Breastfeeding twins is not only possible, but can be enjoyable and rewarding!

Let’s face it. We were wonderfully designed. Although most of the time, us mommies have one baby at a time, and we were designed to easily feed more than one baby!

Even more amazing, either of our breasts can make enough milk to feed a baby – and that means that God has already covered the possibility that more than one baby might be breastfeeding at a time!

Will There Be Enough Milk?

No matter what you are told…there is no reason that the mother of twins shouldn't be able to feed two babies exclusively…with no supplements!

But is it practical?

Don’t be discouraged. It can be done. And yes, you can still have a life.

But you must get yourself prepared…your life is about to change in big and wonderful ways!

What You Need to Do Now

* Breastfeeding – Read all you can about how breastfeeding works. Just remember--all the benefits of breastfeeding apply to twins – times two! They'll be healthier, you'll decrease your risk of breast cancer and you'll save double the time and money by not having to deal with formula!

* Breastfeeding preemies - There is a very good chance your babies will be early. Talk to your doctor and pediatrician about what that may mean for you.

*Expressing and storing milk? – Depending on whether or not your babies are premature, how early and whether they require special hospital care, you may need to express your milk and store it so it can be used as the babies are ready for it…or it may be tube fed to them.

Get yourself a good breast pump or rent one. The best ones – especially if your babies won't be ready to go to the breast from birth – are the larger rental hospital-grade pumps, or a large double electric model like Medela Pump in Style.

Helpful Advice

She provides the best, most specific advice for all aspects of caring for twins throughout the first two years that we have found.

She discusses caring for preemies and low-birth weight babies, managing relations with the multiples’ siblings, and the psychological affects of taking on the responsibility of caring for twins or multiples. She also had many specific practical suggestions for making life easier for any mom! It is well worth the read if you plan on breastfeeding twins and have multiple blessings coming your way!

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Both good breastfeeding nutrition and nursing are sure ways to give your child a big boost in life. Breast milk has the exact nutrients your child needs in each and every stage and each and every feeding. Breastfeeding feeds your baby’s brain and helps your baby with physical and emotional development. All of the nutrients your baby needs are supplied from your diet.

When you are nursing, your breastfeeding diet should include the breastfeeding nutrition for both you and your baby. Some suggest that breast feeding moms should add 300 to 500 calories daily for use in the breast milk production. Counting calories isn’t necessary as long as you are eating a well balanced diet with the vitamins and nutrients that you and your baby need.

Good Nutrition for Breastfeeding Moms:
What You SHOULD Eat!

Eat the Carbs!

Pass the Veggies!

As a breastfeeding mother, fresh vegetables and fruits should be in your diet daily. An assortment of fruits and vegetables should be eaten throughout the week. Choices should include broccoli, carrots, leafy greens, berries, citrus fruit, and other favorites. These supply the vitamins and minerals you and your baby need.

Don’t Completely Eliminate Fats

Fatty acids are important of maternal nutrition for your baby’s proper brain development and function. However, if you do not include enough of these in your diet, they will be taken from your body.

Moms who do not get enough omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, you may find that they have difficulty thinking. This fuzzy mental feeling can be avoided by including fish, flax oil, and flax seeds as part of your breastfeeding nutrition. To get the essential fatty acids they need, some breastfeeding moms can sprinkle flax on their cereal, yogurt, and salads.

Protein Builds Baby’s Muscles

Protein is important for proper muscle growth. Meat, nuts, and brown rice are all good sources of protein. You do not need large amounts of protein. You also get iron from the meat in your diet. You may need to include an iron supplement to make sure you are getting adequate iron to keep you and your baby from being anemic.

Calcium

Calcium is important for bone growth. If you do not get enough calcium in your diet, it will be taken from your body. This puts you at risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures. For most people, dairy is a good source of calcium. Soy, broccoli, and fortified juices can be other sources of calcium.

Water!

Perhaps the most important component of your maternal nutrition is water. Your body needs water to flush impurities from your system and keep you hydrated.

If you do not get enough water, your milk production is going to drop. Make sure that you increase your daily water intake while you are nursing. The best way to tell if you have been drinking enough water is if you and your baby are urinating adequate amounts.

Keep Taking those Vitamins!

You should continue to take your prenatal vitamins while you are nursing. So many of our foods are processed and nutrients are missing. The best way to make sure you are including all of the important nutrients you and your baby need is by taking a daily vitamin and mineral supplement.

