Yummy Herbal Chocolate Bar Recipe For Constipation Natural Remedies For Constipation
Constipation is a common complaint amongst children and adults. OTC and Prescription constipation drugs come with lots of long term side effects. Even if your baby’s pediatrician says that Miralax is safe know that it is NOT safe and comes with lots of immediate and long term side effects so research well before taking or giving any laxatives to children.
This recipe is safe for children 6 months and up if you substitute honey with other natural sweeteners because honey is not safe for children younger than 12 months. But remember that an exclusively breastfed babies may go without passing stool for even a week sometimes and that’s totally normal unless the baby is in pain or discomfort.
Safe for pregnant and nursing Mamas too. Slippery Elm bark is safe in small quantity for pregnant Mamas.
Coconut oil, Dates, Flax Seeds and Slippery elm bark are natural laxatives which is why this recipe works so well! Magnesium in chocolate is another secret here but I do not recommend giving Raw Cacao to children everyday as it also contains caffeine. Give this at the first sign of constipation. Up to 3 bars a day not exceeding 1 oz or 30 gms.
This not only is a safe and effective herbal remedy but it also tastes yummy! After all, who can resist a bar of chocolate right?
In a double boiler gently melt the coconut oil. Skip this step if your coconut oil is already in liquid form.
Mix in all the ingredients slowly.
Once everything is mixed well pour it into a safe chocolate or candy mold.
Let it set in a refrigerator for 5-6 hours.
Remove it from the mold and store in an airtight container in a refrigerator. Remember that it has to be refrigerated otherwise your chocolate will melt as it is coconut oil based.
If you don’t have Slippery Elm Bark you can still try this recipe with other ingredients listed above as Coconut Oil and Flax are gentle laxatives too.
Other helpful tips to prevent constipation:
Drink enough fluids throughout the day especially if you are eating a fiber rich diet. If you don’t like to drink plain water then try infused water that is infused with fruits, herbs or spices.
Deep breathing helps move some energy in your digestive tract so instead of straining yourself relax and try deep breathing. Inhale at a count of 4 and exhale at a count of 8.
Include prunes, dates, peaches, papaya, plums, pineapple, figs, berries, avocado etc. in your diet to prevent constipation.
Avoid refined flour, dairy and sugar because these foods make constipation worse.
Have a Blessed Weekend
Have you joined our Facebook Group created for Holistic Mamas? If you haven't then you can join our Group right away, network with other like-minded Mamas and get all your Health and Wellness related queries answered there. Can't wait to see you there! Click here to go to the Group! <3 Your one stop online store for all your Organic Real Food Shopping! Thrive Marketoffers up to 50% off on top Organic Food and Supplement Brands. Join Thrive Market Today and Save!
Subscribe to Holistic Saffron Newsletter and Never Miss a Healthy Living Secret! Join Over 5000 Subscribers! Get This eBook for Free!
Affiliate Disclosure: Holistic Saffron is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This post may contain affiliate links and when you click on it and make a purchase you would be supporting my family
Original article and pictures take holisticsaffron.com site
Yoga for new moms can help with many of the aches and pains women can have after delivery, as they carry and breastfeed the baby. Yoga can also help alleviate stress, mild depression, fatigue and anxiety. If you’re like me and you already hold a lot of tension in between your shoulder blades, you can end up in major pain by the end of the day. A few simple yoga stretches can help you to relieve tension and keep this area pain free. The best part about them is that they can be done almost anywhere, in just a few minutes
Mountain Pose: Discovering alignment and finding the center
1. Stand with both feet touching from the heel to the big toe, keeping the back straight and the arms pressed slightly against the sides with palms facing inward.
2. Slightly tighten or flex the muscles in the knees, thighs, stomach and buttocks maintaining a firm posture. Balance you weight evenly on both feet.
3. Inhale through the nostrils and lift the buttocks off the legs arching the back and thrusting the abdomen forward and tilt the head as far back as possible.
