Should Breastfeeding be shown on Sesame Street?

Recently I saw this headline.  “Should breastfeeding be shown on Sesame Street?”  In other words, should children be exposed to one of the healthiest, most natural wonders of human nature?  Personally and professionally, here’s what I have to say.

My two daughters grew up in an environment rich with images of pregnant mothers and breastfeeding babies.  You see, I began my career as a Childbirth Educator.  I taught classes out of my home.  There were posters, model pelvises and visual aids everywhere!  Our house was filled with the essence of reproduction.  Even our family pets got into the swing of things by exemplifying procreation (dogs, guinea pigs, mice, finch… boy did we have finch!!).   My daughters used to nurse their baby dolls, and even give birth to them!

Those little girls have grown into wonderful, accomplished young women, each breastfeeding their own sweet babies.  They approached breastfeeding with a sense of confidence and normality.  There was never a decision to breastfeed.  It was just the way infants were fed!

When I saw the above mentioned headline, I took a fond walk down Sesame Street memory lane.  (My favorite character was Snuffleupagus.  I loved his name).   Historically, breastfeeding had been portrayed in a discrete, gentle and sweet manor on Sesame Street.   I actually recall seeing the 1977 episode where Big Bird learns about breastfeeding!  (Here’s a link to the segment if you’re interested:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-L-Fg7lWgQ ).   Apparently, breastfeeding has not visited Sesame Street at all for a very long time.  Indeed, disappointing.

Years of professional experience have shown me that breastfeeding is largely affected by our psyche.  Women who were raised in environments where breastfeeding was practiced openly and without cynicism are undoubtedly more relaxed and confident about the process.   So, my answer to the question…?    ABSOLUTELY!  Let’s set our children up for future breastfeeding success!

BTW, thank you www.bringbreastfeedingback.com  (Bring Breastfeeding Back to Sesame Street) for letting me borrow your drawing.  Its darling!

Healthy Holiday with Baby… How to Safeguard Your Baby without Being Rude.

During the holidays, it can be a challenge to keep our babies safe from undue exposure to bacteria and viruses.  After all, tis the season for colds and flu!  But this is also the time to get out and enjoy the company of family and friends.   Holiday parties… Air travel… Hoards of people in stores and malls… Great uncle Harry (with his weird wiry whiskers) who wants to kiss all over your baby!

The good thing is that if you are breastfeeding, you are providing a unique level of protection only you can give your baby.  When you are exposed to pathogens in the environment, your body naturally produces antibodies and delivers them to your baby through your breast milk.   Even though your breast milk is a powerful force, additional measures should be taken to minimize exposure.  Here are just a few easy things you might consider:

·       Encourage family members and friends who are ill to stay away.  If someone in your household becomes ill, remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or toward their armpit (not into their hands).   Did you know that droplets fly at about 100 miles per hour when someone sneezes without covering their nose?

·       Wear your baby at parties.   A baby wrap or sling discourages people from asking if they can hold your baby and prevents baby from being passed around.  You can also keep a portion of the wrap hanging so that if you find yourself in close proximity to someone who appears to be ill (sniffling or sneezing),  pretend you are shielding your baby from bright light or noise and cover his head (loosely) until you are far enough away.

·       If others are permitted to hold your baby, ask that they wash their hands first.  Blame your discourteous behavior on your healthcare provider!  Explain that you are not trying to be rude, but that this is what your pediatrician has suggested you do.  Carry a small container of hand sanitizer.  It might be useful, even for yourself, if you’ve been shaking a lot of hands (goodness knows where those hands have been).

Gatherings are fun, and I would encourage you to socialize!  Just know that by taking a few precautions, you can dramatically reduce the chances of your baby (and you!) becoming ill.  While holidays are a great time for sharing… there are some things better left unshared!

