Your breastfed baby has thrived off your milk and is doing quite well but she’s approaching her first birthday. Now people are saying your baby should drink cow’s milk, rather than exclusively drink milk from the mama.

Do breastfed babies need cow’s milk?

Nope! There is nothing special about cow’s milk. It’s merely a convenient way for children to get calcium, protein, fats and vitamin D–all of which can be consumed from other sources. Your child’s calcium needs can also be met through broccoli, kale and other leafy greens, fortified nondairy milks (soy milk, rice milk, etc.), fortified OJ, blackstrap molasses, sesame seeds… and the list goes on.

Protein is included in most foods, especially beans, peas, tofu and meat. Fat can be obtained from oils and nut butters. Vitamin D comes from sunlight exposure and cod liver oil.

Cow’s milk is not necessary for a breastfed baby.

Breastmilk is much more nutritious than milk from a cow – and you can’t be allergic to human milk (although rarely your baby may react to proteins that show up in the milk, the most likely of which is dairy proteins).

After all, breastmilk was meant to nourish and sustain humans–not cows, who have drastically different nutritional needs.

So if your child hates cow’s milk or you choose not to provide it, there’s absolutely no need to feel guilty.

Moms, this can be either good or bad news depending on your fitness level: Exercising does not interfere with breastfeeding. Since I love working out, this is great news. I have the green light to work out as much as I’d like without it affecting my milk supply. Cool.

But, if going to the gym sounds as exciting as going to the dentist, this news may come with mixed feelings. Now you don’t have an excuse for not exercising!

Whatever your feelings are, there are some guidelines to follow when you do start exercising:

Breastfeeding and Exercise: Tips

- You may find it more comfortable to nurse before you hit the gym. Engorgement is painful, especially if you’re running or taking a step class.

- Make sure you have a supportive, properly fitted running bra. This will help prevent issues with mastitis or plugged ducts.

Such as:
La Leche League High Impact Softcup Nursing sports bra

La Leche League Low Impact Softcup Nursing sports bra

- Drink plenty of water and don’t overdo it.

- If your baby gives you the cold shoulder when you return from the gym, he may just be reacting to your sweat. (Can you blame him?) Rinse off and he should nurse just fine.

* Always consult with your health care provider before starting an exercise routine.

Book Recommendation:

Eat Well, Lose Weight, While Breastfeeding: The Complete Nutrition Book for Nursing Mothers

You’ve probably heard of “baby bottle mouth”–how letting your baby go to sleep with a bottle of formula will result in a mouthful of rotting, decaying teeth.

But what about breastfeeding your baby to sleep or nursing throughout the night? Will this practice also destroy your baby’s precious new teeth?

Well, the answer depends on who you ask. Not all pediatricians will give you the same answer. According to board-certified lactation consultant Kelly Bonyata, a valid link has not been made between breastfeeding and tooth decay.

Many breastfeeding experts believe that cavities happen DESPITE nursing, not because of it. Certainly the evidence points to breastfeeding being best for baby’s teeth and oral development. Breastfed babies need less orthodontia as they grow older. In one study, teeth were placed in a container of water, and another in a container of breastmilk. The tooth soaked in breastmilk showed less signs of decay than the one in plain water!

Formula wrecks havoc on teeth because it pools in the mouth, bathing teeth in sugar, which just sits there throughout the night. Breastmik is not thought to pool in the mouth the way formula does since baby has to work hard to “milk” the nipple, drawing it back onto the soft palate, where it goes down the throat. Breastmilk enters a baby’s mouth beyond the teeth where it can’t cause so much harm.

Keep in mind that some babies are genetically predisposed to cavities and will develop caries much more easily than others. Whether your baby is exclusively breastfed or eating some solid foods, make sure to clean his teeth twice a day. All you need to do is lightly wipe the teeth–no toothpaste necessary.