Bridge Pose: Actively opening the chest
1. Lie supine on the floor, and if necessary, place a thickly folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck. Bend your knees and set your feet on the floor, heels as close to the sitting bones as possible
2. Exhale and, pressing your inner feet and arms actively into the floor, push your tailbone upward toward the pubis, firming (but not hardening) the buttocks, and lift the buttocks off the floor. Keep your thighs and inner feet parallel. Clasp the hands below your pelvis and extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders.
3. Lift your buttocks until the thighs are about parallel to the floor. Keep your knees directly over the heels, but push them forward, away from the hips, and lengthen the tailbone toward the backs of the knees. Lift the pubis toward the navel.
4. Lift your chin slightly away from the sternum and, firming the shoulder blades against your back, press the top of the sternum toward the chin. Firm the outer arms, broaden the shoulder blades, and try to lift the space between them at the base of the neck (where it’s resting on the blanket) up into the torso.
5. Stay in the pose anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute. Release with an exhalation, rolling the spine slowly down onto the floor.
Child’s Pose: Resting the upper back and releasing the neck
1. Kneel on the floor. Touch your big toes together and sit on your heels, then separate your knees about as wide as your hips.
2. Exhale and lay your torso down between your thighs. Broaden your sacrum across the back of your pelvis and narrow your hip points toward the navel, so that they nestle down onto the inner thighs. Lengthen your tailbone away from the back of the pelvis while you lift the base of your skull away from the back of your neck.
3. Lay your hands on the floor alongside your torso, palms up, and release the fronts of your shoulders toward the floor. Feel how the weight of the front shoulders pulls the shoulder blades wide across your back.
4. Child’s Pose is a resting pose. Stay anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes. Beginners can also use Balasana to get a taste of a deep forward bend, where the torso rests on the thighs. Stay in the pose from 1 to 3 minutes. To come up, first lengthen the front torso, and then with an inhalation lift from the tailbone as it presses down and into the pelvis.
Downward Facing Dog: Deeply stretching the back, shoulders, and legs
1. Come onto the floor on your hands and knees. Set your knees directly below your hips and your hands slightly forward of your shoulders. Spread your palms, index fingers parallel or slightly turned out, and turn your toes under.
2. Exhale and lift your knees away from the floor. At first keep the knees slightly bent and the heels lifted away from the floor. Lengthen your tailbone away from the back of your pelvis and press it lightly toward the pubis. Against this resistance, lift the sitting bones toward the ceiling, and from your inner ankles draw the inner legs up into the groins.
3. Then with an exhalation, push your top thighs back and stretch your heels onto or down toward the floor. Straighten your knees but be sure not to lock them. Firm the outer thighs and roll the upper thighs inward slightly. Narrow the front of the pelvis.
4. Firm the outer arms and press the bases of the index fingers actively into the floor. From these two points lift along your inner arms from the wrists to the tops of the shoulders. Firm your shoulder blades against your back, then widen them and draw them toward the tailbone. Keep the head between the upper arms; don’t let it hang.
5. Adho Mukha Svanasana is one of the poses in the traditional Sun Salutation sequence. It’s also an excellent yoga asana all on its own. Stay in this pose anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes. Then bend your knees to the floor with an exhalation and rest in Child’s Pose.
Legs Up The Wall : Inverting the blood flow and calming the mind
1. Before performing the pose, determine two things about your support: its height and its distance from the wall. If you’re stiffer, the support should be lower and placed farther from the wall; if you’re more flexible, use a higher support that is closer to the wall. Your distance from the wall also depends on your height: if you’re shorter move closer to the wall, if taller move farther from the wall. Experiment with the position of your support until you find the placement that works for you.
2. Start with your support about 5 to 6 inches away from the wall. Sit sideways on right end of the support, with your right side against the wall (left-handers can substitute “left” for “right” in these instructions). Exhale and, with one smooth movement, swing your legs up onto the wall and your shoulders and head lightly down onto the floor. The first few times you do this, you may ignominiously slide off the support and plop down with your buttocks on the floor. Don’t get discouraged. Try lowering the support and/or moving it slightly further off the wall until you gain some facility with this movement, then move back closer to the wall.
3. Your sitting bones don’t need to be right against the wall, but they should be “dripping” down into the space between the support and the wall. Check that the front of your torso gently arches from the pubis to the top of the shoulders. If the front of your torso seems flat, then you’ve probably slipped a bit off the support. Bend your knees, press your feet into the wall and lift your pelvis off the support a few inches, tuck the support a little higher up under your pelvis, then lower your pelvis onto the support again.
4. Lift and release the base of your skull away from the back of your neck and soften your throat. Don’t push your chin against your sternum; instead let your sternum lift toward the chin. Take a small roll (made from a towel for example) under your neck if the cervical spine feels flat. Open your shoulder blades away from the spine and release your hands and arms out to your sides, palms up
5. Keep your legs relatively firm, just enough to hold them vertically in place. Release the heads of the thigh bones and the weight of your belly deeply into your torso, toward the back of the pelvis. Soften your eyes and turn them down to look into your heart.
6. Stay in this pose anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. Be sure not to twist off the support when coming out. Instead, slide off the support onto the floor before turning to the side. You can also bend your knees and push your feet against the wall to lift your pelvis off the support. Then slide the support to one side, lower your pelvis to the floor, and turn to the side. Stay on your side for a few breaths, and come up to sitting with an exhalation.
Corpse Pose: Relaxing completely
1. In Savasana it’s essential that the body be placed in a neutral position. Sit on the floor with your knees bent, feet on the floor, and lean back onto your forearms. Lift your pelvis slightly off the floor and, with your hands, push the back of the pelvis toward the tailbone, then return the pelvis to the floor. Inhale and slowly extend the right leg, then the left, pushing through the heels. Release both legs, softening the groins, and see that the legs are angled evenly relative to the mid-line of the torso, and that the feet turn out equally. Narrow the front pelvis and soften (but don’t flatten) the lower back.
2. With your hands lift the base of the skull away from the back of the neck and release the back of the neck down toward the tailbone. If you have any difficulty doing this, support the back of the head and neck on a folded blanket. Broaden the base of the skull too, and lift the crease of the neck diagonally into the center of the head. Make sure your ears are equidistant from your shoulders.
3. Reach your arms toward the ceiling, perpendicular to the floor. Rock slightly from side to side and broaden the back ribs and the shoulder blades away from the spine. Then release the arms to the floor, angled evenly relative to the mid-line of torso. Turn the arms outward and stretch them away from the space between the shoulder blades. Rest the backs of the hands on the floor as close as you comfortably can to the index finger knuckles. Make sure the shoulder blades are resting evenly on the floor. Imagine the lower tips of the shoulder blades are lifting diagonally into your back toward the top of the sternum. From here, spread the collarbones.
4. In addition to quieting the physical body in Savasana, it’s also necessary to pacify the sense organs. Soften the root of the tongue, the wings of the nose, the channels of the inner ears, and the skin of the forehead, especially around the bridge of the nose between the eyebrows. Let the eyes sink to the back of the head, then turn them downward to gaze at the heart. Release your brain to the back of the head.
5. Stay in this pose for 5 minutes for every 30 minutes of practice. To exit, first roll gently with an exhalation onto one side, preferably the right. Take 2 or 3 breaths. With another exhalation press your hands against the floor and lift your torso, dragging your head slowly after. The head should always come up last.
What poses do you find help you relax? Share them in the comments below, and don’t forget to pin this page for later
Original article and pictures take www.modernhousewife.ca site
Breastfeeding is a natural occurrence in human infants and not something to be so fearful of. Just remember:
1 – Just like every person is different, every baby is different. They’ll have their own preferences, needs, etc., so the “right” way to breastfeed is what works for you AND your baby–not just you and not just your baby. It is a relationship, after all!
2 – Breast milk is the result of millions of years of evolution. Modern humans have been around for over 200,000 years. With 7 billion people now on the planet, it’s safe to say that breastfeeding has been tried, tested, and proven to work effectively at nourishing and growing little humans. Nothing works better.
