It's hot. You're sweaty and sticky. You have this baby sweating in your arms and against your body as you nurse. You're thirsty and feeling dehydrated and reach for the water.
Should you also give your baby water? Does he need it? Is he getting enough fluid from just you?
The answer to these questions are fairly simple, but to a new mom, not necessarily known. All a newborn baby needs until around the middle of the first year is you and the milk you provide. Extra water is needed for you, but not your baby. Your baby will nurse more in the heat, but the water and minerals in breast milk are exactly what the baby needs at that time.
When the baby is around 6 months old (and many babies even older than that) they may start reaching for food. Go ahead and start introducing foods if you feel he is ready. But there is still no need to introduce a bottle or even a sippy cup at this time. Just continue to put him to the breast for thirst as well as for hunger. (Comfort nursing is still ok as well.)
As for the sweat you may feel, Mom, here is a trick I have seen many moms use. Find a light weight receiving blanket and place it across your belly tucking it up under your breast. The baby will be against the light blanket and will reduce the skin to skin sweat that many moms (including me!) don't like the feeling of. (With a HUGE thanks to the mom who taught me that trick several years ago.)
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Japan
The news has been filled with images from Japan. Earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear reactor failure, etc. What is one to do? What can we do? What if, what if, what if?
The first thing to remember as nursing moms is to continue nursing. As we well remember from Katrina, the babies who were nursed thrived. They did not suffer the severe dehydration or exposure to toxic sewage water that other babies were exposed to. There were moms who were cross-nursing to save lives of babies whose moms made the decision to not breastfeed. There were moms who were nursing babies keeping them alive while their mothers were missing. No food, no water, and these moms were nursing.
The human body knows what to do and adjust accordingly. The nursing baby will take from the mother's body (her fat reserves) to provide milk for the baby.
The same thing has happened in many other places around the world. In China, a police officer who was also a mom nursed a total of NINE babies to keep them alive. She had only one baby of her own. But, her body quickly accommodated to provide what those babies needed.
The only difference in Japan is the nuclear reactors. The babies still need to be breastfed. However, with the nuclear reactors, they, along with every other human, need KI and a medical doctor to dose it properly to protect them from the radiation.
Continue breastfeeding. Your life and the life of your baby depends on it.
The first thing to remember as nursing moms is to continue nursing. As we well remember from Katrina, the babies who were nursed thrived. They did not suffer the severe dehydration or exposure to toxic sewage water that other babies were exposed to. There were moms who were cross-nursing to save lives of babies whose moms made the decision to not breastfeed. There were moms who were nursing babies keeping them alive while their mothers were missing. No food, no water, and these moms were nursing.
The human body knows what to do and adjust accordingly. The nursing baby will take from the mother's body (her fat reserves) to provide milk for the baby.
The same thing has happened in many other places around the world. In China, a police officer who was also a mom nursed a total of NINE babies to keep them alive. She had only one baby of her own. But, her body quickly accommodated to provide what those babies needed.
The only difference in Japan is the nuclear reactors. The babies still need to be breastfed. However, with the nuclear reactors, they, along with every other human, need KI and a medical doctor to dose it properly to protect them from the radiation.
Continue breastfeeding. Your life and the life of your baby depends on it.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Meetings
I guess I forgot to let everyone know that meetings have resumed. February meeting has come and gone. March meeting will be on the 22nd from 1:30 - 2:30. I look forward to meeting new people and seeing familiar faces.
Monday, January 24, 2011
January Meeting Cancelled
I have wonderful news and sad news.
The wonderful news is a dear friend of mine has given birth to a beautiful, healthy 6lb 12oz baby boy on January 21. Both mom and baby are doing great. Baby has a perfect latch and mom is having a wonderful time being a new mom again. (This is baby number 4 for her.)
The sad news is I am in Indiana with her (sad for you, not for me) and will not be back in the Ozarks until Wednesday. As a result, La Leche League is cancelled (sad for everyone) for the month of January. Meeting will resume in February on the 22nd at 1:30 at the VFW as scheduled.
The wonderful news is a dear friend of mine has given birth to a beautiful, healthy 6lb 12oz baby boy on January 21. Both mom and baby are doing great. Baby has a perfect latch and mom is having a wonderful time being a new mom again. (This is baby number 4 for her.)
The sad news is I am in Indiana with her (sad for you, not for me) and will not be back in the Ozarks until Wednesday. As a result, La Leche League is cancelled (sad for everyone) for the month of January. Meeting will resume in February on the 22nd at 1:30 at the VFW as scheduled.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Cold and Flu
What does one do when mom has a cold or the flu and is breastfeeding?
The short answer is to continue breastfeeding. As mom is fighting the virus, antibodies are being created. Those antibodies are passed to the baby through the milk. If the baby gets sick, antibodies are already on hand to help the baby fight the illness. Generally speaking, breastfed babies are sick less often and when they do get sick are sick for shorter periods of time.
While sick, please remember to take basic sanitary precautions. Wash hands thoroughly. Cough and sneeze into your elbow. Remind others to do the same.
During cold and flu season, don't allow anyone with symptoms to hold your baby. Remind everyone, healthy or otherwise, to wash their hands before holding your baby.
The short answer is to continue breastfeeding. As mom is fighting the virus, antibodies are being created. Those antibodies are passed to the baby through the milk. If the baby gets sick, antibodies are already on hand to help the baby fight the illness. Generally speaking, breastfed babies are sick less often and when they do get sick are sick for shorter periods of time.
While sick, please remember to take basic sanitary precautions. Wash hands thoroughly. Cough and sneeze into your elbow. Remind others to do the same.
During cold and flu season, don't allow anyone with symptoms to hold your baby. Remind everyone, healthy or otherwise, to wash their hands before holding your baby.
We Have Meetings!
Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month at the VFW bingo hall in Isabella. Meetings are at 1:30, are smoke free, and handicapped accessible. Pregnant women, babies, and children are welcome.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
La Leche League
Welcome to La Leche League of Ozark County. While we are listed for Ozark County, Missouri, that does not mean we don't serve the surrounding areas. Quite the contrary. We serve where we are needed. We are here for you and your baby.
La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.
La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)