There are three main parts to look at in terms of positioning and how the baby is held for breastfeeding.

The baby’s body position

The baby should be close to the mother with the whole body facing her. Ensure that the face is close to the breast with the tip of the nose opposite the nipple and the chin touching the breast. The baby’s bottom must be supported by the mother and not resting on her lap.

The baby’s head

The head should be facing the breast and should not be twisting to one side as this is uncomfortable for the baby. It is important to ensure that the neck is also not extended or stretched and that the baby’s head and body are in a straight line.

Mothers position

As it is the baby that determines the length of the feed it is important that every mother is seated somewhere comfortable for a feed and that she remains relaxed. Using pillows to support the back is a good option for comfort.

Attachment is the way the baby takes the breast into his or her mouth. Feeding cannot occur effectively unless the baby is correctly positioned and attached to the breast. Incorrect attachment can lead to nipple tenderness, engorged breasts, apparent poor milk supply and reduced milk production.

Your baby is attached correctly when

• The mouth is wide open
• There is more areola visible above the breast rather than below
• The chin is touching the breast
• The lower lip is curved outward

Poor attachment can occur if bottle feeding is started before breastfeeding has been established as the difference between the nipple and the teat of the bottle can result in nipple confusion.

Successful breastfeeding can be extremely tough on first time mothers and seeking advice from a lactation consultant can prove to be beneficial in ensuring success and peace of mind for both mother and baby.

The post Breastfeeding a newborn: The correct positioning and attachment appeared first on All4Baby.

Researchers in the United States found a “significant” association in almost 7,000 people between birth weight or duration of breastfeeding and higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of inflammation, in blood samples of young adults.

The protein is produced by the liver and levels increase when a person suffers from inflammation.

“Each pound of additional birth weight predicted a CRP concentration that was five percent lower,” said a statement from Northwestern University, whose experts took part in the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

“Three to 12 months of breastfeeding predicted CRP levels that were 20 to 30 percent lower compared with individuals who were not breastfed.”

The study found that breastfeeding had “the same or greater effect” as medicines on reducing CRP levels in young adults.

Chronic inflammation had long been linked to cardiovascular disease, but the causes of the little-understood condition remain unclear.

The US study was done among 24- to 32-year-olds from different race groups and educational backgrounds, and included comparisons between siblings so as to rule out the confounding influence that growing up in vastly different socioeconomic environments could have on the results.

“The results suggest that breastfeeding may reduce a major risk factor for heart disease well into adulthood,” said Alan Guttmacher, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

The World Health Organisation describes breastfeeding as “one of the most effective ways” to ensure child health and survival.

It recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to the age of six months, but says this advice is put into practice for less than 40 percent of infants globally.

(AFP Relaxnews)

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Bacteria that can be extremely harmful for babies are known to grow rapidly in milk. For this reason, moms are advised to sterilise breast pumps and bottles, and also cups, feeding plates, spoons and forks until baby is at least a year old.

A steriliser helps moms to achieve this quickly and without fuss, which is why it is such an important item on a new mother’s must-have list.

Many mothers do query, however, the benefits of steam versus cold water sterilising. We uncover which method is best suited to the special needs of both moms and their babies.

The Cold Water Steriliser Option

A sterilising liquid or tablet, as well as a sturdy plastic container and lid, is all that is needed for the cold water sterilising method. After washing baby’s equipment, it is submerged in the sterilising solution for a period of 30 minutes and remains sterile for up to 24 hours if left in this liquid.

Rinsing the sterilised bottles, dummies and feeding utensils with boiled water is necessary prior to use.

The benefit of the cold water sterilising option is that the solution can be used as often as necessary within a 24 hour period. One drawback, however, is that the sterilising solution can give off a strange smell, which may be off-putting for baby when it comes to drinking or eating from the sterilised equipment.

The Steamy Alternative

Steam sterilisers, on the other hand, use steam created from the heat of the microwave to disinfect baby’s equipment. The contents of a microwavable steam steriliser also remain sterile for up to 24 hours if the lid is kept closed. Sterilising generally takes between three and eight minutes depending on the brand of steriliser moms choose.

The advantage of steam sterilising is without a doubt the speed at which bottles can be sterilised, but the fact that metal utensils cannot be placed in the microwave does count against this method.

What Size is Best?