Now for those wacky myths and all that other breastfeeding advice. Today’s roundup of posts will share and correct some of these myths and set the record straight.
Wacky myths and breastfeeding advice
This post has 5 myths to dispel. Hey, is your milk “fatty” enough?
Is stress drying up your milk?
Does it really take 4-6 weeks before this goes well?
The video above makes an excellent point. Every nursing mom has breastfeeding advice, but what’s true for them doesn’t have to be true for you! If you’re hearing horror stories (crackled nipples, swollen breasts, etc.) know that not all those things will happen to you.
Because every mother-baby pair is unique with different challenges specific to their relationship, the best thing you can do if you have breastfeeding questions is reach out to a lactation consultant (or several!).
Check out the Breastfeeding Overview WebMD for information on breastfeeding and the benefits for both mother and baby.
Original article and pictures take www.babycaremag.com site
This post is part of the Breast-Kept Secrets: Breastfeeding Advice from One Mom to Another series. Go back and read all posts here.
Before my first child was born, I learned all I could about nursing my baby. My expectation was set for an amazing bonding experience with just a little bit of adjustment to the “discomfort” of the first few days of breastfeeding.
It was nothing like I was promised.
My little guy’s birth was somewhat difficult and he began his life outside the womb in the care of NICU nurses because he was not breathing. It was a confusing and disorienting few minutes for me as a first-time mom and I wasn’t sure what to expect next.
He was sweet and quiet, his bright blue eyes taking in everything around him. When we began nursing he had no issues latching or eating for long periods of time. I decided to use a method of feeding where we let him nurse with no routine for the first 10 days but simply worked to get full feedings. After about 2 weeks, he naturally transitioned to eating about every 2 to 2 ½ hours and my milk supply was excellent.
It was at that point that I threatened to call it quits.
Why? The physical pain I experienced in breastfeeding. It was excruciating, causing me to dig my nails into my loving and accommodating husband’s arm for the first few minutes of each nursing session. There was no “uncomfortable tugging.” Oh, no. It was full-on, scream-inducing agony.
Not only was I sore, I was bleeding and cracking like crazy and so engorged that my body was undergoing a constant rush of high heat. Every nursing session that approached filled me with dread. No amount of pure lanolin, cabbage leaves or any other natural remedy I tried gave me relief.
When I first spoke to the lactation consultant on the phone, she thought I must be doing something incorrectly if I was having so much trouble. She was quite surprised after meeting with me to discover that I wasn’t doing anything wrong, as far as she could tell. I had done my research and tried every method in the book to relieve my physical anguish and so far nothing had helped.
So what did help? Mostly it was time. Allowing myself to cry through the pain. Some grit and determination was also involved as was the comfort of having a husband beside me to talk me through the most difficult moments. The peace of God that transcends understanding eventually worked its way in and talked me out of quitting. It was another situation for me to learn to let go of control and trust the Lord.
We worked and worked toward the goal of a better nursing experience. And after about four months, as things slowly improved, I was able to nurse without being afraid and wishing it would just be over. It finally became a time of closeness with my little boy.
I truly want you to be encouraged that breastfeeding is worth it, whether your experience is as bad as mine or better. Yes, there are women who can’t do it. Do not allow yourself or others to make you feel like a failure if you bottle feed your baby. But if you desire to press on, I’d encourage you to persevere as long as you are able because our bodies do produce the perfect food for our babies!
Whether you’re struggling with milk supply, latching issues, extreme pain and engorgement or other stressors, there are resources and helpful people who can advise you or simply be a shoulder to cry on when you are in need. And if you are a Christian, strengthen your prayer life! Take your cares and concerns to the Lord, casting all your anxiety on Him, claiming Scriptures that say you can trust Him.
Even an incredibly difficult experience at the beginning does not mean that you are doing something wrong or are not meant to breastfeed. Sometimes the textbook solutions don’t work and you may need to get creative and figure out what works for you.
