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Boob Scoop: 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. Sharen Medrano, Yummy Mummy Support Group IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com) http://yummymummystore.com/blog

Boob Scoop: Mothers often ask if it's better to change their baby's diaper before breastfeeding or after, in order to assure that their baby feels comfortable during a feeding. My best suggestion is that like nursing, it's best to follow your baby's cues since some babies may be happier nursing first, to quench their thirst or hunger, while others won't nurse well until their diaper is changed. However, if you sense your baby is hungry you may want to nurse first since by the time the diaper change is over, he may have reached the point of being too upset to latch on well. Sharen Medrano, Yummy Mummy Support Group IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com) http://yummymummystore.com/blog

Boob Scoop: Many moms worry about their baby using the breast as a pacifier. While a pacifier is a good option, some babies refuse it or prefer the breast. Not only is this not a bad thing, it is perfectly normal and great way to comfort your baby. Sucking is a big part of a baby’s development and so they will find a way to fulfill that need, whether it’s at the breast, with a pacifier or by sucking their thumb. Using the breast as a pacifier also has some added perks including: helping to delay the return of your period, never needing sterilization and helping to maintain milk production. In the end, what works for you and your baby is the way to go. Sharen Medrano, Yummy Mummy Support Group IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com) http://yummymummystore.com/blog

Boob Scoop: When introducing solid foods close to or after the 6 month mark, as is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, it's suggested to breastfeed first then offer the solid food. Approaching the introduction of solid foods in this manner will help maintain a mother's milk supply and reinforce the catchy nutritional statement that solids before age one are mainly for fun. Sharen Medrano, Yummy Mummy Support Group IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com) http://yummymummystore.com/blog

Boob Scoop: With the Fall and the season of light pretty scarfs approaching in New York, nursing in public can be made much easier. Although you are allowed to breastfeed wherever you have the right to be, some moms feel more comfortable providing some cover to the top of their breast. This is when a light scarf, draped around your neck, can come in handy to provide some cover while allowing you to show off your style ;) Sharen Medrano, Yummy Mummy Support Group IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com) http://yummymummystore.com/blog

Boob Scoop: Minimize the time you allocate for pumping at work by having extra flanges and bottles so that you don't have to head to a sink after each pumping session. Also, since breastmilk lasts up to 6 hrs at room temperature, you can use the same flanges and bottles for two consecutive pumping sessions. So, if you pump at 9am and again at 12pm, only 3 hrs will have passed which meets the 6 hr room temperature recommendation. At the end of your work day, bring everything home and wash all your pump accessories. Sharen Medrano, Yummy Mummy Support Group IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com) http://yummymummystore.com/blog/

Boob Scoop: Between 3 -7 days post birth, some mothers experience engorgement, which causes the breasts to become very full and warm to touch. The full breasts also cause the baby not to latch on well. So breastfeeding that started with no pain can become painful simply because of the engorgement. In such a case, try pumping or manually expressing for a few minutes to relieve the pressure and to get the baby to latch on better. Oftentimes, 1 or 2 sessions of pumping or manual expression is just what's needed to reduce the fullness and lead to better breastfeeding for both mom and baby. Sharen Medrano, Yummy Mummy Support Group IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

Boob Scoop: One of the biggest questions breastfeeding moms have is “how often should I feed my baby?” It’s a tricky question to answer because breastfed babies tend to not feed at fixed intervals or schedules, primarily because a baby does not receive the same amount of milk at each nursing session. Rather, she drinks just what she needs at each feeding. In addition, the composition and volume of breast milk changes throughout the day, so for one feeding a baby may drink 4oz while for another she’ll drink 2oz, yet feed equally satiated. More importantly, these breast milk properties help babies self-regulate their feedings. They feed until they feel content and slow down or delatch once they are done. Interestingly, learning to self-regulate by breastfeeding has been linked to a decrease in obesity in infancy and later on in life. Sharen Medrano, Yummy Mummy Support Group IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)