Nursing pillows- Are they really worth all the fluff?

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/17939157@N00/

Nursing pillows. They get mentioned a LOT by seasoned mamas, are on all of the must-have-baby-gear lists, and they tend to get a lot of flack from lactation professionals. Through our practically countless hours working with mamas to establish breastfeeding, we have developed some thoughts on the ('Boppy' vs. 'My Brest Friend' vs. no pillows) controversy, and hopefully can explain what all the hype is about so that you can make the decision that is right for you.

The first question we ask when mamas bring out the nursing pillow during a consult is this: is this currently working for you? Really dig deep on this one (remembering our golden rule that sore nipples and difficulty latching are NOT a normal phase but are a sign that something is not working).

If you think about it, the very idea of a nursing pillow implies that it is THE solution to comfortably positioning baby at the breast. But we know that moms and babies have unique positioning needs based on their anatomy. Factors include the mama's arm length, breast size, breast position on the chest wall, position of the nipple on the breast, torso height, waist size, leg length, chair height and depth, and, of course, the size of the baby. Then consider whatever other issues need to be worked on for comfort, including oral anatomy issues, supply/letdown concerns, craniosacral/chiropractic needs, or incision pain in the case of a cesarean.

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/
photos/edenpictures/4135954586

One important positioning tip is that the back of baby's head needs to be free, and sometimes the pillow encourages a mama to put her hand on the back of baby's head. Sometimes the pillow itself is pushing on baby's head, impeding his ability to open wide enough to get a really good latch, which can lead to nipple pain.

For a great latch, we need baby's chest to be close to mama's body so that his chin comes to the breast first and his head tips back. Sometimes, with the nursing pillow (more so with the Boppy than with the My Brest Friend) there tends to be a small trapezoidal gap between the pillow and the mother's torso. If we are trying to keep the baby ON the pillow, then his belly and chest may not be pushed up close to his mom, even if he is otherwise in a good position.

Another important point is that the baby should come to the "natural position" of the mama's breast. So, if your breasts and nipples are up high, then your baby needs to be held there. If the baby is held too low on her mama's lap because of a nursing pillow (as we see with the lovely mama pictured to the right), she will probably have either nipple or shoulder and neck pain from the nipple being pulled out of the baby's mouth or from crouching down for her breast to reach. On the other hand, if the mama's nipple or breast lies lower, or if she has a shorter torso, the pillow can bring the baby up too high, like in the Boppy billboard below.

"WE'RE # 1" Really, Boppy??

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/roniweb/

The fact that you probably won't be dragging your nursing pillow around town with you is another reason why we, and most of the other LCs we know, don't put all of our eggs in the Boppy/My Brest Friend basket. We don't want to see you unnecessarily held back by a feeding gadget. If you need to feed your baby, you need to be able to feed your baby. And if you are accustomed to using a pillow in order to get your baby to take the breast, we encourage practicing without the nursing pillow to help you to build confidence in your ability to breastfeed on the go.

Are there times when it works perfectly? Yep!
Some nursing mamas find that the pillow is just the right height for her to feel supported. Or perhaps she is nursing twins and simply needs a soft platform to support the babies' hips during tandem feeds.

Sometimes, it just feels comfortable.

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/theminniemoo/

5 things to do (and not do) before a lactation consultation!

We've seen a lot of mamas wonder what to do about their breastfeeding issues, and be it pain, grumpy baby, latch difficulty, colic, weird poops, or supply concerns, the answer should be a resounding "get help as soon as possible!"
It can be easy to feel like breastfeeding is rough in the early weeks for everyone, or that it's not that bad, but we truly want more for you. Once a mama has decided that things can be bettered and she's made the call... well, what next? Here are our suggestions for what to do (and not do) before a lactation appointment. 

1) Take lots of notes before your appointment. A lactation professional is going to be best able to help you get to where you want to be if she knows where you are today. Jot down some information about baby's feeds, sleeps, weights, medical events, pumping sessions, and supplements. Knowing how many diapers you have changed in the 24 or 48 hours before your appointment is also helpful.

2) Don't clean your house! Seriously, we've seen it all. If you are scheduling a home visit for lactation, nine times out of ten you are in crisis mode and we want you to be spending those precious moments with your baby or recharging your own batteries.

