Tag Archives: breast feeding

The Dirty Diaper and Your Child’s Health

According to a New York Times article, “In a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers led by Anita Kozyrskyj found that babies born by C-Section vaginally, and that infants who were breast-fed had a different recipe of bacteria in their guts than those who were given formula.” And when it comes to health, specifically digestive heath and the immune system, it is the bacteria, or bugs, that count. Studies have long shown that children who have been delivered by C-Section have greater risks of certain illnesses, such as asthma, diabetes and obesity, as do children who were … Continue reading →

Panic Attack

My baby is dehydrated. Every single morning, since the day she was born, she has soaked her overnight diapers. Literally drenched them. Not usually enough to get her clothes wet, but sometimes. If they were cloth diapers, I could smell the ammonia aroma from a mile away. If they were disposable, the things weighed about 10 pounds. It made sense. During the day, I changed her diaper every two hours or so. All she consumed in the way of “food” was breast milk. She was a healthy, growing, well-hydrated little pumpkin. Of course her diapers were going to be full … Continue reading →

Stocking Your Milk Bank 2

What do you do if a sudden illness or necessary absence prevents you from breastfeeding? Do you stop nursing altogether and put your baby on formula? There may be other options. In the last post, I started talking about establishing and stocking a milk bank. Now I’ll continue on this topic. Let us talk about what to put that milk into. You can use either the breastmilk bottles or the breastmilk bags. Bottles are certainly more convenient, but they do have their downside. The bottles are more expensive to purchase, and may will take up more room in your freezer. … Continue reading →

How to Increase Your Milk Supply

If you are worried that your young baby isn’t gaining as much weight as you think he should, or if you don’t feel as though you are producing enough milk, you may want to try some methods to increase your milk supply. Here are some tips. First let me say that sometimes it may seem as though you don’t have enough milk because your baby seems ravenous, when you are actually producing plenty of milk. The constant feeding could be because your baby is going through a growth spurt. Your pediatrician or a lactation consultant should be able to help … Continue reading →

Why Dad is Important in Weaning

You’ve made the decision to wean your baby. But weaning isn’t always easy to do. Dad can play a very important part in the process and help make the transition away from mother’s milk smooth and easy for both baby and mom. Here is how dad can help. Successful weaning can depend on two strategical techniques. One is distraction away from the breast and the other is substitution of other forms of emotional nourishment. Breast feeding provides both nutrition and emotional comfort. You need to address how you will handle both when you wean. Here is where dad can really … Continue reading →

Ask a Baby Blogger: Common Questions

I thought I would take this time to answer some of the more common questions about babies, toddlers and preschoolers that I have been asked lately. Hopefully you will find answers to your questions here. If not, please ask away. I can be reached through the comments at the end of any of my blog posts, or through private messages. You may also see me hanging around the forums. I also want to mention that the forums are a great place to get all sorts of advice from other parents and experts. When can I give my baby water? Babies … Continue reading →

How to Find Places to Nurse in Public

When it comes to breastfeeding, one of the concerns that often comes up is nursing in public. Different moms have different opinions about nursing in public, how and where to do it. Where you nurse may depend on your own comfort level, whether or not your baby is easily distracted and what local breastfeeding laws are in place that protect your right to feed your baby in public. Most cities and states have laws that protect a mother’s right to nurse anywhere where children are welcome, although a few areas still do not, such as my own home state of … Continue reading →

Baby Blog Month in Review: June 2008

June was my first official month posting for the Baby Blog. It has been a great experience. I love learning new things about babies and sharing it with friends. Of course, I could use your help. Whether you are a first-time mom or an experienced mom of a large family, I want to hear from you. Please share your advice, your questions and your comments. On which topics would you like to see more blogs? Meanwhile, take a look at all of the articles we had in June. June 2nd Introducing Babies to Birds Perhaps it is the fact that … Continue reading →

Baby Blog Week in Review: June 9th Through June 15th

Well, this past week was my very first week of blogging here in the Baby Blog. How did I do? If you missed the articles about breast feeding having a greater benefit for girls or what to expect if your baby is jaundiced, check them out now. Here is the Baby Blog week in review for June 9th through June 15th. June 9th Baby Name Trends: Place Names What are some of the trends that are affecting baby names this year? Can you find a name that is both popular and unique at the same time? The key to a … Continue reading →

Girls Benefit Most from Breastfeeding

If you have a baby girl, it may be even more important that you breast feed than if you have a baby boy. Recent research investigated by John Hopkins Children’s Center reveals that girls may receive a greater benefit from the protective nature of breast milk than do boys, at least when it comes to one area of health. The June issue of the journal Pediatrics reports findings that suggest that breast milk provides more protection from respiratory infections for girls than it does for boys. Furthermore, girls who were formula fed had the absolute highest risk for developing respiratory … Continue reading →