By Diane Arnaout, M.D., Cook Children’s Medical Advisor for Digital HealthAugust is National Breastfeeding Month.And as much as I hate the word “journey,” allow me to tell you about my breastfeeding journey.I figure there’s a lot of curiosity out the...
By Holly Erwin, LVN, IBCLCHow long should I breastfeed?It seems like a simple question, but not one I feel I can answer with an exact time frame.The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend breastfeeding for two years, while the American Academ...
Is breastfeeding worth the possible exposure to Covid-19?
Short answer: yes.
Unfortunately, the risk of COVID-19 is everywhere in our lives right now, but the reality is your baby needs another human to survive. So regardless of the way you...
CBS 11 - August is National Breastfeeding Month, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months. Holly Erwin, a lactation consultant with Cook Children's Medical Center, talks the benefits of breastfeed...
"Why is my child hungry all the time?"
My first question would be, “how do you define ‘all the time’?”
Some people have unrealistic expectations for a breastfeeding baby. By rule, we know that they need to eat 8-12 times per 24 hours to sustain...
Parents worry that they do not have enough milk for many reasons:
No sensation of a let down
No longer leaking milk
Mom’s breast do not feel full (or engorged) anymore
Unable to produce milk with a pump
Baby does not stay at the breast as lo...
Babies give hunger cues when they are ready to eat.
Though most people think that a crying baby is ready to eat, crying is actually the last cue and a crying baby is more difficult to latch.
Earlier indicators may include:
Wiggling around
...
There are many different positions that work well with breastfeeding. Some women like to use pillows to prop the baby up and take some of the weight off of their arms, however others feel like the pillows make the job too cumbersome.
Cradle and cr...
No mom has it easy, but going back to work after the birth of a baby adds another level of complexity.
For moms who plan to continue nursing and pumping to provide their baby breastmilk, it becomes even harder.
It becomes so hard, in fact, that...
As Cook Children’s virtual lactation consultant, you probably won’t be surprised to learn I am very passionate about the importance of breastfeeding. But if you’ve ever had a consult with me, you know I meet every mom right where she wants to be and ...
As if there weren’t enough choices for formula in the newborn period…now we have to decide if our toddler needs formula too?
Most pediatricians recommend breastfeeding as the primary source of fluid intake for up to one year of age (even longer is...
As a lactation consultant, I often hear regret from moms when they state that they “only nursed for ...” (insert perceived short time here.)
That always bothers me, because any distance that a mom makes in her breastfeeding journey, is a win t...
"Am I making enough milk?"
Often, moms perceive that they do not make enough milk because they do not make “extra” milk.
Other times they think the baby is eating too often, or the breasts feel too soft, or the baby is fussy at certain times of...
When I cruised out of pediatric residency kid-free, I thought I knew it all when it came to raising a child. Little did I know how little I knew.
I’d be Terrified the Day my First Child was Born. Guess what? Reading tons of books about the healt...
Cook Children’s adamantly supports mothers and the breastfeeding initiative taking the country by storm. There are, of course, those women that have had a difficult time breastfeeding; trying to give baby the best but to no avail. I was one of those ...
“Your baby needs surgery in order to breastfeed correctly.”
Those probably won’t be the words that are said, but it might be the message that you hear.
Breastfeeding can be a tricky thing and many different problems can lead to a poor latch or ...
The first days after having a baby are full of wonder, awe and excitement, but those days can also bring anxiety. Breastfeeding can be one of the largest sources of this. If you are feeling this way, know that you are not alone! Many doctor moms say ...
Here are four reasons I don't recommend putting a breastfed newborn on a feeding schedule:
They need comfort and bonding. Imagine being thrown into a brand new, anxiety-provoking environment with no skills for calming yourself and no way of esca...
After completing 24 years of schooling and medical training, you’d think that once I graduated from pediatric residency, I’d know a thing or two about the health of children. And I did. I knew a lot. I knew that breastfeeding provided the best nutrit...
Motherhood is a life-changing event and we celebrate them with these three stories:
8 isn't enough ... life with 9 children
Nine children, ages 3 to 19 years old, make Mother’s Day a pretty special time for Kristy Goodnight. After all, that’s a...
Breastfeeding is a great thing for babies and for moms.
The numerous health benefits of breastfeeding cannot be denied. Some of them might be overstated at times but, all in all, I believe that breastfeeding is best.
I know there are times when...
The anger and subsequent anxiety I felt after hearing about “The Newborn Sleep Book” surprised me. I am not a “crunchy” pediatrician by any means. I have taught families to sleep. This is why the feeling I got in my stomach is unexpected.
The ...
Anything in blood stream could be transmitted to breast milk: food, drug (over the counter medicine, prescription, oral and other) alternative/herbal medicines. Because of this, when you are breastfeeding, it is important to notify your pediatrician ...