Boob Scoop

Mothers often wonder how they will ever get to pump enough milk to fill up 8oz bottles, especially when returning to work. The reality is that most breastfeeding mothers won't ever pump that amount, so go ahead and sigh in relief. The reason for this is that after the first month, milk volume stays about the same, increasing somewhat during times of growth spurts, but instead changes in composition. The change in composition is the key element. Unique to breastmilk is the fact that it changes according to a baby's age. Remarkable, right? So although your baby is getting about the same in volume, from the end of month 1- 6, your breastmilk is continuously adjusting in composition to meet her growing and developmental needs. This is great news for protecting a baby's size by providing her with the right amount of food, without over stretching her belly. This is in fact, part of the reason why breastfed babies are at a lower risk for obesity throughout their childhood and later on in life.

Breastfeeding doesn't have to keep you from getting back into your exercise routine. Nursing and exercise can actually work hand-in-hand to keep you healthy and energized enough to care for your baby. Here are responses to the common questions related to exercise and breastfeeding.

Moms returning to work often worry about not having enough milk saved in their freezer. The good news is that the only day you need to plan for, some days in advance, is your first day back at work. Therefore, two weeks before returning, pump one time each day after a morning feeding, when milk supply is the highest, and place your pumped milk in your freezer. On average, breastfeed babies drink one ounce per hour, so caculate the amount you will need for day one based on the number of hours you will be away from your baby. Pumping two weeks in advance is likely to result in enough breastmilk but if you rather have some extra, begin pumping sooner. Finally, once you're back at work, not only will you be pumping for the breastmilk your baby will drink the next day, but pumping will also keep your production steady.

When it comes to pumping, the number of sessions is more important than the duration of the session. Therefore, if you can only spare 30 minutes of your workday for pumping, dividing that time into 3 pumping sessions does a better job at maintaining your milk supply than one session of 30 minutes. The more frequent stimulation, informs your body that your baby is feeding 3 times instead of 1 and therefore keeps milk production steady by meeting one of the golden rules of breastfeeding --Milk supply is driven by demand.

A good way to prevent overfeeding, when offering a bottle, is to use a slow flow nipple. Unless your baby is very fussy about taking a bottle, stay with the newborn flow nipples as long as you are breastfeeding. Oftentimes, using a faster flow nipple can cause a baby to overeat which, in turn, can make a mom question her supply when, in fact, it's perfectly fine.

'Tis the season for colds. However, you don't need to stop breastfeeding when sick. It's especially important to continue nursing since your body creates and passes antibodies into your milk in order to fight the infection you or your baby are experiencing. Oftentimes, a breastfed baby will be the only member of the family who doesn't get sick or the one to get a milder version of the bug. Breastfeeding also allows you to get the needed rest to recover since you can feed while in bed. A win-win scenario!

If your breastfed baby is not gaining as quickly as the early months, it is very likely that she is still growing beautifully. Between six and 12 months, breastfed babies tend to gain two to four ounces a week, which is a drop from the five to eight ounces gained in the first few months. Also, remember that a linear growth pattern is always more important than a baby's percentile on a growth chart. Therefore, a baby on the 10th percentile can be as healthy as one on the 90th.

Oftentimes mothers say they didn't breastfeed in the hospital because they felt they weren't making any milk or because of the non-milky look of colostrum, which tends to be clear or yellowish. The good news is that mothers begin making colostrum by the end of the first trimester, so it's already there after birth. Secondly, it's never good to judge milk by its color. Although not white in appearance, colostrum is still milk and is loaded with carbohydrates, protein, antibodies, and properties that prevent jaundice and low blood sugar levels, making it a perfect first food for a newborn. Finally, the more a mother breastfeeds in the early days, the sooner her breastmilk will transition into mature milk which is more white in appearance.

Bite problems, medically referred to as malocclusions, occur when either the top or bottom row of teeth overextend causing misalignment. In most cases, the treatment for malocclusions is braces. Babies who are breastfeed for more than a year are less likely to have malocclusions thanks to the work done by the jaw, while transferring milk from the breast. The feeding motion during breastfeeding also helps to form a U-shaped hard palate which contributes to proper teeth alignment.

Cranial bones are designed to move over one another as a baby descends through the birth canal. However, when forceps or a vacuum are used during labor, they can often cause shifts in the cranial bones that are not easily self-corrected by the baby after birth. Since the cranial nerves control what the baby does with his mouth, affected cranial bones can cause ineffective latching, which in turn can lead to breastfeeding pain. Many mothers find that in these situations, complementary therapies such as chiropractic care and or craniosacral therapy can make a big difference for correcting how well a baby latches. When deciding on such therapies, it is important to choose a provider who is trained and experienced to work with babies.