Texas Breastfeeding

How does caffeine affect my breastmilk?

June 18, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

Each breastfeeding mother and child reacts differently to caffeine consumption. The effects of caffeine can also be dependent on type of caffeine consumed, age of the infant and time of consumption. Consequently, there is not a specific restriction on caffeine intake while breastfeeding.

However, most experts recommend that a daily dose of caffeine around 300 milligrams per day is acceptable. This is the equivalent of one to two cups of coffee. A can of caffeinated cola generally has 40-45 mg. A small percentage of the caffeine, only one to 10 percent will transmit from the bloodstream to breastmilk. The percentage of caffeine within the breastmilk will peak one to two hours after consumption.

More than the recommended amount of caffeine could cause symptoms of sleeplessness, agitation and jitteriness in the breastfed infant. If this does occur experts suggest that breastfeeding mothers cut back on their caffeine intake.

Younger infants are more susceptible to the symptoms of caffeine. Once infants reach three to four months their bodies are able to metabolize the caffeine and process it through their system.

It is important to remember that many beverages and products contain caffeine, such as tea, soft drinks, chocolate and some over-the-counter allergy or pain medications. Make sure to read the nutritional labels on these types of products to determine the amount of caffeine in the substance.

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Supportive Husbands of Breastfeeding Moms: Donor Mom Shelley Blanco

June 14, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

Shelley Blanco
Irving, TX

When my husband, Abe, and I found out we were miraculously pregnant with our first son Isaac, we were beyond happy. The thought of breastfeeding my son crossed my mind but was not necessarily a priority for me, that is, until he arrived.

I was not breastfed as a child, but my husband was, and his mother was a strong advocate for breastfeeding. Through their support and by learning the benefits of breastfeeding I knew the best choice was to breastfeed my son. My husband became my rock, my support system, and gave me the encouragement I needed to continue my breastfeeding journey.

Considering that Abe could not physically be a part of the breastfeeding process, he did everything else he could to assist me along the way. When breastfeeding became difficult he reminded me of the health benefits I was giving our son. At night he would bring Isaac to me so I could breastfeed him. My husband would also clean my breastpump supplies so that I was prepared for the next day. But most of all, his pride for me was evident, and, in turn, it made me proud that I was breastfeeding.

With his constant support I was able to return to work and continue breastfeeding our son for over a year. During this time I was also able to donate more than 100 ounces to Mothers Milk Bank of North Texas. When our second son Xavier was born, I was determined to replicate what I’d done with our first child. Fortunately, I was able to do so.

It has been one year since I finished breastfeeding both of my children and Abe continues to remind me how strong I was. He is very humble and doesn’t understand the important role he played in breastfeeding our children but I pushed through and successfully breastfed our children because of him.

Advice to fathers: Take the time to educate yourself on the benefits of breastfeeding. By supporting your wife while she breastfeeds, you made a huge impact on her confidence.

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Filed Under: Breastfeeding Support, Donor Moms Tagged With: breastfeeding, breastfeeding support, supportive husband

Lowering Pre-Term Birth Rates- Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien

June 11, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

March of Dimes promotes healthy pregnancies and babies and works to prevent premature births and birth defects through programs and services across Texas and throughout the United States. The nonprofit organization educates moms and supports families during difficult times and is a resource for health care professionals.

Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien is a program that features unique prenatal curriculum supported by March of Dimes, devoted to educating and supporting pregnant Hispanic women. The overall goal is to ensure healthy, full-term pregnancies.

Offered in both English and Spanish, Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien is taught by trained facilitators in many settings, such as churches, community organizations and worksites. The program has been offered by Fort Worth Independent School District for more than 10 years and has been in place in Birdville Independent School District for the last two years. The March of Dimes also hosts the program in a number of other communities throughout the United States.

Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien focuses on prenatal care, proper nutrition and the basic guidelines of personal care during pregnancy. In a comfortable, supportive group setting the participants leave the eight-session series of two-hour classes educated and empowered.

Previous participants took part in pre/post tests and follow-up postcards are used to gauge their knowledge on pregnancy and infant care both before and after the program. The results showed significant change in behavior and increased education about prenatal and infant care.

Post-tests show that 91.4 percent of participants reportedly changed their eating habits and 83.5 percent changed their exercise habits. Another 102 participants quit smoking after what they learned in the classes.

The culturally relevant social and educational support program helps improve birth outcomes and create behavioral change. For example, an outstanding 96.8 percent of program participants responded delivered full-term babies. Here at Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas we applaud this outcome and celebrate fewer babies needing neonatal intensive care when they enter the world.

In Texas, 13.4 percent of Hispanic women in Texas give birth prematurely, but the results realized when this same group of mom joins Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien are a 3.2 percent preterm birthrate.

