Pregnancy and breastfeeding, both are the wonderful experience for a woman. They give the feeling of satisfaction and completeness to the woman. But breast care is important during pregnancy and lactation in order to keep it healthy. Here, in this article you will find some useful tips on breast care during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

First let's know the period of pregnancy and lactation. Pregnancy refers to the period beginning from the moment the woman conceives till she gives birth to the child. Lactation refers to the period during which a woman is breastfeeding her baby.

Normally, after pregnancy and delivery there is a danger of the breasts becoming loose and drooping. There are certain pills and massage oils, which help the breasts to come to their normal form and shape and regain firmness and roundness. Physical breast care is very important. Active and regular participation in sports helps a woman to maintain a distinctive and smart look. Youthful breasts not only add to the grace of the woman but also enrich her sex life as well.

In order to breastfeed the baby successfully, a pregnant woman should be prepared for it mentally as well as physically. It is also useful to seek the guidance of a person who has successfully breastfed her baby. Such person can give good practical advice. It is also advised that a woman should share her thoughts on this topic with her husband, or with any other women close to her.

During pregnancy eat more than the normal diet roughly eat equal to one extra meal in a day. This will help build enough energy, to be used when you start breastfeeding your baby. Pregnant women should eat foods which are rich in iron and assist in producing more blood. This will help to prevent anemia. Do not exhaust yourself physically (especially during the last three months) when you are pregnant. A nap or rest in the afternoon is essential during the last three months.

Many women ask a very common question - Is suckling of breasts by the husband during pregnancy harmful? No. If the husband wishes to suck the breasts, he should not be discouraged. This is a natural and helpful exercise for the nipples and the breasts.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

If you are having a baby soon, the subject of breastfeeding has certainly come up. There are many advantages that should be considered before you make a decision. Knowing how best to provide for your infant is of the utmost importance. Breast milk is specifically designed to provide the exact nutrients your baby needs. Nature designed mother's milk to be the most nutritious source of food for your growing baby. Although modern formula is a good substitute for those mothers's who can't breastfeed, nothing will ever be as good as the real thing.

Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight not only infections but things like diabetes and SIDS, A recent study shows that out of 87 deaths from SIDS only 3 of those deaths were breastfed babies. The antibodies in breast milk also protect against allergies, prevents ear infections and respiratory illnesses.

Nursing promotes natural growth of facial features, promotes better speech and helps encourage the developing teeth to come in straight. The risk of tooth decay is lessened because the sugar content of breast milk is lower and does not adhere to the teeth in the same way formula does.

Breastfed babies bond with their mothers in a special way. The emotional connection established between a nursing baby and its mother is extraordinary.

Studies show that breastfed babies are at a lower risk for childhood obesity. It has been shown that the amount of fat cells formed in infancy have a direct correlation to obesity later in life. Breastfed babies tend to develop fewer fat cells and maintain a healthy weight.

Breastfed babies are hospitalized as much as 10 times less then formula fed babies. Because of the antibodies passed on thru the mother's milk, breastfed babies are less prone to develop serious infections or catch viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea necessitating hospitalization.

Breastfed babies tend to have higher IQ's because the specific proteins in mother's milk promote brain development. The proteins in formula are not specific to the human infant like those contained in breast milk.

Breastfeeding also has many advantages for the mother. Breastfeeding immediately after birth causes contractions that control postpartum bleeding, reduces the risk of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers and reduces the risk of anemia. Mothers who breastfeed return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster because their bodies burn more calories in the production of milk. Breastfeeding is economical because it eliminates the need to buy expensive formula and bottles.

Breastfeeding has many advantages to both the mother and child. If you are pregnant or plan to be in the future, breastfeeding is an option to be seriously considered.

Some breastfeeding mothers avoid chocolate. Other moms avoid garlic. So how do you learn which foods to avoid when breastfeeding?

The answer is to pay attention to your baby. Your baby will let you know which foods to avoid when nursing and which are fine. If certain foods that you eat seem to send your child into fits a few hours later, you may want to avoid it for a while.

Nursing mothers normally eat a variety of foods while breastfeeding. These foods will result in different flavors that change the taste of your baby's breast milk. Most children actually enjoy the variety.

