Blog - The Breastfeeding Dietitian

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Peanut Butter Oat Lactation Balls - The Breastfeeding Dietitian

Peanut Butter Oat Lactation Balls

Robyn Price, RD CBS

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UNPLUGGED. What does that mean for you? . For me,

MILK SHARING CHALLENGE. ‘Tis the season of givin

MILK SHARING CHALLENGE. ‘Tis the season of giving - but it’s more than that. There is no giving without receiving! 🎁
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I love this statement by LLL: “Milk-sharing is a special relationship that can require much thought and effort. The aim is to support the health of the baby, enhance the relationships between all the participants and share the love inherent in the act of breastfeeding and chestfeeding.”
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Did you GIVE milk? Did you RECEIVE milk? Share in the comments! ❤️❤️
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Better yet? Join in the challenge - now until Dec 23, post this part of your journey with the hashtag #milksharingchallenge! 🥰
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There is more info and some swipe up links for how to donate or how to use donated milk in my story highlight called “Milk Sharing” at @breastfeeding.dietitian along with many posts from my colleagues this week:
@aloha.nutrition
@lutz.lactation
@breezy__babies
@the.lactation.dietitian
@thebalancedboob
@themilkmakers
@themilkmanual
@mama.bird.lactation.services
@az.breastfedbabies
@kellyibclc
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#breastmilkdonor #supplementingmom #oversupply #lowsupply #newmomstruggles #ittakesavillage #normalizebreastfeeding #supportisbest #informedisbest #normalizemilksharing

I love chatting about baby 💩💩💩 - because

I love chatting about baby 💩💩💩 - because there’s so much it can tell you about your baby’s gut.. and the SMELL is the first signal 🤣
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Quite often a breastfed baby poop will have the smell of baking bread, or that “yeast-y” smell. Maybe even something sweeter like freshly baked cupcakes 🧁
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It’s actually not unpleasant usually. That being said breastmilk is always changing from day to day and even throughout the day, so getting one that’s a little more off-putting to the nose here and there can possibly be normal as well.
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What could possibly be not normal smells? It smells acidic, sort of akin to you noticing the best before date has passed on the milk in the fridge... and you take a whiff to check if it’s still good and it most definitely is NOT. That smell. Some may even word it as “sour” or “foul”.
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What’s not normal about these smells? If they’re happening *all the time*, this MAYBE just maybe means babe has an intolerance or allergy to something in your milk. I’m hesitant to even plant this seed in your mind though, because when it comes to allergies and intolerances... it’s important to look at the WHOLE PICTURE.
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So when you ask what “normal” baby poop smells like, what else is going on matters.
💩How often your baby poops
💩The texture of your baby’s poops
💩The colour of your baby’s poops
💩The size of your baby’s poops
💩And EVERYTHING else going on with your baby
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(and let me clarify - this post is for babies on nothing more than breastmilk... no iron supplements, no solids, no formula, etc. Because those things have the ability to change babe’s gut flora and therefore the smell of their poop)
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I go over baby poop and the whole picture in my online course Breastfeeding Diet Basics 🤓 link in bio!
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I remember so many of you sharing what your baby’s poop smelled like in my stories! I tried to look for it and could not find it. Help a girl out and share in the comments! 🥰
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Shout out to @simplywell.baby for chatting with me about this post.
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#breastfedbabypoop #breastfedbaby #breastfedbabyproblems #breastfeedingproblems #breastfeedingstruggles #breastfeedingmama #breastfeedingsupport #babypoop

It’s the holiday season! 🎅🏼🎄 Meaning al

SPARKLERS AND ORCHIDS. I recently had someone ask

SPARKLERS AND ORCHIDS. I recently had someone ask for Sunday Q+A if my baby HAS to contact nap in order to sleep.
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I said yes. That I was okay with it. And that I have been blessed with “sparklers” who love being close to me.
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So for anyone else in this boat - I found this excerpt from The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding very helpful:
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“Just like us, babies come in all kinds of personalities. “Sparklers” are babies who are doing, fussing, and demanding all the time. They often have minor physical discomforts that they need distraction from - a food sensitivity or cranky intestines - or maybe it’s just their personality. Tantrums come easily because they’re already slightly on edge. They are high-energy and high-maintenance, always seeking brain stimulation in order to shine their brightest.

“Orchids” are also high-need. They may find many environments overly stimulating, confusing, or scary and they need their mother’s soothing presence more than some other babies. These are the babies who can’t leave their mother’s lap easily, who don’t rush over to the other children at nursery school, who maybe can’t handle nursery school at an age where other kids can. They wilt if they’re yelled at or overstressed, and they blossom with tender care. Just like an orchid.

The time you put into a high-energy or high-need baby is never wasted. You’re helping him lay down nerve pathways that may land him that PhD when he’s older. Do your best to keep him happy so that you’re both happier, and know that a little growth and maturation go a long way toward lessening the needs. Respect your “sparkler” or “orchid” for who he is: a baby who needs you (at first) to help him cope with his reality, and who will ultimately shine or blossom as a result.”
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#attachmentparenting #breastfeedingmom #breastfeedingsupport #highneedsbaby #highneedstoddler #responsiveparenting #breastfedbaby

I had a whole other post planned today. But saw th

I had a whole other post planned today. But saw the post by @chrissyteigen and a fire was lit. This post by @thebalancedboob voices exactly what I was thinking.
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SUPPORT IS BEST. Not breast. Not fed. SUPPORT.
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Picking one or the other just pins us against one another, exactly how saying “normalize formula” pins moms against one another.
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#Repost
・・・
I interrupt your regularly scheduled post to give you my take on this.