You can learn more about Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien at March of Dimes.com

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Filed Under: Community Partners Tagged With: becoming a mom, comenzando bien, march of dimes, prenatal care

The Perception of Breastfeeding, From 1977 to Today

June 6, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: You can read more about Laura and her nine-year experience with the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas here.

In 1977 people thought you were crazy to breastfeed. However I decided to breastfeed all three of my children after a friend took me to a La Leche League meeting and I learned the about the benefits of breast milk. I learned breastfeeding would support my children and help them to become healthy and strong. There was also the added benefit that my breastmilk was free, compared to the cost of formula.

By the time I had my second child there was no question that I was going to once again breastfeed my baby. I spoke with the hospital and made arrangements to exclusively breastfeed. Ben was born and things were going well until he was five months old. Then, his three-year-old sister broke her femur in a freak accident.

The injury resulted in a three-week stay in the hospital and six weeks in a cast above the waist and down both legs. During this time I was unaware that pumping my breast milk would keep my milk flowing, so we resorted to giving Ben formula.

Interestingly, Ben became the sickest of all three of my children with reoccurring ear infections, even into his teens. When Carol, my third child was born, I made the decision again to breastfeed and continued to do so until she was 10 months old.

I can remember saying to myself, “Will they ever grow up?”

“Yes they do!” My babies are now 35, 33 and 27 years old.

The most important advice I can share with nursing mothers is to enjoy the time breastfeeding lets you spend with your child. I miss those days! Time goes by quickly and one day your children will be all grown.

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Filed Under: Breastfeeding Tagged With: breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Advice, la leche league, Laura Davis

Donor Mom Stephanie Hanson’s Breastfeeding Journey: A Story of Perseverance

June 4, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

Stephanie Hanson
Weatherford, TX

When I had my first baby I was young and didn’t know a lot about breastfeeding. I will admit I just didn’t know what I was doing.

I breastfed my son, Landon, for about two months and stopped. After moving to Texas and having my second child, daughter Kaia, I wanted the breastfeeding experience for both my child and myself, as a mother.

After getting mastitis for the fourth time I stopped breastfeeding at eight and a half months. Luckily I had enough breastmilk saved up to last until Kaia was 11 months old. I was proud I had made it that far.

Throughout my breastfeeding experience I was supported by my family and the amazing lactation consultants at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. These same lactation consultants shared that I could donate my surplus breastmilk to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas.

When I became pregnant with my third child I was determined to breastfeed again. However, the process with my son, Reid, has proved to be a challenge.

Physicians became concerned when baby Reid lost an entire pound after birth. I was advised to switch to formula. I was completely discouraged because I wanted to continue supplying my son with the benefits of breastfeeding I now knew to be true. My lactation friends assured me it was going to be okay. Fortunately I went back in after five days and he gained back about 10 ounces.

Reid is now a strong, healthy 13-week-old and exclusively breastfed, thanks to the assistance of my lactation consultants. I love the bond I have with my son through breastfeeding and I only hope I can continue breastfeeding past his first birthday.

I am very grateful for the consultants at Harris Hospital. Their guidance and willingness to answer questions during the breastfeeding process has been vital to me and my children. I encourage all mothers to seek the advice and support of a lactation consultant when you are learning how to breastfeed or working to overcome breastfeeding struggles.

To date I have donated 2,291 ounces to Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas and I don’t plan on quitting any time soon. I know the impact donating my breastmilk makes to little babies who cannot receive their own mother’s breastmilk. I am thankful I have the opportunity to help.

Breastfeeding Advice from Stephanie:
Do not give up. Breastfeeding can be difficult but the bond built from breastfeeding is so beneficial for both mom and baby. And if you have surplus breastmilk then I encourage donating it to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas. Fragile, precious babies depend on it and you can make a difference in their lives.

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Filed Under: Breastfeeding Support, Donor Moms Tagged With: breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Advice, lactation consultants, stephanie hanson, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth

Don’t Throw Out the Frozen Breastmilk!

May 29, 2013 By admin 1 Comment

How long can you store your breastmilk in a freezer before the milk loses its nutritional benefits? Let’s set the record straight.

The common recommendation is a storing period of 3 months if the breastmilk is in a normal freezer, 6 months if the milk is in a deep freezer. However, these are only ideal circumstances. Under the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) guidelines published in 2011, frozen breastmilk is nutritionally acceptable up to 12 months in a deep freezer. HMBANA suggests 6 months as an optimal time frame for storing and using frozen breastmilk.

The process of freezing breastmilk does result in a decrease of nutritional value, though the loss is not substantial or significant compared to the nutrition that remains.

Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas will accept frozen donor human milk that has been in a freezer up to 8-10 months. Unfortunately at the 12-month mark the Milk Bank will not be able to accept the breastmilk.

