Having more than one baby can present many challenges, including feeding challenges. Breastfeeding is the best choice for the health of your babies, but can be a daunting prospect. However, a few simple adjustments can make breastfeeding multiples a simple and enjoyable process.

Most women worry that they will be unable to produce the amount of milk needed to sustain multiple babies. This is a needless worry because a woman’s milk supply is directly linked to the amount of milk that is being expressed. In other words, the more you need, the more you make. It is recommended that you drink plenty of water in order to help your body produce more milk.

It can be difficult to comfortably feed two babies at a time, which can lead to frustration. Nursing pillows can help you feed two babies at the same time. Some nursing pillows are designed for nursing twins, such as the EZ-2-Nurse Twins pillow. This pillow has a surface that, because it is large and firm, can support the weight of two babies at once. This will allow you the freedom to move each infant should any of you experience discomfort.

You will also have to change nursing positions frequently in order to accommodate each infant. The two most common holds are the cradle hold and the football hold. The cradle hold requires you to hold the infant across your chest. The football hold requires you to hold the infant along your side. You can use any combination of these holds in order to hold and feed two babies simultaneously.

One child may be a stronger feeder than another child. This can result in blocked milk ducts. Therefore, it is essential to alternate breasts in order to avoid this condition. This practice also helps breast milk come in evenly. It also helps your babies’ eyes develop by providing stimulation and exercise.

Some other helpful hints that will aid you in feeding your multiples include:

• Sleeping when your babies sleep. This will help you get the rest your body requires. Lay down even if you do not feel tired. You may surprise yourself by drifting off.
• Taking time for yourself every day outside of the house. Go for a walk, take a drive, or visit a friend. The 30 minutes of off-time will help you feel refreshed.
• Letting family members help. You may want to seem like Super Mom, but remember, she is a fictional character.

Breastfeeding your multiples can be a rewarding and healthy experience for all of you. After making a few adjustments in the beginning, you will soon find yourself an experienced nursing mother.

As a new mother, nothing matters more to you than the health of your newborn infant. All the experts have told you that breastfeeding is the healthiest means by which to feed your baby, but they do not always warn you about thrush.

Thrush is an infection caused by yeast commonly found in the human body. Babies typically are exposed to this yeast during delivery. As a result of this exposure, newborns typically develop thrush 7 to 10 days after delivery.

If you have been breastfeeding since birth, then your breasts have also been exposed to the yeast that causes thrush. Regardless of how you feel, it is vital to seek treatment for yourself in order to prevent thrush from reoccurring. You may not know if you have the infection, but some signs include:

• The presence of a vaginal yeast infection
• Cracked, itchy, red, shiny, pink, or irritated nipples
• Sharp, shooting pain during and/or after feedings
• Deep breast pain

Your doctor will mostly likely prescribe a course of antibiotics in order to treat thrush. You will also need to take extra precautions, especially if you plan to continue to breastfeed. These precautions include:

• Reducing your intake of refined sugar, refined carbohydrates, and artificial sweeteners
• Eliminating dairy products for two weeks after the diagnosis
• Taking 6 capsules of acidophilus at regular intervals throughout the day
• Increasing your intake of garlic through diet and supplements in order to boost your immune system
• Taking Echinacea
• Rinsing your nipples with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar
• Applying an antifungal cream to your nipples
• Exposing your nipples to air as often as possible
• Throwing away any expressed milk pumped prior to learning of the infection
• Washing and sterilizing any toys, pacifiers, or bottles your baby may have sucked on previously
• Putting your bras and tank tops in boiling water in order to kill the infection
• Washing your hands frequently and drying your hands with a new paper towel each time
• Avoiding use of nursing pads
• Increasing your consumption of yogurt
• Keeping your breasts clean and dry

Many mothers worry that they will have to stop breastfeeding because of thrush. This, however, is not the case as long as you follow the necessary precautions in order to protect yourself and your baby.

Extended breastfeeding is an interesting subject because it presents a contrast of cultural mores, as well as U.S. traditional behavior versus the behavior of other cultures throughout the world. In the United States, breastfed babies are typically weaned onto regular food by the end of their first year. In most other parts of the world, breastfeeding is common through the toddler years and even with children beyond toddler age.

The natural time of weaning varies from child to child. In cultures where children are allowed to breastfeed as long as they want to, children will often breastfeed until the ages of three and four. In these cultures, extended breastfeeding is the norm and the family that weans earlier often is looked upon like we look upon those mothers who allow their children to breastfeed until the child decides to wean him/herself.

