Your Breastfeeding Experiences
Welcome to Breastfeeding Experiences!
As the title suggests, this website is here to collect YOUR experiences. If you're anything like me, since the moment you conceived (and probably before!) you've been thinking about everything that's best for you and your baby. We all know that means breastfeeding, though we also know that it isn't necessarily an easy choice.
My aim for this site is to provide breastfeeding mums with a place to share their stories, knowledge and experience with each other. It doesn't matter if you tried and failed at breastfeeding, or if you're still going at the age of five. If you have a story you'd like to share, then I'd love to put it up on the site.
So how do you submit your stories? It couldn't be easier. Just look to the menu on the right and select the category you think your story best fits. Clicking on the link will take you to the relevant page, where you will find a link to an easy-to-use form, as well as a list of other people's stories in that category. You can leave your name, an alias, or be totally anonymous, it really doesn't matter. And if you can't find a category that fits what you want to say, use this form to suggest a new one!
While you're here, why not take some time to read through some of the other mums' experiences? I'm sure there's plenty here that will make you smile, make you wistful, give you some useful advice and even recommend you a good book. I hope you find this site a useful resource as you take the rollercoaster ride that is breastfeeding.
Top Breastfeeding Stories
About.com Breastfeeding
Updated :
Certain Antidepressants May Cause Lactation Difficulties
A new study which will be published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) shows that women taking particular antidepressants may experience delayed lactation after giving birth and may need extra help to achieve their breastfeeding goals.
Nelson Horseman, PhD, of the University of Cincinnati and co-author of the study states,"The breasts are serotonin-regulated glands, meaning the breasts' ability to secrete milk at the right time is closely related to the body's production and regulation of the hormone serotonin. Common antidepressant drugs like fluoxetine, sertraline and paroxetine are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs and while they can affect mood, emotion and sleep they may also impact serotonin regulation in the breast, placing new mothers at greater risk of a delay in the establishment of a full milk supply."
In this study, researchers observed the effects of SSRI drugs on lactation using laboratory studies of human and animal cell lines and genetically modified mice. An observational study then evaluated the impact of SSRI drugs on the onset of milk production in postpartum women. In this study of 431 postpartum women, median onset of lactation was 85.8 hours postpartum for the SSRI-treated mothers and 69.1 hours for mothers not treated with SSRI drugs. The definition of "delayed secretory activation" is that it occurs later than 72 hours postpartum.
Horseman goes on to say that "SSRI drugs are very helpful medications for many moms, so understanding and ameliorating difficulties moms experience can help them achieve their goals for breastfeeding their babies. More human research is needed before we can make specific recommendations regarding SSRI use during breastfeeding."
Certain Antidepressants May Cause Lactation Difficulties originally appeared on About.com Breastfeeding on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 21:26:02.
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Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:26:02 +0000
Co-Founder of La Leche League, Viola Lennon, Dead At 87
Viola Lennon, co-Founder of La Leche League International and co-author of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, passed away last week. Quite the pioneer, to say the least, the death of Lennon marks the end of an era.
Lennon credited her mother with having the strongest influence on her breastfeeding mindset. She stated, "My mother portrayed breastfeeding as an enjoyable experience that brings you close to your baby." (And that she did...10 babies!)
And we should take to heart another thought from Lennon: "Breastfeeding...led me to self-discovery and to a greater appreciation of the full humanity of the babies who were entrusted to me. Each woman needs to trust her own instincts, her own feelings, and her own sense of what will work for her with each baby. Women in the 1950s had forgotten the wisdom of previous generations in relation to breastfeeding. Mothers who tried to breastfeed on their own were almost always destined to fail. The neighbors sent their children to watch me breastfeed because they knew the children would not see it anywhere else!"
May her memory be a blessing.
Co-Founder of La Leche League, Viola Lennon, Dead At 87 originally appeared on About.com Breastfeeding on Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at 14:05:52.
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Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:05:52 +0000
Revisiting the Old "How Old Is Too Old" Argument...
It never gets old, does it? The whole "How long is too long?" or "How old is too old?" argument is enough to stir the most mellow pot. A recent article on Seattlepi.com, Moms Who Breastfeed Until Their Kids Are 4, 5, 6, made me think that it was time to dust off my poll from a while back and breathe some new votes into it. So, without further ado, please grace me with your opinion...How Old Is Too Old For Breastfeeding? (FYI, as of today, the most popular answer is "2-3 years". I'm curious to see if things change.)
