It’s true of nearly any profession. The keys to success are not technical knowledge or even years of experience. As I law student, I was not asked to memorize all the rules of federal, state, and local law. That would be impossible! Instead I was taught how to get at the heart of an issue and how to research and interpret the applicable laws. As a parent, I don’t need a Ph.D. in psychology or years of mothering under my belt. Mainly I need a sympathetic ear and a few resources, friends, and experts to consult. The same is true as a breastfeeding support professional. The most important skills for breastfeeding support are listening, identifying the real issue, and knowing how to find the answers. Sure it would be wonderful to have an encyclopedic knowledge of lactation, but such knowledge won’t get a lactation professional very far if she cannot discern that when a mother says:

“I don’t have enough milk” she often means “My family members want to feed the baby a bottle.” or
“I need to know how to wean my baby” she often means “I’m [going on a trip/need to take a medication/am in pain] and want to continue breastfeeding if it’s possible.” and
“Are there just some women who cannot breastfeed?” she often means “I want your permission to wean.”

Listening

Offering effective support. Photo by Shlomit Wolf.

Researching

I might not know off the top of my head whether a specific antibiotic can be taken safely while breastfeeding, but I know how to consult LactMed and Medications and Mothers Milk: A Manual of Lactational Pharmacology. I also know how to share the correct information with the mother, reassure her that the doctor who told her she needed to wean in order to take the medication was mistaken, and offer ideas on how the mother can talk to that doctor about continuing to breastfeed while taking the medication.

Offering Empathy and Guidance

Sometimes the best response is not:

“Here is my advice.” but “That must be so difficult.” and not
“The answer is….” but “I will be happy to find out for you.” and not
“You should….” but “Here are some of your options.”

Only when a mother feels heard and understood has the lactation counselor succeeded at breastfeeding support.

Your Experience

Was a lactation consultant or breastfeeding counselor particularly helpful to you, and if so, how? If you are a lactation professional, what do you consider your most valuable skill?

Other Carnival Participants

Angie Tillman, RD, LDN, CDE – You Are Beautiful Today
Anthony J. Sepe – Women’s Health and Migraines
Ashley Colpaart – Women’s health through women
Charisse McElwaine – Spending too much time on the “throne?”
Danielle Omar – Yoga, Mindful Eating and Food Confidence
Diane Preves M.S.,R.D – Balance for Health
Joan Sather – A Woman’s Healthy Choices Affect More Than Herself
Laura Wittke – Fibro Study Recruits Participants
Liz Marr, MS, RD – Reflecting on Family Food Ways and Women’s Work
Marjorie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT – Healthy Women, Healthy Business: How Your Health Impacts a Powerful Business
Marsha Hudnall – Breakfast Protein Helps Light Eaters Feel Full
Michelle Loy, MPH, MS, RD – A Nutritionista’s Super Foods for Super Skin
Monika Woolsey, MS, RD – To effectively work with PCOS is to understand a woman’s health issues throughout her life
Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog – How breastfeeding helps you, too
Rebecca Scritchfield, MA, RD, LD – Four Keys to Wellness, Just for Women
Renata Mangrum, MPH, RD – The busy busy woman
Robin Plotkin, RD, LD – Feeding the Appetites of the Culinary, Epicurious and Nutrition Worlds-One Bite at a Time
Sharon Solomon – Calories, longevity and do I care
Terri L Mozingo, RD, CDN & D. Milton Stokes, MPH, RD, CDN of One Source Nutrition, LLC – Crossing the Line: From Health to Hurt
Wendy Jo Peterson, RD – Watch Your Garden Grow

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Toddler Nursing Strike Versus Self-Weaning

Teething toddler by Jenn_Jenn

1. Age of the nursling. A baby rarely self-weans before the age of 18 months. The closer a toddler gets to age three, the more likely it might be actual self-weaning, but don’t rely on age alone.

2. Prior frequency of nursing. Was the child nursing once or twice a day, or nursing every 2-3 hours? Did the child require nursing to sleep for naps and bedtime? The more frequently a child was nursing, the more likely it is a strike.

3. Mood of the nursling. Is your nursling acting upset and is he or she difficult to soothe? Is your toddler happy as a clam and busily going about the day? Of course if your child seems unhappy about the turn of events, it’s probably not self-weaning.

4. Event that could trigger a strike. Is your toddler teething or sick? Did you recently yelp when your toddler clamped down on the nipple, or did you reprimand your toddler for something? Examine the possible causes for a nursing strike.

