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Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
How to Reduce Breastfeeding Inequality
| Posted on August 28, 2018 at 12:13 PM |
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I'd like to introduce our readers to Neve Spicer, writer and founder of We The Parents. She is sharing some very important information about breastfeeding disparity. I thought it especially important to share this information during Black Breastfeeding Week, in the hopes that a change-maker sees today's post and can help take action on the steps that Neve outlined in THIS post. You can scroll to the end of today's post to see those steps, although I encourage you to click on the link and read the whole article. I'm Neve, a proud mother of two, breastfeeding advocate, and part-time blogger over at WeTheParents. I'm really happy to be contributing to Sweet Pea Births during this year's Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Now, when I say that I'm a breastfeeding advocate... I'm a pretty easy going one and not so much a die-hard lactivist. I breast fed both of my children and my experiences couldn't have been more different. My first experience was a nightmare; I don't think I did things right, and without a good support network I ended up with a very low milk supply. My daughter pretty much screamed constantly until I began to wean her early at 4-months. With my second, on the other hand, the experience was completely different. I was scared that I’d have the same problem, but actually things worked out beautifully and I breastfed until 18 months. My breastfeeding experiences led me to want to support women and to let them know that, firstly, breastfeeding doesn’t always go according to plan, but also, secondly, it’s important to realize that our self-defeating beliefs, such as “I can’t produce enough milk” can also be wrong. I also realized that breastfeeding success depends so much on the knowledge and support we receive throughout our breastfeeding journey from pregnancy to weaning. Now: I’m a bit of a research geek and while digging into some scientific journals on breastfeeding, I was shocked to learn just how drastically socio-economic forces affect breastfeeding rates. Did you know that only 38% of mothers living below the poverty threshold (in the US) breastfeed at 6-months, while 68% of mothers in top-earning families do. That’s a huge difference, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. I learned that that in academic and social policy circles people have known about these breastfeeding disparities for a long time. But why, then, was I not reading about it on the popular blogs I followed? Too many heated words and firey tweets are being wasted on the breast vs bottle 'mommy war'. The big problem, however, is not whether a well-educated and well-off mother chooses to breastfeed. The real issue is breastfeeding inequality; too many mothers are NOT getting equal opportunity to breastfeed, even when they want to. After discovering all of this, I wanted to shout about it. It’s time the blogosphere reframed the debate. I think we can all agree that if a mother, from any walk of life, wants to breastfeed, then she should be given the best chance possible. I passionately believe that mothers should unite behind this common goal. Neve  FROM WeTheParents: Too few mothers follow the AAP’s optimal breastfeeding recommendations. Were this a result of well-educated, well-informed, and well-off women choosing alternative nutrition options, that would be one thing. Unfortunately, the truth is that many babies are formula fed because their mothers are not sufficiently aware of the health risks or they simply don’t have practical support (at work or home) to make it work.This is unfair and impacts on the health of thousands of US mothers and babies each year. It has been estimated that annual excess deaths attributable to suboptimal breastfeeding total 3,340, 78% (2605) maternal and 22% (735) infant. (Source)But how can we reduce the breastfeeding inequality?While there is no easy fix, there are several strategies that have been highlighted and could use public awareness and support. These are:
Thank you, Neve, for taking the time to research this topic and outlining specific action steps we can take to support our breastfeeding sisters. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale |
Feeding Sweet Peas Home-Grown Goodness
| Posted on February 2, 2017 at 10:40 PM |
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Thank you to Jenny Silverstone, from Mama Loves Best, for writing our guest post in support of breastfeeding, one of our favorite topics here at SPB. Feeding our Babies Home-Grown Goodness Motherhood isn’t always easy. You often have to make choices that aren’t always simple or popular. You sometimes have to dig deep to get the information you need to make the crucial decisions that will affect your baby for the rest of his or her life. Every choice you make for your baby counts, whether it’s the birthing method, the products you use, or the food choices you make for your child. When it comes to nutrition for your baby, breasts are best. It’s not just rhetoric -- science backs up what many mothers have long suspected. Our breasts are here for a reason, and that reason is to give our babies the nutrition they need to get a great, healthy start in life. As moms, we are fully equipped to give our babies everything they need, if only we learn to trust ourselves and know that we’ll find our way on this incredible journey. At MomLovesBest, we are committed to helping moms find the information they need to make the best choices for their kids and their families. Our new infographic, The 111 Benefits of Breastfeeding, gives everyone compelling reasons to consider breastfeeding their babies. This infographic details the health benefits for both babies and mothers, and what breastfeeding can do for society as a whole. After all, we’re all on this crazy ride called motherhood together -- by working together to educate, grow and learn, we can help the newest generation of mothers and their babies live healthier, happier lives. While motherhood can be a lot of responsibility, you’ll find that it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice at all -- you’ll treasure every moment, even the difficult ones. That first smile, laugh or kiss from your baby is worth any effort you go through! Read the full article to learn more about each benefit at Disclaimer: The material included in this blog is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.