Maybe it’s switching up your positions and stocking up on a store’s worth of lanolin for relief. Perhaps it’s a certain tea, supplement or relaxation method that helps your supply. It could be that consulting a lactation consultant gives you a calming reassurance and shows you if there is indeed something that can be corrected. Or maybe it will just take time, like it did for me. In the meantime, don’t let the criticisms of others destroy your spirit.
Now that our family has grown to three children (with baby number four arriving in October), I am thankful that my nursing experience has been a bit easier each time. There has been less of an adjustment period with each child and I have made it a point to remind myself that the ways I cope and work through the difficult moments will eventually bring me through to a precious bonding time with my babies.
Have you ever faced challenges that seemed insurmountable? How did God help you to persevere?
Why Breastfeeding Moms Shouldn’t Use Lanolin – And What You Should Use Instead
This post about the safety of lanolin was written while serving as a paid brand ambassador for Earth Mama Angel Baby. All opinions are mine.
When I was pregnant for the first time and learning about breastfeeding, I remember being told that lanolin was an absolute must have for all breastfeeding mamas. So like the good mama I planned to be, I stocked up so that I'd have it on hand when the baby was born.
I used it religiously to try and heal my sore, cracked nipples, but it never did seem to do the trick. In fact, I ended up having to use polysporin to heal the cracks as they were starting to get infected. No matter how often I used lanolin, things just kept getting worse. I assumed I just had bad luck.
Kaylee was born in Uruguay, and I searched everywhere to find lanolin while I was pregnant with her to no avail. I learned that lanolin isn't used for breastfeeding there, and was directed to a pink tube of calendula cream. At the time, I thought it was so bizarre, but researched what calendula cream was. I was astounded that it wasn't used in the US as it's natural and much safer for baby. I also quickly learned it worked much better than lanolin ever did for me.
Only recently did I learn what a poor choice lanolin is for breastfeeding – or for any skincare use for that matter.
The Problems with Lanolin
First, let's talk about what lanolin is. Lanolin is a by-product extracted from the sebum (oil) on sheep's wool after it's sheared. That sounds like it's super natural and should be safe, right? That's what I used to think.
One of the problems is that sheep are commonly treated with pesticides and insecticides because they're susceptible to pests. A Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry study published in September 1992 discovered lanolin samples they tested contained several types of pesticide residues. Some of the types of pesticides they found can accumulate in breast milk.
Lanolin can also cause allergic reactions and even poisoning if too much is ingested. For me, it's scary to think I was rubbing a pesticide laden ointment onto my breasts and then feeding my baby believing it was safe for her to ingest, when in reality it isn't.
Not only is it not safe but, as I mentioned previously, it didn't even work for me. There are some studies that have shown it is no more effective than leaving the breasts alone or rubbing expressed milk or olive oil on them. Another study showed the application of lanolin might even extend the healing time.
So you might be sitting there thinking, “Great, what am I supposed to use now?” I know that's what I would have been thinking when I was using it!
What to Use Instead of Lanolin
There is one product I highly recommend: Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter. It is the only Non-GMO Project Verified nipple butter and is Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.
The ingredients have lots of nourishing and healing properties:
You don't have to remove it before breastfeeding because the ingredients are so safe and natural. It's rated a 0 in the EWG database – a huge plus for me!
The consistency is very nice too. It's not greasy and absorbs well, but is very moisturizing and nourishing to the skin.
And if you are afraid you'd never use a whole tin breastfeeding, it has a variety of alternative uses too!
Breast pump lube
Cover and protect scrapes and abrasions
Chapped lips, nose and cheeks
Dry cuticles
Minor rashes
Backup diaper cream
I have even put it on the eczema on my hands and it feels very nice. I wish I would have known about Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter when I was breastfeeding.
We, nursing mothers of this generation are lucky to have so many options on breast pumps these days.
However, too many options can be confusing particularly for the first time mom and can lead to frustration.
The goal here is to help shortlist some of the best breast pumps available according to budget and nursing needs so that you can make the right choice with your (first) breast pump purchase.
Do I Need A Breast Pump At All?
