Let Mommy Sleep Blog - Overnight Infant Care + Resources

My Milk Isn’t In…What Do I Do?

July 27, 2016

Jessica Haupt, RN, IBCLC provides answers to nursing with low production, or what seems like low-production but is actually quite normal! Tips on increasing your milk production and a successful breastfeeding relationship are below in My Milk Isn’t In…What Do I Do?

newborn twins waiting to breastfeed — My Milk Isn’t In…What Do I Do?

One of the challenges you might encounter just home from the hospital is what feels like a lack of milk production. While this is normal, you should know that frequent breastfeeding where it seems like “nothing is coming out” is typical as milk comes in Of course we want to be sure baby is gaining weight and satisfied after feeds as well and there are things you can do to be sure your newborn is okay.

My Milk Isn’t In…What Do I Do?

Remember that days 3-5 are the hardest. I get the most calls during these days. Babies get hungrier and milk can often be delayed until day 5. There are many reasons for delayed milk, but the most common seem to be c-section, complicated delivery or obesity.
Have someone take care of YOU, so YOU can take care of feeding the baby. Stress, hunger and sleep deprivation delay lactation even more. Friends and family can be overwhelming, but it’s important to have someone whose job is to look after you. They need to be sure you’re eating, drinking and resting. (Not adding more work!)
No time at the breast is wasted time. By the same token, no drop of colostrum or milk is wasted. The benefits of breast milk can be transferred to baby drop by drop, even if the baby is primarily getting nutrition from formula. Every bit of milk you can give your child, even if it seems like a small amount, is a benefit to the baby’s health. And remember, baby’s belly is only the size of a walnut to an apricot on days 3-7.

Helping Milk to Come in is as Easy as 1-2-3!

skin to skin contact to increase milk supply

frequent breastfeeding to increase milk supply

What Else Can I Do if My Milk Isn’t In?

Don’t wait until baby is screaming angry to put the baby to the breast. Learn the early signs of hunger and put the baby skin to skin with mom before latching. Non-feeding caregivers should also learn the signs of hunger. That fresh set of eyes if you’re too tired can make a huge difference.
Skin to skin works! The World Health Organization,(WHO) found that: 90 minutes of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact after birth, maximizes the chance for your baby and you to be physically ready to breastfeed.
Skin to skin is for dads and partners too! Additionally, dads and partners also benefit from the intimacy of skin to skin while helping baby grow and get stronger.
Check your latch If your nipples are sore, reach out to lactation consultants, La Leche, or your birthing center or hospital for resources and to get a latch check.
Utilize the benefits of hand expression! In the early days, you may find hand expression more productive than pumping. Good hand expression can be used during nursing as well and can help stimulate let down. Stanford has a great video on this.

What if I do All That and Breastfeeding is Still Not Working?

If all else fails and you’re just not producing, consider alternative methods of supplementation other than a bottle while waiting out until days 5-7, when lactation usually onsets. Spoon or cup feeding formula can be used. A needle-less syringe can be used for finger feeding. Supplemental systems like those by pupolar brand Medela with a nipple shield can keep the baby nursing while also promoting breastfeeding.

And finally – I end with a quote from a wonderful midwife that I know: “Formula is not the devil’s spit”. While breast is best, a baby who is screaming from hunger is a baby that needs to be fed. Listen to your pediatrician – if the baby is not making enough wet diapers, losing or not gaining weight, supplementation is necessary and does not mean that breastfeeding is over forever.

My Milk Isn’t In…What Do I Do? – How Can I Get More Breastfeeding Help?

Private Lactation Counselors – Jessica Haupt who wrote this article, is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). You can find a lactation counselor by asking your pediatrician, hospital or birthing center or us!

Video Help – Check out the International Breastfeeding Centre’s excellent library of resources.

LLL – We also love La Leche League for support and evidence-based information and to answer the question, My Milk Isn’t In…What Do I Do?

breastfeeding is your journey created by you — Peer Counselor advice from LMS Chicago

We’re one of Forbes Best Shark Tank Rejects!

July 5, 2016

Updated March 2, 2022- Yes it’s true…we’re one of Forbes Best Shark Tank Rejects!

This weekend Forbes featured “16 Entrepreneurs on the Rise Rejected by Shark Tank.” As a small business you just have to apply to be on this powerhouse of a show. The chances of actually getting on though are less than getting accepted into Harvard -roughly 1 in 4,000! For small business owners, the challenges are also more than just the awful waiting game; the time it takes to audition is time away from running the business and sharing your financial information isn’t exactly comfortable. All this aside, applying to be in the Tank has become an American entrepreneurial dream. For these reasons, we’ll take the next best thing…being a Shark Tank Reject!

If you’d like to see our pitch about taking our overnight baby nurse service nationwide, click the slide below. And if you’re Marc, Kevin, Lori, Daymond, Barbara or Robert, we forgive you.

Though we didn’t make a deal, Let Mommy Sleep Franchising has become a reality and we are now expanding nationally. Learn more about night nanny services here. And if you bring our overnight newborn care business to your city, let us know!

