Tag: slb help

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SLB Breastfeeding Tip #1

The way your baby is cared for and nurtured immediately after birth significantly impacts their transition from the womb to life outside. In a culture that commonly separates mothers and babies for routine procedures such as cleaning, weighing and measuring, most babies are missing that critical time of being skin to skin with their mothers, which has short and long term consequences for all. As these procedures are not necessary to maintain or enhance the wellbeing of either mother or baby, there is no reason why they cannot be delayed beyond the first critical hour. The first hour should be focused on baby’s first breastfeed and mother-baby and family bonding. Unless mother or baby is in need of medical assistance, hospital protocols should support this time of new beginnings for both vaginal and caesarean births.

I personally have requested for skin to skin straight after birth and the new born checks are not executed till much later. I was able to bond with Jo2 and Jo3 for at least an hour before the nurses carried them for their newborn checks.

What Is An Undisturbed First Hour?

breastfeeding

Babies are born and immediately placed tummy down on their mother’s stomach. A warm blanket should be placed over both mother and baby, to keep mother warm. This slows the production of adrenaline hormone in her so as to not interfere with oxytocin and prolactin hormones being produced (essential for bonding and breastfeeding). At this time, the mother’s needs are simple: warmth and a quiet, calm environment. It is important to remember that she is still in labour – the placenta and membranes are still to be birthed, and her uterus needs to contract down.

At this time, the mother’s needs are simple: warmth and a quiet, calm environment. It is important to remember that she is still in labour – the placenta and membranes are still to be birthed, and her uterus needs to contract down.

Here are 6 important reasons why the first hour after birth should be undisturbed:

#1: Baby-Led Initiation of Breastfeeding

It is quite common these days for hospital staff to want baby to begin breastfeeding within the first hour. In addition to the importance of early feeding for mother-baby attachment and bonding, it also helps to expel the placenta more quickly and easily, reducing the risk of postpartum haemorrhage. Read more about the benefits of a natural third stage here. It’s common for caregivers to assist baby to latch onto the nipple, which is unnecessary in most cases. When babies who have not been exposed to medications are placed skin to skin with their mothers and left undisturbed, they will instinctually crawl to their mother’s breast and attach themselves to the nipple. This is now known as the ‘breast crawl’ and was first observed by Swedish researchers in the 1980s. Further observation discovered that babies are born with innate instincts that assist them in finding their mother’s nipple, like all newborn mammals. I have noticed that it takes about 30 mins for Jo3 to have the latching instinct so mummies just take your time and do not panic if your baby doesn’t appear to want to latch immediately.

#2: Body System Regulation

Babies who are left skin to skin with their mothers for the first hours immediately after birth are better able to regulate their temperature and respiration. Newborns aren’t able to adjust their body temperature as well as older children and adults as they don’t have the same insulating fat levels. They have spent nine months in an environment that is perfectly temperature controlled. If babies lose too much heat, they have to use more energy and oxygen than they can spare to try and keep their temperature stable An undisturbed first hour with skin to skin also reduces the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). Newborn babies can produce glucose from their body stores of energy until they are breastfeeding well and are more likely to do so when they remain skin to skin with their mothers.

#3: Promotes Mother-Baby Attachment

Prolonged skin to skin after birth allows mother and baby to get to know each other. Mothers who have skin to skin contact after birth are more likely to feel confident and comfortable in meeting their babies’ needs than those who had none. Attachment is critical to newborn survival and mothers are hard wired to look after their young. Oxytocin receptors in a woman’s brain increase during pregnancy, so when her baby is born, she is more responsive to this hormone that promotes maternal behaviour. Oxytocin is produced in large amounts when breastfeeding and holding babies close skin to skin. Mothers who had early skin to skin with their babies are more likely to demonstrate bonding behaviours later in their child’s life, such as kissing, holding, positive speaking and so on. Skin-to-skin is becoming a reality for more c-section mothers and do as much skin to skin as you can in the first few days will really promote and help with your breastfeeding journey.

