Greensboro Lactation Consultants - Greensboro Lactation Consultants

Losing weight while breastfeeding

1/7/2019

How Can I Get This Baby Weight Off Safely?

Safe weight loss is healthy and realistic for breastfeeding women. Breastfeeding uses calories stored up during pregnancy, and a breastfeeding mother will lose 1-2 pounds a month with a normal, healthy diet (eating to hunger) and normal activity. If you want to lose weight faster, you can safely lose 1 pound a week through changes in diet and moderate exercise.

A weight loss of 1 pound a week with a healthy diet (at least 1500 to 1800 high quality calories) and moderate exercise has no effect on the fat content of the breast milk or on the baby’s growth. When you make healthy nutritional choices like eating lean meat, and cutting sugary or salty, high-fat junk food, refined flour, and high calorie drinks, you will experience healthy weight loss. Small changes can make a big difference. For example, cutting out a can of soda per day eliminates 140 calories, or 14 pounds a year!

You may begin a moderate exercise program after getting clearance from your OB or midwife 6 to 8 weeks after delivery. You can safely cut 500 calories from your diet and add a moderate 45 minute exercise routine 4 days a week and lose weight without affecting the quality of your breast milk or the growth of your baby.

I recommend slow, healthy, natural weigh loss through healthy nutrition and moderate exercise. If you have questions, or would like a personalized plan, I can help you! Call or email me if you would like to discuss healthy postpartum weight loss.

This article from the New York Times has more information.

how can i get my body back?

3/20/2018

Your body has done amazing things in the last year or so! You grew an entire human being and you are now keeping that tiny human alive. But maybe you miss your old self, your old clothes, your old shape, and you are wondering how to get yourself back. Here are some tips to get you feeling like your old self again.

Eat up! Yes, keep eating! I’m personally not a big fan of diets, but this is an extra bad time to attempt weight loss by cutting calories. Continue to eat plenty of high quality calories, including proteins, healthy fats, and yes, carbohydrates. Fruits, veggies, lean meats, nuts, avocado, beans, eggs, and oatmeal provide great flavors, tons of nutrition, and fill you up. If you are breastfeeding, avocado may be especially beneficial as a source of healthy fats and the oatmeal may help increase your supply. I recommend that breastfeeding mothers resist the temptation to go on a juice fast or any other restrictive diet. Breastfeeding will use about 500 calories a day, so you can safely lose about a pound a week without ever feeling hungry!
Drink up! Your body may need more than you used to drink, so drink to thirst. No need to force fluids, your body will tell you when it is thirsty. Take a water bottle with you when you leave the house and have one nearby when you breastfeed or pump.
Cut the garbage! Most of it, anyway. Treats can be very satisfying and make you feel happy and normal, and there’s no need to eliminate every non-perfect food. Plan for a treat after a meal, and take the time to savor and enjoy it. But mindlessly eating piles of garbage food will probably just make you feel yucky and guilty.
Get some exercise! A little fresh air can make a huge difference in how you feel mentally and physically. Once your OB has cleared you for normal activity, take a walk! Light and moderate exercise is safe and healthy while breastfeeding, and it is a fun way to spend time with your baby. In Greensboro, there are mom-and-me exercise groups that provide friendship, fun, and support for moms of young babies. If you would like more information about these groups, please reach out to me and I can get you in touch with them!
Be as kind to yourself as you are to your best friend! Self talk matters, so be mindful of what messages you tell yourself about your body and your abilities. Would you tell a friend the things you tell yourself? Most likely you are telling your friends things like, “you are amazing”, and “you are beautiful”, and “you’re a superhero because you just had a baby and you are keeping it alive with your breast milk!” The truths that you speak to your BFF apply to you as well, so be sure to speak truth to yourself!

Bonus tip: To get the perfect beach body:

Have a body.
Go to the beach!
There it is… the perfect beach body!

how to survive the holidays with a newborn

12/18/2017

Congratulations on your new baby! As a mother of a December baby, I understand the courage and the divinely appointed energy that is required to get through the holidays with a newborn.

Pardon the cliche, but it truly is a magical time, especially for families with littles. The lights! The music! The decorations! The gifts! The food! The parties! The… visitors! There are endless things to dazzle and delight us, but with all that dazzling and delighting comes exhaustion and anxiety… and germs. Is it possible to get to January healthy and sane? I don’t make any promises, but these tips might help.

