Welcome Carnival of Breastfeeding readers! For Pregnancy Awareness Month, this round of carnival entries focuses on pregnancy and breastfeeding. Because I have already shared my stories of breastfeeding during pregnancy and of tandem nursing, I want to share ten tips on how a pregnant woman can prepare for breastfeeding.
1. DO NOT let anyone tell you it is necessary to toughen up your nipples for breastfeeding.
2. DO some reading about breastfeeding. Good choices are:
~ The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning
~ The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Seventh Revised Edition
~ The Nursing Mother’s …read more

A good latch is the key to breastfeeding success. It minimizes discomfort and maximizes the transfer of breast milk. So how do you know whether or not you’re doing it right? Go down the checklist:
__ In the cradle or cross-cradle positions, the baby should be resting on his side, his tummy facing your tummy, shoulder and hips aligned, mouth level with the nipple
__ The baby’s mouth should be covering at least a half inch of the areola, the dark area of skin around the nipple
__ His nose is touching or nearly touching the breast
__ Both the top lip and bottom …read more

Breastfeeding is an instinctual and natural act, but it is also an art that is learned day by day. The reality is that almost all women can breastfeed, have enough milk for their babies and learn how to overcome problems both large and small. It is almost always simply a matter of practical knowledge and not a question of good luck.
From Why Is LLL Necessary?

Well, if a woman can’t talk about her breasts on a breastfeeding blog…. I have to laugh at my own astonishment at my growing cup size. I thought after nursing two children (and still nursing through pregnancy) that my breasts had done all the “preparation for breastfeeding” that they were going to do, and they wouldn’t swell up quite as much this time around. No such luck though. My breasts are so tender and sensitive I don’t want anyone getting within 10 feet of them, and that includes me (which, as you can imagine, is a bit problematic). Nursing doesn’t …read more

Shopping for nursing clothes can be difficult, especially if you want something both stylish and affordable (is that too much to ask?!) Some women forgo nursing clothes altogether (they’re certainly not necessary) but some enjoy the added comfort of nursing clothing for breastfeeding in public. Personally I liked wearing nursing clothing in the early months, but eventually transitioned into regular clothing as I became more comfortable with breastfeeding in public. Only a few times recently (weddings, funerals especially) have I wished for a nursing dress!
If you’re in the market for some nursing clothes, there are several sources out there.
In Stores
If …read more

An expectant mother wrote to me with this question:
When I was talking to my mom last night, she asked me if anyone (namely my midwife) had suggested that I ‘toughen my nipples’ in preparation for breastfeeding. This is my first baby, so I’ve been reading all sorts of books and articles–mostly about pregnancy and labor, but some beyond–and I’ve never seen this mentioned anywhere. Is this still common practice, or at least a good idea? Or is it just an old school of thought? Thanks!
Good question! I am totally cringing at the thought of “toughening up my nipples” and I …read more

Q: I plan to adopt a baby and have read about using the drug domperidone to induce lactation. There’s a lot of conflicting information on the web though, and I even read that the FDA has warned against breastfeeding mothers using the drug. What can you tell me about that warning?
A: Domperidone is an anti-nausea medication that also happens to increase serum prolactin in women. It’s used in combination with frequent nursing or pumping to induce lactation or increase milk supply.
Domperidone is readily available outside the United States but is not available through most pharmacies in the U.S. It’s …read more

My friend Sandy pointed me to this professional video put together by UNICEF Maharashtra on the recommendation by UNICEF, WHO and WABA that breastfeeding be initiated within the first half hour after birth. The video demonstrates how a newborn baby, when placed on the mother’s chest, will use a breast crawl to self-initiate breastfeeding within 30-60 minutes. In this particular case, you can watch as it takes the newborn just 10 minutes to locate the nipple and latch on with a perfect latch. It’s powerful evidence of a baby’s instincts, the importance of skin-to-skin contact, and the benefits of early …read more

Stay tuned below for contributions from several breastfeeding bloggers on today’s theme: “What I didn’t expect when I was expecting.” Feel free to leave your own comment about what you didn’t expect about breastfeeding — good or bad!
When I was pregnant, I did a lot of reading about breastfeeding. I made a commitment to breastfeed as it clearly was the best thing for my baby. What I didn’t expect was that breastfeeding would become so much more than my baby’s source of nutrition. It served as:
~ pacifier
~ sleep inducer
~ pain reliever
~ immunity booster (I knew about this one, but I …read more

When I ran the poll about nursing pillow brands, Selena suggested another poll about sling brands. After reading all about the benefits of babywearing over at Mocha Milk, I’m even more happy to oblige!
I realize that different slings/pouches/carriers might work better for different ages of babies and toddlers so please do leave a comment to share your opinions! Personally I liked the NoJo Sling when my baby was an infant but it got uncomfortable when my baby got older. My husband liked the NoJo as well but also enjoyed using the Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier once my daughter met …read more