#4: Improves Breastfeeding Success Rates

Breastfeeding initiation and duration is likely to be more successful with babies who have early skin to skin contact. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for babies in the first six months to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Creating the right conditions for the initiation of breastfeeding would help promote longer durations of breastfeeding for many women. Babies who are left to self attach usually have a better chance of proper tongue positioning when latching. This can increase long term breastfeeding as mothers experience more ease and fewer problems when latching is not an issue.

#5: Protects Against The Effects of Separation

Babies are born ready to interact with their mothers – a newborn baby who has not been exposed to excessive medication will be very alert and gaze intently into their mother’s face, recognising her smell, sound of her voice and the touch of her skin. Remaining with their mother is key to a baby’s survival and separation is life threatening. Babies are born with a mammal’s primal instinct to stay within the safe habitat of mother, where there is warmth, safety and nourishment. When babies are separated from their mother they will protest loudly, drawing their mother’s attention to their distress. Babies undergo what is literally a cold turkey withdrawal from the sensory stimulation of their mother’s body. If they are not reunited with their mother despite their protests, they will go into a despair state – essentially giving up and becoming quiet and still. This is partly a survival instinct to avoid attracting predators, and their body systems slow down to preserve energy and heat.

#6: Boost Your Baby’s Immunity

Naturally when babies are born, they emerge from a near-sterile environment in the uterus and are seeded by their mother’s bacteria. This essentially trains the baby’s cells to understand what is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria. This kickstarts their immune system to fight off infections and protects from disease in the future. Research indicates that if babies aren’t given this opportunity to be exposed to their mother’s bacteria, either because they are not born vaginally, held skin to skin or breastfed, then the baby’s immune system may not reach its full potential and can increase the child’s risk of disease in the future. Skin to skin contact and early breastfeeding is an excellent way to help increase your baby’s exposure to bacteria if you need a caesarean section for medical reasons.

 

 

Credit: Belly Belly Australia

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Top 14 Breastfeeding Problems Mummies Face

breastfeeding problem

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy. Because many mothers face a few challenges along the way, we’ve uncovered 14 breastfeeding problems you might encounter, plus solutions to help you fix your breastfeeding relationship with your babe. If these ideas don’t work for you be sure to seek out expert help from a lactation consultant,  a public health nurse, your midwife or your doctor.

PROBLEM 1: LATCHING PAIN

It’s normal for your nipples to feel sore when you first start to breastfeed, especially if you’re a first-timer. But if baby has latched and the pain lasts longer than a minute into your feeding session, check the positioning.

Solution:

  • Try to achieve an asymmetrical latch where baby’s mouth covers more of the areola below the nipple rather than above.
  • To reposition him, place your index finger inside baby’s mouth to take him off your breast. Tickle his chin or wait until he yawns so his mouth is wide open and seize your opportunity.
  • When he is correctly positioned, his chin and nose touch your breast, his lips splay out and you can’t see your nipple or part of the lower areola.
  • If baby’s position is correct and latching on still hurts, your nipples may be dry. Make sure to wear loose clothing and avoid washing with soap. Lanolin-based creams are good for applying between feedings.

 

PROBLEM 2: CRACKED NIPPLES

Cracked nipples can be the result of many different things: thrush, dry skin, pumping improperly, or most likely, latching problems. During the first week of breastfeeding, you may have bloody discharge when your baby is just learning to latch or you are just beginning to pump. A little blood, while kind of gross, won’t harm baby.

Solution:

  • Check baby’s positioning — the bottom part of your areola underneath your nipple should be in baby’s mouth.
  • try breastfeeding more frequently, and at shorter intervals. The less hungry baby is, the softer his sucking will be.
  • As tempting as it is to treat your cracked nipples with anything you can find in your medicine cabinet, soaps, alcohol, lotions, and perfumes are no good — clean water is all you need to wash with.
  • Try letting some milk stay on your nipples to air dry after feeding (the milk actually helps heal them).
  • You can also try taking a mild painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen 30 minutes before nursing.
  • If all this fails, try an over-the-counter lanolin cream, specially made for nursing mothers and use plastic hard breast shells inside your bra.