However, if your baby is particularly resistant to nursing one day, try to remember what you may have eaten. If she reacts the same way every time you eat that particular food, it could be one of the foods to avoid when breastfeeding.

Most children will let you eat what you want while nursing. There are, however, some common foods that many nursing moms try to avoid. They are:

* spices such as garlic, chili, cinnamon, and pepper

* chocolate

* vegetables such as cabbage, onion, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, and cucumber

* fruits such as prunes, cherries, orange, lemon, strawberry, grapefruit, pineapple, and kiwi.

Just don't avoid all those really good foods for no reason. Learn what your baby can tolerate and what he or she can't. Through this trial and error, most mothers find that there are very few foods that they really have to avoid while breastfeeding.

For any woman, finding the stylish solution to occasion wear is a tricky one but for new breastfeeding mums the search is even harder. High-street selections for nursing mothers are predictably dull, or non-existent. Now is the time to search on-line for the best breastfeeding clothing available. Christenings, parties, weddings, Christmas and New Year's events are all wonderful occasions to dress up in your finest and celebrate. As a new mum you want to wear something girlie and glamorous, that makes you feel fabulous but also allows you to breastfeed your little one easily. You want to wear your beautiful dress and you don't want to leave the party to sit in another room when your baby is hungry! Trying to breastfeed in a non-nursing dress is always tricky, involves pulling acres of fabric over your head and you usually end up exposing more of yourself than you would like. We are frequently asked about dresses which are suitable for wearing when you want to feel chic and stylish, but are easy to nurse in.

The perfect solution to breastfeeding at special occasions with confidence is a dress which has been specially designed to provide easy nursing access. Nursingwear designers have risen to the challenge of providing fabulous nursingwear for new breastfeeding mothers, and there really are some deliciously chic nursing dresses now available. Halter necks, scoop necks and deep v-necks flatter new mum decolletage, whilst elegant ruffles, shirring, pleats, ruching and pretty detailing give a foxy, fashion-forward look. Many new mamas have found fabulous nursing dresses perfect for special events and occasions, and here is a selection of our favourites:

Milk Nursingwear's fabulous Keyhole dress is stylish and elegant - wonderful for wearing for special occasions, or anytime when you want to feel chic. The black stretch fabric falls beautifully and the fashionable keyhole design detailing gives a lovely twist to this classic dress. This dress looks beautiful accessorised with sparkly earrings or chunky bracelet - the simple design is a perfect foil for some fabulous jewellery. Nurse effortlessly by pulling up the dress at the empire band to access nursing openings beneath.

The divine Mayreau Cowl neck dress is one of the most luxurious breastfeeding dresses available. Made from the softest modal fabric, the fabric feels buttery soft on the skin and gives a real feeling of luxury. The cowl neck cleverly conceals the nursing access, and the gathered sleeve detail is just divine. Wear dressed up with jewellery and heels, or down with leggings and flats, this dress is incredibly versatile and looks great whatever the occasion.

For special occasions, Milk Nursingwear's Flirty Halter Neck is perfect. This sexy halter style for nursing mamas ensures you look effortlessly fabulous. Milk have magically added a built-in shelf-bra and place to hold your nursing pads - meaning you can strut your stuff in style! Gorgeous ruffles add a flirty fun edge to this pretty little dress, whilst the adjustable tie allows for a more customized fit. Nursing Access is simple, just lift up the empire layer to access openings.

Dote's Black Noir dress is a firm favourite for nursing style, this stylish Singaporean label has been a huge best-seller with nursing mamas in the UK, and now wonder, as it is simply divine! The dress has a gathering across the neckline and skirt, disguising any post-baby tummy. It can be accessorised with a belt or sparkly scarf, giving an edgy fashionable look. Nursing access is innovatively through the oversized armholes, ensuring this dress looks high-fashion all the way!

So whether you are looking for a stylish dress to wear to a Wedding, a figure-flattering dress for a special occasion or an elegant dress for your little one's Christening, there are some great choices available. Knowing you are wearing a stylish nursing dress which will enable you to feed your baby quickly and with no fuss will go a long way to making your special occasion more enjoyable.

