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Breastfeeding is being available, loving, stopping, resting and giving. Breastfeeding is all the time, everyday and every night. It’s something you may desire to do for months or years. It’s a beautiful commitment, but not without it’s challenges. I breastfed both of my children exclusively from day one. Could I have done it without a nursing pillow? I suppose so, but I liked it so much that I owned more than one! Here’s my story.
I registered for a Boppy pillow. Doesn’t everyone? Moms and magazines praise it like a miracle device. “It’ll save your back,” they say, “and baby will use it for tummy time and learning to sit too!” My pretty pink Boppy looked nice in the nursery, but quickly showed its faults when baby was born. Because it is so firm, the Boppy cannot mold to your body or your baby. How do women keep it in place? I felt that the moment I placed my baby on it things started sliding about. Baby would slide towards my breast, face squishing in until I worried she couldn’t find air. The Boppy would slide away from me, with the baby’s body finding its way into the growing space between me and the pillow. I tried different positions for both of us, but nothing seemed to help. Using a nursing pillow should be easy, right? My arms shouldn’t be busy adjusting or securing the pillow. Eventually I eyed the curved, rounded top of the Boppy with suspicion. Why was it rounded? How could my baby help but slide off of a curved, very firm surface?
My mom had brought home a My Breast Friend pillow, “Just in case.” It was everything Boppy was not: a little softer, but not too soft; a flat surface for baby to lay upon without sliding; and equipped with a strap that goes around your back, fastening with velcro so that the pillow stays right against your belly, where it belongs. It was ideal, and I used that badly-named pillow every single time I nursed at home, even at night. I could totally relax. My arms where completely free. Ahhh…. The Boppy was exiled to grandma’s house.
Along came baby #2. My Breast Friend Pillow was back, times two. I purchased a second so that I’d have one on each level of our new two-story home. I used it constantly. I washed the removable cover as needed, never realizing that the yellow foam core inside was entirely toxic. It wasn’t until I was nearing baby #2′s first birthday that I found out about the dangers of polyurethane foam. Most baby mattresses are filled with polyurethane foam. We purchased a new, organic mattress for my baby, but I didn’t realize that my Breast Friend nursing pillows are made with polyurethane foam until it was too late.
Of course, I felt guilty. Day after day, hour after hour, I’d cozied up with my precious little one over a lump of toxic, air-polluting foam. And polyurethane foam is that bad. Really bad. I share the sordid details in my article Toxins in the Nursery at EuphoriaBaby.com. But, one cannot undue the past. We can only share the news with others. To that end, I searched for “the perfect nursing pillow”, one that would work well, but was made of pure, safe ingredients. 
We added the Blessed Nest nursing pillow to our website EuphoriaMaternity.com and never looked back. It’s made entirely of organic cotton and filled with organic buckwheat hulls – pure, simple materials from nature – materials I can trust. The Blessed Nest pillow is also flat. The nature of the buckwheat hull filling is somewhat like a beanbag. It molds to the body, but offers strong support. As such, it stays still and no one slides off.. hooray!
So that’s it, that’s my story of the perfect nursing pillow. When you choose your pillow, just make sure to avoid polyurethane foam at all costs and to choose a pillow that’s relatively flat on top. Babies aren’t meant to slide. If you’re not sure about those buckwheat hulls, a flat nursing pillow that’s filled with organic cotton (like the Organic Caboose Nursing Pillow) is another good choice.
An excellent refresher on why we all want to breastfeed, from Pregnancy & Newborn magazine:
1. Build Immunities. Breast milk decreases the incidence and/or severity of many infectious diseases.
2. Lose Weight. Breastfeeding burns an average of 500 calories a day, so the pounds melt away faster than that pint of Ben & Jerry’s you’re eating.
3. Bond with Baby. Bonding over a bottle works too, especially for daddy, but the intimacy of nursing is unequaled.
4. Reduce Risk of SIDS. Post-neonatal mortality rates in the United States are 21 percent lower in breastfed infants.
5. Fight Cancer. Breastfeeding decreases your risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Mothers who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of osteoporosis later in life.
6. Save Money. Formula costs around $150 per month, so start a college savings plan for your little one (or buy a new dress!) with the money you save by breastfeeding.
7. Keep it Simple. No bottles and no warmer necessary means you’re ready to feed your baby any time, any place. (If you’re concerned about privacy, consider a nursing cover).
8. Start Smart. Studies propose breastfed infants have higher IQs.
9. Save Time. Who wants to wash bottles when you could be playing with your newborn or taking a nap?
10. Play it Safe. Research is continually revealing more benefits of breastfeeding. Recent studies suggest breastfed babies may have less risk of obesity and lower cholesterol levels as adults.
Girl, Disrupted: Hormone Disruptors and Women’s Reproductive Health is a new 35 page report designed to explain what we know today about hormone disrupting chemicals to regular people like you and I. It was published by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment and focuses, specifically, on how several synthetic, hormone-disrupting chemicals are destroying women’s health. The report details studies that link hormone disruptors to early puberty, infertility, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, breast cancer and others.
I know I’ve written time and agan about dangerous chemicals Americans are commonly exposed to, such as BPA, pthalates and more. I tend to focus on what we should do to protect our health. Rather than giving a list of to-do’s, this report gives you clear, concise reasons why you should be concerned about hormone disruptors.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t read the 35-page report. Who has time for that? Fortunately, they also published a concise summary brochure that gets right down to it: Hormone Disruptors and Women’s Health: Reasons for Concern. Go here, download the PDF and share it with your friends. If you’re pregnant, nursing or trying to conceive you’re at a particular vulnerable point. You should take steps now to protect the health of your baby.
Pediatricians. Ugh… sometimes they can be just awful. Like, when they throw the “failure to thrive” statement at you and suggest supplementing with formula because your 5 month old baby only gained 1 ounce the past month. A dear friend of mind just came home teary-eyed from just such an appointment, and asked me for advice. Here is what I wrote:
“No matter how you feel when at the doctor’s, remember that you know your daughter better and love her more than anyone else. You are educated and can figure out what’s best for her. Go with your gut…
As to only gaining an ounce in a month, I will speak my mind here. So what? Babies do NOT grow in a perfect curve like the graph at the doctor’s office. They’ll grow a lot and then stop for months. A baby can be tiny all through infancy (like Aria, they were always worried about her being too small) and then become “standard” size in preschool years (like Aria has). I say, DON’T LET THEM SCARE YOU! It sounds like your gut tells you that you should let her nurse as long as she wants. This is a good idea. Now that your nipples are broken in, it shouldn’t bother you too much. Yes, getting an herbal tea like this: http://www.euphoriamaternity.com/na-em-milkmaidtea.html may help, and won’t hurt. Also, make sure you’re getting enough rest, drinking tons of water and eating lots of nutritious food and even healthy fats (nuts, meat, beans, veggies). Your emotional perspective on this can make a big difference. Try to be positive and confident that you MADE her with your body and you can sustain her too.
As your gut is telling you, don’t supplement. It’s only a temporary fix and will lead to weaning earlier than you want. I truly believe that slightly less breastmilk is better than going more and more to formula, which almost always happens when people supplement. If you hold on and do what only you can do (breastfeed) your body will ramp up milk production, if that’s what she needs. She’ll gain when she’s ready.
“Failure to Thrive” is a ridiculous term for your daughter’s situation. They don’t know how much she SHOULD grow in a month, they’re only making a statement based on averages. I know that you’re feeding her, cuddling her, singing to her, wrapping her, smiling at her, carrying her, talking to her - these are things that make a baby thrive. She IS thriving, because you love her.”
You’re planning to breastfeed – great! But if you want to be able to bottle feed for that occasional date or regularly, while you’re at work, you’ll want to be ready to store and serve that precious milk. The serving is easy (you probably already bought/registered for some bottles), but what about milk storage? Options abound. Here’s my thoughts on breastmilk storage options from bags to bottles to trays.