Book Recommendation:
Cure Tooth Decay: Prevent, Heal And Prevent Cavities With Nutrition

“Don’t nurse that baby to sleep or he won’t ever fall asleep on his own.”

If you ever nursed your baby to sleep, you’ve probably heard this well-meaning (but totally wrong) piece of advice.

I mostly knew this advice was misguided but there were those times–like when my child wouldn’t go to sleep after nursing for 45 minutes–when I start to doubt my ways.

Did I create a monster? Should I have avoiding nursing my son to sleep even though it’s what he wanted/needed?

Don’t feel bad if you nurse your baby to sleep and the situation works for you. Emphasis on you–not your mother, your aunt or some stranger at the grocery store. If you’re happy, continue with it.

All children put themselves to sleep eventually. It’s a developmental milestone they reach on their own, at their own pace.

If, however, nursing your child to sleep isn’t working for your family (it’s making you resentful, you’re feeling exhausted, etc.) then try to slowly transition baby to put herself to sleep. Nurse her until just before she’s asleep. Then transition to nursing her until she’s relaxed.

Incorporate reading a book or singing a song into your bedroom routine. Try to get your child to a comfortable place where she feels secure enough to fall asleep.

This transition may take a while, so be patient. In tough times, remember that children grow up fast and this too will pass.

Book Recommendation:
Nighttime Parenting: How to Get Your Baby and Child to Sleep

In short, YES!

Breastmilk is a hundred times better than chicken noodle soup for a sick little one. It contains antibodies created specifically to fight the baby’s illness and is easily digested by even the fussiest tummies.

If your baby is congested, keep her as upright as possible when nursing. Wearing her in a sling or baby carrier and nursing in a semi upright position may help her manage breathing and nursing.

Breastmilk is not a “dairy product”. You may have been advised by your baby’s doctor to keep him or her away from dairy, but breastmilk is just fine, in fact it’s just what baby needs to help her heal.

Nurse often and drop some saline drops or drops of breastmilk into her stuffy nostrils. Nursing in a steamy bathroom may help clear her nose. Unlike cow’s milk, breastmilk does not increase mucus production.

If your baby refuses to eat, offer him expressed milk in a cup or in a spoon. You can even make “momsicles” by freezing your breastmilk until it’s slushy and letting baby eat it with a spoon (like a sno-cone!).

If your little one has diarrhea or vomiting, keep nursing. Sick children need more frequent feedings to prevent dehydration and hasten recovery. Even if the milk seems to come up quickly after it goes down, likely some of it is already digested, giving baby much needed nutrition.

Nursing also provides baby with the comfort s/he is used to, helping him heal quickly and keeping him as comfortable as possible during the illness.

Always talk to your baby’s pediatrician when you notice signs of infection or illness. But, in nearly every case, the best thing to do is breastfeed the days away and take time to really nurture your baby. And rest assured that your milk is better than any packaged remedy.

Taking care of baby when you’re sick is no fun… but can you breastfeed when you’re sick? What about breastfeeding with swine flu (H1N1)?

Breastfeeding, in almost all cases, should continue when mom is sick.

Most illness in mom is caused by a virus, which are typically most contagious before mom even knows she’s sick. That means baby has already been exposed. Most of the time, sudden weaning causes more problems than it solves – both for baby’s physical and emotional well being.

When you’re sick, all you want to do is lie in bed and watch movies or read a book. But, you’ve got a baby to feed. Unlike formula-feeding moms, you can resume lying in bed while nourishing your child. So think about that whenever you complain about nursing a baby: at least you don’t have to get up.

The best thing you can do when you’re sick with a cold, flu or another common illness is to continue nursing your child.

Breastmilk contains antibodies that are specific to your illness.

If you have the flu for example, your milk will protect your baby against the flu or at least lessen the severity of it. How cool is that?! Often, the nursing baby in the house doesn’t get sick at all, especially if the baby is still exclusively breastfed and not eating solid foods yet.

