Breastfeeding, Working, and Pumping: Making it work

Are you having to go back to work but want to continue breastfeeding your baby? Here is an amazing guest post from Beth Reyman on pumping at work and maintaining her milk supply while doing so. Great ideas for all of us working mums! ~Janell~

Breastfeeding, Working, and Pumping: Making it work

It’s never easy after your first baby (or any baby) to go back to work. But depending on your own personal and financial situation it is something that you must do. To work outside the home with a new (or even an older) child is a balancing act to say the least. Trying to figure out the best childcare provider, timing, schedules, naps, and making sure you have quality time with your baby is important. When the time comes to go back to work some people just give up breastfeeding all together. But you CAN do both. You can breastfeed, pump, and work all at the same time.
When I had my first son Stephen I had been working full time up until I went on maternity leave a few weeks before my due date. Luckily due to really generous maternity leave laws here in my state I didn’t have to go back to work until he was 4 months and worked a part-time position working from 7pm-7am. I knew that I wanted to keep breastfeeding despite having to work and so I knew that I would have to start pumping and freezing my milk. It is a balancing act to be able to do both but it is also very doable. I figured out what times I needed to pump at work and I just made the time. Luckily I had understanding co-workers who would cover my patients while I pumped. As a result of having to pump so much I was able to freeze extra milk and when I found myself pregnant 9 months after he was born I was able to supplement my dwindling supply with my own breastmilk. So far I have made it through 12 months of pumping with my first, and 11 months of pumping with my second. Here are the things that I have found to help me.

Get a hands-free pumping bra: I didn’t have one of these with my first and have found it to be totally worth it for the 2nd. Using this hands-free pump bra allows me to hook up my pump to me and then sit down and read a book or play on my computer. Multi-tasking at it’s finest.

Start pumping at least a few weeks before you go back to work: This will allow you to build up a stash of milk in your freezer so that you can have milk stored for your baby. Try and get at least 2 days worth of milk in the freezer just in case you need it before you go back to work. Great times to pump are first thing in the morning after your baby eats and last thing before you go to bed, especially if your baby has started stretching out their nights.

Make pumping at work a priority: It can be easy to push aside your pumping times at work or get caught up but you need to make the time to pump. Make sure to keep pumping as frequently as your child eats or at a minimum of every 3 hours. Also when you are replacing a feeding and trying to maintain your supply then you want to pump for 20 minutes at a time.

Breastfeed as much as you can: If you can breastfeed before you leave for work, when you get home, and before you go to bed it will help to keep your supply up. The more skin to skin breastfeeding the better

Freeze your breastmilk flat: It is easiest to freeze your breastmilk in freezer bags with dates and ounces. If you freeze it flat then you are able to pack the milk most compactly. If you want an easy way to organize your milk in the freezer this is a easy and cheap way to do it using a gift bag (http://greenlitebites.com/2011/06/02/breast-milk-storage/) This would ensure you use the oldest milk first.

Bring your BabyButton Breastfeeding Cover: You never know if you may have to pump near a co-worker, at your desk or in the break room. BabyButtons Breastfeeding Cover allows you the extra privacy and allows you to relax while pumping knowing your boss or co-workers won’t be observing the pumping process the entire time too.

If you are done pumping and breastfeeding and you have lots of frozen milk then look into donating your breastmilk to a milk bank or look into milk sharing networks. This way you are able to not only feed your own child but help other moms and bubs in need.

-Beth Reyman

Head over to our Breastfeeding Cover page for your Cover to take to work with you too!

Thanks for coming by! 

Hope you enjoyed our guest blogger! Are you going back to work and still breastfeeding? Tell us your story. 

Janell @ BabyButton 

Breastfeeding, a Confidence Game

When Addi was born I wanted to breastfeeding and had plenty of milk to do so. However I remember when we went and saw the Health Nurse and she hadnt gained weight, autotmatically it must mean she wasnt receiving enough milk and I needed to do more. Todays Guest Post is by Pinky McKay, Internationally Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and author and she has such a great way of explaining and helping us understand the ins and outs of breastfeeding your baby, your milk supply and how to be confident in yourself as a Mother! I wish I had read this tand relaxed about more before I got worked up about my milk supply and feeding my new baby.

Breastfeeding, A Confidence Game

What could be more affirming to a woman’s confidence than gazing into the deep navy blue eyes of her newborn, knowing that everything he needs comes from her –  security in her arms as he drinks in her smell, her loving gaze and her milk?

