Birth plans have become the next “big thing” for pregnant women who decide that they want to maintain some control in the labor and delivery of their unborn child, as well as in the post-partum care both she and her baby receive in the hospital. Some people do not know how to create a birth plan, or why creating a birth plan is an important aspect of their pregnancy.

When a laboring woman arrives at the hospital, there can be limited time to get her feelings regarding how she wants her labor to progress across to the nurses on duty. Birth plans are generally written by the pregnant woman, sometimes with the assistance of her labor partner several weeks prior to delivery. It should then be taken to your doctor or midwife at one of your prenatal appointments to go over your wishes and make sure that your provider is aware of any concerns you might have.

Flexibility
One thing to keep in mind when creating your birth plan is to maintain flexible. Even if you have the textbook perfect labor and delivery, chances are that something in your birth plan will not be able to be accomplished or achieved. It might be because of your hospital, or it might be as simple as you originally saying that you do not want pain medication, just to change your mind half way through labor. If you remain flexible regarding what you wrote in your birth plan, the day of delivery will go much smoother.

Creating your Birth Plan
So how do you create a birth plan? You can use our customized birth plan creator, or you can create one from scratch. If you create one from scratch, be sure to remember to include everything that you deem important.

Pain Medication
When doing your birth plan be sure to mention your wishes on pain medication. Do you want pain medication or not? If you do want pain medication, how much and what kind do you want? If you want medication, do you want to have just a shot through your IV of something to just dull the pain a bit, or do you want an epidural which will go in your back and pretty much get rid of all pain and contractions that you feel? Do you want the doctor or midwife to suggest to you medication, or not mention it at all?

Episiotomy or Tearing
Also, when creating your birth plan, be sure to let everyone know what you will prefer when it comes to having an episiotomy. An episiotomy is when the doctor or midwife cuts the perineal area that goes from your vagina to your rectum an inch or two before the babies head comes out in order to help the head come out easier. Some women prefer to be cut; other women prefer to tear naturally. Many women’s activist groups these days are promoting tearing vs. no episiotomy because some women won’t tear at all, or only tear a tiny bit, making the healing time less painful than it would have been with an episiotomy.

Visitors
Let the nurses know in your birth plan who you want to be allowed in the room and when. Some women are fine with having everyone in at once, and others prefer to only have their birth partner, or have other visitors come in one at a time. You might want the interaction and distraction during the early stages of labor, but not want a bunch of people in the room towards the end. There are also times when you may not want your parent or an in-law in the room at all, but you do not want to be the bad guy. Buy writing these wishes down in your birth plan, it enables your nurse to tell people who can and can not go in and when, and also makes the nurse be the “bad guy” so you don’t have to concentrate on those issues when you should be concentrating on pushing your baby out.

Immediately After Birth
Assuming you have a vaginal birth, you should include in your birth plan your wishes for the baby immediately after birth. Some women will choose to bank their babies cord blood and will have that set up ahead of time. Others want to make sure the cord stops pulsating before it is cut, letting the baby get the remaining nutrients that are important for their health. If you are breastfeeding, you may want to be allowed to nurse immediately, vs. having to wait several minutes for your baby to get cleaned up a bit and get eye drops. Your baby is most alert in the 30 minutes or so right after birth so it is an important time for you to be able to nurse and bond.

Just incase a c-section becomes a necessity, you should list your wishes for the baby while they are finishing up your surgery, in your birth plan. Put down whether or not you want your baby accompanied at all times by your birth partner. Let them know ahead of time your wishes on them giving your baby a bottle of sugar water or formula while you are in recovery. Make it clear if you want your baby brought to you in recovery or if you want to wait till you get back to your room.

Postpartum Care
Part of your birth plan includes your post-partum care. Most hospitals support and encourage your baby staying in your room with you at all times, vs. going to the nursery at night or while you sleep. You can make it clear in your birth plan what your preference is. Whether or not you want to room-in, or if you just want your baby brought to you for feedings letting you rest as much as possible. You can also list whether or not you want your birth partner to be allowed to stay the night.

