Summertime With Your New Baby

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Summertime With Your New Baby
Melissa Portunato MPH, IBCLC, RLC

Summer is finally here! Time to hit the road, spark up the grill or hit the beach with the family for some fun in the sun. Check out our best advice on keeping baby happy and healthy while enjoying the outdoors this summer. 

Will I need to bring along drinking water to give my baby?
Did you know that breastmilk is 80% water? Yep! It’s not necessary to give an exclusively breastfed baby water as long as mama is hydrated and they have free access to the breast or breast milk. Your baby will get all the hydration they need just from your breast milk! Infants less than 6 months should receive their nutrition exclusively from breastmilk, which means no other fluids should be given even in hot climates. 

Can I put sunblock on my baby? 
Your best defense will be to keep your baby in the shade and covered up. The general recommendation is to wait until your baby is 6 months before lathering them up in sunscreen. There are some sunscreens that are safe for younger babies. Check with your pediatrician before you’re ready to be in the summer sun with your baby. The majority of sunscreens on the market have toxic chemicals that are harmful to your baby and the environment. Look for a baby sunscreen with the active mineral ingredients of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, these are ingredients the FDA recognizes as safe. 

What about bug repellent? Is it safe for my baby? 
The skin of a baby is so tender. It can be scary spraying it with bug spray and wondering if the ingredients are safe or will cause an allergic reaction. Most insect repellents are safe for babies over 2 months old. The American of Pediatrics recommends not to use DEET (N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) on babies less than 2 months old and not to use more than 10% DEET on a child of any age. It’s best to spray first on your hand and then on your baby. Natural repellents that contain essential oils from plants like citronella and lemongrass can be quite effective and will be the safest route to keep your little one bite free. You might want to consider mosquito netting around your baby’s stroller or bassinet to help keep those blood suckers out too! 

Keep You and Your Breastmilk Cool
You will get extra thirsty breastfeeding, caring for your baby, and lugging around all the outdoor props. Remember to stay hydrated mama! Carry a refillable water bottle with you and drink to thirst. If you are pumping on the go, keep your milk cool up to 24 hours with our pretty pink cooler. Check out the CDC guidelines for milk storage guidelines here. 

Hitting the road this summer with your baby? Do you have questions about pumping on the road? Schedule a one on one consultation with a Spectra IBCLC today. We can help you better plan! Less stress means more summer fun with your baby. 

Sources:

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol #3: Supplementary Feedings in the Healthy Term Breastfed Neonate, Revised 2017. Breastfeed Med. 2017;12(3). DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2017.29038.ajk

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/sunscreen-how-help-protect-your-skin-sun?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0JO4l7KY6gIVCbSzCh17DgLzEAAYASAAEgJJhfD_BwE

American Academy of Pediatrics: Choosing an Insect Repellent for Your Child, July 2018.

Milk Storage: Have you heard of the Pitcher Method?

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By Jacque Ordner BSN, RN, IBCLC, RLC 

Pumping can be time consuming and difficult for so many mothers.  In our opinion, anything we can do to make it easier is a must!  That’s where the Pitcher Method comes in.  

What is the Pitcher Method? The Pitcher Method is a general name given to the method of collecting pumped milk from several pumping sessions throughout the day into one container and then using that milk to prepare the next day’s bottles.   

What are the benefits? One of the major benefits of using the Pitcher Method is that it can save valuable time and space!  Pumping into one set of collection bottles, then transferring directly into the pitcher means less bottles to wash and less bottles to store in the refrigerator.  You can also easily fill bottles, for the next day, with the desired amount for each feeding or divide milk up for freezer storage.  Using the pitcher method can also eliminate worry over dating separate bottles and remembering to get them in the freezer in time if they’re not used. This can be especially helpful for moms who make more milk than their babies typically eat. 

How to get started with the Pitcher Method: The first step is to collect the needed supplies. You’ll need a pitcher or other container made of food grade plastic or glass that is large enough to store the milk you pump in a day.  Pro tip:  glass Mason jars can work well for this method as the fat doesn’t tend to stick to the glass quite as much as it does to plastic.  You can even find half gallon Mason jars! Once you’re ready to collect your milk, add the yield from your first session to the pitcher and store it in the refrigerator.  At your next pumping session, cool your collected milk in the refrigerator then add it to the pitcher along with your previously collected milk.  Continue this process at the next pumping session and so on.  Once you’ve collected milk for the day (or other specified time), you can then pour it from the collection pitcher into bottles for the next day’s feedings or separate it into appropriately sized portions for freezing.  