Pumping breast milk at work is a way to produce more breast milk for your baby. Breast milk is the best gift from a mother to her baby. Breastfeeding is one of the best actions to take to ensure the good health of a baby. Therefore, as a breastfeeding mother, you shall continue to breastfeed and stimulate your body to produce more breast milk all the times. One of the ways to ensure you have enough breast milk for your baby at the same time taking care of your career is to plan how to pump your breast milk during work.

Besides playing a role as a mother, a lot of women are also having a successful career. It is not easy to balance the role of being a mother and at the same time success in career. However, at least you could provide your breast milk to your little one to ensure the good health and the best benefits for your baby and yourself. How do you coordinate your breast milk pumping at work in order to continue your breastfeeding?
Firstly, you need to have a well planned nursing and pumping schedule to ensure you can continue to produce more breast milk. The nursing and pumping schedule is totally depended on the nature of your job. My job requires me to spend most of my time in office; therefore, it is not a problem for me to plan my nursing and pumping schedule. Here is my nursing and pumping schedule for reference:

6.00am - wake up in the morning to nurse my baby
8.00am - pump at home before leaving home to work
10.00am - first pumping break in the office
12.00pm - lunch and second pumping break in the office
Between 2.00pm and 3.00pm - third pumping break in the office
6.00pm - arrive home after work and pump at home

Above is a standard schedule. Sometimes, schedule will be adjusted according to different situation. Normally, I will have another two rounds of breastfeed during night time.

Secondly, you need a clean and private place for you to carry out the pumping. Breast milk is the food for your baby, you would not want to settle your pumping in the rest room or toilet. Some of the organizations / companies might not provide a place for breastfeeding mothers to pump breast milk. Hence, you might need to settle yourself in a changing room, locker room, storeroom, or a meeting room. If possible, try to request a private room with at least an armed chair, table with fan or air conditioning system. If you have a room for yourself, that will be a lot easier to solve the problem. The important thing is to ensure you cover your room window with blinds and your room is locked when you are pumping. You would not want the embarrassment of having somebody steps into your room when you are pumping breast milk. If you have a private workstation, in which you feel that it is secure enough for you to pump your breast milk, you could do so, but need to ensure you do something to avoid others to enter your workstation, like putting up a sign, move something to block the entrance etc. If your company already has the facilities for breastfeeding mothers to pump breast milk, then it is lucky that you could fully utilize those facilities.

Thirdly, You might face a lot of difficulties for carrying out milk pumping at work. There might be complaints and criticism from those who does not support breastfeeding. Your superior and your colleagues might feel not comfortable for you having frequent break, and unattended moment when they need you. Therefore, you need to try your best to adjust your pumping schedule to suit your work. There might be unavoidable time in which you have to skip your pumping break, in order to get your job done or meet certain deadline. Therefore, you need to try your very best to let the people around you to understand the purpose and reason of carrying on breastfeeding and the necessary of pumping at work. At the same time, you shall also keep your work in priority to minimize the pumping affects your performance.

Lastly, get the pumping done in the shortest time possible. You are at work, so try not to give a bad impression to your employer that you are using too much of your working time to carry out your pumping, and you need to ensure your employer that your action of pumping breast milk at work does not affect your work performance. In order to get the pumping done fast, you need to have a good and effective breast pump. There are different brand and selection of double breast pumps in the market which allow you to complete your each pumping session fast and easy.

It is not a simple job for breastfeeding mothers to continue stimulate breast milk for baby, and at the same time success in career. However, there is nothing could not happen if you put your best foot forward.

Did you know that breastfeeding enhances the contraction of the uterus and helps it return to its normal pre-pregnancy state more rapidly? This is another benefit mothers will enjoy from this healthy habit.

Experts say there is less blood loss after delivery and nursing mothers lose weight more quickly after having their first child. More importantly, breastfeeding delays menstruation and postpones fertility. As long as she continues nursing, a woman is less likely to become pregnant again. On its own, however, breastfeeding is not a reliable means of birth control.

