Hurricane Gustav Finally A Thing Of The Past

Wow! What a LONG week. We have lived here in Baton Rouge for well over a decade and have prepared for many hurricanes and there was nothing new with this hurricane. As a matter of fact, in the past, we were always lucky to just perhaps feel the winds and get some heavy rains from past hurricanes. However, Gustav got Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas pretty good. Though it was not a very strong storm (just a Category 3), it blew trees down like no one in Baton Rouge had ever seen before and caused more power outages than any catastrophe that Entergy Utilities had ever experienced.

Enduring a week of power outage, living on a small generator and a tiny ac window unit was difficult enough with two young kids, but trying to continue to run an international website business was one of the biggest challenges that I have ever had. Our poor postal workers were working in a pitch black office with flashlights accepting packages through a broken door wrapped in “CAUTION” tape.

It has been a very interesting situation, but one that makes you thank God for the wonderful people in the world. Kindness and teamwork just flourish at times like this – people giving and helping beyond anything that anyone would ever see in any given day.

We attempted to keep everything going as well as possible during this situation, however, if you find that you attempted to get in touch with us and were not successful, please try again. Things have pretty much gotten back to normal now, and we feel confident that we can get all answers to any questions that any mom might have.

Thanks for your patience and many prayers from so many that have help Louisiana get through another one.

Breast Implants & Breastfeeding/Breast Pumping

This is a hot topic! Since women aged 19 to 34 made up 50% of the total breast augmentation procedures 2007 with an increase of 15% from the previous year, and women aged 35 to 50 made up 42% of the total breast augmentation procedures. Breast implants are more popular than ever.

With so many women opting for this procedure, it is all the more important that they understand their long term options and impacts of implants.

Many women with breast implants think they can’t breastfeed. Actually, the breast implant does not cause a major problem. Most breastfeeding problems with breast implants occur when the surgery is done with periareolar incision (cut made around the nipple.) Incision placement makes a difference.

Any type of breast surgery or breast injury may affect a woman's ability to breastfeed. Considerations, such as the length of time since the surgery, previous lactation experiences, her support system and numerous other variables are all factors in a woman's ability to produce milk. No matter if the surgery was to augment or reduce breast size, remove a lump or for some other reason, the main concern is whether or not milk ducts and major nerves were cut or damaged.

Researching this topic, I found sites that strongly suggested that there were no problems, to sites that noted a wide variety of problems.

We at GotBreastPump.com are going to do deep research to bring you the best information and resources to support mothers breastfeed and breast pump who have had breast augmentation.

We will continue to cover this topic in our blog, so keep checking back and also email info@gotbreastpump.com or call us at 888-640-2244 with your thoughts and concerns about breast implants and producing breast milk for your baby.

Free Lilypadz Nursing Pads Contest

Congratulations to Liza Dermott. She is our big winner weekly winner of the More Milk Plus Pills. Thanks Liza for sharing with your friends.

This week's contest is for a give-a-way of a pair of LilyPadz nursing pads. The LilyPadz nursing pads are unique in that they are made of silicone and keep your breast milk from coming out, instead of the traditional cotton pads that soak up breast milk. The Lilypadz stick to your breasts so that you can wear them without a bra, while sleeping, exercising, or with a strapless dress. So, hurry and get those emails out to qualify for your free set of Lilypadz.

How do you enter for your free LilyPadz nursing pads: Email 3 of your friends telling them about our website and just place my email in the cc: area like the following:

cc: blogcontest@gotbreastpump.com

If I have received your email, I will let you know by replying to your email. The deadline to get your email out to your friends and myself will be Sunday at midnight, so make sure to get those emails out by then. I will then compile all the entry names and choose at random for the winner.

Good Luck!

Give Up Guilt & Nurture Yourself

Women tend to take responsibility for the happiness of others. While this is not reasonable, or achievable, women really take it to heart.

Mothers, shun your shoulds. We mothers often think we should consider everyone else’s feeling and needs before our own.

Many moms believe they should make their children and husbands happy. The reality is that we have influence on one another but we do not have the power to make anyone feel anything.

Then there are those voices of people from our past that set off the shoulds. Don’t let people should on you. Observe and censor your own menu of shoulds. Being driven in life through unhealthy, and usually meaningless shoulds, can create resentment and serious exhaustion.

End the “should”; begin the nurturing. We all know how to nurture, so let’s apply that beautiful knowledge to ourselves. We support and sustain the whole family, why not ourselves.

Moms, especially those moms with babies and small children need ample rest. Broken sleep patterns due to night feeding take a genuine toll on physical and mental health. So dump the guilt; take a nap if possible.

A couple days a week, find 30 minutes to take a warm, relaxing bath, instead of the quick shower. This act of kindness to yourself is important. When we don’t take care of ourselves, nurture ourselves, we send a message to our families about how we should be valued. If we neglect our needs, others will too.

Guilt defined is: self-reproach for supposed inadequacy or wrongdoing. Does this sound like anyone you know? We feel we are doing something wrong if we nap when we really need rest. We feel guilt when we can’t meet everyone else’s needs.

Get out of the guilt zone. Throw out regret.

Do you remember the golden rule? Put a healthy twist on that rule. Nurture yourself, as you would nurture others.

Free More Milk Plus Increase Breastmilk Pills Contest

Congratulations to Jennifer. She is our big winner weekly winner of the Free Podee Hands-free Bottle. Thanks Jennifer for sharing with your friends.

This week's contest is for a give-a-way of a bottle of More Milk Plus (60). The More Milk Plus have helped so many moms to successfully increase their breast milk. It includes such wonderful herbs as fenugreek, blessed thistle and more.

How do you enter for your free More Milk Plus Pills: Email 3 of your friends telling them about our website and just place my email in the cc: area like the following:

cc: blogcontest@gotbreastpump.com

If I have received your email, I will let you know by replying to your email. The deadline to get your email out to your friends and myself will be Sunday at midnight, so make sure to get those emails out by then. I will then compile all the entry names and choose at random for the winner.

Good Luck!

When Bliss Doesn’t Happen

You’ve just delivered your long awaited baby. Everyone in the birthing room is watching you as the doctor places the bundle of joy on your abdomen. Terribly self conscious, you “act” so happy. But deep inside, the little crying thing on your belly is slimy and making a lot of racket and your head is spinning with confusion.

NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THIS! Why???

We have tall moms, short moms, moms of different colors, different temperaments, different everything, so why not different emotions about birthing?

Society frowns of moms who don’t have bliss for their baby, immediately. Many factors play into the first moments of this relationship.

The physical and mental health of the mother during pregnancy and birth has enormous impacts on the moments following birth. Physical complications with the mother during birthing or physical complications with the baby during birthing, adds potent stress on the new mother.

