One of the challenges of having two babies is overcoming breastfeeding problems. Will they get hungry together? Will you have to feed them one by one? There are lots of breastfeeding questions lingering in the minds of new moms. Here are some ways to help you handle the task of breastfeeding twin babies.

Making A Breastfeeding Chart

Prepare a visual chart of breastfeeding. This will help you know the time to feed your baby, by just looking at her. In case of twins, you need to prepare two charts. You should talk to your doctor regarding chart preparation. In addition to this, you need to discuss about baby food and baby formula that is right for your baby. It is best to give your milk, instead of giving baby formula for the initial months.

Your chart consists of columns like feeing time, meals fed, amount fed, and other such important details. This way, you will get an idea of the frequency of meals and the time your babies are hungry.

Remember; as your baby reaches 7-12 months of age, she will develop her own taste in food. You have twins does not mean, both of them will develop the same taste. There are common cases where twin have contrasting tastes and behavior. One of them may suck more milk than the other, or have different meal timings. The chart will help you keep a track on your twins’ feeding.

Handling Twins’ Call Of Hunger

A smart mom will always prepare her baby food in advance. This way, your babies get food instantly when they call for hunger and need not wait and wail loudly. It’s a good idea to prepare baby food at home. It’s fresh and hygienic, plus loaded with nutrients. Besides this, the food is free of preservatives and is of good quality. If you don’t want to create a hubbub in the house by two screaming babies, prepare baby food in advance!

Take the help of your doctor or midwife regarding positions for breastfeeding. You can buy breastfeeding tops as well as breastfeeding cover to ease in this task. Read articles and books on breastfeeding twins and enjoy the task!

About the Author:

Breastfeeding twins is no problem, once you master the art of handling them. In fact, you will enjoy the task and have no breastfeeding problems. For more information visit pregnancy.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Breastfeeding Twins Can be Made Into an Enjoyable Task!

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All too often it is assumed that a breastfeeding mum will scurry off to do the deed behind a locked door and well out of sight. And God forbid she utters the phrase, “I’m Breastfeeding!” Men avert their eyes and women smile as they shuffle their feet and move the conversation swiftly along! So much for breastfeeding support amongst peers!

Most mums choosing to breastfeed their babies do so because they have been made aware of the lifelong advantages of breastfeeding. But when it comes to the task itself, many feel they have no-one to turn to for information and advice when things are not going as planned. For that reason, a lot of breastfeeding mums give up breastfeeding prematurely.

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusively breastfeeding babies for the first six months of their lives. But many are only breastfed for a few days or weeks.

It is vital that breastfeeding mums have a supportive and informative network of people to ask for help.

And that is where Breastfeeding Support Groups come into their own.

A well- organised breastfeeding support group will cater for a variety of women from varied backgrounds. It will educate women thinking about breastfeeding whilst they are pregnant and it will also cater for novice and more experienced breastfeeders.
Breastfeeding support groups allow women and their babies to come together in a relaxed atmosphere, to enjoy congenial conversation. Women are encouraged to discuss breastfeeding issues and, as a result, breastfeeding mums help one another to bypass barriers placed along the path.

Breastfeeding mums need to talk about breastfeeding in order to bring their experiences into the wider community. It is only by chatting about breastfeeding in an open and honest way with one another that it will become more acceptable. If more women are given the opportunity to access breastfeeding support groups then breastfeeding statistics will surely rise.

And who knows, maybe today’s breastfed babies will become confident breastfeeding mums of tomorrow, free of the hang-ups prevalent in today’s society regarding breastfeeding!

About the Author:

Sinead Hoben is the proud mum of three beautiful children aged 6 years, 3 years and 9 months old, all of whom were breastfed. A qualified teacher, she now runs her own website, http://www.breastfeedingmums.com, offering breastfeeding information and advice to both breastfeeding and expectant mums. Visit her blog, http://breastfeedingmums.typepad.com to read her musings about setting up www.breastfeedingmums.com and daily life as a busy mum!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Breastfeeding Mums Need To Talk!

Technorati Tags: breastfeeding, breastfeeding help, breastfeeding support

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The worst dietary offender is cow’s milk. Many times, a baby’s digestive tract isn’t mature enough to handle the proteins in cow’s milk which causes a gas builds up in the intestines. When this happens, your baby’s will scream in pain as his intestines go into spasms.

Eliminating dairy from your diet can make a tremendous difference in the level of colic your baby experiences.

