People often ask me what are the differences between breastmilk and formula? The short answer: a million. The long answer: are you ready for a whole lot of science? Often I will write about the benefits of breastfeeding but often people will say, "but I was formula fed (or I formula fed my child) and I (they) are fine!" But are they really? For one thing, I think we have to turn this whole …
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Could my lactation services or breast pump be covered by insurance?
Could my lactation services or breast pump be covered by insurance? This is such a common concern! Love it or hate it, the Affordable Care Act is great for breastfeeding! Breast pumps are a required benefit but your company could provide you with the best pump available or a simple hand pump. Covering lactation services is also a required benefit but insurance companies are still sorting out …
Trusting your gut
I have always believed that breastmilk is the healthiest choice for most babies. Human milk is not just food, it has healing power. Recently, I have heard some new information that has taken belief to the next level. The first talk I heard back in the spring was about epigenetics. It turns out that we are what we eat. I have written a blog about this if you want more info about that. The most …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 24: Internet and Breastfeeding-Friend or Foe?
Breastfeeding and the internet-Is it a friend or foe? It can be both and this week on the show Barbara and Barb chat about how the internet has affected breastfeeding mothers today. Reliable breastfeeding resources: Kellymom , La Leche League , Jack Newman, Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor There are many other reliable websites, but these are a few of our absolute go-to's. You can …
Summer secrets: whole foods vs. processed
Summer is the time when our food choices here in Ann Arbor explode. We have at least six weekly, local farm markets in the area that offer a great variety of local produce and products. It is a time when eating healthy is easy. But do we always choose to? How important is this? Healthy eating? One of my dear Aunts was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last winter. We were really thrown for a loop! …
Who is the real enemy?
I just read a blog by Alison Stuebe about the World Health Organization and formula companies. She makes an important point about who, we as breastfeeding advocates, are fighting. We are not fighting formula or families who use formula. We are trying to fight formula manufacturers. They are the enemy. Why? Because there are huge profits to be made and where there is money to be made, there are …
A magic pill?
A substance that is so powerful that it is truly life changing, life saving. And we can make it ourselves for free? If the benefits from breastfeeding were packaged in a pill, remember breastfeeding is good for both mothers and babies, we would all be buying it. We would be giving it to our babies. Right? I just got back from a conference where I heard a woman speak about breastfeeding and …
3rd Annual Miracle Stroll in Ann Arbor!
To all of my readers, Thank you so much for being part of The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor! Even if all you have ever done is read one of our posts, we are glad we have been able to be part of your life. I am now asking for something from you. This annual event, the Miracle Milk Stroll is very near and dear to my heart. I have always been a huge advocate for Banked Human Milk. We were …
Breastfeeding: Baby’s First Milestone? Food for Thought
I have a master's degree in education and have always been fascinated with child development. When young children are growing, they move from the concrete thinking to the abstract. Piaget's ideas of brain development were always a favorite of mine. His theories propose that children move through a set of cognitive development stages. As a teacher and a parent, I loved watching children learn …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 19: Milk Sharing
Sharing breastmilk is not a new idea, but it is being discussed more and more these days. Milk sharing can be done both formally and informally and we will chat about both in this episode. Resource of the day: Human Milk Baking Association of North America and the Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank For more information on NEC, check out our podcast interview with Jennifer …
Children, the gift that keeps on giving
My children have changed my life. For the better. I know when they are little, having children can be relentless. It is exhausting. They need things all the time. They don't sleep well. Not enough personal time or space for you. But, but... They grow and become their own beings. They make your heart swell with pride and break with their pain. Years ago I read parts of Buddhist book for mothers …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 16: Breastfeeding During The Holiday Season
This week on the podcast, Barbara and Barb chat about breastfeeding during the holidays! This time of year can be such a joyous season, but can also come with a lot of stress when you have young children. Breastfeeding mamas in particular may need to some help navigating this busy season-so let us help you! We have a lot of great ideas to help you enjoy the holiday season with your little …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 14: Bottle Feeding Your Baby
This week's podcast episode is for everyone- Bottle feeding breast milk or formula feeding alike. Learning how to bottle feed your baby whether you choose to breastfeed or formula feed is important information for parents and caregivers to have. How you give a bottle matters and we will discuss why! How can you make bottle feeding and breastfeeding work well together? Keep breast feeding the …
Who’s making you feel guilty?
