Welcome! I'm so glad you're here!
Breastfeeding is a passion of mine. And while I'm no longer nursing my own babies, I love to help families reach their breastfeeding goals. My private practice allows me to meet families in their own homes. I also provide virtual visits.
I started this blog to reach families who are looking for some real information about breastfeeding. I aim to be open, honest, and realistic. Topics will be added sporadically (because I'm a mom of four who works full time and runs a part time business!), so check back every once in a while! Scroll all the way down to get started.
I hope my blog answers your questions about breastfeeding! If you still have questions, please join me on Facebook on:
my page https://www.facebook.com/loveispatientlactation or
in my group https://www.facebook.com/groups/715661955632045
or send me a quick email at Alexis@loveispatientlactation.com
Post #3 What the heck is in breastmilk, anyway? 3.7.21
Breastmilk is full of important vitamins, nutrients, probiotics, prebiotics, immune cells and factors, growth hormones, and more!
Human milk is designed specifically for human babies and children. It contains the right amounts and types of protein, lactose, and fat that the human child requires.
Composition of milk
87% water
7% carbs
4% fat
1.5% proteins
0.2% vitamins and minerals
0.5-2% prebiotics
Water
Your milk is mostly water: about 87%
Your exclusively breastfed baby never needs extra water, even if it’s hot outside.
Carbohydrates
Carbs make up about 7% of your milk. Carbs are where we get Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs). HMOs can prevent microbes from attaching to baby’s cells, helping to prevent viral, bacterial, and some parasitic infections.
Lactose is the main carbohydrate that makes up milk. Milk also contains small amounts of glucose and fructose.
Lactose
Lactose provides about 40% of your baby’s energy needs. Lactose enhances calcium and iron absorption. It’s essential for the development of the central nervous system.
Foremilk vs hindmilk
In truth, there are NOT two different kinds of milk. Foremilk refers to the milk at the beginning of a feeding, when breasts are full and contain a little less fat. Hind milk refers to the milk at the end of a feeding, when breasts are less full and contain more fat. The amount of fat in your milk can be the same from the end of one feeding, to the beginning of the next feeding. Again, there is no reason to try to engineer the amount of fat in your milk. Baby will get exactly what baby needs.
Fats
Fats make up about 4% of your milk. Fat provides about 50% of your baby’s energy needs. Fats are essential for making eye and brain tissues, and for immune system development. Most of the fats in human milk are triglycerides. Fatty acids in milk are responsible for developing the central nervous system, immune system, and for growth.
You can not control the amount of fat in your milk. You can, however, influence the type of fats in your milk. About 80% of your milk’s fat can be influenced by your diet. The amount of fat in your milk at any given time depends on how full your breasts are. If your breasts are very full, the fat in your milk could be as low as 1%, whereas if your breasts are nearly empty, there could be more than 10% fat in your milk. There is no reason to try to adjust how much fat your baby gets, because it all balances to about 4% by the end of the day.
The different fats in your milk have different jobs. Some get digestion started in your mouth, while others continue digestion throughout the GI tract.
Protein
Protein makes up about 1.5% of your milk.
Human milk contains over 700 different proteins.
Casein makes up about 40% of human milk proteins, and whey proteins make up the other 60%. In the early days of breastfeeding, whey actually makes up about 80% of the proteins in your milk, and gradually decreases as baby ages.
Casein
Casein proteins provide minerals and essential amino acids to your baby. Casein has multiple functions, including antihypertensive (anti high blood pressure), antimicrobial, immune system modulating, and GI functions. Casein is what causes the more solid parts of baby poop. (Those little seed-like or cottage cheese-like chunks.) Casein gives milk its white color.
Whey
There are many different whey proteins that have many different functions. For instance, a-lactalbumin helps to produce milk, it helps baby absorb minerals, contains amino acids, has antibacterial properties, and can break up tumor cells. Whey protein is what causes the rapid digestion. It gives milk its bluish tint.
Vitamins
There are two types of vitamins: water soluble and fat soluble. Vitamins make up about 0.2% of your milk.
