Our Experts

Robin Kaplan, IBCLC. M.Ed

Robin Kaplan is a international board certified lactation consultant and owner of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center. Throughout the week, she helps breastfeeding mothers during in-home lactation consultations, her clinic and free weekly support group, and prenatal breastfeeding classes. In addition to writing a weekly blog about breastfeeding and parenting, Robin is also the co-editor of the International Lactation Consultant Association blog, Lactation Matters  and a monthly contributor for the Natural Kidz blog. Robin lives in San Diego, CA with her husband, Jason, their two sons, Benjamin and Ryan, and their dog, Tilly. She has a love of cooking, traveling, hiking, going to the beach, social media, and teaching.

Panelists

Anney Hall
Children: Eleanor (2012)

Cherri Christiansen
Children: Cali (2012)

Additional Resources

La Leche League | Breastfeeding Support
http://www.llli.org

WhattoExpect.com | The Breastfeeding Guide
http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-guide.aspx

Featured Segments

Ask The Experts

When to Wean Your Baby?
Determining a time that’s best for you and your baby can be difficult. Hear how one mama made it work, plus our expert Andrea J. Blanco provides some great weaning advice. Do you have a question for our experts? Call our voicemail at 619-866-4775 or email us!

Nursing Basics for New Moms

The Importance of Family Support
As you prepare for breastfeeding, don’t be afraid to lean of your family for support, especially men. Men remember different things than women, which could definitely come in handy during those late night (or early morning) feeding sessions.

The post Breastfeeding Expectations: The Eleventh Month appeared first on The Boob Group.

Signs of a yeast infection or “thrush” in a baby include white patches inside mouth on tongue, and insides of cheeks. These patches can’t be wiped off. You may also notice that baby has a diaper rash that may not respond to normal rash treatments. It is common that the overgrowth of yeast occur in diaper area as well as mouth.

According to kidshealth.org “Most people (including infants) naturally have Candida in their mouths and digestive tracts, which is considered normal growth. The amount is controlled by a healthy immune system and some “good” bacteria. If the immune system is weakened (due to an illness or medicines like chemotherapy), or if the immune system is not fully developed as is the case in infants, the Candida in the digestive tract can overgrow and lead to an infection.”

If you are breastfeeding, your infant may pass the infection onto your breasts. Signs of this may include redness and/or nipples may appear shiny. Itching or burning sensation. It may be extremely uncomfortable to nurse and you may have shooting pains in breast.

So what’s to deal then with yeast? It can be an extremely hard infection to clear up while breastfeeding because mom and baby can keep passing it back and forth to each other.

My son started showing signs of thrush when he was just a few weeks old. I took him to the doctor right away and followed all of their advice. You know what, three weeks later, I was still dealing with yeast. I thought it was pretty much cleared up in my son, but I was still having symptoms. I’m pretty sure it was because of all the antibiotics we were both on after his birth due to infection during the birth process.

After many weeks, here is what worked for us. I treated my son with oral nystatin and swabbed his mouth as was prescribed. I used a water and vinegar mixture to clean my nipples with after each feeding. I changed nursing pads after each feed and vinegar treatment and I finally gave into the two week course of medication for myself which I tried to avoid. This whole process took over a month!

There are other more natural ways to try to combat yeast such as grapefruit seed extract, Gentian Violet, and probiotics. Being a new mom and trying to figure it all out was overwhelming for me, so I didn’t think about natural ways to fight yeast at the time. Knowing more now, next time around I might consider it though.

What I’ve learned is that clearing up a yeast infection during breastfeeding can be both stressful and challenging. It takes time and patience. It is important to have a good support system because I can see how this type of infection could discourage a new mom from continued breastfeeding. If you have or are dealing with this type of infection, know that you can make it through it!

Disclaimer: If you think you or your child have any type of infection during breastfeeding it is important to seek medical attention. This article should not be take in place of professional medical advice and treatment.

The post The Dreaded Yeast: Combating Yeast Infection While Breastfeeding appeared first on The Boob Group.

Our Expert

Susanne Madden, COO National Breastfeeding Center

Susanne Madden completed a Bsc in Business Management at Marymount College in NY, then earned an MBA in both Management Systems and Information & Communication Systems from Fordham University. Her career has spanned across several sections of the healthcare industry. Prior to helping found the National Breastfeeding Center, a business-to-business consulting firm, she was employed by United Healthcare in the area of physician network management and spent several years as an independent healthcare consultant specializing in contract negotiations, business creation and development, revenue cycle remediation, vendor management and process improvement. She has applied her formal learning to understanding the principles of knowledge management and how information can be transformed into comprehension at all levels with the right facilitation. A national expert in practice management and insurance company issues, she writes frequently and speaks regularly on the business aspects of healthcare and is often quoted in industry and media publications.

