V OLUME 6 , I SSUE 2
H O L I D AY 2 0 1 6
Holiday Tips for Breastfeeding Moms
Here are some considerations for nursing
mothers as we countdown to the holiday
season:
Avoid an overload of starches and sweets in
your diet
(I know, easier said than done!). Since
Thanksgiving I have seen several cases of
yeast infections of the breast, often associated
with an abundance of sweets. Indulge in
seasonal goodies, as you are burning extra
calories by breastfeeding, but steer away from a
steady diet of sugar and carbs.
Go easy on the alcohol.
A celebratory drink may be fine, but your baby
does not need the abundance of second hand
alcohol and a hung-over mother will not be a
happy one! Moderation is the key here.
Plan travel time carefully.
Be prepared to be flexible with delays by
nursing often and giving yourself plenty of time
to get where you are going. Stay hydrated and
carry snacks. Nursing babies are generally
good travelers but remain prepared.
Ask for or seek help.
Enlist a neighborhood sitter or family member
to keep baby entertained whiled you shop,
bake or wrap gifts. Or wear your baby in a
sling or carrier as you go about holiday
errands. Take frequent nursing breaks.
Hand hygiene!
Your baby has the immunological benefits of
your milk, but don’t push your luck. Use hand
sanitizer often and keep others from touching
or getting close to the baby.
If you pump milk, keep your pump with
you or hand express when separated from
baby.
Avoid holiday supply busters.
Peppermint, spearmint, sage, thyme and
chronic decongestant use are associated
with decreased milk production. Stress and
sleep deprivation can be culprits too.
From Hygeia.com
Mama’s Milk: A Special Gift for Your Baby
This is because a mother’s
breasts know just what her baby
needs at each feeding.
At birth, a mother makes
colostrum for her baby. There is
only a small amount made
because the newborn baby’s
tummy is only the size of a
marble! Colostrum’s small
doses are jam-packed with
immunities and
antioxidants that a newborn
baby needs to protect itself from
illness.
Did you know that unlike
formula, human milk has
ever changing amounts of
fats, proteins, and other
nutrients?
Every Woman Makes
Different Milk!
While we know many of the
nutrients found in human milk,
the levels of each of these
varies from mother to mother.
This is because each baby has
different needs. The composition
of a mother’s milk even changes
with each of her pregnancies!
Receiving his mother’s milk is
important for every baby, and it
is especially critical for
premature babies.
The high levels of sodium,
potassium, and cholesterol are
believed to encourage optimal
development of the infant’s
heart, brain, and central nervous
system (Oddly 2002; Rivers
2003). This may be why mothers
of premature babies continue to
have colostrum for a longer
period of time than a mother
with a full-term infant.
Dads and other support
persons give a special gift
too:
By showering a baby with love
and affection away from the
breast, fathers teach their
children to feel love without
having to always have food
present! Research suggests that
this is why a father plays a vital
role in preventing obesity.
Ask The LC: Is Alcohol Okay While Breastfeeding?
Current research says that occasional use of alcohol (1-2 drinks) does not appear to be harmful to the nursing baby.
Per Hale (2012), “mothers who ingest alcohol in moderate amounts can generally return to breastfeeding as soon as
they feel neurologically normal.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding notes: “ingestion of alcoholic beverages should be
minimized and limited to an occasional intake but no more than 0.5 g alcohol per kg body weight, which for a 60 kg
mother is approximately 2 oz liquor, 8 oz wine, or 2 beers. Nursing should take place 2 hours or longer after the alcohol intake to minimize its
concentration in the ingested milk.”
Many experts recommend against drinking more than 1-2 drinks per week.
There is no need to pump & dump milk after drinking alcohol, other than for mom’s comfort —
elimination of alcohol from the milk.
pumping & dumping does not speed the
If you’re away from your baby, try to pump as often as baby usually nurses (this is to maintain milk supply, not because of the alcohol). At the
very least, pump or hand express whenever you feel uncomfortably full – this will help you to avoid plugged ducts and mastitis.
In general, if you are sober enough to drive, you are sober enough to breastfeed. Less than 2% of the alcohol consumed by the mother
reaches her blood and milk. Alcohol peaks in mom’s blood and milk approximately 1/2-1 hour after drinking (but there is considerable variation
from person to person, depending upon how much food was eaten in the same time period, mom’s body weight and percentage of body fat,
etc.). Alcohol does not accumulate in breastmilk, but leaves the milk as it leaves the blood; so when your blood alcohol levels are back down,
so are your milk alcohol levels.
Always keep in mind the baby’s age when considering the effect of alcohol. A newborn has a very immature liver, so minute amounts of
alcohol would be more of a burden. Up until around 3 months of age, infants detoxify alcohol at around half the rate of an adult. An older baby
or toddler can metabolize the alcohol more quickly.
Information courtesy of kellymom.com
JoEllen Noble, IBCLC
Breastfeeding Coordinator
Phone: 513.735.8419
[email protected]
After-hours hotline:
513-515-2650
This institution is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.
Winter Safety Tips For Baby
 Don’t Overbundle!
When outside: A good rule of thumb is babies should wear one more layer than adults. So if you’re wearing a hat and a coat, they should be
wearing that plus a blanket wrapped around them. While we can pretty much gauge their comfort level using ours, babies’ bodies can’t regulate
heat the way adults do so they need a little extra warmth.
When inside: Babies are most comfortable and safest sleeping in temperatures between 61 and 67 degrees. All they need on top of pajamas is
a sleeper blanket to be comfortable, not layers of clothing and definitely not loose blankets.
The real danger isn’t outside, it’s when babies are sleeping at night. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, over-bundling and overheating can increase the risk of SIDS.
 Don’t Use Certain Appliances To Heat Your Home
Being prepared for power outages in the winter months may sound simple, but it could be a matter of life or death for your little one. Doctors
see major boosts in carbon monoxide-related deaths when there are power outages because people sometimes use outside equipment to heat
the house. Never use:

Generators

Cooking stoves

Charcoal or gas grills or hibachis
All of these appliances emit carbon monoxide, a poison that affects children faster than adults. Be sure you have a safe way to heat your home
or a place to go when the power is out.
Information courtesy of Babble http://www.babble.com/baby/newborn-infant-kids-winter-safety-tips/