3) Don't change your feeding routine. Not just yet! Wait until after we have a chance to discuss the situation as it stands before starting an elimination diet, new formula, or supplement etc.

4) "Should I hold off on feeding her before the appointment time?" is actually the number one question we get after an appointment is scheduled! DO feed your baby whenever she or he cues you before the appointment. There is no need to worry about the baby being "full" when we arrive. We like to do LONG appointments for several reasons, but one of those is being sure of catching a complete feeding cycle, sometimes two. So if you are expecting us in half an hour and baby is starting to squirm, nurse away!

5) Do schedule your appointment during a time that is the most challenging part of the day for you. For example, if your baby rejects the breast every morning, schedule a morning appointment. And if latch is hardest in the evenings, have us come at that time. We want to see how things are going at their worst so that we can properly assess.




So, what other tips would you add to this list?
As always, if you have any other questions, feel free to send them our way. 

What really worries us about informal milk sharing- and it's not what you'd think!

We have to start off by saying that we unequivocally recommend breast milk. As they say, "human milk for human babies"- it just makes sense. If a mama's own milk isn't available, donor milk from another mama is the very next best thing, and yes it's better than formula. The debate in the lactation consultant world tends to be over "informal" versus "formal" milk sharing. Formal being through an official milk bank (which blends, pasteurizes, and homogenizes... making breast milk prohibitively expensive and turning women's efforts into big business profits).

Informal milk sharing is everything else.

It's manually expressing colostrum for a friend's toddler who keeps getting sick in daycare. It's giving half of your frozen pumped stash to a mom who is going back to work and doesn't have milk saved. It's food for babies who can't tolerate artificial formula but never latched on to their mother's breast. It's cross-nursing and wet-nursing, and yes, both of those things really happen!


Informal milk sharing has some risks, and moms should be and are generally aware of them. An improper donor could pass along a disease, could have incorrectly stored the milk, or could be taking drugs. All of these reasons are why milk sharing communities widely discourage purchasing breast milk. Freely giving milk is a time consuming process, and is a labor of love. The World Health Organization recommends milk from a "healthy donor", yet some lactation consultants will universally discourage milk sharing unless the mothers are participating in the formal milk bank system because of those (admittedly rare) risks.

What really worries us about informal milk sharing is not any of those things. It's what may be happening behind all of that beautiful sharing for both the donor and the recipient. Are they getting the support that they need?

Mamas who have hundreds and thousands of bags of milk frozen may be pumping like crazy because they are suffering with an oversupply problem. They are at risk of mastitis and plugged ducts if they were to suddenly stop pumping, and may not know how to get out of this situation. Or they might not be feeding their milk to their own baby because he or she has symptoms of intestinal distress and their pediatrician or GI specialist has advised them to stop nursing and switch to a specialty formula. These women need support.

Mamas who are supplementing with donor milk may have a baby who never latched. Or they struggled with low milk supply. Or they are returning to work and don't have the appropriate tools and support in place to provide milk for their baby.

All of those things can be compounded by the continuation of the milk sharing cycle, because supplementing with breastmilk is still supplementing and still reduces supply. It can throw the whole system out of balance. The best thing women can do when they are milk sharing is to contact a lactation professional and talk over whatever concerns they might be having. And if the lactation professional gives them a lecture about the dangers of milk sharing instead of lending an ear and offering real support, we hope they have the courage to pick up the phone one more time and call someone else. 

The Fourth Trimester  is honored to be your advocate!

Call us for a free breastfeeding phone consultation-

 Gladis- 727-657-7370     Emily- 727-452-4809

Email- fourthtri@gmail.com

www.TheFourthTrimester.net

Photo courtesy of Aurimas!

Twins breastfeeding story!

 

Nursing twins can be a handful, but it is absolutely possible. If the babies won't latch- get help immediately. One twin-mom that we worked with posted this awesome love note on our Facebook wall: 

"I was ready to give up attempting to breastfeeding my twins. I had been pumping for 8 weeks and I couldn't handle it. Then I met the ladies at The Fourth Trimester and things started to change. They recognized oral anatomy issues right away. Once that was fixed they stayed in touch with me and came for a couple more visits as determined as I was to make sure my twins would latch. 

I can not thank them enough for their help." 

Seeing this mom's joy in her success makes it all worth it.



image courtesy of MultiplesParent!

