Do Not Shake Breastmilk

Don't Shake the Milk

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC

Why not?
Because shaking expressed mothers' milk (or boiling or freezing it) denatures the shaped molecules of the protective proteins, leaving only the pieces - the amino acids - the parts. Lactoferrin, lysozyme, and other protective components work their protection magic when they are in their original shaped molecular structure. Some components remain intact, even during freezing, shaking or heating. They not only protect the gut from many kinds of infection, but also prevent inflammation of the gut lining. Even broken up, the separate amino acids are still really good stuff and are digested by the baby as nutrients.
Imagine a set of pop-beads assembled into a necklace or bracelet. When the beads are acting as a bracelet or necklace, they are doing their job as protective elements. When you break apart the beads, you have in your hand many individual chunks of amino acids which are then digested.
Cellular components are also susceptible to damage by physical stress. After all, they are living cells.
With mother's milk, you get at least two functions for the price of one. With manufactured formula, you only get the individual beads, never the necklace or bracelet. And never the living cells.
So, please handle human milk gently, respectfully and kindly. It's far more than perfect food for babies - it's a living tissue and protective shield too.

© 1998 Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC

Breastfeeding during Ramadhan Al-Mubarak

AssalamualaikumMummies.

Favourite month of the year is just around the corner.

 

Last year, my baby was merely 8 months during Ramadhan and I was exclusively pumping for her breastmilk. My breastmilk stock wasn't so great at that time and was just starting to collect stock in our newly bought deep freezer.

As many mothers out there, I was indeed worried about my milk supply declining since my supply had just stabilized at that point of time. I am aware that there are exclusions for breastfeeding and pregnant mothers with regards to fasting, but am not going to write about the details and depths on that in this post (I'd rather leave it to the experts) :-)

What I am going to write about is my experience during last Ramadhan and some factual details on how a mother's diet effects her breastmilk production.

Alhamdulillah, I only missed 1 day of fasting last year due to mastitis (had to take anti-pyretics, couldn't stand the chills and pain). The first day of fasting, my breastmilk supply dropped. A bit panicked, I continued to drink lots of water (more than I need I think) after breaking fast and stuffed myself with whatever food that is said to be `Milk Boosters'. Next day, breastmilk supply dropped even more. I still wanted to fast though. Alhamdulillah, I googled and came across an article that denies my paranoia and mindset that if I fast, my breastmilk production would decrease. Next day, during sahur, I ate as usual (moderately) and didn't stuff myself with water :-) Guess what? Milk production increased! And it was just stable during the whole fasting month, Alhamdulillah. So it's all in the mind :-)


To support my story, here are some facts from trusted resources about mother's diet & breastmilk production.

Breastfeeding mothers need proper nutrition to:
1. Maintain quality of milk
2. Recovery after delivery
3. Maintain mother's health

Fat deposition @ pengumpulan lemak during pregnancy is meant to assist breastmilk production during the breastfeeding period. Breastmilk is produced partly from maternal fat deposit and partly from mother's food intake.

Significant decline in breastmilk production only happens in cases of SEVERE MALNUTRITION.
In those cases of severe food intake deprivation, body produces breastmilk mainly from maternal fat stores. In SEVERE MALNUTRITION, the quantity of breastmilk and quantity of fat in breastmilk might be reduced BUT the breastmilk still has it's vitamins and qualities.

So, in conclusion, approximate 14 hours of fasting has been proven scientifically that it will not affect breastmilk production.What affects breastmilk production is mothers feeling tired, weary, worried or stressed during fasting hours.

So how to maintain breastmilk supply during Ramadhan?

Dua,
Eat & Drink well from Dusk till Dawn (no need to overdo it),
Supply vs Demand Concept (continue Breastfeeding / Pumping often)
Try to get enough rest.
If need so, take supplements or whatever food that boosts your energy :-)

Lastly, STOP WORRYING :-)

Lots of Love :-)

Baby Friendly Hospitals

Want to have efficient support for breastfeeding right from the first moments of your precious little one is born? If you're planning to have a hospital birth, I suggest you do so in a Baby Friendly Hospital.

What is a Baby Friendly Hospital?

According to standards set by Unicef and the World Health Organisation, hospitals must fulfill ten criteras to gain baby-friendly accreditation. They must:

• Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.
• Train all healthcare staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
• Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
• Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within half an hour of birth.
• Show mothers how to breastfeed and maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infant.
• Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk, not even sips of water, unless medically indicated.
• Practice rooming in. This means keeping mothers and their babies together at all times.
• Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
• Give no artificial teats or pacifiers to breastfeeding infants.
• Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic. Unicef

Only hospitals that fully comply with these criteria will be certified as baby friendly hospitals. In 1998, Malaysia was the third country in the world, after Sweden and Oman, to have all its government hospitals certified baby-friendly. A number of private hospitals in Malaysia have also been awarded the baby-friendly hospital status and more are preparing for this accreditation process.