Feeding
In your birth plan you will list your intentions on feeding your baby. You can state whether or not you plan on breastfeeding, and if you do breastfeed how often and when you want to do it. That is important in the instance that you choose not to have your baby rooming in with you, but instead in the nursery. You should make it clear if you want to feed the baby on demand, when the baby is hungry, or if you prefer to feed the baby on your schedule, allowing the nurses in the nursery to give the baby formula when he gets hungry.

Miscellaneous
There are always other things you might think of when it comes to your hopes and wishes for a happy and healthy labor and birth. Things like taking pictures, video taping, having music playing, moving around, being allowed to take a bath or shower during labor, etc. If any of these things are important to you, or you can think of others, be sure to list them in your birth plan for the nurses and your doctor or midwife. Happy birthing!

An early sign of pregnancy, during the first trimester, are swollen or sore breasts. This can begin as early as a week after conception, often before a woman ever misses her period. The breasts might become larger, tender, and ache when they are touched. But what causes this tenderness?

A woman’s breasts are made up of fat, tissue, blood, and milk glands and their sole purpose is for breastfeeding. It is just a coincidence that the men seem to like women’s breasts as much as the babies do.

When a woman gets pregnant her breasts immediately start preparing to feed that baby nine months down the road. Extra blood begins to run through them and the milk glands grow, causing the swelling and pain that a woman might feel. A woman’s breasts will continue to grow throughout pregnancy, although the tenderness should fade after the first trimester. It is normal for a woman’s breasts to be 2-3 cup sizes bigger by the time her baby comes and she begins nursing.

Swollen and sore breasts do not necessarily mean that a woman is pregnant. Many women experience some swelling and tenderness in their breasts every month right before their period comes, or even at ovulation. Sore breasts can also be caused by a hormonal imbalance or starting, stopping, or changing birth control pills midway through a cycle. When in doubt, be sure to call your doctor.

Breastfeeding is obviously the natural choice in infant nutrition. Like many other natural options, it’s also the most environmentally responsible choice. You know you want your baby to have the best “formula,” one that contains no unnecessary or artificial ingredients. With breast milk, you can control the pesticides and chemicals by eating a clean, organic diet.

In addition to the control of ingredients you have with breast milk, you also eliminate a lot of landfill trash. Commercial formula comes in cans or other containers which will be discarded after use. Bottles these days are most likely the disposable plastic bags that fit inside a plastic tube. Even if you use glass bottles, you still have nipples that wear out and must be thrown away.

Natural nursing may be less common than bottle feeding these days, but there doesn’t have to be a mystery surrounding it. For most mothers, the occasional problems, such as discomfort or seeming to not have enough milk, can be easily remedied. For instance, adding nutritional yeast or dairy products to the diet can increase milk production dramatically. Be sure to take a complete vitamin supplement, too.

When it’s time to nurse your baby, you will feel a tingly sensation in the nipple which is followed by a release of milk. This “let-down reflex,” which is the body’s natural response to a crying baby, is not something you can easily control. For this reason, many moms, but by no means all, need to have nursing pads on hand. For green baby care, invest in some good soft cotton nursing pads that can be washed and reused. Look for organic cotton, since standard cotton is a crop that is nearly always heavily doused with insecticides. But be aware that you may not need nursing pads at all.

If you should have discomfort when nursing, there are a number of natural salves on the market designed to soothe sore nipples. If these don’t do the trick, an innovative product called “Booby Tubes” might help. These are organic cotton tubes filled with natural flax seed which can be cooled in the fridge or warmed briefly in the microwave, and then placed in the bra like nursing pads. Cooling or warming the nipples can offer just the relief you need. Booby Tubes have been heartily recommended by many natural mamas.

Nursing your baby can be an important part of raising your family in an environmentally responsible way. It’s also cheaper and extremely convenient. Sometimes it can be intimidating, but with education and determination, you most likely can succeed at breastfeeding your baby.

by Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Perfect Parenting and Kid Cooperation

Question
What are the signs of thrush? If we have it, how do we get rid of it?

Learn about it
Thrush (Candida albicans) is a common yeast infection that occurs in a baby’s mouth and diaper area, and on a nursing mother’s nipples. It is almost always harmless, but because it thrives in these warm, moist places, it is extremely stubborn and difficult to eliminate. In addition, it can be very annoying because it is quickly and easily transferred back and forth from mother to baby, until both are totally clear of it.

