Did you know this about breast cancer?

Did you know that breastfeeding reduces not only the mother's risk of developing breast cancer, but the baby's as well?

Did you know this about teeth?

Did you know that when a normal, healthy, human tooth is placed in a container of reconstituted infant formula it will rot away? But, when a normal, healthy, human tooth is placed in a container of breast milk it will become stronger.

Did you know this about breast milk?

Did you know that pumped human milk will have less bacteria in it after sitting for a length of time than when it was first pumped?

Did you know this about iron?

Did you know that, although the iron levels in breast milk are very low, the iron that is present is used incredibly efficiently. If your health care provider recommends routine iron supplementation, it may be helpful to request having your child's iron levels checked first to see if the supplementation is actually warranted.

Did you know this about breast milk?

Did you know that, as a child ages and consumes a smaller volume of milk when solid foods are introduced, the nutrition contained in his mother's breast milk becomes more concentrated?

Did you know this about infant formula?

Did you know that, in the US, it costs about $1000 to feed a infant, from birth to his first birthday, over-the-counter infant formula?

Did you know about D-MER?

Did you know about the newly recognized breastfeeding condition, dysphoric milk ejection reflex?

This condition causes the milk ejection reflex to be associated with negative emotions that can last for up to a few minutes following milk release. It is a treatable condition, and you can learn more here: http://www.d-mer.org/

Did you know this about breast milk production?

Did you know that it is common for women to experience a higher level of milk production in one breast over the other side?

Did you know this about biting?

Did you know that it is not possible for an actively nursing baby to bite?

Because baby's tongue is placed forward in the mouth, over the lower gum ridge, while latched on, it is not possible to bite when actively nursing.

Biting at the breast generally occurs at the end of a nursing session when the nipple moves forward in the baby's mouth. One of the best ways to counteract the biting is to pull the baby into the breast, causing him to release his jaws.

Did you know about the SNS?

Did you know that there is something called a supplemental nursing system (SNS)? An SNS is a bag, filled with pumped breast milk or infant formula, that is attached to a long thin tube. This tube is slipped into baby's mouth while he is nursing, allowing him to swallow milk provided by the mother's body and the supplemental nutrition.

If a mother is experiencing low milk supply, an SNS may help to safeguard the baby's need for increased nutrition, while simultaneously allowing the mother's body to experience the stimulation and milk removal that are so vital to increasing her milk supply.

Did you know this about breastfeeding?

Did you know that it is possible for a mother to nurse her baby from only one breast?

Some mothers who have a milk supply on only one breast are able to make enough milk to exclusively breastfeed their babies. These circumstances could arise from varies issues, but some include past breast surgeries, or anatomical anomalies.

Did you know about oversupply?

Did you know that many women experience an oversupply of milk during the first days of breastfeeding?

Many women worry a great deal about whether or not they are producing enough milk for their babies, but a large percentage of mothers actually experience an oversupply of milk. This can lead to certain breastfeeding issues, especially in the early days, just after their babies are born. These issues can include difficulty latching, and the baby being overwhelmed by the fast flow of the milk. There are certain techniques to help equilibrate milk supply such as block feeding (feeding on one breast for more than one nursing session), and positions that can help the baby deal with the milk flow.

Did you know this about water during pregnancy?

Did you know that some health care providers recommend that women with normal, healthy pregnancies should consume a gallon of water per day?

Did you know about the 24-hour US breastfeeding help line?

Did you know that La Leche League, the mother-to-mother breastfeeding support organization, has a 24-hour US hot line?

Mothers are able to call 877-4-LALECHE, at any time, to discuss breastfeeding questions or concerns with an accredited La Leche League Leader.

Did you know this about jaw development?

Did you know that feeding method can influence a baby's jaw development?

People who were fed via bottles in infancy tend to have narrower, more arched palates when compared to people who were breastfed. This narrowing of the palate and jaw can lead to overcrowded teeth and an increased need for orthodontia.

Did you know this about organ transplants?

Did you know that people who were breastfed tend to fare better after an organ transplant than people who were fed formula? Transplant patients also fare better if the harvested organ was taken from a donor who was breastfed.

Did you know this about fingernails?

Did you know that when babies are born, their fingernails are attached to the end of their fingers? That's why it's a good idea to use a nail file to shorten their nails rather than clippers. With clippers you run the risk of cutting their little fingers at the same time as the nail.

Did you know this about mastitis?

Did you know that when a nursing mother develops a mastitis infection the best course of action would be for her to encourage her baby to nurse very frequently on the affected breast?

Decades ago mothers were told to wean their babies if they developed mastitis. But it is now known that frequent nursing on the infected breast actually helps to clear out the milk stasis that is providing the environment for bacterial growth.

Did you know about reverse cycling?

Did you know that if a mother and her nursing baby are separated during the day, the baby may compensate by increasing nighttime nursing sessions?

This is known as reverse cycling and can help to alleviate worries about whether or not baby is ingesting enough milk during a given 24 hour period. Since baby would be able to consume a large percentage of milk during the nighttime hours, much less expressed milk would be needed during the time of separation from his or her mother.

Did you know this about bed wetting?

Did you know that babies who are breastfed have a lower incidence of childhood bed wetting than children who are not breastfed?