 

Probably some mothers would have experienced this alarming situation when baby refuses to breastfeed.

Here is an interesting and informative article..

Nursing strike

by Natalie Walker Whitlock
Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board

 

What is a nursing strike?

A baby who refuses to breastfeed (and is not in the process of being weaned) is said to be on a "nursing strike." A nursing strike is your baby's way of telling you that something's wrong. And it'll probably take a little detective work to figure out the problem.

What causes it?

Here are some reasons your baby may go on a nursing strike:

• Mouth pain from teething, a cold sore, or an infection (such as thrush)
• An ear infection, which may cause pressure or pain while nursing
• A cold or stuffy nose, which can make breathing difficult while nursing
• Reduced milk supply or a slow letdown
• A major disruption in your baby's nursing routine or schedule
• If your teething baby has bitten you and your reaction startled him, he may be afraid to nurse after that.
• A change in soap or other toiletry that causes you to smell different to your baby
• A change in the taste of your milk, caused by a vitamin or drug or by hormonal changes (from pregnancy or your period, for example)

What can I do?

A nursing strike can be tricky for even the most dedicated breastfeeding mother. With patience and support, though, you can get through it.
A nursing strike usually lasts between two and five days, but it can go on longer. While you continue to encourage your baby to nurse, you'll need to pump (or express your milk by hand) every few hours, or about as often as your baby had been nursing. This will help keep up your milk supply, prevent plugged ducts and engorgement, and provide your baby with the milk he needs. You can offer the expressed milk in a sippy cup, a bottle, a spoon, an eyedropper, or a feeding syringe.
Here are some ways to overcome a nursing strike:

• Try nursing when your baby is very sleepy. Many babies who refuse to nurse when they're awake will breastfeed when they're sleepy.
• Visit your baby's doctor to rule out medical causes (such as an ear infection or thrush) and seek feeding advice.
• Vary your nursing position. (Your baby may be more comfortable in one position than another.)
• Nurse in motion. Some babies are more likely to nurse when you rock or walk them than when you're sitting or standing still.
• Nurse in an environment that's free from distractions. It's common for a 6- to 9-month-old to go on a nursing strike as he becomes more aware of the world. Babies this age are easily distracted and often prefer to "snack" at the breast instead of settling down for a meal. Try nursing in a dimly lit, quiet room, away from the sound of the radio or television.
• Give your baby lots of skin-to-skin contact (try nursing without a shirt on or in a warm bath). A sling or carrier can help keep your baby close between nursing attempts.

It's easy to jump to the conclusion that a baby who doesn't want to nurse is weaning himself. But it's unlikely that a baby under a year old who has been successfully breastfeeding is ready to give up nursing. (An older baby may cut back in reaction to a new pregnancy, though.)

Will it affect my baby?

A nursing strike can be upsetting for your baby as well as for you. Try to keep other elements of your baby's routine as normal as possible during the strike. Give him extra attention and physical contact.
If you're worried that your baby isn't getting enough food, keep track of wet diapers. At least five to six wet disposable diapers per day – or six to eight cloth diapers – indicates that he's taking in enough fluid. (Disposable diapers are so absorbent that you may not notice every time he urinates.)
Don't hesitate to call the doctor if you're worried.

Can I still nurse?

Absolutely. It's important to keep trying to nurse your baby. With patience and persistence you should be able to get back to your breastfeeding routine.

Breastfeeding Myths

Breastfeeding Myths

   To mothers out there, breastfeeding or not, it is my obligation to spread the word of truth on breastfeeding so that you get a clear picture with regards to breastfeeding. Words of myth are spread throughout, in every community, every region and every country. The latest and funniest I’ve heard by far is from a friend who claimed that her grandmother told her this:

‘ Whenever you breastfeed your baby, feed the right breast first, then the left. This is because the milk from the right breast represents rice and the milk from the left breast represents water’.

Such statement might not make sense for mothers who are well-educated on breastfeeding but might affect the mind of some young mothers who are ignorant on breastfeeding, hence giving them unnecessary pressure to make sure they synchronize the feeding according to the proper order of which breast to feed first.

I would love to share a few famous breastfeeding myths in relation to Dr. Jack Newman’s article on Breastfeeding Myths.                                                                 

1. Many women do not produce enough milk.

Not true! The vast majority of women produce more than enough milk. The usual reason that the baby does not get the milk that is available is that he is poorly latched onto the breast. This is why it is so important that the mother be shown, on the first day, how to latch a baby on properly, by someone who knows what they are doing. 