We're one of Forbes Best Shark Tank Rejects! — Shark Tank Rejects!

Down Syndrome: How Can Parents Be More Inclusive?

March 17, 2016

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day and many parents wonder how they can educate their young neurotypical children about Down Syndrome and be more inclusive themselves. Alejandra Hall of the Animated Child in Manassas, VA, an inclusive play space for all children, and Amanda, mom to an 18 month old with DS answer this question in Down Syndrome: How Can Parents Be More Inclusive?

Down Syndrome: How Can Parents Be More Inclusive?

Alejandra:

Now that you’ve had your second baby every play date is made for two. Planning and coordinating meet-ups with other mommies with two or more children is just part of the fray. Or is it? What if that second child your friend had is born with Down syndrome? How do you set and keep a play date that you feel wholly unprepared for?

You include that new sibling regardless of the diagnosis and ask questions about how you can make it inclusive. The best way to find inclusive play is to set and keep play dates with children with developmental delays in your own community. It’s that simple! Animated Child is one such inclusive hands-on exploration center.

This World Down Syndrome Day theme,”#MyFriendsMyCommunity“ encourages friends to keep play dates with all families and communities to be inclusive. When in doubt just ask questions, at the very least it will start a dialogue.

Amanda, Mom of 18 month Old

Welcome to Motherhood! Whether it is your first time or you are building a large family, a new baby brings new challenges. Each new baby is unique and comes with their own set of joys, and struggles. Thank goodness they are so cute!

When my youngest arrived, my son was rushed to the NICU and placed on a ventilator. For the first three weeks he was fighting for his life. At this time, he was also diagnosed with Down Syndrome. He spent six weeks in the NICU, half of my maternity leave. When he arrived home, it was appointments with doctors, specialists and therapists. Juggling a baby with medical concerns takes a toll on a mom, and her career. If this is your second child, then you are anxious about giving your first attention so that they don’t feel left out.

Days are spent juggling a family, career, and your children. It is long hours driving between appointments and in waiting rooms, hours worrying about a new diagnosis, more hours researching and reading to be a step ahead, and then juggling another child who is not #2 but an equal to their sibling. Whew! You cannot go this alone, and something will have to give. You need a team, mine is Team MacIsaac. It includes family, friends, and professionals that are supportive and trustworthy.

Motherhood is not a competition, but a community. The same is for support of children with Down Syndrome. This World Down Syndrome Day the theme is my friends, my community; come on out and support your community.

To learn more about Down Syndrome, please visit The National Down Syndrome Society.

Best Age for Newborn Photos

March 14, 2016

You may have heard that the best time to have photos taken of your baby is within the first two weeks after your baby is born. Getting baby pictures where I live in Northern VA can be quite an undertaking when it comes to traffic and schedules but when you consider that parents JUST had a baby, asking them to leave the house at that point is a really big deal…especially when you find out that a newborn session can take up to 3 hours! So what is the best age for newborn photos?

Best Age for Newborn Photos

So when should you have those baby photos taken? The short answer is that a good photographer should be able to get beautiful images of any baby, no matter how old they are. The ultimate decision of when those images should be taken should be up to the parents, not the photographer. We can capture your beautiful baby in gorgeous pictures no matter what the age. You didn’t miss your window!

I will never forget a new momma who called me on verge of tears because a photographer told her that she missed her window to get newborn pictures of her baby and that photographer refused to take the session. I was so mad for that mom. Her child was barely 20 days old! So don’t let anyone make you feel like you missed anything. You are doing a great job and we can get great images for you to treasure.

There are different thoughts among photographers about how long a baby is considered a newborn. Some say until 28 days and other say up to three months old. Your pediatrician will say that the newborn stage is 3 months. So why do most photographers say that newborn images should only be taken within the first two weeks of baby’s life?

Why do most newborn photographers say that images should be taken within the first two weeks of baby’s life?

There are a few reasons:

1. As soon as babies are born, they want to uncurl and spread out: The older they get the more “uncurled” they become, so the first 2 weeks of baby’s life is the easiest time to get these sweet curled up shots we imagine when we think of newborn photography.

2. Babies can wake easily: Because very young babies are able to get into a deep sleep a little easier than older babies, they are less apt to wake because of their startle reflex. The advantage of photographing babies when they are very young is that once they are in a deep sleep, they usually stay there.

3. Positioning. As I mentioned earlier, once babies enter the world they start uncurling and taking up more space. As they grow they don’t want to be squished up anymore! It can make getting the perfect shot a little harder but should not prevent your photographer from getting beautiful images of your sweet new baby. While there are some advantages to having photos taken early in the very early weeks of baby’s life, we can get lovely images no matter what baby’s age.

This post was contributed by Dorie Howell, Newborn & Family Photographer in Northern Virginia. You can see Dorie’s work here! If you’re an expert like Dorie with something to share please let us know!

Sleep Deprivation- How to Keep From Losing Your Mind

July 15, 2015

Guest post by Jeanne Faulkner, Registered Nurse and author of the book “Common Sense Pregnancy” In this blog, Sleep Deprivation- How to Keep From Losing Your Mind Jeanne shares wisdom for new parents.