Other guidelines from HMBANA include:
Previously frozen breastmilk thawed in refrigerator but not warmed:
-Can be used at room temperature in less than or equal to 4 hours
-Can be stored in refrigerator up to 24 hours

Research is an ongoing process and HMBANA periodically updates guidelines to ensure the safety and care of infants and children. Information found above was acquired in the Third Edition of “Best Practices for Expressing Storing and Handling Human Milk in Hospitals, Homes and Child Care Settings”, published in 2011.

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Filed Under: Breastfeeding, Milk Banking Tagged With: breastfeeding, breastfeeding support, freezing breastmilk, Human Milk Banking Association of North America

NICU Helping Hands Gives Families Support

May 28, 2013 By admin 1 Comment

Editor’s Note: Last Fall our E-Newsletter featured this Q&A with Lisa Grubbs, Founder of NICU Helping Hands. We appreciate the organization’s mission and so we are sharing the article with you here today on our blog.

Looking for a touching story as well? Grab a tissue and click here to read how NICU Helping Hands helps families cope while their child or children are in a hospital NICU.

Q&A with Lisa Grubbs, Founder of NICU Helping Hands Foundation

Why did you found the NICU Helping Hands Foundation?
My husband is a neonatologist and we saw the stress families endure while their baby was in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Babies in a NICU receive great medical care, but we consistently heard parents say, “I wish there was someone I could talk to who has gone through this…. I need to find someone who can help me deal with this hopeless feeling that is in my heart….. I just don’t have anyone to talk to…. I still can’t even hold my baby.” We could see a clear gap in services offered to these special families.

Founded in July 2010, NICU Helping Hands Foundation supports families with a premature infant in a hospital NICU both while they are in the hospital, and when they return home. After nearly a year of program research and fundraising, our flagship program, Project NICU, was launched in Ft. Worth’s Baylor All Saints Medical Center.

How does NICU Helping Hands Foundation help families?
We decided early on that NICU Helping Hands would offer an in-hospital program as well as community programs to all families – parents, siblings and, if needed, extended family – to ensure they are all coping well and receiving constant, judgment-free support and information while their baby is in the NICU and after they are discharged home.

Brent Dore, our Project NICU Program Facilitator, is a full-time, trained employee who works in the hospital directly with mothers who are on bed rest as well as with parents and siblings who have a baby in the NICU. We focus exclusively on the emotional and educational needs of the entire family, while the hospital staff focuses on the medical needs of mothers and babies. It is a best-case scenario during a very difficult time in the life of a family.

Project NICU includes:

Printed materials to support parents as they manage the day-to-day realities of the NICU;

Weekly support groups for parents of NICU babies;

Monthly education sessions for parents and siblings;

On-on-one support through our graduate parent mentoring program;

Daily visits and special monthly programs for mothers on hospital bed rest;

Services for families of premature infants transported from a birth hospital to a program hospital’s NICU;

Bereavement services for families experiencing the loss of a child;

Memory archiving classes for families; and

NICU staff development opportunities.

Want to connect NICU Helping Hands Foundation? Visit them on Facebook.

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Filed Under: Community Partners Tagged With: community partner, NICU Baby

Donor Moms’ Breastmilk Traveled 3,222 Miles Round-trip, from Texas to Florida and Back

May 24, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

Julia

Formerly from Amarillo, TX
Currently living in West Palm Beach, FL
Planning to move back to Texas in Spring 2014

When I was pregnant with our daughter Katherine, I was nervous about becoming a new mom so I took a breastfeeding class. During the class there was an overview on of the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas. Although the information was good, I was nervous about producing enough breastmilk for one baby.

Katherine was 10 lbs. 11 oz. and nursing was difficult and painful at first. But once it was going well, then it was quite apparent that I had way more than I needed. I started storing my excess breastmilk and then looked up information on the Milk Bank again, but didn’t donate quite yet.

When Katherine was seven months old we moved from Amarillo to West Palm Beach, Florida. We moved all of my milk with us. Then, we realized that we had too much for Katherine to drink. I called the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas, conducted the blood tests, became an approved donor and then shipped all of my breastmilk back to Texas.

I sent all 732 ounces in one big shipment.

Donating meant a lot to me and I know babies can benefit from donor human milk. A friend’s child was recently in a hospital NICU, and although I don’t know if my breastmilk was given to my friend’s child, I felt good that this family could get donor milk for their child that needed it.

I’m currently pregnant with second child and I’ve already visited with my OBGYN about becoming a second time donor. I saw that there is a new milk depot in Miami. That is about 1 ½ hours away. I might take my milk down there, or I could just ship it back to Fort Worth. Regardless, I am more than excited to be a donor again.