Are there any drawbacks? It’s important to cool freshly pumped milk before adding it to previously cooled milk, so keep that step in mind!  There is a study that suggests that newborn’s circadian rhythms are affected by breastmilk.  This implies some correlation to the time of day milk is expressed and its effect on newborn sleep patterns. It’s important to note that this study did not investigate expressed milk, but rather looked at directly breastfed infants and formula fed infants.  In our opinion, this evidence is not strong enough to warrant extra stress over making sure baby receives milk collected at night for night-time feedings or milk collected in the morning for morning feedings, etc. No need to complicate things, mamas! 

Is the Pitcher Method right for you?  We hope we’ve given you enough information to help answer that question!  We’re all for anything that makes pumping just a little bit easier! If you have questions about pumping and storing milk, email us at ibclc@spectrababyusa.com  You can even schedule a free pumping consultation with one of our IBCLCs here.  

 

Sources 

Cubero J;Valero V;Sánchez J;Rivero M;Parvez H;Rodríguez AB;Barriga C;. (n.d.). The Circadian Rhythm of Tryptophan in Breast Milk Affects the Rhythms of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin and Sleep in Newborn. Retrieved June 16, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16380706/ 

 

Dieting and Breastfeeding

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By Melissa Portunato MPH, IBCLC, RLC

Your body just underwent major changes and now it’s the primary food source for your baby. It’s important to give your body time to heal and recover from childbirth. For many moms weight loss while breastfeeding doesn’t come easy, leaving them anxious to try anything to get the pounds to melt away. Adding on the pressure of losing weight, while still trying to adjust to being a new mom can fill you with feelings of frustration and disappointment. Set healthy expectations and keep in mind the weight wasn’t put on overnight and it can take some time to shed the extra pounds. With patience, consistency, and support you CAN reach your health goals while continuing to breastfeed. 

When Can I Start Trying To Lose Weight?

The first 6- 8 weeks postpartum are crucial in creating a healthy milk supply and changes in diet are not recommended. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start incorporating healthy habits right away. Drinking enough water is an excellent way to kick start weight loss. Drinking at least 8 cups of water a day can help naturally flush away toxins and shed unwanted pounds. More water won’t necessarily make you more liquid gold but you will feel healthier and your milk will flow easier. Cheers mamas! 

Is Dieting Safe?

Any diet that dramatically cuts calories can impact milk supply, especially within the first 6-8 weeks as your body regulates how much milk is needed to keep your baby growing and thriving. Keep in mind, breastfeeding mothers will burn about 300-500 calories a day and their diet should account for that. Low carb diets like the Paleo diet are compatible for breastfeeding moms as long as they are consuming enough nutrients from a variety of lean protein, fruits and veggies. Research studies claim, aiming for at least 1800-2000 calories per day, breastfeeding moms can safely lose about 1 pound a week. 

What About Exercise?

There is no evidence that tells us exercise lowers milk supply, alters the taste of breastmilk or impacts infant weight gain. For the most part, after 6-8 weeks is usually the perfect time to start gradually incorporating exercise like a brisk walk with baby, stretching, or yoga. Exercise can be a great way to improve your mood, boost your energy levels and metabolism. The advantages of exercising are endless. Start slow and you can even bring your baby along! 

Breastfeeding mamas need to eat! Be patient and kind to your new Mom Bod. Remember you’re making food for a tiny human! Focus on consistency and not perfection while living a balanced healthy lifestyle. Always check with your doctor before starting any weight loss or exercise plan. If you have more questions on dieting and breastfeeding, chat virtually with one of our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. Our consultants are here for you and ready to listen when you need it most. You’re beautiful just the way you are and you’re doing the very best you can. 

 

Sources:

Dewey et al. (1994). Effects of dieting and physical activity on pregnancy and lactation. Am J Clin Nutr, 59( Suppl 2), 446s-453s.

Lauwers, J. & Swisher, A. (2015). Counseling the Nursing Mother: A Lactation Consultants Guide. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Neville et al. (2014). The relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum weight change—a systematic review and critical evaluation. International Journal of Obesity, 38, 577-590.