EAT! A LOT! Keep eating lots of good stuff. If you have recently given birth, you are already used to treating your body kindly for the benefit of your baby. Continue to eat plenty of high quality foods; this is not the time to try to rush back to your pre-pregnancy body by cutting back on healthy calories. You’ll need all that nutrition to keep your immune system strong during the next few weeks. Keeping your body fed with healthy food will help prevent the psycho-binge that we fall victim to when we get hangry.
TAKE A WALK! If your OB or midwife has cleared you for activity, get some exercise. In addition to the obvious physical benefits, exercise can help keep you mentally clear and strong. And light to moderate exercise can help strengthen your immune system and keep you strong for the germ fight ahead. Getting some fresh air can invigorate and energize you, and gentle yoga or stretching will make you feel like a million bucks.
TAKE A NAP! For real. Take a nap. Like now, stop reading this and close your eyes for a few minutes. I’ll wait... There, does that feel better? A 15 minute nap can help clear your mind and improve your mood. Look for and create opportunities to rest your body and eyes and mind for a few minutes, and take naps without guilt. After all, this about being the best mom you can possibly be, and there’s no guilt in that!
BE A SELFISH CONTROL FREAK! Your baby is your baby and no one is entitled to hold, touch, or kiss (eww!) your baby unless you deem them worthy. How do you know who is worthy? If they show up to your house with food and leave with the trash, this is a good indication that they are worthy. Anyway, the neighbors and the sister-in-law’s friend’s cousin and the preacher and the random old lady at Target (precious as she is), these people are *not* entitled to give their icky germs to your tiny, vulnerable baby. Repeat after me: Please don’t touch (or kiss) my baby. No explanation needed; it’s your baby, and it’s not impolite to deny someone else’s invasion of your baby’s space.
SAY NO! Yes, it is ok to say “no”, in fact, it is healthy self-care to skip some of the parties and social engagements and to stay home and snuggle with your brand new little one. It is ok to say “no”, in fact it is a wise protective measure to decline visitors and company to your home. I promise, the people who love you will invite you again if you miss their party, and the people who love you will gladly wait until your baby is a little bigger and stronger before they insist on a visit. Saying “no” to some things will help you stay sane and healthy, and may protect your breasts (see bonus tips below!)
SAY YES! All those people asking what they can do to help you? Allow them the blessing of helping. They can do all the things… get the groceries, wrap the presents, mail the packages, fold the laundry, prepare the teacher gifts, take the older child to the park, make the dinner. The people in your life who love you will gladly take care of all the things while you take care of 1-5 above. When people offer to help, say yes!

Bonus tip for breastfeeding mothers!

During the busy holiday season, it’s easy for moms to lose track of time and get distracted and busy. When this happens, feedings can easily be skipped or delayed. It’s easy to skip feedings by accident, when the baby is being passed around to all the relatives, when you’re out and about doing holiday errands, when you’re at a holiday party and time gets away from you. Missed feeds can lead to pain, engorgement, and even mastitis! Try very hard to avoid missing feedings, or pump if you are separated from your baby during meal time.
If you start to feel like your breasts are getting painful, or if they are red or warm to the touch, or if your baby is having any trouble latching, take a day off from all activities, get some rest at home, offer unlimited breastfeeding to your baby, and call your doctor, midwife, or lactation consultant for help.

bottle feeding your breastfed baby

10/2/2017

Breastfeeding mom, are you ready for a break? Are you dreaming of a night out without your baby, or a night of sleep? Are you returning to work soon?

First of all, congratulations on exclusively breastfeeding your baby! That is a huge accomplishment and you deserve a medal! But now, you may have some questions about introducing a bottle to your breastfed baby.

These tips are not meant to be rules, or make you feel guilty if you do bottle feeding a different way. They are just meant for you to pick what works for you to make bottle feeding easy and pleasant for you and your baby.

Getting Started

Introduce a bottle when your baby is between 4 and 6 weeks of life. This allows time for your baby to get really good at breastfeeding, and it allows your milk supply to be established.
Try to make bottle feeding feel sort of like breastfeeding to your baby:
Use breast milk in the bottle instead of formula if possible
Use a silicone (not rubber) nipple, with a large base, and encourage a wide open mouth
Switch sides during the feeding
Use skin to skin when possible
Cuddle your baby after feeding
Hold your baby in a slightly upright position, so that the head is above the stomach
Touch your baby’s upper lip with the bottle nipple and allow your baby to root and pull the nipple into his mouth

Keeping it Safe

Hold the bottle horizontally so that the milk doesn’t flow too fast
Feeding should take 15 to 20 minutes, just like in breastfeeding
Gulping can be a sign that the milk is flowing too fast; the baby is gulping in order to catch a breath. If your baby is gulping, remove the bottle from your baby’s mouth after 3 to 5 sucks to slow the feeding and allow your baby to get into a suck-swallow-breathe pattern.
If your baby is clamping down on the nipple, the flow may be too fast and your baby is trying to slow it down to breathe.
Observe for signs of stress: furrowed brow, tense shoulders, arms, hands, yawning, sneezing, crying. If your baby is stressed, pause the feed and allow your baby to regroup.