Cow’s milk takes many forms and you need to be vigilant in reading the labels of food you consume.

Other names to look out for are:

Lactoglobulin
Casein
Lactalbumin
Sodium Caseinate
Whey

Many pre prepared items in the supermarket include some form of milk product.
These include, but are not limited to:
Batter Products: Waffles, Pancakes, Cakes, Cookies, Biscuits, etc.

Chocolate: Both milk and white varieties

Processed Foods: Bologna, hot dogs, pepperoni, salami, sausage (The exception to this is Kosher meat products because they are milk free)

Butter

Cheese
When you are trying to eliminate dairy from your diet, allow at least two weeks for your body to be dairy free. If after two weeks, you aren’t seeing a marked improvement, you can safely assume that your child is not sensitive to dairy products.

If after two weeks, you don’t see a significant change in your baby’s colic, you can pretty much assume that it isn’t the dairy products that are causing the colic.

The foods listed below can also cause reactions in your baby, but if you are eating a balanced diet and not eating too much of any one of these foods, they are probably not the cause of your baby’s colic. Every baby is different and what may cause a reaction in one baby, may be perfectly fine for another baby. If you notice that your baby’s colic acts up after eating a particular food, there is most likely a sensitivity issue for your baby. Avoiding consumption of this food in the future may be a good idea.

Other potentially colic inducing foods for breastfeeding moms include:

Onion
Chocolate
Eggs
Peanuts
Citrus fruits
Wheat
Corn
Soy
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Highly spiced foods
Legumes
Some vitamins
Artificial sweeteners
Caffeinated beverages
Licorice

Cruciferous vegetables:
Beet greens
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chinese cabbage
Collard greens
Garden cress
Horseradish
Kale
Kohlrabi
Mustard greens
Radishes
Rutabaga
Swiss chard
Turnips
Turnip greens

If eliminating foods from your diet does not seem to make a difference, PLEASE seek the help of a Lactation Consultant or contact your nearest La Leche League group. Sometimes the support and guidance from someone a bit more knowledgabe and experienced in breastfeeding can make ALL the difference.

Author Resource:-> Vickie Barnes is a colic veteran of two colicky babies. Please visit her website ColicHelp.com, for more support and resources for dealing with colic.

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Technorati Tags: breastfeeding, colic, food

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So, how can you make the new arrival less of a threat to the family?


Firstly, acknowledge to yourself and to your other children that they may feel a bit displaced when the new baby is introduced into the fold. If you intend to breastfeed your new baby, then explain to your children that you may not have as much time to spend with them as usual but reassure them that a routine will eventually become established and things will return to normal.

Try to involve other siblings as much as possible in the day to day care of the baby. You could nominate one to fetch baby wipes and nappies whilst another may be allocated the job of getting the night-time baby-gro. Or perhaps let them help with bathing the new baby. This will allow your other children to feel involved and important.

When you are breastfeeding the baby explain to your children what you are doing. If they are very young perhaps show them pictures of babies being fed by their mothers, including baby animals. Remind them that they were once breastfed by you too, if that is the case.

Some children will mimic what they see their parents doing so try not to show surprise if you witness a child breastfeeding her favourite teddy bear. Instead encourage her to tell you all about her baby.

Don’t go into a different room to breastfeed your new baby as this implies that there is something wrong with what you are doing. Instead, as you breastfeed the baby, encourage your children to watch how the baby is drinking your milk and explain that it will make the baby healthy and strong. In so doing you will allow them to accept breastfeeding as normal.

Whilst breastfeeding you may find that very young toddlers crave your attention and may literally be hanging off you! Prepare for this by getting a few books or jigsaws ready in advance. When it is time to breastfeed the baby, read a story to your other children or encourage them to draw you a picture or do a jigsaw. This makes them feel valued and involved.

If siblings are bickering a lot with one another and you find yourself losing your temper with them try to take some time out. And when you have calmed down explain to them why you are tired. Ask them to understand that you are not really angry but that you need a rest.

Some toddlers vent their frustration on the new baby by nipping him or pulling his hair. You must explain in terms your children can understand why this is unfair and encourage them to do nice things instead such as helping to dress or bathe him or fetching some little toys instead.

If you are aware of how your children may react to a new sibling you can ensure that things progress smoothly by preparing them well in advance of the birth. Encourage your children to see the new baby as a family member who is looking forward to coming to live with you. Show them pictures of new babies and babies breastfeeding. If possible, bring them to visit someone who has a new baby and better still someone who is also breastfeeding.

