cirquekeir:

scifigamingmom:

“To keep offending people while breastfeeding in public.”

This is the best thing ever.

You mean the breast thing ever.

I don’t know if I’ve posted about this before, but did you know Ikea have these little hubs for mums who want to breastfeed in privacy?

I thought that was nice, rather than self-concious mums having to hole up in a bathroom cubicle.

We’re yet to reach a time where everyone accepts public breastfeeding, so kudos to Ikea for at least providing a comfortable, private area until it gets the acceptance it deserves.

5 Reasons Breastfeeding is Awesome - Hank Green

So I have this follower, that I have had for quite a while now. It’s a blog run by a company that produces baby bottles. I’m not going to mention their name here, cause I don’t want to start a big fight, but I just have something to say about it all.

I have no issue with formula feeding. I have no issue with a bottle company following me.

I do have an issue with said company liking anti-breastfeeding posts on tumblr.

I’m aware they might have misread the post, and not seen the negative tags, but I’m just not comfortable with it.

I strive to promote feeding choice. Liking anti-breastfeeding posts does not meet that, at all.

I guess what I’m saying is I’m disappointed. It’s bad enough seeing anti-breastfeeding posts, but seeing one of my followers liking and agreeing with it.. It’s sad.

Midwifery 101: Hand expression.

Double whammy midwifery 101 this week!

Why hand express?

Hand expression can be useful in many situations, for example when you and baby are separated, if you need to provide milk for your premature/ill baby but your milk has not let down fully enough to use a pump, or if your breasts are uncomfortable and engorged.

What do I do first?

Milk flow can be encouraged in several ways:

1. Relax in a quiet, private area. Having your baby near, or a photo if your baby is not with you can be useful too.
2. Warmth helps stimulate the breasts. Warm flannels or having a bath/shower are all good ways of providing warmth.
3. “Wake up” the breasts by massaging and gently shaking them for a few minutes. Make a fist, and roll down the breast gently with your fingers. The nipple can also be gently stimulated with your fingers to encourage oxytocin release.

How do I do it?

I feel a video is better than a description, as you can see the method. However, I will provide both. See this video by the Baby Friendly Initiative, which also shows the fist-rolling massage described above.

1. Cup your breast in a C-shape, with the thumb above the nipple and the fingers below, near the edge of the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple).
2. “Walk” your nipple up the breast slowly until you find an area where the texture feels different.
3. Push back into the chest wall at this point, and then compress your thumb and fingers, pushing forward toward the nipple without sliding the skin.
4. Relax and repeat. It can take several minutes for milk to appear, especially if you have only recently given birth as colostrum usually comes in very slowly and in small amounts.
5. Collect colostrum in a dropper/syringe, and milk (which flows in greater volumes) in pre-sterilised containers.
6. As the flow slows, rotate your thumb to a different position, which will still contain milk.
7. If milk doesn’t flow, move your thumb around to find a better area.
8. Move to the other breast when flow completely stops.

Storing the milk

Milk can be stored in a sterilised container for:

• five days in a fridge, at 4°C or lower.
• two weeks in the ice compartment of a fridge.
• up to six months in a freezer.

Milk should be defrosted slowly in the fridge, and used straight away once defrosted.

Further information

La Leche League - Guide to hand expression

Baby Friendly Initiative - Hand expressing guide for parents

Baby Friendly Initiative - Hand expressing guide for healthcare professionals

Royal College of Midwives - How to teach a mother the technique of hand expressing

NHS - Expressing and storing breast milk

Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative

thebreastlove:

If you wanna learn more about the BFHI, check out the links at the bottom of the wiki too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Friendly_Hospital_Initiative

My hospital is currently working towards gold standard for BFI, it’s great stuff!

More info on the UK BFI on their official website.

feministinthekitchen:

honestly i don’t understand why everyone gets so upset about mothers breastfeeding their babies in public,

• breasts are not just things that show up in the victoria’s secret catalogue and in porn
• many many people have mammary glands and uteruses at the same time
• many many people use their uteruses to make infants
• many many people will feed their infants using their mammary glands

like, a baby is being fed. get over yourselves.