Nearly 15% of all women suffer from postpartum depression. I don’t mean the baby blues, because 50 to 80% of mothers go through some sort of blues/adjustment. In this case we are talking about mothers who have unspeakable problems, such as feeling they are dying, inability to cope with the demands of a new baby, even thoughts of harming their infant or themselves.

Bliss, this is not! But 15% of mothers are not going to have the bliss, they will not be capable of doing bonding right away, they may not even feel like handling their baby. Families, doctors and hospital staff may not think about this mother’s affliction. She will likely feel like the loneliest person in the world, at that moment.

For those mothers who experience these feeling, you are not alone. If you have prior knowledge of PPD, be sure to keep your doctor aware while preparing for birthing. Family and support people need to know this too, if you feel comfortable telling them.

You will need more help following delivery. Be brave and ask for help from anyone, everyone. Avoid hiding these feelings, they don’t often go away for awhile, and medication and talk therapy can do a lot to help.

Bliss of Motherhood

How is it that a mother can go from the extraordinary physical pain of birthing to the total bliss in less than one minute? This is one of the amazing abilities of a woman’s body.

The second that her baby is placed in her arms, a mother experiences bliss. The smell of her baby, the baby’s sounds, the warmth of it delicate skin against her own creates a temporary womb that she and her newborn are enveloped in.

The doctor can be doing more procedures, the father and family can be rejoicing all ‘round this bonding, but mother and baby have made their first extra uterine contact. The long, long anticipated moment is unveiled and nothing else in the world matters.

Thank goodness that hospitals support and encourage immediate bonding times for mother and baby. How sweet the tenderness of a baby lying on mother’s chest. The baby can smell mother’s milk and instinctively desires and make movements to nurse.

The beatific events of mother giving life, then giving precious nourishment of mother’s breast milk is the most generous design in the cycle of life.

Mothers of the world, rejoice in the largesse you bring to the world.

Tomorrow let’s talk about the moms who don’t get the bliss, since people don’t talk about this awful reality. All moms don’t get bliss.

Mothers need Real Support for Real Life in the Real World!!!

According to a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), new mothers should be breastfeeding their babies for longer periods of time to gain the many health benefits to both infant and mother. The new policy statement is the first update to breastfeeding guidelines since 1997.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0305c.shtml

The aim of the updated AAP guidelines is to stress the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding until at least the six-month mark. All health information related to breastfeeding, including benefits to both mother and child, has been updated to make a stronger case for this.

It seems like most large organizations associated with infant health and breastfeeding are promoting breastfeeding, especially for 6 to 12 months. This notion is germane to infant health.

But let’s consider, mothers that return to work before infant is 3 months old is 30.6% plus another 21.6% return to work by 5 months. How do these mothers fulfill this unrealistic ideal of breastfeeding for 6 months to a year, when most are in the work place long before six months?

Why is so there so little discussion of breast milk pumping? There are wonderful cases where mothers had great supportive husbands or family members, who were willing to bring the baby to the workplace to allow breastfeeding. These, unfortunately, are not the norm. Too often, mothers will stop supplying breast milk due to returning to work.

So how will the World Health Organization, Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Disease Control achieve their lofty goals? Mothers need real support for real life in the real world.

Join us at GotBreastPump.com in dialogue about the benefits of breast milk pumping. Mothers can return to work with a breast pump and still give their babies “Mother’s Milk, breast milk, the best milk!

Act (SEA) 219 legislation, effective July 1, 2008, promotes employer support for breastfeeding employees. Employers are required to make reasonable efforts to provide accommodations for women to collect and store breast milk during the workday. Employers are required to make reasonable efforts to provide a private space for collection and accessibility to breast milk storage area, either by providing a refrigerator or allowing the employee to bring portable cold storage.

Mothers need to be able to breast feed, or breast milk pumping with either a manual breast pump or electric breast pump.

If you are a mother back at work or returning to work soon, email, blog or just talk to all who will listen. Mothers and babies needs have been shrouded long enough.

Thanks for continuing to visit our site.

Share your thoughts, needs, concerns, or ideas with us: Gotbreastpump@gotbreastpump.com

Free Podee Hands-free Bottle Contest

Congratulations to Melinda Sams. She is our big winner weekly winner of the Free Slim Lines Milk Tray Breast Milk Storage Trays Contest. Thanks Melinda for sharing with your friends.

This week's contest is for a give-a-way of an Podee Hands Free Bottle. We had such an overwhelming response for these the last time that we decided to give another away. These are just loved because of the great convenience it provides.

How do you enter for your free Podee Hands Free Bottle:

Create a post on one of your favorite forums/communities about our contest or website with a link back to our website/blog. Once you have created the post, email me, blogcontest@gotbreastpump.com, with a link to your post.

If I have received your email, I will let you know by replying to your email. The deadline to get your email out to your friends and myself will be Sunday at midnight, so make sure to get those posts out by then. I will then compile all the entry names and choose at random for the winner.

Good Luck!

Increase Breast Milk with Chilled Oatmeal, Yogurt, and Fruit Compote

Low milk Supply is a regular concern for breastfeeding and breast pumping mothers. Modern medicine and hyper-technology offer a great deal of health related information about breast milk production. Yet, the more we know, the more we see that a holistic approach to our health and well being is so very important. All the more important when the nutrition we use for our bodies, directly affect our breast feeding babies.

Great old standards like oatmeal and yogurt can be helpful to breastmilk production. There may be some scientific research that says there is no protein, carbohydrate, or fat in oatmeal or yogurt that actually affects breast milk production. But survey one hundred breast feeding and/or breast pumping mothers about their consumption of these food items and most will attest to positive effects of these two food items on their milk production.

Oatmeal and yogurt do have outstanding food value, so go ahead and add them to your diet during the intense heat of summer. And here is a luscious recipe where you can get both in one meal.


Chilled Oatmeal, Yogurt, and Fruit Compote

Servies 4
• 2 cups oatmeal (not instant)
• 1 cup fruit (strawberries, blueberries, peaches, raspberries, etc)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

Mix all ingredients, cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
Serve cold, with milk or soy milk if desired.

Free Slim Lines Milk Tray Breast Milk Storage Trays Contest

Congratulations to Cheryl Hyven. She is our big winner weekly winner of the Free Slim Lines Milk Tray Breast Milk Storage Trays Contest. Thanks Cheryl for sharing with your friends.

This week's contest is for a give-a-way of a Slim Lines Milk Tray Breast Milk Storage Trays. This breast milk storage tray is a great way to store your extra breast milk and not waste or lose any of the precious milk. It freezes your breast milk into thin sticks that can be dropped into a bottle and thaw without any wasted milk. So, hurry and get those emails out to qualify for your free set of Slim Lines Milk Tray.

How do you enter for your free Slim Lines Milk Tray Breast Milk Storage Trays:

Create a post on one of your favorite forums/communities about our contest or website with a link back to our website/blog. Once you have created the post, email me, blogcontest@gotbreastpump.com, with a link to your post.