Water soluble vitamins
B vitamins
B vitamins are important for cell metabolism.
B1 (thiamine) is important for breaking down carbohydrates.
B2 (riboflavin) is important for normal cell growth and function.
B6 (pyridoxine) is important for protein and fat metabolism, immune function, and blood production.
B12 (cobalamin) is important for blood production, maintaining the central nervous system, and DNA synthesis.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. It helps to repair tissues, and produce some neurotransmitters (neurotransmitters carry messages from one brain/nerve cell to the next.) It is influenced by the breastfeeding parent’s diet, but supplements do not change the amount of Vitamin C in your milk.
Fat soluble vitamins
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is vital for vision, and maintaining the immune system and skin cells.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D has many roles. It’s important for bone health; muscle functions; brain development; preventing high blood pressure, cancer, asthma, depression, Alzheimer’s, MS, Chron’s disease; cardiovascular functions; and maintaining the respiratory system. Many people are deficient in Vitamin D because we live a lifestyle that keeps us mostly indoors. You can ensure that baby gets enough Vitamin D by making sure your own Vitamin D level is normal. Your baby’s doctor might also recommend supplementing baby with Vitamin D drops.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is responsible for blood clotting, and helping wounds to heal.
Minerals
Calcium
Calcium is used in bone growth, and in muscle and heart function.
Fluoride
Fluoride is important for dental health and preventing the growth of bacteria in the mouth.
Iodine
Iodine is required for making thyroid hormones.
Iron
Iron is an important component in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
Zinc
Zinc is required for function of the immune system, wound healing, making DNA, and supports normal growth and development.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are the food for probiotics. They feed the beneficial microorganisms that live in our gut. Breastmilk is the only living tissue that makes prebiotics.
We are constantly discovering new things in breastmilk! And much of what makes up breastmilk is still being studied. A specific protein structure called HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal to Tumor cells) is being studied as a treatment for cancer!
Pretty amazing, in't it?
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post #2 Breastfeeding Basics 3.2.21
Getting started
When baby is born, it is ideal to breastfeed in the first hour of life, often called the golden hour. Doing so sets you up for a successful breastfeeding relationship. If this isn’t possible, there are ways to recreate this first hour.
Skin to skin is so important. Keeping baby skin to skin helps both of you to heal from delivery, regulates baby’s temperature, and begins to form those strong parent/baby bonds. The more skin contact, the better. Keep baby in just a diaper on your bare chest. This is also a great way to bond for non-birthing parents, siblings, and grandparents.
Link to here for more in depth information https://sdwic.org/wic_library/breastfeeding/the-basics/getting-started-with-breastfeeding/
Welcome! If you've made it to this page, I imagine that’s because you want to breastfeed. You know the importance of breastfeeding and you want the bonding that comes with it. Right? (If not and you’re looking for more information on the importance of breastfeeding, scroll up to read my blog post, Why Breastfeed?)
So you want to breastfeed. But, how does it work? How do you do this? Where do you start?
Well, you’ve already started! You’re working to learn all about breastfeeding and that’s the first step. Great job!
How often should I feed my baby?
The day baby is born, they may be very sleepy. Birth is hard work! Baby will likely have a first feeding, and then sleep for a few hours. Watch for baby’s hunger cues (see below) to know when to feed. If a few hours have passed and baby hasn’t woken to nurse, go ahead and rouse that baby! A few feedings in the first 24 hours will be enough. By the next day, baby is going to be a little more awake and start showing signs of hunger. This will be a day of learning for you and your baby. You’ll practice positioning, latching, maintaining suction, and responding to hunger cues. By day three, your baby is going to be HUNGRY! Baby will likely want to nurse frequently. This is not only to fill that tiny tummy, but also to help your body to increase milk supply. After this, you’ll continue to nurse your baby 10-12 times per day, or about every 1.5-3 hours. Be sure to feed on demand, which means watching for baby’s hunger cues.
How much milk will my baby need?
