A huge thank you to Jessica, who shared her nursing experience with us.  I love how she took her rough beginning and turned it into something incredible!

Before I knew I was pregnant with twins, I knew I was going to breastfeed.  It was the norm in my family and the right thing for my babies and me.  I also knew that nursing twins would present its own challenges, but I wasn’t going to let that discourage me.  I got as prepared as I could through a prenatal breastfeeding class with the Louisville Mother of Twins Club, started reading Mothering Multiples and had some idea of what to expect.  I didn’t, however, anticipate delivering my twins a little over seven weeks early and spending their first four weeks in the NICU.  After a non-complicated and normal pregnancy, their early arrival was surprising, scary and didn’t set us up to get off on the right foot with breastfeeding.  Thankfully, I had a wonderful support system and within hours of my c-section I was pumping and my breastfeeding journey began.  My milk was slow to come in and I’m sure wasn’t helped by the pressure that was put upon me by the NICU nurses to produce.  We got to the point that we used donor milk during the first week while my production was getting going.  They acted as if I wanted to starve my children because I refused formula, but I knew that my babies weren’t eating much and was thankful that the option of donor milk came up after my sister-in-law offered to pump for us.  Legal issues prevented us from using her milk, but we were able to provide them with breast milk.  For four weeks, I pumped every two hours.  I refused putting thickener in my son’s milk as they suggested to keep him from spitting up and after my daughter wasn’t gaining weight as fast as they thought she should, they suggested adding calories to my milk.  Thankfully, the lactation consultant at the hospital checked the caloric content of my milk and determined that I was basically making butter, so no calories were needed…she just needed a little more time.  Our nurse practitioner learned that before she suggested we supplement with anything she had to bring me the ingredients list.  I didn’t want them having any junk.  I knew my milk was the best thing for them.   I started nursing each baby while they were in the hospital.  I was started on a nipple shield because their mouths were so small and they were used to the bottles that made eating easy and as least tiring as possible for their little preemie bodies.

Upon their arrival home, I was pumping over a liter of milk a day and started my transition to nursing them all the time.  As you can imagine, it was extremely time consuming.  At first, I was nursing each baby separately and by the time I finished with the second baby, the first was ready to nurse again.  I was also trying to pump after nursing to keep up my production and build up my supply for when I returned to work.   One morning, my son WOULD NOT wait until Maria was finished and I managed to get both latched on at the same time.  My twin nursing pillow was out of reach, but someone I managed without it.  Dual nursing became my norm.   This was a huge advantage and cut my time down from up to an hour and a half total to only 30 – 45 minutes.   I felt like a new woman!  Each baby would nurse completely on one side and the next feeding, they’d switch sides.  Now, if only I could get off the nipple shield.  On my sister-in-laws advice I would start them on the shield and during my nursing session start to wean them off.  Neither baby wanted to latch without it and proved to be very frustrating.  It wasn’t until they were 12 weeks old that we finally got off and it happened by accident.  I was working to get Grant latched on one side with the shield while Maria was on the other side of the pillow waiting.  She must have gotten tired of waiting because all of a sudden, she latched without the shield.  It wasn’t a good latch, but she was going to town.  I worked on getting her latch improved for the next few days, then worked on Grant.  He eventually got it and I was amazed at how freeing it was to be off the shield!  Both babies began to get more and more efficient with nursing and soon it was faster to nurse both than it was to give them both bottles.  For the first several months, I would pump at night and my husband would give them bottles so I could get some sleep.  Once they became professionals and nursing sessions took 10 – 15 minutes, I started nursing in the middle of the night.

My first goal was to nurse exclusively for six months and then see where we’d go.  Six months came and went and I saw no reason to stop.  Supply was not an issue and why would we stop when it was so easy and good for all of us?   The only challenge was they were getting a little big for the twin nursing pillow and poking each other in the eyes.  I figured out how to overcome this, by restraining one arm underneath while they were on their sides and by putting their legs up the back of the couch when they nurse.  I laugh because they now take up most of the pillow, but in the early days when they were tiny, I could put a plate on the pillow between their heads and feed myself at the same time.  I also could write thank you notes for baby gifts.