 

PROBLEM 3: CLOGGED/PLUGGED DUCTS

Ducts clog because your milk isn’t draining completely. You may notice a hard lump on your breast or soreness to the touch and even some redness. If you start feeling feverish and achy, that’s a sign of infection and you should see your doctor. Most importantly try not to have long stretches in between feedings — milk needs to be expressed often. A nursing bra that is too tight can also cause clogged ducts. Stress (something all new mommies have an over abundance of) can also affect your milk flow.

Solution:

  • Do your best to get adequate rest (you should recruit your partner to pick up some slack when possible)
  • try applying warm compresses to your breasts and massage them to stimulate milk movement.
  • Clogged ducts are not harmful to your baby because breastmilk has natural antibiotics. That said, there’s no reason why you have to suffer. Breastfeeding should be enjoyable for mom and baby.

 

PROBLEM 4: ENGORGEMENT/HIGH MILK SUPPLY

Engorgement makes it difficult for baby to latch on to the breast because it’s hard and un-conforming to his mouth.

Solution:

  • Try hand-expressing a little before feeding to get the milk flowing and soften the breast, making it easier for baby to latch and access milk. Of course, the more you nurse, the less likely your breasts are to get engorged.

 

PROBLEM 5: MASTITIS

Mastitis is a bacterial infection in your breasts marked by flu-like symptoms such as fever and pain in your breasts. It’s common within the first few weeks after birth (though it can also happen during weaning) and is caused by cracked skin, clogged milk ducts, or engorgement.

Solution:

  • The only sufficient way to treat the infection is with antibiotics, hot compresses, and most importantly, frequent emptying.
  • Use hands-on pumping, making sure the red firm areas of the breast and the periphery are softened.
  • It’s safe and actually recommended that you continue breastfeeding when you have mastitis. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen (not aspirin) to relieve the pain, as instructed on the packet or by a pharmacist.
  • Keep breastfeeding or pumping frequently. Your milk is still safe for your baby to drink. Flowing milk will help clear any blockage and prevent further painful build-up. Stopping suddenly could exacerbate symptoms.
  • You may need to express any leftover milk after feeds.
  • Offer your baby the affected breast first. This may help your baby to drain it adequately. If this is too painful, start on the non-affected side to get the milk flowing, then switch.
  • Rest, drink and eat well. Make sure you’re having plenty of fluids and eating nutritious foods.
  • Massage the area in a warm bath or shower, or compress with a warm flannel or heat pack to help release the blockage and ease symptoms before feeding or expressing. Use a cool pack after feeds to reduce inflammation.

 

PROBLEM 6: THRUSH

Thrush is a yeast infection in your baby’s mouth, which can also spread to your breasts. It causes incessant itchiness, soreness, and sometimes a rash.

Solution:

  • Your doctor will need to give you antifungal medication to put on your nipple and in baby’s mouth — if you’re not both treated at the same time, you can give each other the fungi and prolong healing.

 

PROBLEM 7: LOW MILK SUPPLY

Breastfeeding is a supply-and-demand process. If your doctor is concerned about baby’s weight gain, and he is being plotted on the World Health Organization curves designed for breastfeeding babies, this may be the problem.

Solution:

  • Lactation Cookies or Lactation Muffins by Singapore Lactation Bakes will help you with more let downs. Combined with frequent nursing and hands-on pumping during the day can help increase milk supply.
  • Pump or latch when you are having let downs or when fuller breast after having the SLB lactation cookies or SLB lactation muffins helps to tune your body to make more milk.

 

PROBLEM 8: BABY SLEEPING AT BREAST

Baby is sleepy in the first couple of months after birth (hey, he’s been through a lot) so falling asleep while nursing is common. All that bonding makes baby relaxed!