Things to Try to End a Toddler Nursing Strike

When faced with a nursing strike, you want to pump or hand-express to keep up your supply and prevent engorgement, plugged ducts and mastitis. Continue offering the breast without unduly pressuring the child. Try offering as the child is drifting off to sleep or just waking up. Then consider the reasons for a strike, which will give you ideas for how to end it!

The book Mothering Your Nursing Toddler by Norma J. Bumgarner is a wonderful resource and it does not disappoint on the topic of toddler nursing strikes (see pp. 211-212). It lists two of the first potential causes to consider for a nursing strike as a stuffy nose and/or a sore mouth from teething. Keep in mind that biting is often a sign of teething. You can try various pain-relieving techniques to see if any help with the teething and make it more comfortable for your toddler to nurse.

One seemingly crazy trick to try with the stuffy nose is squirting some breast milk in the nostrils (either directly from the breast using clean hands to express, or by pumping and using a dropper or cup). It’s messy and your child might resist it, but it only takes a few drops and it can definitely help clear a stuffy nose, strange as it sounds. Alternatively you can ask your doctor about a saline solution that is appropriate to try to clear his nasal passages.

One other physical cause to consider: a broken tooth. Sometimes a toddler will let someone get a good look in the mouth if you hold the child in your lap, facing you, and then lay the child’s head back on your knees while another adult faces you both and gets a look in the child’s mouth.

I would wonder about an ear infection, sinus infection, injury or anything else that could be making it painful for the toddler to suck.

Toddler nursing strikes can also be caused by hurt feelings over a reprimand or being made to do something the child didn’t want to do. Depending on how verbal your toddler is, you can try to ask about this. Your toddler might not even know the reason for the strike, and you may never know. You can try verbalizing it for your child, with something like, “I can tell something was bothering you and you did not want to nurse. I would like to make it all better so we can try nursing again. I love you and want you to be happy. How about we try nursing in the bathtub (or another favorite, relaxing place).” You know your child best and what might work. The idea is to validate your child’s feelings even if your child cannot verbalize them.

Keep trying different things to see if anything helps. Strikes can go on for days, but hopefully your child can be coaxed back sooner rather than later with all that you are doing to try to help. If a couple of weeks have passed and your child happily goes about the day and readily accepts other means of nourishment and comfort, then it might be time to consider that your child has ended the nursing relationship. It can be a particularly emotional time if you were not the one to initiate the end of nursing. Take pride in the knowledge that you met your child’s needs and the need for nursing went away.

Your Experience

Have you ever dealt with a toddler nursing strike or self-weaning? What happened and how did you handle it?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Helping my baby feed herself some yogurt

Five More Tips for Helping Your Baby with Solid Food Feedings

11. Don’t starve the baby of breast milk in the hope of encouraging solid food intake. I hope that sentence speaks for itself, but in case not, let me explain what I mean. Don’t give in to the unhelpful suggestion or thought that you are feeding the baby too much breast milk and that is the reason the baby shows little interest in solids. People who think that are misguided on a few levels: (1) it’s nearly impossible to feed a baby too much breast milk (you cannot force a baby to nurse when the baby is not interested, and babies self-regulate at the breast whereas milk from a bottle flows freely and it is harder for a bottle-fed baby to control the amount consumed), (2) depriving the baby of milk does not encourage solids but does encourage a cranky, potentially malnourished baby, and (3) there is no rush to get the baby to eat much solid food because breast milk provides the bulk of nutrition through the first year (and in fact some babies thrive on breast milk alone — see the comments section for more discussion on that assertion).

A baby who is resisting solid foods simply might not be ready for any number of reasons. Maybe the gag reflex has not completely gone away. Perhaps your baby is teething or ill and needs some time off from or a delay in starting solids. It’s even possible that your baby knows what is best. I have heard anecdotes about babies who resisted solid food or certain foods in particular and those babies turned out to have one or more food allergies. If you suspect a food allergy, read “A” Is for Allergy Prevention and Reduction.

12. Offer a choice. As I’ve said before, I believe most food issues are about control. If you limit food choices and try to force your baby to eat a particular food, that can backfire to the point that your child severely limits the foods he or she will eat. Give your baby the control by offering a choice at any given meal. “Squash or applesauce?” “Pears or kiwi or both?” Even a six-month-old can indicate a preference for food through facial expressions, sounds, or grabbing for a particular food. The idea is not to prepare two separate meals or to waste food, but to show the baby what’s on offer and to provide the food the baby will actually eat!