Host/Panelists

Robin Kaplan (host)
Children: Ben (2005), Ryan (2006)

Cherri Christiansen
Children: Cali (2012)

Lisa Howe
Children: Ruby (2012)

Alyssa McPherson
Children: Scott (1990), Katie (1992), Karlie (1994), Kimmy (2001), Klara (2006), Khloe (2007)

Additional Resources

National Breastfeeding Center | Website
http://www.nbfcenter.com

US Department of Health and Human Services | Required Health Plan Coverage Guidelines
http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines

United States Breastfeeding Committee | Workplace Support
http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Workplace/WorkplaceSupport/WorkplaceSupportinHealthCareReform/tabid/175/Default.aspx

Featured Segments

The Affordable Care Act

Aeroflow Provides Pumps for Breastfeeding Moms!
Aeroflow Healthcare is now offering breast pumps to accomodate insurance and non-insured patients. Select insurances cover breast pumps up to 100%. Let Aeroflow help you determine your insurance coverage and which device will work best for you!

Ask The Experts

Infant Has Stopped Sleeping Consistently
You’ve developed a sleeping routine with your little one, and now suddenly at four month old, the routine isn’t working and your baby is no longer sleeping for longer periods of time. Our baby sleep expert, Joanna Clark, has some words of wisdoms for our listener. Do you have a question for our experts? Call our voicemail at 619-866-4775 or email us!

The post Breastfeeding Support: The Affordable Care Act appeared first on The Boob Group.

Well… when my daughter’s first baby sign at eight months was for “milk”, it just melted my heart. When she had her first birthday, neither of us had any desire to change our special connection. And when she mastered the word “milky”, I had nothing but pride. So when she was 16 months old and we found out I was pregnant, I didn’t really see any reason to stop nursing.

Although it seemed natural to continue breastfeeding while pregnant, a lot of friends and family have been shocked. Some questioned the safety of nursing or pumping and whether I would be risking miscarriage. Since I wouldn’t see a doctor until at least 8 weeks, I asked a lactation consultant I trust, Robin Kaplan, M.Ed., IBCLC, owner of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center, and host of the Boob Group podcast. She confirmed my hunch not to worry. I’ll share the advice she gave me: “As long as you aren’t high risk for miscarriage (and your doctor hasn’t told you to forgo having sex), you should be fine.” Luckily I’m not in that category.

Robin also recommend a good reference website. Check out Kelly Mom on breastfeeding and pregnancy safety. The article is written by Hilary Dervin Flower, MA, the author of Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding during Pregnancy and Beyond. I also listened to the Boob Group podcast, The Scoop on Tandem Nursing, and read up on Nursing During Pregnancy in preparation.

I was surprised to hear that nursing while pregnant was uncomfortable or painful for most of the panelists. Maybe I have nipples of steel, because for me it is not that bad. Many moms report that older babies and toddlers just lose interest in nursing, especially during the 2nd trimester, as the taste changes. So far at 20 weeks, she shows no signs of slowing, but I will keep you all posted.

I will share the biggest stumbling block for me to breastfeeding while pregnant. During the first trimester, I had some nausea and a lot of fatigue. Especially in the morning, when my little one wanted to nurse for thirty minutes or more, switching back and forth from side to side, I just felt way too drained. I ended up setting limits, “One more minute on this side, then Papa is going to get you a sippy cup of moo milk and we can cuddle.” (For tips on handling pregnancy nausea, see my post on Natural Morning Sickness Remedies.)

On the bright side, nursing is the laziest way to appease a toddler! Lay down side to side and you are set. No getting up to fix a snack!

What has your experience been breastfeeding while pregnant? Please share in the comments.

The post Breastfeeding While Pregnant appeared first on The Boob Group.

My little stretch marks on my hips tell the tale of my body stretching, my body growing to accommodate my daughter. The ones on my stomach remind me of a time when my stomach was round, full of life. The droopy pouch, the one I hate so much, is a reminder of how full of life I once was. My breasts, heavy with milk, give sustenance to my beautiful daughter.

My body, so different than the tight nubile body I once had. My body, is so unfamiliar to me. It seems foreign. Not mine. Six months postpartum and I still struggle to recognize myself in the mirror. I struggle not to find the flaws. I struggle to find the beauty in myself. I may not be the skinniest woman in the world. My stomach my never lay perfectly flat again. My stretch marks are here to stay. My breasts will never be perky, as they once were.