Be careful to make time for other children in the family once the baby arrives.

Siblings can be hard work and sibling rivalry a nightmare, but you can make life easier for yourself and for them with careful advance preparations.

Want to find out about coccyx pain, broken coccyx, coccyx symptoms, sternum problems, broken sternum , sternum pain and other information? Get tips from the Health And Nutrition Tips website.

Article Source: The Effects of Breastfeeding on Sibling Rivalry

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However, before we can truly understand if birth control pills are indeed safe for breastfeeding mothers, first we need to know what they really are, what they contain, and how they work.

About Birth Control Pills


Birth control pills are oral contraceptives that are used to control pregnancy by inhibiting the normal fertility process. There are two types of birth control pills. The first type is the combination pill, which has two synthetic hormones, the progestin, and estrogen. The second type is the minipill or the progestin-only pill, which contains only the progestin component.

How They Work

The synthetic estrogen component, which is only present in the combination pill, works by preventing the ovaries from ovulating or releasing an egg. It also works by suppressing the body’s hormonal pattern.

On the other hand, the synthetic progestin component, which is present in both types of pills, works by inhibiting the egg from traveling through the fallopian tubes and suppressing the sperm’s ability in uniting with the egg. It also works by thickening the cervical mucus, which aids in hindering the movement of the sperm. One mechanism of action that is unique to synthetic progestin is its ability to alter the lining in the uterus, making it impossible for a fertilized egg to implant to the uterine walls.

Are they really safe to be used while breastfeeding?

Whether you choose to use the combination pill (estrogen and progestin) or the minipill (progestin only), they are safe for use in breastfeeding mothers. Both of these components have been approved by the American Academy of Pediatric (AAP).

However, it is recommended that contraceptives that contain estrogen (combination pill) should be deferred until the baby is six months old and has established well on solid foods because estrogen can cause loss of breast milk supply. On the other hand, minipills don’t cause milk supply to dcrease, making them the preferred choice for breastfeeding mothers.

The effects of birth control pills on the mother’s milk

The effects of these birth control pills differ due to the components present. For the combination contraceptive pills, since they contain estrogen, they suppress the mother’s milk production leading to a low milk supply. Not all breastfeeding mothers who take these kinds of pills experience a low milk supply, but it is only in very rare cases.

The minipills or the progestin-only pills do not cause any milk production problems if given at normal doses and if started after about 6-8 weeks after the birth of the baby. However, there have been reports made that these pills can also cause the same milk suppression issues.

Effects of birth control pills on the baby

There have been no evidences found that it can cause side effects and endanger the baby’s health. In fact, studies revealed that there have been no long term problems found in babies and children whose mothers have been taking contraceptive pills while still breastfeeding.

According to one study, the hormones caused a minimal decrease in the lactose, nitrogen, and protein content of the mother’s milk, which lead to fussiness in the baby. But once the mothers stopped taking the pills, a marked improvement of the degree of fussiness of the baby had been seen.

The best choices to make

Now that you know that these synthetic hormones can cause a suppression of the milk supply, it is best to wait until the baby is about 6-8 months before you start using the pill. You don’t have to worry because breastfeeding alone during the first six months can cause a delay in the normal ovulation process, a method called lactational amenorrhea.

Some alternative options that you can use

Other methods that you can use are the calendar method, cervical mucus awareness method, intra uterine devices (IUD), condoms, spermicides, diaphragm, cervical cap and injections such as depo-provera.

Kassie Charles is a lactation educator and contributing writer for Breastfeeding-Magazine.com For more breastfeeding tips and support, visit the site at http://www.breastfeeding-magazine.com

Article Source: Are Birth Control Pills Safe while Breastfeeding?

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Technorati Tags: breastfeeding, breastfeeding problems, breastfeeding video, colic, failure to thrive, sore nipples

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1. The first thing to address here is the mother’s anxiousness to lose weight after giving birth. As the weight was gained slowly it is generally better to lose it over a period of time too. Low-carb diets can promise weight loss of ‘14lbs in 14 days’ and such like but this is never normally a healthy option no matter who you are, whether you are breastfeeding or not. Breastfeeding actually helps mothers to lose weight anyway and medical research suggests that it is advisable for new mothers to not actively start trying to lose weight through dieting for the first 2 months and this should preferably be stretched to when your child starts solids at around 6 months.