If you are going to bottle feed or are a full-time stay-at-home mom, you will not need a breast pump at all.
If you are a stay-at-home mom who would like to leave the baby with another caretaker occasionally, you might need a pump.
If you are a working mom, a mom who travels without baby often, or a mom of a premature baby, you will definitely need a breast pump if you are going to try to give breast milk as much as possible.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Breast Pump
Most breast pumps cost enough that the purchase shouldn’t be made without a little bit of thought going into it first.
Recommendations from friends, family and baby and parenting magazines are great, but different pumps meet different needs.
Here are some tips to choose the right pump for you:
How often will you be using your pump? Women who are going to pump only occasionally may only need to purchase an inexpensive hand pump, while women who will be returning to work soon after giving birth will probably need an hospital grade, electric, double-pump to be successful at pumping.
How portable do you need it to be? If you will be using it at work or on your morning commute, you will need something lightweight and portable, while a large bulky model might be fine for something that stays at home or at the office all of the time.
How much time will you have for pumping sessions? If you will be pumping at home, it might be okay to get a single pump, but for very efficient and quick pumping you will need a double pump with strong suction.
What power sources will you have available? Some pumps are battery powered, while others have an ac adapter. For some models, car adapters are also available for purchase. Factor this in when assessing different pumps.
What size breast shield will you need? Most models come with a standard size breast shield. However, many models carry different sizes that can be ordered separately. If you have large breasts or small breasts, make sure that the model you choose has a wide variety of sizes that can be ordered if the standard size is not a good fit for you.
How much can you spend? Find the right pump in the right price range is key. You don’t want to spend a lot for something you may use for a short time period. However, in this case, price often equals quality and if you are planning to use it for six months or more, you don’t want to skimp on an ineffective product. Remember, you can’t return breast pumps.
Do your research! A breast pump can make or break breastfeeding success for a nursing mom. Make sure your pump meets all of your needs, is easy to use and fits your budget. It beats having to buy more than one!
Best Pumps For Occasional Pumping
The best pumps for occasional use are manual pumps. They are lightweight, inexpensive, highly portable, and have no need for electricity.
They are, however, less efficient than electric pumps, so pumping with a manual pump can be a timely process.
If you only pump once in a while to get some time away from the baby, than this is probably a great option for you.
It is best to look for pumps with adjustable pressure settings and milk storage supplies that are compatible with the type of pump you are using. Pumps in this category are usually priced at less than $50.
When I say for everyday use, I do not mean for all-day use.
The pumps in this category are mostly single-side electric pumps that are good options for moms needing to pump once or twice a day because they work part-time, are in school or just need to be away from baby on a part-time basis.
These pumps are usually portable, lightweight, affordable and convenient to use. They generally are priced between $100 to $200.
By and large, all Medela and Philips Avent products have the most flexibility and variability when it comes to accommodating women with small breasts or nipples and large breasts or nipples. Stick with one of these brands if you foresee this being a potential issue for you.
Make pumping routine. Try to pump in the same place at the same times each day. Get everything ready and use the same relaxation techniques each time.
Massage your breasts before pumping. Some massage before pumping can stimulate your milk and clear clogged ducts.
Stay hydrated. Drink a glass of water before pumping and one while pumping.
Use visualization or relaxation techniques. This will allow your letdown to come faster and get things started more efficiently.
Try to use sound to relax. Whether it is the sound of rain or your child’s voice, use sound to help you relax and flow better.
Remind yourself of your baby. Tape a picture of your little one to your pump, keep a piece of his clothing or her blanket nearby or if your pump has sound recording capabilities, record and listen to his cries and coos as you pump. Thinking of your child will help your flow.
Adjust suction and speed settings for comfort. If you are pumping a lot and your nipples are getting sore, adjust the settings from time to time for greater comfort.
Pump as often as you would nurse. Pump every 2-3 hours, including at night if your baby is sleeping through the night. Nurse as often as you can when at home to keep up supply. Pump in the early morning when you will get a high yield.