2. It is normal for breastfeeding to hurt.

Not true! Though some tenderness during the first few days is relatively common, this should be a temporary situation which lasts only a few days and should never be so bad that the mother dreads nursing. Causes of breast or nipple pain include poor baby latching, yeast infection, plugged ducts and many others. Please consult a physician if you experience prolong breast or nipple pain.

3. There is no (not enough) milk during the first 3 or 4 days after birth.

Not true! It often seems like that because the baby is not latched on properly and therefore is unable to get the milk. Once the mother's milk is abundant, a baby can latch on poorly and still may get plenty of milk. By not latching on well, the baby is unable to get the mother's first milk, called colostrum. Anyone who suggests you pump your milk to know how much colostrum there is, does not understand breastfeeding, and should be politely ignored. 

4. A baby should be on the each side of the breast for a certain amount of time.

Not true! A distinction needs to be made between "being on the breast" and "breastfeeding". If a baby has latched on properly and drank sufficiently on the first breast, it is not necessary for he/she might to drink from the other side.

5. A breastfeeding baby needs extra water in hot weather.

Not true! Breastmilk contains all the water a baby needs. 

6. A mother should wash her nipples each time before feeding the baby.

Not true! Formula feeding requires careful attention to cleanliness because formula not only does not protect the baby against infection, but also is actually a good breeding ground for bacteria and can also be easily contaminated. On the other hand, breastmilk protects the baby against infection. Washing nipples before each feeding makes breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated and washes away protective oils from the nipple.

7. Pumping is a good way of knowing how much milk the mother has.

Not true! How much milk can be pumped depends on many factors, including the mother's stress level. Babies are the best pump!

8. Breastfeeding ties the mother down.

Not true! A baby can be nursed anywhere, anytime, and thus breastfeeding is liberating for the mother. No need to drag around bottles or formula. No need to worry about where to warm up the milk. No need to worry about sterility. No need to worry about how your baby is, because he is with you.

9. There is no way to know how much breastmilk the baby is getting.

Not true! There are ways to measure if your baby is getting enough such as urine output and colour, stool consistency, weight gain and many more.

10. Modern formulas are almost the same as breastmilk.

Not true! There is no duplicate for God’s natural gift for babies.

11. If the mother has an infection she should stop breastfeeding.

Not true! The baby's best protection against getting the infection is for the mother to continue breastfeeding. If the baby does get sick, he will be less sick if the mother continues breastfeeding. Besides, maybe it was the baby who gave the infection to the mother, but the baby did not show signs of illness because he was breastfeeding. Also, breast infections, including breast abscess, though painful, are not reasons to stop breastfeeding. Indeed, the infection is likely to settle more quickly if the mother continues breastfeeding on the affected side. 

12. If the baby has diarrhea or vomiting, the mother should stop breastfeeding.

Not true! The best medicine for a baby's gut infection is breastfeeding. Stop other foods for a short time, but continue breastfeeding. Breastmilk is the only fluid your baby requires when he has diarrhea and/or vomiting, except under exceptional circumstances. The push to use "oral rehydrating solutions" is mainly a push by the formula (and oral rehydrating solutions) manufacturers to make even more money. The baby is comforted by the breastfeeding, and the mother is comforted by the baby's breastfeeding. 

13. If the mother is taking medicine she should not breastfeed.

Not true! There are very few medicines that a mother cannot take safely while breastfeeding. 

14. A breastfeeding mother has to be obsessive about what she eats.

Not true! A breastfeeding mother should try to eat a balanced diet, but neither needs to eat any special foods nor avoid certain foods. A breastfeeding mother does not need to drink milk in order to make milk. A breastfeeding mother does not need to avoid spicy food.

15. A breastfeeding mother has to eat more in order to make enough milk.

Not true! It is commonly said that women need to eat 500 extra calories a day in order to breastfeed. This is not true. Some women do eat more when they breastfeed, but others do not, and some even eat less, without any harm done to the mother or baby or the milk supply. The mother should eat a balanced diet dictated by her appetite. Rules about eating just make breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated.

16. A breastfeeding mother has to drink lots of fluids.

Not true! The mother should drink according to her thirst. Some mothers feel they are thirsty all the time, but many others do not drink more than usual. The mother's body knows if she needs more fluids, and tells her by making her feel thirsty.

17. A mother who bleeds from her nipples should not breastfeed.

Not true! Though blood makes the baby spit up more, and the blood may even show up in his bowel movements, this is not a reason to stop breastfeeding the baby. The mother should breastfeed! If bleeding does not stop soon, the source of the problem needs to be investigated, but the mother should keep breastfeeding.