If you are not aware the goddess herself Chrissy Teigen wrote a series of tweets asking for formula to be normalized.

Well. I. have. some. thoughts.

Formula feeding has been a cultural norm for a long time. Just ask your grandmother's they likely were not even given the option to breastfeed. My grandma was told "no Miss that is what we have cows for"

Many mothers have never seen another woman breastfeed by the time they themselves try. Had you?

Formula companies still have their product handed out to mothers at hospitals and doctors offices for free but there is not equal accessible breastfeeding support for all moms.

BUT I think the intention behind what Chrissy said is we need to stop shaming moms for making choices that are different than ours by choice or necessity.

Any lactation consultant who is worth anything knows formula is NOT the enemy. It can and should be used to support mothers and babies when needed.

Moms there is so much pressure, so much guilt and so much shame. We need to let that shit go and realize maybe its not that "thing" that needs to be normalized but the way we treat eachother!!!

#milksupply #breastmilk #humanlactation #breastfeeding #humanlactation #milkymom #milkysupplytips #breastfeedingtips #pumpingtips #breastfeedingsupport #milkymama #ibclcintraining #ibclc #breastfeedingfamilies #breastmilksupply #exclusivepumping #pumpingmom #pumpmommapump #milkymom #milkmaker #normalizebreastfeeding #breastfeedingeducation #latching #latch #womensupportingwomen

It’s American Thanksgiving... and even though @b

It’s American Thanksgiving... and even though @breastfeeding.dietitian is Canadian, I am thankful today too for each and every one of you here.
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Many of you who discovered me from my blueberries post are now on your weaning journeys, but a good chunk of you are also new here - looking for answers and wanting to learn more about breastfeeding.
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What post brought you here?
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Whichever one it was - I’m so glad it did.
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All of you are exactly why I started this page. To educate and empower you no matter where you are in your breastfeeding journey - preparing, starting, continuing, weaning or just plain ol’ SUPPORTING.
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I’ve been in your shoes... googling yourself to death wondering if what you are experiencing is “normal”. That’s why I started this space. I’m here to help you learn what’s normal!
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Thank you...
For being here.
For making this space what it is.
For trusting me.
For sharing your journeys with me.
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You wanted more information about weaning. Well here is a little peek into just how complicated a breastfeeding journey can be... and it’s never linear. Because breastfeeding is MORE THAN FOOD.
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I’m not here to tell you what your journey should look like. I’m here to give you the tools and knowledge to find YOUR way that works for you and your baby ❤️
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Thanks for the post inspo @the.dentistmom! 🥰

BUT HOW MANY DIAPERS WHEN THEY’RE “OLDER”? Y

BUT HOW MANY DIAPERS WHEN THEY’RE “OLDER”? You asked. Here is your answer!
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Counting diapers can ease your number crunching mind to know if your baby is getting what they need when exclusively breastfeeding.
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💧WET DIAPERS💧 Your baby should have one wet diaper for each day of life (1 by day 1, 2 by day 2, etc) until day 4 and then will have 6+ wet diapers!
➕These diapers are at least 3 Tbsp.
➕ Beyond 6 weeks of age your baby may have less diapers (maybe just 4!), but these diapers will be “sopping” - at least 6 Tbsp.
➕ If your baby has more diapers they may not be 6 Tbsp.
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Why does this happen? Your baby is growing and so is their bladder. The bigger is it, the more it can hold between having to empty!
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💩POOP DIAPERS💩 Your baby should have 1-2 poops on days 1+2 and then at least 3 poops a day after day 3, but the key is that the colour and texture transitions from the sticky black first poop (called meconium) to loose, yellow, and maybe seedy poop by day 5.
➕These poop sizes should be at least “OK” size 👌🏾
➕At around 3-4 weeks your baby MAY start pooping less, but ideally still once per day (maybe every other day now and then).
➕If your baby is pooping more infrequent, the size would then be bigger (but not blowout bigger).
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Why does this happen? The proteins of your milk change slightly and slows down how fast milk moves in your baby’s gut. The composition doesn’t change to be “super absorbable”... your baby’s poop still contains waste products and needs to be eliminated regularly.
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If your baby checks off everything of getting enough (wet diapers, gaining weight, breastfeeding effectively, meeting milestones) EXCEPT the poop thing... some things to look into:
👉Mom’s and baby’s gut health (and things affecting it)
👉Baby’s tension (which can affect gut motility)
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If you want to learn more about stuff like this, I have much more details in my e-course launching this Thursday! Link in bio ✨
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Did this answer your question? Lmk 👇
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#breastfedbaby #breastfeedingmom #diapercount #growingbaby #momlife #quarantinemomlife #breastfeedinghelp #newmom #4monthfussies #eatsleeppooprepeat

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