I don’t love my body as it is now. In fact, most days I hate it. But I look at my daughter, and it is all worth it. In that moment I don’t mind if I have a slight pudge to my midsection. I don’t mind that I have stretch marks. I don’t mind that I feel like a deflated balloon when I have my daughter in my arms. Slowly but surely, I am owning my tiger stripes. Learning to love this new me. This new me is a mother. A lover. A gentle parent. This new me is an advocate. She is a fearless. This new me is a warrior.

At times I yearn for the body I once knew. I wish to flaunt a bikini at the beach. I wish to wear my clothes with pride. But mostly, I wish to regain my confidence. And I will. Slowly but surely this warrior is creeping back. Sure, life is different now. I am different now. But different is most certainly not a bad thing. In fact, different is pretty damn awesome.

If I could go back in time and tell my pre pregnancy self a few things, they would be as follows: cocoa butter does NOT work!  That acid reflux that is the bane of your existence, will not go away post baby. No. It’s here to stay. Those baby blues everyone talks about, they are overwhelming. Do not look at your vagina in the mirror, no matter how much you wonder about her appearance. And lastly, be kind to yourself, and your body. You will learn more in the next few months then you ever thought you would or could. You will cry more. You will hate yourself, and love yourself. You will try to squish yourself into pants that will likely never fit again, and then look at your body, in all of its striped glory. You will cry for what used to be, and what is to come. And then you will put on your yoga pants. Smile at your baby. You will laugh as she squishes the most hated parts of your body. You will see them through her eyes. Your breasts are the most comforting place in the world to her. Your tummy is a great cushion to stand on. Your arms are her personal jungle gym. She loves your body, why shouldn’t you?

The post Body After Baby appeared first on The Boob Group.

Our Expert

The Boob Group Expert

JonaRose Feinberg, MA, IBCLC

JonaRose Feinberg is the mother of 5 year old twins, two-term past-president of her local Parents of Twins Club, and a Lactation Consultant in Private Practice. She completed her Lactation training through UC San Diego, including hands on clinical training at UCSD Medical Center (inpatient) and Kaiser (outpatient), with additional training at the Premature Infant Nutrition Clinic at UCSD Pediatrics. Jona is also the editor of BreastfeedingTwins.org. She is passionate about working with moms of multiples to set and meet their own breastfeeding goals! More information about her consultation services is available at www.twinsinmind.com

Host/Panelists

Robin Kaplan (host)
Children: Ben (2005), Ryan (2006)

Shelly Steely
Children: Greyson (2012), Sawyer (2012)

Andrea Lehman
Children: Noah (2006), Molly (2008), Lauren (2008)

Additional Resources

Twins in Mind | Website
http://www.twinsinmind.com

BreastfeedingTwins.org | Breastfeeding Positions for Twins
http://www.breastfeedingtwins.org/2012/08/breastfeeding-positions-for-twins

BreastfeedingTwins.org| Tandem Feeding Logistics
http://www.breastfeedingtwins.org/2011/08/qa-tandem-feeding-logistics

KellyMom.com | Tandem Positioning
http://kellymom.com/ages/tandem/tandem-faq/08tandempositioning

Featured Segments

Featured: Twins Nursing Pillow

Double Blessings Twins Nursing Pillow
This nursing pillow offers plenty of support and comfort when breastfeeding your twins. Hear our interview with creator, Sandy Clark, a mother of twins, who developed the product while breastfeeding her own children. Enter promo code “SAVE15″ and get $15 off any product on their website.

Breastfeeding Tips for the Working Mom

Why Breastfeed After Returning to Work?
Many women wonder why the need to breastfeed after returning to work. While pumping at work is work in itself, it has many benefits for you and your growing baby.

The post Breastfeeding Twins: Scheduling and Positioning appeared first on The Boob Group.

The purpose of a growth chart is (…wait for it…) to chart your child’s weight. That’s it, nothing more, nothing less. You want your child to settle into his/her own curve. Consistent growth along the curve shows steady growth over time.

Don’t you want a higher percentile? Good question…percentiles are designed to let you know how your child compares to other children his/her age. If your child is in the 100th percentile, there are likely few children who weight more or all taller than your child? If  your child is in the 50th percentile, they are around the middle of the height/weight distribution of children his/her age. If your child is in the 5th percentile, 95% of children his/her age are likely bigger than him/her in height or weight. Having a child in a low percentile doesn’t necessarily mean there is something wrong with you or your child!