Of course, the choice is not “veggies or fast food chicken nuggets.” All of the options you offer should be nutritious. This will become more and more important as the baby becomes older. At my house, a child can choose whether to eat any or all of the fruit, vegetable, grain, and/or meat offered at that particular meal. If the child chooses not to eat any of the items on offer (this has happened two or three times with my four-year-old), then she gets to wait until I finish my meal before I will prepare one other healthful option (usually something unexciting like whole grain cereal and milk). I look at my child’s nutrition over the course of a week and do not worry about any isolated meal.

13. Ease up if it is not going well. Hindsight will often reveal why a baby was refusing a particular food or solids in general. Let your baby rely on the nutrition from breast milk as you slow down the process. Your baby will sense if you become tense or anxious about food. Don’t let your anxiety become contagious! The goal is for your baby to enjoy solid food, not any particular amount of food or any one certain food. Success breeds success, and a baby who has a good experience at meal time will look forward to the next meal. A child who refuses vegetables at one meal just might eat them at the next, and in the end the child quite possibly will eat better if you do not engage in a battle of wills over a certain food. It all comes back to the issue of control.

14. Invite over a peer. If your older baby still does not show much interest in solids or does not eat many different types of food, it can be very helpful to invite over a little friend you know is a good eater! Go on a picnic or have a play date. Talk to the other parent in advance about serving a food the other child will readily eat. When your child sees the other child eating that food, your child might very well want some too!

15. Read up on the subject. If you missed parts one and two of this series, see 5 Tips for Helping Your Baby Enjoy Solid Food and More Tips for Your Baby and Solid Food. If your baby is just starting solid food, check out Starting Your Baby on Solid Foods: When, What and How. For more detailed reading, you might enjoy the following books:

Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron
Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense by Ellyn Satter
My Child Won’t Eat!: How to Prevent and Solve the Problem by Carlos González

What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree with my tips? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Do you have any other books you recommend?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Strawberry yogurt face!

Five More Tips for Helping Your Baby Enjoy Solid Food

6. Set a good example with what you eat. One of the signs of readiness for solid food is that your baby shows interest in what you are eating. The baby’s urge to lunge for your food works in a positive way! At meal time, sit next to your baby or have your baby sit in your lap, and be prepared to share your food (modified as appropriate and safe for the baby). If you are having red beans and rice, squish some beans and let your baby grab them and work on self-feeding, or load a mashed bean onto a baby spoon and help your baby guide the spoon.

Of course, this interest in your food means that if you’re eating a chocolate chip cookie, your baby will want that cookie too. So save the treats for when your baby is napping or has gone to bed.

7. Consider the texture of the food. You are the expert on your baby! Pay close attention and experiment to see whether your child prefers sweet potatoes diluted with a little breast milk, mashed up plain, or cut into tiny bits. At the same time, consider whether your child likes to use a spoon or prefers to pick up the mash or cubes of food with his or her hands. Mix up the routine and have fun with it!

8. Let your baby be in the driver’s seat. Babies have a way of making their preferences and desires quite clear. Let your baby tell you whether meal time is over or it’s time for seconds. Don’t force the issue if your baby simply isn’t interested in solids one day. Teething, an upset tummy, a belly full of milk (not a bad thing!) — all those can suppress your baby’s interest in food at any given meal.

If your baby is clamoring for more food though, then it’s okay to let your baby take the lead, within reason. For example, an entire banana probably isn’t a good idea or you risk constipation. You also want to keep in mind that breast milk is still the baby’s primary source of nutrition and if your baby seems particularly hungry, it could be a growth spurt. Offer more nursing sessions throughout the day, and keep an eye on your milk supply so that the amount of solid foods you are offering does not interfere with your milk supply.

9. Remember that these first feedings are more for learning and less for nutrition. As I mentioned in tip #8, you do not need to worry about getting a certain amount of food into the baby at any given meal. While you want the food you offer to be nutritious, your baby’s nutrition continues to come from your milk. That’s one of the great things about breastfeeding in that for the first year or so, you have the security of knowing your baby is getting a well-balanced meal at your breast! (The nutritional benefits of breastfeeding also continue well beyond the first year. Toddler milk supplies protein, fat, vitamins and antibodies, some in even greater quantities during the second year and beyond!)