Looking to lose weight? Click here for some diets that work for breastfeeding moms.

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How Do You Safely Manage Dieting While Breastfeeding?

Easy Do-It-Yourself
Breastfeeding Diet

I could eat a per day maximum of:

• 2 servings of starch (breads, crackers, rice, etc…) but only one serving at a time
• 2 servings of protein
• 2 servings of dairy

I had to eat a minimum of:

• AT LEAST 4 servings of vegetables (but you CAN eat as much as you want) but only 2 of the vegetables could be starch vegetables like corn or potato
• AT LEAST 2 servings of fruits (but not more than 4.)

Once a week I had a “treat.”

I also walked briskly — to the point where it is difficult to have a conversation -- (pushing my sweetie in a stroller)for 20 minutes a day five days a week.

I was able to safely lose the HUGE amount of weight that I had gained and be back in my pre-pregnancy size without giving up nursing.

Other Great Dieting Options

I was exhausted. I was tired. I didn’t have the motivation to take on my breastfeeding diet alone this time.

If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend two options:

Option #1 -- Medifiast

Although their Nursing Mothers Guide says that you can start this diet when your baby is only two months old, we would suggest that you wait until at least six months old and when your baby has added enough other foods to be getting at least 30% breast milk of his or her calories from breast milk and 70% from other foods.

Why do we love this plan? Because we have seen it work!

Tired and worn-out moms tend to reach for unhealthy food. In contrast, this is medically-approved breastfeeding diet plan helps new moms because they have convenient snacks, shakes, soups and more to make it easy to stay on the diet AND keep up with the demands of being a new nursing mom.

You can find more details from their free downloadable Nursing Mothers Guide on their website at Medifast1.com

Option #2 Diet to Go

New moms love it because there is no counting calories, carbs…or even shopping! So instead of just eating a PB&J with the toddler while nursing an infant…you can enjoy a treat of great food made just for you and lose weight too!

If you try this diet while breastfeeding, just make sure that you pick the low-fat plan 1600 calorie plan to allow enough extra calories to provide for your baby and still lose weight. I just wish they had had this breastfeeding diet sooner!

GOOD LUCK!

Related Articles:

Why won’t your baby let you put him on a 4-hour breastfeeding schedule that other moms talk about?

Why does it seem that your baby wants to nurse all the time?

Because the 4-hour schedule isn’t normal. Research has shown that frequent nursing may be more biologically normal than the three-or four-hour schedule new parents are expecting!

Plus it is simply not as healthy. They even tell us adults that 6 smaller meals are better than 3 regular meals for our bodies. Why should babies need less?

How Often Do Normal Babies Eat?

The Ba’Aka babies nursed about 4 times per hour. The Ngandu children breastfed about 2 times per hour and the American babies breastfed about one and one half times per hour.

The American infants breastfed less often than the two African infant groups, but they nursed much more often than parents were led to expect.

Don't Worry. You Baby is Getting Enough Milk

A good lactation consultant will tell you that frequency of feeding is not a good way to measure how much milk your baby is getting. The truth is that babies who are really not getting enough to eat become sleepy, and feed less often. If your baby is giving you enough wet diapers…you are definitely getting him enough milk.

So How Do You Change the Schedule?

You may just want to change your expectations.

My oldest never got on a 4 hour schedule. She ate about every two or three hours until I weaned her. (The truth is that she still tries to snack or eat every two to three hours!)

The bonus to having a frequent feeder is that the feedings themselves actually take less time and are easier to fit into your schedule.

The Bottom Line...

If your baby is like mine and just wants to breastfeed more often… just know that someday you may actually find yourself nostalgic about those hours you spent snuggled up with your baby…because soon enough he will be more mobile and breastfeeding won’t be as high on his to-do list.

Where Would You Like to Go Next?

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Finding a pediatrician who supports breastfeeding seems like it should be easy, but often it is not.  Here are some tips on how to find a pediatrician who will support and encourage you as a breastfeeding mom.

Choosing A Pediatrician For Encouragement

Many expectant parents give little thought to the pediatrician they will take their baby to after they give birth. Many get recommendations from friends. They assume that the pediatrician their friends and relatives trust is the right pediatrician for their children. Others may take a phone number from a commercial or advertisement in a local paper. They assume the most advertised pediatrician must be the best.

