Feed the Baby LLC

I was inspired to write this post due to some recent helping situations.  I decided to compile all this information in one place.  I may add to it later.

In order to have an excellent milk supply, it is important to remove milk from the breasts at least 8-10 times a day. (http://feedthebabyllc.com/care-plan-for-milk-supply/)  When mom and baby are together, it is beneficial to keep baby skin-to-skin and allow free access to the breast.  A baby is better at maintaining a milk supply than a pump and the extra nursing stimulates mom’s breasts to make more milk.

When mom is separated from baby, it is important to express milk as frequently as possible, at least every 3 hours from the beginning of one expression to the beginning of the next.  A double electric pump with properly fitting flanges works the best.  Be sure to check the membranes frequently and change them at least every 3 months.  A pump that is older than 1 year may not be as efficient.  See (http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html) for learning a technique that increases the amount of milk that can be expressed by 48%!

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In Honor of IBCLC day, March 6^th 2013, I decided to explore the reasons why I chose to become an IBCLC, though there are easier and less costly pathways to providing professional breastfeeding support.

I had already been an active La Leche League volunteer leader for nearly 14 years when I decided that I wanted to extend my services to include professional breastfeeding support.  I knew that I had acquired a lot of the experience and knowledge needed through my volunteer work.  I had dedicated thousands of hours to learning about and supporting breastfeeding.  I had helped several hundred moms overcome breastfeeding difficulties and realize their breastfeeding goals.  I did not believe, however, that this was adequate training to provide professional breastfeeding services. Continue reading →

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Tongue and lip-tie are common causes of nipple pain, uneven breast drainage, slow weight gain and low milk supply. Many physicians do not properly assess for tongue or lip-tie or recognize their impact on the breastfeeding relationship, leaving moms and babies vulnerable to early weaning.

Image credit: Qole Pejorian on Flickr

This photograph  shows a very obvious tongue-tie and visible frenulum (the bit of tissue holding down the tongue) but not all restrictions are this obvious. Some restrictive frenulums attach further back on the tongue. Some are even buried under the floor of the mouth, causing the tongue to appear, “short.” The only visible indication may be that the floor of the mouth rises when baby lifts his tongue or the tongue stays flat or doesn’t rise to the palate when baby cries. Sometimes the sides of the tongue will rise but the center of the tongue will stay on the floor of the mouth. Even if a baby can reach his or her tongue past the gums or lips, there may still be a tight frenulum restricting baby’s ability to breastfeed effectively. Continue reading →

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I think this is a very helpful technique for moms who are having difficulty achieving a comfortable latch due to mom’s or baby’s anatomy.

The following is posted with permission from http://www.drmomma.org/

Breastfeeding Latch Trick

By Danelle Frisbie © 2010

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I was inspired to write about milk-sharing when I read this article by Amber McCann, IBCLC.

http://www.ambermccann.com/blog/milksharing/

Like Amber, I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.  I am also a La Leche League Leader.  La Leche League’s position on milk-sharing discourages leaders from providing moms with information about informal milk-sharing unless the mother specifically requests such information.  If mothers ask a LLL Leader how to obtain human milk supplements for their babies, they must be directed to milk banks, even though the cost of purchasing human milk from a milk bank is prohibitive.  In most cases, there is not enough milk available for the ill or preterm babies who need it, let alone any excess available for purchase for healthy babies.  This is simply not a viable option for most families. Continue reading →

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Mother and Earth http://www.motherandearth.com/ is sponsoring a breastfeeding class and triage/clinic presented by Laura Spitzfaden, IBCLC.

This class is an ongoing event that occurs on the first Saturday and third Tuesday of each month.   The triage/clinic is available on Saturday, only. Please register at least 3 days in advance to ensure that the class will not be cancelled.  Late registrations may be accepted if space is available. Continue reading →

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I would like to promote these amazing videos created by the Norwegian, mother-to-mother breastfeeding support organization, Ammehjelpen.  Each video is available in Norwegian and in English.  After clicking on a video, scroll down for the English version.

Breastfeeding Videos

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Before Birth

Learn to hand-express colostrum. This milk is already in your breast and will be your baby’s first food.  If your baby has any difficulty latching in the first few days, you can hand express this colostrum and feed the baby by spoon.  Moms with gestational diabetes may even consider freezing and saving some colostrum while pregnant, in case supplementation is indicated after birth.  Do not use this frozen colostrum as a replacement for feeding at the breast!  It is important to future milk supply that colostrum is removed in the first few days after birth, by breastfeeding or by hand expression. Continue reading →

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