Your Child's Journey

wisdom for the big steps little children take

Reasons for Using a Breast Pump

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If you choose to breastfeed, you may also need to pump your breasts sometimes. This article from BabyCenter.com gives lots of information on using a breast pump. Here are the main topics covered.

See more at: BabyCenter.com on using a breast pump

Help for Using a Breast Pump

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Breast-feeding is a commitment — and your efforts are worthwhile. If you’re pumping, follow simple tips for maintaining your milk supply, from pumping often to drinking plenty of fluids.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Breast-feeding is based on supply and demand. The more you breast-feed your baby — or pump while you’re away from your baby — the more milk your breasts will produce. Consider seven tips for pumping success.

1. Relax

Stress can hinder your body’s natural ability to release breast milk. Find a quiet place to pump. It might help to massage your breasts or use warm compresses. You might want to think about your baby, look at a picture of your baby or listen to relaxing music.

2. Pump often

The more you pump, the more milk you’ll produce — especially if you’re using a high-quality pump. If you’re working full time, try to pump for 15 minutes every few hours during the workday. If you can, pump both breasts simultaneously. A double breast pump helps stimulate milk production while reducing pumping time by half.

3. When you’re with your baby, breast-feed on demand

The more you breast-feed your baby when you’re together, the greater your supply will be when you pump. Depending on your schedule, try more-frequent evening, early morning or weekend feedings. If you have a predictable schedule, you might ask your baby’s caregivers to avoid feeding your baby during the last hour of care — so that you can breast-feed your baby as soon as you arrive.

Fun and Funny Kids

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All of us know we feel better when we are laughing than when we are angry, sad, or even just dutiful. Scientists, sociologists, psychologists, and comedians study laughter and humor. They have made some fascinating discoveries.

Dr. Lawrence J. Cohen-a psychologist who specializes in children’s play-says, “A sense of humor offers huge advantages in life. It’s one of the best ways people have figured out to cope with things that are difficult.” Some of the advantages of being able to laugh easily are the ability to build strong friendships, being well-liked by peers, managing frustration, diffusing conflict, and less depression. A good sense of humor is also linked to intelligence, self-esteem, creativity, and problem solving.

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Bonding and Brain Chemicals

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Some time ago I read a book called, The Brain that Changes Itself. It introduced me to the idea that our brains are able to change and adapt. Much of that change occurs because of chemicals that act on the brain. Then, recently, I read an article that talked about the chemicals in the brain that make bonding with our baby, both possible and pleasurable. We turn from rather self-centered individuals into people who would sacrifice everything for a wrinkled, red, almost alien-looking bundle. So I’ve been doing more research. In this article, I want to share some of the major lessons I’ve learned.

The key to bonding with our baby is a mysterious process that causes us to enjoy one another. Moms and dads fall in love with their own baby and each baby falls in love with its own mom and dad. As long as we don’t interfere with the process, it will happen flawlessly and rather magically. An intricate dance begins even before birth, continues through the birth process, to feeding, cuddling, and playing with the baby. Touch and smell, sight and hearing all play a role, but the biggest role is played by some powerful chemicals rearranging our brains.

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Sibling Rivalry

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Quarreling and fighting among siblings is a perennial problem. Every mom of two or more kids faces it. Remember Joseph and his brothers in Genesis? Even Fairy Tales like Cinderella talk about sibling rivalry. We hope to make this an on-going discussion. Why not share your examples, strategies, and resources for other moms facing the dreaded Sibling Rivalry?

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