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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.