18. Premature babies need to learn to take bottles before they can start breastfeeding.

Not true! Premature babies are less stressed by breastfeeding than by bottle feeding. A baby as small as 1200 grams and even smaller can start at the breast as soon as he is stable, though he may not latch on for several weeks.

19. Babies with cleft lip and/or palate cannot breastfeed.

Not true! Some do very well. The baby's ability to breastfeed does not always seem to depend on the severity of the cleft. Breastfeeding should be started, as much as possible, using the principles of proper establishment of breastfeeding. If bottles are given, they will undermine the baby's ability to breastfeed. If the baby needs to be fed, but is not latching on, a cup can and should be used in preference to a bottle.

20. Women with small breasts produce less milk than those with large breasts. 
      Nonsense!

Breasts come in various shapes & sizes but all are made with lots of structures to produce breastmilk beneath!

21.Breastfeeding babies need other types of milk after 6 months.

Not true! Breastmilk gives the baby everything there is in other milks and more. Babies older than 6 months should be started on solids mainly so that they learn how to eat and so that they begin to get another source of iron, which by 7-9 months, is not supplied in sufficient quantities from breastmilk alone. Thus cow's milk or formula will not be necessary as long as the baby is breastfeeding.

22. Breastfeeding mothers' milk can "dry up" just like that.

Not true! Or if this can occur, it must be a rare occurrence. Stick to the rule of `Supply vs Demand’ where you should keep on breastfeeding and pumping. The more you express or breastfeed; more milk will come. 

23. Physicians and paediatricians know a lot about breastfeeding.

Not true! Obviously, there are exceptions.

24.Breastmilk given with formula may cause problems for the baby.

Not true! There is no reason that breastmilk and formula cannot be given together. 

25. There is no such thing as nipple confusion.

Not true! Babies who are bottle-fed at a very young age even before they are familiar with the breast might not want to latch on mother’s breast because the flow of the artificial nipples are much faster that natural flow from the mother’s breast. Hence, the baby has to work harder to in order to drink. Cup feeding is an alternative to avoid nipple confusion.

26.Women with flat or inverted nipples cannot breastfeed.

Not true! Babies do not breastfeed on nipples, they breastfeed on the breast. Though it may be easier for a baby to latch on to a breast with a prominent nipple, it is not necessary for nipples to stick out. Breasts change in the first few weeks, and as long as the mother maintains a good milk supply, the baby will usually latch on, sooner or later. 

Mummies with inverted or flat nipples can ease latching with this method

27. A woman who becomes pregnant must stop breastfeeding.

Not true! If the mother and child desire, breastfeeding can continue. There are women who continue nursing the older child even after delivery of the new baby. Many women do decide to stop nursing when they become pregnant because their nipples are sore, or for other reasons, but there is no rush nor medical necessity to do so. In fact, there are often good reasons to continue. The milk supply may decrease during pregnancy, but if the baby is taking other foods, this is not a problem.

28. If a mother has surgery, she has to wait a day before restarting nursing.

Not true! The mother can breastfeed immediately after surgery, as soon as she is up to it. Neither the medications used during anaesthesia, nor pain medications nor antibiotics used after surgery require the mother to avoid breastfeeding, except under exceptional circumstances.

29. A mother whose breasts do not seem full has little milk in the breast.

Not true! Breasts do not have to feel full to produce plenty of milk. It is normal that a breastfeeding woman's breasts feel less full as her body adjusts to her baby's milk intake. This can happen suddenly and may occur as early as two weeks after birth or even earlier. The breast is never "empty" and also produces milk as the baby nurses.

30. Breastfeeding in public is not decent.

Not true! Mothers have all the right to provide the best for their babies anytime, anywhere.

31. If the baby is off the breast for a few days (weeks), the mother should not restart breastfeeding because the milk sours.

Not true! The milk is as good as it ever was.

33. Breastfeeding is blamed for everything.

True! The toughest obstacle of breastfeeding is the uncooperative people that you might encounter. Stay strong, for you and the baby!

Infant Feeding Cues

Sometimes, mothers misunderstand the term `Nursing on Demand'. Even I did misunderstand it a few years back. What I understood by ` Nursing on Demand ' back then was feed the baby whenever the baby cries. This leads to a mother being stressed when attempting a baby to latch on while the baby is crying.
 Little did I know that there are so many feeding cues to show that baby is hungry and that CRYING IS THE LAST RESORT!