Unfortunately, many parents end up switching pediatricians. They look much closer and take their decision far more seriously the second time around. One of the biggest reasons for making this switch is finding out that the first chosen pediatrician does not share parenting values that the new parents feel are important.

Breastfeeding is one issue where pediatricians can differ with parents. Most pediatricians are okay with breastfeeding, but not every pediatrician wholeheartedly recommends and encourages breastfeeding. Some simply believe that breastfeeding and bottle feeding are interchangeable, with few benefits in favor of breast milk.

If you are currently breastfeeding or know you want to breastfeed once your baby is born, do yourself a favor and find a pediatrician that supports breastfeeding. It is best to do this before the baby is even born.

Benefits of a Pro-Breastfeeding Pediatrician

There are some differences between a pediatrician who is okay with breastfeeding and one who encourages and supports breastfeeding. A pediatrician who is not an advocate for breastfeeding may encourage you to give up and go with the bottle if you have complications while breastfeeding. They may not take the time to help you figure out the problems and work through them so you can continue breastfeeding as long as you feel it is necessary.

Some pediatricians may not agree with you on the length of time a baby should be breastfed. For instance, if you plan to breastfeed even after your baby has developed teeth and is going into the toddler years, you will find that many pediatricians will not be very supportive. Some may even question your reasons for breastfeeding beyond the “norm.”

It is much different when you find a pediatrician who truly supports breastfeeding parents. They will not question your motives for wanting to breastfeed as long as it is healthy for your body and your baby is thriving. If you come across complications, this pediatrician will take the time to work out solutions so you can continue doing what is healthiest for your baby.

Analyze Recommendations

Start with the pediatricians that are recommended to you by your friends and family members. Contact other mothers you know, as well as expectant mothers, and ask them about their experiences with specific pediatricians. If they are not strict advocates of breastfeeding, their experiences can still be valuable. Ask them if they feel their pediatrician listens to them, spends time with them, and gives them accurate advice.

You should also ask how these pediatricians have responded to others concerning breastfeeding. You may ask if they have ever been given samples for baby formula from their pediatrician. Hearing that a pediatrician’s office hands out samples is a good sign that the pediatrician may not be as devoted to breastfeeding as you would like.

Mark pediatricians that do not seem to be in support of breastfeeding from your list of recommended pediatricians. You do not even need to contact them to know that they may not be ideal matches for your family. Even if your friends and relatives love them, it doesn’t mean they are well suited to your needs and parenting beliefs.

Making Contact with a Pediatrician

You should be free to contact a pediatrician and request a meeting before your baby is even born. It is natural for concerned parents to interview a pediatrician and talk to nurses in their office before deciding which pediatrician to trust with their baby. This is far better than switching pediatricians and having your baby’s files transferred after they are born and you discover you made a bad choice initially.

Have a list of questions with you when you meet with a pediatrician. You do not want to waste their time, and you do not want to react negatively if they are not the right fit for your family. You simply want to run some questions by them to determine if they should remain on your list or get marked off. If they are to be marked off, simply thank them for their time and head out to meet with another candidate.

Sample Questions to Ask When Finding a Pediatrician:

1. If you aren’t sure what you want to ask or how to phrase your questions to get the best answers, here are some basic questions to use as samples:
2.  Tell me about your training and experience with breastfeeding. What training have you gone through, and how recent was that training?
3.  On average, what percentage of your patients breastfeed?
4.  What advice do you give your patients regarding breastfeeding? Do you have any standard information that you give out to new mothers regarding breastfeeding?
5. What age do you typically recommend your patients start introducing solids?
6. Have you ever recommended a patient stop breastfeeding and switch to the bottle? What would lead you to make that recommendation?
7. Are you supportive of parents deciding how long they want to breastfeed, or do you encourage weaning by a certain age?
8.  How willing are you to help breastfeeding mothers find solutions to problems and complications that may come up while breastfeeding? Do you have the knowledge needed to help with these problems?
9. Do you believe that breast milk and formula are the same? Do you think they are equally as healthy for a growing baby?

You may have some right and wrong answers in your mind; and you will know what you would like to hear in response to these questions. You should still keep an open mind and genuinely listen to the response given by the pediatrician. In some areas you may not be able to find a pediatrician who gives all the right answers to every question. If you listen closely you will at least find one who gives answers you can live with and work with in the long run. Remember you can also supplement this care with help from other breastfeeding professionals if you need to!