Birthing From Within and Bradley
Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler,
Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale
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Q&A with SPB: How does finger-feeding work?
| Posted on August 16, 2016 at 2:55 PM |
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 Today's Q&A with SPB might be helpful to families who are anxious to avoid "nipple confusion", something that makes it harder for babies to breastfeed when they have had an early introduction to bottle feeding. Instead of supplemental feeding of breastmilk or formula with a bottle, this technique is one of the feeding strategies that a family might want to try in order to feed baby and keep things happy at the breast. Here is our Q&A with SPB question of the week, answered by our friend Michelle Hottya the IBCLC over at The Milk Spot.  If you should have questions about today's information, be sure to reach out to your local IBCLC for help. You can find one in your area by visiting www.ilca.org. I hope you enjoyed and learned something from today's special Breastfeeding Edition of Q&A with SPB. We'll be back next week with another installment with the IBCLCs from the Arizona Breastfeeding Center!  Do you have a question for the IBCLCs this month? Be sure to leave a comment so we can have them answer it for you. UPCOMING EVENT Phoenix La Leche League: Live, Latch, Love As part of the LLL area conference August 26th, 5-7 PM Embassy Suites Biltmore La Leche League Conference August 26-28, 2016 Embassy Suites Biltmore Register Here: www.lllofaz.org/area-conference  Disclaimer: The material included in this video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information
provided. This blog and video contain
information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is
not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this
video and on our blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method®
or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Inside Look: The Milk Spot
| Posted on July 21, 2016 at 8:30 AM |
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 This month, I would like to introduce you to The Milk Spot, a
growing lactation clinic conveniently located in Central Phoenix. The Milk Spot offers support groups and
breastfeeding classes, as well as private consultations with the gold standard
in lactation care, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
(“IBCLC”). Big thanks to Michelle Hottya, IBCLC, for taking the time to
do our interview so we can give you the INSIDE LOOK into The Milk Spot! Who
are The Milk Spot care providers? Michelle Hottya, IBCLC, RLC, CD(DONA) Nichelle Whitehead, MD FACOG Jacqueline Norris, CBC, CD(DONA), PCD(DONA) What
kind of families does The Milk Spot serve? We serve the diverse community of the metro
Phoenix area. Families come from all over Central Arizona to get help with
breastfeeding in our convenient, central location. We work with first-time
parents, growing families, clients with history of breast surgery and fertility
treatments, low-supply, oversupply, tongue and lip ties among other concerns.
Our practice is LGBT-friendly. What
range of services does The Milk Spot provide? Is there anything you do not
provide for? The Milk Spot provides private, in-person
lactation consultations with an IBCLC, monthly breastfeeding classes, weekly
support group and free weight checks. The Milk Spot does not yet offer pump
rentals or sales, but stay tuned for future announcements of added services! What
makes The Milk Spot unique? The Milk Spot is a warm, welcoming environment
for new families to get needed support in the postpartum period. Parents love
our weekly support group where lasting friendships have bloomed into toddler
playgroups and Parents' Nights Out. We are located adjacent to Blossom Birth
Center, so we enjoy a close relationship with the midwives, but we welcome
clients from any practice and birth location, and respect their
provider/patient relationships. What
motivated you to start The Milk Spot? The Milk Spot has been offering breastfeeding
classes and support groups since 2011. To complement those services, we wanted
to provide a lactation clinic in central Phoenix, with the added benefits of
insurance billing and affordable rates. The potential for the clinic will grow
from there! Is
there anything else our readers should know about this you or The Milk Spot? We welcome your questions and we are happy to
discuss your options over the phone! What
inspires you? I am inspired by the happy smiles and look of
relief on the clients' faces when they get the help they needed to give them a plan
and a method to improve their breastfeeding relationship. Breastfeeding is
important to them, and I will do whatever I can to help them get to their
goals! Monthly Calendar HERE Contact The Milk Spot: (602) 529-5159 Office: 2922 N 18
Place, Phoenix, AZ Have you had a great experience with Michelle and/or The Milk Spot? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.  |
Q&A with SPB: Will breastfeeding hurt?
