Olivia Leon

Best Start for Breastfeeding Success

Contributed by Elina S. Arulraj, MSPT, IBCLC

Elina leads a weekly breastfeeding support group at the Yummy Mummy Store in NYC every Tuesday at 11:30.

Breastfeeding your baby is a different experience for every new or seasoned mom. What works for one mom and baby duo may not for another. For many moms, breastfeeding starts off without a hitch or very little difficulty so it is best not to psych yourself up beforehand!

The best advice I can give to all new mothers is to nest in with your new little one as soon as possible after birth. Do a lot of skin to skin with your baby on your chest which helps both of you to get back in sync with each other after a delivery or c-section.

Feed your baby frequently the first few days in the hospital and if it hurts get help as soon as you can to get the baby latched on deeply and avoid complications down the road.

Try to catch the baby when they demonstrate early hunger signs such as rooting, placing their fingers/hands in their mouth or making cooing sounds. Crying is a late feeding cue and it is always harder to latch a baby properly when they are too hungry or upset.

Take note of the time the baby starts feeding but try to pay attention to baby’s active sucking more than the clock!

What should I pack in my hospital bag?

Contributed by Fern Drillings, RN, MSN, certified childbirth educator and infant/child CPR instructor
To learn more about Fern and the classes she offers, visit: http://www.ferndrillings.com
The following are some suggestions for things that you might want with you in the hospital. Be sure to separate labor supplies from those things used after the baby is born. Try to be packed and ready to go at least 4 weeks before you are due, so there is no last-minute rush.

Check out Care.com's article on How to Breastfeed Your Baby featuring comments from our very own Amanda Cole.

Check out Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine's The Lactation Diet article featuring comments from our very own Amanda Cole.

Top 15 Tips for Traveling with Baby this Summer

The summer season is upon us! And with it comes extra travel. Whether it is a day trip to the beach, a car trip to visit family and friends, or that big vacation complete with baby’s first flight, here are some tips and tricks any new mom can use.

Boob Scoop: Almost all babies will spit up after some feedings. If your breastfed baby is gaining weight well and has good urine and stool output (6-8 wet ones and at least 3 bowel movements in 24 hours; in babies over 6 weeks old, fewer bowel movements are normal), then spitting up is more of a laundry problem than a medical issue. Most healthy babies will outgrow the spitting up stage within 4-6 months. For tips on how to minimize spit up and to help determine if the spitting up is, in fact, NOT just a laundry problem, check out this helpful link: http://kellymom.com/health/baby-health/reflux/ Sharen Medrano, Yummy Mummy Support Group IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com) http://yummymummystore.com/blog