If I have received your email, I will let you know by replying to your email. The deadline to get your email out to your friends and myself will be Sunday at midnight, so make sure to get those posts out by then. I will then compile all the entry names and choose at random for the winner.

Good Luck!

Toddler Trail Mix for Trips or Regular Noshing

Traveling with and feeding your toddler has it’s challenges. Food is one of the big challenges, as the toddler is less likely to eat what the rest of the family eats during car trips of any length.

Being prepared with snack foods for feeding a toddler will solve some potential frustration for parent and toddler.Trail mix that is premade or that is put together by you and your toddler is easy, neat and offers the variety that will entice the picky palate of your toddler.

Most stores have quality trail mixes premade that contain dried fruits (pineapple, raisins, mango, etc.) and nuts (almonds, pecans, peanuts, etc.) Some trail mixes even have sesame sticks or some baked crunches to add texture.

Gabrielle and I make a trail mix that she likes and actually eats. She enjoys dried mango pieces, sesame sticks, small pretzels, nuts.

The taste and color variations make feeding your toddler easier because they prefer a smorgus board of shapes, colors, tastes, and textures.

Feeding toddlers on the road, at the amusement park, or just a trip to the mall is less stressful when your toddler has desirable.

Zachary’s 6th Birthday

Each day, we do our jobs at GotBreastPump.com and the Zachary Williamson Memorial Foundation. We love the work we do, because it helps mothers feed their babies.

Today is special! This is Zachary’s 6th birthday. His memory is our beacon. His memory directs the sincere motivation to help mothers and their babies.

The sadness never wanes, but the good works that follows his name sake grow every day.

God Bless Zachary Gabriel Williamson, our angel.

We love you Zach

Increase Breast Milk with Cool Iced Tea

WHEW IT’S HOT! You are a busy nursing mother and the heat is getting to you. At GotBreastPump.com, we are hearing from mothers this month on how to increase breast milk supply. Many mothers suffer from low milk supply during the heat of the summer.

Let’s look at some important things to consider to increase breast milk supply. Heat is stressful to the body. Low milk supply will happen under stress. Add to that, the heat causing dehydration, and it’s easy to see how your milk production will drop.

The next step is how to increase breast milk production during the brutal heat of July and August. First and foremost is to drink lots and lots of liquids. Typically this will not mean frequent trips to the restroom, because your body is using so much fluid for cooling through perspiration that we don’t even notice. Your baby will also need more fluids, and you are the source of those fluids through breast milk.

Even with an increase of fluid intake, you may still be experiencing low milk production. More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules will give a rapid increase breast milk supply. Some mothers find increased milk production, the same day they start taking the pills.

Try to find some time for much needed rest. This is hard for most people, but breast feeding/breast pumping mothers are stretched so thin. Adequate rest is important to breast milk production.

Let’s review. Drink lots of fluids, More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules, and concentrate on getting rest.

Here’s an easy and inviting tea recipe for you and your whole family to help everyone get enough fluids during the broiling months of summer.

Use any non-caffeinated tea. Green tea has many health benefits; most herbal teas have no caffeine, or simply regular decaf tea may be used.

• Place 4 tea bags in coffee maker basket.
• Use a full pot of water
• Brew tea just like a pot of coffee
• After brew is complete, remove from heat element
• Add sweetener of choice (honey, sugar, or splenda) to taste
• Add 1 or 2 drops of vanilla or almond flavor extract
• Add equal amount of ice to amount of brewed tea into pitcher
• Drop in a sprig of fresh mint if it is growing in your yard. (Very calming)

My children and I love raspberry herb tea with a drop of almond extract. We drop a leaf of mint into a glass.

Enjoy the tea, get rest when you can.

Free L'oved Baby Arms-free Swaddler Contest

Congratulations to Tyvonna Gatewood. She is our big winner weekly winner of the Lilypadz Nursing Pads. Thanks Tyvonna for sharing with your friends.

This week's contest is for a give-a-way of a pair of a L'oved Baby Arms-free Swaddler. This wonderful little swaddler is great to help soothe babies looking for the security of being bundled but allow for baby's arms to be free. So, hurry and get those emails out to qualify for your free set of Lilypadz.

How do you enter for your free L'oved Baby Arms-free Swaddler: Email 3 of your friends telling them about our website and just place my email in the cc: area like the following:

cc: blogcontest@gotbreastpump.com

If I have received your email, I will let you know by replying to your email. The deadline to get your email out to your friends and myself will be Sunday at midnight, so make sure to get those emails out by then. I will then compile all the entry names and choose at random for the winner.

Good Luck!

Are You Troubled with Newborn Colic?

Inevitably, babies will be colicky. Sometimes infant colic can be traced back to foods the mother has eaten.

Recently, I read this article from Dr. Melanie Beingessner. She is a chiropractor, a breastfeeding counselor, an infant massage instructor and the mother of three. She is the author of The Calm Baby Cookbook and offers additional information about pregnancy and breastfeeding on her website: www.drmelaniebee.org.

I was impressed with this lovely recipe. It is simply delicious, easy, and family friendly for moms breastfeeding newborn. Looks like it might be good for leftovers for a small family, too.

I hope you (and the baby) enjoy this recipe.

Below, find the address for Dr. Melanie Beingesner’s advice and recipe for moms with colic babies, or any breastfeeding mom, at Buzzle.com.

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/5-31-2006-97833.asp

Fussy, crying, colic babies are usually distressed because they are reacting to foods that their mothers are eating! Indeed, everything a mother breastfeeding newborn eats or drinks ends up in her breastmilk and small particles of foods in the breastmilk itself can cause a baby pain and discomfort. Because the lining of a baby’s digestive system is porous for the first four to five months of life, a newborn can react quite negatively to some of the foods that her mother is eating for the first few months.

Colic babies are so distressing for new parents. However, a mother can calm her baby easily by eliminating certain foods on a short-term basis. The following is one of the delicious recipes from The Calm Baby Cookbook, a book written expressly to empower new mothers to calm their babies.

Easy Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
8 carrots, peeled and sliced on the diagonal
1/2 onion, diced
1 can chicken broth
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves minced
1 tsp. oregano leaves
1 tsp. basil leaves
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Place all of the cubed chicken and chopped vegetables into a large bowl. Drizzle the chicken broth and olive oil over top, and then add the garlic, oregano, basil, sea salt and pepper. Toss well. Pour into two large baking dishes that have been coated with non-stick cooking spray. Cover and bake at 350° F for approximately 1hour. Remove from the oven, stir well and continue to bake, uncovered, for another 30 minutes. Test the potatoes for doneness.

Congratulations to Angela Letrea. She is our big winner weekly winner of the Adiri BPA-free Breast Bottle. Thanks Angela for sharing with your friends.

