1. Boob produces milk
2. Baby drinks from boob

So simple even my 5 year old gets it- (Photo Cred:Quite Dandy Photography)

Easy peasy lemon squeezy, right? But when you are not “the one with boobs”, handling that liquid gold gets a little more complicated. Because let’s be honest here- no one wants to be the one to tell a pumping mom that they are the one who spoiled the breast milk.

Now that’s something to cry over!

So here are few tips, tricks and rules to handling breast-milk, for the un-initiated boob supporter and care provider.

But first, a note from the CDC:

Safely Preparing and Storing Expressed Breastmilk

• Be sure to wash your hands before expressing or handling breastmilk.

• When collecting milk, be sure to store it in clean containers, such as screw cap bottles, hard plastic cups with tight caps, or heavy-duty bags that fit directly into nursery bottles. Avoid using ordinary plastic storage bags or formula bottle bags, as these could easily leak or spill.

• If delivering breastmilk to a child care provider, clearly label the container with the child’s name and date.

• Clearly label the milk with the date it was expressed to facilitate using the oldest milk first.

• Do not add fresh milk to already frozen milk within a storage container. It is best not to mix the two.

• Do not save milk from a used bottle for use at another feeding.

• Clean breast pump parts after each use. Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) web site on Cleaning a Breast Pump for additional information.

Now that we have reviewed the safety guidelines for handling breast-milk, here is a list of my tried-and-true hacks for handling breastmilk as a family daycare provider.

1. Watch the clock.

Know approximately how long your little one eats between feedings, so that you’re not frantically trying to heat breastmilk with a screaming and frantic infant in your arms. Just as if baby was eating “from tap,” it is important to watch hunger cues, and know approximately when baby may be hungry next.

2. Use your Keurig to warm the milk!

As a daycare provider, with 7 children to watch, I needed an efficient way to warm my Little’s pumped milk, quickly. And, well, I rely on my keruig for my own person liquid gold, so… a hot water bath for pumped milk it is! Quick, easy, and no extra steps! I should add, my milky daycare mama used her reusable Medela bottles that came through insurance, and the temperature was always right. If you’re using milk from a disposable bag, please make sure not to let it overheat. I’ve also seen daycares which leave a crockpot on low filled with water for instant warm water baths for their breastfed babies. Whatever you do, please don’t microwave that milk! Referencing the La Leche League:

“Do not heat… milk in a stove or a microwave oven” states LLLI’s THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING, 7th Revised Edition, 2004 on page 122. Warming your stored milk in the microwave causes it to heat unevenly, creating “hot spots” that may burn your baby’s mouth. Furthermore, valuable immunological components can be destroyed if the milk gets too hot (p. 158).

3. Wash your pump and replace parts regularly

It sounds more common sense on paper than it is in practice. Let’s face it- working, breastfeeding moms are TIRED. Sometimes the common sense stuff slips our brains. If you’re lucky, some insurance providers replace parts regularly. But either way, make sure you take home your pump on the weekends to give it a good scrub, and sanitize. One of my daycare mama’s and I realized that her milk was getting a “smell” to it. It didn’t seem to bother her little one, but it was certainly noticeable. We discussed lipase and some other options as to what we thought the cause was. Then it clicked. “When was the last time you’ve washed your pump and replaced your parts?” I asked her.

The smell never came back after that.

4. Test the temperature before you feed baby- on your hand

Common myth says to test the temperature of milk before feeding by dribbling a few drops on your wrist. However, your wrist is not a sensitive part of your body for testing warmth! Instead, spill a couple drops of milk onto your hand, which is a better indicator. The milk should be body-to-luke-warm.

Good luck to you, breastmilk-handlers! Keep those babies happy and healthy- and whatever you do, don’t spill that liquid gold!

