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Breastfeeding Class for Doulas, Doula Candidates and other Medical Professionals

Posted by Regina on September 19th, 2011

Breastfeeding at Full Circle would like to announce a breastfeeding class for Doulas, Doula candidates and other professionals.

Where: Breastfeeding at Full Circle 1241 Mamaroneck Ave White Plains

When: October 1, 2011

Time: 11:00 AM to 2:15PM

Cost: $65.00

RSVP: 914-421-1500 or register online here.

This class will be 3 hours long which will meet the educational requirements of DONA. Educational credits have been requested from Dona, we are awaiting approval. This class has also been approved by IBCLE (International Board of Lactation Examiners).

Some of the information covered:

Anatomy and Physiology
Pharmacology
Breastfeeding Basics
Ethics
Counseling the Nursing Couple
Baby’s growth

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Frozen Breastmilk and a power outage.

Posted by Regina on August 27th, 2011

This research was done by Breastfeeding Arts. It is very informative and will help women answer questions about defrosted breastmilk.

Lots of conversation going on about re-freezing thawed breastmilk with Irene bearing down on the East Coast this weekend … and thought I’d share some of the information discussed in my lactation circles online.

Colleagues have discussed protocols …  where if 50% or more remains frozen the milk can be refrozen. If more than 50% is thawed then you have the 24 hour rule.  If the frozen ice crystals are still present in the milk, it can be refrozen, even if partially thawed …. things to keep in mind.

And then there’s this study & further links below  …

(grateful for my IBCLC yahoo groups and colleagues for all this, thanks!)

Breastfeeding Medicine

Effect of Environmental conditions on Unpasteurized Donor Human Milk

To cite this article:

David J. Rechtman, Martin L. Lee and H. Berg. Breastfeeding Medicine. Spring 2006, 1(1): 24-26. doi:10.1089/bfm.2006.1.24.

The milk studied was donor milk expressed by mothers who took no special sanitary precautions. The milk was first stored at -20°C (-4°F) for two months and then at -80°C (-110°F) until its use in the experiment. Then the milk was thawed overnight to 4°C (39° F), separated into different sample batches, and refrozen to -80°C (-110°F).

The second phase of the experiment began by thawing these sample batches of milk to a room temperature of 23°C (73°F). Then each batch was exposed to one of the following conditions:

* 8°C (46°F) for 8 hours

* 8°C (46°F) for 24 hours * 23°C

(73°F) for 4 hours

* 23°C

(73°F) for 8 hours

* Multiple freeze-thaw cycles of varying lengths

* A steady -20°C (-4°F), considered the control

The Results

None of the milk developed unacceptable bacterial counts, the main concern about refreezing milk. In fact, they did not even come close.

There were some changes in vitamin content. Vitamin A levels stayed stable, but vitamin C levels decreased to about one-half when kept at room temperature for 8 hours and by one-fourth when refrigerated for 24 hours. However, the authors note that the reduced vitamin levels are considered adequate for full-term babies and older infants by the National Academy of Medicine.

Differences in fatty acids levels in the milk were considered clinically insignificant and unrelated to repeated freezing and thawing.

The authors write:  “Based on these data, it appears that unpasteurized milk that has been thawed in the refrigerator for up to 8 hours may be safely refrozen….

This should allow for… the salvage of milk that mothers might otherwise have been told to discard.”

This study further confirms the robustness of human milk. If its results are replicated, it will also give clinicians another tool to help mothers meet their breastfeeding goals. Then, if due to a power outage or something else, a mother finds herself with a larger amount of thawed milk than her baby can take in 24 hours, she will have the option of refreezing her thawed milk rather than discarding it.

For mothers who express their milk, this information may help them use more and discard less, resulting in better health outcomes for their babies.

D.J. Rechtman, M.L. Lee and H. Berg, Effect of environmental conditions on unpasteurized donor human milk. Breastfeed Med 2006: 1(1):24-26.

Article available here.

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Breastfeeding and What You Eat

Posted by Regina on August 17th, 2011

Did you ever wonder if the flavor of what you eat affects your baby?  Most women ask me questions about what they can or cannot eat while breastfeeding.  Some moms have  discontinued eating broccoli, cabbage and beans for fear the baby will have gas.  The reality is that there aren’t many limitations and, in fact, exposing your baby to more foods while in the womb can help to shape food preferences later in life. You can go back to eating soft cheeses, sushi, deli meats and vegetables.  The old wives tale that says vegetables are the cause of gas and discomfort is just that, an old wives tale.  If your baby does have gas, it is usually because of dairy, soy or nuts and, in serious cases, an elimination diet should be tried.