It is very rare that you’ll have to discontinue breastfeeding because of an illness.

As always, consult with a breastfeeding supportive health care provider about your specific condition. For some serious illnesses, you may be advised to give your child expressed breastmilk for a short time because you are taking medication incompatible with nursing – or you’ll have to nurse on a particular schedule so that the baby is eating when the drug isn’t present in your milk.

But, in the vast majority of instances, you can breastfeed just fine.

Here is a link to an article published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on the topic: Can I Breastfeed With Swine Flu (H1N1)?

In a nutshell, the article discourages weaning even in the case of mom being sick with swine flu. It suggests mom pump her milk and have someone else feed baby, so that baby can continue to receive antibodies she has produced.

Another reason to breastfeed your baby. While breastmilk does contain some fluoride, infant formula contains far more, and apparently, in amounts that are likely to cause damage to developing teeth.

photo credit: Roebot

All Infant Formula Contains Fluoride at Tooth-Discoloring Levels

New York – October 21, 2009 – All infant formulas, whether ready-to-feed, concentrated or organic, contain fluoride at levels which can discolor developing teeth, reports the October 2009 Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) (1).

Fluoride, added to some bottled and public water supplies ostensibly to prevent cavities, is also in many foods and beverages, including infant formula. Excessive fluoride discolors and/or weakens permanent teeth (moderate fluorosis).

Researchers measured fluoride content of 49 infant formulas. See:
http://www.freewebs.com/fluoridation/infantformulafluoride.htm

The research team concludes, “Most infants from birth to age 12
months who consume predominantly powdered and liquid concentrate formula are likely to exceed the upper tolerable limit [of fluoride] if the formula is reconstituted with optimally fluoridated water (0.7 – 1.2 ppm).”

Surprisingly, the study reveals that all 6-month-olds and younger will also exceed the lower “adequate intake” (0.01 mg/day) from all formulas concentrated or not) risking moderate dental fluorosis from formula, alone. (2)

Breast milk contains about 250 times less fluoride than “optimally”uoridated water and isn’t linked to fluorosis.

“Babies don’t need fluoride and fluoride ingestion doesn’t reduce tooth decay,” says attorney Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. “So why are US babies still exposed to unnecessary fluoride chemicals via the water and food supplies and why aren’t parents informed of the consequences?” asks Beeber.

Up to 48% of school children have fluorosed teeth – 4% severe, reports the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (3).

Both the CDC and the American Dental Association’s web sites advise parents to avoid mixing fluoridated water into concentrated infant formula, but they have never effectively broadcast this information to parents or the media (4,5).

A review of human studies by different researchers published in JADA (July 2009) concluded, “Our systematic review indicated that the consumption of infant formula [concentrated and ready-to-feed] is, on average, associated with an increased risk of developing at least some detectable level of enamel fluorosis.” (6)

“Parents, protect your children since dental and government agencies won’t. Petition local and state legislators to stop adding unnecessary and harmful fluoride chemicals into public water supplies and, thereby, into our food supply,” says Beeber. “Further, demand that the fluoride content of all food products be required on labels.”

Researchers agree that infant formula levels should be lowered.

“One interpretation of the available evidence would be that public health officials should create guidelines for infant formula consumption ensuring that the upper intake level established by the Institute of Medicine… is not
exceeded. Another approach would be to strive for ‘biological normality’ and to strive for fluoride levels observed in breast milk,” write Hujoel et al. in “Infant Formula and Enamel Fluorosis: A Systematic Review. (6)

A recent investigation by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that over-exposure to fluoride among infants is a widespread problem in most major American cities. EWG’s study found that, on any given day, up to 60% of formula-fed babies in US cities were exceeding the Institute of Medicine’s “upper tolerable” limit for fluoride. (6a)