This week's contest is for a give-a-way of a pair of LilyPadz nursing pads. The LilyPadz nursing pads are unique in that they are made of silicone and keep your breast milk from coming out, instead of the traditional cotton pads that soak up breast milk. The Lilypadz stick to your breasts so that you can wear them without a bra, while sleeping, exercising, or with a strapless dress. So, hurry and get those emails out to qualify for your free set of Lilypadz.

How do you enter for your free LilyPadz nursing pads: Email 3 of your friends telling them about our website and just place my email in the cc: area like the following:

cc: blogcontest@gotbreastpump.com

If I have received your email, I will let you know by replying to your email. The deadline to get your email out to your friends and myself will be Sunday at midnight, so make sure to get those emails out by then. I will then compile all the entry names and choose at random for the winner.

Good Luck!

Giving Your Toddler Ice Cream for Lunch?

Its Hot, Hot, Hot outside in July. Your toddler’s appetite is at an all time low because of the endless heat. My daughter comes inside from playing for just a few minutes and her beautiful long hair is matted to her head.

At lunch time, I try to get this toddler eating, so she can take a cool nap. She’s cross with the heat and not hungry. I know she isn’t going to nap well on an empty stomach.

Magic is required to get some nutrition into my finicky toddler. I ask if she wants some ice cream and her little eyes light up a bit but she’s not sure.

I get the frozen vanilla yogurt out and put some in her favorite bowl with a few bits of fresh peach. I let her sprinkle some granola cereal on top and she is not interested in trying her peachy cooler.

As a nutrition conscious mom, this is not a typical lunch, but extraordinary measures are needed sometimes to get hard to feed toddlers to eat in the heat. Their little bodies need calories for toddler growth spurts.

I am careful to buy frozen yogurt that has a higher protein content and added calcium. It also supplies live active cultures of L. acidopihilus, Bifidobacteriumor and or other probiotic bacteria. These probiotics are important for maintaining intestinal flora and also aides the immune system. It might even help with toddler constipation.

So, feel free to give in and offer frozen yogurt when feeding a toddler, it actually packs a fair nutritional wallop. It is as good as feeding you toddler milk. And you precious finicky eater will rest well during that warm summer afternoon nap because, like milk, it also has tryptophan will help you toddler sleep.

You might even want to partake of a bit of the peachy cooler while feeding your toddler for the health benefits, especially if you are breastfeeding.

Chill out mom, its summer.

Firstright aspires to ensure freedom from discrimination for breastfeeding mothers and their children. Firstright works collaboratively with other organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding as the cultural norm. Http://www.firstright.org/

Breastfeeding in public IS legal in the United States, though sometimes people simply don't know it and therefore might complain about it. This means you can nurse your baby anywhere that you are allowed to be with the baby.

See A Current Summary of Breastfeeding Legislation in the U.S.

Mothers should be able to feed their babies as needed, without concern for discrimination. The comfort zone that mothers have for breastfeeding visibility varies dramatically. Classically the longer a mother breastfeeds, the greater comfort they have with public nursing.

Gratefully, breastfeeding clothing and nursing shawls. I’ll mention two companies who create and sell breastfeeding clothing are Glamour Mom and My Nursingwear.

Gotbreastpump.com has a breathable and very comfortable nursing cover available. Check out our store.

As a breastfeeding mother, if you encounter discrimination, you can report it at Report Breastfeeding Discrimination

Check out this Applebees discrimination event.
Http://bliss-breastfeeding.blogspot.com/2007/09/applebees-nurse-in-request.html

Increase Breast Milk with Momma's Smoothie

Oatmeal has been an important ingredient for helping to increase breast milk for years. There are no scientific studies that suggest that oatmeal actually increases breast milk, however, many mothers have stated that they felt that they produced more breast milk on those occasions that they did eat something that contained oatmeal.

I anything, it certainly cannot hurt to eat a nice, warm bowl of oatmeal with its many healthy nutrients or enjoy one of these quick smoothies.

Momma’s Smoothies

Increase breast milk with this delicious, delightful and cool smoothie.
1 cup fresh milk
1-2 tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ cup rolled oats
½ cup frozen or any fresh fruit: banana, peach, blueberries and strawberries
1-3 tsp safflower oil
Ice (optional)

Blend the milk, vanilla extract, and rolled oats in the blender until oats are totally ground. above in a blender. Add fruit and safflower oil until pureed. Add ice before serving until smoothie consistency.

Drink this 3-4 times each day. Recipe makes 4 servings, only 100 calories per serving.

Free Adiri BPA-free Breast Bottle Contest

Congratulations Lorraine. Lorraine Brea is the winner of last week’s Dr. Brown Bottle. She invited 3 of her friends via email to visit our website. Thanks Lorraine!
This week's contest consists of an Adiri BPA-free Breast Bottle. The Adiri Bottles are very popular especially amongst breastfeeding moms, because the bottle is so similar to mommy’s breast. So, hurry and get those emails out to qualify for your free bottle.

How to enter for your free Adiri BPA-free Breast Bottle: Email 3 of your friends telling them about our website and just place my email in the cc: area like the following:

cc: blogcontest@gotbreastpump.com

If I have received your email, I will let you know by replying to your email. The deadline to get your email out to your friends and myself will be Sunday at midnight, so make sure to get those emails out by then. I will then compile all the entry names and choose at random for the winner.

Good Luck!

Increase Breast Milk with Pronto Mini Pizzas

Fennel Seed is one of the few natural remedies used to help mothers increase breast milk. It has been used since ancient civilizations and continues into our societies today. Many countries, especially Mediterranean, Italy, China, and Scandinavia, use fennel seed as a key ingredient in many of their recipes. One of these recipes that is enjoyed by many and may help to increase your breast milk supply is Pronto Mini Pizzas by Debbie Smith.

INGREDIENTS

* 1 pound ground beef or turkey
* 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
* 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
* 1/2 cup chopped onion
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
* 2 teaspoon fennel seed
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
* 4 pita breads
* 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

In a skillet, cook the meat, mushroom, green pepper, onion and garlic until the meat is browned and the vegetables are tender; drain. Stir in tomato sauce, fennel, salt and oregano. Simmer for 1-2 minutes. meanwhile, warm pitas in microwave. Top each with meat mixture; sprinkle with cheese. Microwave or broil until cheese is melted. Cut into quarters.

Free Dr. Brown's BPA-free Bottle Contest

Congratulations Theresa! Theresa Long is the winner of the Podee Hands-free Bottle. She was kind enough to tell three of her friends about our website and now is our big winner.

This week's contest consists of the Dr. Brown's BPA-free Bottle. Dr. Brown's bottles are one of the favorite amongst many moms and with the new problems associated with BPA, you no longer have to worry about what is in your baby's bottle or the harm that it will cause.

