KANGAROO MOTHER CARE
March 12th, 2010
Archive
Archive for the ‘Breastfeeding Info’ Category
KANGAROO MOTHER CARE: AN INTERVIEW
Longer nursing may aid kids’ mental health
January 19th, 2010
Breastfeeding for 6 months or more may reduce issues, study suggests
Children who are breastfed for longer than six months could be at lower risk of mental health problems later in life, new research from Australia suggests.
“Breastfeeding for a longer duration appears to have significant benefits for the onward mental health of the child into adolescence,” Dr. Wendy H. Oddy of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in West Perth and her colleagues report in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Breastfeeding could help babies cope better with stress, the researchers note, and may also signal a stronger mother-child attachment and these benefits may last.
Oddy and her colleagues studied 2,366 children born to women enrolled the Western Australia Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Each of the children underwent a mental health assessment when they were 2, 5, 8, 10, and 14 years old.
Eleven percent were never breastfed, 38 percent were breastfed for less than six months, and just over half were breastfed for six months or longer.
The mothers who breastfed for less than six months were younger, less educated, poorer, and more stressed, and were also more likely to be smokers, than the moms who breastfed for longer. They were also more likely to suffer from postpartum depression, and their babies were more likely to have growth problems.
At each of the assessments, the researchers found, children who were breastfed for shorter periods of time had worse behavior. Differences were seen for internalizing behavior, in which negativity is directed inwards, for example depression; and in externalizing behaviors, such as aggression.
For each additional month a child was breastfed, behavior improved.
Breastfeeding for six months or longer remained positively associated with the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents after the investigators adjusted for social, economic and psychological factors as well as early life events.
They conclude: “Interventions aimed at increasing breastfeeding duration could be of long-term benefit for child and adolescent mental health.”
Copyright 2010 Reuters
Last few days of Winter Sale!
January 18th, 2010
Our Winter Sale must end this Thursday, January 21st so get shopping and pick up a bargain or two!
Breastfeeding in Public – tips for new or expectant mums
January 5th, 2010
So you are pregnant and you know that you want to breastfeed your baby. Congratulations! Maybe you have started breastfeeding but not yet ventured out in public. Breastfeeding in public can be a scary thought for any new mum and even not so new mums. These tips should help you on your way.
- Practise in front of a mirror. It might help you to know exactly what can be seen when you are breastfeeding your baby, you might be pleasantly surprised!
- Wear the right clothes. Ensure that you are wearing something that you are comfortable in and that can give you easy access for feeding. This might be a large top that you can easily lift or open. Layering with a cardigan can offer additional coverage. There are many different styles of breastfeeding clothing available, often with hidden openings across the chest allowing access without having to lift or remove any item of clothing. You might choose to double layer vests and lift one and pull down the other which will provide a similar effect.
- Take a friend along for moral support. If you are going to breastfeed in public for the first time, you should take someone supportive along with you whether this be your partner, friend, mum or even some other new mums.
- Go to a breastfeeding friendly place. You may want to seek out some breastfeeding friendly places in your local area and choose one for your first outing. Your Midwife or Health Visitor should be able to advise you on breastfeeding friendly places. Often child/baby friendly cafes are breastfeeding friendly.
- Find a seat out of the way. If you are still feeling nervous you may want to find a seat out of the way or in the corner until you increase your confidence.
- You could use a breastfeeding scarf or cover such as a Mamascarf. This not only provides privacy for public breastfeeding but allows you to see your baby throughout the feed, can’t be pulled off and also provides some additional support.
- Plan your route. If you know where you are going to be when it’s feeding time, you will be able to make sure that you are somewhere you are going to feel comfortable breastfeeding your baby.
- Have confidence in yourself and what you are doing. You are breastfeeding your baby, it is your right! It is the best food you can give your baby and it is also good for you too. Good luck and remember it gets easier with time. Happy Breastfeeding!
Keira O’Mara from Mamascarf
It’s World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7th
August 2nd, 2009
Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response
Are you ready?
OBJECTIVES OF WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK 2009
- To draw attention to the vital role that breastfeeding plays in emergencies worldwide.
- To stress the need for active protection and support of breastfeeding before and during emergencies.
- To inform mothers, breastfeeding advocates, communities, health professionals, governments, aid agencies, donors, and the media on how they can actively support breastfeeding before and during an emergency.
- To mobilise action and nurture networking and collaboration between those with breastfeeding skills and those involved in emergency response.
RATIONALE
- Children are the most vulnerable in emergencies – child mortality can soar from 2 to 70 times higher than average due to diarrhoea, respiratory illness and malnutrition.
- Breastfeeding is a life saving intervention and protection is greatest for the youngest infants. Even in non-emergency settings, non-breastfed babies under 2 months of age are six times more likely to die.
- Emergencies can happen anywhere in the world. Emergencies destroy what is ‘normal,’ leaving caregivers struggling to cope and infants vulnerable to disease and death.
- During emergencies, mothers need active support to continue or re-establish breastfeeding.
- Emergency preparedness is vital. Supporting breastfeeding in non-emergency settings will strengthen mothers’ capacity to cope in an emergency.
January Sale Kicks Off!
January 12th, 2009
Once Born’s end of season sale has started! There are loads of great bargains to be had in nursing tops, nursing bras and baby items. Eg. Swaddle-me Adjustable Infant Wraps for swaddling your newborns are only €6! They are available in pink, blue or ivory. These are great in the early days to keep your new baby feeling secure.
Links
December 4th, 2008
Here are some of my favourite links:
Breastfeeding Shops:
Breastfeeding forums:
Breastfeeding Information Sites:
Pregnancy Information
- http://www.the-elbowroom.com/ Pregnancy Yoga
The Breastway
December 4th, 2008
For anyone looking for information on breastfeeding or to chat to other mums there is a great new breastfeeding website + forum www.thebreastway.ie. Check it out!
The Breast Way