Is it time to wean yet?

by Holli Shiro

PART TWO
When you’re ready to start weaning, weaning can be mother-led or baby-led, but often it is a combination of both, with the mother watching for cues that her child is ready to be nudged a little closer to weaning completely from the breast. Some moms may be ready to wean completely, others may be feeling overwhelmed by the number of nursing sessions in a day, but aren’t quite ready to wean completely. Cutting down on nursing sessions can help bring some balance back to her life. It is generally not advisable to wean abruptly since this can be traumatizing to the child and cause mom to be susceptible to plugged ducts and mastitis.   

Common weaning strategies
Nursing is about more than just nutrition for mother and child. For the child, it is a source of comfort and love, and as many experienced moms know, a quick nursing session can soothe an upset child, calm down an over-stimulated one or serves as a no-fail way to get their baby to sleep. When you are taking away this experience at the breast for your child, it needs to be replaced with something that conveys the same message of love and comfort.  

1.  Don’t offer, don’t refuse: you can stop offering nursing sessions, but at the same time, nurse if her child requests it or clearly needs it.

2.  Use distraction or substitution: if child asks to nurse, offer a snack or to read a book or play a game instead. You can also change parts of your daily routine to eliminate a predictable nursing time.

3.  Use delay:  if child asks to nurse, tell her you’ll do it after you finish the dishes or fold the laundry, etc. The child may forget about nursing by the time you are finished.

4.  Limit nursing sessions. You can set limits, such as only nursing at home, not in public or nursing for the duration of a song or to the count of 10. 

5.  Involve dad or other family member in distracting child from a nursing session you want to drop. Can be especially helpful at bedtime or first thing in the morning.

Is It Time to Wean Yet?

by Holli Shiro

PART ONE
Technically speaking, weaning begins when something other than breastmilk is introduced to baby. For some babies weaning begins with a supplemental bottle of formula, for others it’s their first taste of rice cereal or smashed bananas. From this perspective, weaning is often a long process of gradually replacing breastmilk with other foods over the period of six months to several years.  Many mothers hear that their breastmilk no longer nutritionally benefits their baby after six months or one year of age. On the contrary, breastmilk continues to be highly nutritious and delivers immunological benefits to a growing baby or toddler for as long as they are breastfeeding.

The World Health Organization recommends: “Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends: “Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection. Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.”

Natural weaning age
Anthropologist Katherine Dettwyler has studied weaning ages in primates according to different variables, such as weaning according to tripling or quadrupling birth weight, gestation length, attaining 1/3 of adult weight, adult body size and weaning according to emergence of permanent molars. When applied to humans, natural weaning age ranges from a minimum of two years old to a maximum of seven years old. Of course, cultural norms play a large part in deciding when to wean completely from the breast. For non-western cultures, nursing until age 3 is common. Mothers in western cultures often wean at a much younger age.

Deciding to wean: what to consider
Child’s reasons for continuing to nurse: 
Tastes good, feels good, source of comfort and quality time with mom

Child’s reasons for weaning: 
Distracted by other activities, eating and drinking other foods

Mom’s reasons for continuing to nurse: 
Easy and free, good nutrition and immunological benefits, mothering tool

Mom’s reasons for weaning: 
Feels “touched out”, returning to work or school, desires return of fertility, outside pressures

How Important Is Breastfeeding, Really?

PART 2:  What do moms say?
(comments from moms of the La Leche League of Central Oahu group)

Breastfeeding is Practical:

• No hassle or worry about preparation of formula, nothing to sterilize, heat up, clean up
• Breastfeeding is available anytime, anyplace
• Breastfeeding is instant gratification for baby
• Often delays the return of your period
• No worry about baby getting good nutrition
• Economical (it’s free!)
• Helps with losing pregnancy weight

Breastfeeding Deepens Attachment:

• Helps at birth to bond and overcome the newness for baby and mother
• Hormones released during breastfeeding makes you feel good
• Helps you reconnect with your baby during tough times
• Love how baby looks into your eyes during nursing
• Skin to skin contact enhances bond
• Helps baby feel better when they are tired, hungry or hurt
• Nice knowing there’s always something to do to help your baby, a “quick fix”

Breastfeeding Helps You Know How To Be a Mother:

• Gives confidence in mothering abilities
• You’re more in tune with your baby so you can pick up on their cues sooner
• Perseverance through difficulties shows your strength and helps you confront challenges
• Opportunities for mother-to-mother bonding
• More reliance on your maternal instincts, takes outside pressure off and reassure you that you’re doing a good job 

How Important Is Breastfeeding, Really?

PART 1:  What does the research say?
(from The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, 8th edition)

There’s no formula that comes even close to the milk your body creates.  Your milk has every vitamin, mineral and other nutritional element that your baby’s body needs, including many that haven’t been discovered or named yet.

Living cells unique to breastmilk inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and viruses in your baby’s still-maturing system.

Interferons and inter-leukins are powerful anti-infectives found in breastmilk (they would cost a fortune if they were for sale!)

Without his normal food, baby is at higher risk for ear infections, intestinal upsets and respiratory problems.  Allergy and dental problems are more common.  Vision, nerves and intestines don’t develop fully.

With artificial baby food, a baby’s kidneys and liver work harder to process wastes products from formula.  Baby’s immune system’s response to vaccinations is less effective.

The risk of SIDS and infant death from many other causes is higher if a baby isn’t breastfed.

Colostrum “seals” baby’s brand-new intestinal walls to protect against foreign germs and proteins that could create allergic sensitivities.

When baby is breastfed, his jaw muscles are exercised and massaged in a way that causes the bones in his face and jaw to develop more fully.

When your newborn takes your breast soon after delivery, your uterus contracts and bleeding slows.