Solution:

  • Milk flow is fastest after your first let-down, so if you want to increase efficiency, start off at the fuller breast, then switch to the other breast sooner, rather than later.
  • When you notice baby’s sucking slowing down and his eyes closing, remove him from your breast and try to stimulate him by burping, tickling his feet, or gently talking to him while rubbing his back, and then switch breasts.
  • As baby gets older he’ll be able to stay awake longer, so don’t fret.

 

PROBLEM 9: INVERTED/FLAT NIPPLES

You can tell if you have flat or inverted nipples by doing a simple squeeze test:  Gently grab your areola with your thumb and index finger — if your nipple retracts rather than protrudes, you’ve got a problem, Houston. Not really. But breastfeeding will be more challenging.

Solution:

  • Use a pump to get the milk flowing before placing baby at your nipple and use breast shells between feeds.
  • Once you feel like your milk supply is adequate, try using nipple shields if baby still has problems latching.

 

PROBLEM 10: PAINFUL/OVERACTIVE LET DOWN

Your breast is like a machine — when you let down, all the milk-producing engines constrict to move the milk forward and out of your nipple. Sometimes the working of these inner parts can hurt, especially when in overdrive. Some mothers feel a prickly pins-and-needles sensation and others just get an achy feeling.

Solution:

  • If this feeling of pins and needles goes beyond a mere tingling and feels more like a hundred little daggers poking your breasts, you need to check for a breast infection (yeast or bacteria). Sometimes this pain develops when you have an excessive amount of milk.
  • Try feeding baby longer on one particular breast and switching to the other only if you need to.
  • If the result is an infection (fever, aches, and chills may be present), you’ll need to get antibiotics from your doctor.
  • No matter how unpleasant it is for you, it’s still safe for baby to nurse.

PROBLEM 11: BABY WON’T LATCH

Solution:

  • Skin to skin is the way to go,”. It’s like a magical cure for the non-latching baby (and helps with other issues too).
  • Get naked from the waist up, strip baby down to just a diaper, and get yourself comfortable in a semi-reclining position with baby on your chest.
  • When your baby is ready, he’ll scoot down to the breast and latch on. (You many need to provide your baby with expressed milk in a cup or syringe until he figures it out, and pumping or hand-expressing during this time will also help build up your milk supply.)

PROBLEM 12: BABY IS CONSTANTLY NURSING

Solutions:

  • This may just be a perfectly normal baby. Babies have small stomachs and they really do need filling up frequently.
  • Imagine if you were asked to double your weight in the next six months, as an average baby will do. What would you have to do?
  • You’d eat a lot.” Some mothers also have less storage capacity in their breasts, so while they produce plenty of milk over 24 hours, the baby needs to eat frequently (it’s called cluster feeding) to get enough.
  • If the baby is otherwise gaining well, having at least two or three poppy diapers each day and your nipples are not sore, frequent feedings may just be the norm for your baby. If baby is not gaining well, speak to your paediatrician or family doctor.

PROBLEM 13: BREAST NO LONGER FEEL FULL

Solutions:

  • This usually happens somewhere from six to ten weeks and mothers are often concerned that their milk production has faltered for some reason.
  • In most cases it’s actually good news, It means your breasts have adjusted to meet the actual appetite of your baby.
  • Instead of filling up between feedings, the milk doesn’t start to flow until the baby is nursing.
  • Just keep an eye on your baby’s weight gain and diaper contents to be sure everything is going well.

PROBLEM 14: Ouch! BABY IS BITTING OUR NIPPLES

Solutions:

  • Most babies will try out their gums or teeth at some time
  • Try pulling the baby in close so that your breast blocks his nose and he has to let go to breathe, rather than trying to pull back which can make him clamp down harder.
  • If you’re alert when the baby is nursing, you may be able to catch the moment when he pulls his tongue back in order to bite down.
  • Be ready to stick a finger in the corner of his mouth and prevent him from chomping on you. Be gentle —he doesn’t mean to hurt you!

So there you have some quick breastfeeding problem-solvers that may help you past some of the common breastfeeding challenges. Still having problems? Don’t hesitate to seek out more assistance from some of the lactation experts in your community, who can tailor their advice to your situation.

