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Dr. Kate Naumes Talks Breast Feeding

By Joslyn Taylor |
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Breast feeding, while hugely rewarding, can be one of the biggest challenges that new moms face. It’s not always an easy enterprise. This week, our wellness expert Dr. Kate Naumes talks about the challenges, the benefits, and offers advice on this important topic. I’ll let her take it from here…
 
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By Dr. Kate Naumes, ND
 
This week, I’m finishing up our closeness series talking about a kind of intimacy with which many moms will be very familiar – the intimacy of breast feeding. There is overwhelming evidence that breast milk is the best food for your newborn. Unfortunately, not all moms can produce just the right amount of milk for their baby. Some women make more milk than they need, while others don’t make enough.
 
If  you are looking to increase breast milk production the following may be your first steps:
 

 

  • Get a good hospital grade pump (I like the Medela Symphony 2.0)
  • Sleep with your new baby at night
  • Stay hydrated
  • Decrease your stress
  • Hire a lactation consultant or ND-midwife experienced in lactation support
  • Speak with someone knowledgeable about appropriate milk augmenting herbs

 

If you find that the above simply doesn’t generate enough milk for your baby (in spite of your best efforts) consider alternatives to organic formula like milk banks and milk sharing. I’m not anti-formula in any and every situation — I just want you to know there are options!
 
I’ve had clients lamenting in my office as they told me about pouring their breast milk down the drain. Think twice! That’s liquid gold for some else’s baby. If you produce a lot of breast milk, consider donating some of it to low-producing moms or mothers of foster or adopted babies.
 
Milk banks are an incredibly valuable resource. However the cost of milk (typically around $4 per ounce) can be quite expensive. Insurance, if it pays at all, will only pay in the case of a very short list of medical conditions. Here in Dallas the Mother’s Milk Bank of North Texas is a great resource.
 
Milk sharing, on the other hand, is a far more efficient, far more environmentally friendly, and far less costly means of obtaining human milk for your baby if they don’t qualify for free milk from the milk bank. It can be harder to set up though; some communities have milk share groups or message boards, but most milk sharing happens informally among friends. Of course, make sure the mother who is donating the milk is healthy.
 
Don’t be ashamed to seek professional help if you find you your milk supply dwindling. As I said, in most cases there is no milk better for your baby than your own milk, and your body is very smart. I can help you maximize your breast milk production. Find out what you can do to increase your supply whether you have had a breast reduction, have returned to work, or are pregnant and want to continue nursing your other baby.
 
Dr. Kate Naumes, ND runs a Holistic Wellness practice in Highland Park. She provides pre-conception and fertility counseling, newborn and pediatric wellness education, as well as ongoing well-woman support.  Learn more at naumesnd.com.

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