10. Eat a wide variety of foods while you are breastfeeding. Believe it or not, the foods you eat flavor the breast milk and help your baby learn to appreciate a wide variety of foods. There is no reason for you to limit yourself to a bland diet while you are breastfeeding. It’s perfectly fine — and beneficial — for you to enjoy spicy and flavorful foods!

If you missed tips 1-5, see 5 Tips to Help Your Baby Enjoy Solid Food.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

My 10-month-old with tomato sauce all over her face!

1. Tell your baby the name of each food you are offering. This simple step goes a long way to establishing a healthy relationship with food. Your baby deserves to know what each food is. You might not think a six-month-old baby could understand what you mean when you say “peas,” but say it often enough and the baby will start to associate that delicious green food with the word “peas” and might even get excited with anticipation when you say it! As silly as it might sound to your ears, it’s helpful to say at various points throughout the meal, “These are peas.” When your baby shows approval, “Oh, you like peas!” And when your baby opens wide for more, you affirm, “Peas are yummy.” Telling your baby what each food is shows respect and builds trust. Speaking positively about a food — “Peas are yummy” — becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It teaches the child, “My parent just told me this is a good food, and I can believe it!” It can be helpful to use the term “yummy” for objects (food) your child is allowed to put in his or her mouth, and “yucky” for objects (inedible items) your baby is not allowed to put in his or her mouth. My 10-month-old daughter knows to spit out anything I declare “yucky.”

2. Serve whole foods. Boxed baby cereals and jarred baby foods are conveniences, not necessities. Factor in the additional cost and the potential reduction in flavor and nutrients, and such foods are not really all that “convenient.” It does not get much easier than mashing a banana or an avocado. Serve your family foods that can be easily modified for the baby, and you’ve made feeding your baby simple and fun. Having oatmeal for breakfast? Baby can have that too! How about baked sweet potatoes as a side at dinner for your family? Just mash up the potato or break it into bits for the baby to pick up and eat.

3. Allow your baby to self-feed. Babies love to learn how to pick up tiny steamed broccoli “trees” they can feed to themselves! When babies feed themselves, they control how much or how little they eat. Even when babies do not yet have much hand control, you can pre-load a spoon for them and help them guide the spoon to their mouths. Remember, it’s a learning opportunity and not something that needs to be forced by you. These early solid food feedings are far more for experimentation and socialization than for nutrition.

4. Allow your child to make a gigantic mess. I can’t say it any more plainly. Babies need to be able to make a mess at the table. I believe that the root of many food issues is control. If you start trying to control the mess, that can lead to the baby trying to control what he or she will consume. Invest in a big bib (try my free instructions for big bibs with extra long ties or crew neck over-the-head pullover bibs), or strip the baby down naked in a warm room. Babies can get a lot of joy out of playing with their food — and that’s exactly what you want. Yes, playing with food, because ultimately the goal is for your child to enjoy meal times. The first experiences should be fun and relaxed, not anxious and controlled. Food washes off skin and out of clothing, and any time that you spend cleaning your baby, the table, and the floor (and the walls!) will be made up for later when your child eats a nice variety of foods. The time for teaching table manners comes when your child is no longer a baby.

5. Make meals a social event. Babies enjoy being with the rest of the family at the table. They learn from watching you eat, and they benefit from the social interaction. When you share a meal with your baby you have the opportunity to model the behavior you want to see from your child. Take turns with the other adults at the table when it comes to helping the baby eat (these feedings that are not at the breast are perfect for dads to get in on feeding the baby!) Soon enough your baby will become quite good at self-feeding and you will all get to enjoy your meal at the same time!

What are your tips for helping a baby to enjoy solid food? Do you agree or disagree with the tips I have shared so far?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Throughout the chapters on “Helping Children Deal with Their Feelings,” “Engaging Cooperation,” and “Alternatives to Punishment” I found myself dog-earring pages and scribbling notes in the margins:

Prevention not punishment.

Punishment versus natural consequences.

Give child a way to make amends.

Teach them the problem-solving skill.

This book has helped me transition from being the mother of a breastfed toddler whose two’s weren’t all that terrible, to the mother of a four-year-old and a seven-year-old who challenge my parenting skills daily. When I have the presence of mind to employ one of the techniques suggested in the book, I notice how it diffuses conflict rather than escalating it. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen equips parents with helpful communication skills, and it will remain one of my favorite attachment parenting references.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

RotaTeq rotavirus vaccine

Two days after my baby received the vaccine, she started having mild diarrhea. I didn’t think much of it, until 12 hours later when she threw up (and I earned a Mommy Medal by catching it in my hand, thankyouverymuch!) The next day, she spiked a fever of over 102. I am not worried for her. She is generally content and just a bit sleepy. Thank goodness for breastfeeding, which keeps her both hydrated and happy!

