Help a Mama Out: Surviving Your Baby’s Witching Hours

‘Help a Mama Out’ Topic of the Week: What are Your Best Tips for Surviving Your Baby’s Witching Hours?

 

Ashley: Wearing the baby during the evening hours.  Prepping dinner earlier in the day so that I didn’t have to do it during my baby’s fussy time.  Setting aside special activities for my then 3-year old that she could do on her own or with little help from me, just in case I needed to be sitting on the couch, constantly nursing the baby.  Reminding myself that this was temporary and would pass!

Karen: Feeding a little at a time, more frequently.  I read when #4 had HORRIBLE colic that there are some cultures where babies never experience colic.  In all of these communities, babies are worn and are on and off the boob all day, so they eat small meals very frequently.  

Kat: Support from my husband was really crucial during this time. I would nurse my son and concentrate on him while my husband got dinner ready.  Holding and wearing baby helped the most.  Also, fresh air worked wonders!

Lori: Babywearing…. I would also batch cook on the weekend when Daddy was home so that come dinner time, all I had to do was heat it up.

Catie: Remain calm…. Baby seemed to sense the angst and it only made things worse.  Often baby and I both needed a breather.  My husband was deployed when my son went through the worst of it so handing him off wasn’t an option.  I would set him down in a swing or bouncy chair with a toy, walk to another room and take 30 seconds minimum to breathe, drink some water, etc.  If baby was happy, I took a break away from him since we were obviously over-stimulating each other.  Then, back to nursing, rocking, wearing, walking, etc…. until we could both get a good nap!

Janina: Babywearing, smaller feedings, burp a lot, white noise, gripe water at the first sign of crying, rocking, and time. 

Christina: Wearing and then walking – close to mom, plus amazing fresh air and rhythmic movements.  Sometimes getting into a warm bath with my daughter helped, too.

Shelly: Lowering my expectations.  Fussy babies meant nothing was getting done except baby care.  Going for a walk helped clear my head and the change of scenery almost always calmed them down.

Kathryn: Bouncing on the exercise ball and the vacuum was a lifesaver.

Grace: Adjusting my diet (cutting out gluten and dairy because those were his colic culprits).  Make the day less chaotic by staying home or no visitors, low lights, soothing music.  Skin to skin.  Take a warm bath with baby on my chest.  Baby massage with some coconut oil and lavender oil.  Colic Calm if it lasts more than an hour.

Turath: Our baby’s witching hour turned out to be a dairy sensitivity, so after I cut out dairy we haven’t had any problems.  Definitely babywearing!  This article has lots of great tips…. It’s sleep related, but I think many of the tips will work for calming a fussy baby.  http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/fussy-baby/31-ways-get-your-baby-sleep-and-stay-asleep

Rhianna: Try putting them to bed earlier.  Once we instituted a 6pm bedtime, it was MUCH easier!

Kenyatta: Wear them!  Familiarity (routine, music, lighting, smells) and calm.

Here are a few of my favorite articles:

A Checklist of 36 Time-Tested Baby Calmers 

The Phenomenon of Late Afternoon/Early Evening Infant Crying: Part 1

The Phenomenon of Late Afternoon/Early Evening Infant Crying: Part 2

What are YOUR favorite tips for surviving your baby's 'witching hour?'

Our New San Diego Nursing in Public Task Force Logo

Thank you to all of the amazing artists who submitted a logo for our San Diego Nursing in Public Task Force logo contest!  

Today, I am honored to announce our winner! Here is the new logo for the San Diego Nursing in Public Task Force, designed by Crystal Heithaus!

Stay tuned for our announcement when the materials are online next week!!!

Help a Mama Out: Weaning a Toddler

‘Help a Mama Out’ Topic of the Week: Tips for Weaning a Toddler

 

Kelly: Take it slow and take cues from your toddler.  We haven’t completely weaned yet, but in order for ME to keep our breastfeeding relationship in a good place, I had to take is down to 3x a day.  While I wanted to distract and push away when the little one wanted to breastfeed, what he really needed was a few minutes of cuddling before he was on to the next thing.  Once I figured that out, taking it down to 3x a day was a breeze and I feel like I could do this forever now (or at least until HE wants.)

