Birth & Breastfeeding Resources As one whom his mother
comforts so shall I (God) comfort you in Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:11 Along the bank of the of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail. They will bear fruit every month, because water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for medicine. Ezekiel 47:12
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Weaning: best practices and helps for emergency weaning.
Weaning is some times a difficult decision. Sometimes mom must face some challenging situations such as personal illness or separation for some reason. In some cases the baby dies or is relinquished for adoption and is not available for breastfeeding. In any of these cases you have my sympathy. Sometimes moms choose not to breastfeed. Even for you, your milk will come in about day 3-4 postpartum and you may feel uncomfortable for a few days. Remember choosing not to breastfeed may have undesirable results in yours and your babies health. Not breastfeeding increases moms risk of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers. Diabetic moms may find that blood glucose control is more challenging. I even see moms who have mastitis and are not breastfeeding. For the baby, all formulas have been associated with fatal anaphylactic/ allergic reaction. Formula fed babies have more problems with allergies, eczema, ear infections, urinary and respiratory tract infections and lowered immunity. There is corollary scientific evidence that children who are formula fed are at higher risk for certain cancers, lowered IQ, diabetes (both types 1 and 2), heart disease and obesity. Some women have problems with an over- active milk ejection reflex and we will give some hints on management. This actually should be a relief and a good sign that you produce milk quite well. Weaning starts when anything other than human breast milk goes into the baby's mouth. Mother's should usually choose to wean gradually. Weaning gradually helps the child to adjust and not feel totally rejected. This method also helps mom's supply to adjust and cut down without pain and discomfort. Weaning gradually also helps to see other reactions to foods that might cause trouble. Weaning does not take place at any one specific age. The world wide age at weaning is 4.2 years. Strange? Remember a 4 year old is busy, eats plenty of other foods and is usually nursing for comfort and to sometimes help recover from illness. The World Health Assembly, World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics states that weaning at 2 years is ok. They recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months then other complimentary foods as culturally and developmentally appropriate. If you are having to wean in an urgent situation, be sure to show the child love. If you are weaning to a bottle, have someone who is adept at bottle feeding feed the baby. If the child is over 6 months and developmentally able weaning to a cup may be preferable. If you are weaning due to relinquishment or to loss. Do not panic, take time to mourn both the loss of the baby and the loss of the breastfeeding. It is ok to mourn. It is alright to feel sad, angry, disappointed and rotten. Well let's get to the rest of the story. Colostrum is the first milk; it is present at birth. Lactogenesis or the more mature milk coming in at day 3-4 post birth. You may feel a slight elevation of temperature, fullness and tingling when the milk lets down. This is normal. The fullness may become hardness and skin can become distended and painful. This condition is engorgement and unrelieved engorgement can damage a milk supply permanently. This is not normal. Unrelieved engorgement can lead to a downward spiral, inflammation, mastitis even abscess. I find in my practice that even moms who are not breastfeeding benefit from relieving the pressure that has built up, causes pain and makes it easier for the baby to latch if you were breastfeeding. Pressure relief is available by manual expression, electric or hand breast pump. (see catalog for pumps I carry and prefer for pumping.) Pump for comfort if drying. If you are engorged pump till the breast is softened. Placing cool cabbage leaves in the bra can bring relief to the pain and swelling. Do not use hot leaves as they aggravate the engorgement. Wash the leaves then place in the bra. Remove the leaves when they have wilted. For weaning and drying rotate and keep in fresh leaves for 24 hours. See below for overactive milk ejection reflex. Continue to drink plenty of fluids to thirst. You, if you are post- birth, are recovering from child birth. You have lost fluids and blood from the birth. Your kidneys need to function properly and fluids like soup and tea are easy on a digestive system that has most likely gone without full nourishment in the labor process. Yes, digestion slows but the need for energy continues during labor. Postpartum your energy needs continue. Withholding fluids does nothing to stop engorgement. If you are weaning later, summer heat and daily water needs are still needed, for best body function. You may make teas of drying herbs; parsley, sage, thyme, and mints work well. The first few may taste a bit nasty to some so use a little sweetener to cut the bitter taste. Teas can be made by pulling the spice from the cabinet. Use a coffee filter if you want, or a tea ball or spoon. Take about 1tsp (5mg) of the dried herb and place in filter or spoon. Place the herb in a cup. Pour over the herb about 6 ounces of boiling water and let the tea steep about 10 minutes. Drink a cup about every 6-8 hours as desired. This you may need to do this for one or two days. These teas may be used for over-active let down reflex. But you only use 1/4 to 1/2 cup per day. Use these teas for a day or two until the problem resolves. You should be working with an experienced Lactation consultant Herbal Tinctures of the same herbs may also be used. To use tincture measure not with the dropper but with a measuring spoon. The usual dose for tinctures to dry a milk supply is 3ml 3 times daily. For engorgement usually only 2 doses are needed at 6 hour intervals to allow for the movement of the milk. DO NOT BIND YOUR BREASTS. That practice is out of date and can cause damage to breast tissue, cause mastitis due to too much pressure and is painful. Binding puts too much pressure on breasts and usually quite unevenly to pinch, or even cause abscess on tissue that is exposed. However, it is wise to wear a well fitting, supportive bra. Allow a bit of room for breast pads or soft cloths to absorb leakage. Also it would be better to go slightly larger rather one that is tight and cuts into the skin. There are two things worth spending money on; a well fitting bra and a good well fitting pair of shoes. These are two items that women spend a lot of time in. If these are uncomfortable the rest of you will be uncomfortable. That advice came from my great grandmother- a midwife and wet nurse back in the early 1900's. Good advice never grows old. Review: WEANING: 1. Drop 1 feeding at the time, wait 3 days if you can. The hardest two feedings to drop are usually early morning and the bedtime one. I would start with maybe the one you will miss (be absent from) the most often say the lunch time feeding. After 3 days drop a second and so on. If you are going to formula, make sure it is mixed properly. If the baby is older it may go to a cup or if over 6 months he may be showing signs of readiness for solids in this feeding. 2. If your breasts feel too full, pump or hand express off excess only for comfort and drink some tea. Or you may use a dose of Homeopathic Lac Caninum 30C in its place. 3. Most all pumped milk can be saved, and frozen for further usage. Many moms pull this out when the child is sick to give antibodies to. Emergency weaning/drying milk up (within a 2-3 day time period).
Your breasts should dry in 24-48 hours this way. If not see a Local breastfeeding professional. There are medications that do dry breast milk. Hormonal birth control methods when used in the first 6 weeks do diminish supply or dry. Your doctor will have to prescribe these. OVER ACTIVE LET DOWN REFLEX/ over supply. 1. Use 1 breast for at least 2 feedings per day. You may need to use it for feedings for 6 hours or so. 2. You may want to pump off the foremilk until MER has passed so that the baby can handle the flow of the milk. 3. You will also want to pump off the unused breast for comfort after each feeding. Freeze and store milk. This milk can be used later. 4. Sage tea 1/4 cup 3x daily until supply is more manageable. This usually only takes a couple of days. If you do not like sage, lac Caninum 30C only 2x daily or a plate of tabouli ( it is made with parsley a traditional milk dryer). Tincture of these herbs would be 3mls 2x daily for 2-3 days. Remember here the goal is not to dry up, just make supply more manageable. 5. Have patience. Use cool packs for pain and massage is gentle. Good luck. x= times
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page is for educational purposes and is not meant to diagnose or treat specific
problems. The owners are not legally held responsible to what you do with this
information. However, feel free to share this with your doctor, lactation
consultant or other heath care providers.