The signs of thrush in the baby
You baby may have all of these signs, some of them, or even none. If you suspect thrush, review both the signs for a baby and the symptoms that you have. The following are typical signs of thrush in a baby:

• White or gray spots or patches on the inside of your baby’s mouth, gums, or on his tongue. (A milk coating on the tongue wipes off easily; thrush does not.)
• An opalescent shine on your baby’s lips or inside his mouth.
• Red face, particularly on the cheeks.
• Persistent diaper rash that doesn’t respond well to usual remedies.
• Fussiness that appears worse during or after feeding.
• Bleeding of the mouth or gums in severe cases.

Signs of thrush in the mother
The following are typical signs of thrush, but many of these can signal other problems as well. If you review the list for yourself and that for your baby, and suspect thrush is the problem, call your healthcare provider, lactation consultant, or La Leche League leader.

• Pain in the nipples or breasts during or after feedings that may persist between feedings
• Deep pink, red or purple discoloration of the nipple and areola
• A shiny glow on the areola
• Dry, peeling nipples
• Rash or white spots on the nipples
• Itching or soreness that indicates a vaginal yeast infection

Note: You are particularly susceptible to thrush infection following the use of antibiotics, as these medications kill off not just “bad” bacteria, but the “good” types that keep candida under control.

Treating the family
If you suspect a thrush infection, both you and your baby will need treatment simultaneously until all signs of thrush are gone. If you are also nursing an older child, you will have to treat her, too. In some cases, your partner or other members of the family may shows signs of thrush (athlete’s foot, severe dandruff, jock itch, vaginal yeast infection) that will have to be treated to prevent the recurrence of thrush in the family.

Treating the baby
Many babies with thrush show little response to the yeast infection. For others, it is painful and prevents proper nursing. In that case, the infection should be treated promptly and aggressively so that your baby’s growth is not compromised. It’s important that you talk to your baby’s doctor, who may prescribe a topical medication that can be applied directly to your baby’s mouth for pain relief and to clear up the infection. The most common medication is a prescription anti-fungal cream. A homeopathic doctor can talk with you about using a tincture made of usnea lichen, mugwort, rosemary, or unsweetened yogurt with active cultures.

An alternative treatment is 1% gentian violet solution, painted with clean cotton swabs onto affected areas once a day prior to breastfeeding. These areas include your baby’s mouth as well as your nipples and areolae. It’s very messy and will turn your baby’s lips and your nipples purple for a few days, but it is often very effective. (Watch your baby’s mouth carefully for any signs of negative reaction, such as sores, from the treatment. Too much of the solution can burn the skin’s surface. If anything seems amiss, or if no relief occurs within four days, stop treatment and visit your doctor.)

In addition, the following may help your baby feel better, speed up the eradication of the infection, and prevent it from recurring:

• Change diapers immediately when your baby’s wet or soiled.
• Coat baby’s bottom with a diaper ointment between changes.
• Avoid using diaper wipes with ingredients that may cause stinging.
• Let your baby’s bottom dry thoroughly before re-diapering, and allow your baby to be naked for a time during the day.
• Avoid using plastic diaper covers. Instead, use coverings that allow air to circulate, or go cover-less if you’re not expecting a big poop anytime soon.
• Wash cloth diapers, cloth wipes, towels, and washcloths in very hot water to remove all traces of the yeast. A vinegar rinse will complete the disinfecting process.

Treating the mother
Talk with your doctor or lactation consultant about your suspicion of a thrush infection. She will confirm the diagnosis and prescribe a medication to clear up the thrush and any accompanying vaginal yeast infection. As mentioned earlier, if thrush is confirmed in the mother, the baby must be treated also, or the infection may continue to be passed back and forth between you. The following also can be helpful when treating thrush:

• Take an over-the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil), for breast pain; alternatively, try chamomile, skullcap, or low doses of valerian.
• Place ice packs on the nipples prior to feeding to reduce pain.
• Massage the breasts to stimulate letdown before attaching your baby to the breast.
• Start feeding sessions on the least painful side.
• Take extra care in ensuring a proper latch when nursing.
• Position your baby tummy-to-tummy with you for feeding to create a straight latch position and reduce pulling on the nipple.
• Break the suction with your finger to gently detach baby from your breast.
• Go braless or topless, or keep the flaps down on your nursing bra to allow your nipples to air dry.
• Avoid using breast pads, as these create a warm, moist place for yeast to thrive.