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Pumping hack #4

pumping hack

Many mummies asked how do I keep my supply from dropping and my answer is always (apart from having my delicious bakes), pump and latch at the same time. And so this is how I do it.

I cradle latch Jo3 at a side then pump at the other. I’ll then exchange side if she needs more then I’ll pump an additional 5-10 mins on both sides after she is done .

Some practice is needed for this cause sometimes babies might kick their competitor away. ?

Breastfeeding is tough and team Slb wanna tell mummies out there that you are awesome and we are here for you!

So, keep calm and Eat.Breastfeed.Repeat

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Avocado Bacon with Egg

Avocado Bacon with Egg

Booster: Avocado
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Side Dishes
Servings 2 People

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Whole avocados Organic
  • 2 Whole eggs free range
  • 1 piece bacon crumbled
  • 1 Piece cheese
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper

Instructions
 

  • preheat oven to 200d
  • With a spoon, scoop out some of the avocado so it's a tad bigger than your egg and yolk. Place in a muffin pan to keep the avocado stable while cooking.
  • Crack your egg and add it to the inside of your avocado. Sprinkle a little cheese on top with a pinch of salt. Top with cooked bacon.
  • Cook for 14-16 minutes. sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

Notes

TIPS FOR BAKED EGGS IN AVOCADO

  • Make sure your avocados are room temperature and not refrigerated.
 
  • Scoop out about 1-1.5 tablespoons of avocado to create enough room for your egg. But scoop wide versus deep. If you scoop deep, it will take longer for the egg to cook.
 
  • Use large eggs. Extra large or jumbo will be too big for the avocado.
 
  • Keep the avocados upright and level by using a small baking dish, ramekins, or even a muffin tray.
 
  • There are two ways to insert the egg. You can either gently crack the egg and let any whites overflow into your baking dish (it’ll happen). Or, you can crack the egg into a small bowl, then use a spoon to transfer the yolk into the avocado first and add just enough egg white to fit the cavity. Either way works.
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TheAsianParent: Recipes to increase breast milk: This Singapore mum bakes and sells lactation cookies!

recipes to increase breast milk

Written by

Jaya

This Singapore mum bakes and sells lactation cookies and reveals food and recipes to increase breast milk supply!

It’s hard to believe that Singapore mummy of 3, Joanna Goy, was totally clueless about breastfeeding when she had her first baby 5 years ago.

Today, Joanna makes her own lactation cookies and runs Singapore Lactation Bakes (SLB), which specialises in the creation of lactation cookies and muffins.

We ask Joanna, a former banker, how she found her true calling. She also reveals a secret recipe to increase breast milk supply!

Singapore mum bakes lactation cookies

To start with, tell us a little bit about your breastfeeding journey?

(Joanna is mummy to 3 beautiful girls, Jolinda (5), Jophia (2) and Jorissa (4 months old))

Joanna reveals, “When Jolinda was born, I was totally clueless about breastfeeding. I thought it was something that came naturally so I didn’t prepare myself for it at all.”

“It did not occur to me that I had to read or learn about breastfeeding, as I thought it was going to be a breeze and natural. But I was wrong.”

“I didn’t have enough milk, and almost went into depression. Returning to work meant more stress and pressure.”

“I did not try any breast milk booster with Jolinda as I had no idea there were even supplements to increase breast milk.”

“That first breastfeeding journey only lasted for 9 months.”

2 years later, I was blessed with Jophia. This time, I joined a mummy support group – there was a lot of support emotionally as well as a lot of advice, and that really made a difference.”

“This is when I got to know about milk boosters and started doing more research about them.”

“Geared with more knowledge, I am now doing much better at breastfeeding Jorissa, and am supporting a group of breastfeeding mums too!”

How did you stumble upon the idea of lactation cookies? 

Says Joanna, “I came to know about lactation cookies from my mummy friends. They were trying lactation cookies and were recommending them to each other.”

“Initially, I was skeptical, as it sounded too good to be true.”