Heather: Honestly, let the toddler decide when to wean.  That is what I plan on doing with my daughter.  She is 18 months and still nursing strong!

Heidi: Sit them down and have a little heart-to-heart – worked with both of mine!  It’s incredible how much they really ‘get it.’

Lolis: I got pregnant!  Just cut out feedings by distracting her.  Nursing is a two-way relationship and if you don’t want to do it anymore, then your feelings should be respected, too.  I thought I would end up tandem nursing, but she weaned when I was 30 weeks pregnant and has tried a few times since then, but I just distracted her to take her mind off of it.  I’ve said ‘no’ a few times, too.  Try to also offer a drink when they are trying to nurse because sometimes they are just thirsty.  I also wear shirts that make the boobies inaccessible.  We made it to 21 months and I’m completely ok with that.

Theresa: When my daughter was a little over 2 years old I became pregnant and nursing was suddenly very uncomfortable for me.  We took weaning very slowly and gradually, cutting it back to naptime and before bed.  We had lots of honest talks about how mommy’s body was changing and that nursing was uncomfortable for me (not that she hurt me) because of those changes.  I incorporated giving her a cup of unsweetened coconut milk before going to bed as ‘big girl milk.’  I really emphasized how special our snuggle time was to me and reassured her that it wouldn’t stop just because she wasn’t having mommy milk anymore.  It took several months and, to be honest, a few teary times for both of us.  She breastfed for the last time when she was 32 months and started referring to it as ‘baby milk’ instead of ‘mommy milk.’  Also, once I stopped nursing, I switched from wearing nursing tanks to a bra and T-shirt.  It seemed to make it easier for her to accept a gentle ‘I can’t.  Mommy is not wearing the right type of shirt,’ on the random times when she still wanted to try.

Susan: Just finished weaning my 15 month old and low supply played the biggest role.  Once those first few days of sadness was over (for me), it was a relief to know she was happy as a clam getting a full 6-8 oz of non-dairy milk and I felt great knowing she is healthy and thriving.  I’ve realized we all take a different path in this motherhood and nursing thing and we all do what we can for the well-being of our children.  I totally agree with Lolis that nursing must be a mutual two-way enjoyable experience and if mommy is done that must be respected as well.

Adrienne: Having specific times of the day for nursing helped us.  We loved first thing in the morning, naptime, and bedtime.  Then I could say ‘not now, but we can nurse at naptime.’ This made her actually ask to go to bed.  Of course, there were exceptions for major physical and emotional injuries, but this worked for us.  Distraction, staying busy, avoiding places that reminded her of nursing, offering something else instead (like a book, snack, drink, cuddle, etc.) also helped.

Donna: I use distraction as much as possible and tell him that they are empty when they are.  Eventually they forget and nursing is replaced by cuddles J

Kathy: ‘Don’t offer, don’t refuse’ worked best for me and my son.  Shortly after his second birthday, he just stopped asking one day.  Seems like a lifetime ago and I miss it!

Don't miss our Boob Group podcast episode: Breastfeeding Toddlers: Night Nursing and Weaning

Here are a few more articles on weaning and toddlers on our blog:

Gentle Weaning: What is the Process? 

Gentle Weaning: Techniques and Resources 

Toddler Nursing Part II: Toddler vs. Breastfeeding 

Toddler Nursing Part III: Super Breastfed Baby! 

What tips do YOU have for weaning your toddler?

Nursing in Public Logo Contest

Are you a graphic designer?  

Are you a passionate breastfeeding supporter?

Do you want to create a logo for our Nursing in Public Task Force???

 

The time has come.... the San Diego Nursing in Public Task Force materials are almost ready to launch on our website, but, alas, we desperately need a logo!  Since we are all a bunch of passionate breastfeeding supporters who will do anything to uphold a mother's right to breastfeed in public (ahem....and we are not getting paid for any of this), we have decided to hold a logo contest.  

Interested?

Here are the details for the logo contest:

1. You must incorporate the words 'San Diego Nursing in Public Task Force' OR 'San Diego NIP Task Force.'

2. The logo can simply be just the words listed above or you can include an image as well.

3. The entire logo must be original artwork and cannot be copied from any other source.

4. The winner must allow the San Diego Nursing in Public Task Force to use the logo on the San Diego Breastfeeding Center and the San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition websites, as well as on all of the NIP Task Force materials, without compensation or restriction of rights.  The San Diego Breastfeeding Center will have any and all rights regarding the logo. 