How to enter for your free Dr. Brown's BPA-free Bottle: Email 3 of your friends telling them about our website and just place my email in the cc: area like the following:

cc: blogcontest@gotbreastpump.com

If I have received your email, I will let you know by replying to your email. The deadline to get your email out to your friends and myself will be Sunday at midnight, so make sure to get those emails out by then. I will then compile all the entry names and choose at random for the winner.

Good Luck!

Fun & Easy Foods to Help Increase Breast Milk

Use these recipes to help breast pumping and breast feeding mothers increase calcium rich foods in their diet.

How can breast feeding and breast pumping mothers take in enough calcium to avoid robbing their own bodies of this important mineral?

Eating 5 servings of milk or dairy products each day will give you enough calcium. If you don't eat meat or dairy products, you can get the calcium you need from broccoli, sesame seeds, tofu and kale. Talk to your doctor about taking extra calcium if you don't think you're getting enough from your diet.

Calcium packed foods

• 1 cup (8 ounces) low-fat plain yogurt = 415 milligrams (mg) of calcium
• 1 cup collards, cooked = 357 mg
• 1 cup sardines = 351 mg
• 1 cup almonds = 332 mg
• 1 cup skim milk = 302 mg
• 1 ounce Swiss cheese = 272 mg
• 1 cup tofu = 260 mg
• 1 ounce American cheese = 174 mg
• 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese = 155 mg
• 5 ounces tapioca pudding = 119 mg

Try this interesting and fun Tofu Pudding recipe:

Chocolate Tofu Pudding

Ingredients
12 oz Lowfat soft tofu
1/3 cup Splenda
1 tsp pure vanilla
2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
1 pinch salt

Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a blender or use an immersion blender in a steep sided bowl. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.
This delightful, no cook pudding will become a family favorite.
Makes 4 servings ½ cup each. Calories 70, fat less than 1 gram.
This is a delicious, no guilt, low carb treat that will help breast feeding and breast pumping mothers maintain healthy calcium intake and help mothers avoid low breast milk supply.

Breastfeeding Nutrition - You are truly eating for two when breastfeeding and breast pumping for your baby

Mothers instinctively take great care of their baby, but too often forget how important their health is to feeding their precious baby. Breastfeeding and nutrition go hand in hand at this time. If you lack enough food, your body will make breast milk production its first priority, and your body will suffer the consequences. It is just the same as it was during pregnancy, the fetus gets nutrition first. A baby who weighs only a few pounds, will receive nearly 1,000 calories per day in breast milk!

Breast feeding and breast pumping require an extra energy that equals about 500 calories per day. Good nutrition is just as important for you, as it is for your baby.

Increase your water consumption by one quart per day, so that you are drinking a total of 2.5 to 3 quarts.

Increase your daily caloric intake to 2,500 calories: you can even eat more if you are planning to continue breast-feeding for more than three months (2,800 calories per day). One important caution, nursing mothers are tempted by sweets. Try to stick to healthy foods instead!

Eat more proteins. The basic rule is to eat I gram of protein each day for every pound you weigh. That’s not that difficult. An average chicken breast has about 50 grams of protein.

Research has suggested that many of the vitamins and minerals found in prenatal vitamins pass through breast milk. This is usually a desirable thing. For infants who are exclusively fed mother’s milk, breast milk is the only source of important vitamins and minerals. You should talk with your healthcare provider about prenatal vitamins and breastfeeding.

One mineral many women lack — before, during, and after they have children — is iron. Moms need 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day when nursing — about what you'd get in three 8-ounce glasses of milk.

The Journal of Pediatrics recommends continuing prenatal vitamins while breast feeding and breast pumping. Research has suggested that many of the vitamins and minerals found in prenatal vitamins pass through breast milk. This is usually a desirable thing. For infants who are exclusively fed mother’s milk, breast milk is the only source of important vitamins and minerals. You should talk with your healthcare provider about prenatal vitamins and breastfeeding.

Eating “close to the food chain” while nursing can improve the vitamin content of foods you consume and in turn, you baby consumes. “Close to the food chain” refers to eating foods that are less processed. The more food is processed, the fewer vitamins naturally present in the food.

Free Podee Hands-free Bottle Contest

We're excited to begin our first contest this week. We are giving away one of our favorite products. Moms have thoroughly enjoyed the Podee hands-free bottle. With so much that we moms do today, it is becoming so difficult just to stop what you are doing and feed our sweet babies. Unfortunately, our babies tend to want their bottle when we are in the middle of fixing dinner, driving somewhere, or in the middle of the grocery store. This little product saves you and allows those babies to get what they want when they need it.

So, sign up to win your free Podee hands free bottle today. What you need to do is email 3 of your friends telling them about our website and just place my email in the cc: area like the following:

cc: wndyw1@gmail.com.

This is my personal email, and I will definitely get it. If I have received your email, I will let you know by replying to your email. The deadline to get your email out to your friends and myself will be Sunday at midnight, so make sure to get those emails out by then. I will then compile all the entry names and choose at random for the winner.

Good Luck!

More New Mother Syndrome

Most new mothers require a break from usual tasks and activities; time to recover and get to know their infant. And the experience of being listened to, recognized, celebrated and understood!

For the new mother, the first few weeks at home with your new baby can be challenging. It is something new that you have never done before. It is easy to become overwhelmed and exhausted.

Having support in these first few weeks while you are getting to know your baby are so important for your mental and physical health.

New Mother Syndrome is a complex mix of emotional, physical and behavioral changes. Hormonal changes are part of New Mother Syndrome.

Many demands are placed on a new mother. Most new mothers are filled with questions, ideas and perhaps some anxiety at becoming a parent for the first time, and the enormity of this life-changing task.

Most of the time, feelings associated with New Mother Syndrome are mild; you may have heard them referred to as "baby blues." The situation is temporary and tends to leave as quickly as it comes. In unusual cases, it may last for several months and even more than a year.

Postpartum depression may appear to be the baby blues at first — but the signs and symptoms are more intense and longer lasting, eventually interfering with your ability to care for your baby and handle other daily tasks.

Postpartum depression affects 10-15% of women any time from a month to a year after childbirth.

It is very treatable by skilled professionals. Don’t hesitate to contact your health care professional if you suspect postpartum depression. The symptoms can become severe without proper attention.

How Does the New Mother Feel?

Shocked is the only word I can use to express my feelings regarding how little information there is on the web about how a new mom feels as she returns home with her infant.

Several years ago, I started this site because I could find so little information about breast pumping. I knew other mothers had to need the same information,
yet none was available.

Planning to write the blog on New Mother Syndrome, I thought I would find tons of information. I was so wrong. Very little information is available to help new moms with their many concerns about how they feel and support for their countless worries for their new infant.

From my web search, interviewing some moms I know, and revisiting my own feelings, I came up with a list of feelings and concerns that most of my resources had in common. Certainly there are many more feelings and concerns that new moms have. We would love to hear from you. So email us, so we can share your thoughts with other moms.

