Photo credit: benklocek

Photo credit: ar.go.naut

Photo credit: Mike Hanlon

Remember when I interviewed Dr. Jane Morton about breastfeeding education for medical professionals? Remember when I mentioned her free online video on hand expression of breast milk? Well today I learned from About.com Breastfeeding that Dr. Morton has another fascinating free video online, this time about increasing breast milk supply when it is necessary to pump for a baby in the NICU or any baby not nursing well at the breast. It is called “Maximizing Milk Production” and in 9 minutes 35 seconds, it explains how to increase milk supply without medication. Dr. Morton recommends and demonstrates such techniques as …read more

Yet another study recently showed that breastfeeding helps fight breast cancer by reducing a breastfeeding woman’s risk of developing certain types of breast cancer. Still, it remains critical to fight breast cancer through the funding of breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment. I am proud to say my sister Jill McNabb has committed to the cause by agreeing to participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day — a 60-mile walk over the course of three days — and raising at least $2,200 in donations in the process (her goal is actually $3,000 and she’s raised $1,800 so far!) Jill will …read more

Thelma and Louise? Lucy and Ethel?
Have you given your “girls” a nickname? Does your nursling have a special name for your breasts? My breasts — and I am sure the world really needs to know this — are called “mum-mums” (interestingly, the same as the name for nursing, “mum-mum,” while the breast milk is called “mum-mum milk,” as opposed to cow’s milk). As a child (long after I weaned) I called my mother’s breasts Mount Fujis!
Leave a comment and humor us with your own nicknames!

Vasospasm is a constricting of the blood vessels in the nipple. Due to poor latch and compression of the nipple by the baby, vasospasm causes the nipple to turn white (and possibly then blue and then red) and results in throbbing, stabbing or burning pain. Vasospasm is also associated with Raynaud’s phenomenon (a sudden narrowing of the arteries). For resources on vasospasm, see:
~ “Nipple blanching and vasospasm” by Kellymom.com
~ “Seeking Relief,” NEW BEGINNINGS
~ “Brrrr…ouch! It’s the season for Raynaud’s” at the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog
~ “Treatment for Raynaud’s” by Dr. Jack Newman

The Pregnancy Journal: A Day-to-Day Guide to a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy is the journal I have used to document each of my three pregnancies. I love the daily bits of information it shares and how easy it is to write short journal entries as my pregnancy progresses. Many of the daily tips pertain to breastfeeding. Here is one fun fact:
The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of breast milk is ideal for moving calcium into the baby’s skeleton and promoting growth. In addition, breast milk is low in sodium, and iron and zinc from breast milk is absorbed better than from cow’s milk.
- …read more

Some women end up with a bountiful stash of frozen breast milk — be it from oversupply, a baby in the NICU, or an infant who turns out to be allergic to something in the milk pumped so far. Some of those women are moved to donate the excess milk to a non-profit milk bank. In the past few days, I have heard two women express (no pun intended) frustration at the restrictions posted on women who wish to qualify as breast milk donors. One, whose oversupply and dairy-free diet could certainly have benefited a milk bank, was turned away …read more