It is important to consider the size of steriliser required before making a purchasing decision. Firstly, it is essential to make sure baby’s feeding equipment will fit in the steriliser of choice.

Wide-necked bottles, by way of example, won’t fit in a steriliser designed for narrow-necked bottles.

Furthermore, bottle-fed babies require more bottles than those who are breastfed and so it is a good idea to buy a larger steriliser for infants on formula.

Mother Knows Best

While both sterilising options offer significant benefits, it seems the ultimate purchasing decision is reliant on the unique needs of both moms and their babies. In this case, mother does indeed know best.

About the Author: The Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Steriliser is a good example of a convenient sterilising system for moms. Its compact and lightweight design means that six bottles can be sterilised in two minutes making it an ideal option both in and out of the home.  The steriliser can be found at BabyCity, Baby Boom, Toys R Us and selected Dischem stores at a retail price of R605.29.

The post Sterilising baby bottles: To steam or cold water sterilise? appeared first on All4Baby.

Dr du Plessis believes that mothers should aim to drink between eight and 10 glasses of fluid or water per day to stay hydrated. “Drinking to quench thirst” is a nursing mother’s best guide as to how much liquid she should drink.

Good sources of fluids include water, fruit and vegetable juices, milk and soups.

Contrary to popular belief, a mom does not produce more milk if she drinks more, but she may surely produce less when the intake of liquids are diminished and even more so when she is dehydrated. If the baby does not have unrestricted access to the breast, due to the limited production, he could become dehydrated as well.

“Furthermore, the nutritional content of the milk might change when the mother is dehydrated leading to adverse health effects for both mother and baby if the dehydration lasts for more than one or two days,” adds Dr du Plessis.

Breast milk alone is the ideal nourishment for infants for the first six months of life, because it contains all the nutrients, antibodies and hormones that an infant needs to thrive. Babies who are breastfed through the first year of life have fewer illnesses and a lower chance of death and serious illness as breast milk protects them from diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections.

It furthermore stimulates their immune systems and responses to diseases and aids the response to vaccination. For these reasons, it is important for nursing mothers to remain hydrated so that they increase their chances of successful breastfeeding.

Astrid Anderson, distributer of Philips AVENT products adds that the storage of excess breast milk does not need to be of concern to breastfeeding moms. “Philips AVENT has made it easy for mothers who choose to conveniently and safely store baby’s precious liquid. There are two fitting options for storage, both of which are fridge and freezer safe; The Philips AVENT VIA Breast Milk storage cups are dishwasher safe and compatible with all Philips AVENT breast pumps and teats and The Philips AVENT Breast Milk Storage Bags, which hold 180ml of breast milk, come conveniently pre-sterilized for immediate use,” adds Anderson.

The post Breastfeeding a newborn: How much liquid should you be drinking? appeared first on All4Baby.

1. Your baby has doubled his or her birth weight.
2. Your baby can sit with support and is able to keep his or her neck steady.
3. When doing tummy time, your baby can fully extend his or her neck and back.
4. He must be able to swallow a teaspoon of milk (breast milk or formula) without gagging.
5. He starts to show an interest when you eat your food.

How old should my baby be?

Between the ages of four and six months – It is in this age group that most babies are developmentally ready to experience their first taste of solid food.

Waiting until after six months to introduce your baby to solids might result in food fussiness as he rejects the new textures offered to him.

A messy affair

From eight months on, eating becomes not only fun, but an extremely messy affair. Be sure to feed baby in his high chair or on a tiled floor so that the mess is kept to a minimum.

When solids become more important than milk

When you first introduce your baby to solids, milk is should still be his or her primary source of nutrition. This means that you will always offer milk before you offer solids. The priority shifts once baby hits the twelve month mark. At this age, baby should not be drinking more than 600mls per day as his primary nutrition should now come from solid food.

What to introduce first?

You can start with any pureed solid food. While it’s traditional to start your baby on solids with a single-grain cereal, there’s no medical evidence to show that introducing solid foods in a particular order will benefit your baby.In fact, the modern trend is to skip the cereal and go straight to veggies, introducing the cereal only at a later stage when baby can benefit from the extra carbohydrates (for example, when he starts crawling).

The general rule of thumb is, veggies first and then fruits (so as to avoid your baby developing a sweet tooth!).