2. The second thing to address is the health of the mother. Low-carb diets have a high potential to make you feel unwell as they are not balanced. These diets are typically low in fiber, minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium as well as antioxidants and folic acid as well as other parts of a balanced diet. They can also be high in protein and fat intake. Coupled with this a lot of the weight loss achieved by following these diets can be through water loss and so dehydration can be a risk if plenty of water isn’t drunk. It’s stressful enough after giving birth and taking care of your newborn can be exhausting until you’ve established routines with your baby. Why would you want to add the possibility of dehydration and not giving your body a balanced dose of required vitamins and minerals to help it recover after pregnancy and childbirth?

3. The third thing to consider is your baby’s health. There a few reasons as to why your baby’s health may be affected by a low-carb diet. Firstly some mothers have found that by following a low-carb diet their milk supply has decreased. Stopping the diet generally brings the milk supply back to required levels. By limiting your intake to certain types of food there exists the possibility that your milk will not have the required levels of vitamins that your baby requires. Low-carb diets usually place the body into a state called ketosis. It is unknown if ketones can be passed through breast milk to your child and the impact on health. The Atkins website advises mothers to start on the maintenance part of its dietary plan which involves a considerably larger carbohydrate intake than its starting point.

In summary, it is advisable for mothers to eat a balanced and healthy diet whilst breastfeeding and a low-carb diet should really be avoided. Like all things medical in nature there are always exceptions in certain circumstances and if you are unsure due to special circumstances a physician should be consulted.

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About the Author

Visit All About Breastfeeding now and download a free Complete Guide To Breastfeeding athttp://www.notjustbasics.com/breastfeed/guide

Technorati Tags: breastfeeding, diet, losing weight, low-carb diet

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You need to know that many women avoid breastfeeding their newborns simply because they are afraid they will suffer from sore nipples. The most difficult period of nursing is during the first few days and weeks as you are forming a relationship with your newborn. You’re most likely tired from the lack of sleep and if this is your first breastfeeding experience, you could be struggling to find the right positioning for your baby during feeding time. You may also feel aphrensive about what to expect during a feeding session. Any and all of these anxieties can lead to sore nipples. Prevention is the key to avoiding sore nipples before it starts.

One of the best ways to prevent sore nipples is to get your baby positioned properly. There are several different positions that you can choose from. The cradle hold, cross-cradle hold, the football or clutch hold, or nurse your baby while you are both lying down. Regardless of which position you choose, there are some things you need to do to be sure that both of your are in a comfortable position.

Find a comfy place at home where you’ll do most of your breastfeedings. Make sure YOU are comfortable before you ever start breastfeeding your baby. You should use a nursing pillow. If you don’t have one it’s highly recommened that you get one! If for some reason you decide against a nursing pillow, at least have other pillows lying around, just in case. You need to be supporting your back, your arms and your feet. After you get comfortable and are ready to start feeding, try to have someone available that will be able to bring your baby to you, during your first few nursing sessions. Your baby needs to be close to you. It doesn’t matter which position you decide to use, just be sure your baby’s mouth and nose are facing your breast. Your baby should not have to turn his/her head to find and/or reach your breast. Check to be sure your breast is not pushing against baby’s chin, your baby’s chin should push on you, not the other way around. During each nursing session you’ll need to support your breast. Do this by cupping your hand into the “U” or “C” shape. Getting your baby to latch on is the final step in the nursing process. If you feel that your baby has a bad latch at any point during the nursing session, you should detach your baby and try again. This is the best way to avoid sore nipples, get a good latch. When you’re sure your baby is well latched, you can nurse as long as your baby wants.

If you feel the need to detach your baby, always remember to do this very gently as that can also cause sore nipples. Here are a couple of ways to gently break the seal without causing any damage to your or to your baby.

-Gently tug on your babys chin.

-Another way would be to try inserting your pinky finger into the corner of your babys mouth and use a sweeping motion, pulling your breast out of babys mouth. Remember, always have cleans hands before you put your fingers into your babys mouth.

-Another way would be to press down on your breast where it meets your babys mouth.

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About the Author

Carlie Edwards publishes online articles & useful information for Today’s Women. For more information on Breastfeeding visit: http://breastfeeding.health-and-beauty-worx.com. To find a variety of related topics & issues visit: http://health-and-beauty-worx.com

Technorati Tags: breastfeeding, breastfeeding pain, sore nipples

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