Author: Nancy Lahn

Here’s a question from Marian in Waterloo, ON:

Q:  My three-week-old breastfeeding baby spits up a bit of milk after just about every feeding.   Anything I can do about this?

A:  Spitting up, or reflux, is a very common problem in new babies – in fact, about half of babies have this problem to some degree.  What’s happening is that the muscular valve between the esophagus and the stomach is maturing and doesn’t always function properly, allowing the stomach contents to come back up.  Burping the baby when he finishes on each breast can help, as well as feeding in a more upright position.  If you’re using the cradle hold, position the part of your Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow that is supporting his head on top of the arm of your chair and tuck the other end under the arm under the chair arm, so his head is elevated.  You can also nurse in the laid back position, supporting your head and shoulders with your Cozy Cuddles pillow and positioning your baby on your chest elevates his head so that gravity will help him.  Also, don’t lay the baby down for 30 minutes after feeding – propping using your Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow can be helpful.

Originally posted 2017-03-14 17:02:10.

Here’s a question from Kirsten in Barrie, ON:

Q:  I have a preemie born at 26 weeks, he’s now 33 weeks and I hope to start NNS (Non-Nutritive Sucking) in the next 2 weeks.  Do you recommend a position best for preemies?

A:  Thank you for your question, Kirsten!  For those reading this blog who are not familiar with the term ”Non-Nutritive Sucking” for premature infant the practice of allowing a premature infant who has not yet developed the ability to nurse at the breast to become familiar with the idea of nursing.  In the womb, around 32 weeks gestation, the fetus begins to display bursts of sucking, so when a preemie reaches this age they may be ready to begin spending time at the breast.  There will be no intake of milk, but often what happens is that babies “lick and sniff”, and may latch on briefly and then fall off.  All this is very beneficial for Mom and preemie, as NNS helps digestion of the feeding (still given by tube), promotes better sleep and calmness, as well as giving the baby a very pleasant feeling of being at the breast which makes the transition to full breastfeeding later much easier.  It also increases milk production for Mom.

The positions most use at this time are cross-cradle and football hold.  With cross-cradle on the left breast, you hold your left breast with your left hand (with thumb above the areola and fingers beneath) and you lay the baby across your lap tummy-to-tummy with you and support the baby’s head with your right hand.  This allows you to support his head more, and gives you more control to guide him to your nipple.  You just reverse this hold when you use the right breast.

With the football hold on the left, tuck the baby under your left arm and support his head with your left hand, while holding your breast with your right hand, reversing this when you feed on the right.

For both positions, the Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow will really help to support the baby’s body and prevent back and neck strain for you.  All the best to you and your little boy!  I’m sure that in the next few weeks he will graduate to being able to fully breastfeed and you’ll be a happy breastfeeding couple!

Originally posted 2016-09-10 08:30:10.

Here’s a question from Tammy S. in Halifax, N.S.:

Q: My baby is 8 weeks old, and seems troubled with painful gas attacks. He draws his knees up and gets red in the face and cries as if he’s in pain. It’s worst in the evenings. I’ve tried eliminating dairy from my diet (he’s breastfeeding) but that doesn’t seem to help. I’ve heard that massage can be helpful but I don’t know how to do it.

A: It’s very common for babies at your son’s stage of development to have colic, Tammy. It’s always a good idea to have them examined by a doctor, but usually it’s not an illness – just a symptom that occurs as their digestive system matures. Massage can indeed be helpful in helping them to pass the uncomfortable gas. You can try this method: First, rub his abdomen from ribcage to diaper, one hand after the other, for a count of 15. Then, take his legs and bend them to his belly and hold for a count of 15. Next, rub his belly in a clockwise motion for 15 seconds (it’s important to rub clockwise, as this follows the direction of the bowel and helps the gas to be moved out). Last, bend his legs to his belly again for 15 seconds. It’s recommended that you repeat this massage session three times a day. Many find that this technique helps them to soil their diaper as you do it, so do it with them lying on a diaper or you may get a surprise! :)

Originally posted 2015-02-24 14:44:50.

Here’s a question from Maria in Scarborough,ON:

Q: My baby boy is 7 months old and eating a variety of solid foods now, and I’m both breastfeeding and formula feeding. He’s been having a lot of trouble lately with constipation – what can I do?

A: It’s fairly common for babies to experience constipation when they are eating lots of solid food, but are not crawling yet. The fact that he is also receiving some formula is also likely adding to the problem, since formula causes more solid stools, whereas breastmilk is very laxative, so ideally, you should exclusively breastfeed. Also, you can try adding some prune juice to his cereal, as this is also very laxative. When he begins crawling, the exercise will help a great deal to alleviate this problem. Suppositories are not recommended for babies unless in very unusual circumstances and ordered and supervised by a physician.

Nancy Lahn RN

Developer of the Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow

Originally posted 2016-02-16 11:21:32.