“Also, to my shock, I found that lactation cookies are costly. So I decided to try baking them myself. At first, to be honest, I did not see an immediate increase in my milk supply. But a few days later, I noticed my milk supply had increased.”

“As I continued baking and eating more of the lactation cookies, the amount of milk that I was able to produce gradually increased as well.”

“Eventually, I had so much surplus milk, I could even give my daughters a milk bath! I was so happy and relieved that my children were finally able to enjoy the benefits of breast milk!”

How did you end up starting Singapore Lactation Bakes (SLB)?

Joanna tells us, “After my experience with Jolinda, I knew what it felt like to have a low supply and feel unsupported. I felt deeply about this and I really hoped no other mum would have to go though what I went through, so I offered the cookies to my own circle of friends.”

“They loved them and soon word spread, bringing me to the blessed place I am now.” And that is how Singapore Lactation Bakes(SLB) was born.

“We are also blessed with the opening of our own store recently! It is located at 183 Jalan Pelikat #B1-105 s(537643), we are a team of four at the moment.”

You mentioned that you were a banker before…what made you quit or change lane?

Joanna says, “As SLB progressed, I got the opportunity to talk to a lot of different mums who had various problems with breastfeeding. I really wanted to help them more.”

“I couldn’t do that while holding on to two jobs so I chose to quit mine and focus on helping the mums. I also took breastfeeding courses to gear myself with more knowledge to help more mummies.”

Were there any hiccups to starting and running this business?

“I think I’ve been blessed in this area as everything has been smooth so far.”

“I think the biggest challenge is keeping up with with the variety of bakes (both what we have now as well as with developing new flavours/products) while balancing taste and effectiveness.”

“We have seen an increase in demand over the years as hospitals have begun advocating breastfeeding in the recent years”, Joanna reveals.

Cookies and muffins go for $6.50, cookies cups are $16.90 and teas are $9.90.

What feedback have you received from mummies? Has it helped them boost breast milk supply?

Joanna informs us, “The reviews have been quite good. Though it might not work for everyone, the majority of mummies have reported that our bakes have worked for them.We are working relentlessly to improve our bakes in terms of their variety, taste and effectiveness.”

“It’s usually a gradual increase in the amount of milk they pump, not necessarily just a specific pump or latch timing.”

“As our slogan says, “Eat. Breastfeed. Repeat”.”

“We encourage mummies to eat the bakes, breastfeed and then repeat. The boosters will not increase milk permanently. They will increase milk supply temporarily either by having fuller breasts or more let down.”

“Mummies are encouraged to pump the milk out. They need to pump or latch when they experience let down, to stimulate their body to make more milk. Our bodies work by demand and supply. More milk drawn will result in more milk produced.”

As a mumpreneur, how do you manage running SLB and looking after kids?

Joanna admits, “This has been a real challenge. That is why SLB’s working hours are from 9 am – 5 pm. We drop our kids off at school in the morning and pick them up afterwards and try to spend as much time as we can, when we are with them.”

From your experience and knowledge, which food works well as breast milk boosters and which don’t?

Joanna says, “We have a list of 68 boosters for customers to take a look at and try.”

Ultimately, it really depends on how their bodies work and react to the different foods.

PHOTO: SINGAPORE LACTATION BAKES

For myself, conventional boosters do not work. My boosters are miso (yes, Japanese miso) and peppermint (Yes! Peppermint! It’s a known milk killer but it really worked very well for my milk supply). I have a weird body!

Joanna also shares a breast milk booster recipe with us, that apparently works very well. Thank you, Joanna! ?

Lactation carrot cake

CARROT CAKE

  • 2 cups plain flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1.5 cups ground walnuts/pecans
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1.5 cups caster sugar
  • 300ml sunflower oil
  • 3 cups of grated carrots

CREAM CHEESE ICING

  • 150g unsalted butter,
  • softened 240g f cream cheese
  • 840g icing sugar, sifted

METHOD

  • Whisk together sugar, eggs and oil until thick.
  • Add finely grated carrots and fold them into the mixture.
  • Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, flax seed and cinnamon and mix gently.
  • Fold in walnuts.
  • Grease and line a 7” tin.
  • Pour mixture into the tin and place in the oven at 175 °C for 25-27 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
  • Leave to cool.