Look for Red Flags!

Mainly, you want to look for red flags that tell you a pediatrician is definitely not a good fit for you. The biggest red flag is the belief that breast milk is not superior to formula. You may hear an unsupportive pediatrician say that formula milk is now nearly the same as breast milk. This belief is going to stand in the way of supporting you if things do not go completely right with your breastfeeding journey.

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Are you spoiling a baby by responding to him every time he cries? Is she spoiled because you nurse on demand?

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No! Actually there is really no such thing as spoiling your baby. Not when they are newborn.

In fact, this is really a critical time for the baby’s bonding with you. It is best to spend as much time with your newborn as possible. This is especially important as a breast-feeding Mom. Babies need closeness to survive even. If there is no contact, it is bad for your baby. As they become a little older, that is a different story.

When Does a Child Become Spoiled?

Some parents believe that it is okay to just allow a baby to cry. Others respond to their baby’s every whimper.

Actually, when a child is that young, there is no way that a baby can distinguish whether or not crying will get them attention. Children tend to do negative things just to gain whatever kind of attention, even cry. A baby cannot process that.

Why Babies Cry

So why do they cry so much, you ask?

That is simple, because they are needing or wanting something. This is their form of communication.

You should always acknowledge your crying baby because this gives them the security and attention that they need. This is not spoiling a baby. It instills trust…because they know that you will be there for them.

Believe it or not the more that you acknowledge the crying, eventually the less likely he will be to cry when he needs you, since you are always there for him.

In fact, toddlers who were responded to quickly as infants tend to be less “needy” toddlers!

Cause and Effect

As your baby gets older, he will figure out that when he cries for something that is not necessary and you give in, he will start to relate the cause and effect. Babies under 5 months of age do not have this capability at all.

A Balancing Act

Now there are times that we just cannot run to their every little cry. There is no way that we can attend to everything that he is wanting. There must be balance in how we respond.

If he starts crying, allow him to cry until you have completed the task you set out to do (if it is simple of course). You never want a child to actually get into a screaming cry. Keep in mind that this is their language to us. This is how they communicate, so if they are crying very loudly, they need our attention in some way.

Loving a Child

There are so many people that think loving a child too much is spoiling them.

Actually, there is a huge difference between spoiling a baby and loving a child. Never be afraid to love your child. Don’t be afraid to hold them and show them as much affection as possible.

Children need that closeness from both of their parents as well as siblings and others who happen to be close to them.

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You look at your sleeping baby…and you know it’s time for your new baby to eat because your breasts are full and aching. But he’s lying there, angelic and perfect and totally asleep. Should you wake him to breastfeed, or let sleeping babies lie?

As with most baby issues, the answer depends on your situation.

In general, you should let a sleeping baby sleep, and be thankful that you have a baby who will let YOU sleep. You’ll find out, as you continue breastfeeding, that your body will learn quickly what times your baby chooses to eat, and your breasts will fill in anticipation. The baby will wake and eat when he is ready – and that’s the very best option for him, in almost every case.

You Might Like: Breastfeeding Pajamas Breastfeeding Shirts Nursing Necklaces Nursing Covers Nursing Bras

Situations when you may want wake a baby…

In certain situations, however, you do want to wake your sleeping baby for breastfeeding. Sometimes it’s not up to you how you schedule your baby’s day.

If, for instance, you are breastfeeding and working full time, it’s wise to wake the baby and feed him before you go to work. This minimizes the time you’ll need to spend pumping, making it easier to continue breastfeeding despite the barriers you will have.

The same goes for any time you need to travel, go out, or any other situation when it will be difficult to feed your baby when he wants to be fed.

Situations when you should wake a baby…

Your doctor may also need to put your baby on a strict eating schedule. The two most common reasons for this: prematurity and a vague medical condition called “failure to thrive.” Another reason is jaundice.

Premature

A premature baby needs to eat every two hours, whether he wakes to do so or not. Regular feeding like this should continue until your baby’s doctor says he can go to an on-demand schedule.

Failure to Thrive

A baby who is diagnosed with “failure to thrive” does not gain weight or develop as he should. There are hundreds of reasons for this, from poor sucking ability to an underlying and undiagnosed medical condition. If your baby is diagnosed with this problem, he should have every possible opportunity to eat, which means waking a sleeping baby if he fails to wake up himself for a feeding.