5. All applicants must submit their logo (as a jpeg) to niptaskforce@gmail.com by midnight (PST) June 10, 2013.

6. Winner will be announced on June 14, 2013 and will have a link to their website (if applicable) on all San Diego NIP Task Force web pages.

The volunteers for the San Diego NIP Task Force have created an amazing collection of materials and resources for our nursing in public mamas, so we can't wait to have a logo that truly represents our cause!  If you have any questions, please feel free to post in the comments or contact us directly at niptaskforce@gmail.com.

Let the logo contest begin!!!

Common Concerns While Breastfeeding: Why are my nipples white?

Are you feeling a burning sensation in your nipples that creeps up into your breasts?  Does this happen most often IN BETWEEN feedings, rather than during your breastfeeding session?  Have you noticed that your nipples turn white as soon as your baby pulls off?

What you might be dealing with are vasospasms!

Raynaud’s syndrome, or a vasospasm, is a common phenomenon that affects up to 20% of women of childbearing age.  It was originally described as affecting the body’s extremities (hands and feet), but now has been described as affecting many other vessels, including the nipples.  The symptoms are often confused with thrush, as both cause a burning sensation in the nipples, yet they are completely different from one another. 

Thrush is a yeast infection that can be treated with antifungal treatments (see your article Common Concerns While Breastfeeding: Yikes!  Why are my nipples burning?).  Vasospasms are constrictions of the blood vessels that usually occur as a result of exposure to cold and are not an indication of an infection.  Vasospasms will not be resolved with antifungal treatments.

What are vasospasms?

Imagine sitting cross-legged and your foot ‘falls asleep.’  Your foot becomes numb as the blood leaves the area.  As soon as you start banging your foot on the floor and ‘waking it up,’ the blood flows back into your foot, causing a sensation of pins and needles.  This is the same philosophy with nipple vasospasms.  Essentially, as soon as your baby’s warm mouth leaves your nipple, the cold air triggers a vasospasm, causing the blood in your nipple to escape and leave the area.  This causes blanching, or whiteness of the nipple, since the blood is constricted.  Then, as the blood comes back and starts to flow better, the nipple is ‘woken up,’ causing a burning sensation.  This can be extremely painful and frustrating, as the throbbing can be felt throughout the entire day and night.

Symptoms for vasospasms:

• Nipples turn white as baby pulls off from feeding (due to the restricted blood flow to the nipples)
• As blood flows back into the nipples, they turn from white to blue, purple, or red, accompanied by throbbing, burning pain.
• Nipples throb in between feedings, especially when mom feels cold or if she feels a let-down, rather than during a feeding.

It is important to rule out the following, as they can also cause vasospasm-like symptoms:

• Poor latch that compresses and/or pinches the nipple
• Tongue-tie
• Sensitivity to nipple creams
• Thrush/breast infections
• Pregnancy

*** None of these can be treated with vasospasm remedies

Once you have ruled out other causes of vasospasms, you can begin to treat them.

How to treat vasospasms:

• Avoid vaso-constricting substances, such as nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol
• Try to keep your nipples and breasts warm in between feedings.  Wool breast pads, such as the ones made by LanaCare, can be fantastic
• Try herbal and vitamin supplements to help increase blood flow and reduce symptoms.  My favorite daily regiment is 5000IUs of vitamin D3, 200mg of vitamin B6, the minimum dosage of Natural Calm Magnesium, and Nordic Naturals Omega 3 vitamins.
• Acupuncture – since vasospasms are caused by lack of blood flow to the nipples, acupuncture can help move your blood and keep it from being stagnant in your body
• If none of these measures help with the pain, speak with your doctor about nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker that has vasodilatory effects.  Nifedipine, as any medication, has risks of side-effects.  These side effects include dizziness, headache, and tachycardia, so please consult your primary healthcare provider.

As always, it can be very helpful to meet with an IBCLC to determine whether your nipple pain is due to vasospasms or to another breastfeeding issue.  You can find an IBCLC in your area on the International Lactation Consultant Association website.

Did you experience vasospasms while breastfeeding your child? 

What were your symptoms and how did you resolve them?