How to prevent recurring infections

• Clean and sterilize all pacifiers, teethers, and bottle nipples after each use.
• Let nipples dry after breastfeeding before covering them with clothing.
• Avoid letting your baby suck for long periods on a bottle or pacifier.
• Discard breastmilk that was expressed and stored during a thrush infection.
• Maintain diligent hygiene with frequent handwashing after breastfeeding, diapering, and using the toilet. Pay attention to underneath the fingernails, too. Wash your baby’s hands frequently.
• Avoid excess sugar ¾ that applies to you and baby.
• Add plain yogurt to your diet (and to your baby’s diet if she is eating solid food).
• Avoid fermented foods, such as cheese, beer, and wine.
• Wear clothing that allows the skin to breathe, and avoid synthetic fabrics.
• Use regular hand soap instead of antibacterial soap ¾ it kills beneficial bacteria that control yeast growth.
• Disinfect toothbrushes and mouth appliances regularly with a bleach and water solution, or put them in the dishwasher.
• Wash dishes in very hot water.
• Discard solid deodorants used during a thrush infection.
• If the thrush infection isn’t going away, have other family members and even pets checked to see if they are carriers.

Copyright Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

About the author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be breast-fed for at least 12 months and thereafter for as long as mutually desired. The only acceptable alternative to breast milk is infant formula iron fortified and solid foods can be introduced gradually when the baby is 6 months old, but a baby should drink breast milk or formula, not regular cow’s milk, for a full year.

“There aren’t any rules about when to stop breast-feeding,” says Ruth Lawrence, M.D., professor of pediatrics and obstetrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, N.Y., and spokeswoman for the academy. “As long as the baby is eating age-appropriate solid foods, a mother may nurse a couple of years if she wishes. A baby needs breast milk for the first year of life, and then as long as desired after that.” Formula, however, should not be continued after the first birthday. That’s the time to introduce milk. For all babies the milk, however, should be whole milk. Low-fat and skim milk do not have enough fat and calories to supply the nutritional needs of a 1-year-old, explains John Udall, chief of nutrition and gastroenterology at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. At that age, “the child is growing so quickly, and the fat is so important for brain and central nervous system development,” he says. “The recommendation that our daily intake of fat should compose less than 30 percent of our caloric intake does not apply to children under 2 years of age.”

New on the market are special toddler formulas that claim to be better than milk. The formulas are good nutritionally, says Udall, but they’re not necessary. “A well-balanced diet with milk and juices would be just as good in a healthy, normally active, normally growing child,” says Udall.

William Klish, former chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition, says that if a child needs to take a vitamin supplement, the toddler formula, fortified with a full range of vitamins and minerals, including iron, can serve that purpose. In addition, the toddler formulas don’t need refrigeration, making them a convenient choice for snacks away from home.

–I.S.

About this Article:
Provided by FDA.

Breastfeeding is an amazing, natural occurrence that women have been practicing since the beginning of time as a way to feed their babies. A woman’s breasts have milk glands in them which are activated by pregnancy and begin the process of producing breast milk almost as soon as a woman gets pregnant.

One of the early signs of pregnancy is sore, painful breasts. For many women they will notice a dramatic increase in the size of their breasts early in the first trimester. The milk glands are a cluster of cells high up in your breast. When you have your baby and deliver the placenta, the estrogen and progesterone levels in your body decrease and the hormone prolactin will rise signaling these glands to produce and to send milk down to milk ducts.

However, some people report leakage from the areola prior to delivery of their baby. This yellowish leakage is called colostrum and can begin as early as the second trimester for some women, and not till after delivery for others. The colostrum is the first food your baby will get and the most important as it is full of antibodies to help protect and strengthen your baby’s immune system.

So when does your body actually start producing milk? It just depends on how you look at it. What do you consider the first step in production? If it is when the glands are triggered to start their job it is early in the first trimester. If it is when you first notice colostrum then it would occur at whatever point your body started leaking it, possibly in the second trimester, often not till birth. If it is when the white milk starts to flow then it happens within your baby’s first 72 hours of life. Have no fear though. Breasts were made for the sole purpose of feeding our children and in most cases will do their job and the milk will come when it is needed the most.

2004 EPA and FDA Advice For:
Women Who Might Become Pregnant
Women Who are Pregnant
Nursing Mothers
Young Children

FDA, EPA Revise Guidelines on Mercury in Fish By Carol Rados

One minute you hear that eating fish is good for your heart. The next, you find out that eating certain types of fish can be harmful.

Actually, there are benefits and risks to eating fish. Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. They contain high-quality protein, other essential nutrients, and omega-3 fatty acids, and fish are low in saturated fat. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to a healthy heart and to healthy, well-developed children.

However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of methylmercury, a type of mercury found in water that can be harmful, especially to unborn babies and young children whose nervous systems are still developing. Some types of fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury. The risks depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the seafood.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through a joint consumer advisory, warn that women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children should avoid the types of fish and shellfish with higher levels of mercury and eat only those that have lower levels.

Here’s more information about the mercury in fish and shellfish, and what you should know.

Q. What is mercury and methylmercury?

A. Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and also can be released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water cause chemical changes that transform the mercury into methylmercury. It is this type of mercury that can be harmful to unborn babies and young children. Fish absorb the methylmercury as they feed in these waters. Methylmercury builds up in the tissue of some types of fish and shellfish more than others depending on what the fish eat. That’s why levels vary among species and locations.

Q. Should a woman who is not pregnant, but could become pregnant, be concerned about methylmercury?

A. Yes. If you regularly eat types of fish high in methylmercury, the substance can accumulate in your blood over time. Methylmercury is removed from the body naturally, but it may take more than a year for the levels to drop significantly. Therefore, it may be present in a woman even before she becomes pregnant. That is why women who are trying to become pregnant also should avoid eating certain types of fish.

Q. Do all fish and shellfish contain methylmercury?

A. Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of methylmercury. However, larger fish that have lived longer have the highest levels of methylmercury because it has accumulated over time. Large fish such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish pose the greatest risk. Other types of fish and shellfish may be eaten in the amounts recommended by the FDA and EPA.

Q. Where can I get information about the types of fish I eat?

A. Information about the levels of methylmercury in the various types of fish you eat can be found at the FDA food safety Web site: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sea-mehg.html or the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/ost/fish.

Q. Should I be concerned about fish sticks and fast food sandwiches that are made with fish?

A. Fish sticks and fast food sandwiches are commonly made from fish low in mercury.

Q. Although advice is provided about canned tuna, what is the advice about tuna steaks?

A. Because tuna steak generally contains higher levels of mercury than canned light tuna, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces of tuna steak per week.

Q. What will happen if I eat more than the recommended amount of fish and shellfish in a week?

A. One week’s consumption of fish does not change the level of mercury in the body much. If you eat a lot of fish one week, you can cut back for the next week or two. Just make sure to average the recommended amount per week.

Q. Where can I get information about the safety of fish caught recreationally in lakes, streams, and rivers?

A. Before you go fishing, check the appropriate fishing regulations booklet for information about recreationally caught fish. You can also contact your local health department for information about advisories in your area. Check local advisories because some kinds of fish and shellfish caught in local waters may have widely varying levels of mercury, depending on the levels of mercury in the water. Fish with much lower levels may be eaten more frequently and in larger amounts.

It’s helpful for a woman who wants to breast-feed to learn as much about it as possible before delivery, while she is not exhausted from caring for an infant around-the-clock. The following tips can help foster successful nursing:

• Get an early start: Nursing should begin within an hour after delivery if possible, when the infant is awake and the sucking instinct is strong. Even though the mother won’t be producing milk yet, her breasts contain colostrum, a thin fluid that contains antibodies to disease.
• Proper positioning: The baby’s mouth should be wide open, with the nipple as far back into his or her mouth as possible. This minimizes soreness for the mother. A nurse, midwife, or other knowledgeable person can help her find a comfortable nursing position.
• Nurse on demand: Newborns need to nurse frequently, about every two hours, and not on any strict schedule. This will stimulate the mother’s breasts to produce plenty of milk. Later, the baby can settle into a more predictable routine. But because breast milk is more easily digested than formula, breast-fed babies often eat more frequently than bottle-fed babies.
• No supplements: Nursing babies don’t need sugar water or formula supplements. These may interfere with their appetite for nursing, and that can lead to a diminished milk supply. The more the baby nurses, the more milk the mother will produce.
• Delay artificial nipples: It’s best to wait a week or two before introducing a pacifier, so that the baby doesn’t get confused. Artificial nipples require a different sucking action than real ones. Sucking at a bottle could also confuse some babies in the early days. They, too, are learning how to breast-feed.
• Air dry: In the early postpartum period or until her nipples toughen, the mother should air dry them after each nursing to prevent them from cracking, which can lead to infection. If her nipples do crack, the mother can coat them with breast milk or other natural moisturizers to help them heal. Vitamin E oil and lanolin are commonly used, although some babies may have allergic reactions to them. Proper positioning at the breast can help prevent sore nipples. If the mother’s very sore, the baby may not have the nipple far enough back in his or her mouth.
• Watch for infection: Symptoms of breast infection include fever and painful lumps and redness in the breast. These require immediate medical attention.
• Expect engorgement: A new mother usually produces lots of milk, making her breasts big, hard and painful for a few days. To relieve this engorgement, she should feed the baby frequently and on demand until her body adjusts and produces only what the baby needs. In the meantime, the mother can take over-the-counter pain relievers, apply warm, wet compresses to her breasts, and take warm baths to relieve the pain.
• Eat right, get rest: To produce plenty of good milk, the nursing mother needs a balanced diet that includes 500 extra calories a day and six to eight glasses of fluid. She should also rest as much as possible to prevent breast infections, which are aggravated by fatigue.

–R.D.W.

About the Article:
Provided by FDA.

by: Patty Hone

When I had my first son I hadn’t planned to go back to work. I suddenly had to return to the workforce when he was three months old. I was completely unprepared and my son went from an exclusively breastfeeding baby to a mostly formula baby within a short period of time. I learned a lot from my experience with him and was much more prepared when I had my daughter. I was able to exclusively breastfeed her and work full time. Because of what I went through, the emotions of trying to pump enough milk for the next day, I wanted to gather up all my tips and write them down for others to use. I hope that you find these tips helpful.

1. Plan ahead if possible. Get a freezer stash going before you go back to work.
2. Do not just pump at work. Pump at home on your days off and before and after work.
3. Pump while nursing. Pump on one side while nursing on the other.
4. Find a good place to pump, where you are comfortable and can relax.
5. Make sure everyone at work knows how important breastfeeding is and not to interrupt you.
6. Drink plenty of fluids through out the day. Drink a large glass of water about an hour before you are going to pump.
7. Use a good quality double breast pump like the Ameda Purely Yours.
8. If your supply is dwindling rent a hospital grade pump.
9. Find other moms to talk to that are breastfeeding and pumping.
10. Do not get discouraged if you don’t pump a large volume at once. Most moms pump around three oz per pumping.
11. Pump frequently. Pumping frequently is more important than how long you pump.
12. Try to pump at least every three hours.
13. Pumping is NOT as efficient as nursing. Do not gauge your milk supply by how much you pump. Your baby will get more milk from nursing than you will make from pumping.
14. Before you nurse, relax and do a quick breast massage. This will help you get a better let down.
15. Any time you give your baby a bottle make sure you pump in place of that.
16. Nurse frequently at night or try reverse cycling. Reverse cycling is when baby nurses more at night than during the day.
17. Co-sleep with baby if you are comfortable so he can nurse more at night. Nursing at night will help your supply.
18. Try drinking Mothers Milk tea.
19. Eat a bowl of oatmeal in the morning. Oatmeal is really good for boosting milk supply.
20. Avoid giving bottle to baby before he is three weeks.
21. Use a slow flow nipple for your bottles.
22. Find a day care provider that is a breastfeeding supporter. An uneducated day care provider can sabotage your success.
23. Take Fenugreek or Blessed Thistle
24. If you need to supplement when you are home use a Supplemental Nursing System.
25. Do not assume because baby is fussing it is your supply. Many times baby will fuss for other reasons.
26. When preparing bottles for day care, store them in three oz portions. Your baby will likely only need three oz at a time. If he needs more up it to four.
27. Send small 2 oz bottles of breast milk for day care provider to give to baby if you will be picking him up soon. This way baby will be ready to nurse when you get him home.
28. Nurse on your lunch break if you can.
29. Take picture of baby with you to work. Look at your baby when you are pumping. It will help with your let down.
30. Have a nurse in. On the weekend spend the entire weekend in bed with your baby and nurse as frequently as you can.
31. During pumping session, take a break when your milk stops flowing. Massage your breast and use nipple stimulation to get a second let down. You will usually get another oz or so if you can get a second let down.
32. Cut down on caffeine. Caffeine will hinder your supply
33. Don’t do extreme dieting. Eat a healthy diet.
34. Contact a La Leche League Leader or lactation consultant for advice.
35. Avoid using bottles and pacifiers when you are home.
36. Try switch nursing when you are home. Nurse on one side then switch to the other when baby seems to be getting fussy. Switch sides two or three times while nursing.
37. Remind yourself of all the benefits your baby is getting and that it’s worth it!
38. Keep your pump pre-assembled so that you can keep your pumping breaks shorter.
39. If your using a pump with horns put them in a Ziploc bag and store them in the freezer between pumpings. This way you can just wash them when you get home.
40. If you can, do paperwork while pumping. This way you can have more pumping breaks and you will relax more if you are not focused on pumping.
41. Don’t watch the pump. Staring at the pump watching for milk will make your session more stressful.
42. Adjust the suction controls, experiment with the speed and suction until you find what works best for you.
43. Keep spare parts readily available for your pump so you don’t have any emergencies.
44. If you own a hands free pump like whisperwear try pumping on the drive to work.
45. Massage your breasts while you pump.
46. Bring a baby blanket or item of clothing that smells like baby. Use your senses to visualize your baby.
47. Close your eyes and picture baby nursing.
48. Keep a back up pump at work or in your car in case you forget. The Avent Isis is affordable and a great pump to have for a backup.
49. Pat yourself on the back for giving your baby the best!

About the Author:
Patty Hone is a wife and mommy to three kids. She is also the owner of Mommiesmall.com. For quality breast pumps, slings, and other attachment parenting products please visit her site at Mommiesmall.com

For many nursing moms, keeping up their milk supply is difficult. They find that for whatever reason, their supply is not great, or they feel like their baby is not getting enough milk when they are nursing.

There are several free methods that a mother can use, as well as products she can buy which are said to increase milk supply. A nursing mother should always check with her doctor or her baby’s pediatrician before starting any new regimen to increase her milk. She can also call her local chapter of the La Leche League for help and advice.

Make sure your baby is latched on correctly to begin with. Many times, if the baby is not latched on right, it will be hard for them to get the milk, making them not want to try. The more you nurse successfully, the better supply you will have. When nursing, especially early on try not to go more than 2 or 3 hours without feeding your baby. If for some reason this is not possible or you are away from your baby, have a breast pump handy and pump milk, keeping your breasts stimulated and your milk glands producing milk. Try to get your baby to nurse for at least 15 minutes on each breast, during each feeding. If your baby is full and doesn’t want to nurse anymore, end the feedings by pumping the rest of your milk. Your breasts don’t know if it is a baby or a pump, they just know that the milk is needed.

It is also important to keep up your food and calorie intake while nursing, including your milk consumption. You need extra calories when nursing your baby to produce the milk and assure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs. Your body will take what it needs first, so if you attempt to cut back or diet during this time, it is likely that your body will not have enough resources to make a sufficient amount of milk and your mlk supply will be effective.

There are a few products on the market that you can buy online or at specialty stores that are supposed to help increase your milk supply. They work for some women, for others they might not. One is Mother’s Milk, also known as Mother’s Milk Tea. It is a drink for nursing mother’s that has been used for centuries by European women, made up of herbs and is traditionally used just to increase the milk supply.

Another popular herbal supplement a nursing mother often takes is called Fenugreek. It is supposed to increase milk supply in less than 72 hours and has no side effects for the baby. Again, talk to your doctor or your babies pediatrician, as well as a lactation consultant before trying either of these methods for increasing your milk supply.