Articles

Many babies switch effortlessly between breast and bottle from day one. Others become “nipple confused” if artificial nipples are introduced during the early days of nursing. The mechanics of breast and bottle-feeding are quite different. When a baby nurses, his tongue and jaws must work together rhythmically, cupping his tongue under the areola, and pressing it up against his palate. …

One in every 641 babies is born with Down syndrome, making it the world’s most common major genetic condition. Nursing the baby with Down syndrome can be challenging, but with patience and persistence and as the baby grows in strength and muscle tone, breastfeeding often gets easier. In the meantime, both you and your baby can enjoy all the special …

Women have two breasts instead of one so that they can nurse twins, so it stands to reason that the average mother with two breasts will be able to produce enough milk for one baby (at least). Since breast milk intake can’t be measured without using  scientific equipment or expressing it and putting it in bottles, it’s important to know …

When you are sick, you and your baby will almost always benefit from continuing to breastfeed. There are very few illnesses that require a mother to stop nursing. Since most illnesses are caused by viruses that are most contagious before you even realize you are sick, your baby has already been exposed before you even develop symptoms (such as fever, …

It’s an anatomical fact that men don’t have the equipment to give birth or breastfeed, but that doesn’t mean that fathers can’t play an important role in helping their partner give birth and successfully nurse their new baby. For most mothers, their partner’s opinion is the biggest influence on making the decision between breast or bottle feeding – more important than  …

In the United States, nearly one in three births is a cesarean birth. Many of these cesareans are unexpected, so it is a good idea for the expectant mother to become informed and educated about the procedure before her baby arrives. An operative birth versus a vaginal birth can impact the breastfeeding experience in several ways. Mothers who have eagerly …

You and your baby have been happily nursing for several months. You have overcome the common problems nursing couples have in the early weeks, such as sore nipples or engorgement, and things are progressing nicely. Suddenly, he begins refusing the breast and seems quite unhappy about it. Is he weaning? Is he sick? Is there something wrong with your milk? …

Candida (also called yeast, or thrush) is a fungus that occurs naturally in the mucous membranes and on the skin. Use of antibiotics promotes the overgrowth of yeast by killing off the ‘good’ bacteria that normally keep the yeast from multiplying too quickly. During pregnancy, yeast infections are more common because high levels of estrogen lead to elevated levels of sugar, …