Conversely, if you are a new mother, your confidence can be so easily undermined as well-meaning voices suggest, “are you sure you have enough milk?” or “perhaps your milk isn’t strong enough,” any time your baby so much as whimpers (by the way, this second comment is never true, even though it was commonly expressed when your own mother was a new mum).

A new mother’s vulnerability runs deep: no mother can bear to question her ability to nourish her baby or even worse, to feel that she could be starving her child. Feeding your child is the most basic instinct.   As a mother’s confidence is eroded, her breastfeeding experience can also be affected – as you become stressed about your milk supply, this tension can affect hormones that elicit milk flow and, if you begin to offer your baby bottles of milk as well as breastfeeds, it isn’t long before your body gets the message that it doesn’t need to make as much milk.  Then, sadly, your baby could be weaned before you are ready to let go of this special relationship.

Making milk

Breast milk production works on a supply and demand basis: Your baby’s sucking at your breast stimulates milk production which means that the more your baby drinks, the more milk your breasts will make and according to research by Dr Peter Hartmann and associates at the University of Western Australia, an empty breast will make milk more quickly while a full breast will make milk more slowly. This means that milk production will speed up or slow down according to how hungry your baby is. This is particularly important to remember when your baby has a growth spurt and wants to feed more often for a few days to keep up with his needs. Although it is fairly common for babies to have growth spurts and corresponding appetite increases at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months, these can happen at any time.

How often should you feed your baby?

After birth your baby’s stomach is only the size of a marble and about 10 days later is only the size of his tiny fist (or a golf ball). Also, breast-milk is very quickly and easily digested so your baby will need frequent feeds, at least in the early weeks. It is perfectly normal for a breastfed baby to need 8 to 12 feeds in 24 hours in the first few weeks. This could mean that he will feed as often as every two hours – and that means two hours from the beginning of one feed, to the beginning of the next - not two hours between feeds.

Hungry or Thirsty?

Whether he is wanting to feed because he is hungry or simply thirsty, your baby will be able to regulate the type of milk he needs, if you allow him to set the pace. The composition of breast milk changes throughout the course of a feeding. The first (fore) milk, is rather like skim milk. This will quench babies' thirst, which is why they often have very short, frequent feeds on hot days (if you feed your baby according to his needs, he won't need bottles of water). As the feeding progresses, the fat content increases and more closely resembles whole milk. Hunger will be satisfied by longer sucking periods when baby gets the fatty, hind milk (like a rich, creamy desert) that is squeezed down into your ducts by the ‘let down’ reflex . Your baby needs to 'finish' the first breast first, in order to get the hind milk, but if she is satisfied with only one side, you may need to express a little for comfort off the fuller breast. One solution, is to feed baby on one side until she chooses to drop off your breast, then burp her and/or have a little play and a nappy change, then give her the other side before you put her back to bed. This way she will seem to sleep longer before waking for another feed,

Watch your baby, not the clock

If you learn to identify your baby's hunger signals (squirming, sucking on fingers and 'rooting' at the breast) and allow your baby access to the breast when you see these early signals, you will be able to avert hunger cries (crying is a late hunger signal for most babies) and you can be reassured that she will take exactly the amount of milk that she needs.

Above all, rather than worrying about how much milk your baby is getting, try to relax and enjoy each feed as a time of loving interaction between you and your baby. By watching, listening and getting to know your baby’s nonverbal cues that say, I am hungry, tired, I want to play or please give me some quiet space, you will realise that you are the expert about your baby and you will be able to turn a deaf ear to negative voices. This is self- confidence!

Pinky McKay, International Board certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), runs a private practice in Melbournespecializing in gentle parenting techniques. A sought after keynote speaker and best-selling author with 4 titles published by Penguin, including her recent book Parenting By Heart, Pinky is also the creator of Boobie Bikkies – nutritious, organic and natural cookies to support and encourage a healthy milk supply.

You can get your FREE ebook ‘Making More Mummy Milk, Naturally’ and FREE Boobie Bikkies samples at www.boobiebikkies.com.au

 Pinky’s books, parenting resources and her free newsletter ‘Gentle Beginnings’ can be found on her website www.pinkymckay.com

What are your stories from your process of breastfeeding? Did you have any of these fears? 

Janell @ BabyButton 

Pregnancy and Post Natal Aches and Pains

Did you have the tension and tight muscles through pregnancy and after having your baby it just changed locations? Our guest post today is by Emma from The Mummy Seuss. She is fantastic at reducing the tension in your body through safe pregnancy and post natal massage. Todays post is in ways of reducing the tension after bubs arrives with some simple techniques! Happy Relaxing ~Janell

When a post natal mummy calls and makes an appointment, I already have a fairly good idea what she’s going to tell me. The Most common complaints from post natal clients is neck and shoulder pain. This is caused by carrying baby and positioning during breastfeeding.