Jaundice

Jaundice is another reason to feed your baby as frequently as possible. A baby with jaundice shows pronounced yellowing of the skin – in dark-skinned babies, the whites of the eyes will show the yellowing best – and if not treated, the condition can lead to mental retardation. This condition occurs very soon after birth, and is a problem with the liver in which bilirubin cannot be effectively removed from the blood. Carefully-limited exposure to sunlight is one treatment (and one this writer effectively used with her baby), but the components from the broken-down bilirubin need to be washed from the baby’s body.

The easiest way to do this is by frequent feedings. If you cannot effectively reduce the baby’s yellowing, you’ll need to take him back to the hospital, where intensive light therapy will be used in 24-hour periods to wash the bilirubin from his body (not a fun procedure!)

The General Rule

In general, unless your doctor tells you or your situation dictates otherwise, the best breastfeeding schedule for your baby is one where he chooses when to eat – and when to sleep.

If you’re one of the fortunate few with a healthy baby who sleeps through the night, enjoy it, and use the extra energy you’re blessed with to play with your new son or daughter…and not worry about whether you’re doing things right.

Where Would You Like to Go Next?

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…or to see our breastfeeding
supplies Top 10 list?

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….or see where you can find the
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Want to breastfeed? It is possible to have lactation without pregnancy.

If you are an adoptive mother, whether by choice or due to a family catastrophe, or if you are considering adoption because you cannot have a child of your own, you may wonder if you can still enjoy the loving closeness of breastfeeding your new baby.

One answer is, “Of Course!” if you have at least one functioning mammary gland, even if you have never had children, are past menopause, or have had a partial or total hysterectomy; you can experience lactation without pregnancy.

Induced Lactation

There are two general methods to inducing lactation, one is through sheer determination, and determined efforts and the other is by using medical protocols and medications to trick the body into thinking it has been pregnant. Even men’s breasts can be induced to lactate!

How Does It Work?

In either scenario of lactation without pregnancy, the protocols that need to be followed are simply to prepare the mothers breasts for the task of producing milk. Until our modern time, the only methods mothers had to achieve lactation without pregnancy was to put the baby to the breast and hope for the best. In ancient times, women who did not have children, usually maidservants, induced lactation as part of their services to the household.

The process of inducing lactation without pregnancy involves certain protocols that are designed to stimulate the breast tissue to develop milk ducts and the other necessary tissues responsible for milk production. If a woman has never produced milk before the process is much more involved since the tissue has yet to develop. The tissue is usually developed during pregnancy and therefore a woman who has lactated before already has the necessary equipment to produce milk right away.

Medical professionals advise women to begin stimulating their breast via hand compression or a breast pump, preferably medical grade, in advance of the arrival of the adopted baby. However, if the woman is not inducing lactation or inducing relactation via hormones, then the process takes longer and requires more vigilance and dedication when it comes to stimulating the breasts several times per day.

Understanding How Lactation Works

To understand how lactation without pregnancy works we need to understand what is involved in the process of producing breast milk. During pregnancy due to the influence of estrogens, progesterone, prolactin, and other necessary hormones at key times, the body naturally responds and prepares for the arrival of the baby and the subsequent breast-feeding.

When the baby arrives, right after birth, the levels of key hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, drop and then the level of prolactin increases. This, in turn, prompts the brain to release oxytocin, which is the key hormone for the breasts to begin releasing the milk. In women who have not been pregnant, or who have not been pregnant recently, simply stimulating the nipples over a certain period of time will induce the body to produce prolactin and the brain to produce oxytocin. The time frame and amount of stimulation necessary varies from woman to woman and even from session to session.

Steps to Lactation without Pregnancy

Step One:

Decide how far in advance you want to start the process and if you will be using medications such as domperidone, reglan, birth control, or progesterone and estrogen therapy to induce lactation without pregnancy. If you are, then you need to do so under the care of a trained professional and follow their time lines. If you want to try without any medications, proceed to step two.

Step Two:

Begin stimulating the breasts via hand compression, breast massage, stimulating the nipple, or a breast pump. Breast pumps can be purchased from most stores that carry other baby supplies, drug stores, hospitals, online, or drug stores. Be prepared to purchase a pricier brand as these work much better. Gradually increase stimulation time, intensity, and frequency, as you are comfortable.

Step Three:

Be patient, lactation without pregnancy takes time. Some women who have lactated before report that it takes about 3 days to a week to relactate. Women who have never produced milk before report an average time of two-weeks to a few months for changes to occur.