What to do if you need professional lactation support but can't afford it

     

        Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/17939157@N00/  

If you are having difficulty breastfeeding, it's important to get help early to get things back on track as quickly as possible. Newborn babies nurse very often and follow instinctual feeding cues which establish the foundation for a solid breastfeeding dynamic. Not reaching out for help during the early postpartum period can have unintended consequences for the future of your breastfeeding relationship. But this doesn't just apply to the newborn period- sometimes problems crop up later on down the road as well. Delaying getting help when you have sore or cracked nipples can lead to infection on the nipple, or even mastitis.

We believe that all mamas and babies deserve the vital support that lactation professionals provide. Please do not let your financial situation stand in your way of reaching out for support. When a stumbling block is encountered and it seems like hiring an LC is financially impossible, consider these potential solutions!

• Ask your insurance company to cover the fee. That is their obligation under the Affordable Care Act. Lactation services are categorized under preventative health care and should be covered with no co pay or cost sharing. Because this legislation is still new, your mileage may vary.

• Use your HSA card!

• Or, pay first and seek reimbursement from your insurance provider after. We always provide a coded bill to our clients so that they can be reimbursed after a lactation visit.

• Consider a payment plan. This could be an arrangement with your LC herself to spread out the fee over time, or using Paypal to "Buy Now Pay Later". Rest assured that she has probably been asked before if she would take the fee for a lactation visit in installments and, while she may or may not offer that service, she won't think less of you for asking.

• Ask for it as a baby gift from friends and relatives. Someone wants to shower you with more baby stuff? Your coworkers want to go in on a "big gift" together? Ask for the funds you need to cover these valuable services.

• If possible, plan ahead and save a little money each month during your pregnancy that is ear-marked for getting breastfeeding off the ground. This might include lactation visits, breastfeeding supplies, or chiropractic care. You may never need to spend the money in your "lactation fund", but if you do need to, you'll know it's there. 

• Sell items you have been meaning to get rid of. I can personally think of at least 3 things in my home that we aren't using or loving but that have real value to someone else. Bonus to selling these items to pay for a lactation consultant is that you will free up valuable space in your home!

• Temporarily rearrange some categories in your budget. Can you give up 2 date nights or cut your grocery budget in half one week? Do you have both Hula and Netflix, and could you give up your subscription to one of them? 

• Borrow the money, or collect on money that a family member might owe to you! Did your sister's family say that they would pay half for a vacation rental you shared and you both said you'd get the money back "later"? Now is a great time.

• Offer a barter of services. Are you a web designer or math tutor? Does your partner have his own business doing landscaping, accounting, or catering? We truly believe that everyone has something to offer, and while the LC you are trying to schedule with might not be interested in a barter, it is worth it to ask! It is, at any rate, more respectful to all parties to offer to trade the equivalent value of your time and skills for her time and skills than to simply ask for her to waive or lower her prices.

• And finally, utilize the many free support options that are available to you. La Leche League groups, Baby Cafes, WIC peer counselors, and free hospital moms groups are great places to start. We tend to refer moms to in person support with a trained leader over internet support simply because breastfeeding advice given online without being able to actually observe the mother and baby can sometimes do more harm than good. But there are so many places moms can get breastfeeding support for free! Remember that volunteer breastfeeding helpers are passionate, but can only do so much because they have families and work of their own. However this option may buy you a bit of time while you figure out one of the other suggestions above.

Know when to ask for help: If it is sometimes difficult to latch your baby on or positioning feels awkward, if you are experiencing nipple, breast, or shoulder pain, if you aren't sure if you have enough milk, if baby is fussy, gassy, spits up frequently, you're considering an elimination diet, baby loses weight during the first few weeks, or isn't having yellow stools by the 4th day of life, we'd like you to know that things could be better!

The Fourth Trimester is honored to be your advocate. Call us for a free breastfeeding consultation. 

Gladis  - 727-657-7370     Emily - 727-452-4809

Email: fourthtri@gmail.com  www.TheFourthTrimester.net

How do I know if my pediatrician TRULY supports breastfeeding?

How do I know if my pediatrician TRULY supports breastfeeding?

Interviewing pediatricians? Start the dialogue

by asking what they know and believe about breastfeeding.

Does this pediatrician...

believe that breastfeeding is the biological norm and formula feeding and even pumping are lifestyle choices?