"Fat is deposited during pregnancy as a reserve for lactation. If the mother nurses for a significant period of time this fat is easily used up. But if she fails to nurse, it is far more difficult to get rid of. Lactation may even be a good time for an overweight woman to lose weight. Energy expended by lactation is like performing vigorous exercise all day long. By moderate dietary restriction and by ensuring the availability of adequate amounts of essential nutrients, a nursing mother may lose significant weight and still provide adequate amounts of high quality milk to her infant," said Dr. Myron Winick in The Columbia Encyclopedia of Nutrition.

There's more: breastfeeding is economical. There's no need to worry about sterilizing bottles, the right formula to buy or how to prepare it. Even if your baby cries in the middle of the night, you don't have to grope in the dark for her bottle. That's convenience and it comes only with breastfeeding.

To produce more milk for her child, all the mother has to do is to eat a well balanced diet, especially foods rich in calcium, iron and water-soluble vitamins.

"If the mother is anemic this will certainly affect the iron content of the milk. In order to safeguard against such a situation, foods high in iron should be included in the diet in good amounts," Winick said.

"The vitamin content of breast milk is extremely sensitive to the maternal vitamin status, especially with regard to the water-soluble vitamins. For this reason, plenty of citrus fruits should be eaten for their vitamin C supply and plenty of fortified and whole grains for the B complex vitamins. In addition, most physicians recommend the nursing mother continue the prenatal vitamin supplement," he added.

All other things considered, perhaps the best thing about breastfeeding is the special bond that develops between mother and child. Researchers believe this special relationship gives a great deal of emotional satisfaction to both parties and may, in fact, contribute to the child's development.

Finally, certain hormones are released as a result of suckling and some women have described the experience of breastfeeding as similar to sexual orgasm.

"Many women who have successfully breast-fed describe nursing as the most pleasurable experience of their lives -an experience that cannot be duplicated and should not be missed," Winick concluded.

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Drinking alcohol can be dangerous when you have a child as it can cause many problems not only to your health but the childs as well. When breastfeeding it is strongly recommended that you do not drink alcohol. Breastfeeding requires a different and balanced diet which enables your child to get the best out of your breast milk. However if you mix alcohol you can make it not only an unpleasant situation for you, but more importantly for your child also. It is extremely important that you do not drink alcohol during this upbringing period, here is why.

Alcohol is okay in moderation, but it is not suggested at all when it comes to breastfeeding. It is well known that you need to intake a lot of liquid and fluid when it comes to breast feeding, but if you drink a lot of alcohol you are in fact going to put your child at risk by feeding it your breast milk.

By exposing your child to your breast milk that contains traces of alcohol you will in effect giving it a certain amount of alcohol, it will only be a small amount but it all compiles in your breast milk and by feeding it to your child you could cause your child serious damage. Alcohol can in effect a young baby much differently to a full grown adult. You see, alcohol can damage a childs brain even in small doses, and I am sure that you do not want anything bad to happen to your child.

So when you put your hands round a bottle of alcohol, think twice before drinking it, it may seem like it will make no effect to you, but by allowing it to be stored as part of your breast milk it can make the milk taste not only disgusting but it can also leave a baby vulnerable if you were to feed it with this particular breast milk. If you feed your child regular breast milk via breastfeeding then you will not want to upset the balance since it could leave you without breast milk for your child which then means you would have to seek an alternative.

Depending on how much alcohol you drink you will find that it can alter the effect on your breast milk. It is common that if you drink less alcohol it will often make the breast milk distasteful and sometimes even sour. It's always important to be giving your child the best intake of food, so take some responsibility and do not drink.

If you do have alcohol problems and are planning to have a baby, I strongly recommend that you sort out your problems before hand and then proceed. At the end of the day it is your responsibility to look after your child, and by drinking alcohol you are in effect being selfish and giving a certain percentage to the baby which as discussed above can lead to devastating results. What may seem alright for you may not be alright for your baby, think before you drink.

Breastfeeding can simultaneously be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences new mothers go through. The bond that grows between moms and their babies while nursing is unique and irreplaceable. Sadly, due to soreness, latching problems, severe engorgement, and other issues, many new moms abandon the effort before it truly pays off.

Those who are willing to endure some of the obstacles to breastfeeding will eventually enjoy a plethora of benefits. Below, we'll describe five of the most significant. You'll learn how nursing speeds up your metabolism, improves your baby's health (yours, too!), and lays the groundwork for a stronger, more intimate bond with your little one.