Breastmilk Freezer Bags
You’ll see these little plastic breastmilk freezer bags at your local Babies R’us. They’re easy to find, old-fashioned classics, but not at all easy to use. You cannot pump milk directly into the bags, which leaves you to pour it in. It’s not so easy to pour milk into a floppy bag. Spilling just a little is quite frustrating, since every drop is precious (especially if you have milk supply issues). Plus, if you don’t seal it right with the little bag ties, you’re milk will get freezer burn.
Pros: Compact in freezer.
Cons: The bags are not reusable, so over time the costs add up (20 bags for $16). Difficult to pour and seal. Cannot pump into the bag or feed baby from the bag. Every time you transfer milk, you will probably loose some and do risk contamination.
Bottom Line: I used these a few times and quickly decided I did not like them.
Breastmilk Freezing Trays
Trays are relatively new to the breastmilk storage solution scene. After pumping, you pour your milk into the tray, which is easy since the trays are rigid and horizontal. 
Seal with the tray lid and freeze. Once frozen, pop out your breastmilk cubes/sticks into a large freezer quality storage bag. Reuse the tray! Breastmilk trays are designed so that your milk is frozen in one ounce portions. This makes it easy to defrost just the right amount for baby’s bottle. Just place the breastmilk portions in the bottle and defrost it right in the bottle. No waste!
I tried “Fresh Baby” brand milk trays first, but the ice cube-shaped milk cubes did not fit easily into my wide mouth baby bottles, causing frustration and milk loss as I resorted to jamming them in. The Sensible Lines milk trays (available at EuphoriaMaternity.com) are better because the slim milk sticks they create are easier to work with.
Pros: Compact in freezer. Most affordable (one set of trays for $18 + large ziplock bags as needed). No wasted milk.
Cons: Cannot pump into or feed out of the tray. Every time you transfer milk, you may loose some and do risk contamination.
Bottom Line: These were my favorite method of milk storage since they are affordable and allow you to defrost just the right amount of milk each time. For the eco-sensitive and price-sensitive mama, milk trays are the best choice.
Breastmilk Storage Bottles
Storing your breastmilk in ready-to-use bottles is probably the most obvious choice. Many breastmilk storage bottles are designed to work with popular breast pumps, so that you can pump right into the bottle. The advantages of not transferring the milk after pumping include: no milk loss, no contamination and convenience. Some storage bottles, like the Mother’s Milkmate collection we offer in our boutique, even have storage racks you can place in your freezer to organize and rotate your frozen milk bottles on a first-in, first-out basis. You can feed baby right from a storage bottle, if you get the correct attachments to work with the nipple of your choice. Or, you can pour a defrosted storage bottle into any other bottle when you’re ready to serve.
Pros: Convenient. Most hygienic. No milk loss.
Cons: Expensive (6 bottles for $16 – depending on your needs, you may need 12-24 bottles). Requires the most freezer room.
Bottom Line: If your baby will be having more than 3 or so bottles a week, the convenience and hygienic nature of a bottle system is probably worth the cost. For the mama looking for the easiest option, breastmilk storage bottles are it!
Today 74% of moms breastfeed their newborns! But… only 42% are still breastfeeding at 6 months. Here are some tips for breastfeeding success:
Learn by watching: sure books and classes are worthwhile, but you’ll really learn the most by watching someone feed their child. Since you’re new to breastfeeding, it will seem very intrusive and uncomfortable to watch someone breastfeed, even if she’s a good friend. However, if she says she’s fine with it, believe it. A breastfeeding veteran isn’t usually modest about the process, especially around friends who hope to breastfeed. And, you can bet she wants to help you succeed. (P.S. Bravado just came out with a new Breastfeeding DVD that’s very helpful. Available at EuphoriaMaternity.com).
Take Charge of Your Baby: Don’t let nurses whisk your brand-new baby away for a thorough cleaning and evaluation. That practice is a relic of the 40′s! The American Academy of Pediatrics says that baby should be placed direction on your bare chest, where baby can be cleaned and evaluated while enjoying skin-to-skin contact that stimulates the desire to nurse. This is a once-in-a-lifetime, powerful bonding moment. And, if you’re worrying about getting messy – you already will be!
