Blogging for Babies, Breastfeeding and Mothers

Many women call me either before or after they return to work to ask, "How can I make this work?" This is usually the number two question for me in a breastfeeding class. They are obviously committed to continuing to breastfeed once back to work, but anxious about the reality of working and pumping and maintaining their milk production. Oh...and getting enough sleep so they can feel like a real person.

I recently received an email from on such mom and I suggested we chat on the phone. She thought about when to schedule a 10-15 minute chat and finally came to the conclusion that she is too sleep deprived to be able to concentrate for a chat. Please blog about this she asked.

So here I am blogging about breastfeeding after you're back to work. And I need your help. I didn't work when my children were young and never had to balance work, babies and breastfeeding. I've talked to plenty of working mothers, read books and blogs but many of you have or are doing this so help! 

For starters Kirsten Berggren's book Working Without Weaning is a favorite as well her website. She answers the question "Who Am I?"

My name is Kirsten, and like you, I'm a working mother. I know, "every mother is a working mother", but I'm a mother who works outside the home, who sends my babies to daycare, and a mother who breastfeeds.

Please ask your friends to comment as well. I'd love to hear the unique situations you've found yourselves in and how you've persevered or when you decided enough is enough. What was your driving force to provide breastmilk for your child while away from them?

Three babies, twelve months and over one thousand one hundred bottles of breastmilk later, Kelly retires her breast pump. I've written a couple of blog posts about Kelly and her three boys. Here's the final chapter of their breastfeeding journey and I'll let Kelly tell it in her own words. 

Hi Debbie, When I first met with you when I was pregnant, I had no idea where the breastfeeding journey would take me. I was worried about overcoming challenges – three babies – could I even do it? Would I have enough milk? Would I be able to satisfy them?

Once the babies were born, I knew I wanted to give them everything I could. They were so tiny, born at 34 weeks/4 days, and all under 5 pounds. I remember the day my milk came in being so happy. Over the coming weeks, I was not really able to produce enough for all three, and I was so discouraged. But you encouraged me to keep going, and taught me that every ounce is like money in the bank for them – so I pumped and gave them my milk in a bottle and supplemented with formula.

I almost stopped so many times, but each time I hung on for my boys and I was eventually able to provide almost a full bottle for each boy every day. As they approached their first birthday, I decided I would stop.

What a strange feeling, after so much struggle to build my milk supply, to let it go – there’s part of me that still wonders if I should have kept going. But I feel so happy that I did it and that I made it to a year. It is truly with mixed feelings that I stopped. Joy for having made it to a year, and for having three such healthy, happy boys. Sadness that I am no longer providing this part of me to them each day. Relief not to have to pump anymore! Overwhelmingly, I am so grateful that I kept going, because I feel like I have given them a good foundation and helped them to a healthy first year.

I have attached two pictures – the first is with Liam, shortly after one of my first breastfeeding experiences. I felt so content to have him laying on me, and just loved getting to feed my babies. The second is with Morgan on his first birthday, getting one of his last pumped milk bottles. It just is so amazing to me to compare the babies in these pictures – how much they changed in one year!

Thank-you for all your support and encouragement over the past year. I would not have made it without you. Kelly

Kelly, you are amazing. Your story has encouraged me more than I can express through this past year. Thank you for taking the time-- how you could spare a single second is beyond me-- to send me pictures and updates throughout the year. Many women have heard your story and been determined to give as much breastmilk to their baby or babies for as long as they can. I'm expecting the pictures to continue coming! And again,  a big THANKS!

 

 

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Sometimes three time's a charm and this was certainly true for this mother. I have seen such a huge difference in breastfeeding when a tongue tie is divided. Unfortunately the initial division doesn't always do the trick. But don't give up hope, even if you have to have it done over again.

Hey Debbie!

Great to hear from you. I have been thinking about you too and was planning to send you an e-mail today, in fact.