A doctor that truly supports breastfeeding will never minimize your feelings in an effort to help you feel "better". Saying that "it's not that bad" doesn't help to solve the actual problem. Your pediatrician should always listen and empathize if you share that breastfeeding is not going well.

support the World Health Organization's position on breastfeeding? Or does he/she promote early weaning?

"WHO recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development, and health. Thereafter, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed for up two years or more."

understand the WHO's definition of exclusive breastfeeding?

"Exclusive breastfeeding means that the infant receives only breast milk -not even water- with the exception of oral re-hydration solution, or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals, or medicines."

only use the most current published WHO Infant Growth Charts for exclusively breastfed infants?

If the chart is based on breastfed babies and the baby's growth percentile has dropped, this is a red flag to take a closer look and see if breastfeeding can be improved.

understand what is normal for breastfeeding moms and babies?

This includes how much and how frequently breastfed babies typically eat (guess what- it's different from formula feeding babies!), what pumping is generally like, and what some signs of trouble are. For example, if a mom is struggling to pump enough, or if she is experiencing any breast pain or sore nipples.

seem willing to have a discussion about the importance of oral anatomy for pain-free, effective breastfeeding?

We frequently hear of pediatricians suggesting that lip tied or tongue tied babies are "fine" or that feeding "should be okay", yet mama and baby are struggling. Minimizing these issues as a medical fad is not productive or evidence-based.

consider feeding difficulties when making a diagnosis? And make referrals for lactation support?

Working with a lactation professional to rule out common breastfeeding issues that can sometimes masquerade as other problems (such as reflux, colic, constipation, or allergies) is an excellent first step before supplementing or beginning a medical treatment.

 Newborn babies nurse very often and follow instinctual feeding cues which are vital to getting breastfeeding off to the best possible start. Unnecessary disruptions to breastfeeding can have unintended consequences to the nursing relationship. Take care before starting your breastfed baby on supplements by first ruling out breastfeeding problems, but be especially wary of any health professional that suggests stopping breastfeeding without a discussion of the risks and benefits. 

When to Call For Help:

• It is sometimes difficult to latch your baby on or position feels awkward
• You are experiencing nipple, breast, or shoulder pain
• You aren't sure if you have enough milk
• Baby is fussy, gassy, spits up frequently, or you are considering an elimination diet
• Baby loses weight during the first few weeks, or isn't having yellow stools by day 4 of life. 

The Fourth Trimester  is honored to be your advocate!  Call us for a free breastfeeding phone consultation.

 Gladis- 727-657-7370     Emily- 727-452-4809

Email- fourthtri@gmail.com

www.TheFourthTrimester.net

 

 

  

Happy Earth Day!

on the ins and outs of the lactation profession

The lovely Sarah Juliusson has featured us on the Birth Your Business blog! 

 We love what we do and feel so honored to walk with our mamas and babies on their journeys.

Photography provided by Kim Turner Photography

Oxytocin Love

What can YOU, as a childcare provider, do to help breastfeeding moms? And why does this matter?

Caring for infants and small children is no easy feat! Childcare providers and working parents of breastfed infants face some unique challenges. Namely, there is the whole pumping thing! More mothers than ever before are working and separated from their infants on a regular basis and intend to provide breastmilk during these separations. Unfortunately, this can be a difficult transition for a couple of reasons. In general, many people believe that working mothers have a hard time meeting their breastfeeding goals because they think that 1) breastfeeding is harder than formula feeding and that 2) women often do not produce enough milk. 

Before we tease apart these beliefs, we'd like to address why childcare providers are benefited by mothers being successful at breastfeeding their babies. The biggest benefits we see, in the daycare setting, are that breastfed babies are sick less frequently, and healthy babies are happy babies! And of course, the less sick babies daycare employees are exposed to, the less work they will have to miss. Also, when mothers are supported by their childcare team in meeting their breastfeeding goals, they are going to recommend the source of high quality care to others. And childcare providers are uniquely situated to make a difference! Whether they are working in the family's home, a home daycare, or an early learning setting, childcare providers see mothers day in and day out, on the best days and the most discouraging ones. They also tend to spend the majority of each day with the infants in their care, so they often develop close relationships with the families they serve. Even more important is the fact that childcare providers are a type of baby-professional and are a source of information about what is or isn't "normal" for many parents. While the vast majority of childcare providers aren't moonlighting as lactation professionals, we bet that each one could come up with at least one mom that they remember struggled with pumping after she returned to work. 

