I can't believe it is March already! My little man is one which means I have been a mother myself for one entire year.  After working with moms for almost 6 years it's incredible how being one yourself is truly a unique experience. I thought I knew most things baby but leave it to your own baby to teach you the deepest lessons. 

Thank you Joaquin for helping me to be a stronger, more capable woman but also a more compassionate and caring professional. Little details that may have gone unnoticed to my pre-mama self will certainly ring clearly now.  Fon instance, you never know just how exhaustion can make you feel until you've experienced motherhood. We run back to back marathons with little cheering from the side lines.  

I've always been a supporter of self care but now it's moved to the top of my 'must do' homework list for clients.  You must take time for yourself so you can return to your baby as your happiest, truest self.  A happy mom is a better mom.

From one mama to another, enjoy your nightly indulgence whether it be a hot bath or some delicous chocolate. Tonight in celebration of my birthing day it will be both!

Lately I've been thinking about past clients who, despite their best efforts, were unable to breastfeed. Their story is sometimes left out of the rosy breastfeeding picture. The road to the bottle can be laden with frustration, tears, guilt and sometimes relief. After days, weeks or sometimes months of working to make breastfeeding happen it can be heartbreaking to have to move on to the bottle.

Choosing an alternative milk typically comes as a surprise to these parents.  Often it's deciding between two evils or worse finding milk your baby will tolerate. And even though it looks easy, bottle feeding itself is a bit of an art form.

I had planned to write an entry highlighting tips for bottle feeding families to feed their babies with love when I came upon a lovely article written by a mama who had beat me to it.  She has done such a wonderful job of it that I will simply say, it is still possible to lovingly nourish your baby while bottle feeding.  Baby led bottle feeding follows the same rules. Listen to your babies cues, feed them when they ask and stop feeding when they are full. It's best not to worry about a feeding schedule or whether or not they drink the entire bottle or ask for more.   Hold your baby close, skin to skin in the early days, while you give a bottle. They thrive so much just from your touch.

My hat is off to those families who have worked really hard to make breastfeeding work. It's not always as easy as it looks and it can take loads of patience and perseverence.  I encourage you to share your stories, they deserve to be told!  And hopefully you can continue to support breastfeeding regardless of your own experience.

I hope this isn't cheating, I'm linking to another blog today. It's just too cool not to share it.  The mama over at Lactation Narration posted her experience after recently participating in a study about cells in breast milk.  Her results illustrated the super powers of human milk broken down into the individual cells who are the tiny worker bees carrying out immune functions in a mama's body. These cells then get passed onto the baby's body via breast milk to continue working hard.  No surprise there but certainly it's fun (at least for science nerds like me) to see the actual breakdown of cells.  And of course this is just more evidence that your milk doesn't turn to pixie dust after 12 months - this mama has a 2.5 year old. Read her full story for the details.

Thanks for sharing!  I hope it's okay that I spread your findings along over here.

Milk Support joins the Facebook community!  It only took me 4 years to get a facebook presence but I'm looking forward to the new exposure. Follow me, like me or maybe just stop by once in a while.  I'll be learning how to post my blog topics and other top stories in infant feeding while also chatting with families and other health professionals.

Hope to see you there!

I worked with mamas and babies well before I became a mama myself. I knew it would bring a whole new insight into my work but I never realized just how much being a mom would change me. Looking back I've picked out a few lessons to share:

• Perservering through the nipple discomfort in the beginning was definitely worth every single effort. I remember telling my husband, "if I wasn't a lactation consultant I would have quit nursing by now!"  I'm so glad I didn't give up! There really aren't any words to describe the amazing experience of nursing your baby... love, fulfillment, joy and bliss come close.

• It's true that you forget any negative experiences in the end.. the hard parts just disappear.  My baby's birth, which had to be categorized somewhere in the top ten most difficult labors, is now just a memory of gazing into those big, dreamy eyes and feeling soothed.

• Nursing truly can fix any boo boo
• Sleep has a whole new meaning. 4 hours straight is like heaven!
• Introducing solid foods isn't always so easy - your baby may have their own agenda
• Babies do have a voice and things go much smoother if you listen carefully
• Don't fight the nap just follow your own baby's sleep rhythm and your day will be brighter
• The benefits of nursing past the first 6 months are immeasurable. I love watching his face light up with delight and pure joy every time he comes to breast. Is there another time in life where something so simple and nourishing gives us this pleasure?