Good veggies to start off with include;

• Butternut
• Sweet potatoes
• Squash

Avo is also being put forward as one of the best foods to start baby on.

The post Give your baby a solid start – tips for introducing solids appeared first on All4Baby.

Break the cycle

• Encourage your baby to finish the feed that you have offered him. However, if he persists in rejecting it, then leave it.
• If he starts fussing before his correct feeding time, try and stretch him until it is time to feed. Stretching can be achieved by offering him a pacifier or distracting his attention with a toy or a change of scenery like a walk in the garden.
• If his fussing leads to full on crying, then offer him a small amount (such as 15 to 20 mls) to satisfy the hunger. Wait until the correct feeding time to offer him the rest of his feed.

Unfortunately, it takes a baby three days to develop a bad habit and a full 21 days to break it. To ensure that you break the snacking cycle, stick to the above guidelines for 21 days (even if your baby ditches the habit in the first week).

A baby that feeds properly and at the correct times is a happier, more content baby.

The post Snacker versus feeder: How to break your baby’s bad habit appeared first on All4Baby.

High levels of folate

Avos have been around since the days of the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilisations – the latter which believed the fruit had aphrodisiac properties and enhanced fertility.While the jury’s still out on the conclusive impact of avoson fertility, what we do know is that their high levels of folate make them a dietary must-have for women who intend falling pregnant.

Folate is an important nutrient that helps prevent neural tube defects, promotes a healthy nervous system and is essential for the formation of red and white blood cells, normal cell division and growth in foetuses. It is recommended for all moms-to-be as well as pregnant moms until the end of the first trimester at least when this critical foetal development is taking place.

Energy booster

Of course avos make for a satisfying snack for pregnant moms who need to keep their energy up throughout their pregnancy. This is especially true during the second trimester when they’ve kicked the morning sickness and feel hungry more often, and the third trimester when big meals are off the menu.

Perfect first food

Avos are also a god-send once baby is born. Not only are they quick, easy and incredibly convenient meals for breastfeeding moms who don’t have a lot of time on their hands, but their soft, buttery texture means they’re also perfect first foods for babies from six months onwards.

Babies need carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals for optimal growth during those first two vital development years. Avos help meet these nutritional requirements by providing potassium, vitamin E, iron, lutein and beta-carotene. Avos are also a source of fibre and monounsaturated fats and are energy dense, all of which are great for growing babies.

Easy to prepare

It’s a good thing avos are so easy to prepare! Moms can add sliced avo to crackers or rice cakes or simply eat them out the skin for fuss-free snacks, or include diced avo in salads, pastas or with grilled chicken or fish for a more substantial meal. For babies, mash avo for first meals (from six months), and cube avo for older babies and toddlers who are self-feeding.

There’s no doubt, avos are a fantastic food from bump to birth and beyond!

For more avolicious recipes visit www.avocado.co.za, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/iloveavocadoSA and follow us on Twitter @iloveavos

The post Add an Avo to your (and baby’s) diet! appeared first on All4Baby.

Holding your baby for breastfeeding can sometimes be uncomfortable and awkward as you try and place them correctly for the long feed ahead.

Often, new moms do not realise that the way the baby suckles at the breast affects the amount of milk that they are receiving.

Suckling and hormones

There are two very important hormones involved in both the production and the secretion of breastnmilk and these hormones work in direct proportion to the frequency and duration of feeds.

Prolactin is the hormone responsible for producing the milk and is generally stimulated during a feed to ensure that more milk is produced for the next feed. The less the baby suckles at the breast the less prolactin is produced.

Oxytocin is the hormone responsible for milk flow and is produced during the feed. A poor oxytocin reflex means that the baby may have difficulty receiving milk.

The correct attachment of the baby to the breast for feeds is essential to ensure that the above mentioned hormones are stimulated to ensure successful breastfeeding. Correct attachment means effective suckling which means your baby is getting sufficient milk.

You will know your baby is suckling well when

• He/ she takes slow, deep sucks, sometimes pausing for a short time
• You can see or hear your baby swallowing
• The cheeks are full and not drawn inward during feeds
• Your baby finishes feeding and releases the breast by him/herself and looks content

Signs of incorrect suckling

• Rapid sucks
• Smacking and clicking sounds
• Drawn in cheeks
• Extremely frequent feeds (more than every hour or so on a daily basis)
• Not content at the end of the feed

The post The importance of the perfect latch when breastfeeding a newborn! appeared first on All4Baby.

