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.

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.