As we said earlier, there are a couple of beliefs about breastfeeding that tend to circulate in our culture. We, as a population, tend to believe that breastfeeding is a good thing, but that it is "harder" than formula feeding is, and by following that line of thinking many people feel that formula feeding is better for some situations (especially when moms are returning to work) because of the stress associated with breastfeeding. We would like to point out a couple of things regarding these beliefs. Firstly, breastfeeding can be hard, but we find that infants are simply very demanding of our time, energy, and resources. They only know to ask for what they need, and they have no understanding of boundaries. This includes both formula and breastfed babies! Secondly, breastfeeding sometimes has a learning curve. If it is painful or difficult, mothers can and should get help, and the sooner the better. Once breastfeeding is well established it is actually less work than formula feeding. There is no mixing, measuring, sterilizing, or running out in the middle of the night. Working moms reap those benefits during all of the time that they are with their baby, even if they do not have the ease of simply latching on during the day. When mothers breastfeed they also experience something called a "letdown". While letdown sounds like a negative thing, this is when the milk begins to flow more freely and is triggered by the release of oxytocin- a relaxing and soothing hormone. Both nursing mothers and babies benefit from the release of oxytocin, as it helps to reduce stress and promote bonding. What working mom doesn't need a good dose of oxytocin to boost her mood and help her reconnect with her baby in spite of all of the demands on her time? 

As far as the belief that many women have difficulty producing enough milk, we will say that this is a very common concern but that it really should not be happening in most situations. In a well established breastfeeding relationship, supply is regulated by stimulation and milk removal. As the baby nurses, the mother's supply is maintained. However, this natural balance can be upset by many different factors during the back-to-work months including long separations from the baby, pumping instead of breastfeeding, introducing early solids, or supplementing with formula. Working with a lactation professional can help! 

Here are some things that childcare providers can do to help prevent early weaning:

• Openly support nursing in public in the childcare setting. At the very least, know that this means you are following the law (here in Florida, women are legally permitted to breastfeed anywhere and without a cover). Better still is knowing that by encouraging a mother to nurse her baby last thing before she leaves and first thing when she returns, you are helping to keep the breastfeeding relationship strong. 
• Invite the nursing mom to stop in during her lunch hour to nurse if that is logistically possible for her. This is an excellent tactic if she feels like her supply might be getting low.
• Don't minimize her feelings in an effort to help her feel "better". Saying that it's "not that bad" to supplement with formula doesn't help to solve the actual problem. Do listen and empathize if she shares how hard this time is. 
• Educate yourself on what is normal for breastfeeding moms and babies. This includes how much and how frequently breastfed babies typically eat (guess what- it's different from formula feeding babies!), what pumping is generally like, and what some signs of trouble are. For example, if a mom is struggling to pump enough, or if she is experiencing any breast pain or sore nipples. 
• Ensure that all staff know the basics about human milk storage and handling. It's not a bio hazardous bodily substance, for example, yet many facilities require it to be stored in a separate refrigerator. It is normal for the cream to rise to the top, leaving the more watery milk at the bottom. We have heard of many parents and caretakers tossing moms milk out because it looked curdled after sitting for several hours. It's also important to not vigorously shake the milk to recombine the cream with the milk- this can damage the delicate live particles in human milk. 
• Finally, it is wonderful if you can point nursing mothers and babies in the right direction when they are struggling. Keep a list of local lactation professionals in your parent resources. Bonus points if they do home visits and are familiar with pumping and returning back to work! You might even think of handing this out to all of the new families that you take on.

Resources- Breastfeeding and Medications

Dr. Jack Newman: "Over the years, far too many women have been wrongly told they had to stop breastfeeding because they must take a particular drug. The decision about continuing breastfeeding when the mother takes a drug, for example, is far more involved than whether the baby will get any of the drug in the milk. It also involves taking into consideration the risks of not breastfeeding, for the mother, the baby and the family, as well as society. And there are plenty of risks in not breastfeeding, so the question essentially boils down to: Does the addition of a small amount of medication to the mother’s milk make breastfeeding more hazardous than formula feeding? The answer is almost never."

Read more about the topic of Breastfeeding and Medications from Dr. Jack Newman and the International Breastfeeding Centre here.