Tip 1 - Accelerates Your Metabolism

The process by which your body produces milk increases your metabolic rate. While estimates vary, many experts suggest this process burns several hundred calories each day. You've spent the last several months in a body that was larger, more sluggish, and less energetic than normal. Given that a lot of new mothers struggle to shed the pregnancy pounds, this nursing effect on your metabolism may be a welcome advantage. And the best part? It happens while you sleep and rest.

Tip 2 - Improved Health For Your Infant

While breastfeeding, your baby will enjoy several benefits related to her health and development. For example, she'll need to put more effort into drawing your milk than she would from a bottle. Not only does that influence the development of her jaws, but it also helps to ensure her teeth are aligned properly.

Breast milk is easier for infants to digest than formula because it contains less protein. Easier digestion means less gas and thus, less discomfort (and by extension, less fussing from an upset stomach).

Many experts also suggest breastfeeding leads to better eye development, coordination, and even a higher IQ for your baby.

Tip 3 - Improved Health For You

When it comes to the health benefits of breastfeeding, most of the attention has traditionally been directed toward the infant. However, research shows that nursing moms might also enjoy improved health. For example, the hormone oxytocin (the same hormone that stimulates contractions during childbirth) is released while nursing. That causes your uterus to shrink and heal after having been stretched while giving birth.

Another health advantage involves the return of your menstrual cycle. Breastfeeding can postpone its return by up to several months.

Tip 4 - Closer Connection Between Mom And Baby

There are few opportunities to better strengthen the bond you share with your baby than the time spent nursing. You're unlikely to multi-task by sending emails, returning calls to friends, and preparing dinner. Instead, this is the time during which your infant has your full attention. As she nurses, she'll be looking at the features of your face; she'll be gazing into your eyes.

The intimacy forged from this connection becomes unbreakable over time. Moreover, it helps your infant develop emotionally, secure in the safety she feels when lying next to you.

Tip 5 - Perfect Source Of Nutrition

Your breast milk contains an abundance of important nutrients for your baby. Most notably, it includes colostrum, a low-fat, protein-rich ingredient that resists infection. Colostrum contains carbohydrates, vitamins, and other essentials. Nature has equipped your body with a mechanism that automatically limits the amount of colostrum in your milk after a few days. That helps your infant make the transition to milk that contains higher levels of fats and carbohydrates.

To be sure, some new mothers confront breastfeeding challenges that are insurmountable. These challenges can be severe and make nursing far less rewarding - sometimes, even impossible. Fortunately, those are exceptions to the rule. Most women can take advantage of one of the most gratifying experiences of motherhood.

Breastfeeding is a natural process which most mothers enjoy and look forward. However, there are many myths associated with breast feeding. Some of them are listed below along with what is a fact pertaining to each misconception.

1. If a woman does not produce enough breast milk it is bad. In fact, the amount of breast milk is produced by mothers is sufficient to satiate the hunger of new born babies and infants. Most of the times, the milk is produced in surplus. Babies tend to lose weight in spite of abundance in breast milk due to the fact that mothers do not have knowledge about proper breast feeding techniques.

2. Breastfeeding is a painful experience. In reality, breastfeeding mothers derive a pleasurable experience while breastfeeding their child. Mild pain occurs in breasts and nipples during breastfeeding that lasts only for few seconds. Infection causes soreness of nipples and also continuous pain.

3. The first milk should be fed to the baby. The truth is that the first milk or colostrums produced immediately after birth is vital for baby's health. Baby should be properly latched on to breasts in order to stimulate milk production.

4. A baby must be fed for hours at end. Actually 10-20 minutes of proper breastfeeding on one side of the breasts is sufficient to satiate baby's hunger. Milk from the breasts flows gradually and needs to be constantly stimulated.

5. Babies must be fed water because it is important for them. Breast milk contains enough water for the baby. There is no requirement for any additional water.

6. Babies should not be exposed to sunlight as it is harmful to them. Actually babies need to be exposed to sunlight in order to process vitamin D.

As I think about the topic of herbs and breastfeeding, I realize that the breastfeeding years are perhaps one of the most important times to call on the nourishing qualities of the plants.

