Breastfeeding Basics for you and your baby

Breastfeeding Basics for you and your Baby

If you are a mother-to-be, you most likely have heard and are aware that breastfeeding your baby is one of the best gifts you can give your little one in terms of nutrition and bonding. However, despite the fact that breastfeeding is one of the most natural things a mother can do; it doesn’t come naturally for a lot of women. If you have decided that you want to breastfeed right after delivery, listed below are some breastfeeding basics for you and your baby to help you prepare while you are in your final stages of pregnancy.

Initial Preparation

Mothers should check with their local and nearby hospitals for lactation classes they can attend prior to the birth of their baby. In these classes, for example, they will be shown how a baby properly latches to the breast, what potential problems can occur and how to solve them and what lactating resources are available by phone.  In addition, pregnant women should take time while they are waiting for baby to arrive and read everything they can on breastfeeding. There are books, online articles and magazines that discuss every aspect of breastfeeding. It would also be wise to start a binder that includes any helpful articles, notes and handouts from breastfeeding classes taken and a place to eventually journal the baby’s breastfeeding times and amounts.

Setting up for Success

If a mother sets up her breastfeeding area correctly, she can maximize her amount of comfort and enjoyment during each breastfeeding session. For example, she should designate a large and comfy chair or rocking chair in the home that will be her breastfeeding “station”. It can be in the baby’s room, a section of the master bedroom or a quiet corner of the family or living room. Besides the comfy chair, she will need a side table with a lamp and a place to set down a glass of water, preferably in a tall plastic travel glass that has a straw. Nearby, she should place a large basket with current reading she wants to do when the baby falls asleep or is nursing for a long time. She should include a few energy bars or other healthy snacks in the basket as well. A nice addition is a CD player that she can play soothing music in the background particularly those for meditation and stress relief. Lastly, many women find a breastfeeding pillow to be the perfect tool in helping them stay comfortable while they are nourishing their baby.

Know what to expect

Once the baby arrives, mothers should allow themselves a ramping up period to get used to the initial awkwardness that occurs for many who start breastfeeding. They need to make sure the baby is properly latching on and getting enough milk throughout the day. Breastfeeding mothers should expect to feed their babies approximately 8-12 times per 24 hour time period and to know the signs when their babies are hungry. Typically a mother wants to look for their baby rooting and looking like they want to be fed but others wait a little longer until their baby is just about ready to cry or starts crying so they know their baby is really hungry and ready to take on a full meal of breast milk. A typical session will last around 40 minutes. Mothers need to be also aware that at first milk comes in drops and not gushes so they should not panic at first when they don’t see a lot of their milk coming in.

Know how to Problem Solve

If a mother prepares herself for a number of potential problems with breastfeeding, it should lesson her frustration should they occur. Some problems include engorgement of their breasts (when they are so full of milk they hurt), sore nipples or mastitis, an infection of the breast. For example, many nursing moms have found that using lanolin ointment in the morning and evening can help prevent sore nipples. For a mother who chooses to breastfeed her baby, preparation and knowledge of what to expect will help tremendously in easing her gently into the new world of motherhood.

Top Formula Brand Comparisons

Top Formula Brand Comparisons

For mothers who choose to feed their newborn babies formula from the start or others who breastfeed first and later transition their babies to formula, there are a variety of formula brands to choose from.  To help with that decision, we provided a comparison of four top infant formula brands currently on the market.

Similac

Manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, a company that focuses on children’s nutritional products, Similac is the number one brand used by hospitals nationwide to feed newborn babies. In fact, Similac and its competitors Enfamil and Nestle Good Start, make up 90 percent of the baby formula market. Similac’s special formula blend includes two fatty acids found in breast milk- docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA). These fatty acids build up the baby’s immune system as well as promote growth and cell development particularly the brain, eye and bones. It comes in nine different types to address a variety of individual baby needs. These include:

• EarlyShield –good for most babies with no medical conditions, allergies or sensitivities.
• Expert Care Neosure -- includes extra calories, calcium and phosphorus that helps in developing bones and promoting overall growth
• Similac Organic-- contains more natural ingredients
• Similac Soy –good for babies with sensitive tummies

