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Welcome to milkmakers
delicious cookies that support a healthy, abundant supply of breastmilk
World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7, 2010.
In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, milkmakers is donating 10% of our profits to Open Arms Perinatal Services, a wonderful organization that works directly with immigrant and low-income women to give them the support they need to succeed with breastfeeding. Please help spread the word and together we can make a real difference in the lives of many.
This year, World Breastfeeding Week marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Innocenti Declaration. What is the Innocenti Declaration and why it is so important?
The Innocenti Declaration calls for all governments to develop national breastfeeding policies and set appropriate national targets. By integrating their breastfeeding policies into their overall health and development policies, governments can reinforce protections and support for breastfeeding women and their children.
At a global level, this is about creating a supportive environment for all women and children to reinforce a breastfeeding culture. We can increase women's confidence in their ability to breastfeed; remove negative influences that manipulate perceptions of breastfeeding; and eliminate obstacles within the health care system, the workplace, and community.
Despite the research showing the benefits of breastfeeding, most American infants are still fed formula. Nearly one-third of all babies never even have the chance to breastfeed. Around 70% of mothers start breastfeeding in the hospital, but fewer than 40% continue more than three months, according to a 2001 National Immunization Survey.
WHY are so few babies breastfed? Differences in cultural customs, education, family support, and income are factors, as are a lack of accommodations for pumping at work and the widespread availability of free formula for low-income mothers. Another challenge has been persuading immigrants to keep the breastfeeding traditions from their home countries when formula can be seen as a luxury. Open Arms Perinatal Services is one of many organizations working to change those numbers, and milkmakers is proud to support their work.
I encourage you to read more about the incredible work Open Arms is doing in the article below. You will also find great insight into your baby's breastfeeding instincts from our Lactation Consultant, Renee.
An Open Arms Doula Is there to Support a New Mom | Happy Nursing!
emily
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Your Baby Has Breastfeeding Instincts
Renee Beebe, IBCLC |
Letting your baby show you how she wants to position herself can help you understand how best to help her.
Infant mammals have one thing in common; they all breastfeed. In addition, they are all equipped to squirm, crawl or swim to the breast and latch and happily suckle without the help of their mothers. It's necessary for all infant mammals to have these skills. Otherwise, they would not survive.
But human babies are different than other mammals, right? Don't they need someone to "latch them on"?
Yes, human babies ARE different from other mammals. They are smarter and even more capable than their furry counterparts. After some help to get to mom's torso, a newborn will have no trouble finding the breast and suckling comfortably and effectively.
While holding your baby snuggled into your chest, you have probably noticed the reflexes that help baby find the breast. When your baby is ready to breastfeed, she turns her head back and forth on your chest and moves her body toward one breast or another while her mouth is wide open. She may also bob up and down on your chest with an open mouth. This can be quite comical to observe, but it is serious business for your baby. It is survival. When your baby does those things, she is looking for your breast.
If your baby has been having trouble with breastfeeding, or if breastfeeding has been uncomfortable for you, you might want to try letting your baby show you how it's done. To learn how read more here.
Have a question for Renee? Email us at info@milkmakers.com
Written by Renee Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC. Renee is a lactation consultant in private practice in Seattle, WA available for home/hospital visits & phone consultations. |
Open Arms-Supporting Breastfeeding Moms
Open Arms embraces a world that cherishes birthing women, their babies, families and communities. Our mission is to support, educate, respect, honor and empower women and their families throughout the childbearing year.
An Open Arms Doula supports a new mom with breastfeeding  |
As the only organization in the US to provide paid birth doula services at no cost to families - low-income, immigrant, refugee, socially isolated and young teen mothers are able to receive support during their birth and early breastfeeding experience. By caring and advocating for women during these vulnerable moments, women are able to grow into their own power as women and mothers. This allows them to find their own voice, and become advocates for their own and their family's health and well being.
Clients and their doulas create trusting relationships based on culturally appropriate and relevant information sharing, listening, caring and respect. Because of this, Open Arms clients have a c/section rate that is half that of local hospitals, a 94% breastfeeding initiation rate, and very positive feelings about their birth experiences. Doulas work prenatally to educate and inform clients about the benefits and challenges of breastfeeding. Together, they develop a plan that includes involving the client's family and support systems. Creating an opportunity to foresee solutions to potential problems and celebrate achievements ensure a high breastfeeding success rate.
Along with the Birth Doula Services Program, Open Arms is a community partner in the White Center Early Learning Initiative. The Outreach Doula program provides extended home visiting support to Latina and Somali women in the White Center neighborhood, following them from early pregnancy through the baby's second birthday.
Beginning in Fall 2010, Open Arms is excited to begin offering Peer Breastfeeding Counselors in partnership with the WIC program at Public Health Seattle & King County. The counselors are on-call day and night to provide support and information to low-income women wanting to succeed with their breastfeeding.
To learn more or make a donation please visit
Written by Annie Moffat, Program Director for Open Arms Perinatal Services |
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Real Mom:
Shanda Galloway Sedalia
Attorney & Mom to Ainsley & Levi, 8 month old twin boys
I work full time as in-house counsel for a Government contractor and I'm the mother of 8 month old twin boys. Like all working moms, I find it challenging to balance my career with life as a first time mom. As they say, there is no instruction manual. During my pregnancy several moms of multiples warned me that nursing would be "impossible," but others were very encouraging. I resolved to give it a go and was thrilled to find milkmakers on my breastfeeding journey. With a lot of commitment and perseverance, along with really fabulous cookies, the boys and I have found nursing to be a truly rewarding experience.
I really struggled to maintain my supply when I returned to work after 3 months of maternity leave. I was literally pumping around the clock to ensure the boys had enough milk for the next day. Luckily I read about milkmakers on the popsugar blog around that same time. I started eating two per day and now not only do the boys have enough, I've got a little stash in the freezer too. milkmakers have taken the stress out of nursing. There's no more hoping and praying that I'll produce enough for two hungry boys-I know I will. Not to mention, YUM!!!!
My boys have taught me: Don't sweat the small stuff. If your babies are happy and healthy, you're doing well (yes, even if there's spit up on your shirt).
I have changed since becoming a mom: Being a mom has really centered me. I stop to smell the roses a bit more than I did pre-kids.
I wish someone would have told me before having kids that: Even when you get sleep it's not the really carefree deep sleep you could get before pregnancy/babies.
Advice & wisdom I can share with other new moms: I am generally a bit type-A in my approach to life but there are many, many things about parenting that you can't anticipate. My new philosophy is go-with-the-flow!
I enjoy most about breastfeeding: The opportunity to bond with my babies and know that I'm giving them a healthy start in life. There's nothing better than four sweet baby eyes looking up at you as if to say, "Mommy, you're the best."
The greatest reward: Chubby cheeks and thighs. I love looking at my thriving babies and knowing that my body made it possible.
Pumping tip: Go hands free whenever possible and multi-task. You can send lots of emails in the 10 or 15 minutes it takes to pump. I've even taken conference calls while pumping.
When I have a chance to "treat" myself to something: It is a mani-pedi!
Ainsley & Levi |
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