In 2004, fluoride researcher Dr. Teresa A. Marshall told Reuters Health, “Very young infants are unlikely to benefit from the caries-prevention effects of fluoride…They may be at increased risk of dental fluorosis.” (7) Marshall co-authored “Associations between Intakes of Fluoride from Beverages during Infancy and Dental Fluorosis of Primary Teeth,” in the Journal of American Clinical Nutrition. (b)

In 2000, researcher A K Mascarenhas evaluating only well-conducted studies from the 1980s through the 1990s concluded in Pediatric Dentistry that infant formula was a major risk factor for dental fluorosis. (8)

As part of the on-going Iowa Fluoride Study, Levy and his team measured the fluoride content of infant formula and found from 0.15 to 0.30 ppm in ready-to-feed infant formula. (9)

Common household water filters (e.g. carbon filters) do not remove fluoride and unlike chlorine, which dissipates upon boiling, fluoride becomes more concentrated when water is boiled.

USDA: Fluoride-content of common foods: http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=6312

Pictures of fluorosis
http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/teeth/fluorosis/moderate-severe.html
Contact: Paul Beeber, Esq 516-433-8882 nyscof@aol.com

SOURCE: New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.
http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof
http://www.FluorideAction.Net

References:

1) “Assessing a potential risk factor for enamel fluorosis: a
preliminary evaluation of fluoride content in infant formulas,”
Journal of the American Dental Association October 2009

2) http://fluoridation.webs.com/intakefromformula.htm

3) http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/figures/s403a1t23.gif

4) http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/infant_formula.htm

5) http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/adanewsarticle.asp?art…

6) “Infant Formula and Enamel Fluorosis: A Systematic Review,”
Journal of the American Dental Association by Hujoel, et al, July 2009

6a) “National Academy Calls for Lowering Fluoride Limits in Tap
Water,” EWG News Release, March 2006 http://www.ewg.org/node/21000

7) “Too Much Fluoride May Harm Babies’ Teeth,” Reuters Health, May 5,
2004
http://www.fluoridealert.org/media/2004c.html

Pediatric Dentistry. July-August 2000. “Risk factors for dental
fluorosis: a review of the recent literature,” by Mascarenhas AK
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10969430?dopt=Abstract

9) Dental Clinics of North America 47(2003), “Current and future role
of fluoride in nutrition,” by Warren & Levy, 225-243

More evidence that infant formula is linked to dental fluorosis:

http://tinyurl.com/AllFormulaContainsFluoride

More: Carrie’s Interview with Bill Osmunson DDS, MPH, and Fluoride Action Network Spokesperson on the risks of fluoride.

Workplace Troubleshooting Tips for Moms-to-Be: First Trimester

By Marjorie Greenfield, MD

Early pregnancy is a time of transformation—an exciting roller-coaster ride that for many women includes some stomach-flipping surprises. A demanding job can amplify the challenges, but knowing what’s ahead can really help.

Here are some early-pregnancy troubleshooting tips:

How to handle early-pregnancy fatigue at work:

* Accept less of yourself off the job—you may not be able to get anything done in the evenings for a few weeks. Eat take-in, for example, instead of cooking, or take a cab instead of public transportation.
* Rebalance your load. Try to figure out what time of day is best for you and shift your work hours, or schedule your hardest tasks for your high-energy times.
* Replenish with a brisk walk (wakes you up when you feel sleepy) or a light snack. Take a catnap during lunch hour.

How to handle early-pregnancy nausea at work:

* Avoid triggers—such as smells—that will set you off.
* If your prenatal vitamin makes you sick, take your vitamin during the time of day that you feel best, or talk to your practitioner about just using folic acid or children’s chewable vitamins until you feel better.
* Keep bland dry foods, such as crackers, in your desk and eat them multiple times a day. Drink liquids separately from when you try to eat. Never get too full or too hungry.

How to stay physically healthy at work.