Let’s list some of those feelings and concerns.

• Exhausted
• Fatigue (It takes a lot of energy to care for a new infant and your body is still in recovery)
• Irritable
• Oversensitive
• Impatient
• Lack of confidence
• Anxious
• Restless
• Nursing concerns (breastfeeding concerns or breast pumping possibilities)

Some moms shared personal challenges that I’ll list below.

 Your breasts (whether or not you breast feed/ breast pump) are still full and uncomfortable.
 The baby does not know the difference between day or night, so your sleep patterns are upset.
 Getting ready to go anywhere is like planning a major trip. It takes three times longer to get ready with your new baby.
 You miss the social perks of being pregnant. (Just don’t tell anyone)

Almost all postpartum reactions are temporary and typically last just a few weeks. These reactions are normal and up to 80% of mothers experience these feelings after birth.

Try to find a local support group for new mothers. Your delivery hospital should have some information on these, or check the internet. I found many cities with new mother support groups. If your feelings are overwhelming, you may be suffering from Postpartum Depression, not New Mother Syndrome. If this is the case, seek medical assistance.

I did seek help for Postpartum Depression, just as Brook Shields. With the help of my doctor, a counselor and medication, I began feeling better within a few days. The actual Postpartum Depression took several weeks to subside. I actually felt better, just getting in touch with my doctor. Her support and direction gave me the help I needed to get through each day.

Tomorrow, lets talk more about the feelings and concerns of the new mom. Please email us at GotBreastPump.com with your thoughts.

Fenugreek – Does It Help You Increase Breast Milk?

There are many choices out there when it comes to increasing breast milk supply. And because of my neurotic personality I have used a few of them. One of my favorites is fenugreek and fenugreek tea.

This worked for me the very day that I began using it. Once I began taking Fenugreek, I was able to pump about 1\3 more each session than previously. You take about 3 pills with a glass of water 3 times a day. And remember to drink plenty of water all throughout the day. A fenugreek side effect is that when you sweat, you will smell like maple syrup. I did find that I would urinate, there was an odor of maple syrup, so I felt like I was probably taking enough.

Once your breast milk supply increases, you can stop taking the Fenugreek and your supply should stay the same. I found this to be true. So, you should not have to keep purchasing bottle after bottle. If you find that your breast milk supply has not gone up after about 3 days, then you may want to look for another alternative in breast milk supply boosters.

Tags: increase breast milk, fenugreek

Is Herbal Tea to Increase Breast Milk Safe?

At some point many mothers may become concerned about the amount of breast milk that they are producing. Many of these moms decide to use herbal teas to increase their breast milk. Many of these teas include such herbs as fenugreek, fennel seed, blessed thistle and many other herbs. Though some moms may look to harsher medications such as Domperidone, most mothers prefer to use more natural products that have been years for hundreds of years.

But are these particular herbal teas safe, especially at a time when are babies are receiving their main nourishment from our breast milk?

Fenugreek is an herb or spice that has been used for centuries and is still frequently used in many recipes in countries such as India, Egypt, and Turkey. The many benefits that fenugreek contains is almost countless. Besides helping to increase breast milk, it is also used to aid in digestion, decrease diabetes and is now being studied as an herb to protect against some cancers. The one side effect caused by Fenugreek is that sweat and urine may smell like maple syrup.

Fennel is again an herb that has been used for centuries by many different cultures. Many people still use it today in many of their recipes. Most moms may possibly have a spice jar of it in their pantry. Fennel is used along with other herbs to help with colic for babies.

Blessed Milk Thistle is mostly used for medical purposes. It is most widely used to help with liver diseases. Is it currently being used in a drink, Rockstar Energy Drink, as an herb to increase energy.

Nettle Leaves, or stinging nettle, is a plant with stinging needles when touched, yet can be relieved by typical antihistamine creams. Though once the stinging needles are cooked, chopped, or crushed, the stinging agent is disabled. This plant is mostly prominently used to help patients with arthritis.

So, when you become alarmed about the amount of your breast milk, the first thing you should do is drink lots of water – NO, I mean LOTS of water. Next, relax and enjoy a nice cup of that herbal tea. These herbs have been used in various ways since ancient times. Some of these herbs can be so beneficial for your health, so enjoy.

Tags: increase breast milk, fenugreek, herbal teas, fennel

Breast Pump Rocker

These breast pumps are amazing. Not only do they nourish our babies, but they are so multi-functional as well.

Ravioli, Spaghetti O’s, & Gummy Bears, Oh My!

We at GotBreastPump.com recognize that a Mom faces an awesome responsibility for feeding your child, regardless of age. We also know from experience, that as you baby begins weaning from breast or bottle, the battle of wills. It is pretty normal for toddler age children, as early as 18 months or younger, to start exercising their ability to choose what they do and do not want to eat.

Doing research for this set of blogs about toddlers being picky eaters, we read about many mothers who were distressed, panicked, when their 3-year-old toddler ate nothing but chocolate. Another mother of a toddler, 2-years-old, ate only ravioli, cheese sandwiches, pasta and tomato sauce. This mother also had concerns about her toddler’s problem with constipation.

Pediatricians say that at this age of development, the rate of growth, and therefore the calorie requirements normally decrease and with this there is a fall-off in appetite. This often causes great anxiety to the parents who believe their child will starve her/himself to death. He/she won't.

Some solid advice comes from Ellyn Satter, a dietician and prolific author of books about childhood nutrition. In one article, Ellyn affirmed that feeding requires a division of responsibility. Parents are responsible for what, when, and where of feeding. Children are responsible for the how much and whether of eating…

Such sage advice, but even that may still not be the Yellow Brick Road to solving the challenge of feeding that finicky toddler.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow, toddlers will grow into strong healthy adolescents who will most likely eat you out of house and home and you will only be able to reminisce about the days when your child was a picky eater of food.

Technorati tags: toddler feeding, pick-eaters, toddler eating Flickr tags: toddler feeding, pick-eaters, toddler eating Del.icio.us tags: toddler feeding, pick-eaters, toddler eating

Stand off at the Ok Corral (feeding your picky toddler)

When you set nutritious food in front of your toddler, does your toddler pull the trigger of tears or do they stampede out of the room, only to come back 10 minutes later asking for a cookie?

Feeding habits of toddlers can vary dramatically.

For the busy mom, the challenge of feeding a picky eater can be unnerving at best, heart wrenching at worst. Moms apply a hat full of tricks to entice that picky toddler to eat something, anything.

Yes, it's frustrating. Yes, you worry about your toddler getting enough calories and nutrition. But, did you know that it is a normal phase of development for 2 to 4 year olds?

So, don't let guilt and fear rule this declaration of independence by your toddler. Let's find some ways to solve the feeding jam ( pun intended) together here at GotBreastPump.com.