| Posted on September 8, 2015 at 8:58 AM |
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 Q&A with SPB: Will breastfeeding hurt? What does a good latch look like? Although biologically instinctive, sometimes we haven’t seen
other women breastfeed. Learning how to breastfeed has a visual as well as physical learning curve. Big thank you to Desiree Allison, IBCLC, RLC at the Arizona Breastfeeding Center for taking the time to sit down with us! Here is her answer to today's question: What to look for in your Sweet Pea:
Catch your baby in early stages of hunger, and baby will be a lot
more patient with you as you get a good latch.  Source:
Image developed by Women's and Newborn Services Royal Brisbane and Woman's
Hospital. Queensland Government. Get to support groups and ask other moms what they see/if
they have any tips
 Disclaimer: |
Q&A with SPB: Will I ever sleep again?
| Posted on September 1, 2015 at 9:37 AM |
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Today's question is from new parents who feel like they are feeding their Sweet Pea all the time, and are wondering if they are ever going to get some much-needed sleep...  Since we enjoyed having them join us during Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we invited our friends at the Arizona Breastfeeding Center to join us again this month. Joining us today is lactation pro Desiree Allison, IBCLC, RLC: Here is a summary of Desiree's answer: It's all about stomach size. As the itty bitty stomach stretches, so will the amount of time between feedings. If at the end of 6-8 weeks, your baby is still nursing around the clock, then it is probably a warning sign to get some help from an IBCLC. Infant stomach size visual 1-day old - through 1st week: capacity is 5-7 ml, about the size of a marble. Researchers have found that the day-old newborn’s stomach does not stretch to grow more. Since the walls are firm, any extra milk is most often spit up – colostrum is just the right amount for the baby’s first feedings. By the end of 2nd week: Capacity has grown to .75-1 oz – size of a shooter marble. Small, frequent feedings assure baby is consuming what (s)he needs. By the end of first month: Capacity is now the size of a ping pong ball, around 2 - 4 ounces. Continued frequent feedings will insure baby is eating what (s)he needs – milk production meets baby’s intake. How do you stay sane until your baby starts sleeping in longer stretches? 1.) Involve the Dad/Partner - have them hold the baby while you get (at least!) a 45-minute nap. 2.) Try wearing your baby in a baby carrier - it lets you feel like you are not married to your couch! 3.) Sleep when the baby sleeps - it's not the right time to get all the projects done that you couldn't do when you were uncomfortably pregnant. 4.) If you do need help, be sure to get professional help to be an extra set of eyes that can guide you. Disclaimer: |
Q&A with SPB:Milk Production & Baby Getting Enough
| Posted on August 18, 2015 at 10:14 AM |
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 Since it's National Breastfeeding Month, we are excited to be able to feature our friends from the Arizona Breastfeeding Center to answer today's Q&A. Huge thank you to Michelle Hottya, IBCLC, RLC for taking the time to sit down with us!How do I know if I have enough milk production? How can I tell if my baby is getting enough? Putting the baby to the breast 8-12 times in a 24 hour
period, gets milk production off to a good start. There are no ounce markers on our breasts! Count the diapers…
It is likely that somewhere in that first week, your mature milk will comes in. When that happens, you would look for 6-8 wet &
poopy diapers per day. If you are worried about your baby’s weight gain, don’t fret…call
your pediatrician or come in for a weight check at the Arizona Breastfeeding
Center. Boost supply: in most cases, more contact with baby = more
milk production. Theoretically, the when you put the baby to the breast more
often, the breast responds by making more milk.