Enfamil

Manufactured by Mead Johnson, experts in the field of infant nutrition, the Enfamil brand offers 11 different types of formula to meet a variety of baby nutritional needs, especially those that help with allergies and digestive problems. Their formula blend also includes DHA and ARA, which helps with mental and visual development. They were the first brand to include in their formula blend a nutrient known as choline that helps with cell membrane development and support of muscle control. Some of the different types Enfamil offers include:

• Enfamil Premium –this includes prebiotics, which has nutrients that provides good bacteria in the digestive systems that is used to help stimulate the immune response. It also has a probiotics version for toddlers called Enfagrow Premium.
• Enfamil Enfacare—this help fragile premature babies gain weight with extra nutrients and build up their immune system
• ProSobee—-this is a soy-based formula for babies with sensitive tummies
• Progestimil—for babies with fat absorption problems

Nestle Good Start

Made of 100 percent whey protein, Nestle claims its Good Start formula brand more closely resembles breast milk and is easier to digest than other brands. They refer to the whey protein contained in their formula as “comfort proteins” because it doesn’t curd when it enters into a baby’s body and exits soon thereafter, which results in less spit up. Nestle Good Start comes in seven different types including both cow’s milk and soy formula variations. One of their offerings is called Protest Plus, which is made to help support the baby’s immune system.

Bright Beginnings

Bright Beginnings infant formula meets the proper nutrition levels as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). According to the company, it has nucleotides at the same levels of breast milk to help baby’s immunity and because they don’t spend the same advertising dollars as Similac and Enfamil, they can offer their quality product at a less expensive price. Like their competitors, they offer a variety of formula types including premium, organic, gentle and soy.

Top 10 Items New Parents Need

When you find out you are going to have a child, that you are to become a parent and be in charge of a new, little person, the next thought is often “How am I going to take care of him?” or “How do I even begin to know the best way to provide for her?” It can be overwhelming. How do you know which are the right things to buy ahead of time, or what are the best things to ensure you’re prepared and fully supplied? During pregnancy this can be so overwhelming. There are lots of places to go, books to read and stores to purchase what you might need. All these resources provide lists of what they think you must have but those lists are often full of unnecessary things that are included so someone can make money off of you, not because they’re what you honestly need as the basics to be ready for a new baby. Here is a starter list that has been compiled from practical moms, keeping in mind that the basics are all you need.

1      Baby clothing: You’ll need enough pieces to get you through about a week before laundry day becomes necessary, but be aware that many new babies go through more than one outfit each day. You need enough baby clothes on hand to provide two or three outfits each day. Baby clothes come in sizes preemie, newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months and 9-12 months. Because there’s not a reliable way to determine what size your baby will be when he or she is born, it’s best to stock up on a few outfits in each of the lower three sizes and then be ready to go shopping a few days after baby is born to purchase the rest of what you need in the size that’s right.

2      Diapers: Again, because you don’t know what size the baby is going to be, you’ll need to stock up on a few sizes ahead of time. You may also want to try a few different brands, because many parents find that one type or another suits their baby’s body better than another. This is simply a trial and error process you have to go through. If you can avoid opening the packages of diapers until you know the size is right, you may be able to return them after the fact if they turn out to be too small.

3      Car seat: Car seat and seat belt requirements for infants and children vary state by state, and it is important to verify the requirements where you live. A good online resource can be found at the Governor’s Highway Safety Association website, where seat belt and restraint laws are summarized by state. In a new policy published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics magazine, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced updated recommendations from their previous 2002 stance. They advise parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. When you are looking at all the options available, it can be very overwhelming to know which one is the best, which one is safest, and which one is right for your baby, but keep in mind that all car seats must meet federal standards to be sold in the United States, so all of them meet the minimum safety requirements put forth by the government. There are additional safety features that some brands offer, and you need to decide which ones you might feel are best for your baby. However, no hospital can let you take your child home after being born without a car seat properly installed and ready for transporting your new bundle of joy, so be sure you take care of this purchase ahead of time.

