Around the world, people will be celebrating August 1-7 as World Breastfeeding Week. This is the 19th year that the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) has invited breastfeeding advocates from countries worldwide to promote and support breastfeeding mothers in special ways during the first week in August. The theme for this year’s week is “Talk to me! Breastfeeding – a 3D Experience”. With this theme, WABA hopes to especially engage young people to become champions for protection and support of breastfeeding building bridges to people in all generations, cultures, religions and civilizations through communication about the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies as well as their families and communities. [continue…]
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08/2/2011 Posted by: JaneBalkam
As difficult as it is for some women to have enough milk for their babies, many women suffer from problems as a result of too much milk supply. This can happen to a mother who has been pumping for a premature infant or someone who has been both nursing their baby directly and also pumping. Some women are advised to pump in the first week or two after the baby’s birth because of a temporary problem with the baby’s ability to suckle, or a temporary problem with their supply. They do not realize that continuing with the pumping is causing the problems they are having with constant engorgement, leaking, or a baby who is coughing and choking during a feeding because they are overwhelmed with the flow of milk. It may sound like a problem you would like to have, but believe me it is not a good thing. [continue…]
05/25/2011 Posted by: JaneBalkam
“My breasts are sore and my baby is having trouble latching on. What should I do?”
New mothers contact me several times a week with questions about engorgement. [continue…]
04/28/2011 Posted by: JaneBalkam
Spring has arrived in many parts of the United States and that means pollen allergies are in full swing. I am often asked if a mother who is breastfeeding can safely take allergy medicines. Pollen allergies are not only annoying but they can also be debilitating. The first step in allergy management is always avoidance of the substance causing the allergy. This is almost impossible with pollen allergies. [continue…]
04/15/2011 Posted by: JaneBalkam
Over the weekend I had the privilege of listening to a talk by famed Pediatrician Dr. T. Berry Brazelton on his Touchpoints™ Model of Development. Dr. Brazelton shared with us that he is 92 years old. As he spoke, it was clear that he had not lost any of his passion for working with parents, children, and the health care providers who work with them to create a better understand of the development of young children and what it takes to help them grow into strong and healthy adults. [continue…]
03/30/2011 Posted by: JaneBalkam
I have been managing workplace lactation programs for companies and federal agencies since 1995. I have worked with all of these organizations concerning the issue of creating lactation rooms that are safe, private and clean. The issue of where to locate a lactation room is one that is hotly debated by experts in the field. Given my many years of managing lactation programs for organizations big and small, I feel qualified to weigh in on this issue. [continue…]
03/16/2011 Posted by: JaneBalkam