In the first few days, your baby will be drinking colostrum. This is a thick and sticky fluid full of antibodies, live cells, and dense amounts of nutrients. Your baby will drink tiny amounts of colostrum on day one. A feeding of colostrum is about 1 teaspoon! Over the next couple of days, your baby will drink more often and start taking in a little more colostrum. Around days 3-5 you’’ll notice that your breasts start to become a little larger and they feel “fuller.” You may leak some milk. This is your milk “coming in.” Now is when baby begins to really increase the amount of milk they will drink. By day three your baby will drink about 1-2 Tbsp of milk per feeding, and by one week they are drinking 3-4 Tbsp (1.5 -2oz) at a feeding. By one month, your baby may drink 2.5-5oz every time. BUT…. you won’t see the amount of milk per feeding if you have baby directly at the breast!
Feeding cues
I mentioned watching your baby for hunger signs. This is vital to ensuring that you will make a full milk supply and that baby will eat enough. Babies will eat very often, around the clock. Signs to watch for are stirring/waking, opening the mouth, turning the head side to side. Later signs include increased movement, moving the hands to the mouth, sucking on hands or whatever may be close, like your cheek or shoulder! Don’t wait until your baby starts to get agitated. Crying is a late sign of hunger, and it’s hard to eat when you’re upset!
Latch
Okay, now you know a little about colostrum and milk, how often to feed your baby, and how much your baby will drink… but how do we get that milk into the baby?
Baby will latch to your breast. Baby will open their mouth wide and latch to the areola (that dark skin around your nipple), and draw the nipple deep into the mouth. If baby needs some help to do this, you will you aim your nipple at baby’s nose, bring baby close to you swiftly when the mouth opens (not you down to baby), and watch that baby’s chin touches the breast first. The important thing is that latching and feeding shouldn’t hurt you! If it hurts, unlatch and try again.
Positioning
There are many different positions to use to feed your baby. Learning which positions are right for you and baby will take some practice.
Cradle: The traditional position that we see people breastfeed in is called the cradle position. While this is convenient and comfortable, it’s not always the easiest position for parents and babies who are learning. In cradle, you hold baby in the arm that is on the same side as the breast you are feeding from.
Cross cradle: Cross cradle is a great learning position. It gives you a little more control of baby and breast. You will hold baby in the opposite arm from the breast you are feeding from. That arm will support baby’s shoulders and hips, and your fingertips will support their head. You can use the hand on the same side as the feeding breast to gently support the breast. Many people switch to the cradle position after latching.
Football: In the football hold, you’ll hold baby along your side, feet toward the chair/bed you’re sitting in. Use the arm on the same side as the feeding breast to hold your baby snugly against you. Baby’s mouth will come from the side/below the breast. This is a great position for parents who have had a c-section, and parents with larger breasts.
Reclined/down-under: This position is exactly what it sounds like. You recline with baby laying on you, and you are under the baby. You can be reclined or laying on your back, and allow baby to latch. This position is the biological position for babies to nurse in. It’s great for babies who struggle to maintain their latch and for parents who have a very fast flow of milk that causes baby to sputter or pull off the breast.
It sounds like there is so much to breastfeeding, but trust me: It gets easier really fast! The best way to ease into breastfeeding is to have a great support system. Learn more by scheduling a prenatal breastfeeding class or visit. Your partner, parents, siblings, friends, and workplace can also benefit from this! Your lactation consultant is the best person to contact with your breastfeeding questions. We also just love to hear from you in general, so feel free to send us your stories and photos!
You are strong.
You are powerful.
You can do this.
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post #1 Why Breastfeed? 3.2.21
Congratulations on your sweet baby! Bringing a new baby into your family is such an exciting experience. As you begin (or continue!) your journey into parenthood, you probably have a LOT of questions.
Let me answer two of them for you:
Why should I consider breastfeeding?
How do I learn about breastfeeding?
Why breastfeed?
Your milk is special; it’s made specifically for your baby! Your milk is unique from every other person’s milk. It changes according to your baby’s needs. Your milk will create antibodies to any germs that you or baby come into contact with, and pass them on to your baby.
Besides being unique, your milk provides you and your baby with some great health benefits!
Benefits to baby
Breastmilk is easy to digest, just the right temperature, and never needs to be prepared. It’s ready when baby is!
