Do you have a breastfeeding question? Please contact us if you do and we will do our best to answer it.
Q: What are the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies?
A: There are so many benefits that I can't answer them in one sentence. You can find more information on these pages: Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mothers and Benefits of Breastfeeding For Babies
Q: What are the best books for mothers wanting to learn more about breastfeeding?
A: I've gathered some of my favorite resources on this page just for you: Recommended Breastfeeding Books
Q: Are there any cons to breastfeeding?
A: While breastfeeding is generally a positive choice for mothers, there are some potential downfalls that mothers should be aware of.
Q: I am breastfeeding and am getting frequent headaches. Is this related to breastfeeding?
A: Some women do get headaches when breastfeeding, though it is rare. They may be related to the hormonal changes going on. Are you drinking enough water every day? Aim for at least 6-8 eight ounce glasses a day. Dehydration is a frequent cause of headaches.
Q. My baby wakes every 2 hours at night to feed and I am exhausted. Is there anything I can do to help him sleep longer at night?
A. This is very normal and is thought to be a big protection against SIDS. If he sleeps a lot during the day, keep him skin to skin with you and feed him at least every 2 hours during the day. You may find that he will then take a longer stretch of sleep at night. Can you go to bed really early, like 7:00 PM? You will get a lot more sleep if you plan to stay in bed for 12 hours each night. I know this is hard, so definitely get as much sleep as you can. Do you co-sleep? Check out James McKenna's research on co-sleeping.
Q. My baby has not had a stool/poop in 5 days. Is this normal?
A. The answer to your question depends on how old your baby is and whether your baby is gaining well-doubled his weight by 4 months? Babies that are exclusively breastfeeding will often start to space out their stools--every 3 days, every 10 days, sometimes even longer--once they are about 6 weeks old. Formula can be very constipating, so he may be constipated, esp if he gets more formula than breastmilk. Call your doctor and see what they recommend.