Make sure your pump is regularly maintained. Poor maintenance can affect function and yield. If you are not getting good results, try another pump.
Pump on one breast while nursing on the other when at all possible. Double pump when it is not possible to pump and nurse.
DO YOU KNOW?Under the Affordable Care Act, your Health Insurance Plans must provide breastfeeding support, counseling, and equipment coverage such as the rental or cost of a new breast pump without copays for the duration of breastfeeding (before and after you have your baby). Talk to your doctor or contact your insurance company for more information about your breastfeeding benefits.
Videos: Breastfeeding And Pumping For New Moms
I sincerely hope the reviews provided here has been helpful in giving you the information you need to choose the best breast pump for you and your baby. Happy shopping!
Original article and pictures take www.mommyedition.com site
What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About Breastfeeding
I didn’t ask nearly enough questions about breastfeeding before my baby was born.
I assumed that since breastfeeding was natural, it would be easy. I couldn’t have been more wrong…
Breastfeeding is tough, painful (sometimes excruciatingly so), and often discouraging. However, it does get better once you make it past those brutal first few weeks. And sticking it out was the best decision I could have made.
Unfortunately, I see so many women get down on themselves and throw in the towel early. Often they carry guilt about “quitting,” wishing they had been able to breastfeed to whatever their original goal had been.
Before I go on, I just want to clarify that the purpose of this post is not to bash formula moms.
I’ll never know what it’s like to be in someone else’s place, so I’m not going to judge them for their decision on how and what to feed their baby.
However, since I breastfed my baby for over two years, I’m asked a lot of questions: what’s my “secret,” and what it “should” be like.
I wanted to share what I learned through months of trial and error in hopes that I can help others get the answers they didn’t know they needed before their baby arrived.
How I “Learned” to Breastfeed
First of all, I don’t think there’s truly a “right” way to breastfeed that works for everyone. It’s all about learning what works for you and your baby, and that takes time and practice.
In those early days, I had no clue what I was doing (and half the time no clue what was going on at all due to my post-surgery meds). I merely stared as the hospital’s lactation consultant pinched and shoved my breast in my baby’s mouth. That was about as comfortable as it sounds.
Throughout the next few weeks I suffered through upwards of twelve nursing sessions every day that sometimes stretched on for an hour at a time. My baby seemed insatiable, and to top it off, she often clawed at me, writhed in my arms, and screamed between gulps. My nipples were cracked and bleeding and she didn’t even seem to appreciate it!
Surely this wasn’t ok, this couldn’t be normal. Breastfeeding was supposed to be this wonderful bonding experience — it wasn’t supposed to HURT! Was I doing it wrong? Was my baby getting enough to eat? Surely she had to be, since she was on my boob literally twelve hours a day, but I did have one doctor suggest that I supplement. My gut said no, and I pressed on, determined to make it work.
My mom suggested I reach out to one of my cousins for advice. I was a little nervous and ashamed to ask for help — I seemed to be failing big time and who wants to admit that? To my surprise, my cousin commiserated with my pain, and encouraged me to hang in there. She assured me that my body would get used to it, my baby would get better at it, and it wouldn’t hurt forever.
She was right. It took about three months, but one day I realized that it wasn’t painful anymore, at all. In fact, I kind of enjoyed nursing.
My baby was growing and thriving, and amazingly, she was a big baby (consistently 70th percentile). That was a surprise, as both my husband and I are on the small side. My body alone was nourishing this little being, and was actually doing a darn good job at it! I was amazed and proud at the same time.
Pumping isn’t much fun, but it is do-able
Going back to work brought a new challenge: the dreaded pumping sessions. Twice a day I retreated to the third-floor (and not accessible to the public) bathroom where my supervisor had fixed up the handicapped stall for me with an armchair, table, and extension cord. The cleaning crew thoughtfully mopped almost every day, even though I was the only one using it.
Pumping took at least twenty minutes and was mind-numbingly boring. I would stay until I had replaced what I knew my baby was drinking while I was away.