* Establish healthy eating patterns at work. Eat when you’re hungry, but make them small portions, and have healthy fruits and vegetables on hand for snacks.
* Try to get exercise during the day—either by walking on your lunch hour, or by walking up or down the stairs at work.
* Avoid heavy lifting, extreme heat or cold, long hours, swing shifts, excessive standing, and exposure to toxins.
* Keep a bottle of water—half frozen, if you like it cold—on hand and sip frequently.

How to hide your pregnancy until you’re ready to reveal it:

* Combine trips to the bathroom with other reasons for getting up, such as making copies or posting mail.
* Plan a vacation in your eighth or ninth week, when nausea is often at its peak.
* Sit next to the door at meetings so you can escape more easily if you need to.
* Keep mouthwash and a change of clothing in your desk.
* To avoid buying new pants in the beginning, use a rubber band doubled up through the buttonhole to extend the reach of the top button on your pants, and wear a top that covers your waistline.

* * * * *

Marjorie Greenfield MD is a practicing board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, and associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine MacDonald Women’s Hospital. An esteemed expert in her field, Dr. Greenfield has earned more than a dozen top awards, including spots on several “Best Doctors in America” lists over the past decade, and is author of The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book (Yale University Press).

10 Work-Life Balance Tips for New Moms

By Marjorie Greenfield, MD

The topic of balancing work and motherhood could fill many books. In my practice, I talk to new moms every day who invariably share their thoughts and ideas about the unexpected challenges of caring for young children, attending to their personal needs, and managing to perform well in their jobs.

Here are some different strategies that I’ve found are helpful when dealing with jobs and young children.

Be proud of your juggling abilities. Although you may sometimes feel overwhelmed, step back and look at all you’re achieving. By handling it all, you become an inspiring role model for your kids.

Learn to live with guilt. Most moms feel guilty when dividing their time, attention, and loyalties between home and work. Accept that you’ll sometimes feel conflicted, and then move on.

Think creatively about work options. Try to negotiate work hours that fit with your whole life. Ideas include part-time, flextime, job sharing, and having your partner work less and parent more.

Find childcare that works for your family. Learn about your childcare options as early as possible, and pick the one that will free you physically and emotionally to do your best on the job.

Have backup childcare at the ready. Plan ahead for when (not if) a childcare crisis will develop. Some ideas: visiting nurse “sniffle care” for mildly sick children; trading childcare with other parents; getting you or your partner’s boss to allow an emergency day off.

Simplify your domestic life. Shop online; ask your partner to help more around the house; have dry cleaning, groceries, or drugstore items delivered; pay for a lawn mower or house cleaner.

Be efficient and organized. Spend the last few minutes of your workday preparing for the next morning. Keep only one calendar and coordinate with your spouse–doctor appointments, kids’ activities, work obligations. Put clothes out for the next day; make lunches the night before. Pick up toys just once a day.

Book grown-up time. When life gets busy, you need to schedule time for yourself or you won’t get it. Have boundaries, such as a closed bedroom door, and set rituals, such as strict bedtime hours. Nurture your relationship. A happy parent has happy kids.

Do a reality check. Periodically reassess how your arrangements are working for yourself and your family as a whole. If you’re miserable, make changes. Saying “no” to people who want too much of you is okay.

Remember to enjoy life. Take pleasure in your children–they grow up quickly. Think of parenting as a gift, and make time for fun with your family. Don’t forget to laugh and keep it light.

* * * * *

Marjorie Greenfield MD is a practicing board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, and associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine MacDonald Women’s Hospital. An esteemed expert in her field, Dr. Greenfield has earned more than a dozen top awards, including spots on several “Best Doctors in America” lists over the past decade, and is author of The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book (Yale University Press).

The ladies over at MommyCommunity are giving away a free Baby’s Bliss nipple cream.

Go here to check it out: Is Breastfeeding Difficult?

Before you go, see these related articles on this site:

Is breastfeeding hard?

Why breastfeeding is hard