A bottle means freedom for this doula, lactation counselor mama
When breastfeeding goes well, it is a huge mom win! Rachel knows she is blessed to be able to breastfeed with ease, and that is something she celebrates. Her second son has enjoyed the same feeding journey as her first, and Rachel is confident and enthusiastic about continuing it for as long as possible. As a second time mom, actor, trainer and lactation counselor, she has a glow when sharing tips (if you’re struggling with milk production, it’s about frequency-not duration) and is not afraid to take time for self-care. The bottle gives her freedom. And although the prep time is not dreamy (washing, sterilizing, pumping)— it’s worth it so that she can get in the moments to herself that every mom needs. We chatted with Lactation Consultant and Bobbie Medical Advisor, Jadah Parks Chatterjee about how great it is when mom and baby both succeed in breastfeeding.
Watch Rachel’s Feeding Confessional above.
Jadah Parks Chatterjee, IBCLC and R.N., breaks down what you can learn from Rachel's Feeding Confessional 🤔
Blessed to be able to give him mommy milk.
Rachel
Jadah: Rachel, you are a rock star parent! You had a realistic blueprint, which involved self-care for mom. And it worked! It sounds like Baldwin successfully established his feeding process, and neither of you had concerns (sore/cracked nipples, baby fussing during feeds, etc). The recommendation is to introduce a bottle once breastfeeding has been successfully established.
I’m fortunate to have the flexibility to feed them on demand.
Rachel
Jadah: I have one recommendation, and that would be to PACE feed the baby. This is when we feed the baby in an upright position, watching them suck, swallow, rest, and offer frequent burping sessions. This decreases their risk for excess gas, which can make them a little fussy. In addition, PACED feeding decreases the risk of respiratory and ear infections in infants when they are fed in an upright position.1
It is recommended to avoid feeding a baby in a car seat, especially while a vehicle is moving. Now, as a mom, I know this is easier said than done when you have a screaming kid in the back seat and an ideal ETA. However, I will encourage future road trips to include a much needed rest stop every 3-4 hours. This is good for you and your babies. Stretching your legs often during your postpartum journey allows the veins in your legs to not work so hard to pump blood to your heart and can prevent stroke (Harvard, 2020). For your baby, we want to decrease the risk of choking, which can be caused by sudden stops. It’s not the driver of your car, we know they are driving with the intention to keep all inside your car safe. (My own dad would say, “You’re a great driver, and I know that because I taught you. I can’t say what’s going on in the other person’s car, so we drive to be safe for our car and all the cars around us.)
It’s a beautiful thing to have independence— but that comes with a lot of washing, sterilizing, pumping and….
Rachel
Jadah: Now let’s discuss all of this bottle prepping and washing and cleaning that no one ever mentions!
It may be worth it to have enough bottles for 2 days worth of feeding to support cleaning management. I had enough bottles for a week. Don’t judge me! My partner would load the dishwasher nightly, placing the baby bottles on the top rack and choosing not to use the heat dry option (heating plastic and giving it to my baby just didn’t settle well). In the morning, those bottles would need to be dried out in order to use immediately. I found that in my home, air drying bottles took at least a day. So, I purchased enough bottles to have a clean, dry one available for us to use at all times, guilt free. Save the daily dishes duty for someone else! It’s totally worth it!
Source:
1- Feeding Young Infants | NCBI
To support you through your feeding journey (and to drown out the sound of the pump), we’re bringing parents a first of its kind guided meditation with our partners at Mindful Mamas. If Rachel’s story resonates with you, we suggest listening to ‘The Gift of Mothering At The Breast’. Open the app below: Click Guided > Feeding Baby > The Gift of Mothering At The Breast. This content is brought to you free by the team at Bobbie through November 30th, 2021.