Grant and Maria are now nine months old and I’m so thankful I didn’t give up.  There were times that I really wanted to stop, and had it not been for the health benefits for all of us, I might have.  Since I work outside the home, breast feeding also provides a way for me to instantly reconnect when we’re together and I think helps me know them better.   At times, I will nurse separately because I can tell that’s what they need.  People seem amazed that I’m able to keep up with two babies.  God created our bodies to do this, so why wouldn’t it be able to keep up?  I eat a ton and drank water all day long.  I gained 34 pounds while pregnant and have now lost nearly 50 and I attribute this to nursing.   Before they were born, I was often asked if I was going to breast feed and my answer was yes.  A fairly common reply was “good luck with that.”  No luck needed here.   Dedication and trusting my body to do what it was made to do was what was needed.  My babies are super healthy and I know they will have a much healthier future because of breast feeding.  I encourage anyone to give it a try and not to let more than one baby be an obstacle.  We may have had a rough start, but breast feeding has become a wonderful experience; one that I’ll never regret.

or email me katie@milksmartmama.com

If you have a Facebook account and are a nursing Mama, you’re probably familiar with what’s been going on.  If not, here’s the short version: a very, very popular breastfeeding support page was removed.  Their numbers doubled – in a DAY – on a group made in protest of the removal.  Media outlets were contacted and the Mama that started it all is doing her best to make sure that Facebook understands that removing a group like this falls into the realm of discrimination.  The New York Times has the whole story.

I just love it when celebrities (or their wives) step out and support breastfeeding.  Just love it!

If you live in the Newark, Ohio, area, you may want to check this out.

Arizona health officials are doing great things.

Do breastfed babies turn into stronger adolescents?  Seems to be the case…

And don’t forget about our giveaway!  Entries will close on Wednesday!

or email me katie@milksmartmama.com

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* Request skin to skin contact immediately after birth. Decline bathing and routine newborn screening until after the baby has nursed successfully for the first time.

* Try to nurse as soon as you can. Not only does it help the bonding process, but the oxytocin that your body releases while breastfeeding will help contract the uterus and expel the placenta.

* Keep baby close by. If you’re birthing in a hospital setting, insist on rooming in. If at home, climb into bed as a family and get some rest.

* Nurse your baby whenever you feel that s/he’s hungry. Newborns need to nurse every 1.5 – 2 hours, normally, but anything from once an hour to every three is within the realm of normal. Don’t hesitate to wake up a sleeping baby for a nursing session.

* Decline pacifiers and artificial nipples. All nursing – whether for comfort or nourishment – needs to be on the breast to help bring in your milk and start establishing supply. Your baby will not use you as a pacifier – any ‘extraneous’ breastfeeding is being done by a biological urge. It’s normal!

* Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and eat well. A breastfeeding Mama should be consuming an extra 300-500 calories a day. When you sit down to nurse, have a snack – granola, cheese, fruit – close by and a big glass of water. Staying hydrated and nourished is very, very important!

* Take a little time every day to take a shower and eat a meal with both hands. Twenty minutes alone can be a lifesaver – don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Breastfeeding burns a lot of calories and is pretty time-consuming in the beginning, so being able to clear your head is a must. If you’re experiencing pain, have bloody/cracked/blistered nipples, or baby’s not having adequate wet/dirty diapers, talk to a local lactation professional. International Board Certified Lactation Consultants can be found all over the world and are specifically trained to help you, the nursing Mama. The La Leche League offers 24-hour phone support, as well. Nursing a new baby can be overwhelming, so make sure that your needs are met so you are able to meet those of your baby.

Cheers!
- Katie
katie@milksmartmama.com
@MilkSmartMama (Twitter)

Remember Obama’s healthcare reform?  Women’s health advocates are positive that this will bring positive change in the nation’s breastfeeding rates.  We can hope!

Australian singer Dannii Minogue loves nursing her baby.  We love to hear about celebrities that truly embrace breastfeeding – what a great way to use one’s fame.

I think that Making Thyme Kitchen in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has the right idea with their milkeez cookies.

“The relationship may be explained by the fact that nutrients in breast milk — especially long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids — are essential for optimum brain growth, including cell membranes and neurons.”

In New Zealand?  You have until January 10th to get your entry in for the Breastfeeding T-Off.

If you take medication for epilepsy and have been told you can not breastfeed safely, you may want to read this article.