Air Travel With Baby

As we look forward to the up-coming holidays, some of you may be considering air travel with your baby.  Fortunately, traveling by air with a breastfeeding baby can be very easy.  Mothers who are comfortable with direct breastfeeding in public places will find traveling to be a breeze!  Nothing extra to carry except, perhaps, a blanket or nursing cover-up!  (See Hooter Hiders or Bebe au Lait for some ideas.)  Mothers who prefer to bring bottled milk will be happy to hear that going through airport security has become much less of a challenge than in previous years.  The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security has modified its rules for bringing breast milk, formula and juice through the security checkpoints.

Basically, breast milk is now considered to be in the same category as liquid medication.  (How very appropriate given its healing properties!!)  It is exempt from the 3-1-1 rule.  Carry-on is permitted in bottled quantities greater than three ounces as long as it is declared for inspection at the security checkpoints.  The TSA screeners will inspect the milk, however, they will not ask mother or infant to test taste it.  The passenger may be asked to open the bottle(s), and contents may be tested for explosives.  I’m not sure how that is done, but I cannot imagine it would be harmful in any way.   If you are traveling with a large amount of milk, it might be better checked in a suitcase and packed in Ice.  For more information, here is the direct link to the TSA’s webpage on Traveling with Formula, Breast Milk, and Juice.

Some of you may wish to bring your breast pump along on your trip.  Although breast pumps are permitted, the TSA gives the following notification:  “Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.”  I am not aware of anyone recently having had difficulty carrying on a breast pump, regardless of whether electric or battery operated.  The TSA allows travel with dry cell batteries in carry-on or checked baggage.   If you will not need to use your pump during your trip, consider packing it inside your checked or carry-on luggage.  It will be better protected and less at risk for damage.

One final note.  Flying with an infant poses the possibility of their experiencing ear pain associated with cabin pressure changes.  Children and adults are encouraged to swallow in order to equalize ear pressure.  An infant may be encouraged to swallow if fed (by breast or bottle) during the planes ascent and descent.  The trick is not to offer the feeding too soon.  Wait until you feel pressure changes.   Your baby may signal you himself by becoming wiggly or irritable.  A few swallows usually does the trick nicely.

Enjoy your flight! 

Variations in Human Milk

Like leaves in the fall, breast milk comes in an assortment of colors!  During direct breast feedings we don’t see milk color because it travels unseen, directly from breast to baby.  However, in those instances where we do see the milk (for example when baby spits-up or during milk expression), its color may be surprising (if not alarming)!  Breast milk comes in a beautiful array of colors. It ranges from clear (not really a color), to light yellow, deep orange, pink, red, rust, and even hues of green, blue and purple!
 
Here are some explanations.  In the beginning, colostrum is often seen as a deep yellow-orange color due to the large amount of beta-carotene.  It may also be seen as a rusty color, possibly due to old blood that has collected in the milk ducts during pregnancy.  If mother is experiencing trauma to the nipple, it is not unusual to see pink (strawberry) or red milk as a result of bleeding of the nipple itself.  Maternal diets rich in seaweed and kelp, or where mom takes certain vitamins, may have green tinged milk.  Gatorade, for one, has also been implemental in producing green milk.  A bluish tinge to milk is very often seen, especially in mature milk.  Rarely, there are reports of oral medication causing milk color variations (one in particular resulting in black milk).  More commonly, gentian violet, applied topically as a treatment for yeast, lends itself to a colorful situation.   Purple-tinged everything…baby spit-up, expressed milk, clothing…everything!
 
Not to worry if these variations are noticed.  Breast milk is the best and safest milk for baby, regardless of its color. Furthermore, mothers’ milk almost never remains the same color.  It varies from day to day, time of day, method of expression, how long it has been sitting (separation), maternal diet, etc.  So enjoy the showy rainbow of color.  It’s good, healthy entertainment!
 
Note: Unless milk is found to have a foul odor or is refused by baby, it may be used for feeding.  A persistent change in milk color, odor or refusal of infant to take feedings from a particular breast should be evaluated by a physician.