I just launched my new book, Common Sense Pregnancy ((Random House/Ten Speed Press, June 2015)) and Let Mommy Sleep is helping spread the word that it’s time to start new conversations about pregnancy and parenthood. I wrote Common Sense Pregnancy because women are desperate for honest, straightforward, reassuring information that helps them navigate increasingly complicated prenatal care, labor and birth practices.

They’re looking for support as they learn to parent in challenging times. Much of what’s on book shelves now makes women feel like pregnancy is high risk and dangerous when in truth, for most women it’s a normal and healthy experience. The truth is most parents (even the quirkiest among us) do a darn, good job raising their children. That’s why we need new books, fresh conversations and most of all, reassurance that everything’s going to be OK.

Common Sense Pregnancy is part medical guide (I’m a registered nurse with decades of maternal health experience), part advice column (I write Fit Pregnancy’s Ask The Labor Nurse blog and I’m Senior Writer for EveryMotherCounts.org), and part memoir (I’m the mother of four and lived to write about it). Most of my book is about pregnancy, prenatal care, labor and birth, but I also discuss issues that are right up Let Mommy Sleep’s alley – breastfeeding, postpartum care, newborn issues and a topic that’s at the top of almost every expectant parent’s worry list – sleep deprivation. I write about it in Chapter 15 and I’ll share an excerpt here:

Sleep Deprivation- How to Keep From Losing Your Mind

You’re in for a bit of a shock. Babies rule the night. They’re totally clueless about circadian rhythms and not the least bit concerned about waking you up at all hours to make you do things for them. This goes on for months and months – sometimes even years. Everyone will tell you: Sleep when the baby sleeps. That’s excellent advice the first week or so but not so great after that, because few of us have the privilege of putting everything in life on hold while we take a nap.

We each react differently to interrupted and reduced sleep. Some can suck it up and function fairly well: others fall apart completely. They can’t think, can’t deal and can’t function at all. These parents have to create coping strategies to keep from losing their minds.

First, consider this: while it may seem like you’re never getting to sleep, the reality is you’re almost certainly getting some. Even if your baby is an every-two-hour feeder, that gorgeous hour and a half between feedings might drop you into the deepest sleep of your life. The body is amazing in its ability to grab what it needs, and once you get into a nighttime groove, you’ll find the experience of having bizarre wake-sleep cycles less jolting.

This isn’t working…

If the fatigue is too extreme, then you and your partner need to make some changes – like alternating nights where one of you gets to sleep all night in a room away from the baby while the other handles night duties. If you’re breastfeeding, this could involve your partner giving the baby a bottle of pumped milk or having dad bring baby in for a quick nighttime feeding, then scooping her back up and away while you go back to sleep.

Even when I’d been a nightshift nurse for quite some time, I found newborn sleep deprivation to be a special kind of awful. I didn’t really mind nursing the baby in the middle of the night. In fact, I found it mighty cozy. It was the getting out of bed to get the crying baby that I just plain hated. So my husband and I would share the load. He’d get up and get the baby, do a diaper change, and tuck the baby in bed next to me. After she nursed, my husband would take the baby back to her bassinet. Neither one of us was gaining any extra sleep that way, but this system worked for us.

What about Mental Health?

For some women, sleep deprivation leads to serious changes in mental health – aka postpartum depression and even psychosis. This is serious business and must be addressed by professionals – your doctor or midwife plus a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional with experience dealing with postpartum mothers.

I had a touch of this with baby number one. I couldn’t fall sleep for days after having my daughter and was on high alert and pulsing with hormones, and my mind just would not let up. I’d doze a bit here and there but never really dropped off. One day, I was sitting in the rocker with my baby in my arms. She was asleep and I was exhausted. Suddenly, white horses were flying in her window. Whatever was left of my logical mind knew for certain this wasn’t real, but all my other senses said, “My oh my, that sure is a lot of flying horses. I wonder what happens when they land.” That was my only real break from reality, and shortly after the horses arrived, I was finally able to fall asleep.

This chapter offers lots of advice about sleep and the rest of the book covers all the information you need as you launch your life into parenthood. Bottom line? It’s going to be OK.

Blog

My Milk Isn’t In…What Do I Do?

My Milk Isn’t In…What Do I Do?

Helping Milk to Come in is as Easy as 1-2-3!

What Else Can I Do if My Milk Isn’t In?

What if I do All That and Breastfeeding is Still Not Working?

My Milk Isn’t In…What Do I Do? – How Can I Get More Breastfeeding Help?

We’re one of Forbes Best Shark Tank Rejects!

Down Syndrome: How Can Parents Be More Inclusive?

Down Syndrome: How Can Parents Be More Inclusive?

Alejandra:

Amanda, Mom of 18 month Old

Best Age for Newborn Photos

Best Age for Newborn Photos

Why do most newborn photographers say that images should be taken within the first two weeks of baby’s life?

Sleep Deprivation- How to Keep From Losing Your Mind

Sleep Deprivation- How to Keep From Losing Your Mind

This isn’t working…

What about Mental Health?

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