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Lauren Lewis

Lauren Lewis is no stranger to childcare development, having spent over 10 years as a nanny or family childcare provider. She’s the wife of a travel geek, mother of two vivacious children, and has an amazing talent for trailing lost things behind her a la Hansel and Gretel. Her passion for lifting up women and advocating for children pours out in her work as a Central Indiana Event Coordinator, Writer, and Social Media Relations Director for Breastfeeding World. Her life is full of busy, crazy and LOUD. It is full of love and hope, ups and downs. And coffee, always lots of coffee- but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

www.raisinglaurenslittle.wordpress.com

The post What Do You Need To Know About Handling Breastmilk? appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

That’s where we ended up.

Wet nurse: a woman who breastfeeds and cares for another woman’s child.

In our case, our wet nurse was a friend of mine who was watching my son while I went to work. She breastfed her own daughter, and had an oversupply of milk. When she offered to nurse my son, I wasn’t too sure. But what do we think women did before the 20th century?

Before the times of formula and pumping, women were nursing other women’s babies.

Image Source: DomesticGeekGirl.com

I returned to work at about eight weeks post partum, and that’s when I started pumping. I didn’t pump a large stash before going back to work. Unfortunately, even though I pumped every 2 hours and nursed my son at lunch, but we found out he wouldn’t take a bottle. For a little while we made do because he would end up nursing the entire night and sleep all day. Team no sleep for mama. But he needed more than that.

That’s when my friend offered to help wet nurse.

As weird as it was for me (at first) I was so grateful for the help. It made life easier on me and less stressful. It made life easier on my husband because I no longer freaked out all the time. I could go to work and not worry about the pumping, the clean up, or that my son wouldn’t take a bottle. It was easy on my friend too because she could nurse both her daughter and wet nurse my son at the same time!

A lot of people thought it was weird. They would say, “Why don’t you just give him formula.” Clearly, they didn’t get the issue here.

We made it work. Always do what’s best for your family- which is what we did. I nursed my son at drop off, my lunch break, and when I picked him up. My friend would text me to see when I was coming to make sure she didn’t wet nurse him, in case I was on my way. Once he started eating solids, he needed her less, but the option remained available to him. It felt so wonderful, knowing that he was still getting the breast-milk that I wanted him to get, even if it wasn’t coming from me 100% of the time.

This was all fine, dandy, and pretty wonderful until little man got older.

As he approached his first birthday, we noticed some changes. By all means, a lot of these changes were likely because of development and naturally…growing up. Things like tantrums and not listening to me. But we also noticed that he was becoming more attached to his sitter. She noticed it too- she probably noticed how it made me feel before I did.

When I would go to pick him up after work, he didn’t want to come to me.

He would cry when I would pick him up and when he wanted to nurse, he no longer wanted me to nurse him.

That hurt like hell.

Seeing my own child reach for another woman as if she was his mother broke my heart

I went home on many occasions – crying, telling my husband that I am a horrible mother. I asked him if I made the wrong decision. It’s not a fun place to be in. He constantly reminded me that it is a good thing that our son cared for his sitter. She took care of our baby as if he were her own. He felt safe with her, and could find comfort when I wasn’t around. Yes, that’s all fantastic- but it still hurt me. I’m his mother.

Like I said, my friend noticed how it was making me feel and it took awhile before we finally sat and talked about it. A few tears (okay, a lot) and a glass or two of wine later, we figured some things out. During my lunch breaks, she left with her daughter to the park, or took her upstairs just to do something away from us. She gave us time to just be together. That was actually one of the best things we did. My son and I could re-bond with each other in those 45-60 minute sessions. Even if we weren’t nursing the entire time, it was just him and I, together. Once we were about a month or two away from him turning one, we slowly weaned him from her. We didn’t wean him from breastfeeding completely (he’s still nursing today at two).

We decided that he was mostly eating solids and nursing only in the evenings anyway, that he didn’t need to nurse from my friend anymore. He still got breastmilk in the mornings at drop off, lunch, and at pick up from me, then all evening. He was still getting the milk and he wanted me. I became his comfort and his safe place again.