Julie Mennella, who studies taste in infants at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, found that there isn’t a single flavor that does not show up in amniotic fluid or breast milk.  ”Things like vanilla, carrot, garlic, anise, mint — these are some of the flavors that have been shown to be transmitted to amniotic fluid or mother’s milk,” says Julie.  Her work has been published in the journal Pediatrics.  This makes a lot of evolutionary sense.  Even before they are born, we expose our children to the foods that introduces them to their culture and family traditions.   To read the article please click here.

What cultural foods does your family introduce to mom to benefit her baby?

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World Breastfeeding Week August 1 to 7, 2011

Posted by Regina on August 4th, 2011

World Breastfeeding Week is being celebrated this week in 120 countries around the world with the goal to boost the health of infants worldwide and encourage mothers to breastfeed. There have been many articles written on the benefits of breastfeeding, especially in the infancy stage. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for at least the first year of life. But the truth is, that as a nation, we have fallen short of breastfeeding our own children for any extended period of time.

According to the CDC Breastfeeding Report Card for 2010, 75% of mothers initiated breastfeeding, 43% of mothers were still breastfeeding at 6 months but only 22% were still breastfeeding by 1 year. The question here is why so few continue to a year or more? There are several reasons that have been postulated as to why women do not breastfeed past 6 months. Lactation experts say marketing pressures by infant formula companies, lack of social support and, as moms go back to work, workplaces that don’t encourage the behavior, make it difficult for mothers to go beyond 6 months. Some experts feel it is because moms do not have access to qualified IBCLCs (Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants) in their area, while others feel that women are not supported in the hospitals.

In working with mothers for 13 years as an IBCLC and also working with young families as a social worker before that, I see women as torn. Most want to start off breastfeeding but then there may be challenges. I’ve found that most of the time mom is discouraged by family or friends to continue breastfeeding. The reasons for their opinion range from purely personal, they may feel that breastfeeding limits their own bonding with the baby, to embarrassment, helplessness, or to not understanding all the benefits of breastfeeding or the value of a IBCLC and how she can help the mother.

Whatever decisions women make regarding breastfeeding beyond 6 months, there should be support at home, in the work place and in the community to help mom reach her goal. Education on the benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby should be the focus. Mom’s concerns need to be listened to and assistance should be found for her. Here, at Breastfeeding at Full Circle, we strive to help mothers reach their breastfeeding goals with our Breastfeeding 101 Class, the weekly mother support group and our Going Back to Work and Breastfeeding Class. We want mothers to succeed and enjoy this time with their baby.

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Do you know how to hand express your milk?

Posted by Regina on July 31st, 2011

An article in the New York Times reported, today, that women who learn how to hand express their milk will most likely breastfeed longer. The study was conducted in San Francisco and there were 36 mothers used for the study. This was a small study, but it does give one something to think about.

Hand expression of breast milk is a skill that has become lost through the ages. With all the fancy machines that are out there that you can use to pump, no one bothers to hand express anymore. By using the hand expression motion on your breast, you will learn what your breasts feel like at different times of day and whether there are any plugged ducts that need to be relieved. Hand expression is also good for when you need to relieve pressure in your breasts and you don’t have your pump with you. Some mothers use hand expression while still in the hospital and their baby may be in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Sometimes a pump can just be too bothersome to extract a few drops of colostrum.

When women are more in tune with their bodies, they are able to “feel” where their milk ducts are located. To locate your ducts, place your finger on your nipple and then press about 1 inch back toward your chest wall. You can feel your ducts in a circular pattern about where your areola stops. By knowing where your milk ducts are, you will be able to assess if you baby is latched on to your breast correctly.

To learn how to hand express, you can watch this video from Stanford School Of Medicine http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/HandExpression.html. Please remember to call Breastfeeding at Full Circle with any questions, 914-421-1538. Our lactation consultants are available to assist you in all aspects of breastfeeding.