For Babies who are Like, Nah, I Only Eat from the Breast!
If your baby is not taking a bottle, try these tips:

Touch the corner of your baby’s mouth to stimulate sucking
Have someone else offer the bottle to your baby when your baby is against the caregiver’s chest, facing outward.
Move around – sway, walk,or rock
Offer the bottle when your baby is sleepy- just waking up but not fully awake yet, and when your baby is not very hungry
Wrap the mom’s shirt or something that smells like mom around the bottle

Keep it Fun!

Make sure you make the feeding experience pleasant by singing or cooing to your baby, smile and make eye contact with your baby
If you or your baby get stressed, pause the feeding, and don’t try for more than 10 minutes
Most babies will accept a bottle with time and persistence. In the meantime, see if your baby can be fed with a cup; a sippy cup can be used at around 4 months.

Get Help!

If you have questions or concerns about bottle feeding, contact your baby’s pediatrician or an IBCLC for help!

Got (enough) milk?

9/13/2017

Can I nurse with a pierced nipple?
Nursing mommas ask lactation consultants all kinds of things. Other faqs include: Can I drink coffee? and How does a pump work?

But by far, the most common question we get is:
Am I making enough milk for my baby?

Here are 5 signs your baby’s GOT (enough breast) MILK:
1. Baby likes to eat. A LOT.
Feed your baby very frequently. As in, every time she acts hungry. Typically, 8 to 12 times (or more) a day. Even if baby just finished a meal, she might need more (otherwise known as cluster feeding). Frequent feedings help establish your milk supply and get nursing off to a great start!
Frequent, on-demand, unlimited feedings at an early age ensure baby gets all the milk she needs. This also triggers your body to MAKE LOTS OF MILK in the coming weeks and months. Every time baby latches, your baby is telling your breasts to make more milk. More feeds in the early days means more milk in the coming months.

But how do you know baby has a good latch and is actually getting milk?
2. You can hear baby swallowing.
All that chugging? That’s the sound of baby getting lots of milk!
If you can hear baby swallow frequently from Day 5 on, baby is drinking. Babies who get plenty of milk from breastfeeding suck once or twice, then swallow.

Baby repeats this suck-swallow pattern until…
3. Baby is content and relaxed.
Baby gets tense when she shows hunger cues. Because, um, she’s hungry. (Can you relate? Remember how crazed you felt when you were pregnant and hungry? Like, drop everything and FEED THIS MOM-TO-BE NOW?!) Before they nurse, many babies clench their fists and pull their arms in tight against their bodies.
As you feed baby and you hear that lovely, frequent swallowing, watch her arm and hand. They will begin to loosen and relax, and her fingers will splay open. A hungry baby will pull her arm in if you (gently) pull her hand away from her body. A full, satisfied baby has wet-noddle arms. Baby’s arm is a good gauge as to how satisfied she is after eating.

And a contented momma is another good sign.
4. Your breasts and nipples feel good.
Your baby needs to have a wide mouth and a deep latch to make sure she gets enough milk. If baby has a shallow latch, you can experience sore, painful nipples and engorgement.
You might notice your breasts fill up right before you nurse, and then they get softer during a feeding. This is a good sign that baby is getting lots of milk. She’s emptied the tanks.
In the early days and weeks of breastfeeding, a little discomfort and tugging on the nipples is common, but toe-curling pain is NOT normal. If your nipples hurt so much that it takes your breath away, seek help to adjust baby’s latch. Resources include International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, your OB, baby’s pediatrician, a home health nurse, La Leche League, Mommy & Baby breastfeeding groups at your local hospital.
Healthy, comfortable nipples are a sign that baby is latching well.
Happy baby = happy nipples
.
Besides frequent feeds, lots of swallowing, a content baby, and content nipples, there’s one other thing to look for.
5. Baby likes to pee and poop. A LOT.
And thus begins your parenting adventure with all things potty related.
What comes out of baby says a lot about what went into baby. If you’re changing a lot of wet diapers and at least a few yellow poopy diapers every day, congrats! Those diaper blowouts, plus all the great signs we’ve already covered, mean you’ve got a happy, satisfied baby. You can be confident she’s getting plenty of milk and your body’s making exactly what baby needs. Your baby definitely has GOT (enough breast) MILK!
Now you can stop worrying about baby’s feeding habits and spend your time trying to catch a little extra sleep. (Good luck with that!) I promise one day baby will sleep through the night – and you can kick sleep deprivation to the curb.