If you seem to be getting no response or results, then try different techniques. You should see a reaction when things begin to work. Breast may increase a full cup size or more. They may also become tender or feel moist after your sessions. You may even feel a slight tingling or tugging sensation.

If you do not experience anything, then perhaps you can try changing the settings on your breast pump, try a pump with massaging action, try hot compresses, or even consider using herbal or food preparations as described below.

Step Four:

When your baby arrives, even if you are not producing milk yet, go ahead and allow your baby to begin to suckle. You might try the use of a lactation aid at first. Remember, the more the baby suckles, the more milk you will produce. It’s a simple case of supply and demand. Enjoy the warm bonding that only breast-feeding can supply.

What About Supplements?

If you need to supplement, it is best to do so with a lactation aid. This increases the likelihood that you will experience a better supply of milk and still provides that closeness. Since the baby is being rewarded for its efforts by your using the supplement device, they are less likely to draw away in favor of the easier to achieve artificial nipple.

The supplement itself should be of good quality. If you were achieving milk before the baby arrived, hopefully, you were storing it up in the freezer. If not, next to your own breast, purchasing milk from a milk bank or certified donor is the next best thing. If those options are not available to you, then ask around to your trusted friends and see if any have an extra supply or have some they are not planning on using. Do check and make sure of their diets and if they are taking any medications or have any illnesses or pathologies which you may not be comfortable exposing your baby to. As a last resort, there is always infant formula you can fall back on.

What About the Use Of Medications?

The idea of using birth control, medications, or other hormones to induce lactation may not sound safe, but just remember that they are only taken to induce the formation of breast tissue and are discontinued before milk production starts. Such is the case with the use of herbal remedies prior to lactating.

However, if you or your supplementary milk suppliers are on any prescription medications or supplements, you may want to consult your doctor, midwife, and lactation specialist before providing that milk to your baby. Not all side effects are known when it comes to infants and there have been past cases of major illnesses in conjunction with unknown side effects of medications in breast milk.

There are three different protocols to inducing lactation or relactating. They are the “Regular Protocol,” “Accelerated Protocol,” “Menopause Protocol,” and the “Independent Protocol.” The first two involve the use of hormonal treatments and/or herbal treatments. The third in involved after menopause or hysterectomies. And the Last one involves going it alone. The longer and more stimulation that is applied during a protocol, in general, the more milk that is produced.

Who May Benefit?

When it comes to breastfeeding there are more benefits than just the breast milk alone. In general, if you are going to breast feed to social and psychological reasons between you and your baby, you might as well try to provide them with the beneficial milk, if possible. The milk produced in induced lactation is usually the same quality mothers produce at ten days postpartum.

Adoptive Mothers

If you have had children before, then the entire process will be much easier. However, many mothers are adopting babies. Many of these women have not had children yet. Some women may had hysterectomies, not be able to produce children, may be a surrogate mother, may be caring for a child while the mother is away for an extended period of time, or may have fallen in love with a foster child or orphaned child and decided to adopt them.

For these adoptive mothers, whom have never produced milk or have not produced breast milk in many years, breastfeeding is an essential time of bonding and closeness for them and their baby. Breastfeeding can produce that bond just as biological mothers and babies experience. For them, inducing lactation without pregnancy in order to breastfeed, or even breastfeeding without producing milk, is an essential part of the new relationship.

Wet Nurses

Wet nurses, that is servants or hired specialists who may or may not have children of their own, have been used throughout the centuries to provide nourishment and social care for babies. These wet nurses, most of the time, induced lactation without having children of their own. It is not really necessary for women to have carried a child for lactation without pregnancy to be induced and good quality milk supplied.

Where Would You Like to Go Next?

Want to see our breastfeeding
supplies Top 10 list?

….or to see our
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….or see where you can find the
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Many moms have questions about caffeine and breastfeeding. Overtired and worn out breastfeeding moms often ask, ‘How much caffeine can a I drink without affecting my baby?’

The truth is that less than 1% of the caffeine a mom consumes actually gets into breast milk. Doctors state that moms who consume less than 300 mg of caffeine per day while breastfeeding will not see side effects in their nursing child.

How much is 300 mg?

• 2-3 cups of coffee
• over 8 cups of Coke
• over 3 cups of Red Bull Energy drink

A Word of Caution

Be careful, however, different babies react to different foods and drinks. Some babies do not seem to be affected by caffeine at all while others have a very marked reaction. Pay special attention to your child’s reactions if you try it to see if it is something that you would be better to avoid.

Drinking or eating things with caffeine can affect some baby’s sleep and make him cranky just like some spicy foods. Since this is the last thing that a sleep-deprived mom needs…introduce caffeine into your diet slowly to gauge your baby’s reaction.

Where Would You Like to Go Next?

Want to read Breastfeeding Stories or Submit Your Own Breastfeeding Story?

…or to see our breastfeeding supplies Top 10 list?

….or to see our favorite breastfeeding finds on our Breastfeeding Fashion Finds Blog?

….or see where you can find the best free baby stuff?

….or want help knowing what drugs and medications you can take while nursing? Then try our drugs and medications page!

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Many moms wonder if breastfeeding while sick is safe for their children. Sometimes it is safe. Sometimes not.

Breastfeeding allows you to nourish and protect your baby with nutrients and antibodies that can only be produced by your body. No formula could ever compare to the protection your natural milk provides your baby against things in the environment that could make them sick. So, what happens when the things that could make them sick are within your own body? When you start to sniffle, cough and sneeze, do you stop breastfeeding or keep offering your milk to your baby?

Breastfeeding with a Virus, Cold or the Flu

Many new mothers do not want to breastfeed when they are coming down with a virus, cold or the flu, because they fear giving their illness to their baby. They fear the baby’s fragile body will not be able to handle the illness, and they just do not want to see their new baby suffer. This is understandable, but the human body already has this covered. In most cases, continuing to offer breast milk is an act of love, since those antibodies in the milk protect the baby from getting sick.

Antibodies combat illness inside the baby’s body, and your breast milk is filled with them. Once you start to feel the symptoms of your illness, you can guarantee your baby has already been exposed to the illness. If you stop breastfeeding, chances are high that the baby is going to get sick. You are taking away the antibodies which will help protect them, or at least make the illness less severe for the baby. If you continue breastfeeding, they continue to get the antibodies they need to fight off the illness.

This applies to the common bugs, viruses and flu that you may come down with through the course of your daily life. These temporary illnesses are not likely to harm your baby, even if you are running a fever, throwing up, or experiencing diarrhea. Make sure to mention to your doctor that you are breastfeeding if you are given antibiotics, but there are many antibiotics that are safe for breastfeeding mothers.

Breastfeeding While Sick With a Food-Related Illness

If you eat something bad and get sick, then you should still be safe to continue breastfeeding. Only in very rare cases do you need to stop breastfeeding, but it is important to note the difference between common illnesses and serious diseases that could be passed on to your baby through your breast milk.

Serious Disease

An example of a serious disease that would prevent you from breastfeeding would be HIV. That is far from an everyday cough or cold, so you would be warned by your doctor to stop breastfeeding immediately after diagnosis. An example of a common illness that will not hurt your baby is the flu that your children bring home from school in the winter time.

Protecting Baby

Even though your baby is exposed to your illness before you realize you have it inside your body, it is important to take basic steps to protect your baby as you would colleagues or older children in the home. You want to wash your hands before touching the baby and do your absolute best not to sneeze on the baby.

Your position for breastfeeding will likely change, as you will want to block the baby from your sneezes and coughs as much as possible. There may not be as much bonding and cuddling during feedings, but you can make up for that when you get better!

Related Articles:

• Breastfeeding Problems and Special Circumstances
• Life with a Breastfeeding Baby
• Breastfeeding Myths Vs. Real Facts

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by Melanie Berry
(Georgia)

This is THE best tip and its easy to remember:

Just let him lead the way and don’t get in the way.

First let me say that I was fortunate not to have any extenuating medical conditions to interfere with breast feeding nor a job outside the home to interfere either and those 2 elements carry a lot of impact on the breast feeding journey for new moms especially.

By following my son’s lead, I never had any “issues”. I simply acquiesced to his need to breastfeed and my body’s ability to provide breast milk along with the nurturing elements of breastfeeding and the hormonal affect – on both of us – from breast feeding. I trusted, just as I did during the labor and birth process that somewhere in the deep recesses of my consciousness, if I just let my son and my body work together, to do what they knew to do, and I didn’t get too involved, but just kind of observed with gratitude, everything would turn out for the better and be what he needed most.

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