Women who haven’t breastfed are at greater risk for metabolic syndrome, which is a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes.

Breastfeeding is an insurance policy against breast, uterine and cervical cancer, meaning you are less susceptible to them.  Osteoporosis and fractures are more common in women who didn’t breastfeed.

There’s a surge of hormones (prolactin and oxytocin) in your body every time you breastfeed that makes you feel loving and nurturing, promoting bonding and attachment to your baby.

Back By Popular Demand: Boob Guru's Intro to Breastfeeding for Pregnant Moms

When: Sunday, October 3rd at 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Led by: Baby A's very own boob guru Naoko "Nicky" Lawnsby
Cost: $20 per person / $35 per couple

Learn all about breastfeeding from Honolulu's boob guru Nicky Lawnsby!

In this class, you will gain important knowledge to help mothers successfully feed their baby nature's way:

    * The basics of breastfeeding your newborn: latching, positioning, and breastfeeding cues
    * The basic anatomy and physiology of breastfeeding
    * The myths of breastfeeding
    * What to expect in the hospital and at home
    * How to prepare for returning to work

Partners are strongly encouraged to attend.

Nicky is Baby Awearness's full-time, in-store lactation consultant who specializes in the very effective technique of traditional Japanese lactation massage. Nicky is also an IBCLC certified Lactation Consultant and has over 20 years of experience in midwifery, breastfeeding, and women's health.

To reserve a spot at the lecture, please contact 988-0010 or lani@babyawearness.com  Preference will be given to those with due date in 2010. Maximum attendance is 10 people. Waitlist will be available on a first-come basis.

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If you cannot make the lecture and need help with breastfeeding, Nicky is available for personal, one-on-one consultations. Please contact Lani Lee at 988-0010 to schedule an appointment.

Mother-to-Mother Support for Breastfeeding Moms

Did you know there are free local breastfeeding information and support groups on Oahu through La Leche League? La Leche League is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization dedicated to helping mothers breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education. Accredited leaders are available to help mothers in person, through e-mail and over the phone. 

LLL holds monthly meetings open to any woman interested in breastfeeding. At the meetings, you’ll find new moms, experienced moms, moms of twins, military moms, working moms and moms-to-be.   Any questions are welcome and leaders have current and accurate information to help you, along with plenty of wisdom and support from the group if you need it. Babies are always welcome at meetings and you don’t have to become a member or sign up ahead of time. 

More about LLL:
La Leche League was founded by seven breastfeeding mothers in 1956.  These mothers noticed many other moms saying to them, “I tried to breastfeed, but I couldn’t…” and they decided to get together and invite pregnant friends and new moms to exchange information and support for breastfeeding. The organization grew quickly and today, La Leche League International has over 3,000 groups in 68 countries around the world.  www.llli.org

To find information on leaders and groups in Hawaii, visit our website.

National Woman's Health Week

Did you know that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in celebrating National Woman's Health Week? The week of May 9th to 15th was dedicated to empowering women to make their health a top priority. In honor of this, I would like to remind women that breastfeeding is a health preventative behavior that reaps benefits for a lifetime. Avoiding or abandoning breastfeeding increases a woman's risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type II diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease.

The decision to breastfeed greatly promotes good public health behavior that benefits not only infants but also their mothers. During National Women's Health Week, communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups work together to educate women about steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health as well as lower their risks of certain diseases. Women are often the caregivers for their spouses, children, and even their own elderly parents that they forget to focus on their own health. But research shows that when women take care of themselves, the health of their family improves.

Healthcare providers are urged to remind the childbearing population of women that they work with of the importance of breastfeeding as a method of reducing diseases and conditions that can rob them and their family of a healthy mother. Heart disease, for instance, is the number one killer of women in the U.S. Epidemiological data suggests that women who do not breastfeed or wean too early face a higher risk of disease and early death.

We should celebrate National Woman's Health week by wishing all moms a Happy and Healthy Mother's Day, every day.

Nursing Bras, A Mom's Breast Friend!

Breastfeeding frees a mother from all the usual diaper bag paraphernalia -- bottles, cooler, water, formula powder-to-go -- but there is one key item that all nursing moms should have on herself: a good nursing bra.

Many new mothers may think a nursing bra is more of an accessory, but it really is a necessity. They provide comfort, support, and convenience while helping a mother to perform one of the most important maternal acts: feeding baby from her very own body. Nursing bras are designed with cups that open or lower at the front with snaps or hook-on straps. The best nursing bras allow moms to undo a cup quickly and easily with one hand.

Hot Mama Maternity store manager Anna suggests that pregnant moms come in sometime at the end of their eighth month or after week 36 to get an initial fitting. "A mother-to-be can increase up to two cup sizes and even gain an inch or two in their ribcage during pregnancy."

A proper fitting by a professional can avoid problems down the line as an ill-fitting bra, or the construction of a non-nursing bra, sometimes can lead to plugged ducts and/or mastitis (breast infection). The added pressure on lactating breasts by regular underwire bras can also lead to clogged ducts.

Buy one or two nursing bras to have on hand for those first weeks after baby's birth. Once a mother's milk is established and she becomes acclimated to her new breasts, getting more nursing bras, usually in that first postpartum month, is fine. Three to five bras should be enough to meet a full-time nursing mother's needs.

Once you have your nursing bras, don't forget to get cotton nursing pads to absorb leaking milk. Also look into a few good nursing tops that provide added discretion for when you feed your baby in public settings. For at-home comfort, breastfeeding moms can also wear nursing camisoles, tanks, nightgowns, and pajamas.

At Hot Mama Maternity, we offer a complete line of fashionable and high-quality nursing bras and wear that will make mothers feel comfortable, beautiful, and stress-free through their breastfeeding relationship with baby. (LL)