How To Pump More Milk

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By Jacque Ordner BSN, RN, IBCLC, RLC  

We’ve all probably heard that the amount of milk we can pump isn’t necessarily an accurate indicator of the amount of milk we’re making.  If your baby is efficiently and effectively nursing, it’s true that they’re probably getting more milk out than your pump is. So how can we pump more milk?  We’ve got you covered with four key tips! 

  1. Set the mood – This one is pretty straightforward, so we won’t spend a ton of time here.  Finding a comfortable, relaxed environment to pump in is important!  Stress can affect your body’s ability to let down, and that will affect the amount of milk you’re able to express at a given session.  We know you can’t always eliminate stress, but you can focus on things within your control like playing music or white noise to drown out distractions, lowering the lights, bringing along a drink and snack, and using pillows to get into a comfy position. Responding to the pump is a physiological, so even if the physical stimuli are there, it’s important to make sure the mental stimuli are also being considered. 
  1. Flange fit – PUMPING SHOULDN’T HURT!!! If you dread pumping because of pain, something is wrong!  In most situations, pumping pain is caused by improperly fitted flanges. Having the wrong flange fit can also lead to reduced pumping output and even clogged ducts. Click HERE for our flange fit guide and measuring tool. You can also set up a FREE flange fit consultation with one of our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants HERE. 
  1. Know your settings – Spectra pumps are known for their abundance of setting combinations, making them super customizable!  But, with all those options, moms sometimes don’t know where to start. We recommend starting with “Cycle Pumping”.  Cycle Pumping mimics the way a baby nurses at the breast, triggering letdown, nursing rhythmically, triggering letdown again then taking longer, deeper sucks toward the end of a session. 

          Here is an example of Cycle Pumping with the Spectra S1/S2: 

    •       Cycle 70 (Massage Mode) for 5 minutes 
    •       Cycle 54 (Expression Mode) for 5 minutes 
    •       Cycle 70 (Massage Mode) for 5 minutes 
    •       Cycle 38 (Expression Mode) for 5 minutes 

Cycle 38 can also be a game changer for moving stubborn clogs! As always, we never recommend increasing the vacuum to an uncomfortable level. There is no need to work your way up to a vacuum of 10 or 12 to be successful at pumping! 

Use your hands – Hands on pumping is a highly underutilized skill when it comes to increasing pumping output!  A breakthrough study from Dr. Jane Morton resulted in new mothers using hands on pumping to increase their pumping output by an average of 48%!!!  Not only were these mothers able to express more milk, but the milk collected, with the use of their hands, contained twice as much fat as the milk collected with a breast pump only. With results like that, hands on pumping is an essential technique to learn and use if you are currently breast pumping or plan to.  So, grab your hands-free pumping bra and let’s take a look at the steps to effective hands on pumping: 

    • Massage both breasts, concentrating on full areas, before pumping
    • Use a hospital strength electric breast pump (Spectra S1/S2/S3 or s9+ are all hospital strength) to double pump.  Use your hands to perform breast compressions during your pumping session. 
    • Remove flanges and massage both breasts again.  Pay special attention to any remaining areas of fullness. 
    • Follow up with either hand expression or single pumping.  For many mothers, hand expression will yield MORE MILK than single pumping, so experiment to see which method results in the greatest output.  Use concentrated breast compressions on each breast, moving back and forth between breasts several times. 

Don’t let the steps above scare you, mamas!  For most moms, this routine can be completed in about 25 minutes and results in more milk than longer traditional pumping sessions.  For more information about hands on pumping and hand expression, click HERE to check out Dr. Morton’s videos on hands on pumping and hand expression. 

If you’ve tried the above tips, and are still experiencing low output, reach out!  Email our IBCLCs at ibclc@spectrababyusa.com or set up a free pumping consultation at www.spectrababyusa.com/lactationservices. 

 

Sources 

Mohrbacher, N. (2012, June 27). To Pump More Milk, Use Hands-On Pumping. Retrieved June 01, 2020, from http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/articles/2012/6/27/to-pump-more-milk-use-hands-on-pumping.html 

Morton, Jane & Hall, JY & Wong, Ronald & Thairu, Lucy & Benitz, William & Rhine, W. (2009).  

Combining hand techniques with electric pumping increases milk production in mothers 

of preterm infants. Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal  

Association. 29. 757-64. 10.1038/jp.2009.87. 

 

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