Technorati tags: toddler feeding, pick-eaters Flickr tags: toddler feeding, pick-eaters Del.icio.us tags: toddler feeding, pick-eaters

Weaning from Breastfeeding and Mastitis

Why is weaning my baby so difficult?

Some breast pumping and breastfeeding mothers will get mastitis as they try to wean their babies. Even with the slow approach their milk supply never seems to dwindle. Some women seem to have a harder time with milk reduction than others. This can be an even greater challenge when mothers return to work. Breastfeeding and mastitis during weaning can possibly be avoided using the slow approach to breast weaning.

Slow approach is a gradual cutting back of the number of times you breastfeed during the day is the weaning method of choice for experienced nursing mothers. Not only will a slow approach help stave off the breast engorgement, depression, and possibilities of mastitis that can accompany early or abrupt weaning, but it will make the transition to a bottle or cup an easy one.

For some mothers the slow approach will have to get slower. Eliminate only one feeding a week and empty breasts for the other feedings.

Weaning and pain of mastitis are not a given. Use the slow approach to avoid the pitfalls of weaning and breastfeeding.

Tags: weaning my baby, weaning and breastfeeding, breastfeeding and mastitis, breast weaning, weaning and pain, weaning infant, Mastitis, breastfeeding

Mastitis Diagnosis

Breast feeding was going so well, and now I’ve got this painful Mastitiis

Breast mastitis infection commonly affects women who are breast-feeding (especially during the first two months after childbirth) but can occur in all women at any time. Mastitis is a benign (non-cancerous) condition that can usually be treated successfully with antibiotics. Symptoms of mastitis include red, hot, painful, or inflamed breasts and other flu-like symptoms such as headache, nausea, high body temperature (101 degrees Fahrenheit, 38.4 degrees Celsius or greater), or chills. Women with symptoms of mastitis should see a physician. Breast-feeding with mastitis is generally not harmful to the baby and may actually help speed up recovery.

Tags: Mastitis, breastfeeding, breast engorgement

What is the Treatment for Mastitis?

I need help and I need it now!

Mastitis symptoms usually require treatment. Treatment for mastitis infection may require the following:

• Antibiotics are usually prescribed by a physician to help clear up the mastitis infection. Women with mastitis symptoms should schedule an appointment with a doctor for treatment for mastitis.
• Got Breast Pump’s on-line store sells Booby Tubes. Booby Tubes is a fantastic product that will quickly help alleviate engorged breasts that become swollen, sore and aching. When your tender nipples need soothing, its Booby Tubes to the rescue.
• Use warm Booby Tubes on the mastitis infection before breast-feeding to help stimulate let-down (the milk ejection reflex).
• Breast-feed or pump frequently, using both breasts. Lactation consultants recommend first breast-feeding from the unaffected breast until let-down (milk ejection reflex) occurs and then switch to the breast with mastitis symptoms.
• Breast-feed only until the breast is soft.
• Apply Booby Tubes as a cold compresses to the breasts after breast-feeding to relieve pain and swelling, sold at our store on this site.
• Drink fluids and get enough rest.
• Ask a physician about whether over the counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are safe to reduce pain.

Tags: Mastitis, breastfeeding, breast engorgement

Mastitis Infection Prevention

Mastitis may be prevented by breast-feeding, pumping, or manually (hand) expressing milk frequently to avoid engorgement. Improper positioning during breast-feeding, such as leaning over the baby, can lead to mastitis. Women are encouraged to use two to three different breast-feeding positions each day and to avoid tight or binding bras while breast-feeding or pumping.

While you and your brand new baby are getting to know each other—and especially if this is your first baby—your nipples may become sore and cracked unless you take special care to protect them from development of symptoms of mastitis.

GotBreastPump.com's on-line store sells Natural Nipple Butter is a luxurious, 100% natural herbal formula that effectively keeps nipples moist and protects them from potential detours in your baby’s learning curve. Unlike many commercially available preparations made for this purpose. The GBP store also carries, Nipple Cream which contains no lanolin. An ounce of prevention of mastitis symptoms is worth more than a pound of cure. Keep nipples moisturized frequently.

Tags: Mastitis, breast pumping, Breast Milk, breastfeeding

Ouch!!! Red, Sore, Cracked Nipples!!!

What’s Wrong?

Could it be mastitis? Mastitis most commonly occurs when the breasts are not fully emptied of milk. The milk overflows from the breast glands and engorges the breasts. Breast engorgement (swelling) can occur any time the breasts produce more milk than the amount being removed by breast-feeding, pumping, or manual (hand) expression. Breast engorgement increases the risk of infection. If bacteria enter the breast through an opening in the nipple or a break in the skin, the breast tissue becomes inflamed or infected.

Tomorrow, let’s see about prevention of mastitis.

Returning to Work and Supplying Breast Milk

Breastfeeding and breast pumping may be one of the most rewarding events of motherhood, and it is one of best things a mother can do to create a powerful bond with her child. True to life, blessings can be mixed. Nursing and breast pumping moms go through many trials and tribulations to provide the perfect nutrition for their baby.

Mother who return to work while still supplying breast milk, will need support. Some companies have environments for breastfeeding and breast pumping. This is still a fairly imperfect art. I have personally heard and read many stories about mothers pumping in broom closets or bathrooms. Communicating your needs with your employer prior to returning to work is always advisable.

Work place success stories for breast pumping abound. Just check online, you will find great ideas and wonderful support from experienced mothers.For a bit of humor, I want to share this funny story that I found during my research. Please note in advance, that pumping and driving is not safe.

Lighter Side Story

Tags: Breast Milk, breast pumping, breast pumping at work

BPA (Bisphenol A) is not just in baby products

Yes, babies are most vulnerable to BPA, but adults are impacted as well. The article noted below is really enlightening.

This following is an excerpt from "The Medical News Today" website, found at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/79439.php

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Panel Releases Conclusions About Compound BPA's Effect On Reproductive Disorders

The journal Reproductive Toxicology last week published on its Web site a statement warning that BPA likely is causing various human reproductive disorders. The statement was accompanied by a new study from NIH that found uterine damage in animals exposed to BPA. The damage is a potential predictor of reproductive diseases among women, including fibroids, endometriosis, cystic ovaries and cancers. Several dozen scientists reviewed about 700 earlier studies and for the first time linked BPA to female reproductive disorders. They also concluded that people are exposed to higher BPA levels than those found to harm laboratory animals. Infants and fetuses are most likely to experience harm from BPA.

Tags: BPA

Canada bans Bisphenol A (BPA)

Canada became the first country to ban a widely found chemical from use in baby bottles, spurring a leading Democrat in the U.S. Senate to call for legislation that would prohibit use of bisphenol A, or BPA, in a number of everyday consumer products.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/04/18/ST2008041803545.html

The United States is also doing extensive research about the effects of BPA. One study's conclusions were published on April 14, 2008. The web address for this study is:

http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/bisphenol.html

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) concurs with the conclusion of the CERHR Expert Panel on Bisphenol A that there is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures. The NTP also has some concern for bisphenol A exposure in these populations based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females.

