Lactation Assistance Services

It’s hard to get back in shape after baby is born but here’s a fun video that combines a breastfeeding baby with working and working out. Workout advisor, Bob Harper, shows up at a mama’s office where she works on the computer (while taking care of her breastfed 4-month old) to help her figure out how to fit exercise into her life. (”Weighted squats (baby optional)“…) Cool.

It’s sponsored by Jello and Oreos so it’s not quite perfect. Oh well. Maybe they’ll get a CSA sponsor in the future.

I hadn’t realized what breastfeeding could do for me as a mother: a study found that “women who breastfeed for more than eight weeks are more relaxed, have a higher tolerance to monotony, and score higher on a socialization index” (from Hale and Hartman, Textbook of Human Lactation, p. 150).

As a lactation consultant I’m here to help you have a good breastfeeding experience as you define it — not as I define it. So I’m interested in your story not my story. I’m here to give you the combined experience of many women and scientific research not the particulars of my own breastfeeding experience.

But that doesn’t make exciting blogging. It’s a lot more fun to read about the experience and feelings of being an individual nursing mama. Just like with talk radio, it’s a lot more entertaining to hear from the people with out-spoken opinions. So if you want to read fun blogging about breastfeeding check out The Lactivist. Jennifer Laycock mixes stories of her own breastfeeding and pumping experiences with news and advocacy. (And if you’re into funny and in-your-face breastfeeding promotion t-shirts, she’s got them for sale.)

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) isn’t just for marsupials! It is a way of caring for newborn babies that is increasingly supported by research for both full-term and premature babies.

When my nephew was born (at full term) he had a hard time maintaining his body temperature. His parents were worried that he would have to stay in the hospital longer than they had planned. They were lucky to have a doula that had heard of KMC. With her encouragement, they decided to try it. He stabilized, nursed well, and came home that day.

KMC consists of three things:

1. The baby is positioned upright, skin-to-skin on the mother’s chest.
2. Exclusive breastfeeding.
3. No or minimal separation of mother and baby — any needed care is done with mother and baby remaining in contact.

Studies have found that KMC has many benefits including

• increased rates of breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, and breastfeeding duration
• more positive feelings of mothers towards their babies
• babies have more stable heart rates, better oxygenation, better body temperature stability, and fewer signs of stress
• mothers can pump more milk even if baby can’t breastfeed yet
• mothers feel like they have an important role in taking care of their babies

When babies can stay in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers they feel more secure. KMC is an easy way for parents to help their babies adapt to life after birth.

To read more about KMC, you can visit www.kangaroomothercare.com.