Sometimes when I arrived home, to my despair, the baby had been extra hungry and dipped into a third bottle. I then felt obligated to squeeze in a pump before bed to “catch up.” Every night I had to wash and sterilize all the pump parts and pack my bag for work the next morning. (I definitely recommend getting a spare set of parts— this is the set I bought to go with my Medela Pump-in-Style Advanced).
And so the cycle repeated until I left that job. It was an occasion worth celebrating when I putaway my pump for the last time.
Doctors don’t volunteer much information on breastfeeding—their primary goal is to get the baby out. From what I can tell, a lot of women are either too scared to ask or like me assume it will all be instinct. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a lactation consultant until she stopped by to check on me a few hours after birth (thank goodness!)
Since I get asked, what’s my “secret,” I wanted to share a few things that I learned the hard way. Knowing these from the start would have eased my worries and let me know that I was doing ok. Hopefully they will help you too!
5 “Secrets” I had known about breastfeeding before my baby was born:
Newborn stomachs are tiny, maybe they size of a marble, so it doesn’t take much milk to fill them up at this point (the “magic number” of 4 ounces doesn’t apply until much later.) However, new babies aren’t very efficient and can take thirty minutes to an hour to get those few drops out. That could understandably be frustrating, so don’t think you’re doing something wrong if your baby cries— a lot.
Breast milk digests quickly, so when your baby cries an hour after you last fed them, they ARE hungry. This doesn’t mean that you’re not making enough milk, it just means that they’ve already used up the milk in their tummy and need more. Your baby will nurse at least 8-12 times a day (and night) at first. If your baby is making lots of pee diapers then they are getting plenty to eat.
Breastfeeding can be painful, very much so, for the first few weeks. Remember, you have a ravenous little person sucking on a very sensitive area for hours upon hours a day. Lanolin is your friend—apply liberally after every session. It can stain, so wear loose clothes (and nothing expensive…just in case you were thinking about dressing up…ha!)
You will have people suggest supplementing with formula. Remember that this is their opinion, and even a doctor is not necessarily an expert on breastfeeding. It is ultimately your choice, so don’t let anyone pressure you either way. When in doubt, look up a lactation consultant in your area. They can show you techniques that might help or reassure you that you’re doing just fine. It is worth the expense if it brings you peace of mind, and some insurances may cover the service.
It will get better! It doesn’t seem possible—I didn’t believe it either, but breastfeeding DOES get easier, in fact, it can become enjoyable. My baby looks forward to nothing more than mommy’s milk, and I treasure these precious moments where she needs only me. I know that it will all be over too soon and I’ll probably miss it.
You’ve GOT this mama!
I won’t kid you by saying it will be easy or that you will love it right away, but if breastfeeding is important to you, then you CAN do it. I’m so glad I stuck it out, through all the pain, exhaustion, and tears—though I definitely don’t miss those early struggles!
If you’re worried or feeling discouraged, there are lots of great resources available— two of the most well-known and respected are La Leche League International and Kelly Mom. La Leche League publishes a guide called The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and it is an excellent book on the subject.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask family and friends for help or advice! We’ve all been there, and all have different experiences to share. Sometimes it helps just to simply hear that someone else has gone through the same thing.
Whatever the outcome may be for you, whether your breastfeed for over a year or stop after 3 months (I’ve known friends who’ve done both), remember that you have accomplished a great thing. It’s no small feat to bring a baby into this world and it is equally amazing to provide (for any length of time) this perfect food your body created especially for them.
Please feel welcome to share your breastfeeding stories, advice, and encouragement in the comments below. Your words could help other mamas! You are also more than welcome to email me with any questions, as I’m happy to answer from my experience.
My Breastfeeding Essentials
These are some of the items that helped me reach my breastfeeding goals. Most of them are simple and inexpensive, but made my life so much easier!
A good nursing bra (This one is so comfortable and even after over a year of use still is in amazing shape!)
Steam Bags which allow you to quickly & easily sterilize pump & bottle parts and even pacifiers in the microwave (these were a lifesaver when I was working and pumping to keep breastfeeding!)
