I love this time of the year, Halloween and Guy Fawkes are out of the way and I can focus my attention on Christmas and then the New Year! My practice is slowly winding down too, with this the 11 November, being the last Breastfeeding Workshop of 2009.
Anyway, I just wanted to jot down a few practical pointers that will help you get through the festive times with a little cheer, as things can seem a little bleak on the cold, dark and wet days.
Firstly, if you are expecting a baby over the Christmas/New Year period, you need to prepare yourself properly if you want to breastfeed. Grab yourself a copy of the Beginners Guide to Breastfeeding on the home page and get reading. This is jam packed with solutions to almost every problem you can think of and the brilliant thing is you can do it all without leaving the house!
If you have a baby over Christmas and New Year period, remember that I am around and able to help you. Just give me a call and I can come and see you, or you can come and see me.
If you already have your baby, keep breastfeeding through the winter months. Your body will produce antibodies to nearly every cold bug you come into contact with, sometimes even within an hour. This means that your baby will be a lot healthier and you will get a lot more sleep.
It is normal for babies to catch the old cold, so if your baby does, remember that they are nose breathers. If their nose is blocked, they are not going to be able to breastfeed, so invest in some nasal saline solution drops. Warm these in your bra for 5 minutes before dropping 1-2 drops into each nostril. This will help break up the mucus clogging baby’s nose and he/she will either sneeze it out or will swallow. Either way, you baby will be able to clear his/her nose and breastfeeding will be a lot eaiser.
When babies are sick, they are also less likely to drain a breast as their appetite is suppressed. If your baby is not feeding as well as he/she normally does and your breasts are starting to feel hot, sore and lumpy, you need to express to drain the breast and avoid developing mastitis. Get yourself a copy of the Mastitis Guide and stop mastitis in its tracks so that you don’t need antibiotics.
Drop me a line if you have a question or concern with regards to breastfeeding and the winter months.
Much love,
Geraldine