In the U.S., we generally view breastfeeding as a means to an end. Breastfeeding provides nourishment, immunological protection and an opportunity to nurture the child and build a strong bond between mother and child. Breastfeeding is, however, much more than mere nutrition for the child.

Breastfeeding soothes the child as they enjoy the closeness of breastfeeding and the undivided attention they get from the person who is very possibly the most important figure in their young little worlds. Toddlers enjoy nursing and it has very little to do with nourishment. Breastfeeding comforts the child when they are sick or hurt and it allows for contact during the busy process of the toddler exploring their new world.

The main reason American mothers wean so early is that they are worried that their child will become clingy or dependent if they are allowed to breastfeed for an extended period of time. This worry, however, can be countered by the fact that children who are loved and secure actually tend to become more independent and less likely to be clingy. The key to this is providing a balance of dependence, exploration and independence that will allow a child to grow as a person and develop their own personality, while still getting the love and security they need to feel happy and safe.

Breast milk will provide health benefits for your child during the entire time you nurse. Longer nursing periods have been directly linked to the reduction of infant and toddler illnesses. By reducing the chances of illness, extended nursing can avoid many of the childhood diseases that can make a child’s life miserable during this critical development period. 

Mothers also benefit from extended nursing as the hormones prolactin and oxytocin, the “mother hormones,” both continue to be created in a mother who is nursing. These not only relax a mother, but they also create that nurturing attraction that is so important to feeling like you want to provide the love and security a child needs. Additionally, nursing a child has been found to provide protection from some diseases such as ovarian, uterine, endometrial cancers and osteoporosis.

The reasons to nurse for an extended period of time are fairly proven in the sense that both the mother and the child benefit. If you decide to extend the breastfeeding time with your child, your decisions should not be based on social perceptions. What you decide really should be what you are comfortable with and what makes sense for the child.

Weaning your child is both a personal decision and one that is based on your child’s development. For some kids, weaning as soon as four or six months is appropriate. For others, an extended approach should be utilized. Much of this is dependent on your own approach to child-rearing and your child’s development in regards to ingesting solid foods. 

When a child has that first bite of solid food, the weaning process has technically begun. Whether you realize it or not, you may have already begun weaning your child by giving them cereal, processed fruits or other “solid” foods. Weaning, done gradually without realizing it, is usually the best strategy for the child and the mother.

Your baby will gradually become more interested in solid foods and their interest in breastfeeding will gradually decrease. This usually happens somewhere around four to twelve months. Up until the point of your baby eating all solids, it is best to offer the breast to the baby before presenting a solid food. This is because your baby still needs a lot of nourishment to grow and they might not get what they need if they are only offered solid foods.

The key to this decision is what you feel comfortable with, when your baby is ready and when it makes sense in terms of nutrition. You do not want to wait too long, but at the same time, you do not want to cut them off too quickly and end up depriving them of the nourishment that will help their bodies and brains grow properly. In this case, waiting a while is probably the best strategy in terms of ensuring that they get all the nourishment they need during this critical developmental cycle.

This, of course, has to be dictated by common sense. If your child is already eating the majority of his meals from a solid food source, then it makes sense to wean him faster. If, however, your child still needs or enjoys breastfeeding, then prolonging it makes more sense than not. Letting your child determine their weaning period is also a smart move as it means they will not suffer any setbacks mentally or emotionally as a result of the process. 

As a mother, you also have some considerations and input into the weaning process. The process of weaning needs to be determined by the amount of pain, or lack thereof, you feel. Weaning too fast can result in severe pain from engorged breasts. By doing this process naturally and slowly, you will be able to wean your child with the only side effect being slight extra fullness, but no severe pain or discomfort. 

If you do wean too fast, you also are depriving your child of the chance to gain valuable nourishment. This is because even a child that is in their toddler years gains nourishment from breastfeeding. Ultimately, the process is up to you, your child’s development and the speed it takes for you to stop breastfeeding without any pain or severe discomfort.

The amazing thing about Mother Nature is how she has thought of everything. She designed a woman’s body and hormones based on a supply/demand situation. That is, if there is a greater demand for milk, your body will produce more. As your baby ages and becomes interested in solid food and less interested in nursing, you will automatically produce less milk. Occasionally, if there’s a slight glitch in the system, you may feel that your supply is not keeping up with the baby’s demands. When this happens, you can still fall back on your body’s natural responses to increase supply. One way to do this is by pumping milk with a breast pump. 

