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 I don't know everything when it comes to
breastfeeding, but I do have some unique information based on my personal
experiences. I planned to breastfeed my son, but did not plan on having a high
needs baby. I didn't even know there was a name for his behavior until much,
much later. So even though I had the best of intentions, I did not know how to
handle this difficult baby and how he made me feel. The biggest problem was that
I didn't know why my baby was crying and constantly wondered if it was my milk
or something else. And if it was something else, what was it?!
After two weeks of trying to nurse my son, I gave
up, and pumped milk for the next two months, supplementing his formula. After
that, he was on formula exclusively, which I hope to NEVER have to do again. All
those bottles were such a pain, and I know that formula was not the best thing
for my son and that was very hard.
But what went wrong?
Breastfeeding Support
The most important thing I can
tell new parents about breastfeeding a high needs baby, or any baby having
difficulties nursing, is that it requires LOTS of support. If a new mommy is
struggling, the last thing she wants to hear is that, "formula isn't so bad,"
or, "if it's easier, let's just give him a bottle..." She needs encouragement,
sleep, meals cooked for her, sleep, foot rubs, sleep, and lots of love, not to
mention sleep. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I told my husband, "No
matter what happens, I am relying on you to help me nurse this baby. Don't let
me use formula if it's easier. Do everything else that possibly needs to be done
in the house so that I can work on my nursing relationship with our baby. I am
depending on you to encourage me no matter how much I may want to quit."
Luckily, it was much easier with my daughter, but I felt very comfortable that I
would have the support I needed if we had problems. It still wasn't easy, but
once the first four weeks or so went by, it got easier and easier, especially
because she was sleeping so well and I was getting more rest.
Breastfeeding Is NOT Always
Easy
That is the second thing I
like to tell new mommies. It isn't always easy. With my son, I kept thinking I
was doing it wrong, because the class I had taken made it seem natural, easy,
and painless. I didn't learn until after I had weaned him that it CAN be
painful, and usually is, to an extent. It is not excruciating, but it can be
uncomfortable until your body gets used to having somebody sucking on it 8 hours
a day!
If you do feel excruciating
pain, there could be something wrong. There are a number of places to call or
contact if you have problems. If it is during normal office hours you can try
your midwife or doctor, or even your local La Leche League. They will be able to
tell you what the problem might be, and remedies to fix it.
Breastfeeding Problems
Blocked Ducts and
Mastitis
 I suffered from mastitis (a breast infection) with my son,
and it was very bad. The breast pain was nothing compared to the way my body
felt. I had a fever of 103, chills, and could not sit up because I was so exhausted.
Mastitis can develop from a number of things, usually from having a blocked milk
duct that gets infected. A blocked milk duct can be described as a localized
ache in the breast. To prevent or relieve them, nurse often, use different
positions, and if necessary, use warm compresses before you nurse or pump.
Because my daughter slept for such long stretches, when I felt a blocked duct
coming on, I would pump while she was sleeping and store the milk for later. To
help relieve the duct, I would massage the painful spot while I pumped and
usually it was gone within hours.
Engorgement
One thing almost every
nursing mom experiences is engorgement. This is where either the milk supply has
finally come in, or baby has slept a long stretch and a feeding was skipped.
Engorgement is characterized by hard, plump breasts that are somewhat painful.
They can be relieved by taking a warm shower and hand expressing a little milk.
Cabbage leaves also help. Try applying chilled cabbage leaves for 15 minutes,
but be very aware that relying on this or using this technique too often will
lead to diminished milk supply. You can also pump a little bit before the baby
nurses. It is harder for the baby to latch on to an engorged breast. By
following some of these steps, not only will you be more comfortable, your baby
will not become frustrated and will be able to latch on like she normally would.
Thrush
Something I was terrified to get was thrush,
which is a yeast infection. It is very difficult to get rid of and painful as
well. It can be easily diagnosed by a phone consult, and your doctor or midwife
can give you something to help it go away. Symptoms include cracked, swollen or
red nipples and possibly itching, flaking, or a burning sensation of the
nipples. The baby's mouth may have white patches on the tongue, cheeks, insides
of the lips, or gums.
Cracked Nipples
Something that lots of
breastfeeding moms suffer is cracked nipples. Breastfeeding properly will help
prevent cracked nipples, but just one improper feeding can lead to an awful
disaster. Once they are cracked, you have to pamper them in order for them to
heal. The best thing to do is rub in some expressed milk after baby nurses, and
let as much air to your breasts as possible. If you are wearing a button down
shirt, leave it open. Wear cotton shirts or night clothes. Naked is best,
especially once you realize that a shirt rubbing on cracked nipples can be
excruciating. My solution to this was wearing my bra, but unhooking the shells
so that they were open, but covering my nipples and protecting them from a shirt
rubbing back and forth on them. If they don't seem to heal, try lanolin by Lansinoh. It goes a long way, and can be used later for diaper rashes if
necessary.
Baby Allergies
 Sometimes,
babies don't respond very well to our breast milk and you may see reactions such
as general fussiness, eczema, runny nose, and even bloody diapers. All of these
are signs of allergies. BUT, don't worry! Your baby is not allergic to your
breast milk, but to something that you are eating. The usual culprit is dairy,
but it really can be anything. Cybele Pascal, author of
The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook, was not sure what was wrong with her baby,
but after trial and error, soon found out that he was allergic to a LOT of
stuff. Her second son, Montgomery, faired no better. But lucky for them, their
Mama was an expert at cooking and proved to do just as well with limited
allowable foods! She shares her recipes with the world in her book, including
200 recipes which eliminates the top eight food allergens as identified by the
FDA. These include milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and
shellfish. If you suspect that your baby has similar allergies, you should
definitely get her book. We love the recipes and it has something for everyone,
no matter what cuisine you prefer!