Nursing Is Normal…Even in Public!

When I was a new mother, I remember feeling shy about nursing my baby outside, in public places.  Before leaving the house I would ask myself “What if she needs to eat while I’m in the supermarket?”  My answer would be “Well, I’ll go to my car”.  Or, “What if I’m in a department store? …Well, I’ll go to a dressing room”.   I remember practicing in front of a full length mirror to see if I could latch my baby without anyone knowing what I was doing.  I got really good at it!  I am happy to report that these days' mothers have a lot more support and options for feeding in public than I did.  In fact, legislation has been passed to allow for this!  Still, we have a long way to go before we reach the level of comfort that many women enjoy in places around the world.
Just last evening I happened to see a YouTube video that was produced as a volunteer project in Quebec, Canada.  As part of the “Nursing Is Normal” movement that began in the United States, this video is one of several that have been made in an effort to promote and protect breastfeeding outside the home.   A photographic display of mothers feeding in public, it is based on the theory that the more we see mothers nursing out and about, the more we will accept it as a cultural norm.  If you’d like to see it, click here.  Also, if you have speakers, you may enjoy the toe-tapping, ragtime piano accompaniment to the slides.  Kick up your heals and enjoy the fun.  Remember…Nursing IS Normal!

Breast Milk Feeding Mothers Stand Up and Be Proud!!

The other day, an expectant mother lowered her head in humiliation and told me that she “did not breastfeed” her first baby.  As she continued to share her story, it became evident that she actually pumped and fed him her breast milk… exclusively, for more than 6 months!!  Apparently, he was never able to latch.  My heart sunk as I realized she took no pride in what she had accomplished.  

If anyone deserves the recognition and pride that comes with human milk feeding, it should be this mother and all those like her (and I know there are many of you)!   Anyone who has to exclusively pump and feed should be extremely proud given the fact that it requires twice the amount of time and energy.  The bottom line is that baby is provided the very best.   Regardless of how your baby is breast milk-fed, he is breastfed!!  So, when someone is inquiring about how your baby is/was fed, pump dependant mothers please stand up and be proud!  That’s right!  Stand up and proudly report that your baby was breastfed.  No one needs to know the how’s and why’s unless you want to share. 

To pump and feed is to breastfeed.   Mothers who have breastfed in this way should be given awards for what they have done.  I, for one, thank them for the dedication in raising their children.  After all, these babies are the future of our world!

Mastitis (Breast Infection)

Mastitis is the inflammation of breast tissue.  It may be the result of milk flow obstruction (blocked milk duct), bacterial infection (most often S. aureus) or non-infectious inflammation.  Mastitis is most commonly seen within the first 2-12 weeks post-partum and can be a real bear!!  If you are experiencing a low-grade fever with a painful reddened area of the breast, you might try very warm compresses (or a shower) with gentle massage of the affected area during and in-between frequent breastfeedings.  Nurse your baby in different positions so that he uniformly empties the breast.  Be sure to drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest.  You might also try an over-the-counter NSAID (like ibuprofen) to reduce inflammation and pain.  Follow the old breastfeeding adage… “Heat, Rest, Empty Breast” and hopefully things will resolve.

If there is no improvement within about 24 hours or if you experience flu-like symptoms (body aches, chills, nausea) and a persistent or abrupt rise in body temperature, you should call your healthcare provider for further direction (usually a 10-14 day course of antibiotics).  It is not uncommon to feel as though you’ve been run over by a truck!  Although you may feel rotten, breastfeeding should be continued!  Nurse baby on the affected breast first and use heat with gentle massage intermittently during the feed to encourage milk flow and ejection.  If baby refuses to feed on the affected breast, you may have to empty it by manual expression or with a gentle breast pump.  In any case, the breast must be emptied.  Please remember that we (lactation consultants) are here to answer questions.  If you find that you are having recurrent episodes of mastitis, please arrange for a thorough lactation evaluation.