The NaturalTransition Blog

Archive for the ‘Breastfeeding’ Category

Urg!!! Just when I thought the medical dramas were over and done with, my martial arts trainer brings her baby over to play while we train and baby comes down with gastro the very next day. Sigh. I wait for the inevitable and what d’ya know? My baby comes down with it 9 days later, followed by me, my eldest son and then my husband. Not fun!!! I have not had such a cleansing experience in years (TMI? Sorry, I’m a naturopath). Read the rest of this entry »

We have just finished with birthday buzz a plenty in our house. Despite the fact that our children were conceived on nothing more than a twinkle in the eye and vague thoughts about how nice it would be to have a baby- we’ve found ourselves with 3 beautiful boys, all with birthdays in the same week. The eldest is the 8th, the middle is the 10th and the youngest fit himself into the pattern and was born on the 12th- even though he came 9 days past his due date and while I was horridly sick with the flu. Even our chickens get some birthday action that week. My eldest son marked the 9th as pet chickens birthday. So we have had one huge week of celebration. I am so over cake (both making and eating).

All of this birthday buzz has had me in a reflective mood. This time last year… this time 7 years ago… this time 9 years ago- I was pregnant. I was so heavily pregnant and felt so desperately ready to bring these babies into the world. Just like my three beautiful boys, each birth was so unique and none of them without drama. I am planning on sharing my birth stories soon, but before that, I have a blog to launch

This year, I am heavily pregnant again.. this time with a different sort of baby. My website’s little sister, my blog. Just like this time last year, I am desperately ready to bring this baby into the world. It’s time to give it life and watch it breath on it’s own. Read the rest of this entry »

The word mammal comes from the Latin word mamma, meaning breast.  All mammals breastfeed. We are mammals. Human babies are mammals. Just like a baby elephant or a kitten or a puppy or a little piglet, human babies are capable of finding the breast on their own and get a perfect latch with no help whatsoever.

I love this video. Not only does it remind me that we are mammals and have an inbuilt ability to feed our babies, but all the people around this women- men, women and children are waiting patiently for this just born baby to make its way to its mother’s breast. The joy of the people sharing the moment is audible.

I wonder… Does this Mamma feel self conscious? Does she feel the support of all the people around her? Does she ever have to hide while breastfeeding? Will those kids that are watching think twice about wheather or not they are capable of breastfeeding?

What do you think?

I have had several gobsmacking breastfeeding enquiries from mothers over the past week. Gobsmacking because they have been so poorly advised by health professionals, people who really should know better. This post will deal with the most notable for the week and I’ll look at others in my upcoming and ongoing Breastfeeding Myth Busting series.

The consultation with this Mamma went a little like this: “Can you tell me how to wean my 4 month old baby?” I kind of got the feeling that she didn’t really want to talk about it, just wanted the info. I got half way through the sentence “It depends on the reason you need to wean” and was cut off by her hurriedly asking “Should I go cold turkey or do it slowly”? I answer the question telling her that it needs to be done as slowly as possible since sudden weaning will cause blocked ducts and mastitis. She then tells me that is the very reason she needs to wean. She became teary and said that she keeps getting mastitis and has made the decision to wean so that she is doing her best for her baby. She feels she can’t look after him properly if she is sick. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve every been pregnant or if you are pregnant now, you’ve probably noticed a metamorphosis in your bra cups, a process known to some as nature’s boob job.  The physical changes (tender, swollen breasts) may be one of the earliest clues that you have conceived.  Many experts believe that the colour change in the areola may also be helpful when it comes to breast feeding, helping the baby find the right place to latch on with its limited visual capabilities.

Perhaps what’s even more remarkable than visible changes is the extensive changes that are taking place inside of your breasts.  The developing placenta stimulates the release of oestrogen and progesterone, which will in turn stimulate the complex biological system that helps to make lactation possible.

Before you get pregnant, a combination of supportive tissue, milk glands and fat make up the larger portions of your breast.  The fact is, your newly swollen breasts have been preparing for your pregnancy since you were in your mother’s womb!

When you were born, your main milk ducts had already formed.  Your mammary glands stayed quiet until you reached puberty, when a flood of the female hormone oestrogen caused them to grow and also to swell.  During pregnancy, those glands will kick into high gear.

Before your baby arrives, glandular tissue has replaced a majority of the fat cells and accounts for your bigger than before breasts.  Each breast also becomes markedly heavier than before.

Nestled among the fatty cells and glandular tissue is an intricate network of channels or canals known as the milk ducts.  The pregnancy hormones will cause these ducts to increase in both number and size, with the ducts branching off into smaller canals near the chest wall known as ductules.

At the end of each duct is a cluster of smaller sacs known as alveoli.  The cluster of alveoli is known as a lobule, while a cluster of lobule is known as a lobe.  Each breast will contain around 15 – 20 lobes, with one milk duct for every lobe.

The milk is produced inside of the alveoli, which is surrounded by tiny muscles that squeeze the glands and help to push the milk out into the ductules.  Those ductules will lead to a bigger duct that widens into a milk pool directly below the areola.

The milk pools will act as reservoirs that hold the milk until your baby sucks it through the tiny openings in your nipples.

Mother Nature has it all worked out.  Your milk duct system will become fully developed around the time of your second trimester, so you can properly breastfeed your baby even if he or she arrives earlier than you are anticipating.

If you want to learn more about breastfeeding take a look at the Natural Transition main site. You’ll find some really great information to help you prepare for breastfeeding as well to help you to trouble shoot any problems you experience. Keep an eye out for my own lactation history which I will post soon. It has been far from easy, but seriously- so worth it.

If you have a question about making breast milk, why not post it here as a comment? I’ll do my best to give you a straight forward answer.