Milk Production
There are lots of other things that can go wrong
with breastfeeding, including milk production, and failure to thrive. You would
assume that if you had plenty of milk your baby would grow, but it's also
important that your baby get the right kinds of milk- both foremilk and hind milk.
If your baby doesn't seem to be gaining weight, what do you do? If you are
certain that you have enough milk, the best thing to do is get a baby scale and
weigh her before and after feedings. This way you will know how much she is
getting. It is hard to realize how much your baby is getting when you can't
count down the ounces like you can with a bottle. We usually know they are
getting enough because they are able to sleep after nursing (they don't seem
hungry), and they gain weight. If you determine that she is getting enough milk,
is she getting the hind milk? There are three basic "kinds" of breast milk:
-
Colostrum
is the yellowish breast milk that is produced in the first few days after
baby's birth and before normal lactation begins. Colostrum is especially
rich in nutrients and antibodies, and is the perfect food for a newborn
baby. Even if you have decided to use formula rather than breast milk, you
may wish to breastfeed your newborn for at least a few days after birth, so
that he or she can receive the antibody protection and nutritional benefits
offered by colostrum.
-
Foremilk
is the milk which is first drawn during a feeding. It is generally thin and
lower in fat content, satisfying the baby's thirst and liquid needs.
-
Hindmilk is the milk
which follows foremilk during a feeding. It is richer in fat content and is
high in calories. The high fat and calorie content of this milk is important
for your baby's health and continuing growth. Make sure to let your baby
drain one breast before moving on to the other, to ensure that she receives
all the benefits of both foremilk and hindmilk. The hindmilk is important not only
for weight gain, but for brain development as well. Babies need fat for so many
bodily functions, but especially for the brain.
The Breastfeeding Mom
 This leads us to you and how you
are taking care of yourself. Let's face it, right after having a baby is the
last time we want to cook healthy meals that will benefit our baby the most. Nor
do we want to drink gallons of water. But even though you've delivered your
baby, you still need to watch what you eat if you are breastfeeding him. You may
also find, quite by accident, foods that will upset your little one that can
include chocolate; spices (cinnamon, garlic, curry, chili pepper); citrus fruits
and their juices, like orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit (also including
strawberry, kiwi, and pineapple); the gassy veggies (onion, cabbage, garlic,
cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, and peppers); and fruits with a laxative
effect, such as cherries and prunes. Another big one is dairy. I've known a few
moms who had to quit dairy while nursing their babies, and they later turned out
to have dairy allergies. You may have no problems with foods on this list and
may even find that there are others that your baby has trouble with that aren't
on the list! But other than these foods aversions, you really need to try your
hardest to eat a well balanced meal, with a variety of foods, AND nutritional
supplements. Notice I did not say prenatal vitamins.
Prenatal Vitamins and
Nutritional Supplementation
Most
prenatal vitamins are not worth the money you spend on them, and if you haven't
already, find an alternative. I will make it easy on you and refer you to the
best nutritional supplement on
the market. These are perfect for both prenatal and postnatal vitamins,
and even great for full time use. At the very minimum, you should take the
Essentials, providing the proper levels of vitamins and minerals;
Active Calcium for additional calcium needs; and
BiOmega-3, which provides the
omega-3 fatty acids you and your baby need. Also important is drinking lots of water. You should do this anyway,
but especially when you are breastfeeding to insure an ample supply for your
baby.
Too Much Milk?
Speaking of an ample supply, one
thing that can be aggravating in the beginning is squirting and leaking milk.
Usually once your supply is well established you don't have these anymore, but I
know moms who still had them months after their babies were born. The worst,
however, is having a newborn baby get so much milk that she pulls away only to
get a huge squirt in the face. If this happens, you can express some milk before
your baby nurses, so that she doesn't get a big rush of milk. Leaking also
happens when your breasts become full and the baby is either sleeping longer
than usual or is not with you. Breast pads are available to absorb these leaks,
and they fit right inside your bra. Be sure to change wet breast pads, because
it is not healthy to keep wet pads on your breasts. Use cloth for better air
circulation, and unless you are going out of the house, avoid the waterproof
pads that prevent air circulation. Disposable pads are the worst, and cotton is
the best to use for breast pads.
What about Breastfeeding in Public?
To learn about you rights as a breastfeeding mom,
read this article by Elizabeth Pantley on
Breastfeeding in Public. This
topic has stirred up a lot of commotion recently in the US. Most of us form our
decision about breastfeeding in public based on our own self-image and
insecurities. There is nothing wrong with a modest mommy who only wants to nurse
at home. But for others who believe the breast is more than a sexual object for
men to oogle, feel free to feed your baby as necessary when out and about. It is
your right!
Breastfeeding Your Toddler
Some of you new to natural parenting are cringing
right now. I mean WHO would want to breastfeed a TODDLER?! Unfortunately, many
parents feel that one year, or even less, of breastfeeding is enough. But if you
really do your research, you will find that the health benefits of extending
that period are well worth any stigma you might associate with a child who can
ASK to nurse. We tend to transfer the child from breast to whole milk, and
unfortunately, cow's milk is not particularly healthy. Not to mention, an early
weaner might find that her toddler is allergic to milk or dairy. And THAT is a
pain. The American Academy of
Pediatrics currently recommends that "breastfeeding continue for at least 12
months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired." The World Health
Organization and UNICEF recommend that babies be breastfed for at least two
years. You can read more about
breastfeeding your toddler.
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