Would I use a wet nurse again?

The answer to that is: yes. As I sit here writing this post, I am preparing to go back to work again after having my daughter. She will be a little over four months when I go back and she is also not a fan of the bottle. I am not too worried about her favoring the bottle more than the breast anymore. I know what it’s like to not be able to give my baby a bottle at all. But at the same time, I am not stressing out about whether or not my baby will eat. We did a lot of learning the first time and not all babies are the same, even if they are brother and sister. So, who knows what’s going to happen. But we have a better idea and understanding of what could happen and how to help.

The bottom line is: I am incredibly thankful for a friend that was kind enough to offer to help us out. That’s a lot of dedication and strength on her part to nurse two babies at once, one not even being hers. And I am thankful for the fact that my husband and I were both open enough to the idea of using a wet nurse.

You have to do what’s best for you- and for your baby.

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

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Abigail Dougherty

A 27 year old from Wisconsin but currently stationed in California with a happy marriage and two rainbow babies. Abigail is currently in the Navy and is also a certified personal trainer. I am a kinesiology major who plans to use her knowledge to help her do more in the fitness industry. She’s a breastfeeding, cloth diapering, essential oil using, gym freak, babywearing, kind of mom. Abigail loves empowering and encouraging women to be who they are and to take pride in that.

The post Why Letting Your Baby Wet Nurse isn’t the End of the World appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Not sure what I mean?

Picture a well-paid professional mother working for “Awesome Expensive Coffee Business” Corporate Headquarters. We will call her Linda. Whenever Linda decides that it is time to pump, she leaves her desk and heads to a space with the beautiful label “Lactation Room.” She sits, behind a closed door, on a comfortable loveseat, plugs in her company provided breast pump and goes to work collecting her liquid gold for her baby. After she is finished, she packages her breastmilk and stores it in the office refrigerator to be carted home later for her baby to enjoy. Sounds pretty great right? You would definitely say that Linda has a choice to continue breastfeeding her baby AND work.

Is pumping at work still inconvenient? Sure, leaking bottles in your briefcase, leaving your work for many periods throughout the day and toting precious cargo back home is definitely no walk in the park, but it is doable.

What About This?

But, let’s think about the woman who staffs “Awesome Expensive Coffee Business’” counter. Melissa, that’s what we will call her, is told that she is only allowed to pump on her breaks. So, instead of eating and drinking on her breaks to keep up her breastmilk supply, she is found barricading herself in a small bathroom envisioned for customers, hoping that she may pump enough milk for her baby at home. Hoping that there may be a place to store her milk so that she does not need to dump it later on.

Would you say that Melissa has a choice? Along with the normal inconveniences of being a working, pumping mother, Melissa has so much working against her. So much so, that many mothers in Melissa’s same situation choose not to breastfeed at all. They decide against what is paramount for their baby because they feel that they need to choose between making a living and doing what is best for their child. Disadvantage begets disadvantage.

It is so important to normalize breastfeeding because,

This cycle continues everyday.

In 2010, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act added on a protective clause to the Fair Labor Standards Act for working nursing mothers. This clause states that an employer must provide time and an adequate space (a room other than the bathroom that is free from intrusion by other workers and the public) for a nursing mother to pump.

I bet that sounds like it solves all of our problems. Well, unfortunately it doesn’t.

Beyond the fact that it is difficult to enforce and that a lot of businesses are unaware of these laws; there is an additional clause that states that an employer does not need to compensate a worker for the adequate time that they have allotted the mother to pump. So, our friend Melissa, even if you are provided an adequate space where you may feel comfortable and the proper time that you deserve to be able to pump breastmilk for your baby; your employer can decide not to compensate you for the time that it takes to pump. Here we are again, a mother is put in a position to choose between making a living and breastfeeding her child.

Everyday that I nurse in public, every time that I share a brelfie, every Big Latch On we coordinate is working towards bringing rights and awareness for the women who have had to choose supporting her family over breastfeeding.

