Happy Holidays!

We're taking a break and our office will be closed for the next 2 weeks! We wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy new year! We'll be back in 2014 with new and exciting posts!

Common breastfeeding concerns early postpartum: I don’t have enough breast milk!

A recent study examined first-time mothers’ breastfeeding concerns in the first weeks postpartum.  What they found from these interviews is that many mothers, about 40%, believed that they did not have enough breast milk.  So, why do so many women think that they don’t produce enough breast milk? While we don’t know the specific reasons these mothers were concerned about their milk supply, we do know from our own work that infant crying and waking in the first few days postpartum were commonly seen as hunger cues by new parents. Parents expected their babies would sleep and be content (not cry) if they were satisfied and full. So, if their newborns were crying a lot and not sleeping, they assumed the infants were not getting enough breast milk to satisfy them. While an extremely small number of women produce an insufficient amount of breast milk, for the majority of mothers, it is the perception that they don’t have enough milk that leads them to supplement with formula. That perception is often associated with the baby's behavior.

There is hope! When you know that it’s normal for your newborn to cry a lot and not sleep much in the early days, then you will be less likely to associate those behaviors with your baby being hungry  because you think you don't have enough breast milk to satisfy him. If you know that your baby needs to feed frequently and practice breastfeeding as much as possible then you won’t be surprised if your baby never seems to sleep! Having this information before you have your baby is the key!

It’s also important to be prepared for the reality of breastfeeding. For example, breast milk can take a while to “come in.” You may not feel any changes in your breasts for several days or even until after you leave the hospital. However, there is always breast milk present, even if you don’t feel it. In the beginning there is a small amount of colostrum, this is ALL your baby needs.  Soon, your breast milk will change (color and nutrient content) and increase in volume. This is when mothers think that their breast milk has officially “come in”, but it has actually been there the entire time, just in smaller amounts. This increase occurs anywhere between 24-72+ hours (15% of mothers' milk comes in after 72 hours postpartum) after delivery and depends on several factors. It’s also important to know that the amount of milk produced varies from woman to woman and even  from pregnancy to pregnancy.  You can see why many women think that they don’t have enough breast milk after their baby is born! It can be very confusing when a mom doesn’t feel the milk in her breasts and her  baby seems to be constantly crying and wanting to eat all the time. It’s a perfect storm that often leads to the perception that the baby isn’t getting enough milk.

Whether you or someone you know has had concerns about producing enough breast milk, know that you are not alone!  Here are a few other resources to help. The more you know about normal newborn behavior the more prepared and confident you will feel.

Baby Science: The First 72 Hours (What to expect from your baby in the 1st 3 days postpartum)

Answers to Mothers’ Common Questions about the First 3 Days Postpartum

Breastfeeding comes naturally, right? One story of a not-so-perfect start to breastfeeding

Life with a Newborn: Day 1

Life with a Newborn: Days 2 & 3


Reference

Wagner EA, Chantry CJ, Dewey KG, Nommsen-Rivers LA. Breastfeeding concerns at 3 and 7 days postpartum and feeding status at 2 months. Pediatrics. 2013;132(4):e865-75.

 

 

Holiday Special: Gift Giving

It's that time of year! Let the gift giving begin! It can be challenging to find just the right gift for your little one. So, we have some great ideas on how to choose the right gift for your baby's personality. Try this post: Choosing the Right Gift for Baby.

But you won't just be giving gifts this year, you'll be receiving them too! What happens when you get an unwanted or inappropriate gift? Check out Saying No to Unwanted Baby Gifts for some ways to handle this awkward situation.

Remember, the best gift you (and others) can give to your baby this season is the time you spend together, gadget-free.

Baby Language Quiz - Answers!

Here are the answer's to this week's quiz:

Typically, how old are babies/toddlers when they:
1. Consistently respond to their own names?

Around 6 months. At the same age, babies will look longer at people who are named, showing that they have linked names with people like "mommy," "daddy," and other close relatives.

2. Start to use a few words consistently with meaning (not just understanding but saying the words themselves with obvious meaning)?

Around 12 months. You'll notice that your baby understands words much earlier than he says them. He will first understand then use new words (often mispronounced) at an amazing rate as his first birthday passes. Remember to pay attention to what words your baby hears from you or any other source. Babies are sponges, soaking everything up including words you wouldn't want shouted out at a family gathering.

3. Use cooing and other noises specifically to attract your attention?

As early as 3 months, your baby will be using sounds that she knows will attract your attention. Remember, your baby loves looking at your whole face and listening to your voice. She is trying to learn as much as she can from you. If you respond to her softer sounds, she'll have less reason to resort to shrieking.

4. Start to combine words into short noun-verb sentences?

Around 20 to 24 months, your baby will start to use sentences and combinations of words. Even though your baby might still shorten or mispronounce words, you'll notice that he seems to follow basic grammar  rules in that he is using words in a specific order, like "I go."

5. First recognize friendly or angry tones in others' voices.

Around 6 months, your baby will respond more positively to friendly voices and negatively to angry ones. She's been watching and learning from you and has learned to prefer nicer tones of voice. Keep in mind that your baby might become upset if she is nearby when people are arguing even if she doesn't understand what is being said.

Resources:
Infant Development 2nd Edition, Volume 1: Basic Research. Bremner and Wachs (Eds). Wiley-Blackwell. 2010.

Stamm, J. Bright from the Start. Gotham Books, 2007.

Baby Language Quiz!

We realized that we haven't had a quiz in a long time, so here we go. Our topic is children's language development.

Typically, how old are babies/toddlers when they:
1. Consistently respond to their own names?
2. Start to use a few words consistently with meaning (not just understanding but saying the words themselves with obvious meaning)?
3. Use cooing and other noises specifically to attract your attention?
4. Start to combine words into short noun-verb sentences?
5. First recognize friendly or angry tones in others' voices.

We'll post the answers on Friday!