Happy BOOBIE WEEK!

I breastfeed. Not only do I breastfeed, I breastfeed twins. In total, over the course of the last 7+ years as a mother I've been breastfeeding for over 50 months (and no, I'm not counting the twins separately.) For those (like me) with bad math skills, that is over four years. I'm currently feeding 18 month old twins. So, this tally could get higher. It's the longest I've ever breastfed any of my four children and I'm learning new shit from it every day. It is also the hardest job I've had as a parent and the most physically demanding thing I've ever experienced.

That's a bindi on my head, my daughters felt I must be adorned while embodying the goddess of milk!

Breastfeeding is natural but it's also, for many, HARD AS HELL. Sadly our modern society does not support mothers or their right to breastfeed and though there are laws protecting those rights (in most of the USA and around the world) and the rights of working mothers to take pumping and or breastfeeding breaks at work, these are often completely ignored, or worse. What could be worse? How about being told you'd kill your baby if you fed them from your breasts (yup, happened to me), How about being told this by a doctor who was standing over you at 11pm less than 24 hours after a c-section  WHILE YOU WERE NURSING YOUR SON? (Yeah, still me) How about being told you were a sick individual, and probably a child molester for baring your breasts (the things that were made TO FEED YOUR CHILD) to your child? (yup, happened to me and about a million other mamas). How about being fired from your job because you "took too many breaks" while your co-workers took smoke breaks every half hour and no one batted an eyelash? (thankfully not me, but many, many women have experienced this.) The thing is, none of these accusations were true. None. And worse, they were harmful.

This photo of me in the NICU breastfeeding my sons was removed from a large FB page supporting birthing and breastfeeding women because too many people complained it was indecent.

Also, quite gratefully I did not face opposition from my husband (he has been my #1 supporter) as many mothers have or my family or in laws (non of whom breastfed, actually.) They have all been AWESOME and for that I'm deeply blessed. But it's still rough. I've suffered from mastitis, clogged ducts, poor latch, sore nipples, oversupply, undersupply and so much more. Has it been worth it? Yeah, it has. Not just 'cause I have literally saved my babies from a myriad of potential health problems, been able to bond with them after a traumatic c-section and NICU stay nearly erased that possibility and have watched them thrive on Mother Nature's liquid gold, but also because I've learned SO MUCH and met so many awesome mamas who have taught me as well as learned from my mistakes/revelations and research.




I've become part of a community of women that are helping dispel the myths surrounding breastfeeding that have cropped up in the last 50 years (thanks in large part to the formula companies and well meaning - or not- undereducated medical staff attending births.) I've had many opportunities to share this info I've gleaned. Sometimes in person, sometimes on those forums, but I'm blogging about it today in honor of World Breastfeeding Week (Aug1-7) and National (as in the USA) Breastfeeding month (August).  Because as people we need support and as mothers we need it even more. We are nurturing the FUTURE, are we not?

Breastfeeding her baby

Here are few of the best tips/tricks and ancient wisdom I've learned through thousands of hours of research, advice and trial and error! Feel free to pass it on!


Many women suffer from low supply or *think* they do because inexperienced people are telling them they are. So first off, here is a handy chart for the BRAND NEW mama to show you just how LITTLE your baby actually needs. And, for what it's worth, your baby won't even be ingesting mature milk until several days after birth. It will be ingesting collostrum from your breasts in tiny amounts every few hours if you are feeding on demand (which we are biologically geared for, both mom and baby) and this is all it needs!

Once your milk comes in, if you are having trouble keeping it up, here are a few tried and true tips for boosting that supply!


#1 Probably THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO…
Skin to skin contact! Really! It is so important! Get topless and hold your baby in it's diaper on your bare skin, this sends information to your body to help produce milk.

#2 - Equally Important!  - WATER - Without it there is NO milk, dehydration will decrease your supply….Make sure you are well hydrated ( a half a gallon of water a day is not too much!) Get a water bottle already!

#3 NUTRITION IS KEY! EAT A TON of protein. Get at least 3,000 calories a day (really, it takes 300-500 more calories than normal to feed a baby every day).

#4 BE PATIENT! - If baby is under 6 months it is so challenging. There are growth spurts and teething and just the whole fourth trimester stuff….After about 6 months things even out and get easier.

#5 Be sure to feed on demand if at all possible, really! babies, like us, know when they are hungry and will often get hungry before "dinner is ready" or after it's long over. THEY ARE PEOPLE, FEED THEM WHEN THEY ARE HUNGRY!