Where do I get one of these growth charts?

You probably didn’t know that there are two separate growth charts floating out there, did ya? It’s true, like most things in parenthood, there is conflicting information that can trip you up. If you are a super nerd, like me, I recommend you look at the information behind the different charts. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) charts are based on average growth measurements of babies in the United States. Of these babies,  50% were ever breastfed and only 33% were breastfed at 3 months.

Whereas, the World Health Organization, put out a growth chart based on average growth measurements of babies worldwide.  Of these babies, 100% breastfed initially and STILL 100% breastfed at 12 months. (impressive!)

Why does it matter?

Breastfed babies follow a different pattern of growth that formula-fed babies. According to kellymom  “The problem is that many doctors are not familiar with the normal weight gain patterns of breastfed babies, and rely too much upon older growth charts that are based upon the growth of artificially fed babies.”

Recently, I weighed my 15 month old munchkin, and at 18 lbs, she is in the 1st percentile on the CDC charts, and the 10th percentile on the WHO charts. That is a big difference! While the CDC does recommend that babies under 24 months be measured on the WHO charts, many physician offices still use the CDC charts. Sounds like a booby trap to me! If you aren’t sure which set of charts your child’s doctor uses, ask!

With our little one, we found it very beneficial to keep our own set of charts. We meticulously tracked each height/weight measurement and recorded it. There are many apps that will track weight for you and even produce a growth chart (just make sure it’s the WHO chart)  While growth charts are one tool in tracking your child’s development, there are many other things to keep in mind also (contentedness, appetite, diaper output, etc.)  Don’t just rely on the numbers, follow your baby’s lead.

Happy charting

**If you are concerned about your baby’s growth, please talk to your child’s doctor about it. Seeking services from an IBCLC can also help with weight gain and breastfeeding issues related to weight gain/loss***

The post WHO Growth Charts: It’s More Than a Number! appeared first on The Boob Group.

One thing that truly stuck with me from the workshop was the idea that much emotional baggage can fall on breastfeeding.  This is true in general, but may be especially true for women with a past history of abuse. For me, it definitely shed light on some of my experiences breastfeeding my first child.

In some ways pregnancy had been incredibly healing for me.  After many years feeling that there was something utterly “broken” about my body, pregnancy was a time where I felt strong, beautiful and whole. However, breastfeeding was another story.

Setting Expectations For Breastfeeding After Sexual Abuse

Not unlike, many survivors of abuse, I struggle to feel in control of my life because of the loss of control that I experienced as a child.  This can manifest as perfectionism.  Not surprisingly, as a new mother, this meant that anything less than painless, happy, coordinated breastfeeding with a copious milk supply meant that I was a failure.  So when I struggled to find a comfortable latch while nursing with injured nipples and meanwhile, feeling stymied by the learning curve involved in mastering a new skill, I was positive that I was destined to be a failure in all things mothering.

I felt that my infant was “demanding”, as his needs trumped my own and I grieved that the bond I expected to feel with my child seemed eclipsed by a monumental pressure I felt to “succeed” at breastfeeding.  I’ve only recently come to realize that choosing such language was telling of my past. I felt that I had no power and cast myself into the role of a victim. This can be common with mothers who have experienced abuse.

The Toddler Years

With the considerable support of my husband, we emerged thriving from the bumps and bruises of our early breastfeeding journey and have enjoyed 2.5 years of a wonderful breastfeeding relationship.  These days, however, I confess that I feel ready to move on.

When I began breastfeeding, I had the goal of nursing until my son was two years old, or until he self-weaned.  In my mind I imagined that “or self-weaned” meant before age two.  Then when I breastfed through my next pregnancy, I sort of assumed he would wean himself at some point, but apparently he never got that memo!

Not long ago, I realized that breastfeeding my older toddler was beginning to trigger PTSD- type symptoms. With a great deal of mourning, I’ve recently decided that I need to help bring this part of our relationship to a close.  At one time, mother-led weaning sounded like a dirty word to me; even though, I confess, as a birth professional I regularly champion supporting moms in reaching their personal breastfeeding goals whatever they happen to be.

I finally decided to take my own advice. “It’s okay to feel this way.”, I’m telling myself.

I know that I have given myself utterly to loving and caring for my son, but he also needs a mother who takes care of herself.  We’re certainly not stopping cold turkey, but I am slowly taking over the breastfeeding steering wheel. The irony: It’s helping me enjoy breastfeeding my son again while it lasts.

The post Breastfeeding After Sexual Abuse appeared first on The Boob Group.