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What a Great Two Days

Posted by Regina on May 31st, 2011

During the past two days, I was at a health fair for a large credit card company. It was exciting to see the women of all ages who came, especially so many pregnant ones. From what I was told, there is a baby boom happening there and the company wanted “breastfeeding people” at the fair. Once I began to introduce myself to these new mothers, it was interesting to hear what they had to say about working and still providing breastmilk for their children.

Most of the women found a way to make it work. Others felt as though pumping at work was a challenge. I couldn’t help thinking, when I left, of all the ways that an organization like Breastfeeding at Full Circle can help with the transition from pre-parenthood to parenthood and then going back to work. The desire to provide breastmilk for your child is a gift and most people need a little encouragement to continue.

This is what I learned by being with these women for two days:

  1. Most of the women needed a “lactation room” closer to where they worked. Most corporations have very large buildings and women reported having to walk for    10 minutes to get to the designated room. They felt that was taking away from the time they had to pump.
  2. Women commented that the time they were gone to pump was monitored. This made them feel uncomfortable.
  3. When discussing the Federal Law mandating that a woman has the “right” to pump at work, most women were surprised.
  4. Women were also surprised to learn that the pump was a very important piece of equipment and that it needs to “fit correctly” for efficient pumping.

Breastfeeding at Full Circle has a Going Back to Work While Breastfeeding Class. In this class moms will learn how to prepare mom and baby for going back to work, how to bottle feed, the Federal Laws protecting you when you go back to work and much more. Please call for any details.

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Great video on how to use a breastpump.

Posted by Regina on May 19th, 2011

How to use a breast pump.Look at this great video on how to use a breast pump. Ameda is one of the best pumps because of its proven airlock protection. This protection protects the milk from viruses, bacteria, and mold growth. This pump has not been recalled or has not had any problems with the milk backing up into the tubes, which can cause mold in the tubing. We sell this pump in the Shop at Full Circle and now through August there is a $50.00 rebate. What features do you look for in a breast pump?

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Who is the Mother of Your Heart?

Posted by Regina on May 7th, 2011

This Sunday  is Mother’s Day in the United States. This holiday is celebrated around the world. The countries that celebrate Mother’s Day set aside the second Sunday in the month of May to honor mothers. The origins of this holiday began in ancient Egypt.

The day began as the Festival of the goddesses. Isis was the Egyptian goddess that the holiday was created to honor. Isis was considered to be the mother of the pharaohs because of the way she protected her son from harm. The Greeks and Romans also had their own way of celebrating the day dedicated to Mothering. What is most interesting about these celebrations was that the festivals were to celebrate women.

On this day that we celebrate our mothers, we do not have to limit it to the woman who gave us life, we can honor the Mother of our Heart.  These are women who give us courage, wisdom, a safe place to be ourselves, someone who stands by us. Do you have a best friend, a grandmother, an aunt or a coworker who has helped you live the life you were meant to live? Who is the Mother of YOUR Heart? And Janet, thanks for the idea.

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Are You Going Back to Work While Breastfeeding?

Posted by Regina on May 4th, 2011

On May 7th, Breastfeeding at Full Circle will be holding a class for parents who are going back to work and still want to provide breast milk for their child. The class will talk about the Federal Laws around “break time” for pumping, how to introduce a bottle, collection and storage of human milk, baby’s transitioning and moms feelings about going back to work and more.

The class is being taught by Regina Camillieri IBCLC, RLC who is a board certified Lactation Consultant with 13 years experience and has taught corporate lactation classes for companies like Viacom, Goldman Sachs and Cisco Systems.

Please call 914-421-1500 to enroll in the class or click here to register online.

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Why are Doulas so important?

Posted by Regina on May 2nd, 2011

Last week, I taught a workshop for Doulas and other medical professionals. This workshop was an honor and privilege for me to teach. Doulas are an intimate part of the birth process. Here are some of the reasons expectant parents should hire a doula:

  • 50% reduction in the cesarean rate
  • 25% shorter labor
  • 60% reduction in epidural requests
  • 40% reduction in oxytocin use
  • 30% reduction in analgesia use
  • 40% reduction in forceps delivery
  • Breastfeeding will get off to a better start

For people who are not familiar with the word “doula” it comes from a Greek word meaning “woman who serves”. There are two types of Doulas that can be found. A Birth Doula supports a mother while she is in labor and a Post Partum Doula gives support to a mother after her child is born. Each type of Doula has a special place in the parent’s life.

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