If your doctor is telling you that you must pump and dump your breast milk, or to stop breastfeeding all together, please visit the following resources and share the information with your prescribing physician:

CLICK HERE FOR - United States National Library of Medicine - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed)

"A peer-reviewed and fully referenced database of drugs to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed. Among the data included are maternal and infant levels of drugs, possible effects on breastfed infants and on lactation, and alternate drugs to consider."

CLICK HERE FOR - Texas Tech University Health Sciences - InfantRisk Center - Dr. Thomas Hale

The InfantRisk Center will be dedicated to providing up-to-date evidence-based information on the use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding.  Our goal is to provide accurate information regarding the risks of exposure to mothers and their babies.  By educating healthcare professionals and the general public alike, we aim to reduce the number of birth defects as well as create healthy breastfeeding relationships. 

We are now open to answer calls Monday-Friday 8am-5pm central time. Please contact us at (806)-352-2519

- See more at: http://www.infantrisk.com/#sthash.hoyp3zmX.dpuf

The InfantRisk Center will be dedicated to providing up-to-date evidence-based information on the use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding.  Our goal is to provide accurate information regarding the risks of exposure to mothers and their babies.  By educating healthcare professionals and the general public alike, we aim to reduce the number of birth defects as well as create healthy breastfeeding relationships. 

We are now open to answer calls Monday-Friday 8am-5pm central time. Please contact us at (806)-352-2519

- See more at: http://www.infantrisk.com/#sthash.hoyp3zmX.dpuf

"The Infant Risk Center will be dedicated to providing up-to-date evidence-based information on the use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding.  Our goal is to provide accurate information regarding the risks of exposure to mothers and their babies.  By educating healthcare professionals and the general public alike, we aim to reduce the number of birth defects as well as create healthy breastfeeding relationships. 

We are now open to answer calls Monday-Friday 8am-5pm central time. Please contact us at (806)-352-2519."

Our personal message to "our mamas"-
We cannot stress this information enough... The unfortunate truth is that most doctors receive very little formal education about the science, benefits, or importance of breastfeeding for mother and baby. And even fewer know that there are resources available to them to help them properly advise patients on how pharmacology impacts (or doesn't impact) nursing babies. Newborn babies nurse very often and follow instinctual feeding cues which is vital to getting breastfeeding off to the best possible start and to ensure a solid nursing foundation.  Unnecessary disruptions to breastfeeding, based on bad advice can have unintended consequences to the nursing relationship. Take care before starting a medication, but be especially wary of any health professional that suggests stopping breastfeeding without a discussion of the risks and benefits.

The Fourth Trimester is honored to be your advocate~

The InfantRisk Center will be dedicated to providing up-to-date evidence-based information on the use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding.  Our goal is to provide accurate information regarding the risks of exposure to mothers and their babies.  By educating healthcare professionals and the general public alike, we aim to reduce the number of birth defects as well as create healthy breastfeeding relationships. 

We are now open to answer calls Monday-Friday 8am-5pm central time. Please contact us at (806)-352-2519

- See more at: http://www.infantrisk.com/#sthash.hoyp3zmX.dpuf

Sneak Peek

We recently did a Fourth Trimester photo-shoot with the lovely Kim Turner Smith of Kim Turner Photography for a super secret project... Now, Kim really specializes in birth photography, but since she was at Emily's youngest child's birth and there is that special bond, she agreed to do some dreamy photographer work for us- and they are too gorgeous to not share a tiny sliver of. We love you Kim Turner!

Want more details about this thing we're keeping hush hush? Stay tuned!

What is Baby-Led Weaning: Introducing Solids & Full-Term Breastfeeding

Baby-led weaning is the simple concept of allowing your baby to feed himself solid foods in their whole state, rather than spoon-feeding purees. It typically starts later than spoon feeding purees because it's very foundation is the baby's developmental readiness for solid foods. There are many signs of readiness to look for including sitting unassisted, fine motor skills that enable baby to pick up bite sized pieces of food- typically in a pincer grasp over a raking grasp, and the ability to move foods around in the mouth (babies who aren't ready aren't sitting up and their tongue thrust reflex typically pushes food out immediately). The other piece of the readiness puzzle is interest in food. As a baby becomes less dependent on exclusively breastfeeding, he simultaneously becomes more interested in food. This is a natural and healthy progression, but it's not always a linear process. A baby who is allowed to self-feed is in touch with his own hunger and fullness, and he will sometimes eat more solids and sometimes eat less. Trusting the baby's body to know what to do can be unnerving, because in our culture, we tend to obsess over whether or not babies and children are eating enough.