I am not “pro-vaccine” or “anti-vaccine.” I am all about the informed decision. I fully recognize that my daughter might not actually have rotavirus, or that she might have rotavirus but have contracted it from a source other than the live vaccine. I do feel though that this diarrhea, vomiting, and fever constitute a potential adverse reaction to the vaccine.

I called the pediatrician to ask her to report my daughter’s reaction to the FDA and CDC using the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Anyone can report to the VAERS but the site suggests asking the doctor for help. At any rate I wanted to mention to the family practitioner what I had learned about the timing of the vaccine. Unfortunately, the call did not go well. I would love it if all doctors would practice the following three phrases:

I don’t know.

I will find out.

I am sorry.

I was not upset; I used a nice voice. When the doctor insisted that only the first dose of the vaccine needs to be given before 32 weeks, I gently reiterated my understanding that it’s actually the last dose that needs to be given before 32 weeks.

No one is perfect. I made a mistake. The pediatrician made a mistake. Let’s learn from our mistakes. In fact, let’s write a blog post about it so others can learn from our mistakes.

Your Thoughts

Has your child ever had a potential adverse reaction to a vaccine? Do you vaccinate fully, not at all, or on a delayed and selective basis?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Photo courtesy of zweettooth

First, Some Caveats

Please keep in mind:

~ Not all babies do any or all of these behaviors!
~ Such behavior does not mean the baby wants to wean. As Kellymom.com says, “True SELF-weaning before a baby is a year old is very uncommon. In fact, it is unusual for a baby to wean before 18-24 months unless mom is encouraging weaning.”
~ No matter what your aunt/grandma/nosy neighbor says, such behavior does not mean your baby is “too old to nurse.”
~ These behaviors are fleeting, do not have to be tolerated, and can be corrected gently!

Second, Some Do’s and Don’ts

~ Do use a calm and gentle voice when talking to your baby about nursing manners.
~ Don’t shout or yelp (hard as that might be) because such a scare to the baby can trigger a nursing strike.
~ Do talk to your baby as if she or he understands your every word. Just because the baby cannot communicate with words does not mean that he or she cannot understand your meaning. As you calmly repeat gentle admonishments and distractions, even the youngest baby will get the idea!

Third, The Scenarios

I say these names in jest! For ease of discussion, I also refer to the nursling as a “he.”

1. The Scratcher. My mom describes how as a baby I would tickle her sides with my fingers, which just happened to have those razor-sharp baby fingernails! If your baby idly scratches your side or breast as he nurses, try starting out the nursing session by tucking that hand underneath the baby or under your arm. You don’t want to restrain the baby (who will only get mad and disrupt the nursing) but you do want to remove the opportunity and the idea. If it happens anyway, gently move the offending hand and give him your finger or hand to occupy him.

2. The Dentist. My first-born loved to reach her hand up to my mouth and give me a “dental exam” while she nursed. I tried the same techniques as for The Scratcher above, plus used the time to teach her how to be gentle. A simple, repeated request to “be gentle” along with my hand guiding her hand to stroke my face taught her a more comfortable way for her to touch me. My current 9-month-old now knows when I ask her to “be gentle” it means she is supposed to point her finger and stroke my face (or the cat, or the china figurine)!

3. The Biter. Oh, this is a tough one for moms. When babies start teething they sometimes like to soothe their sore gums or try out those new teeth by clamping down on mom. It’s not malicious, and as I said above, it does not mean that the baby does not want to nurse ever again. It simply means the baby is experimenting and needs some reminders that it’s not okay. It can be near impossible not to yelp, but do your best. Then work on anticipating and preventing any clamping down. Babies usually reserve biting for the end of a feed and when the sucking slows down, you can break the latch with your pinky finger in the corner of the baby’s mouth. If the baby was truly at the end of a nursing session, he won’t fuss. If he needs to nurse, he’ll ask.

If the baby does manage to bite, break the latch immediately and as calmly as you can, remind the baby “no biting.” Generally this brings about one of two reactions: the baby laughs or the baby cries. You don’t want to encourage the laughing with a big reaction of your own. If the baby cries, usually 30 seconds or less off the breast teaches him that he will not get to nurse if he bites. You can even say, “If you want to nurse, you cannot bite. Open wide” and demonstrate how to open wide to latch on again. If you are not up to nursing again, try offering your finger (pad side up) or a teether. In my experience babies rarely break the skin, but if it happens to you, check out “How Do I Heal a Bite Mark on My Nipple?”