Our Expert

Barbara Robertson, M.Ed, IBCLC

Barbara has been involved in education for over 24 years. She received a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education in 1988 and her Masters in Education in 1995. Barbara left teaching elementary students in 1995 to raise her two children. Her children spurred her to become involved in La Leche League and, in 1998, she became a La Leche Leader. She enjoyed this work so much that she decided to sit for the International Lactation Consultant Exam and became a board certified lactation consultant. Barbara is the Director of The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor, on site at the Center for the Childbearing Year. She teaches breastfeeding classes for parents, runs support groups, trains professionals, and is in private practice as a lactation consultant. Barbara’s most recent challenge has been developing and teaching a lot of curriculum! A 90 hour professional lactation training and a 20 hour becoming baby friendly course have taken up most of her last year. Barbara volunteers for the United States Lactation Consultation Association as the Director of Professional Development. Her new responsibilities include coordinating educational opportunities for IBCLCs across the country. She loves working with mothers and babies, helping them with breastfeeding problems in whatever way she can.

Host/Panelists

Robin Kaplan (host)
Children: Ben (2005), Ryan (2006)

Abby Finch
Children: Lorelei (2011)

Kathy Cole, CLEC
Children: Brody (2010), Liam (2012)

Additional Resources

San Diego Breastfeeding Center | When Should I Introduce Solids
http://sdbfc.com/blog/2012/6/18/when-should-i-introduce-solids-while-breastfeeding.html

San Diego Breastfeeding Center | Do All Exclusively Breastfed Babies Need Iron Supplements?
http://sdbfc.com/blog/2012/4/16/do-all-exclusively-breastfed-babies-really-need-iron-supplem.html

KellyMom.com | Starting Solids, First Foods
http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/solids-how/http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/first-foods

DrSears.com | FAQs About Solid Foods
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-infants-toddlers/starting-solids/faqs-about-solid-foods/faqs-starting-solid

BabyLeadWeaning.com | Tips to Get You Started
http://www.babyledweaning.com/some-tips-to-get-you-started

World Health Organization | Child Growth Charts
http://www.who.int/childgrowth/en

BabyBirdsFarm.com | Our Baby Centered Approach to Introducing Solids
http://babybirdsfarm.com/our-baby-centered-approach-to-introducing-solids

Featured Segments

The Best Apps for Breastfeeding

Alert ID Helps Keep Families Safe!
This FREE resource helps reduce crime and increase safety for families by information and public safety alerts from trusted sources including law enforcement, schools, neighbors, family members and friends. Register online now!

The Best Online Breastfeeding Resources

Face-to-face Breastfeeding Support Online!
The internet is a wealth of information, yet nothing quite compares to mother-to-mother breastfeeding support. Learn all about the resource that makes finding this support quick and simple!

The post Breastfeeding and Introducing Solids appeared first on The Boob Group.

Retail Price: $34.99

The Boob Group Overall Rating:

Our mommy bloggers have tested this product and have rated it four stars, which means we approve of this product! Read the official reviews below to learn more.

The Reviews

Christine Stewart Fitzgerald: Love the improved design of this cover! I’ve been using a leading nursing cover and had to constantly hold the fabric away from my babies’ faces. But no more- the second wire ring on the organicKidz cover does it for me. It’s generously-sized (about 2 inches wider than the other) which allows me to hang it in front of me and around my shoulder for extra privacy. The cotton fabric is lightweight and has a slight stiffness that helps keep it away from baby’s face. My new favorite cover!

Christine’s Rating:

Maritza Saint Vil: I was very eager to compare the organicKidz Baby & Me Nursing Cover to the one I currently use. I thought the second rim was such an ingenious idea as most covers only have one allowing the fabric to collapse around the baby, blocking your view. The additional rim worked just as designed and made it so much easier to keep a constant view of my baby. I did, however, find the amount of fabric a bit skimpy and I felt like I had to keep shifting the fabric to balance keeping baby covered and keeping my side and back covered. I don’t think this would’ve been as much of an issue if I was wearing a nursing tank versus just a nursing bra or if I had an older, less fidgety baby.

Maritza’s Rating:

Michelle Viquez: I really fell in love with this cover. It was just the right size and great that I could keep an eye on my little one. Initially I was afraid it would feel too bulky but it didn’t at all. The fabric was light and the design is beautiful. It fits right in our diaper bag without taking up too much room at all. I will definitely recommend this nursing cover to friends!

Michelle’s Rating:

The post organicKidz “Baby & Me” Nursing Cover appeared first on The Boob Group.