Natural Mothering About my Natural Mothering website, my booklist, updates, awards, graphics, and webrings. Natural Parenting Here is where I ramble on about what Attachment Parenting means to me and give some excellent resources for those who's interest is piqued. Natural Childbirth Why would anyone want a drug free birth? Visit this section to find out and read about my three very different birth experiences. Natural Feeding Breastfeeding is my passion and the reason for the existence of this website. You'll find the basics here along with tips for overcoming thrush! Natural Diapering Who would want to bother with cloth when there's disposables? Lots of people, really! Find out the why and how of it here. Natural Health Mother [Nature] still knows best! Find out more about natural health and healing, natural family planning and newborn health choices here.

Natural Feeding

"The newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts, and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three." ...Dr. Grantly Dick-read

Kimberly's Keys to Breastfeeding Success:

Find Your Tribe: I put this one first because it is the most important. If things get rough support can make the difference between overcoming difficulties and giving up on breastfeeding. Even if breastfeeding is going well a lack of support can lead to early weaning. Surround yourself with people who are supportive of your decision to breastfeed. Most people who are not supportive of breastfeeing fall into one of two categories. Either they don't really know much about breastfeeding (or have misconceptions), or they have had a negative breastfeeding experience. The former you can try to educate if their support is important to you. The latter you may need to agree to disagree with them about breastfeeding or even limit your contact with them.

La Leche League: LLL meetings are a wonderful place to meet other nursing mothers and get breastfeeding support, especially if it is lacking in your circle of family & friends. I strongly suggest going to at least a couple meetings before your baby is born. Anyone interested in breastfeeding is welcome and mothers can bring their nurslings with them. You will get to see confident nursing mothers in action and get all your questions answered by an experienced nursing mom. To find a group near you call 1-800-LA LECHE or check out the Index of La Leche League Web Pages.

Learn the Basics: Read books about breastfeeding, chat with friends & family members who have breastfeeding experience, take a class, attend an LLL meeting or two, watch a video, scour the internet...you get the idea. Knowledge is power so go empower yourself to breastfeed your baby! One small caveat - just because it is written down somewhere or is shared with you by a respected acquaintance does not mean it is good information. Start with the links listed on this page and I promise you won't be mislead.

Just Say "No" to Drugs: The best way to get breastfeeding off to a good start is to have a natural, un-medicated birth. Medications can make a baby sleepy and less interested in nursing which may cause problems for some nursing couples. That does not mean that you can't breastfeed if you birth is anything less than natural, just make sure you give it a little extra time and patience. Having a Lactation Consultant or an experienced nursing mother visit you soon after the birth is a great idea, especially for mom's new to nursing.

Early & Often: Nursing your baby immediately after birth, or as soon as you possibly can has benefits for both of you. A new baby is most interested in nursing during the first hour after birth. He latches on and starts sucking and his belly is filled with warm milk as he is cuddled in your loving arms. He is the perfect distance from your face to see you clearly, he feels safe and loved after a such a big change in his little life. Your baby's sucking stimulates the release of a natural hormone that causes the uterus to contract and shrink reducing the flow of blood. This is also what helps you get back into shape faster than you would if you were not breastfeeding. In the first few days of life your baby receives colostrum, a priceless source of protective immunities against disease. Around the third to fifth day post-partum your milk comes in and both of you should be getting the hang of things. If you are still having trouble, don't give up! Contact La Leche League or find a good Lactation Consultant and relax, some baby's and mom's catch on right away and some just need a little help.

Only My Mama: This is an extension of Early & Often. Breastmilk is produced on a supply & demand basis. What that means is that the more stimulation (i.e. sucking) your nipples receive the more milk you will make. This is why it's so very important to avoid all artificial nipples during the first six weeks of breastfeeding. Giving even one bottle or pacifier before breastfeeding is well established is enough to cause nipple confusion in some babies and wreak havoc with breastfeeding. If for some reason a supplemental feeding is necessary their are ways to do it without resorting to a bottle (finger feedings, supplemental nursing systems, a plastic eye dropper, a flexible feeding cup, etc.).

Watch Your Baby Not the Clock: To ensure an ample milk supply babies should be nursed whenever they show signs of hunger. The most common signals an infant uses are lip smacking, rooting (turning towards their hands or your breast with an open mouth), and sucking on their fingers or fists. If you wait until your baby is crying with hunger you risk making him too upset to nurse effectively. While scheduled feedings may work with babies fed artificial breast milk it has no place in breastfeeding.

Relax and Enjoy Your Baby: Having a baby is exhausting physically and emotionally. Give yourself a couple weeks at home to recover from the work of birth and get comfortable with breastfeeding. Getting enough rest is important so learn to rest when your baby does. You can't expect to nurse a baby every two to three hours around the clock on your old sleep schedule without a negative impact on your physical, emotional and/or mental health. Take a nap with your baby in the afternoons if at all possible, even if you can't drift off close your eyes and rest. Make yourself a cozy nursing station near your favorite comfy seat and stock it with good books, a cordless phone, the t.v. or stereo remote controls, burp cloths, extra diapers & wipes, a nursing stool and a large glass or pitcher of water. Babies are only babies for a very short time, this intensely needy stage will soon pass, enjoy it while you can.

Breastfeeding Support Organizations:

• La Leche League International: LLLI is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.
• Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (UK): The ABM is a voluntary organization founded in 1979 by a group of mothers experienced in breastfeeding counselling.
• Australian Breastfeeding Association: The ABA as Australia's leading authority on breastfeeding, educates and supports mothers, using up-to-date research findings and the practical experiences of many women. While working to influence our society to acknowledge breastfeeding as the norm for infant nutrition, and as an aid to skilled and loving parenting.