Our bodies are working to feed our babies and ourselves at the same time, and will take what's needed to feed the babe from the most available source, depleting our own bodies if necessary. So as we engage with the herbs during this time it is important to ask how we can keep our babies and ourselves healthy and thriving.

What herbs to use when breastfeeding and how to use them

My daily practice throughout my pregnancy and breast-feeding years has been a to drink a standard brew of nettle leaves, oatstraw and red raspberry leaves.

I simply take one handful of each dried herb (enough to make up about one ounce total) and put them in a quart mason jar.

Then I fill the jar with boiling water, cover it and let it steep for at least four hours before straining it and drinking it.

You can drink it at room temperature or ice it in the summer or warm it in the winter. If you don't love the taste like I do, you can also mix it with fruit juice.

I choose these three herbs for breastfeeding because they are nourishing, abundant herbs that are as easy on our bodies as the food we eat.

Nettle leaves are high in iron and help give me energy for happy days with a baby, even if I haven't had much sleep.

Oatstraw is high in calcium and helps calm frazzled nerves and take the nervous edge off my days.

Raspberry leaves are great for milk supply and toning the female system in general.

Really, this brew is great any time, but as a breast-feeding mom, I swear by it, and look forward to drinking in its goodness every day.

Other herbs for breastfeeding...

I can think of two other specific times when herbs and breastfeeding go together.

o One instance is when you want to increase the supply of milk you have available for your baby.

o The other is when you are weaning and want to decrease the flow of milk.

In the first case you will be looking for galactagogues (herbs that encourage and increase the milk flow). In addition to the nettles and raspberry leaves I suggested above, Susun Weed recommends using comfrey, alfalfa, and borage leaves and red clover flowers as herbal infusions to help increase milk flow.

Tinctured blessed thistle leaves (up to 20 drops 2 to 4 times a day) can also be used to increase the milk available for the baby.

You might also consider adding more leafy greens, carrots, and sweet potatoes to your diet. In our family we have come to think of food as medicine, and usually start addressing any situation through our diet, then adding nourishing herbs. We use tinctures or pills only very sparingly. The results might not be immediate, but this kind of medicine works slowly with your body and produces positive, sustainable results.

Now, for the other specific instance when you might want to seek out herbs for a breastfeeding issue...weaning.

Of course, weaning gradually is optimal so that you can slowly decrease the flow of milk and reduce the discomfort of engorgement. However, for a variety of reasons, you may decide to wean more quickly. (In my case, my son breast-fed avidly until he was four. At that time I made the choice to wean. We created a weaning ceremony for him, and he went from breastfeeding often during the day and night to nursing only once in the morning the next day. I definitely found myself dealing with engorged breasts!)

Herbs that reduce milk flow include herb robert, red sage, and periwinkle. Adding garden mint, sorrel and sage to your meals and drinking a glass of carrot juice first thing in the morning can also help to dry up your milk and reduce discomfort.

When I weaned Rowan, a friend suggested drinking infusions of sage. I happened to have a large and healthy sage plant in my garden at the time, and have to say that this strategy worked rapidly and beautifully.

I wish you a healthy, nourishing experience with herbs and breastfeeding!

The common concern for mothers with babies nearing the 6-month-old mark is not really on how to stop breastfeeding, but on what food should be fed to baby. This mostly wouldn't be a problem for 2nd or 3rd time moms. But first timers are usually protective of their children so they research and ask around as to what the best food to feed would be.

Now, don't retort, I had been a first time mom too. Actually, I feel I am worse than most mothers because I have two kids, and I am overly protective of both of them when they were babies. So I'm guilty of all the research and the information gathering too.

When you wean off of breastfeeding, you are taking him off of his source for most of his daily nutritional needs. While it is recommended that the baby be breastfed for as long as 2 years (and beyond), sometimes specific circumstances doesn't allow the breastfeeding relationship to last that long. When this happens, you can check with your pediatrician to find out what formula you can use as a substitute.

When introducing baby to solids, one tip would be to introduce each new food four days apart from each other. This is to give your baby time to react to the new food - either in a good way (that he really, really likes it) or in a bad way (he develops a rash or an allergy to it).

