FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BREASTFEEDING

A. Breastfeeding is the best and most natural way to nourish your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends "breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired."

  CHILDREN THAT ARE BREASTFED:

• Breastfed babies receive optimal nutrition that is a balanced diet for their age. Breastmilk is convenient, safe, and inexpensive.
• Breastmilk increases the baby's resistance to infections; resulting in less respiratory and gastrointestinal illness.
• Breastfed babies have less incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), as well as a decreased rate of childhood cancers and juvenile onset diabetes.
• Breastfed babies have higher IQ scores, better visual and oral development.

  WOMEN THAT BREASTFEED:

• Women that breastfeed recover faster from childbirth.
• Women that breastfeed reduce their risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancers, as well as osteoporosis.
• Women that breastfeed increase their maternal-child bond, which leads to better parenting and may even decrease the incidence of child abuse.
• Women that breastfeed save $1,000.00 to $3,000.00 in health costs per year by decreasing the incidence of illness and eliminating the need to purchase formula.

  BENEFITS TO SOCIETY:

• Breastfed children are healthier, resulting in fewer lost work days to the parents. which makes for a more productive workforce in the future.
• Breastfeeding our children saves millions in health care dollars.

A. Colostrum is the first milk your breasts will make. It is made during the last weeks of pregnancy and the first days after birth. Colostrum can be thick and yellow or clear and watery. It contains special proteins called antibodies. Antibodies protect your baby from infection. During the first days after birth, colostrum gradually changes into mature milk.

A. Breastmilk has two parts, foremilk and hindmilk. Foremilk is thin and watery and hindmilk is thick and creamy. Your baby gets foremilk at the beginning of a feeding and hindmilk at the end of feeding. Hindmilk contains the fat and calories babies need to grow, so be sure to breastfeed well on one breast before you offer the second breast.

A. Every baby is different. Most baby's breastfeed 8 -12 times a day during the early weeks. Expect to breastfeed every 1- 3 hours for about 20 - 40 minutes.

A. Your breastmilk is all your baby needs during the first six months. You can be sure your baby is well-fed if she/he:

• has at least 8-12 breastfeeding's a day
• has at least 3-4 bowel movements and 6-8 wet diapers a day
• sucks and swallows while breastfeeding
• gains 4-8 ounces a week after the first week
• is content after breastfeeding

A. Every baby is different. Some babies lose as much as 5-7% of their birth weight during the first week, then regain the lost weight during the second week. Most babies are back to birth weight by two weeks of age and gain 4-8 ounces a week during the next 10-12 weeks.

A. If you have a healthy, full term baby, breastmilk provides all the vitamins and minerals your baby needs for the first six months of life. A daily dose of vitamin D is recommended for those babies whose mothers are poorly nourished and for babies who are dark-skinned and get little sun. Always check with your doctor before giving any medication, including vitamins or supplements.

A. Breastfeeding may be uncomfortable in the beginning when your baby latches on to the breast. If the discomfort continues, break the suction, remove the baby from the breast and try again.

A. During the early weeks, when you and your baby are learning to breastfeed, you may want to avoid pacifiers. Pacifiers can increase the risk of ear infections and cause early weaning. Many breastfed babies prefer fists, thumbs or fingers and refuse pacifiers.

A. Your baby's first tooth can appear at any time and is seldom cause for weaning. Biting is rare and usually occurs at the end of a feeding when the baby is no longer hungry. Simply remove your baby from the breast with a firm "no." If your baby is still hungry, offer the breast again. Your baby will quickly learn that biting brings an end to breastfeeding and the biting will stop.

A. A nursing strike occurs when a baby suddenly refuses to breastfeed. It can last for several feedings or several days. Sometimes the cause is easily identified, frequently no cause is found. Hand express or use your Whittlestone Breast Expresser to relieve fullness. Continue to offer the breast, but do not insist if the baby refuses. Give your baby your expressed milk until breastfeeding resumes. Nursing strikes seldom lead to weaning.

A. You need to eat a variety of healthy foods and drink to satisfy your thirst. Occasionally foods in your diet make your baby fussy. If this happens, you may need to limit a particular food until your baby is older. Foods to watch include milk products, nuts, eggs, wheat, chocolate, coffee and tea.

A. Consult your doctor or health care professional.

A. Consult your doctor or health care professional.

A. Consult your doctor or health care professional.

A. The more weight your gain during pregnancy, the more your breasts will change when the added pounds are lost. This happens to women who breastfeed as well as women who bottle-feed.

A. If you are shy or easily embarrassed, choose a private place where you will not be disturbed. Practice and patience are the keys to success. Experienced mothers can breastfeed discreetly and modestly anywhere.

A. Breastfeeding can be "time-consuming" during the early weeks when you and your baby are learning to breastfeed. Once your milk supply is well established, about 6-12 weeks after birth, your baby will breastfeed less often and you will find it easier to come and go. If you prefer, your baby can be given your expressed milk while you are away.

A. Some women continue to breastfeed during pregnancy and breastfeed two babies or a baby and a child after birth. This is called tandem nursing. To meet the needs of two growing babies, eat a balanced diet that includes extra calories, drink to satisfy your thirst, and nap when the babies nap. If you have a history of premature labor or vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, your doctor or midwife may suggest that you stop breastfeeding while pregnant.

A. This is one of the most commonly asked questions from mothers seeking to combine breastfeeding with working outside the home. For the first time ever, the choice is now between the Whittlestone Breastmilk Expresser and traditional breast pumps that only suck and release to express milk. Whittlestone's comfortable and effective Express Kit applies a combination of low vacuum and gentle massage to the breast, which helps stimulate the breast to express milk. The following are just a few reasons why an expresser is always more effective than a traditional pump:

• The expresser provides gentle stimulation of the breast.
• The expresser provides the gentle compression so important for milk letdown.
• The expresser is simple to use and easy to clean.
• The expresser is effective and economical
• The expresser allows you to express both breasts at the same time.

A. Whittlestone makes the first and only true breast Expresser in the world. The Whittlestone Breast Expresser represents the first major advance in breast pump technology in over 30 years. Unlike traditional breast pumps, the Whittlestone Breast Expresser has a unique Express Cup with a soft, thin-walled liner. The space between the cup and the liner is alternately infused with positive and negative pressure. The result is a gentle and rhythmic stimulation of the breast or comfortable and efficient milk expression.