#6 (One of the HARDEST) Get as much rest as possible. I know easier said then done. But do as much as you can (and don't beat yourself up if you aren't great at this, none of us are, we are parents.) and by rest, I don't mean 8 hours sleep, because that is probably going to be impossible most nights for awhile. But just take a break sometimes, let someone else hold the baby, have someone bring you dinner or just get a bath once a week, ok?

#7 PLEASE…DO NOT SUPPLEMENT if at all possible, If you do, and you still want to breastfeed, be sure to pump when your baby is being fed, as it can change your supply if you don't. Formula is sometimes necessary (i've used it and i feel no shame in that), but it is a slippery slope. Formula is a breastfeeding woman's nemesis and can seriously damage the breastfeeding relationship. If you don't have to do it, DON'T. And if you do have supply issues and getting a Lactation consultant (see this link for great free support! WORLDWIDE LINK!) hasn't helped and you really need to supplement please consider donor milk.

#8 - If all else fails….buy some fennel seeds!* Found in the spice isle at any grocery store or health food store or Indian food market… Organic is always preferred!**

#9  Above all, know you are doing your best. Nursing once is better than never nursing, every time you do it means a lot to your child. Don't feel guilty about what you can't do, focus on what you can do and know you are doing your best!

#10 -On pumping - Please note,  breasts respond to the baby, not the pump. Pumping is not going to boost your supply the way EBF (exclusively BREAST feeding) is. What you pump is NO indication of what you make, your baby sends signals to your body in ways a breast pump never will. And babies are MUCH more efficient at getting milk from a breast than a pump, no matter how good it is (Though I recommend renting one from the hospital if you birth there as they are often the most efficient electric pumps. Though a manual pump is one of the best options for women who have trouble pumping and they are less expensive and portable). Ultimately, you need to get the baby on you and let your baby and body do what they are meant to do.

To make Fennel tea for mama:
1tsp  Fennel seeds, to 8oz very hot water. Steep covered 15 mins. Can be Drunk 2X a day and is very soothing to the tummy for you and baby. It is hands down the best thing I've used for supply issues. It helped me w/my twins! I WAS PUMPING 8oz every three hours by day 2 of our NICU stay (your experience may vary but no mom i've known whose tried this has not had it work wonders on supply!) Many people recommend Fenugreek but it can can cause stomach upset (in you and/or baby - which is not widely disclosed and was really lame for me), Fennel won't (quite the opposite!) and it's cheaper and easier to get than Fenugreek.

Fennel seeds look like this...thanks alibaba.com for this photo btw.

So to recap...

Diet, rest, stress and water intake all effect milk production. Above all, know you are doing your best. Nursing once is better than never nursing, every minute, every day, every month means a lot to your child. Don't feel guilty about what you can't do, focus on what you can do and know you are doing your best! Also remember, breasts respond to the baby, not the pump. pumping is not going to boost your supply the way EBF (exclusively BREAST feeding) is. What you pump is NO indication of what you make, your baby sends signals to your body in ways a breast pump never will. And babies are MUCH more efficient at getting milk from a breast than a pump ever will be no matter how good it is (Though I recommend renting one from the hospital if you birth there as they are GREAT).

Get the baby on you and let your baby and body do what they are meant to do. Good luck!!



* and ** See link below for Mountain Rose herbs.

***The are some links between peach and birch allergy and Fennel, if you ahve either of these allergies, do not use fennel. Always check with your allergist or herbal practitioner before trying a new herb if you suspect you mayt be allergic and DO NOT USE FENNEL during pregnancy.


A few handy links:

Best book on the period 3 months before you get pregnant to well into pregnancy -Not only in supporting health birth and postpartum times but also for natural birth control info: The Wise woman herbal for the childbearing year by Susun Weed

Great place to get some delicious nourishing herbs (and that fennel I mentioned!):
Mountain Rose Herbs


WHO growth Chart for breastfed babies - the CDC recommends Pediatricians use these charts for babies under two as breastfed babies tend to be leaner as they metabolize breastmilk more efficiently and the CDC charts often used my most doctors are based on formula fed babies.


Update#1 December 2012: This blog has been recently re-published in two parts by girlbodypride.com!
Update 12/10/13: We are still going strong at 23 months. Ever grateful for the wisdom of the amazing women in the world who share their stories and support in person, online and through other forms of media. We *are* nurturing the future. And the future looks bright, Nurse on Ladies!

Update #3 January 2014 - Still breastfeeding at 24 months!
Edited January 2014 to add #9 & #10 which is also featured in my tips sheet as part of a kit now available from Lunar Mama Designs.