Rowena Gray is a registered nurse, midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) specialising in postnatal care and breastfeeding education. She draws on more than 15 years’ experience in nursing, midwifery, nursing management and lactation consultancy to help mothers enjoy a better breastfeeding experience.
As a mother of three young daughters, Rowena has experienced the ups and downs of breastfeeding firsthand and is committed to providing evidence-based breastfeeding advice and support to mothers.
Rowena lives with her family in Melbourne, where she works as a private lactation consultant.
Anne Hillis is a dietitian and nutritionist with more than 35 years’ experience in clinical practice, teaching, community health, health promotion, private practice and the food industry. As a specialist in infant nutrition marketing, she has written extensively for print and electronic media in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, appeared on television and radio, conducted public awareness programs, and addressed seminars and mothers groups.
Anne is co-author, with Penelope Stone, of Breast Bottle Bowl, now in its 4th edition, and Good Food for Kids, republished as Beyond Jam Sandwiches. She is a past Chair of Nutrition Australia’s Victorian division and has been working as a consultant nutritionist since 2004.
Anne lives with her husband on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula. She has three adult children and five grandchildren. Rowena Gray is her daughter.
Description
Contents
Foreword ix
Prologue 1
Introduction 5
Chapter 1 Baby’s first minutes 7
Welcome to the world … 9
Why skin-to-skin? 11
Oxytocin – the ‘love hormone’ 13
What is breastmilk? 14
The benefits of breastfeeding 15
How labour and birth can affect breastfeeding 21
Pethidine 22
Morphine 23
Epidural 23
Forceps/vacuum extraction 24
Caesarean 25
Premature birth 26
Intravenous fluids in labour 27
Extended separation of mother and baby 28
Kangaroo care 28
Food for Mum 29
Eating in labour and after giving birth 29
Chapter 2 Baby’s first hours 31
What happens in the first hour? 33
The first feed 34
Ahhh … sleep at last! 35
Health problems and breastfeeding 36
Gestational diabetes 36
Obesity 37
Food for Mum 39
Chapter 3 Baby’s first days 41
Going home 43
Feeding and sleeping 44
Correct positioning and attachment 45
Pain equals damage 48
Baby’s hunger cues – how do I know when he’s hungry? 48
How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk? 49
How do I know if my baby isn’t getting enough milk? 51
What is the let-down reflex? 52
Dealing with sore nipples 55
Some tips to help relieve and heal sore, damaged nipples 56
Changing milk, changing nappies 59
Growth charts 60
Maternity bras – holding it all together 61
Food for Mum 63
Foods to avoid 63
Chapter 4 Baby’s first weeks 67
A mother’s story 69
How many feeds? Yes, overnight too. 71
Dealing with breastfeeding difficulties and nipple problems 73
Engorgement 73
Expressing 76
Storing your breastmilk 79
Low milk supply 79
Lactogenic foods and herbs that can naturally boost your milk supply 83
Using a supply line 86
Breastfeeding after breast surgery 86
Breastfeeding after breast removal (breastfeeding from one breast) 87
Oversupply 87
What causes an oversupply? 88
Mastitis 92
Nipple shields 94
Other tricky business 98
Breast refusal 98
Tongue-tie 99
Lip-tie 100
Thrush 101
Nipple vasospasm 103
Babies with special needs and poor sucking ability 104
Alcohol and breastfeeding 105
Smoking and breastfeeding 106
Caffeine and breastfeeding 107
Medications and breastfeeding 108
When breastfeeding is not recommended 110
Food for Mum 113
Top 10 foods to include in your diet 113
Chapter 5 The magical six-week milestone 119
Breastfeeding is established 121
Natalie’s breastfeeding adventure ... her first week 122
Socialising 128
The first outing 128
Growth spurts and weight gain 129
Average weight gain for a breastfed baby 130
Exercise and breastfeeding 131
Food for Mum 133
What to avoid 135
Does what you eat affect the nutrient content of your breastmilk? 135
Chapter 6 The next six months 137
Why breastfeeding is important 139
Breast or bottle? 140
Breastmilk 140
Infant formula 140
Growth spurts and demand feeding 143
When it’s time to start solids 144
Breastfeeding and infant biting 149
Returning to work or study 151
Breastfeeding and contraception 153
Getting back into shape 154
Tips to help you lose weight 154
Food for Mum 156
Food for work 156
Food for home 157
Chapter 7 When and who to ask for help 159
When to ask for help 161
Who to ask for help 164
Helpful contacts 165
Dealing with criticism – who knows best? 165
Final word 167
Index 169
Acknowledgements 174
Glossary 182