Below are some helpful signs to help you under stand baby's hunger cues:

 

Hope this is helpful! :-)

Breastfeeding Positions

4 tips to attain Proper Breastfeeding Positions:

1. Baby's body has to be parallel to mother's breasts
2. Baby is held close to mother
3. Baby is supported at the head, shoulders, body and buttocks.
4. Baby is in eye to eye contact with mother

There are various ways that a mother can breastfeed baby according to both mother's and baby's comfort. Below are the common recommended positions in breastfeeding.

 

That being said, babies are born with primitive reflexes & one of those said reflexes is the Moro Reflex which is normally present in all infants/newborns up to 4 or 5 months of age as a response to a sudden loss of support, when the infant feels as if it is falling. It involves three distinct components:

1. spreading out the arms (abduction)
2. unspreading the arms (adduction)
3. crying (usually)

Hence, the process of trying to position an infant in positions like "cradle hold, football clutch" (as above) might induce the Moro reflex in an infant, causing the infant to cry or show sudden signs of anxiety of which may not be helpful in latching.

I strongly recommend mothers to try this position especially in the neonatal period, while you can comfortably rest in this position and ensure positional stability for optimal latching for your infant.

Biological nurturing promotes release of primitive neonatal reflexes by maternal positioning and extended baby-holding. The mother semi-reclines back with the baby prone in close frontal apposition to her body. It is this specific position of the mother which will release the most primitive neonatal reflexes (PNR) for pre-feeding responses. Twenty PNRs for pre-feeding have been identified.

Mother and baby pairs who practice full biological nurturing positions released 15.9 PNR compared to only 11.6 PNR in the partial or non-biological nurturing pairs. Biological nurturing posture maximises the baby's sensory input and maintains positional stability as a result of the prone body position of the baby acting as a gravity pull towards the mother.

This is a natural position for mothers to assume after birth - semi-reclining with their baby on their chest. We now know that it is this position in particular which is the stimulus for baby-led latching. (which is an innate, interactive process) 

Hope this was helpful.

Correct Latching Method

Breastfeeding is a normal physiological process for babies. They possess all the neurobehavioural and psychomotor reflexes to do so by themselves. It is a learned art which develops and matures as they imprint their memory. The mother provides her body and her breasts supply the milk to nurture her baby. Hence the baby and mother are dependent on each other for the success of breastfeeding.

Righard (1998) found in their study that 94% of the mothers experiencing breastfeeding problems had incorrect positioning and latch-on.

There is a lot of emphasis on correct latch; however, achieving a good latch is absolutely dependent on baby being positioned well (in the first few months of life). In the huge majority of cases a well-latched baby and understanding the baby's "feed me" cues are all the mother has to know to breastfeed successfully.

 

Stimulate the baby by rubbing mother's nipples near baby's lips until baby's mouth is wide open. Then ensure than a big portion of the areola gets into the baby's mouth. 

Mother & baby has to be calm during moments of attempting latch on to ease success.A new mother might need adequate support and be patient enough to get hold of the proper latching methods.

However, once both mother & baby are comfortable nursing, it gets easier day by day.

Why is it important to establish a proper latching method?

1. To efficiently deliver milk to baby.

2. To prevent cracked nipples or other form of related injury.

3. To prevent inefficient delivery of milk to baby, which results in unsatisfied baby --> baby clinging to breasts --> sore/ cracked nipples --> mother stressed due to clingy baby, painful nipples, & engorged breasts (due to unefficient breast emptrying) --> less milk production (due to increase inhibitory factors & stress).

Signs of Proper Latching:

1. Baby's Mouth Wide Open

2. Baby's Lower Lip Drawn Outward

3. Baby's Chin in contact with Mother's Breast

4. A large portion of mother's areola is in baby's mouth.

5. More of mother's upper areola is visible.

Signs of Baby Efficiently Receiving Milk:

1. Baby suckling in slow and deep rhythm.

2. Audible swallowing sounds.

3. Baby's cheeks are full and round and not drawn/sunken in during feeding.

4. Baby will let go naturally when satisfied.


Can you spot the which is the proper latching method in the illustration below?

Some mothers need to, or prefer to, shape the breast slightly (eg. very large breasts, flattish nipples, very full breasts).

If this is needed, the mother's technique may involve:

• putting some pressure near to the base of the nipple, at the point where the nose is pointing, causes the nipple to tilt towards the nose. As the bottom lip is firmly planted at about the edge of the areola the finger (or thumb) that is causing the tilting can then roll the nipple so it just brushes under, or folds under baby's top lip, OR
• one finger can be placed on either side of the areola to "sandwich" the breast and tilt the nipple to touch the top lip and offer the underside of the areola onto the baby's bottom lip.