies vary). Your baby’s health care team will give advice about when your baby is ready for Kangaroo Care and will help you prepare.

HOW WILL SKIN-TO-SKIN CONTACT HELP ME WITH BREASTFEEDING?

Holding your baby skin-to-skin can help trigger the release of the hormones that can help to increase your breastmilk supply. During skin-to-skin contact your baby is close to his food. He can see and smell your skin and nipple/areola and this encourages him when it’s time to start breastfeeding.

PRACTICING SAFE SKIN-TO-SKIN

Here are a few tips I use to help parents safely practice skin-to-skin holding while in the NICU and after they go home. These can also be adapted for a full term baby.

• Find a comfortable place to sit. Kangaroo Care requires a comfortable chair with several pillows for support to help position the baby. Mom should be in a reclined and relaxed position. Being inclined helps to ensure that baby’s airway stays open so breathing is not affected.
• Undress your baby down to the diaper and place him directly on your bare chest, vertically between your breasts. In the NICU babies are often cared for in a warm incubator so they are already undressed and ready for skin-to-skin! Your nurse will help you carefully position wires and tubes.
• Cover baby with a blanket or consider using a wrap like SleepBelt for added support. In our NICU we now provide a SleepBelt for parents during skin-to-skin holding sessions, which helps securely position your baby on your belly, while also maintaining warmth and privacy. SleepBelt has a soft, stretchy fabric that mimics the womb, so even the smallest of babies can be comfortable and secure. It doesn’t have complicated buckles, knots or straps and doesn’t interfere with medical tubing or wires, and has been used in NICU’s on babies as small as 1000g. SleepBelt can also be a terrific hospital bag item for parents with full-term babies because it enables a hands-free, and safer skin-to-skin experience (I used one myself!)
• Practice skin-to-skin for as long as possible and as frequently as possible during the post-partum period. You can enjoy skin-to-skin contact as soon as the NICU staff feel it is safe. I encourage families to practice skin-to-skin for an uninterrupted 60 minutes, as much and as often as possible, during the first 12 weeks and beyond; even once they are able to take their babies home
• Get dad involved too. Kangaroo Care can empower dads so they also feel like a significant person in their infant’s life. Babies love skin-to-skin holding with Dads and partners too!

Parents often tell me how helpless they feel while their baby is in the NICU. I always tell them that participating in Kangaroo Care means they are giving their baby the best care possible.

Also published on the Yummy Mummy Club Online!

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