Learn about stopping breastfeeding and transitioning to formula or milk! Find out which feedings to start with and how to wean a baby from breastfeeding smoothly. I was finally ready—I was done wearing nursing tops and bringing my pump to work every day. After meeting my goal of pumping for a full year, struggles and all, I began to learn how to wean a baby from breastfeeding. As with saying goodbye to anything, weaning can be a bittersweet moment. Yes, I wouldn't have to pump every day, and I'd no longer be the only source of food for my baby. But breastfeeding also gave me the chance … [Read more...]
Burping a Newborn After Breastfeeding: Necessary or Not?
Is burping a newborn after breastfeeding necessary? Discover whether you still need to burp your breastfed baby—the answer might surprise you. I actually think my mom's favorite thing to do with babies is to burp them. Fussy baby? "Oh, he must need to burp," she'll decide. Spit up coming out of his mouth? "Let me burp him for you." She coos at them, saying "burp, burp, burp!" in a sing-song voice as she pats their backs. I even think she would've kept burping them all through toddlerhood if given the chance. Kidding aside, burping my babies definitely became a habit, right from the … [Read more...]
Why You Shouldn’t Feel Guilty for Not Breastfeeding
It's easy for moms to feel guilty if you can't or decide not to breastfeed. See why you need to stop feeling guilty about not breastfeeding. Many moms want to breastfeed our babies, but for one reason or another, it just doesn't work out. While you breastfed your older child, this one can't seem to latch. You may not have time, or your supply is low. Perhaps you have health issues, or you feel stressed. You've tried pumping, but that has brought on more hassles, from waking up at odd hours to the extra time to pump. Or maybe you're not able to breastfeed as long as you did with your … [Read more...]
4 Effective Tricks to Handle Your Baby Not Drinking Milk
Don't feel stressed if you suddenly notice your baby not drinking milk! Instead, try these 4 effective tricks to help your little one take more milk, whether from breast or bottle. It's the worry that plagues every mother: what to do when she notices her baby not drinking milk all of a sudden. Whether breastfed or bottle-fed, you might have noticed that your baby has been drinking less milk than he used to. Sometimes it's as much as half the amount he normally takes, even after a full 11-12 hours of sleep. He might refuse and push the bottle away when you offer it, or squirm and … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding Secrets Every Mom Should Know
Want to make breastfeeding successful? Whether you're first time mom or a veteran, here are breastfeeding secrets that just might surprise you. I never would've thought breastfeeding would be hard—not once. But there I was, pulled between wanting to breastfeed and ready to call it quits. My nipples were cracked and blistered, I felt immobilized from the multiple feedings, and I could never seem to satisfy his hungry cries. I learned only later that many of us face these challenges. They're enough to make us question our ability to provide for your babies, or even whether we're doing … [Read more...]
When Does Breastfeeding Get Easier? Top Tips to Ease the Pain
When does breastfeeding get easier? Don't give up just yet! Learn effective ways to make breastfeeding feel less painful and stop hurting. I knew breastfeeding might hurt, but not this bad. Even after a few days of discomfort, feeding my baby hadn't gotten easier at all. I couldn't take the pain anymore and kept thinking, when does breastfeeding stop hurting? The nurses and consultants assured me my latch was great, which only made me wonder why I was in pain. It hurt so bad I almost wanted to give up—in fact, I'd hop online each day and remind myself of the benefits of … [Read more...]
6 Steps to Wean Night Feedings
Learn how to handle night weaning with these 6 steps! You CAN help your baby stop waking up in the middle of the night and eat during the day instead. Night times were the worst. Even though I was sleep deprived both day and night, something about waking up when I was supposed to be asleep made those evenings hard. Those were the times when I'd wake up, delirious from the little sleep I managed to get. On good days, I'd find movies and shows on my phone to watch while I nursed (it's how I watched The Tudors and Call the Midwife). On not-so-good ones, I'd vent to my husband or start … [Read more...]
9 Unique Tricks to Increase Your Milk Supply
Are you barely producing enough breast milk for your baby? Learn how to increase your milk supply with these tips—they actually work! I couldn't believe what I saw. I was browsing through a parenting board when I clicked on a fellow mom's post about breastfeeding. Whereas many moms struggle with producing enough, she was asking for advice on what to do with her stash of extra breast milk. Except "extra" doesn't exactly cut it. She posted a photo of bags and bags of frozen breast milk, overflowing her already packed freezer. Meanwhile, I was barely pumping enough at work to last … [Read more...]