4. The Lookie-loo. As babies get older they start to get more and more interested in the world around them. You might find that your nursling is attempting to look around the room as he is still latched on, stretching your nipple with his wandering gaze! If possible, find a quiet place to nurse away from other distractions. Talk to your baby to keep his focus on you. Consider wearing a nursing necklace to distract him from the distractions!

5. The Sipper. Like the Lookie-loo, the Sipper might be so excited by the world around him that he can only sit still long enough for a sip or two here and there, off and on the breast again. This is one of the times to remind yourself, “This too will pass.” If you find yourself annoyed by this behavior, use his excitement about the world to divert him from wanting to nurse again. Sometimes babies like to check in with mom for some reassurance after each activity. Provide another transition to the next activity and you can prevent the sipping behavior.

6. The Twiddler. Some moms can tolerate when the baby plays with one nipple while nursing the other. If you’re not one of them (and I don’t blame you!), a nursing necklace can really come in handy. You might also have to try repeated warnings, “If you want to nurse, you cannot play with the other hand.” Repeat that phrase or the phrase of your choosing while you guide your child’s hand away. If needed, you can break the latch for a few seconds as a reminder that he will not get to nurse if he does that. Keep in mind too that some babies fiddle and twiddle because they are trying to encourage the milk to let down for the first or even a second time. Babies are smart! You can help by doing breast compressions, and offering more frequent nursing sessions during the day.

7. The Gymnast. Some babies can’t sit still for a nursing session and like to move their bodies around. It can help to learn how to breastfeed while baby-wearing. A sling or wrap can help keep the baby on the task at hand!

8. The Self-server. At some point your baby might try to lift up your shirt to help himself! In addition to reminding your baby about the rules, you can get creative with your clothing so you remain covered until you are ready to nurse. That might mean wearing a tank top underneath another shirt, or wearing a pregnancy or nursing belly band.

Your Experience

Have you had to teach your baby nursing manners? Are you dealing with a problematic behavior? Leave a comment!

Other Carnival Entries

Stay tuned as more entries are added throughout the day!

How to help your baby kick the nipple shield habit – Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog
How to get a spouse to help with breastfeeding – Mama Knows Breast
How to wean a breastfed toddler – BreastfeedingMums
How to treat a cold while breastfeeding – Blacktating
How to tandem nurse without driving yourself and your nurslings crazy – Tiny Grass
How to deal with family members who are not supportive of breastfeeding – Happy Bambino
How to pump successfully at work – The Marketing Mama
How to get baby to take a bottle – BabyREADY
How to breastfeed hands-free – Baby Carriers Downunder
How to get breastfeeding off to a good start – Amber at Strocel.com
How to become a breastfeeding support professional – Breastfeeding Moms Unite!
How to care for a sick nursling – Milk Act
How to be comfortable around breastfeeding – It’s All about the Hat
How to improve milk supply through nutrition – Natural Birth and Baby Care
How to increase breastmilk supply using supplements – Maher Family Grows
How to (naturally) increase your breast milk supply with seaweed – MoBoleez
How to use YouTube to stop nosy questions – Zen Mommy
How to breastfeed (or just look like you know what you are doing) – Mama Saga

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

You choose the prize in this fabulous baby carrier giveaway from Baby Carriers Direct! You have up to three contest entries to win your choice of baby carrier, sling or wrap under $100! The contest is open to those with a home mailing address in the United States or Canada.

Have a look around Baby Carriers Direct. You can browse by brand, type, color, weight capacity or price (handy for staying under that $100 limit!) To enter the giveaway, leave a comment here saying which baby carrier you want to win! For a second entry, mention the contest on your blog and come back here to leave a second comment with the link to your post. For a third entry (or second if you do not have a blog), tweet with a link to the contest on Twitter @Breastfeed123 and come back here to leave a third comment. After that, you might wish to check out this helpful article from Baby Carriers Direct entitled Breastfeed While Babywearing.

The contest ends at the end of the day Friday, April 24, 2009 PCT. I’ll pick the winner at random on Saturday, April 25. The winner will be contacted by email and with a post here at Breastfeeding 1-2-3, and will have until Tuesday, April 28 to reply with a valid mailing address in the United States or Canada. Good luck!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

A little birth control humor by Treyevan

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3