Revisiting the Old "How Old Is Too Old" Argument... originally appeared on About.com Breastfeeding on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 20:23:28.
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Publ.Date : Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:23:28 +0000
Haiti Needs Breastfeeding Support!
In the aftermath of last week's terrible earthquake disaster in Haiti, I can't begin to tell you how many emails I've received from different organizations and groups asking for support. Mostly financial requests, the inundation has been overwhelming and I've been waiting until this weekend to sit down and speak with my husband about what we want to do.
But aside from giving money, I felt the need to give information.
You may recall the theme of the 2009 World Breastfeeding Week..."Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response. Are You Ready?" Timely, yes. Ominous, scarily so. But never has the need for breastfeeding been so great. The International Lactation Consultant Association is "urging all health care providers and rescue workers to include breastfeeding support as a vital part of disaster relief and humanitarian aid efforts." They are also discouraging donations of infant formula since this can increase illness and disease in an emergency.
Here is the press release: ILCA Encourages Breastfeeding Support in Haiti. I would highly recommend that you read it and do whatever you can to assist in relief efforts. And finally, I'll just put my two cents in here...I have about 250 postings on my "Selling Breast Milk" blog from women trying to find good homes for their excess expressed milk. How about donating it to a milk bank for some of the babies in Haiti? Just a thought. Would love to hear yours!
Haiti Needs Breastfeeding Support! originally appeared on About.com Breastfeeding on Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at 16:46:13.
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Publ.Date : Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:46:13 +0000
Treat of the Week for Dairy-Free/Gluten-Free Breastfeeding Moms: Melissa's UNBELIEVABLE Vegan Cheesecake
Going dairy-free was the hot topic this week in my support group. Yes, there's one mom who has been a vegan for years and was able to give great guidance on different foods. On the other hand, there are many women who are bound and determined to taking the dairy out of their diets as their babies are having reactions to it. The great news is that, these days, there are so many different ways to switch it up!
In the midst of this discussion, I happened to mention that I recently concocted the most fantastic vegan cheesecake for my son, who has cow's milk and wheat allergies. Being a diehard cheesecake fan myself, I can honestly say that no one would know the difference between my version and Junior's. So, without further ado, I promised the women in the group that I would share it with the world, so here it is! Enjoy! (And let me know what you think!)
Melissa's UNBELIEVABLE Vegan/Gluten-Free Cheesecake
Crust: 5 tablespoons unsalted vegan "butter", melted, plus room-temperature "butter" for pan; 12 gluten-free graham crackers (3x5 inch); 1/4 c. sugar; 1/4 tsp. coarse salt
Filling: 2 1/2 lbs vegan "cream cheese", room temperature; 1 1/2 c. sugar; 1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest, plus 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice; 1/2 tsp. coarse salt; Ener-G Egg Replacer (equivalent of 4 large eggs); 1 c. vegan "sour cream"
Preheat oven to 375. Make crust: Butter a 9-by-3-inch springform pan. In a food processor, pulse graham crackers until fine crumbs form; add melted butter, sugar, and salt, and pulse to combine. Press crumb mixture into bottom and about 1 inch up side of pan. Bake until set, 12 to 15 minutes; let cool on a wire rack. Reduce over to 325. Set a kettle of water to boil. Make filling: Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese on medium until fluffy, scraping down side of bowl. Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy. Beat in lemon zest and juice, and salt. Beat in egg replacer, slowly, scraping down side of bowl after each addition. Beat in sour cream. Wrap bottom half of pan in foil. Pour in filling; place in a roasting pan. Pour in boiling water to come halfway up side of springform. Bake until just set in center, about 1 3/4 hours. Remove pan from water; let cool 20 minutes. Run a paring knife around edge; let cool completely. Cover; chill overnight before serving.
Treat of the Week for Dairy-Free/Gluten-Free Breastfeeding Moms: Melissa's UNBELIEVABLE Vegan Cheesecake originally appeared on About.com Breastfeeding on Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 at 18:25:50.
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Publ.Date : Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:25:50 +0000
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