Whatever your choice may be, you should feel that you have a choice; that you have a voice for your family and your desires as a mother. No one should feel as though they need to decide between breastfeeding their child or earning a living. Breastfeeding should not be reserved for the wealthy and well-being; the stay at home mothers or the mothers who alter their work schedule to accommodate their new role. Breastfeeding should be for every mother who chooses it for their child, for their family. Nursing should be a right, not a privilege.

Together we stand up for the mothers who find themselves without this right.

Join our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

 And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag #BreastfeedingWorld

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Samantha Sykula

Born and raised in NY, I studied speech and language pathology at NYU. I am a stay at home mom to two beautiful children, Richard and Charlotte and wife to my wonderful husband, Rich. I have always had a deep love for learning, which has grown further since becoming a mother, I am always looking for new ways to enrich our lives. Becoming a mother changed my life, I learned compassion, caring and most importantly, true love. I hope to share the experiences of my breastfeeding, cloth diapering, babywearing, crocheting, full of love, life.

The post Nursing Should Be A Right, Not A Privilege appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Every breastfeeding mom at some point in her journey has run into a breastfeeding butter. Friends, family members, kindly strangers at the store each have their own personal exceptions to breastfeeding. These people are full of “But’s”.

If you “support breastfeeding, but…”, then you do not support breastfeeding. Photo Credit: Lindsay Trausch, Trausch Photography

“I support breastfeeding, but…” “I’m all for breastfeeding, but…” I know breast is best, but… ”

But..

But…

But….

Generally, when I run into a “Breastfeeding Butter”, I smile and nod. I listen to their point of view. Patiently, I explain refute the “buts.” But really, let’s get honest. If you support breastfeeding, but… Then you do not support breastfeeding.

Top 7 Exceptions of a  Breastfeeding Butter, as Heard by Nursing Moms

1.If they are old enough to ask for it, they are too old to breastfeed

Primarily, age is the first and most heard objection of a breastfeeding butter. Many breastfeeding “supporters” have different imagined guidelines for when a child is “too old” to nurse.

But not if they have teeth. Not past 6 months, when baby begins eating solids. Or rather, not past 1 year. Whatever imaginary cut off a butter may have, the fact is, there are many benefits to full term breastfeeding. In fact, the WHO  and the American Academy of Pediatrics support the health benefits of extended breastfeeding. The guideline states “Extended breast-feeding is recommended as long as you and your baby wish to continue.” (Site Source, Mayo Clinic.)

2. Certainly not in public

Recently, news stories are documenting cases where women are being harassed for public breastfeeding. From the Connecticut mother who had  been berated in a Target for nursing her child, to the Mother in New York City who was kicked out of a courtroom by a judge for nursing her child, breastfeeding in public has become a hot-button issue across America. Many a breastfeeding butter has stated their judgment of breastfeeding in public. “Not in front of my child/husband./boyfriend.” “You are only exposing yourself for attention.” “Can’t you use a bottle when you go out?” Breastfeeding supporters are fighting against society’s repulsion against public breastfeeding by working to normalize it.

Events like the Global Big Latch On in places like New York City, Hamilton County, and Martha’s Vineyard have made breastfeeding a topic of conversation.  By nursing in public, mothers are celebrating breastfeeding. In order to make breastfeeding normal in our society, showing that breastfeeding is natural by nursing in public is one of the best ways to do that.

3. You should let grandma (dad, aunt, etc.) be able to feed baby too.

Unfortunately it is not uncommon for a new mother to struggle in the beginning of her breastfeeding relationship with her child. When family members and friends visit, particularly around the holidays, loved ones often pressure moms to allow someone else to feed the baby. Feeding a baby is a wonderful way to bond. The desire to bond with a newborn can cause a breastfeeding butter to pressure a new mom to let them feed the baby. “A little formula won’t hurt”. “You need a break”. “You should let Grandma feed the baby too.” “Maybe you wouldn’t be so tired if you let your husband give the baby a bottle.”

