Breastfeeding 101, page 2
by The Cradle Staff
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I WANT SOME WINE
You’ve waited nine months to break open that bottle of cabernet, and now you can... on occasion and in moderation. Try to sip your glass of wine or beer after you’ve nursed, or at least an hour (per drink) before you breastfeed again, so the alcohol has time to metabolize and burn off. (Alcohol peaks at one hour and then dissipates.)
You might have heard the term "pump and dump," but you don't have to waste your milk since alcohol isn’t stored in breast milk. But you should still wait a while after consumption before nursing your baby.
GET THAT MILK FLOWING
Babies will need to feed often for a few reasons:
To satiate their hunger
For comfort
To bring in the milk supply (as opposed to using formula, which stays in a baby’s stomach longer)
To make sure you’re producing enough milk, here are some tricks to help get it flowing:
Teas and Herbs
Supplement your diet with teas, such as Organic Mother’s Milk Tea, and herbs, such as Motherlove More Milk Plus. One of their main ingredients, fenugreek, is a spice that increases milk supply. (Warning: It’ll make you smell like maple syrup.) You could also just add ground fennel seeds to any tea that you make at home.
Dark Beer
Granted, this is an old wives’ tale, but some people believe that beer relaxes the mom, thus helping her milk “let down.” Although there is no conclusive evidence that this is true, a cold pint of Guinness might be just what the doctor ordered after all those alcohol-free months.
Water
It is extremely important to stay hydrated, so have extra bottles of water nearby while you’re breastfeeding. However, don’t feel like you need to overdo it since drinking too much water could dilute your prolactin level and lower your milk supply. Be sure to drink to quench your thirst.
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