Breastfeeding Advocacy Organizations:

North America:

• The United States Breastfeeding Committee: The mission of USBC is to improve the Nation's health by working collaboratively to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
• African-American Breastfeeding Alliance: AABA’s overall purpose is to raise the numbers of African-American women (and women of African descent) who breastfeed; educate African-American women about the infant and maternal benefits of breastfeeding; provide valuable resources about breastfeeding; offer on-going support to women who decide to breastfeed; and collaborate with other organizations that have an interest in the health and well-being of African-American women and infants.
• The National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy: NABA was formed to be that advocate and fill the existing gaps in breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support. NABA endeavors to link and facilitate those involved in national maternal/child health into a cohesive network forming the synergy to ignite the critical mass of breastfeeding supporters into a force that will move breastfeeding into the public health arena and restore breastfeeding as the cultural norm.
• Infant Feeding Action Coalition - Canada: INFACT is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, works to promote optimal infant and maternal health through the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding. INFACT Canada is an active member of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) and is the North American representative for IBFAN.
• ProMoM: Promotion of Mother's Milk, Inc.: Promotion of Mother's Milk, Inc. (ProMoM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and public acceptance of breastfeeding.
• The Human Milk Banking Association of North America, Inc.: HMBA represents all of the North American human milk banks which collect, pasteurize, and distribute donated mother's milk.

Other Parts of the World:

• Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India: (BPNI) is a national network of organizations and individuals dedicated to promote mother and child health through protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding. It is the Regional Focal Point for the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN).

International Organizations:

• International Lactation Consultant Association: ILCA is the professional organization for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, and those who aspire to be.
• The International Baby Food Action Network: IBFAN is a worldwide coalition of citizen groups working for better child health through the promotion of breastfeeding and the elimination of irresponsible marketing of commercial infant foods, bottles and teats.
• Baby Milk Action: is a non-profit organization which aims to save lives and to end the avoidable suffering caused by inappropriate infant feeding. Baby Milk Action works within a global network (IBFAN) to strengthen independent, transparent and effective controls on the marketing of the baby feeding industry.
• UNICEF Breastfeeding Initiatives: UNICEF's strategy for infant and young child feeding is based upon the Innocenti Declaration for the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding. The aim is to create an environment globally that empowers women to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and continue to breastfeed for two years or more. This is optimal infant and young child feeding, the Best Start to life. It is expected to improve the nutrition status, growth and development, health and thus the survival of infants and young children.
• The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action: WABA is a global network of organizations and individuals who believe breastfeeding is the right of all children and mothers and who dedicate themselves to protect, promote and support this right. WABA acts on the Innocenti Declaration and works in liaison with UNICEF.
• The International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation: The Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of excellence in research and the dissemination of research findings in the field of human milk and lactation.
• The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine: The ABM is a worldwide organization of physicians dedicated to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding and human lactation. Their mission is to unite members of the various medical specialties with this common purpose.
• Wellstart International: Wellstart International's mission is to advance the knowledge, skills, and ability of health care providers regarding the promotion, protection, and support of optimal infant and maternal health and nutrition from conception through the completion of weaning.

Some Really Good Breastfeeding Pages:

• Breastfeeding.com: Breastfeeding information, support, humor, news, supplies, advocacy, stories, attitude and more.
• Breastfeeding & Attachment Parenting Twins:A wonderful resource for parents of twins - not to be missed!
• Breastfeeding: Good For Babies, Mothers, And The Planet:
• Dr. Katherine Dettwyler's Thoughts on Breastfeeding: Dr. Katherine Dettwyler is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Nutrition at Texas A&M University. This collection of web pages features some of Prof. Dettwyler's thoughts on breastfeeding, gleaned from posts to email lists, her books, and other writings.
• Index of Dr. Jack Newman's Articles: Dr. Jack Newman is a pediatrician. He started the first hospital-based breastfeeding clinic in Canada in 1984. He has been a consultant with UNICEF for the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in Africa.
• Dr. Hale's Breastfeeding Pharmacology Page: Dr. Hale is an experienced clinical pharmacologist with many years of lecturing in all areas of pharmacology and therapeutics. He currently is considered a leading expert in the use of medications in breastfeeding women and travels world-wide lecturing on the topic of using medications in breastfeeding mothers.
• Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre: BFLRC "supporting the people who support breastfeeding" with articles, education and motivation resources for health care professionals including doctors, nurses, lactation consultants, peer counselors, peer helpers and others providing parents with infant feeding information.
• The Adoptive Breastfeeding Resource Website: A site that offers information and support to mother's interested in nursing an adopted child.

Nursing Wear:

• Motherwear Inc.: - Nursing clothes, very nice, a little expensive.
• Motherhood Nursingwear - Motherhood Maternity now offers nursing wear too, very affordable.
• Expressiva Nursingwear - Fashionable clothing for breastfeeding mothers.
• Nursing Mamas - Nursing clothes with zippered openings.
• Mother's Nature - Online marketplace and auctions, everything from maternity & nursing wear to toys.
• Elizabeth Lee Designs - Patterns for nursing moms, Leading Lady Bras & more - now offering ready made clothing!
• Diana Designs - T-shirts - "Mother's Milk, Something Wonderful to Grow On!"

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Natural Mothering: Breastfeeding Basics Page
First on-line: 6/28/1996

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