For cream cheese icing, in a large bowl,

  • Beat butter till pale and fluffy.
  • Add the cream cheese.
  • Add icing sugar.
  • Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla until it’s smooth and creamy.
  • Decorate as desired.

Lastly, any advice to new mums on breastfeeding and breast milk?

Joanna has this to say, “You are not alone! When you feel like giving up, just tell yourself – just one more day!”

“Finding a support group or meeting up with a Lactation consultant will help you identify the problem and rectify it too. Just don’t give up!”

Credit: TheAsianParents

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Baked Avocado Fries

 

Baked Avocado Fries

Singapore Lactation Bakes (SLB)
SUPERFOOD: Avocado
Eggs combined with avocado are an excellent anti-aging remedy. This food combination contains vitamin C which promotes the synthesis of collagen and vitamin A, in the form of retinol and beta-carotene, which protects the skin from oxidative stress damage.
Avocados, full of healthy fats and fiber, are a great addition to your diet while breastfeeding. The fat in avocados help you and your baby absorb fat-soluble vitamins and can also be beneficial to your baby's developing brain health.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Side Dishes
Servings 4 Servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ripe avocados peeled and pitted
  • 30 g all purpose flour
  • 120 ml milk of your choice ( fresh, oat milk)
  • 15g plain instant potato flakes
  • 80g plain bread crumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 220°C
  • Line baking sheet with parchment paper
  • Cut the avocado into strips about 13mm thick. Place in shallow bowl and toss to coat with the flour.
  • Whisk milk and potato flakes in a small shallow bowl. Stir together the bread crumbs, garlic powder and salt in a separate small shallow bowl
  • Dredge the flour-dusted avocado in the milk mixture and then in the bread crumbs, pressing the avocado into the bread crumbs to coat each slice completely.
  • Place the avocado slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, spray with cooking spray and bake for 15 minutes or until fries are golden brown.

Notes

Eggs combined with avocado are an excellent anti-aging remedy. This food combination contains vitamin C which promotes the synthesis of collagen and vitamin A, in the form of retinol and beta-carotene, which protects the skin from oxidative stress damage.
Avocados, full of healthy fats and fiber, are a great addition to your diet while breastfeeding. The fat in avocados help you and your baby absorb fat-soluble vitamins and can also be beneficial to your baby's developing brain health.
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Tips on breastfeeding twins

breastfeeding twins

You know that breastfeeding your infant provides an opportunity for bonding while providing health benefits for your child. However, it can be daunting to find out that you’ll have to breastfeed two infants at the same time! Just take a deep breath, because it is possible to breastfeed twins, without either baby suffering from sharing their mother’s milk. Here are some tips that can help you to breastfeed your twins!

  1. Set Up One or More Comfortable Nursing Stations – Twins often require more time to feed than a single child. Therefore it is essential to sit up one or more comfortable areas where you can sit or lie comfortably when breastfeeding your infants.
  2. Breast Feed on Cue Not on Schedule- When feeding twins you shouldn’t rush to get them on a feeding schedule. Instead, you need to feed your babies on demand or cue. Keep in mind that twins are often born prematurely and therefore eat smaller amounts, but need to eat more often than most full-term infants. In addition, twins, even identical twins, are individuals and therefore may not want or need to eat at the same time. By feeding your baby as they demand food you can better meet their individual needs.
  3. Start Nursing Only One Baby at a Time- It often takes time for an infant to learn to latch onto the breast properly. Therefore it is essential that you only feed one infant at a time until you are sure that one infant is latching onto the breast properly before trying to breastfeed both infants at once. If possible, have someone to offer support during the first three or four months that can offer to hold the other twin and comfort them while you feed the other infant. This will allow you to concentrate on each individual infant while feeding your child.
  4. Breast Feed or Pump to Encourage More Milk Production- If you are having difficulty producing enough milk to breastfeed exclusively, you still need to breastfeed or pump 8 times during a twenty-four hour period. Make sure that pump or breastfeed during the night to help keep up your milk supply and encourage more milk to flow.
  5. If Supplemental Feedings are Needed Alternate Between Infants- If you find that you need to supplement feedings to supply both babies with enough milk to stay healthy then alternate those supplemental feeding between infants, breastfeeding one infant one time and the other twin the next so that both babies get the benefits only breast milk can supply.
  6. Get Additional Support For the First Few Weeks or Months- Raising twins especially during the first few weeks or months can be physically and mentally draining. Having additional help and support during the first few weeks or months can result in your getting more rest and feeling more relaxed. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be for you to care for your baby and the easier it will be when feeding time comes. The support you get can be help with housework or someone to watch the babies while you get short naps. They may simply be someone who sits with you when you are feeding and encourages you while keeping you company.