Practical expressing tips

1. Before expressing, wash your hands thoroughly and make sure that all equipment for expressing is washed, rinsed and sterilised.
2. Express approximately the amount the baby takes at a feed.
3. Make sure that the storage container is covered or sealed and labelled with the current date.
4. Place in the body of the refrigerator where it is colder, not in the door.
5. Refrigerate breast milk for no longer than 48 hours, after which time it must be used, frozen or discarded.
6. Breast milk may be kept frozen for up to three months. Once the milk has been thawed, it can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours. It should never be refrozen.
7. Breast milk should be thawed overnight in the refrigerator, or under warm water.
8. To warm breast milk, place in a bottle warmer or under a warm tap. Shake the bottle to mix, as the fat content may become separated.

Keep your milk fresh

1. Always discard any milk that is left over at the end of a feed.
2. Do not add fresh milk to previously expressed milk in the freezer. If you are storing milk in the fridge to add to during the day, only add milk which has been expressed into a sterile container and cooled for a few minutes under a cold tap. Milk like this can only be stored for a maximum of 48 hours.
3. Transport expressed breast milk in an insulated container with an ice pack.
4. Fir freezer storage, your freezer should be cold enough to keep ice cream hard.
5. Milk can also be hand expressed, ask you health care practitioner for advice.

Storing your breast milk

Philips AVENT provides mothers with a convenient alternative when it comes to keeping their breast milk fresh. The Breast Milk Storage Bags provide safe and secure storage for the precious content.

Each bag can hold 180ml of breast milk and is conveniently pre-sterilized for immediate use. The bag is leak-proof due to the double zipper seal and can be stored in the fridge or freezer. It is also sturdily designed to stand up on its own and to lay flat for easy storage. The bags wide opening means filling the bag and pouring are easy tasks.

The Breast Milk Storage bag has ‘sealed and sterilised’ as well as ‘pour here’ icons clearly marked for ease of use. Each bag has a write on tab for mothers to add the name, volume, time and date of when the milk was stored; this also eliminates the risk of puncture. The bags should not be used in the microwave and ought to be disposed of after use.

Philips AVENT cares about the environment and society at large and strongly supports eco-design of products that is why these handy bags are made of BPA free material.

About the Author: There are 25 bags in the Philips AVENT Breast Milk Storage packs which are available at Baby City at a recommended retail price of R 167.97 (incl VAT).

The post Breastfeeding a newborn: Tips to expressing milk appeared first on All4Baby.

Unfortunately, for many mothers, breastfeeding is definitely one of those cases of “easier said than done.”

Not enough milk?

It goes without saying that the main reason mothers stop breastfeeding is because they feel they don’t have enough milk to fulfill their babies ever increasing needs.

Other concerns are constant crying, sleepless nights, increasing demands for feeds and the baby sucking on everything in sight which must mean he or she is hungry.

After a few days of the above signs that voice in any mothers head saying “you don’t have enough milk” becomes more like a screaming siren and results in the abrupt cessation of breastfeeding and the introduction of formula.

Not everything points back to feeding

Unfortunately, what most mothers don’t realise is that although these are signs that the baby may not be getting enough milk, they are also really unreliable. A restless, crying baby is just that; a restless crying baby.

More reliable signs

Not everything points back to feeding. Look for the following more reliable signs to ensure that your baby is getting enough breast milk:

• A good urine and stool output. If milk is going in, then at some point it has to come out and this is the best indicator.
• After two days your baby should have 6 or more wet diapers in 24 hours and three to eight stools in 24 hours.
• Baby should be alert, have good muscle tone and a healthy skin.
• Growth should average around 150g per week.

If these signs are being achieved then you can rest assured that you are doing a great job and that you do indeed have enough milk.

Remain calm and confident

It has to be mentioned that it is vital you allow your baby to remain on the breast for as long as they need to. Pulling your baby away from the breast means that they have not had enough and this can also adversely affect your milk production.

Any kind of stress, anxiety, lack of confidence or feelings of concern can also result in low milk production so remaining confident and calm is vital to successful breastfeeding.

The post Breastfeeding a newborn:Do you have enough milk? appeared first on All4Baby.