 Disclaimer: |
Q&A with SPB: Trying to breastfeed when it didn't work with the first baby
| Posted on August 11, 2015 at 11:06 AM |
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 A common question I hear at La Leche League meetings, and one that I sometimes hear when a student is taking our class with 2+ pregnancy is:  Today, our friends at the Arizona Breastfeeding Center are going to answer. Joining us are Desiree Allison, IBCLC, RLC and Michelle Hottya, IBCLC, RLC: Here is a summary of their information: Some posible reasons why breastfeeding might have been hard last time:
What can you do this time? Remember that just because you had trouble with the first baby, there is no guarantee that you will have problems with the second. This is a new infant and a new mouth – try again! Take all that info that you learned from the first time, and all the research you have done this time around, and apply it to the next baby. Take a class – it will be a refresher to reinforce what you know, and you will probably learn something new. Going skin-to-skin with the baby in the delivery room: it’s the best first thing you can do. Connect with some community [or online] support groups. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you in your choice to breastfeed. It helps to find other mothers who have breastfed at least one year: chances are that they have faced some challenges, and they will be able to inform and encourage you if you face similar situations. Schedule a prenatal consult in the office. You can sit down with an IBCLC to create a care plan, and have that in place should you face any challenges. It will help to protect the breastfeeding relationship when you already have resources in place, you will know who and when to contact someone if you have any questions. Do you have any tips to share with families in this situation? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. In addition, if you have any questions you would like the IBCLCs to answer, post it below :)  The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Q&A with SPB: Breastfeeding + The Fertility Cycle
| Posted on August 3, 2015 at 8:53 PM |
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 Q&A with SPB with special guest, Michelle Hottya, IBCLC, RLC at the Arizona Breastfeeding Center in Tempe, Arizona We are so honored to be able to bring you a special edition of Q&A with SPB this month. My friends, the very knowledgable and talented IBCLC's at the Arizona Breastfeeding Center are going to help us out and do all the "A" part of this month's VLOGs. Yeah!! These gals are the gold-standard in lactation care. You can get help from a Lactation Counselor (LC), a Certified Lacatation Counselor (CLC), or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). To simplify things, the longer the designation, the more years of study and experience. You can be certified as an "LC" in a weekend training class. To get your IBCLC is the equivalent of a 4-year college science degree in human lactation. Today's VLOG answers this student/reader question:  Scroll down below the video if you want to review the main points of Michelle's answer. You can also find a link to the book she references in the video. In short, be careful!! If your fertility is suppressed through your breastfeeding relationship with your Sweet Pea, it is still possible to get pregnant before your first menses, as some of our students can confirm for you!! Others have had to use the strategies outlined below in order to encourage their fertility cycle to return. Baby milestones that encourage your ovulation to start again:
These milestones might start sending the signal to your body to shift back towards fertility. What if these things are true and your cycle hasn't started again?
As Michelle says, it is helpful to get to know your body so you understand what to look for when you are ready to grow your family. By definition, you will ovulate before your first menses, so be careful if you are not sure you are ready to keep growing your family just yet. She said that they often suggest the book, Taking Charge Of Your Fertility when mamas ask this question at the Arizona Breastfeeding Center. The book explains the fertility signs and helps families understand what to look for, where ever they happen to be on wanting/not wanting more children at this stage. What was your experience with breastfeeding and fertility? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted.  The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Why Breastfeed?
| Posted on August 2, 2015 at 6:24 PM |
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 Shara is wearing a Nixilu nursing blouseClothing by Modern Mommy Boutique Photos by Erin Rudd Photography Why do we designate a whole week as "World Breastfeeding Week? Why does the USA dedicate a whole month towards raising awareness about breastfeeding? Quite simply, because it is the best choice for mothers and babies. There is literally no end in sight to the discovery of the number of benefits for mothers and babies during the time they are nursing, and there are also benefits that extend beyond the end of the breastfeeding relationship. I am not going to extoll on them here. I have added several links at the end of this post for you to explore. This month, we will be posting pictures of SPB alums and friends nursing their Sweet Peas, ranging from newborn through toddler years. My mission is to normalize breastfeeding and show mamas with Sweet Peas of all ages, that there are other mothers like them. Benefits for baby: Image from The Alpha Parent HERE  Benefits for toddlers: Image from The Alpha Parent HERE  What if you weren't able to breastfeed? Know that breastfeeding is much more than food. Even if you had to choose formula due to circumstances, or made the choice because that was best for your family, one of the greatest benefits to breastfeeding is the bonding time. Someone who bottle-feeds can take the time to sit with their Sweet Pea and look them in the eye as they feed from their bottle. The benefit of a life-long connection is available to anyone who will take the time and intentionally and lovingly feed their baby. Part of my personal goal with this week/month every year is to expand the conversation around breast milk. We tend to have an "all or nothing" perspective about breastfeeding. If we can only do it a little bit, then society tells us we might as well give up because "it isn't working". WRONG!!! Even if you are only giving your baby an ounce, or even a teaspoon, a day, that is liquid gold!! The real work is not negotiating the mommy-wars...it's expanding the conversation so that people know that it's not breastfeeding vs. formula...there are lots of ways to feed babies, the most important being, FEED THE BABY!  So stay with us this month as we share breastfeeding stories of trials and triumph, do the "Q&A with SPB" on our YouTube channel with our special guests, the IBCLC's from the Arizona Breastfeeding Center, and as we keep posting images of mothers who are breastfeeding newborns through toddler Sweet Peas - you are not alone!! Here are some links in case you are looking for reasons to breastfeed, or if you want to learn more about the benefits to mom and baby:
What is your favorite benefit of breastfeeding? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |