Babies are born with the instinct to latch on and suckle, but new moms might need some assistance with the positioning. How you sit, hold your baby, and offer your breast all affects how a baby latches on and they determine how comfortable you will be during feedings.

Parents.com contributor Tricia O’Brien shares some of the best breastfeeding positions for mom and baby.

The Cradle

The easiest position for breastfeeding is to sit upright in an armchair or rocking chair. Cradle your baby’s head with the crook of your arm and use your hand to support their bottom. Your other hand supports the breast. Rest your feet on a stool or other raised surface to avoid leaning down toward your baby.

The Cross-Cradle

This position is ideal for early breastfeeding. Sit up straight in a comfortable arm chair with armrests or consider using a nursing pillow. Bring your baby across the front of your body and hold in the crook of the arm opposite the breast you’re feeding. If you’re feeding on your left breast, use your right arm to support the baby’s body and your right hand to support the head, while your fingers support the left breast.

Side-Lying

This might be a good position when you’re tired. Before you try this position, it’s best if the baby can latch first, says O’Brien.

Lie on your side with your back supported. Lay the baby on their side facing you. The baby’s chest should be against yours. To feed on the left breast, you should be on your left side, your right arm will support the baby’s body, and your right hand will support the head.

Football Hold

If you’re recovering from a C-section or have large breasts, this might be a good choice.

Hold your baby at your side face up lengthwise. Use nursing pillows for added support. When nursing on your right side, use your right arm to support the baby and guide them to your breast. Your baby’s back will rest on your forearm.

Babies and moms should be comfortable when breastfeeding. Whichever position you choose, make sure you support your body, breasts, and baby. Also, vary your routine.  Some women find the best way to avoid clogged milk ducts is to alternate positions because each hold pressures a different part of your nipple. When you alternate breasts, you’re also boosting milk production.

Breastfeeding may feel a bit awkward at first, but the key is patience and practice. Any of these positions can be altered as you become more experienced.

Information in this blog post shared from: Prolacta.com

Happy people are happy because they make themselves happy. They maintain a positive outlook on life and remain at peace with themselves. The question is: How do they do that?

It’s quite simple. Happy people have good habits that enhance their lives. They do things differently. Here are some suggestions:

1. Don’t hold grudges.

Happy people understand that it’s better to forgive and forget than to let their negative feelings crowd out their positive feelings. Holding a grudge has a lot of detrimental effects on your wellbeing, including increased depression, anxiety, and stress. Why let anyone who has wronged you have power over you? If you let go of all your grudges, you’ll gain a clear conscience and enough energy to enjoy the good things in life.

2. Treat everyone with kindness.

Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that being kind makes you happier? Every time you perform a selfless act, your brain produces serotonin, a hormone that eases tension and lifts your spirits. Not only that, but treating people with love, dignity, and respect also allows you to build stronger relationships.

3. See problems as challenges.

The word “problem” is never part of a happy person’s vocabulary. A problem is viewed as a drawback, a struggle, or an unstable situation while a challenge is viewed as something positive like an opportunity, a task, or a dare. Whenever you face an obstacle, try looking at it as a challenge.

4. Express gratitude for what they already have.

There’s a popular saying that goes something like this: “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.” You will have a deeper sense of contentment if you count your blessings instead of yearning for what you don’t have.

5. Dream big.

People who get into the habit of dreaming big are more likely to accomplish their goals than those who don’t. If you dare to dream big, your mind will put itself in a focused and positive state.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Happy people ask themselves, “Will this problem matter a year from now?” They understand that life’s too short to get worked up over trivial situations. Letting things roll off your back will definitely put you at ease to enjoy the more important things in life.

7. Speak well of others.

Being nice feels better than being mean. As fun as gossiping is, it usually leaves you feeling guilty and resentful. Saying nice things about other people encourages you to think positive, non-judgmental thoughts.

8. Never make excuses.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Happy people don’t make excuses or blame others for their own failures in life. Instead, they own up to their mistakes and, by doing so, they proactively try to change for the better.

9. Get absorbed into the present.

Happy people don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future. They savor the present. They let themselves get immersed in whatever they’re doing at the moment. Stop and smell the roses.

10. Wake up at the same time every morning.

Have you noticed that a lot of successful people tend to be early risers? Waking up at the same time every morning stabilizes your circadian rhythm, increases productivity, and puts you in a calm and centered state.

11. Avoid social comparison.

Everyone works at his own pace, so why compare yourself to others? If you think you’re better than someone else, you gain an unhealthy sense of superiority. If you think someone else is better than you, you end up feeling bad about yourself. You’ll be happier if you focus on your own progress and praise others on theirs.

12. Choose friends wisely.

Misery loves company. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with optimistic people who will encourage you to achieve your goals. The more positive energy you have around you, the better you will feel about yourself.

13. Never seek approval from others.

Happy people don’t care what others think of them. They follow their own hearts without letting naysayers discourage them. They understand that it’s impossible to please everyone. Listen to what people have to say, but never seek anyone’s approval but your own.

14. Take the time to listen.

Talk less; listen more. Listening keeps your mind open to others’ wisdoms and outlooks on the world. The more intensely you listen, the quieter your mind gets, and the more content you feel.

15. Nurture social relationships.

A lonely person is a miserable person. Happy people understand how important it is to have strong, healthy relationships. Always take the time to see and talk to your family, friends, or significant other.

16. Meditate.

Meditating silences your mind and helps you find inner peace. You don’t have to be a zen master to pull it off. Happy people know how to silence their minds anywhere and anytime they need to calm their nerves.

17. Eat well.

Junk food makes you sluggish, and it’s difficult to be happy when you’re in that kind of state. Everything you eat directly affects your body’s ability to produce hormones, which will dictate your moods, energy, and mental focus. Be sure to eat foods that will keep your mind and body in good shape.

18. Exercise.

Studies have shown that exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft does. Exercising also boosts your self-esteem and gives you a higher sense of self-accomplishment.

19. Live minimally.

Happy people rarely keep clutter around the house because they know that extra belongings weigh them down and make them feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Some studies have concluded that Europeans are a lot happier than Americans are, which is interesting because they live in smaller homes, drive simpler cars, and own fewer items.

20. Tell the truth.

Lying stresses you out, corrodes your self-esteem, and makes you unlikeable. The truth will set you free. Being honest improves your mental health and builds others’ trust in you. Always be truthful, and never apologize for it.

21. Establish personal control.

Happy people have the ability to choose their own destinies. They don’t let others tell them how they should live their lives. Being in complete control of one’s own life brings positive feelings and a great sense of self-worth.

22. Accept what cannot be changed.

Once you accept the fact that life is not fair, you’ll be more at peace with yourself. Instead of obsessing over how unfair life is, just focus on what you can control and change it for the better.

This article is from Chiara Fucarino.  Shared from the blog: www.Successify.net

One of the biggest risks these critically ill babies face is NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis), a life-threatening intestinal infection, which involves inflammation that causes destruction of all, or part of, the bowel.

Although it affects only one to five percent of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions, NEC is the most common and serious gastrointestinal disorder among hospitalized preterm infants and it affects 10 percent of babies who weigh less than three pounds, five ounces. Because 40 percent of babies who develop NEC die, it’s considered an emergency and often requires surgery to treat.

NEC usually occurs after milk feeding has begun. In the past, a combination of formula and breast milk for preemies was the go-to diet because mom’s milk doesn’t typically come in fully when baby is born prematurely nor does it have sufficient nutrients once it does come in.

Breast Milk vs. Cow’s Milk

But research published in the Journal of Pediatrics shows breast milk for preemies (versus cow’s milk) are less likely to develop NEC and tolerate feeding better, which allows them to be taken off supplemental nutrition much earlier.

So what happens if mom’s milk isn’t in fully and she wants her premature newborn to have a 100 percent human milk diet?

Breast Milk Donations

That’s where milk donation programs come in, such as Milkin’ Mamas.

While moms of slightly premature babies naturally produce milk tailored to the needs of their babies, preemie breast milk is also fortified with “human milk fortifiers” to provide additional needed calcium, vitamins, and protein to meet the additional their needs. Clinical evidence shows fortified breast milk fed to preemies provides improved growth and a better nutritional status than those fed an animal milk or formula diet.

Some moms are blessed with an excess supply of breast milk.  Milkin’ Mamas, in partnership with Prolacta Bioscience, collects that excess via donations, tests it for diseases, viruses, drugs, and alcohol, pasteurizes it, and adds the human milk fortifiers. Most North American milk banks do not perform this full range of tests.

Rather than pump and dump after feeding your baby, you have a huge opportunity to help save precious lives.

*Information shared from Prolacta Bioscience website: www.prolacta.com

Here are some tips before you get started:

• Whole oats should always be used – not ‘quick’ oats (the type that cook in a few minutes in the microwave). Be sure when you buy your oats (‘oatmeal’) that you are purchasing whole, natural rolled oats. If you can get the extra thick oats, that’s even better.

• Do NOT substitute the Brewer’s Yeast with regular yeast for making bread. You can find Brewer’s Yeast at natural food markets, health food stores or large grocery stores.

• Flax seed is prepped many ways. The version most useful for baking is the milled flax seed that you will find in your local store.

• This recipe makes a lot of cookies! Instead of baking all the cookies at once, freeze some of the dough. Scoop the dough into balls onto a large baking sheet or 13×9 inch pan. Place in the freezer until hard.  Then transfer to a ziplock bag or air-tight container. This allows you to bake one tray at a time and enjoy fresh hot cookies whenever you want! Bake frozen dough for about one minute longer.

Lactation Cookies

2 Tablespoons flax seed meal

4 Tablespoons water

1 cup butter, soften to room temperature

1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour (all-purpose or white whole wheat)

3-4 Tablespoons brewer’s yeast

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a small bowl, combine the flax seed meal and water. Let stand for 5 minutes.
3. In a large bowl or stand-up mixer, beat butter and brown sugar well.
4. Add eggs and beat well.
5. Add flax seed mixture and vanilla, beat well.
6. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, brewer’s yeast, baking soda & salt.
7. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture, mix well.
8. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
9. Scoop by rounded tablespoons onto baking tray.
10. Bake 12 minutes.
11. Cool on baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Be creative and try these variations or additions:

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• flaked or shredded coconut
• dried cranberries, cherries, apricots or raisins
• white chocolate chips

Other tips to maintain your milk supply:

Remember to keep up your water intake. Have a glass of water next to you every time you breastfeed (right next to your cookies!). Ideally have a water bottle with you all the time and try to sip every 15 minutes.

Offer the breast more frequently. Demand equals supply as far as breast milk goes – when you pump or your baby is nursing at the breast it sends signals to make more milk!

Check out our past Blog post: Tips for Maintaining Your Milk Supply

Foods with lactation-promoting properties are called lactogenic foods or galactagogues. Adding these foods, along with frequent nursing or pumping, can give your milk supply the boost it may need.

Here are some lactogenic foods for you to try.

OATMEAL

Known for its cholesterol-reducing and low blood pressure effects, oatmeal is also good for your milk supply. In addition to providing good nutrition and health benefits, oatmeal is a comfort food. When mom eats a bowl of oatmeal, it helps her relax, which in turn releases oxytocin, a hormone involved in milk production.

APRICOTS

The University of Wisconsin School of Health and Public Medicine recommends apricots because they are high in fiber, Vitamin A, C, potassium, and calcium. Calcium-rich dried fruits such as figs, apricots, and dates are thought to help with milk production. Like papaya, apricots, contain tryptophan, which helps regulate your sleep.

SPINACH

We already know spinach is a good source of calcium, vitamin K, and vitamin A. And we know folic acid is particularly important for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. But spinach has another property that promotes lactation: Phytoestrogens, which have similar properties to estrogen.

SALMON

Salmon is a great source of essential fatty acids (EFA) and omega-3 fatty acids and are both components of breast milk. Having more EFAs available increases the amount of good fats in your breast milk and provides better nutrition for you baby.

CARROTS

Like spinach, carrots contain phytoestrogens and they are high in beta-carotene and Vitamin A. While we’re told not to drink our calories, drinking a cup of carrot juice once a day may help boost your supply.

PAPAYA

Papayas have not been studied, The effects of papayas on breast milk production have not been studied, but it is is believed they have two benefits: They are a natural sedative and they improve lactation.

ASPARAGUS

Asparagus isn’t meant just for a delicious dinner side dish. It is high in fiber, folic acid, Vitamins A, C, and K and it contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid which  subsequently improves milk supply.

BROWN RICE

Brown rice, a complex carbohydrate, increases serotonin levels in your brain, which gives you more energy and helps  regulate your mood, appetite, and sleep. This means brown rice is one of the good carbohydrates  for all of us, but particularly nursing moms because it stimulates prolactin secretion, which a key hormone in lactation.

HUMMUS

Because hummus, with its chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil, is a complete protein, it is a great choice for breastfeeding moms. With a little paprika, pine nuts, and pita bread, you have yourself a delicious lacto-producing  snack.

WATER

Drinking more water not only gives you more energy and makes your skin glow, it is one of the best ways to improve your milk supply. Nursing depletes your body of fluids so it makes sense that drinking water will help you to stay hydrated and produce more milk. Keep it simple. When you sit down to nurse, drink a glass of water first.

*Information shared from: www.justmommies.com

If you are home when a power outage occurs, you can assess the situation first hand. But what if you are at work or away for an extended period of time?  How will you know if the contents of your freezer have thawed and refroze?

Below are a couple of tips:

1. Before a storm, buy a pint of your favorite ice cream. Instead of eating straight down, eat from only one side of the container and leave the other side untouched. Put the pint back in the freezer and wait out the storm. If the ice cream is still mounded to one side after the power comes back on, your freezer didn’t thaw too much and your frozen milk is still good.  But if the surface is smooth and level, that means that you lost power long enough for the ice cream to thaw – along with the rest of your freezer contents. Best to throw out that milk and re-stock .
2. If you’re concerned about calories, you can achieve the same result without eating a bunch of ice cream, here’s another option: Freeze some water in an airtight container with a lid, and then (once it’s solid) put a penny on top. If the penny is frozen into the water after the power comes back on, your freezer defrosted. If the penny is still sitting on top, then no worries!

Some breast pumps parts can be put in the top rack of a dishwasher. Consult your instruction manual to make sure pieces are dishwasher safe before you put them in the dishwasher.

It is not necessary to clean breast pump tubing unless it comes in contact with breast milk. If you wash your tubing, make sure you hang it to air dry before attaching it to your breast pump. If small water drops (condensation) appear in the tubing after you have pumped, turn the pump on for a few minutes until the tubing is dry.

Microwave sterilizers are available for breast pump parts, but these sterilizers do not meet the FDA definition of sterilization. However, they will sanitize the parts, which is sufficient for processing between uses for a single user.

Cleaning the Electrical Unit for a Powered Breast Pump

Electrical units, which hold the motor and batteries, should be wiped down with a clean paper towel or soft cloth after each use.

The electrical unit should never be put into water or other liquids for cleaning. It should also never be cleaned using a microwave sterilizer.

Some breast pump manufacturers make wipes just for cleaning breast pumps, which can make cleaning more convenient when you are away from home. Even if these wipes are used, breast pump parts that come into contact with breast milk should still be cleaned using liquid dishwashing soap and warm water before pumping.

Basic Cleaning Method

• Consult the instruction manual to determine which parts should be washed and the best method for removing parts that must be cleaned.
• Rinse each piece that comes into contact with breast milk in cool water as soon as possible after pumping.
• Wash each piece separately using liquid dishwashing soap and plenty of warm water.
• Rinse each piece thoroughly with hot water for 10-15 seconds.
• Place the pieces neatly on a clean paper towel or in a clean drying rack and allow them to air dry.
• Avoid using cloth towels to dry your pump parts because they can carry germs and bacteria that are harmful to your breast milk and your baby.
• Once the pump parts are dry, assemble the pump before you store it or use it.
• Try not to touch the inside of any parts that will come in contact with your breast milk.

This page provides general information about cleaning a breast pump. For specific information about cleaning your breast pump, check the pump’s instruction manual for the manufacturer-recommended method of cleaning.

*The above information was obtained from the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations website: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/BreastPumps/ucm061950.htm

A plugged or clogged milk duct is a sore, tender area in the breast.  It is characterized by a lump or bumpy, firm area of the breast.  It occurs when a milk duct is not draining well.  Inflammation builds up and the area may be tender, warm to touch and red.  Usually you can feel the lumpy area.  A plugged duct IS NOT accompanied with fever, chills or flu-like symptoms!  If it is, that is when you would know to call your doctor for Mastitis treatment and possibly antibiotics.

Plugged ducts can occur in mamas who have:

• too much stress
• inconsistent breast feeding/pumping
• missed feedings
• poor fitted bras
• improper latch
• high fat diet

Treatment suggestions include:

• Apply moist heat and massage breast before feeding/pumping.
• Feed, feed, feed the baby (or pump)!  Usually the baby (or your pump) can remove the “clog” with the suction.
• Lean over the sink into warm water and massage into the firm areas. This is called a “breast bath“.  This can really help alleviate your symptoms.
• Use a heating pad on low in-between feeding.  It could help unclog the area.
• Take over-the-counter pain relieving medication as prescribed by a doctor to treat the swelling.
• Use olive oil to massage area between feedings.
• Drink lots of fluids and eat a healthy and balanced diet.

If you have a plugged duct that doesn’t seem to be getting better, GET HELP!  Contact a lactation professional or your doctor right away.

Lactation lady 4u

Jennifer Reynolds LVN, IBCLC

562-253-1066 cell

Here is what you’ll need:

• 7 medium (about 3 lbs) yukon gold potatoes, washed and cubed*
• 2 carrots, finely chopped
• 3 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 4 cups (32oz) vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon salt

• 4 cups milk (whole or 2%)

• 5 Tablespoons butter, melted
• 5 Tablespoons flour
• 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley OR  1 Tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Garnish with:

• fresh chives or green onions
• crispy bacon
• more shredded cheddar cheese

In a large stock pot, combine: potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, broth and salt.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender.  Stir occasionally.

Remove from heat.  Mash slightly for a chunky soup OR puree for a smooth soup.  If you are luck enough to have an immersion blender, this works great for pureeing.  If not, puree in small batches using a blender and return to the pot.  Stir in milk.

In a bowl, combine melted butter, flour, parsley and pepper.  Stir into soup.

Cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly.

Remove from heat, stir in cheese.  Let stand 5 minutes and serve.  Enjoy!

*If you are using yukon gold potatoes you don’t have to peel them because the skins are so thin.  You can also use russet potatoes but you should peel them first.

We want to be the best mamas we can and here are 10 suggestions to do just that:

Love more. 
Judge less.
Laugh more.
Criticize less.
Enjoy more.
Complain less.
Play more.
Analyze less.
Express gratitude more.
Wallow less.

Here is another suggestion:  Start a bed-time ritual with your kids TONIGHT!  After the teeth have been brushed, the pjs are on and the books have been read… take turns sharing what you were most GRATEFUL for that day.  (With younger kids, you can ask them what made them most HAPPY today.)  This is an awesome way to connect with your kids and reflect on the day.

All the best to you and your family in 2013!!