Following your six month old baby's cues about solid foods is every bit as important for developing healthy eating habits as following your 6 day old baby's cues about frequency of nursing and duration! In fact, we see baby-led weaning as the natural extension of the breastfeeding relationship. Baby-led weaning is simple, but very different from how many of us were weaned. There are no strict schedules. No coercion.

Following your six month old baby's cues about solid foods is every bit as important as following your 6 day old baby's cues about frequency of nursing and duration!

Babies eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. It requires no pureeing or spoon-feeding, and usually very little preparation. You just offer your baby healthy foods, prepared the way you would eat them. Some parents choose to start out slow, offering only one new food per week to ensure that they catch any evidence of an allergic reaction. Others choose to feed their baby any and all appropriate foods that the family is eating each day. Either way, as your baby grows, you will be exposing your child to healthy food combinations. This includes the flavors and spices of your family's favorite cuisines!

The idea is to teach baby about eating and self- regulation through the exploration of the colors, textures, and flavors of real food. Good choices to start with include avocado, banana, cooked carrots, sweet potato,  peas, beans, meats, fish, peaches, corn, broccoli, asparagus, sliced olives... Introducing grains after fruits, veggies, and protein foods is recommended by the World Health Organization because grains are now known to be a fairly allergenic food group! This is obviously going to be a shock to anyone who expects all babies to begin solids with infant cereal. Other potential allergens include tree nuts, peanuts, egg whites, and dairy. We suggest that you consult with your pediatrician or use caution if your family has several known food allergies. Getting over the fear of choking can be difficult for parents, especially when the weaning baby has no teeth. The good news is that babies typically know what they can handle and what they can't, and most of the foods we mentioned can be mashed between the gums pretty well. Some gagging with certain textures might happen, but it is usually not a problem.

So, when is a good time to begin offering pieces of "real food"? We suggest to our mamas that they wait until their babies are six months old. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed (which means only receiving breastmilk) for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development, and health. After six months, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or more. The Fourth Trimester wholeheartedly agrees with the WHO recommendation and counsels to its recommendations.

And yours does too!

It's so worth it...

My body...

Spend some time...

 

Don't Settle- Protect Your Sacred Fourth Trimester

Are you feeling stressed at the mere thought of well-meaning guests or out of town company arriving after the birth of your baby? 

Remember, you need to feel safe and secure and be surrounded by positive support- not entertaining house guests and passing around your baby.  The Fourth Trimester is a really crucial time. Set firm limits and clear expectations. Or, be vague about your EDD if you must. Don't settle on this. If you are you pregnant and want to know more about The Fourth Trimester and how to protect and make the most of this sacred time, contact us today! 

 fourthtri@gmail.com

727-657-7370

727-452-4809

Your Milk Is Perfect!

The Mermaids are on Insta- Check us out!

The Fourth Trimester takes on Instagram- 

We want to share with you what inspires us! xoxo

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Come Pin With Us!

Pinterest is amazing! New parents constantly need information on the go and Pinterest has a mobile app that works really well. What more could a Fourth Trimester mama ask for? How-to resources, links to blogs, videos, articles, witty memes, and artwork galore. 

There are a lot of curve balls that get thrown at us in this parenting thing. 

Sometimes we need to do some research. We get a lot of questions from mamas AND other birth professionals that are specific and require thoughtful one-on-one investigation to answer, but many other questions are broad like "what does baby led weaning mean?" and "what if I fall asleep while nursing in a side lying position?" So, for moments like those, we have been collecting some of our favorite resources on these boards. 

The next time you want some info on the mother support resources, composition of breastmilk, pumping strategies, cosleeping and nighttime parenting, baby led weaning, or tongue ties and lip ties come to Pinterest and see what you can find on our lovingly curated boards.

The social media component of it is really powerful too. Have you ever wondered how to share with your friends and family what you believe in without sending them a boring list of links? Do you want to have beautiful inspiring images in your Pinterest feed to share with your friends? You know what to do ;)