As I researched the local agricultural fairs in which my daughters might like to participate, I learned that January is National Oatmeal Month! Somehow for a breastfeeding blogger, everything relates to breastfeeding, and National Oatmeal Month is no exception. It begged the question, does oatmeal increase milk supply? I knew that the answer could be found in the new book The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk by Diana West, IBCLC, and Lisa Marasco, M.A., IBCLC. The authors note that oat straw and its grain, oats, have long enjoyed a reputation as a galactagogue. In a section on lactogenic …read more

This contest is now closed. Thank you for your interest!
For one of THREE chances to win The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk, see “How to Enter” below! The publisher McGraw-Hill has generously offered three copies of the book, and even better — anyone, anywhere is welcome to enter because there are no restrictions on the countries to which the books can be shipped!
About the Book
The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk is a new book that helps mothers identify and address problems with low milk supply. It deals with determining whether there is a problem in the …read more

Welcome Carnival of Breastfeeding readers! This month’s participants each review one or more breastfeeding products (see the links at the end of this post).
Medela Sleep Nursing Bra Review
I ordered a Medela Sleep Nursing Bra when I was pregnant because I was looking for a soft, comfortable nursing bra without hooks or snaps. I was not disappointed! The fabric is 95% cotton, 5% spandex, and it comes in nude or white. The cups cross slightly in front, allowing for easy opening by pulling one cup to the side to reveal the breast. The ultra-lazy (me!) can pull up from the …read more

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

This week I am looking for your input on Traditional Medicinals Organic Mother’s Milk Tea (16 bags). The Baby Book says, “Herbal teas promoted as galactagogues (substances that increase milk supply) are harmless and may work, though there are no scientific studies that confirm this. Herbs to be avoided or used with caution during lactation include comfrey, sassafras, ginseng, and licorice.” p. 157.
Have you tried Mother’s Milk Tea (either the regular or organic versions)? How did it taste? Did you find that it helped your milk supply at all? Did you use it in combination with any other techniques or …read more

Welcome to the April Carnival of Breastfeeding, “Thrush and Mastitis and Blebs, oh my!” This month several contributors share their experiences with different breastfeeding challenges and offer links and resources for overcoming those challenges. First I will talk about using gentian violet or grapefruit seed extract as alternative remedies for thrush, but make sure to read on for links to the other contributions at the end!
Oversupply
When my first daughter was born, I struggled with oversupply. In theory oversupply sounds great because it eliminates any worry about having enough milk for the baby. In reality, it can cause a lot of …read more

One of the biggest worries a nursing mother may have is low milk supply. Consider the following scenarios:
Nursing is going well but suddenly the baby seems unsatisfied and wants to nurse all the time. The mother’s breasts feel less full, particularly in the evening. Is the mother’s supply low?
In the early days a nursing mother’s breasts may feel full or even engorged. If a mother has oversupply issues, this feeling of fullness may be constant and she may experience more than one episode of engorgement. If that feeling of fullness is suddenly gone, is the mother’s milk supply low?

Today’s breastfeeding story isn’t really a breastfeeding story, it’s a formula-feeding story. It provides a bit of balance both for that reason and also because it’s written by a father (who asked to remain anonymous). This story offers an important reminder that as the parent, YOU are the expert on your child. If your child is listless, not acting like himself, or showing any sign of medical distress, seek medical attention immediately and persist in getting help until the problem is resolved.

Reader Melissa writes:
Q: I am breastfeeding my 2 month old and I have more on my right than my left. What can I do?! The same thing happened with my 3 year old 2 years ago and I had lopsided breasts for the time that I was breastfeeding.
A: Yours is a relatively common concern. There are several reasons a baby might favor one breast. If it happens from birth, it’s important to rule out medical causes for favoring one side, like an ear infection or birth trauma. Similarly, if a baby suddenly refuses one side after nursing equally well on …read more