To help you out, here are some foods which are recommended for baby's first food:

- Iron-enriched infant rice cereal or dry baby rice. Dry cereal should be mixed with breast milk or formula to make a runny solution. About one to two teaspoons would do for the very first feeding; you can lessen the milk after a couple of days for the mixture to become thicker and for the baby to feel some texture in his mouth. This would allow baby to practice getting food off a spoon, which involves a different reflex from drinking milk from the breast or the bottle.

- Pureed vegetables. Carrots, parsnips, sweet potato, courgettes and squash are great for pureeing. Plus, it introduces baby to the wonderful world of new tastes. When baby is used to the baby rice mix, you can give him a new way of enjoyment by adding this puree to the mix for added flavor.

- Pureed fruits. These can be served on a bowl with accompanying rubber tipped spoon, or you can give this as a juice. Apples, pears, mangoes, papayas or mashed bananas are some safe fruits to give.

Feeding your baby will be another fun activity you can do with your growing baby.

Happy weaning!

You know that breastfeeding is best for mother and child, but what's in it for Dad? Isn't he going to miss out by not getting to share in the joy of feeding the baby? Let's see how Dads benefit when a Mom chooses to breastfeed their child.

Cost Savings

This is a big one for Dad! Whether he's the sole income provider or not, adding a new member to the family can be a source of worry for him. Let him in on the fact that one year of breastfeeding can keep over ,000 in the family budget. That's just for bottles and formula, that doesn't include extra Doctor visits and prescriptions that happen when baby is formula fed.

More Sleep

Let's face it. He doesn't have the equipment to handle the job of night feedings. While some Moms choose to pump and let Dad offer a bottle at night, for many Moms, snuggling up with baby at night to nurse is the norm. In a lot of families, this means Dad can head off to work with a full night's rest.

Proud Papa

When Dad sees how baby's cheeks and thighs are filling out on Mom's milk alone, he tends to view her as some kind of Dairy Queen. What an amazing capacity she has to help his child grow and thrive! Many Dads become huge proponents of breastfeeding when they see how healthy their babies are.

Health Benefits

Dads are especially impressed by the fact that breastfed babies gain an average of 8 IQ points over their formula fed counterparts. Breastfeeding also means that Mom is less likely to get ovarian or breast cancer. The extended nonfertility that many nursing Moms experience is also a plus in Dads book.

Focus on Mom

Since Mom is breastfeeding, Dad can find other ways to bond with baby and be a support to Mom. Some ideas: take baby for walks, burp and bathe baby, sing baby to sleep, massage baby and read to baby. He can also be in charge of helping Mom stay fed and hydrated in the early weeks while she recovers from the birth. And since Mom is handling the "input", Dad can be in charge of "output". Dads are far more likely to be willing to change diapers since a breastfed baby's poop doesn't have an unpleasant odor (until solid food is added!).

An infant pillow is created with the idea to make breastfeeding fun and comfortable, and to make it a convenient time for both mother and baby. It's well known to be quite complicated for the new moms to sit up and breastfeed the baby, as her body feels sore and tired. Most moms have many troubles while breastfeeding their babies. The major one might be their aching back, which prevents them from enjoying the precious moments of tenderness, while bonding with their newborn baby. This is when a gift such as a nursing boppy is appreciated.

These nursing pillows are usually designed in a "U" shape. These infant pillows fit snugly around the mother's waist. During nursing, the baby is placed on the nursing pillow, which greatly reduces the strain on the mother's aching back, shoulders and arms. Breastfeeding pillows offer such an essential relief for all moms, young and mature.

This considerable relief is taken from back pain and other such pregnancy symptoms that trouble a woman for long. However, the rounded U-shaped nursing pillow may be absolutely uncomfortable if you insist on feeding your baby by sitting in a rocker.

As soon as an infant pillow is designed to make breastfeeding a great fun and an enjoyable time for both mother and baby, a nursing boppy is meant to be used by the mother, who prefers sitting on a bed or a couch. Moreover, those wishing to bottle-feed the baby, can use the benefits of nursing pillows too! So it might be the best time for you to experience the comfortable feeding with specially designed infant pillows.