Category: Ask Nurse Nancy

We got an order tonight from a previous customer, and along with it came this wonderful note!!!

Dear Cozy Cuddles, I just have to write and tell you how much I love your nursing pillow! I’ve used it with all three of my children (my oldest is 4 and my youngest is now 8 months) and only now did I need to replace the cover. You have created an extraordinary product. The size is perfect for cradling a newborn to a toddler to every size in between, the fit around me is perfect (I’m a size 16 and most of the other nursing pillows I’ve seen are tiny), it is exactly the right size for comfortable nursing and even after 4 years of nearly constant use, the pillow is still supportive! Wow! A friend gave me this product and it has become one of my all-time favourite recommendations for any nursing mom. Thank you for creating such a wonderful product!

Thanks so much for that testimonial!!! Your new cover is on it’s way!!

Originally posted 2018-12-21 21:53:22.

Here’s a question from Carly in Huntsville, ON:

Q: I’m expecting my first baby soon. I’ve heard that in order to increase your milk production, you should wait at least 3 hours after you empty the breasts at a feeding to feed your baby again to allow the milk to fill up again. Is this true?

A: Good question, Carly, but this isn’t actually the case. Research shows that since milk is being produced at all times, the breast is never actually empty. In fact most babies remove an average of 75-80% of milk at a feeding, so there is always milk remaining in the breast after a feeding.

The strategy of waiting a set amount of time to nurse your baby (under the mistaken belief that the breasts need time to “refill”) will be counterproductive to your goal to increase your milk supply. This is because milk production slows down when milk accumulates in the breast. So, the best strategy is to feed your baby frequently, thus emptying the breasts as much as possible, especially in the early days. Newborns will often “cluster feed” which means that for a period of a few hours a day they will feed almost continuously, and this is very helpful in increasing your milk supply.

Nancy Lahn RN
Deveoper of the Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow

Originally posted 2015-04-28 13:13:10.

Here’s a question from Narinder in Brampton:

Q: My baby is due next month. Some of my friends say that they combined breastfeeding and formula feeding and that this gave them the best of both worlds – what do you think?

A: I know that this is a popular notion, Narinder, but it is not the best option. Breastmilk is superior in every way to formula, and there is no need for babies to have any other kind of feeding unless in a rare situations and as advised by your lactation consultant – even water is amply supplied by breastmilk. Women who combine breast and formula are much more likely to wean before the recommended 12 months, thus depriving baby of the ideal balance of nutrients and of antibodies. Research has also shown that exclusive breastfeeding also protects the baby by colonizing the baby’s digestive system with healthy bacteria, and that even one bottle of formula upsets this balance and unhealthy bacteria are no longer inhibited. Even when exclusive breastfeeding resumes, it can take weeks for the healthy bacteria to return to their former level.

The only “advantage” of formula is that someone else can give a bottle when you’re away from your baby. In the first 4 -6 weeks, this can cause nipple confusion as the baby sucks very differently from a bottle than they do from the breast, which increases the risk of early weaning. After 4 -6 weeks, you can easily pump your milk and leave this for a caregiver to give when you are out, and this way the baby will receive the “gold star” milk all the time and never has to receive second-best.

The familiar saying, “Breast is Best!” is so true, and research is revealing more reasons to affirm this all the time!

Nancy Lahn RN

Developer of the Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow

Originally posted 2016-02-10 14:09:29.

Here’s a question from Kelly in Richmond Hill, ON:

Q: I have a question about cleaning the Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow. Unfortunately my older child spilled juice on the pillow – should I have it dry cleaned?

A: Thanks for your question, Kelly – the good news is that your Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow is fully washable! For most little spills and baby spit-ups, the zippered cover can be removed for laundering. For bigger spills that soak through to the pillow, check the seams to make sure they are intact and place in your full-sized washing machine with warm water and a scant amount of liquid detergent. Laundry soap like Ivory Snow is not recommended, as it tends to clump the fibrefill. Then it can be tumbled dry at warm in your full sized dryer. Dry cleaning is not recommended, because of the chemicals used which you do not want next to baby’s face.

You’ll find that most nursing pillows on the market are not washable – the ones that are made of foam are particularly problematic since they cannot be washed and soon become contaminated with milk and anything else that can soil it, including those leaky diapers!!

Nancy Lahn RN

Developer of the Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow

Originally posted 2016-02-24 11:48:50.