The mum’s can’t help but stare at their babies during feeding. They sit with the baby in their arms with their heads turned to the side and looking down. Like this:

For a short amount of time this is fine but considering new mums are in this position for anywhere between 6 and 12 times a day for at least 20 minutes, the neck and shoulder muscles become strained. Just like when you sleep badly and you get a wry neck.

Another way mums get aches and pains is through baby carrying. Many a night is spent pacing the floor with baby on your shoulder or just carrying bubs to move around. Arms and shoulders become tired. If you were like me and your baby wanted to be carried all the time, your body will start to ache.

Basic tips to prevent/ease pain

• Change carrying sides regularly. • Sit in a proper chair while feeding with good back support. Arm rests are great too.

• Use a pillow to raise your baby up whilst feeding preventing arm ache and slouching.

• Whilst it’s wonderful to just gaze at your baby while they feed, make sure you occasionally look around and stretch your neck.

• Use a good quality, ergonomic baby carrier that has a waist support. • Stretch your pecs and upper back muscles regularly.

• Make sure you don’t hunch while feeding.

• Get massages to help with recovery.

Enjoy the special times of holding and feeding (Breast or bottle) your baby, but take care of yourself too!

Bio: Emma is The Mummyseuss a specialist pregnancy and post natal massage therapist located in Melbourne, Victoria. Come in feeling tight and leaving relaxed and refreshed. Contact her today to book an appointment or buy a well deserved gift certificate for a friend or family member by visiting her at: www.themummyseuss.com.au

I Don't Have to Cook 10 Meals?… or Clean up?

Vivenda.com.au

Wait. You are going to cook 3 different meals, divide them up into their own trays and freeze them for me to use when I want? I just couldn’t believe my luck when I heard I had won the pre-prepared meal  services of Sarah from Vivenda.

My Vivenda Sample experience was to include:
*3 main course meals with 3 freezable portions (serves 2) of each dish

*All Ingredients (even the flour & olive oil, I was expected to have nothing)

*All packaging (which is paperboard so it can go straight from the fridge or freezer into the oven or microwave providing maximum flexibility)

*Sarah using ALL her own equipment and-

*No hassle of cooking or cleaning up

So my lucky cooking day had arrived and...let me tell you, I was quite excited! I felt like I was a celebrity who had their own Chef and I wouldn’t have to cook for ages! The service provided by Vivenda made me relax because I knew I wasn’t having to do the work but would have plenty of food available for dinners for my entire family or even if I had guests over one night.

Sarah arrived at 11 with her car fully loaded of her own pots, pans, ingredients and containers. After a lovely chat and catch up on our lives (we do bizmums club together from Motivating Mum) she quickly cleaned all the counters, ovens and sink and started to prep the food. Hubby and I had previously picked our dishes from the wide range of possibilities listed Vivenda’s website. I chose items that I either didn't know how to make, didn't want to make or the family would love. For the next 4 hours Sarah cooked nonstop and the meals started coming together. Before Sarah left she showed me my freezer with 10 neatly packed containers (we got a bonus Cottage Pie because Sarah had some extra ingredients), cooking instructions found inside each lid and hassle free meal time in one spot! I also looked around my kitchen which was spotless. You would have never known someone had been in there cooking for hours.

I prepared Chicken, Leek & Pancetta Pie for dinner that night and hubby was quite excited to hear what was for dinner! I simply took the tray out and put it straight into the oven and knew 25 minutes later dinner was going to be done. I was able to go play with Addi and relax instead of standing around cooking. I thought to myself “I could get used to this.”

The meal was amazing! Besides being hassle free, I loved that my family was enjoying it, even the picky 2 year old. I loved that it was healthy, it was homemade and it was cheaper then eating out at a restaurant. An example of this is: I ordered pizza the other night for 3 of us (2 pizzas, 1 garlic bread, 1 bottle of soda) and it came to a total of $34.57. Vivenda meals work out to be $12.00 per serving, I would have gotten 3 dinners worth of food from Sarah instead of 1 dinner of unhealthy pizza.

Sound like something you would be interested in or know someone who would be? I think this is a perfect service to give as a gift to an expecting mum, new mum-who can have more time with her baby instead of worrying about dinner, great for dinner parties, special events- aka birthdays, anniversaries, work events, or just to give yourself the gift of time by knowing you don’t have to cook! I had a sample session, but if you book a full session Sarah whips up even more: you can choose 5 dishes and she prepares 10 serves of each.