Life is very busy, but good. I had an easier time going back to work in the beginning, now I am struggling with it because he gets cuter every day! I am still adjusting to the "juggling act" :)

Nursing is going very well, I could not have done it without you! The third tongue-tie division really helped us turn the corner and we have been enjoying nursing every since. I love every minute of nursing now. He is still a snacker, which I knew he would be, he rarely nurses both breasts at one feeding - but he never spits up, so I am not complaining. My milk supply has remained more than adequate and I find I really only need to pump once/day to have enough milk for him at day care and still maintain a good supply. I have recently figured this out, so if I find my supply dropping I will go back to 2 pumping sessions during the day.

He had his 2 front bottom teeth break through within the last 5 days. Nursing has been slightly less comfortable with the teething, but his tongue is out over his bottom teeth when nursing and he has not bit me yet. He still prefers the breast over the bottle, which is wonderful!

I am so grateful to have found you to help me through some of the most difficult days of my life!  

I am so passionate about breastfeeding and was so glad to have come across someone who truly helped me succeed. You have actually made me more passionate about breastfeeding than I was before, which I love!

Sincerely - R & S :)

For this mother, it took the initial division and two revisions-- 2 1/2 hour drive one way-- before breastfeeding became comfortable. She was so tenacious, not willing to stop before she tried everything. She has inspired me to encourage revision of tongue ties when the first one doesn't solve the issue 100%! I'm not willing to take living with nipple pain and/or slow, inefficient feedings as the only way to continue breastfeeding.

Are you having pain with breastfeeding? Does your baby take forever to feed? I'd love to talk with you. Give me a call at 978-422-9070.

Breastfeeding should always be

100% enjoyable and pain-free.

Free Report - Avoid The Top 7 Breastfeeding Mistakes Want to learn how to overcome the most common barriers new mothers face when trying breastfeed successfully?  Download the free report to discover how moms like you are avoiding the painful mistakes associated with improper breastfeeding.

You work hard to get breastfeeding going well and feel like you have finally arrived. Now the time comes and you'd like to have some freedom to leave your baby for an hour or two to do something by yourself or with your husband or friends or perhaps the time has come to return to work. You plan to have someone give your baby a bottle for you. Sounds simple enough, doesn't it?

Unfortunately, it's not always so easy. Many breastfeeding babies refuse to take a bottle…from anyone. Now what? Babies do not ever have to take a bottle; the majority of babies in the world don't drink from bottles.

But what do you do when you want or need to leave your baby?

What are the alternatives to a bottle?

1. Sippy cup

2. Regular cup

3. Frozen breastmilk from a spoon, like ice cream

Some tricks and tips: 

• Never force the nipple into the baby's mouth. Breastfeeding babies are in control of their feedings, rightfully so. 
• Talk with the baby about what you are doing and why. 
• Tap just above the baby's upper lip and ask them to open wide. 
• Sit the baby on your lap facing away from you when offering a bottle, perhaps looking out a window. 
• Try using a nipple shield for a few feedings and then offer a bottle. 
• Soak a latex nipple in breastmilk for several hours before offering it on a bottle. Do not put it in the dishwasher.
• Play a game with the bottle, teasing the baby with the nipple/bottle. 
• Keep it completely stress-free. 
• Take the baby outside to offer the bottle. 
• Offer the bottle while the baby is lying on his side. 
• Offer the bottle before the baby fully wakes up. 
• Offer the bottle for the first feeding in the morning. 
• Let the baby play with a bottle along with his other toys. Have a little bit of breastmilk or water in the bottle. He will likely chew on it, if he's old enough, and start to associate drinking from the bottle. 
• Some babies will drink a bottle of warm milk; others will drink it cold.
• Offer the bottle once; do not push; if baby does not drink, wait a day or two before trying again.

Free Report - Avoid The Top 7 Breastfeeding Mistakes Want to learn how to overcome the most common barriers new mothers face when trying breastfeed successfully?  Download the free report to discover how moms like you are avoiding the painful mistakes associated with improper breastfeeding.