The scientific evidence that supports a conclusion of some concern for exposures in fetuses, infants, and children comes from a number of laboratory animal studies reporting that "low" level exposure to bisphenol A during development can cause changes in behavior and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland, and the age at which females attain puberty. These studies only provide limited evidence for adverse effects on development and more research is needed to better understand their implications for human health. However, because these effects in animals occur at bisphenol A exposure levels similar to those experienced by humans, the possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed.

GotBreastPump.com will continue to share information about BPA bisphenol A concerns and future legislation. We already carry BPA free baby bottles. The Adiri Natural Nurser Ultimate Baby Bottle is the only nipple shaped like a mother's breast and is BPA free, )bisphenol A free). The Adiri Natural Nurser Baby Bottle enables the ultimate safe bottle feeding.

With the new awareness of BPA (bisphenol A) health issues, we at GotBreastPump.com will add new BPA free products to our already healthy baby feeding line.

More news and ideas tomorrow on BPA, BPA alternatives, and BPA free products.

Tags: bisphenol-A, bisphenol A, BPA, BPA-free, bisphenol-A free, Canada, Adiri, baby bottle

Bisphenol A (BPA) Alternatives

Until there is a ban on Bisphenol A (BPA), the best alternative is to avoid food and beverage containers that contain the chemical. Use glass or stainless steel refillable drinking bottles, instead of hard plastic ones. For juice or other drinks, it's best to use lined aluminum bottles. Stainless steel bottles are great for water.

For BPA free baby bottles, choose glass or look for companies that make hard plastic bottles without Bisphenol A (BPA), like the Adiri Nurser baby bottles. These are available at our on-line store, at health food stores, organic markets, and some baby stores. BPA free sippy cups can be found in many of the same stores.

To be Bisphenol A (BPA) free, try to avoid eating canned food when you can. Instead of canned vegetables or fruits, choose fresh or frozen ones (they're healthier for you that way, too!). You can also buy many different kinds of soups and beans in reusable glass jars. And, instead of buying soft drinks in cans, choose glass bottles.

Those most affected by Bisphenol A (BPA) are fetuses, infants and children around puberty. Fetuses are especially sensitive groups as their immature detoxification systems make them more vulnerable and they are at a delicate stage of development.

It seems that Bisphenol A (BPA) is everywhere. Tomorrow we will discuss more ways to minimize exposure.

Tags: bisphenol A, Bisphenol-A, bisphenol-A free, BPA, BPA-free, BPA Alternatives, baby bottle

Bisphenol-A Video

View this news video regarding Bisphenol-A. Tomorrow, I'll send more research and some suggestions for some baby bottle options.



http://www.bisphenolafree.org

Bsiphenol-A Warning and Information

Bisphenol-A is a hormone-disrupting chemical considered to be potentially harmful to human health and the environment. It has been known that scratched and worn polycarbonate feeding bottles will leach this chemical into liquids.

For the past several years, scientists have increasingly warned manufacturers and consumers about the prospective dangers of bisphenol-A, a plastic softener used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic commonly used in baby bottles due to its durability and clarity. Some companies have responded by developing lines of bottles made with other plastic types; other new companies have sprung up specifically to serve needs some larger companies continue to ignore.

Companies unwilling to change are protected from public scrutiny by the FDA's unwillingness to study the dangers of BPA regardless of mounting evidence and the lack of any regulatory constraint to even reveal the types of plastics used in their products. to find out whether a specific product they use contains BPA.

How Long Can You Go For?

Well, I promised a blog on breastfeeding duration, here are some statistics that show improvement in breastfeeding duration. Education and awareness seem to be key factors in the increased population of mothers sustaining breast feeding for longer periods of infancy.

Breastfeeding Duration — Results from the National Immunization Survey

Since July 2001, breastfeeding questions have been asked on the NIS to assess the population's breastfeeding practices. Children are 19 to 35 months old at the time of the interview.

Rates of breastfeeding by birth year from the National Immunization Survey, United States

	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Early postpartum	68.3	70.9	71.6	71.4	72.7	73.8
At 6 months	32.6	34.2	36.9	37.6	39.1	41.5
At 12 months	15.0	15.7	18.2	19.0	19.6	20.9

Since education campaigns at both the governmental and individual level have been introduced, the number of mothers who continue to breastfeed their babies at 6 months has gone up approximately 6 percent in 5 years.

Breastfeeding and working outside of the home are not concepts that easily go hand in hand. Mom is in one place, baby in another, but just because a mother is going back to work – either full time or on a part time basis – does not mean she has to stop breastfeeding. However, the percentage of working mothers who continue to breastfeed their children is much lower than those who are not employed outside of the home.

In the past 30 years, significant demographic shifts have affected child care and, more specifically, lactation. Coincident with a reduction in family size has been a progressively earlier return of mothers to the workforce, as well as an increased percentage of families headed by women and families in which both parents are employed. These demographic changes have made breastfeeding more difficult to implement. In fact, the most significant obstacle to breastfeeding duration is the mother's need to return to work.No matter what type of job you have, if you go back to work after having your baby, it should be possible for you to take time to pump your breast milk. You can talk with your employer about why breastfeeding is important, why pumping is necessary, and how you plan to fit pumping into your work schedule. Pumping while away from your baby on the same schedule that he or she breastfeeds ensures that you keep up your milk supply to meet your baby's needs. If you are staying home to care for your baby, having an effective pump at home is also helpful. You can use it to help relieve engorgement, especially when your milk supply first comes in, or for when you need to be away from your baby for any amount of time, such as an evening out with your partner. If you have to temporarily take medication that may harm your baby, you can pump and discard your milk during this time.

Next week, let's blog about the dangers bisphenol A baby bottles and what is available to keep our babies healthy.

Breastfeeding duration in mothers who express breast milk increase

Research done in two public maternity hospitals in Perth, Australia, between mid-September 2002 and mid-July 2003, studied mothers who express breast milk.

In these hospitals, 93.5% were breastfeeding at discharge. Mothers who expressed breast milk were less likely to discontinue any breastfeeding before six months than those who had never expressed milk.

The expression of breast milk allows a mother to be away intermittently from her infant while continuing to breastfeed. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between expression of breast milk and breastfeeding duration.

The conclusion of the study found that mothers who express breast milk are more likely to breastfeed to six months (any breastfeeding). While further research is required in different cultures to confirm these results, the appropriate use of expressed breast milk may be a means to help mothers to achieve six months of full breastfeeding while giving more lifestyle options.

http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/content/1/1/28

Tomorrow, we’ll look at statistics from the average breastfeeding duration.

See you tomorrow.