He  has been one of my most profound teachers testing me every day and pushing me to discover some of the most primal lessons in life.  I'm hoping these lessons give new richness and dimension to my practice. Returning to work as a mama has already taught me to slow down and look at each family carefully so as not to miss the little cues every baby shares.

Over a year ago I came across a wonderfully detailed explanation of the benefits of baby wearing and still to this day the points echo in my head every time I see a tiny baby out in the big wide world.  It must be a pretty overwhelming experience to be away from the comfort of mama's chest where the world smells just right.

While it may be exciting the first time you think to break out the new stroller and take if for a spin. I urge you to read up a little bit about why it's so important that we carry our babies for the first while.  The experts over at Sleepy Wrap, now called Boba, wrote the article I am referring to and it's a great place to start.  Just as with breastfeeing, the benefits to baby wearing are enless and long lasting.  If you have a favorite baby wearing resource, please share it so we can add it here.

You may want to search around to find the best carrier for your body. I just happened to enjoy my Sleepy Wrap and I also loved the wrap I bought from a Bay Area mom who sells her homemade version that's just a little bit smaller and light weight, perfect for short mamas like me and for summer time babies like Joaquin. I'm also partial to the wraps that allow you to nurse on the go, no surprise I'm sure.

You can still show off your stroller. Bring it along to carry everything but the baby!! 

Speaking of extended nursing, weaning seems to be a popular consult for my clients these days.

A quick word on weaning: I strongly believe in every mama to make her own decision about weaning, whether baby led or mama guided, she knows best.  We can discuss the many benefits of extended nursing but ultimately whatever makes you the happiest mama makes you the best mama.

Lately I've noticed that more often than not I'm reminding many families that breastfeeding is not just a source of nutrition.  When mamas decide they are ready to stop nursing, I wonder if they've considered the emotional aspects.

Babies get so much more than just food at the breast.  For many babies, it's the safest, warmest, most loving space in their world. Being nuzzled into mom's breast where everything smells just right, sounds just right and usually is just right is something that most babies may not be ready to give up overnight.  Regardless of a mama's ability to connect or feel the emotional aspects of nursing, her baby still gets the oxytocin high from the hormones in her milk.  She thrives from the daily doses of physical closeness and the endless amount of nurturing that nursing provides.

I'm not saying you can't create other soothing rituals. In time all mamas and papas come up with other ways to connect and soothe. But do calculate the emotional side of nursing into your decision of when and how quickly to wean.  It's okay to go slowly and it's okay to listen to your baby so she can participate in this very critical transition.

Thank you for taking a minute to listen.

I often get calls from moms looking for reassurance to nurse past the first year. Don't worry your milk hasn't turned to pixie dust despite many people's claims.  There are many benefits to nursing beyond the first year.

NUTRIENTS

Ever have a day when your toddler decides not to eat? Breast milk can still offer all the nutrients he needs. Ever have a sick toddler barely keeping down fluids?  Breast milk can save the day again.  Does your toddler go to daycare or play school?  Germs!!  Breast milk can provide loads of antibodies to help your child fend off those cold and flu bugs. Beyond these instances, daily amounts of breast milk can offer immeasurable nourishment to your growing toddler. 

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

In the midst of so many growing pains it's reassuring for a toddler to be able to come back to a safe, secure place for comfort and support.  Breastfeeding can assist your child in learning independence and confidence in her ever changing, fast-paced world.

MOMS BENEFIT

Moms reap the benefits too!  Nursing protects mom against many types of cancer including ovarian, breast, uterine and endometrial. It reduces her risk of osteoporosis and can aid some women in weight loss post partam.  Just to name a few!

I'm not the only one giving you the green light. The AAP, WHO and other professional organizations recommend nursing for at least 2 years. If you'd like more information or the background studies on these and many other benefits check out Kelly Mom's site for more details.

There has been some misunderstanding about a current vaccination recommendation from the CDC. Some very worried clients have asked if it's true that they should not breastfeed on days when they vaccinate.  The answer is, absolutely breastfeed, especially on vaccination days! 

The study, that the CDC is responding to, found that oral vaccinations such as the rotavirus vaccine may be better absorbed if breast milk isn't consumed immediately before or after the vaccine is given.  This simply means that they are recommending that, if possible, schedule your visit between feedings so that there is an hour or so before and after the vaccine is given. The reason being that the super powers of breast milk may hinder the uptake of the bugs in the vaccine. This study also giving this as a possible suggestion and does state that more research is needed.

Bottom line: please comfort your babies and continue to nurse regardless of your vaccination decisions. Your baby thanks you!