Book your session today or give it as a gift by going to Vivenda’s website www.vivenda.com.au. There you can also find the menu, sessions that are available and all other information. To contact Sarah simply email her at sarah@vivenda.com.au or give her a call on 0488 725 211.

Please note: Vivenda is only available in the Melbourne area at this time!

What do you think of this idea? Would this be useful for you? Let us know your thoughts. 

Janell @ BabyButton

"Mums Guilt Served on a Platter"

7pm is an hour in the day that I sometimes welcome with a little dance, as I am grateful for its significance:Bedtime for Addi. I have spent the entire day chasing after her, singing ABC’s, reading books, pretending to love bubbles, fake tea and cakes and colouring outside of the lines as much as she does. But let’s face it, I'm beat by the end of the day and I haven’t even mentioned any laundry, cleaning or dog walks that are required within a day too.

Why is it that when us mums want to talk about having time to ourselves, being
our own person that doesn’t have a child on our hip or wanting every ounce of our
attention, we feel we have to pre-empt it with: “I do love my child...”?

So here I go; I do love my daughter BUT I was an independent person before I had
her and would like to think I have a sliver of Janell still left outside of my role of
mum. I have my bachelor’s degree, I am a certified personal trainer, I used to have
time to go to the gym, stay awake past 10pm, enjoy a few drinks without the worry
of being hung over and managing bubs in the morning! I used to have more to me
then the title mum.

I must say, I think it is crazy that I have mum guilt for having written the above
paragraph. Like I am automatically in the bad mum book forever! These types of
words are never to be spoken out loud!

I am one mum, like most, who have mum guilt for wanting to be apart from our
child even if it is for an hour or two a week. But I work damn hard with my daughter
and in my role as mum, so why can’t I acknowledge my hard work and dedication
sometimes with a holiday, night out for drinks with the girls, or a simple hour of not
having to think of what else I can do to entertain a two year old besides bubbles one
more time that day!

I have to laugh at myself and how other people’s judgment on me as a mother really
affects me. I was getting my nails done, Addi was at daycare and I was supposed to
be working. We all know 2 year olds will not sit still long enough for you to have nail
polish finish drying so unless hubby is able to watch her, I have to go on a BabyButton
work day to have my nails done. A lady I am an acquaintance with saw me getting my
nails done and came over to say hello. She asked where Addi was and automatically
I said at home with Hubby. Why?! Why would I do that when it was a blatant lie? It
was to save face and not look like a slack mum by putting bubs in care to get her nails
done! I didn't want her to go back to our mutual friends and say that I was a slack
mum or anything negative. But why as a mother herself, wouldn’t she understand my
need for a break?

I am a believer that us mums should have a few hours break from our children,
house chores, cooking and simply have our time once a week. We should be able to
clock off, go for a coffee, get our nails done, or go read a book in the garden and not
be interrupted by anyone or any more chores.

What is sad to me is that society makes you feel like crap for wanting to do that.
And perhaps even some partners/family members do too. (Thankfully not mine!)
But I see it like this. Yes we chose to have our kids, yes we chose to be stay at home
mums. But here is my example of my husband. Hubby chose to be a fireman, he
chose to work shift work, he chose to work crazy weird hours and be home when he
is able to. But ultimately in the end, he does have days off from being a fireman, from
being at work, and the obligations that come from that. So why, because our chosen
profession as mums condemn us for wanting to have a break like our partners do
from their work?

Being a mum is a great profession and one that I truly do love. I enjoy seeing my
daughter’s face each time she wakes up for her nap, being home to put her to bed,
teaching her new things each day. I wouldn’t trade my job for a corporate job, being
a psychologist or even personal trainer. I just want a mummy break sometimes and
to not feel guilty about it!

~Janell~

Why Would Someone Breastfeed Their 3-year-old?

Most of you probably saw the new and very talked about cover of Time Magazine picturing a mum breastfeeding  her  3-year-old son. Whether you saw it or not, it is bound to turn heads and cause a reaction. Whatever your parenting style, you can’t deny the benefits that come through breastfeeding. I personally am all about breastfeeding, not only because that is what my business is founded upon, but because of all the great benefits that come through that special season.

Here are some benefits to think about when you are deciding to try breastfeeding, or continuing it for longer.

For Baby:

-Liquid Gold: you may for heard the saying that early breast-milk is like liquid gold to your baby. Well, it’s true! The amount of colostrum you produce is most likely the amount that your baby needs, even though it may only be a small amount. Your breast-milk also changes in nutrients as baby’s body grows.