Most breast pumps will come with instructions for use. Follow these instructions to get the best results. Here are further suggestions to make pumping more productive: 

Be sure the breast pump is positioned correctly and comfortably. You won’t keep at it long enough to do any good if you are in pain or uncomfortable. Also, it’s important that the pump is firmly attached to the breast in order to get maximum suction. 

Relax. Everything will be easier if you are relaxed and stress free. Allow someone else to take care of the baby so you’re not worried that she’s wet or cold. Sit where you are most comfortable, and let the answering machine take care of the phone. Listen to music you enjoy. With your doctor’s OK, have a small serving of wine, as alcohol promotes the let-down response, and encourages relaxation. Give yourself time to learn to use the pump, and understand that learning to nurse and pump takes practice, like everything else.

Stay warm. If you’re cold your let-down response will be inhibited. If you are not planning to keep the milk you extract, take the breast pump into a warm shower with you. The heat will definitely have a positive effect on milk production. If a shower isn’t feasible, use a heating pad or warm compresses on your breasts to increase flow.

If possible, have the baby in the room with you. Close your eyes and picture a calm, successful nursing session. Drape one of the baby’s blankets or sleepers over your shoulders so you can smell her. As any lactating woman who has heard a strange baby cry in the grocery store and has suddenly been drenched will attest, it’s a fact that your let-down response kicks in with stimuli related to baby.

Do double duty. Some electric pumps can be adapted to pump both breasts at once, or you can use two inexpensive hand pumps. Not only is this method quicker, but the hormone Prolactin will really be stimulated. 

Treat yourself well. Eat nutritious food. Drink lots of water, a necessity for breastfeeding. Rest. Your body is working hard to produce milk to feed your baby. If you starve your body of anything it needs, it won’t be able to produce for you.

As you follow these tips and become more adept at pumping milk, you’ll be able to adjust your production to suit your baby’s needs. Relax and enjoy this wonderful time in your life.

New mothers get so much advice from so many different sources: doctors, parents, friends, strangers, co-workers, and the media, to name a few. It’s important for a new mother to trust her instincts. After she has researched and asked questions of trusted sources, she must be allowed to feel that she is doing the right thing for her baby, and that her instincts are sound. Above all, she should have a partner who supports her in certain decisions. Among these decisions is whether or not to breastfeed her baby, and if so, for how long. 

You would be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t support breastfeeding. Reams of research and every doctor will tell you that if a mother is capable of breastfeeding (and almost all women are) that it is far and away the best choice for mother and child. Nursing offers immeasurable benefits to the baby, including the following:

• Perfectly balanced nutrition
• Immune boosting compounds and antibodies
• Easily digestible source of nutrition
• Less cramping, gas, and stomach upset
• Soft, mild stools
• Long term benefits regarding brain development

Nursing also offers certain benefits to the mother:

• Convenient, ever-ready source of food for baby
• Quicker weight loss
• Easier return to normal uterus size
• Softer stools are easier to clean up after
• Satisfying activity that increases mother’s confidence

Of course, both mother and baby benefit from the tremendous bonding that occurs when an infant receives everything it needs from its mother.

So, it’s unlikely that your partner will hesitate to support your decision to nurse. Still, some men (and other women, and society in general) will balk at the idea of an older infant nursing. They may believe that it’s necessary only for the first few months. Some people apply an arbitrary age limit, for instance, six months, and think that since the mother and baby have reaped all the benefits by that time, the baby should be weaned. If this is the situation you find yourself in, and you’d like to continue nursing, ask your partner what exactly his concerns are. Here are some possible concerns he may have, and the answers you can give to allay his fears:

He feels that he’s not given a chance to bond with baby.

There are many tasks that he can do with the baby that will facilitate bonding. For instance, if you nurse the baby until she’s very sleepy, then allow your husband to have the last few minutes snuggling her before sleep, the baby and your husband will share a very special, bonding time. She will fall asleep feeling safe, warm, and loved, and your husband will be the source of that feeling. Other activities, such as playing, reading, and bathing also allow opportunity for them to bond.

He’s worried that you and he will never be intimate again.

Forcing you to cease an activity that you enjoy and believe to be beneficial is not a good way for him to woo you and gain positive attention, and may even foster hostility. Tell him you feel much better about yourself and your relationship with the baby when you’re nursing, and that supporting you in the decision is showing his love in a meaningful way that you appreciate. Eventually, when the child bearing years are over, his patience will be rewarded, as a woman’s 30s and 40s are her time to become adventurous, once the concerns about pregnancy and child care have passed.

Society, or his mother, or the neighbors, or (fill in the blank) are starting to wonder if you’re ever going to quit nursing that baby.

Get over this one right away. Everything you do until your child is 25 years old is going to be examined by the neighbors, et al. Unless you’re neglecting or abusing your child, it’s no one’s business how you practice child rearing. If you quit now, someone will have an opinion about that, too. You can’t please everyone, so you have to do what you think is the right thing.

Ask your partner this question: In ten years, will I regret nursing this baby as long as I want to, or will I regret being pressured into quitting before the baby and I were ready? Of course you’ll never regret nursing until you and the baby feel it’s time to quit. When that child graduates from high school, you’re going to wish you had every second back. Don’t allow yourself to be coerced into giving up precious time.

Every mother worries about her newborn baby’s health. It can be frightening to hear your baby has thrush, but it is not a life-threatening condition. Once diagnosed, the treatment for thrush can be simple and harmless.

Thrush is a common infection in the mouth caused by a fungus called Candida Albicans. This fungus is a form of yeast, which is prevalent in the human body. Newborns typically develop thrush around 7 to 10 days after birth. Infants can get thrush from the mother’s birth canal, as this fungus is typically found in the vagina. Once an infant has thrush, it is not uncommon for that infant to develop thrush more than once.

The signs of thrush include:

• White spots on the sides, roof, and tongue of the baby’s mouth that do not scrape off easily. Once scraped off, the areas under the spots are red and often bleed.
• Your baby starts crying during feeding or when using a pacifier.

Oral thrush can be easily treated by Nystatin, an antifungal medicine that kills Candida Albicans. Other possible treatments include Clotrimazole and Miconazole. If you are breastfeeding your baby, you will also need to be treated for oral thrush. If you do not get treated, it is possible to pass thrush back to your baby again. You can use Nystatin cream on your breasts in order to kill any Candida Albicans present.

Some tips to prevent any recurrence of oral thrush include:

• If you are breastfeeding, allow your nipples to air dry after each feeding. This will prevent the growth of Candida Albicans.
• Clean and sterilize all bottles and pacifiers. Allow them to completely dry before giving them to your baby.
• Discard any nipples or pacifiers that your baby used prior to your learning of the infection. It is difficult to completely rid these items of Candida Albicans.
• Give your baby a bottle of sterilized water after breastfeeding. This will wash away any milk residue and clean your baby’s mouth.
• Make it a habit to check your baby’s mouth every day. If thrush does recur, you will want to seek immediate medical care.

If your newborn baby develops the signs of thrush, do not panic. However, be sure to seek medical attention for your baby and you, especially if you are breastfeeding. Although rarely life-threatening, it is important to treat the condition immediately in order to ensure the comfort and well-being of your baby.

The decision to wean your baby from the breast and onto solid foods is a big one. It stands as a hallmark for your child as well for you. Your “baby” is still a little one, but she is no longer that utterly dependent soul that looks to you for every need, and that, as a mother, can be disconcerting.

Knowing when to wean your child off of breast milk and onto solid foods is really an issue that is decided based on the child’s development and their own rate of physical, emotional and mental growth. Some kids are ready early and others seem to take forever to get to the point where solid foods are their preferred method of eating. The following tips will help you decide what to do about this very big milestone in your child’s life.

1. Do not rush it – The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies not begin eating solids until they are at least four to six months old. At this time, most infants will start to show signs that they are ready for solids. They will be able to sit up unsupported, will be able to pick up small items and will show an interest in what is on your dinner plate. Watching for the arbitrary signs of readiness will help you decide when the move is right for

2. Take your time – The tendency is to rush the baby to this point, but your baby needs time to adjust and to explore this new world. Gradually increase the amount of solid foods until your baby is eating the equivalent of one quarter cup of food at a sitting.

3. Food progression depends on the baby – There is no “guide” to offering your child solid foods. In fact, health history and their own likes and dislikes will determine what they are ready to eat and when. 

4. Expect a mess – They are still learning how to coordinate their actions and what is supposed to go where. Plus, throwing food and getting attention is fun. If everyone learns to duck fast or wear protective gear, this phase will go much smoother. Most of their food is not going to end up in their mouth, so do not get upset. They will learn, eventually.

5. Do not overload your baby with options – The best time to introduce new foods to your baby is in the morning. This allows you to watch for signs of an allergic reaction, such as a rash, runny nose or congestion, and will allow you to modify their eating habits accordingly. Offer them one new food each week. Taking your time in offering food will allow you to pinpoint the exact food that caused the reaction and will also allow you to avoid those foods in the future.

6. Make meals social – Babies typically enjoy the time spent at the table with family. Make this an event that they will always look forward to. It teaches them social interaction and allows everyone to dote on the infant, which will make them feel wanted and loved.

Pretty soon, your child will develop into a bottomless pit that will scarf just about anything down. Enjoy this period when they are learning this new skill. If you plan it right and allow them to develop it slowly, you can also teach them eating habits that will last them a lifetime.

The first step to choosing a lactation consultant is to realize the difference between a consultant and an educator. Lactation consultants bring expertise to the table that they bestow on young mothers, or mothers who are breastfeeding for the first time. Lactate counselors handle issues related to women having difficulty feeding their babies.

This distinction is important as it will save you time when searching for your consultant and it will ensure that you have top-of-the-line-support and help when and where you need it. If you develop problems with your breastfeeding activities, then a counselor would be applicable. Until then, however, a consultant will give you the expertise and advice necessary to help this process be as smooth and effective as possible.

Another tip is to make sure that your chosen lactation consultant has the same approach to breastfeeding as you do. If you are generally nervous or shy about breastfeeding, you should not choose someone whose approach always seems to showcase what you are doing. If you are relatively unencumbered by the process, choosing someone who is on the prudish side will not suit your needs, either.

Personality, like in any professional arrangement, is important, as is approach. You want someone who you can connect with, who will understand where you feel vulnerable or nervous, and who will be able to give you the help you need. Taking advice from someone you do not like or feel comfortable around will make that process much more difficult; while enjoying the personality of the person will make you much more likely to listen to them and their advice.

Your doctor can provide you with names and numbers of women who specialize in this area. They also can give you tips based on their feedback from other mothers to whom they provide healthcare. Women going through this tend to mention to their doctors any problems or approaches that they disagreed with or found troubling. Asking your doctor or the head nurse at your doctor’s office will likely allow you to glean “inside” information as to who they would go with in this situation and why.

Once you have narrowed your options down, you need to make sure that the person you are choosing or thinking of choosing has enough experience. It is fine even if they have not been a consultant for very long, but you want to make sure that they have the experience necessary to answer your questions and help you make equipment and technique choices based on their experience and not what they read in a magazine or learned from a book. This is not to say that your chosen consultant should absolutely have decades of experience, but you want to be able to rest assured that they have handled most of the basic issues that arise with breastfeeding first hand.

Finally, as you make your final selection, realize that this process needs to remain special and “new” to you. This makes it important to go with someone who understands your excitement, hesitancy, respect and questions. Having that personal connection will make the process of selecting the equipment and adopting a technique that works much easier.

Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue, which commonly affects nursing and lactating women. The infection occurs when bacteria enters the breast through a crack in the nipple or through the opening of the milk duct in the nipple. This infection often causes swelling, pain, and redness of the breast tissue. Although it can be extremely painful, it is not usually a serious or life threatening condition.

Most women mistake the early signs of mastitis as the warning signs of the flu because the symptoms present themselves suddenly. Your breasts may feel warm or be very tender. Swelling is common, as is a continuous burning sensation or pain while breastfeeding. The skin on the breast will often be red and in the shape of a wedge. Women with mastitis often have a fever over 101 degrees, which leads them to incorrectly assume they are suffering from the flu.

The risk factors associated with developing mastitis include:

• Sore nipples
• Cracked nipples
• Wearing a bra that is too tight
• A past history of mastitis
• Not fully draining each breast during feedings
• Using only one position while feeding

You will need to seek medical attention promptly in order to rid yourself of mastitis. If you have never had mastitis before, your doctor will want to examine you in order to confirm the diagnosis. Most doctors will prescribe a course of antibiotics that will extend over a 10 to 14 day period. As with any prescription, you will need to take the entire prescription as it is prescribed in order to ensure that the infection is gone.

There are also other steps you can take in order to help rid yourself of the mastitis infection. Warm compresses can help alleviate the pain and pressure in your breasts. Drinking extra fluids will help flush your system and is a recommended practice when on antibiotics. It is also important to continue to breastfeed during treatment. This will benefit both you and your baby. It is also important to avoid prolonged periods of breast engorgement. This may mean that you will have to use a breast pump. You can also take ibuprofen or acetaminophen in order to ease any discomfort you may be experiencing.

Although a diagnosis of mastitis may cause initial concern and pain, you can manage mastitis by being informed and taking the necessary steps toward treatment. Mastitis may be painful, but it does not need to interrupt your nursing schedule.