4      Breastfeeding or bottle feeding pillow: No matter how you decide you’re going to feed your baby, having a u-shaped pillow to rest your arms and the baby on while you feed him or her is one of the most highly rated “must-haves” by moms polled in the past few years. Whether it’s a Boppy brand, a knock-off or something made at home by a friend or yourself, this type of pillow is considered indispensable. It makes the whole feeding experience so much easier and you’ll find you can’t live without one.

5      Baby blankets: Baby blankets will become a necessity as well. They can be used in a myriad of ways, from swaddling baby, covering them to keep the night air off their legs when they sleep, wiping up spit-up, covering their stroller or carseat when they’re taking a nap, and many other ways. You’ll find it’s good to have a stash in several places in the house so one is always within arm’s reach and they’ll be in constant use. Most moms like to have 8 - 10 baby blankets so they can rotate some in the wash but still have a good supply available for everyday use.

6      A crib or bassinet: Unless you plan on co-sleeping with your infant for years into their childhood, many parents eventually move to the traditional practice of their child having their own bed, and you’re going to need a crib. There are lots of options available, and again be reassured that to be sold in the United States, all cribs must meet basic federal safety standards. Assembling the crib is a rite of passage many expectant parents go through before the baby actually arrives, and it is best done before then when you don’t have the stress of a new baby (and possibly some sleep deprivation from a new baby who doesn’t have a good sleep cycle yet) making assembly more complicated. Some parents purchase a bassinet as well, and use it as a portable sleeping arrangement closer to the parent’s bed without actually being in it.

7      Stroller: Eventually you’ll be brave enough to leave the house with your newborn, and you’ll want a way to move them around without disturbing them from their nap in the infant car seat. Basic frame strollers have become very popular recently, and for good reason. They are very light, easy to get in and out of the car, and almost every brand of infant car seat has a basic frame stroller that is compatible with it. Many have a basket underneath to carry your baby bag and any other things you need while running errands or going somewhere. A larger, more substantial stroller may be useful as well if you like to go jogging or for long walks.

8      Baby monitor: Being able to check on your baby without actually standing over them to see if they’re breathing is a stage you will eventually get to, although it may not seem so when you first bring your baby home. When you get to this phase, having a good baby monitor system really helps. There are good video baby monitor systems available, but the basic setup that you need is a one-way baby radio system that allows you to hear when your baby wakes up and is ready for whatever is next after naptime. A system that has more than one channel is nice, so you can avoid crossing signals with your neighbors who might have cordless home phones or a baby monitor system of their own that could interfere with your own if you can’t adjust the radio channels.

9      Safety measures: These aren’t anything you need right away after you bring your baby home from the hospital, but they are something to consider and plan for, and the need for baby gates and baby locks comes sooner than you think. As soon as your baby starts crawling, they’re going to be getting into everything, so at a minimum, planning for the areas that could be major problems is critical. Stairs and cupboards under the sink that contain cleaning supplies are the bare minimum you should think preventatively about. There are lots of options available to make sure your baby doesn’t get into trouble in these areas, and so you should at least begin looking at them before baby arrives so you can make an informed decision when the time comes to baby proof your house.

10   Baby toys: Again, these aren’t something you’ll need right away, but sooner rather than later your baby is going to be interested in more than the things attached to the ends of his or her arms (those would be their hands, and it’s fascinating to watch baby figure that out!). There are lots of good toys out there that are interesting to baby and stimulating at the same time. This isn’t somewhere that you need to go overboard because just as quickly as they get interested in a new toy, they can move on to something else. Find a few good toys that other moms and dads around you have had success with, and then look for other toys similar to those as your baby’s brain and hence their interest in playing grows.

As you begin to get ready, keep in mind that there is no one way to be the best prepared parent. Enjoy the process and you’ll find it’s much easier. Parenting is a challenge. Listen to everyone’s suggestions (even those we’ve made here) and only adopt them as your own if they feel right for you. The best sort of parent is one who is comfortable with their decisions and one who is calm, collected and confident!