Happy WBW to you!

This years World Breastfeeding Week theme is 10 STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING.  The goal is to promote the BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE. 

Here are a couple of resources available to you in honor of World Breastfeeding Week:

Free Course through the August 7th courtesy of Lactation Education Resources: Initiation of Breastfeeding: A Biological Perspective.

Complimentary Online Access to Breastfeeding Medicine Journal for the Month of August.

 Now go educate yourself!

flowing streams of milk...

One way to increase your milk supply, as well as a tool to help a baby who isn't latching well, is to do a nursing holiday.  This entails mom and baby in bed all weekend, skin to skin, allowing baby to nurse as frequently as he/she desires.  No pump, no supplements (unless medically indicated), no chores or stresses, just mom and baby relaxing and breastfeeding! 

Oatmeal: The Galactagogue

Steel cut oats with strawberries and brown sugar lovin'.

Did you know oats are a galactagogue, a.k.a. they can increase your milk supply.  Many lactation consultants recommend women start eating oats after delivery.  Some will even say "buy the steel cut oats."  I've found this specific recommendation can be confusing, so I decided to do some research and came across an informative website by Coach Levi.

Steel cut oats are the raw version of oats.  Rolled oats are literally what they say, oats that have been rolled flat, and quick rolled oats have been partially cooked.  The little packets of pre-sweetened oats are typically not recommended because of the artificial ingredients. 

I decided to try steel cut oats to see how practical this recommendation truly is, and to be honest I personally did not find it to be realistic for myself, let alone a new mom.  Quick rolled oats can be made in the microwave in 1 minute, while steel cut oats require at least 30 minutes of stove top time and leave you with a dirty pot.  Water has to boil, oats have to simmer, and many of us, specifically mothers of newborns, do not have the time to spend 30+ minutes on a simple bowl of oatmeal. 

All will work as a galactagogue for you and possibly the "raw" version is the best, but I find it too time consuming to be practical for a new mom.  Whether you're lactating or not, I think we can all agree oats of some sort are good for you!

A public display of eating

Would you even know this is a breastfeeding mommy above?  Andrea, my old Maternal and Child Health school buddy, is sporting one of my homemade hooter hiders - I think I'll call this one "Pretty in Pink".  The other day she wrote me this little piece of inspiration:

"I'm a very proud breast-feeder. Sometimes I forget that I probably offend or make some people uncomfortable, but you know what, I don't care. Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things you can do so I'm doing my part to make people see it so maybe other women will be inspired to breastfeed too!"

That a girl, Andrea.  I love it!

Don't you think motherhood suites her well?  If she isn't a glowing new mom, I'm not sure what is.

Happy Mother's Day to all my beautiful Mommy friends - Thank you for sharing your breastfeeding experiences with me!!

The stats. The guilt and the anger.

Thank you, Dr. Bartick, for doing this research and for responding with this article!  I strongly encourage you to take a peek at this research (even if it's just a quick review of the abstract).  Here's a taste to wet your appetitie:

"If 90% of US families could comply with medical recommendations to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months, the United States would save $13 billion per year and prevent an excess 911 deaths..."

And if you are one of the many moms that is carrying around guilt or anger associated with your breastfeeding experience, I urge you read this article and respond!  We need to stand up for our rights as women and mothers - Peaceful Revolution!

Project Milk Bank

“Where it is not possible for the biological mother to breast feed, the first alternative, if available, should be the use of human milk from other sources. Human milk banks should be made available in appropriate situations.”

-WHO and UNICEF, 1980

Last week I attended a Human Milk Banking Association of North America Conference in Boston.  I've been discussing milk banking with colleagues and mentors for a while now, but it wasn't until this conference that I really got on the band wagon.  My husband picked me up last Tuesday at BWI and when I got into the car I sheepishly said to him "I think I'm going to start a milk bank."  He knew this had been in the air in the Northern Virginia area for awhile now.  Bless his heart, he just gave me his 'Why am I not surprised?' smile and joined me on board Project Milk Bank.  I'm full of ideas that bring us no revenue, I should clarify with "cost us money", but Marcus just continues to back me up.  I guess I was always meant to be the money giver and he the money maker in this relationship.

There's a key person to this story, her name is Margaret. She's the fuel behind launching this rocket titled Project Milk Bank. Have you ever worked for NASA? Me neither, but I do know that an immense about of time, effort, and man power is behind each launch.  And this launch, for better or for worse, will be no different. 

I've decided to share this journey via Boob for Thought.  Donor human milk does come from boobs after all.  I hope to share the struggles and successes with any readers interested, as well as network with anyone who is interested in joining Project Milk Bank!  So here, my friends, is where this story begins...

 

Key Documents for Project Milk Bank:

• American Academy of Pediatrics, Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk Policy Statement http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496
• Human Milk Banking Association of North America, Position Paper on Donor Milk Banking http://www.hmbana.org/downloads/position-paper-donor-milk.pdf

Milk for Haiti

I received the following email today from ILCA:

The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), International Lactation Consultant Association/United States Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA/USLCA), and La Leche League International (LLLI) are jointly issuing an urgent call for human milk donations for premature infants in Haiti, as well as sick and premature infants in the United States.


This week the first shipment of human milk from mothers in the United States will be shipped to the U.S. Navy Ship “Comfort” stationed outside Haiti. “Comfort” is currently set up with a neonatal intensive care unit and medical personnel to provide urgent care to victims of the earthquake. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant stationed at the U.S. Navy base in Bethesda, MD is assisting with providing breast pump equipment and supplies to the “Comfort.” Dr. Erika Beard-Irvine, pediatric neonatologist, is on board the “Comfort” to coordinate distribution of the milk to infants in need. HMBANA, USBC, ILCA/USLCA, and LLL are responding to requests to provide milk for both premature infants and at-risk mothers who have recently delivered babies on board the U.S.N.S. Comfort, but an urgent need exists for additional donations.

 

To donate breastmilk Click Here!

 

For more information view this statement from UNICEF.