-Easy Going: breast-milk is much easier to digest than formula for most babies. (Obviously, not all mums can breastfeed due to medical or other issues, but this is for those who can )

-Fighters: in the best sense of the word, breastfeeding can help fight off disease. Studies have been shown that babies who drink breast-milk over formula are less likely to get a number of different health issues including ear infections, lower respiratory infections, asthma etc.

For Mum:

-Physical Touch: this not only is important for mum, but also for baby. The bonding that comes during this time of nursing is like none other between you and your little one.

-Less Hassle: at first it might take awhile to get used to, but after you have a good routine down breastfeeding is loads less hassle than bottle feeding; cleaning, sterilizing, buying and keeping bottles and nipples in good condition can be quite time-consuming. In breastfeeding you only have to take care of one pair of nipples!

-Healthier Choice: mums who breastfeed normally have been shown to be more healthy all around and have less of a risk for breast cancer, ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes. It also can help lose the baby weight faster! That’s a bonus!

These are just some of the benefits that come through breastfeeding. Whether you are an extreme breast-feeder (it’s the newest extreme sport, if you hadn’t heard ), or new to the whole breastfeeding thing, there are many benefits for you! Remember that your baby’s health is the most important thing as a mother, no matter how old baby is. So do what’s right for you and your little one. If you are not able to breastfeed this time, try again with the next. You can be an advocate for breastfeeding even if you are not able to do so!

How old were your kids when you stopped breastfeeding?

Teething

Teething and the helpless Mum:

How sad it is to know that your poor baby is in so much pain, drooling down their shirt, and you simply cant make the discomfort go away quicker. Have you ever wanted to be able to help relieve this pain without using medicine every time? There has to be a less invasive way, right? Hubby and I have never been one on pushing medicine into Addison and I always look for solutions that dont involve medicine because I feel she is so little and there have to be natural ways to help any issue at hand.

I have come up with some helping hints and ideas of how to help bubs relieve pain caused by teething without having to constantly use panadol or bonjela.

-Frozen or wet cloth: grab a washcloth or other soft cloth and pop it in the freezer or in a bowl of cold water. Your little one can suck on it and this will help soothe their irritated gums.

-Frozen teething rings: These are a great little item that help so much with little fuss! Plus, when they get older you can use it if they bump their lip and need to put something cold on their lip!

-Frozen bananas or fruit:  This is a good way for them to enjoy a little snack while sitting in their highchair and at the same time helping with their discomfort. You can either give them little bites or put some in a mesh feeder that they can hold and feed themselves.

-Teething Rusks: These are another great snack for bubs to enjoy while teething. There are organic ones with no sugar and they can suck on them for hours! You may think it has no taste but they love them and find it comforting. Dont forget to put a bib on as they suck away on the rusk!

-A small, cold spoon: Two ways of doing this are keeping spoons in the refrigerator, or put a small metal spoon in a glass of ice water.  Your teething bubs can then hold the spoon and bite down on it to help soothe their irritated gums.

-Clove Oil: A real homeopathic remedy is to put one drop of clove oil in 1-2 tablespoons of almond oil or any other EDIBLE oil. This can cause blistering if used in excess but will work wonders as you rub this home remedy on bubs’ gums.

New Best Friend

-Sophia The Giraffe- A great teething toy that bubs love to chew on and find comfort in. The ears and feet are different shapes and perfect for biting and bringing relief to their gums. These can be purchased from IttyBittyGreeny.

-More Frozen Remedies:  There are more frozen methods you can use to help during teething. Some of them include:

-Herbal Tea Ice Cubes: choose your favorite herbal tea (such as Chamomile) to place in ice cube tray. Once frozen, give to bubs in a washcloth, clean baby sock, or mesh feeder.

-Favorite drink placed in a Popsicle mold and frozen.

                                                         -Ice cubes made into slush and then fed to bubs with a spoon.

There are many things that can help bubs while teething. One of the times when the pain is normally the worst is when bubs is sleeping. This time would be great for bubs to use the teething rings. They might get a little wet on their bedding, but it is worth the help it will be in getting them to fall asleep. Help soothe them before bedtime by rubbing their gums carefully. If they are at peace, the pain will be much easier for them to bare with.

Remember that this time will pass. They won’t be in pain forever and it is important to remember to keep calm for your little one who is already feeling so much pain. You aren’t alone and your bubs will be ok. Just keep your head up and keep calm, you and bubs will make it through!

Do you have ideas for helps while teething not shared above? I'd love to hear 'em!