In case you’re still anxious, here are some BONUS TIPS!
Frequent feeding.
Seems like baby wants to eat all.the.time? See #1 above. This is not a sign baby is starving. It’s normal for baby to want to feed very frequently, which ensures she gets fed enough and your body makes enough milk. More sucking = more milk!
Your friend’s baby takes more formula than you pump for YOUR baby.
YOU BE YOU. Moms are valuable resources for each other, but comparing YOUR baby to another baby isn’t a good idea. Babies who drink formula require more than babies who take breast milk.

If you aren’t seeing all 5 signs that your baby’s GOT (enough breast) MILK, or if you have any concerns about it, call baby’s pediatrician or a lactation consultant and get some help. It’s always ok to call and request a weight check.
Nurse on, momma!

This blog post was originally featured on MothersRest.com. Go ahead and check it out for more great articles on all things momming!

breastfeeding consultations now offered at pediatric office!

9/5/2017

I am very excited to now provide expert breastfeeding help at the office of Carolina Pediatrics of the Triad!
If you are looking for a pediatrician for your new baby, Carolina Pediatrics is now the only pediatric office in Greensboro offering Lactation Consultation services.
Carolina Pediatrics understands the importance of on-site breastfeeding help, and they have opened up office space for Greensboro Lactation Consultants to see families at the first weight check, or whenever concerns arise. Appointments are available on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings, and drop-ins are welcome.
Call, text, or email if you'd like breastfeeding help at Carolina Pediatrics.

Got (enough) milk?

7/25/2017

Got (Enough) Milk?
As a Lactation Consultant, I have been asked everything under the sun that has anything to do with breastfeeding, from “can I drink some coffee?” to “can I nurse with a pierced nipple?” to “how does a pump work?” But by far, the most common question I get is, “am I making enough milk for my baby?” Weighing the baby over time is the best way to know if the baby is getting enough milk, but it’s impossible to weigh the baby every feeding or every day. There are some other great ways, besides weighing the baby, to know that breastfeeding is going well.
Here are 5 tips to help you know if your baby is getting enough breast milk:

1. You are feeding your baby very frequently, every time your baby acts hungry. If you are feeding your baby every time your baby acts hungry, 8 to 12 times (or more) every day, even if your baby just finished a meal, you are getting off to a great start. By offering very frequent, on-demand, unlimited feedings at an early age, you are making sure that your baby gets all the milk he or she needs, as well as triggering your body to make lots of milk in the coming weeks and months. Every time your baby latches, your baby is telling your breasts to make more milk. More feeds in the early days results in more milk in the coming months.
But how will you know that your baby has a good latch and is actually getting milk?...

2. You can hear your baby swallowing. All that chugging? That is the sound of your baby getting lots of milk. If you can hear your baby swallow frequently from day 5 on, you can be sure that your baby is drinking. Babies who are getting plenty of milk from breastfeeding will suck once or twice, then swallow, and they will repeat this suck, swallow pattern until…

3. Your baby is content and relaxed after a feeding. Babies are usually tense when they are showing hunger cues. Before the feeding, many babies have their fists clenched up and their arms pulled in tight to their bodies. As the feeding progresses, and you hear frequent swallowing, watch your baby’s arm and hand. The arm and hand will began to loosen and relax, and the fingers will splay open. A hungry baby will pull their arm in if you (gently) pull the hand away from the body. A full, satisfied baby will have a relaxed arm and hand, and when you lift the hand away from the baby’s body, the arm will drop like a wet noodle. The baby’s arm is a good gauge as to how satisfied the baby is after eating.
Your baby needs to have a wide mouth and a deep latch to make sure that he or she is getting enough milk. If your baby has a shallow latch, you could experience sore, painful nipples and engorgement. Another good sign that your baby is getting enough milk is that…

4. Your breasts and nipples are not in pain. Some women feel their breasts fill up every feeding, and some women don’t feel the filling as much. If you generally feel your breasts fill up with milk, and your breasts get softer during a feeding, this is a good sign that your baby is getting lots of milk.
In the early days and weeks of breastfeeding, a little discomfort and tugging on the nipples is common, but toe-curling pain is not normal. If your nipples hurt so much that it takes your breath away, get someone to help you adjust your baby’s latch. Healthy, comfortable nipples are a sign that your baby is latched well.
Besides frequent feeds, lots of swallowing, a content baby, and comfortable nipples, there is one other thing to look for…

5. Pees and poops What comes out of your baby says a lot about what went in your baby. If your baby is having lots of wet diapers and at least a few yellow poops every day, AND you are experiencing ALL of the above, you can be confident that your baby is getting plenty of milk and that your body is making enough.