Know Your Options: Any difficulties you experience are likely to be at their worst at about 5-7 days after baby is born. Your milk has come in and your nipples may be very sore. Get the number of a good lactation consultant before baby is born. Keep in mind that Soothies Gel Pads, nipple cream, and nipple shields (all available at EuphoriaMaternity.com) can do a LOT to eliminate nipple pain, and that there are many safe, natural herbal products available for stimulating milk production.
Breastfeeding is a priceless gift to your child and offers health benefits to yourself. Feel confident that you’re giving your child his or her best. Be proud of what you accomplish!
Fit Pregnancy’s current issue has a great article on how mindful mamas can keep their breastmilk pure. Since scientists can easily test milk for contaminents, we know of quite a few toxins that do find there way to baby through mother’s milk. Some toxins, like alcohol, clear out from the body rather quickly. Unfortunately, many more toxins linger in the body for years because they are stored in body fat. When you breastfeed, your body taps into those fats to make breastmilk. Experts say that despite these toxins, breastmilk is definitely best for baby. Still, I know that your goal, like mine, will be to produce the purest milk possible for baby. Here are some tips from Fit Pregnancy:
Although these recommendations are designed for breastfeeding moms, they really pertain to us all. If you’re pregnant, your lifestyle protects baby during his or her most critical times. If your baby is weaned, your child is directly interacting with plastics, cosmetics, mattresses, etc. so you’ll want to purify your lifestyle to support your child’s personal development. Every step you take to a cleaner, toxin-free life is a step in the right direction for us all!
If you read pregnancy magazines, you’ve heard about stem cells which are typically harvested from cord blood at the time of birth. Collecting and storing your baby’s stem cells for use later on (which is called cord blood banking) is big-business. Mega-corporations like CBR cash in on parents’ deep-rooted desire to protect their family’s health by claiming that known and unknown diseases may be treatable by stem cells when they manifest in later years.
This year Dr. Mark Cregan, a molecular biologist at The University of Western Australia, discovered that human breast milk actually contains stem cells! Not only does breast milk provide ideal nutrition for baby, it also “contains key markers that guide his or her development into adulthood.” That’s why breastfeeding makes many diseases less likely and has been shown to increase IQ, for example. The existence of stem cells in breast milk may explain these benefits and potentially provides many more benefits that are as yet unknown. Dr. Cregan says that mom’s mammary glands “provide the development guidance to ensure a baby’s genetic destiny is fulfilled.”
For more on the study visit Breast milk contains stem cells by Catherine Madden.
Planning to breastfeed? Never done it before? Wondering how it will go? You know I love to recommend a good book! “The Nursing Mother’s Companion” by Kathleen Huggins is an excellent book that provides practical, reassuring advice and support for today’s expectant and nursing mothers. It includes easy-reference survival guides that help identify and resolve problems at each stage and many illustrative drawings.
“Most books about breastfeeding are heavy on nursing’s mystical rewards and light on actual technique. Huggins, a maternal nurse and professional lactation consultant, corrects the imbalance with a lucid, trouble-shooting guide… The author tackles various common and uncommon complaints about breastfeeding from inadequate milk supply, breast pain, engorgement and fussy babies to infections, allergies and breast-milk jaundice that could affect the child. In a chapter on nursing mothers who work outside of the home, Huggins offers an instructive review of breast pumps. Her reassuring, practical suggestions make this book an excellent informational companion.” – from “Publishers Weekly”
One first-time mom said:
“I’m still happily nursing my 8-month-old son, thanks in large part to this book. Our first few weeks were tough going, but Kathleen had the answers to ALL my questions, which helped me to stick with it. I wish hospitals gave this book to every new breastfeeding mom, but since they don’t, it’s going to become a standard baby shower gift from me.”
A book is a great resource for those problems that strike in the middle of the night! But, if things aren’t going well, don’t be shy to ask a friend who’s breastfed to help. I know it may seem a little odd to talk about your boobs, but we women who have breastfed generally don’t feel uncomfortable discussing the details with fellow moms!
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