Healthy People 2020 has released some great, attainable goals for the United States.  Think we can get the initiation rate up to 82% from our current 75%?

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Before I gave birth to my first son, I spent my pregnancy focused on one thing: labor & birth.  Would it hurt?  Will my epidural work?  Will I have to have a c-section?  Am I going to poop while I’m pushing?  (Please no, please no, please no!)  I went to a popular Mom’s site and spent my days reading the posts, reading birth stories, trying to learn everything I could about it.  I read What To Expect When You’re Expecting and The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy.  I knew that I wanted to nurse my baby when he was born, but I was so worried about the pain of labor and birth that I didn’t take the time to really learn about nursing.  I only nursed him for a few months, falling into typical ‘booby traps’ along the way.  Right after he turned one, I found myself pregnant again, and I vowed that it would be different.  And it has been – my little dude is a little over 13 months old and we’re still nursing!  How did I do it?  How did I set myself up for success?

I read books that focused on nursing like The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding.  I spent time with Mama friends that were actively nursing their children and asked every question that I possibly could.  I asked my OB and pediatrician to help and support me.  I made a list of IBCLCs in my area that could help me and saved a few La Leche League leaders’ numbers in my phone.  I never made it to a LLL meeting during my pregnancy, or a breastfeeding class, but if you’re able to?  GO.

The keys to preparing yourself to nurse are simple: education and support.  If you don’t have a solid support system readily available to you, find one online.  The Breast Idea, KellyMom, Best For Babes Foundation, La Leche League, even our Milk Smart Mama Facebook page – full of women to help and encourage you along the way.  Go into it with the confidence that you will succeed and have the basic knowledge to recognize any problems you may be experiencing and you’re golden.  Welcome to the Sisterhood – we’re excited that you’ve joined us!

Cheers!
- Katie
katie@milksmartmama.com
@MilkSmartMama (Twitter)

Beth Hale of the UK’s Daily Mail wrote this piece a few days ago, prompting this reply from Christie Haskell of Cafemom’s The Stir.

A UK midwife is planning on releasing a different, er, type of nursing video.

Working Mamas in West Virginia: The West Virginia Breastfeeding Alliance has some good news for you!

And if you’re near Utica, New York, you may want to check out the Breastfeeding Cafe.

These birthing, breastfeeding dolls have been garnering a lot of talk lately, too!

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or email me katie@milksmartmama.com

There is no doubt that breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for an infant. In a perfect world, all women would nurse their babies for the first year of life. Every major health organization in the world, from the American Academy of Pediatrics to the United Nations Children’s Fund, recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months (when many babies start eating solid foods, which takes the ‘exclusive’ part out). Even though we know this, making the decision to nurse a baby is a very personal one.

My personal general rule of thumb? If you are a healthy woman with boobies, you should give it a shot. Even if your boobies have been enhanced (or…de-hanced?), it doesn’t automatically mean that you can’t nurse your baby. The benefits of nursing for any amount of time, whether it’s 2 days or 4 years, are so incredible. Breastfed babies are less likely to develop asthma, diabetes, SIDS, and breastfeeding mothers lower their risk of breast and reproductive cancers just by making that choice. Add in the convenience factor (it’s always the right temperature, always available, no bottles to clean, FREE!) and it’s hard to find a reason NOT to breastfeed.

The immediate physical and emotional benefits of breastfeeding are there, too: it helps the uterus return to its normal size, encourages bonding, reminds us to slow down and relax during the postpartum period, and helps with postpartum depression. So while we’re providing so many great things for our babies by nursing, we’re actually helping ourselves.

If you’re still on the fence, check out a local breastfeeding support group (like the La Leche League) in your area. Seek out an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) prior to giving birth and schedule a meeting to ask questions and ease any fears that you have. Hop on the Internet and visit us at The Breast Idea for encouragement. There are people all over the world that are willing and able to help you succeed, but only you can make the choice to take that step. We (the collective we: all breastfeeding Mamas) hope that you join us in this amazing journey!

Cheers!
- Katie
katie@milksmartmama.com
@MilkSmartMama (Twitter)

(Want to know who Katie is?  Head over here!)

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In other related news Kourtney Kardashian has admitted to tasting her own breastmilk! Go Kourteny I know I have tried it and I even used it a a wrinkle or two and yes, it worked wonders!