It is difficult to address well meaning advice, particularly from family members. A gentle but firm reminder that breast milk production works on a supply and demand basis, and there are other ways to bond with baby can ease tensions.

4. If a mom want’s to quit, you shouldn’t encourage her to work through challenges

Provided the pressure and mommy wars mothers feel, so many people worry about being offended. However, if a nursing mother is struggling to breastfeed, support her.

Many times when moms reach out or say, ‘I’m just not sure, maybe I will quit.’, the mom is actually wanting targeted tips and professional advice, plus emotional support from an IBCLC and other moms who have worked through that specific challenge.” -Lisa Lahey RN, IBCLC

Do not be concerned about recommending support to a nursing mother. Chances are, she wants her breastfeeding relationship to succeed, too. the CDC report card directly links breastfeeding success with the ability to find support. Whether through an online Facebook group, a book, an IBCLC, or a breastfeeding support group, it is important to encourage moms to work through their challenges.

5. Only if done discreetly (Cover up!)

The choice to cover up while nursing is between a mother and her child- no one else. If she is more comfortable to use a nursing cover, more power to her. If not, it is entirely possible to breastfeed discreetly, without a cover. Honestly, if a mother chooses to nurse, “boobs out”, that’s ok too, because it is her choice. It is her legal right to do so. We live in a society obsessed with body image. Breasts sell everything from cars to hamburgers. America is OBSESSED with boobs. Unless, of course, breasts are feeding a baby. Parenthood is hard enough. Messing with a hot cover, baby, bra, and shirt is uncomfortable enough. Support nursing mothers and babies, no matter how much boob is showing.

6. Not if pumping gets in the way of productivity at work

With women making up over 46% of the American work force, it is amazing that there is not more support for pumping moms. Fortunately, in the healthcare reform which passed last year, a small provision made for working nursing and pumping women;

 Section 4207 of the law amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.Code 207) to require an employer to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express milk. The employer is not required to compensate an employee receiving reasonable break time for any work time spent for such purpose. The employer must also provide a place, other than a bathroom, for the employee to express breast milk. If these requirements impose undue hardship, an employer that employs less than 50 employees is not subject to these requirements. Furthermore, these requirements shall not preempt a state law that provides greater protections to employees.

Despite laws beginning to protect women’s rights, support for working, breastfeeding mothers falls short. Studies show that whether a mother plans on returning to work or not does not affect her decision to breastfeed. (67% and 68% of new mothers in America begin their journey breastfeeding.) However, the stats drop noticeably by 6 months. For a mother not employed outside the home, 35% still breastfeed. Yet for a mother working outside the home, only 22.8% of mothers continue to breastfeed by the time their infant reaches 6 months of age. While community support plays a huge factor, so does support within the workforce. Do not allow a breastfeeding butter to damage your nursing relationship in the workplace.

7. But won’t Breastfeeding wreck your boobs?

Honestly, yes. Personally, and this goes for every breastfeeding butter, It’s none of your business.

In Conclusion, don’t be a breastfeeding butter.

No one likes a breastfeeding butter.

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Lauren Lewis

Lauren Lewis is no stranger to childcare development, having spent over 10 years as a nanny or family childcare provider. She’s the wife of a travel geek, mother of two vivacious children, and has an amazing talent for trailing lost things behind her a la Hansel and Gretel. Her passion for lifting up women and advocating for children pours out in her work as a Central Indiana Event Coordinator, Writer, and Social Media Relations Director for Breastfeeding World. Her life is full of busy, crazy and LOUD. It is full of love and hope, ups and downs. And coffee, always lots of coffee- but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

www.raisinglaurenslittle.wordpress.com

The post I Support Breastfeeding, but… ; Don’t be a “Breastfeeding Butter” appeared first on Breastfeeding World.