Should I follow a rigid or flexible nursing schedule?
For the first few weeks, infants need to breastfeed eight to 12 times per day. That breaks down to about once every two to three hours, day and night. Each session should last about 20 to 30 minutes—but wait for each baby to signal he or she’s done before calling it quits (the suck-swallow pattern will slow down to about four sucks to one swallow). A flexible schedule is best, and feeding your babies at the same time is the most economical use of your precious time. However, babies are individuals, so one twin may want to nurse every three hours, and the other, every two hours. Some mothers find that letting the hungrier baby dictate the time of the next feed for both works best. Some mothers nurse on demand during the day and follow a schedule at night.

How can I hold two babies to nurse at the same time?
Use rolled-up towels or a nursing pillow to support your babies. You can buy nursing pillows designed specifically for breastfeeding twins.

With the help of a pillow, you can vary your nursing positions. For example, you can rotate from the cradle hold (across your chest) to the football hold (along your side), or you can use a combination of the two. It’s a good idea to alternate breasts with every feeding, especially if one twin is a stronger feeder. If it’s hard to keep track of who was on each breast last, try alternating breasts every 24 hours instead of after each feed. Switching back and forth regularly helps produce equal amounts of milk in both breasts and lessens the chance of blocked milk ducts. Alternating breasts also helps your babies’ eyes get equal exercise and stimulation.

 

twinbreastfeedingpositions

If you have preemies, and one has to stay in the hospital longer than the other, you can simultaneously breastfeed on one side and pump on the other to keep up your milk supply.

Can I produce enough milk to nourish more than one baby?
The law of supply and demand applies to nursing mothers of twins and multiples. If you breastfeed when your babies want to eat, you can trust your body to supply enough milk. A low milk supply can almost always be corrected by nursing more often. If your babies aren’t emptying your breasts, you may need to pump.

Keep lots of water nearby, have a Lactation cookie and Muffin. The oxytocin your body releases when you nurse can make you very thirsty while lactation muffin and lactation cookies will help boost your milk supply.

What if I bond with one baby more than the other?
This can happen, especially if one of your babies has to stay in the hospital longer than the other. You’ve had more time to get to know the at-home baby, and you’ve developed a stronger attachment to that twin. Or, if you have one sickly baby, you may find you’re giving that baby more attention. The important thing is to be aware of your feelings and work to give your babies equal love and attention. Happily, breastfeeding brings you in close contact with both babies and can help speed up the attachment process.

Do I ever get a break?
You don’t have to be on the job at all times. In fact, you shouldn’t be. Sleep when the babies sleep if you can. Call in your support teams when you’re feeling frazzled, beginning with your mate. Let him take over while you take off, even if it’s for only 15 or 20 minutes. Get out of the hearing range of the babies by going for a walk, taking a hot bath, or reading a magazine in another room. Once your feeding routine is well established, enjoy a night out with your partner or a friend. Remember, you had a life before you became a parent. It’s time to continue where you left off.

Following these tips and those from your doctor or lactation specialist can make breastfeeding your twins more successful and enjoyable for both you and your twin infants.