Bonus Tips! Things that do NOT mean that your baby is starving:
1. Frequent feeding. If it seems like your baby wants to eat all the time, see tip #1 above. This is not a sign that your baby is starving, it is normal for your baby to want to feed very frequently, which ensures that your baby gets fed enough and your body makes enough. More sucking = more milk!

2. Your friend’s baby takes more formula than you pump for your baby. You be you. Moms are valuable teachers for each other, but comparing your baby to another baby isn’t always a good idea. Babies who drink formula require more than babies who take breast milk. Use the tips above to be sure, and when in doubt, it’s always ok to call for a weight check.
If you aren’t seeing all 5 signs that your baby is getting enough milk, or if you have any concerns about it, call your baby’s pediatrician or an IBCLC and get some help.
Nurse on, mama!

Beth can help you breastfeed without pain

6/30/2017

Breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt. A little discomfort may be normal in the early days, but toe-curling pain is not normal. Positioning errors cause about 95% of severe pain in the early weeks of breastfeeding, and often, small adjustments can make a big difference! I would love to help you breastfeed without pain. I will do a full breastfeeding assessment in your home, including a weighed feeding with my hospital-grade baby scale. If there is something else going on besides positioning, I will work with you to come up with a plan that will help you reach your breastfeeding goals while reducing your pain and keeping your baby thriving.

Call or email if breastfeeding is painful. You don't have to continue to suffer - I am available for in-home breastfeeding help usually within 24 hours of your request.

Help! breastfeeding hurts!

5/19/2017

Help! Breastfeeding is Painful! Is Something Wrong?
The early days and weeks of breastfeeding can be difficult as mom’s hormones are shifting dramatically and she is getting less sleep than she is used to. Sore nipples can make the adjustment even more stressful. Some well-meaning friends or family members might tell moms that they need to “toughen up” their nipples, or advise them to give up and just bottle-feed. If your nipples are hurting, it is important to find the cause of the pain and to make the necessary adjustments so you can continue breastfeeding.
Discomfort in the early days of breastfeeding is not uncommon and might be normal, as long as it is mild, it lasts only a few seconds at the beginning of a feeding, and the nipples look normal after feeding. Toe-curling pain that lasts throughout the feeding and/ or between feeds, and nipples that are misshapen, white, scabbed, or cracked are not normal. Moms who are experiencing these things are encouraged to seek help from an IBCLC right away.
Most of the time, sore nipples can be resolved by making some adjustments in how the baby is positioned at the breast. The vast majority of nipple pain is caused by positioning and latch errors. Sometimes, small adjustments can make a big difference in mom’s comfort!
Could My Baby Have Tongue-Tie?
If you are experiencing pain while breastfeeding, it is important to seek help from an IBCLC who can help you with positioning, evaluate your baby’s latch, and evaluate your baby for anatomical variances such as tongue or lip-tie. If your baby does have a tongue or lip-tie, and you are having breastfeeding difficulties, there are some very affective treatment options that your IBCLC can discuss with you. Sometimes a tongue-tie is hard to see. Sometimes, a baby might have an obvious-looking tongue-tie, but a full evaluation is necessary to make sure there are not other problems going on.

If it’s Not Tongue-Tie, What Could it Be?
Some other things that can cause severe nipple pain include Raynaud’s Syndrome, skin conditions, or infection. The baby may have difficulty with sucking and require suck training. Some babies have misalignment that causes sucking difficulties, and can be helped by a specialist in Cranio-sacral therapy.
If you are hurting, get help right away! There is no need to continue suffering, when an IBCLC can help you find out what the problem is and what to do about it.

Breastfeeding is natural, but not always easy

5/2/2017

Even though breastfeeding is natural, it is not always easy, especially in the early days and weeks. Speech and walking are also natural, but it takes some practice and some pretty good coaching before speech or walking become easy for us.
It is also natural to have difficulties with breastfeeding at first. If you are having any difficulties with breastfeeding, I make lactation consultations in your home, and I can help you on the path to a breastfeeding experience which feels natural and comfortable to you. Call or email me, I can help you usually within 24 hours of your request!