I am tired of hearing about people feeling guilty, others trying to make you feel guilty, guilt trips, I am sick of guilt! How many of us feel guilty about decisions that we have made, or actions that we have committed on a daily basis? Little things like, I should have really recycled this, I shouldn't throw out this leftover food, or my dog could have really used another walk today. There are …
Is Similac stereotyping? Or just all about judging us?
As you can imagine, I have not been thrilled with Similac's new ad campaign, "the Sisterhood of Motherhood". They say we should not judge one another, all parents need support, not criticism. Who can argue with that sentiment? I am not bashing any mothers here! This about us being manipulated, not about mothers or ethnic groups. There first commercial, and please, don't forget for one moment …
Filling a pail or lighting a fire?
When the days start to get cool, leaves start to fall, my bones tell me it is time to go back to school. Personally, I spent 26 years going to school every fall from the time I was 5 until I was 31. I took a break when my babies were little, but now we are up to another 15 years of returning to school once again, when September rolls around. As I have gotten older, the way school happens has …
Dangers of milk sharing?
In The Dangers of the Milk Sharing Economy, the author points out that sometimes another mother's breastmilk might not be safe for our babies based upon her 2013 study. Informal milk sharing has exploded in the past 5 years or so. This has opened the door to many problems. We use to share our breastmilk all the time. But it was family member to family member, friend to friend, or friend of a …
All Things Breastfeeding: World Breastfeeding Week Special
Happy World Breastfeeding Week! How are you celebrating? This week Barbara and Barb chat about the benefits of breastfeeding along with the risks of formula feeding. Also, Donald Trump made breastfeeding news last week! Hear what we have to say about it! Show Notes: Formula recalls do happen more often then we think! In 2010, this formula company recalled …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 7: Breastfeeding Your Newborn Baby
This week on the podcast, we discuss breastfeeding the newborn baby. How much should a newborn baby breastfeed? Barbara and Barb dive into what is normal and how to tell your breastfed baby is doing well. This is a great episode to share with new mothers and expecting mothers! Show Notes: Find an IBCLC. Check out Dr. Jack Newman's video that demonstrates good active nursing with deep …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 6-Human Milk for NEC Prevention
This week on the podcast Barbara and Barb chat with a very special guest. Jennifer Canvasser, founder of the NEC Society speaks out about the importance of human milk for premature babies and why her mission is so important and close to her heart. WHO Feeding Guidelines state that " Only under exceptional circumstances can a mother’s milk be considered unsuitable for her infant. …
The War on Breastfeeding
The March 2015 issue of National Geographic's cover caught my eye. "The War on Science". It was by Joel Achenbach. I immediately knew I wanted to read that article and I did as soon as I had a chance. Wow. What an eye opener. This article explained so much to me. The author, of course, did not mention breastfeeding, people rarely do. However, the points they made about how humans create their …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 3-Sleep
This week on the All Things Breastfeeding Podcast Barbara and Barb chat about sleep! You know that thing you used to do before baby came along! What is normal for infant sleep patterns and how can you get more sleep? The podcast is now a available on iTunes! Check it out and add to your electronic devices to listen anywhere! Show …
Cost of Formula Feeding
As much as we are not fans of artificial baby milk, ie formula, it was created to help keep babies alive when breastmilk was not available. The first rule of lactation is feed the baby. The second rule is protect the mother’s breastmilk supply. If we do not have breastmilk available, then we use formula if it is medically necessary. The issue is that most of the time, it is not medically …
Breaking news: Formula companies want your money!
There was just an ad (FYI, yes, this is an ad for formula feeding!) put out by Similac, one of the world's leaders of formula production. I will not link to it out of protest, but, you have probably seen it anyway. My intern Barb showed it to me the other day and said although everyone was loving it (I believe it went viral), but she was uneasy because at the end of the ad it clearly states that …