Breastmilk fights disease. Because of the special components of human milk, your milk protects your baby against a number of diseases and conditions.
Breastfed babies have lower rates of:
asthma
type 1 and 2 diabetes
ear infections
urinary tract infections
SIDS
childhood obesity
Diarrhea & vomiting
lower respiratory infections
necrotizing enterocolitis
childhood leukemia
Fewer hospitalizations
and more. (1)
Benefits to birthing parent
Breastfeeding has also been linked to health benefits for the birthing parent too!
Breastfeeding is linked to lower rates of:
type 2 diabetes
some breast cancers
and ovarian cancer. (2)
Other benefits
Creates a strong bond between parent and baby.
Breastfed babies grow into more independent adults!
Breastfeeding families tend to get sick less often than families who don’t breastfeed, which means that parents miss less work.
Breastfeeding is usually easier than formula feeding because once you’ve got it figured out, there are no bottles to wash and sterilize, no boiling water to properly prepare formula, no running out of baby’s food!
Good for the environment! Breastfeeding doesn’t require a factory (other than your body!). The only energy usage is from your own body. There are no plastic containers, no transportation, no waste, no air pollution. It saves you money. You don’t have to buy your milk- you make it yourself! The best DIY product out there!
How do I learn about breastfeeding?
There are lots of ways! Reading this blog is one of them!
Read
Read blog posts, read books, read stories from other parents. Get your hands on as much information as you can handle.
Podcasts
There are some great podcasts out there! Find one that resonates with you and listen when you can.
Join a parent’s group or breastfeeding group
This one is hard right now (2020/2021) because of the pandemic, but there are some great virtual parents groups. You can also attend La Leche League meetings if there is a group near you. Check with your local friends! This link will take you to La Leche League’s location search feature. https://www.llli.org/get-help/
Take a breastfeeding class
This is another hard one with the pandemic. Many hospitals are offering virtual breastfeeding classes, so check with your local facilities.
Schedule a visit with a breastfeeding expert.
IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants) are the highest level experts on breastfeeding.
Your IBCLC would love to meet you before your baby is due. Get to know them now so you have a good relationship when baby is born. Most lactation consultants offer prenatal classes or consults. To find an IBCLC, click here https://uslca.org/resources/find-a-lactation-consultant-map#!directory/map and if you are outside the US, here: https://portal.ilca.org/i4a/memberDirectory/index.cfm?directory_id=19&pageID=4356
If you can’t find one near you, most of us are happy to set up a virtual visit with you before and after your baby is born. ;) To schedule with me, email me alexis@loveispatientlactation.com
Breastfeeding support
There are many types of breastfeeding supporters and all of us wear different hats.
Peer supporters: La Leche League, Breastfeeding USA, WIC Peer Counselor
All of these supporters are regular parents just like you, who have a passion for breastfeeding and for helping other parents. They have spent weeks or months training to support you in your breastfeeding journey and can help with things like education, teaching breastfeeding positions, and how to get a great latch. They may also be able to connect you to other new parents! (I started my professional journey as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor.)
A Lactation Educator/Counselor/etc has spent many days, weeks, and maybe months learning about breastfeeding and counseling. They can help with many breastfeeding problems and answer almost all of your questions. You may find these types of supporters at your pediatrician or OB’s office, WIC, some hospitals, and some have started their own practices. These supporters often are limited by their scope of practice to not be able to offer hands on support or clinical advice. (I continued my journey with a CLC, or Certified Lactation Counselor, certification.)
An IBCLC has passed a rigorous certifying exam after spending many years studying lactation and practicing breastfeeding support with supervision. We are here to help when things are great, when things are rough, and everything in between. Some of us specialize in very specific aspects of breastfeeding. We work in many different settings including hospitals, pediatric offices, OB offices, private practice, WIC, and others. IBCLCs are the gold standard of lactation experts. (This is me now! It was a long road but I’m so glad to be here to help you on your own journey!)
If you have more questions, check out my other blog posts or feel free to email me at alexis@loveispatientlactation.com