And, if you are able, then seriously consider donating your excess breastmilk to other people out. You don’t know their stories – maybe they can’t provide for their baby, and the breastmilk is medically necessary.

Julia’s Breastfeeding Tips:

Don’t cheap out on a pump, especially if you work. The nicer ones don’t hurt as much and are more efficient. I had a Medela breast pump.

Ask your employer to have a place to pump and schedule work regular breaks.

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Filed Under: Donor Moms Tagged With: Amarillo, breast pump, Breastfeeding Advice, Breastfeeding Tips, donor moms, Florida, milk bank, Mother's milk Bank of North Texas

Laura Davis Feels Lucky to Work at the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas

May 22, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

How lucky am I to have a job that is part of something that makes a difference in the lives of babies …

In both a sad, yet overcoming chain of events I was presented the opportunity to work with Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas in 2004. I consider my position a dream job.

I have worked with the organization for nine years now. From washing recycled bottles and acquiring donated office furniture and materials, to handling the finances and working with hospitals, my job has reached every crevice of the operation.

My journey to Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas began in 1999 when at age 42 I found myself expecting another child. Emily Anne Irene Davis was born at just 24 1/2 weeks. Dr. Sward arrived in my hospital room the next day and informed me about the problems Emily had. The outlook did not look good at all. Sadly, Emily passed away later that evening.

I would encounter Dr. Sward on several other occasions in the following years. My oldest daughter Allison was a technician in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Cook Children’s Medical Center and often shared a booth with Dr. Sward at the Cook employee craft sale each year. I would tag along to help and Dr. Sward would talk about starting a Milk Bank here in Fort Worth.

Several years later my daughter called and said Dr. Sward was prepared to set up the Milk Bank. She wanted to know if I was interested in coming to work there. I jumped at the chance to do something that was going to make a difference.

I also endured hardship in 1984 when I lost a son at eight months along, and had several miscarriages in other years. Though hard, my experiences enabled me to be a comforting assistance to other bereaved mothers interested in the process of donating milk. I could relate to their pain. They knew I cared about them.

When Amy Vickers was hired in late August 2004, we quickly became the perfect team. The early years of Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas relied on thrifty thinking, community donations and hard work. We learned the milk pasteurizing process and would pasteurize donated milk twice a week and then deliver the milk to hospitals.

Both Amy and I were determined to do whatever it took to make the organization succeed, even if it was occasionally volunteering our husbands to go around and pick up these donations. You can say Amy and I did it all, whatever it took to get the job done.

Now we have a wonderful staff of dedicated workers today that I believe we have passed on the passion for this milk bank to. I miss the days of talking to the donors, but today I get to talk to the hospitals and out patients that order milk.

I have invested my life in this Milk Bank because I am very passionate about what we do, and the difference it makes. I have met wonderful donor moms and recipient babies. Some I will never forget. Amy and I often say we will retire at the same time. As for now we do not see a date for that yet as we plan to make sure we leave this Milk Bank in very capable hands that are as passionate as we are about the work we do are.

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Filed Under: About the Milk Bank Tagged With: Laura Davis, Laura's Stories, milk bank, Milk Bank Employee

Atlanta Donor Mom Grateful to Ship 8,721 oz of Breastmilk to Fort Worth

May 17, 2013 By admin 1 Comment

Katie Stilson
Atlanta, GA

I was lucky enough to have a mom who breastfed my three siblings and me, so I always knew I wanted to nurse my kiddos. However, I didn’t realize how hard it is, and pumped in the beginning so Claire, my now 14-month old daughter, would get the nutrition she needed while we learned how to nurse.

I mentioned to my friend Stacy that I was pumping and she told me that she had pumped as well. She donated her excess breastmilk to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas. She encouraged me to look into donating my extra, if I had any. Soon I realized that I too had more milk than I needed, so I called the Milk Bank, completed the paperwork and blood work, was approved and became a donor.

I continued pumping since I knew I was going back to work and wanted to continue to give Claire breastmilk. At 14 months old, Clarie is still receiving my milk.

The Milk Bank makes donating your breastmilk easy. Every three to four weeks I request new supplies and Simone, the Donor Mom Coordinator, sends me a shipping box, new bottles to replace the ones I’m sending them and a packing label. The afternoon I decide to ship my milk, I’ll stop by the store and pick up dry ice and then call FedEx to pick-up my box before 5 p.m. It is such an easy process.

Pumping doesn’t take too much time out of my day either. I teach 12^th Grade Math, pre-calculus and statistics, and pump at school during my lunch hour. I actually sit in the backseat of my car and pump with a nursing cover over me, using a car adaptor on my pump. (Although there is a building on campus where I could pump, my car is parked close to my classroom and it is easiest to pump there.)

I also coach the swim team and have even pumped in the bathroom locker room during a swim meet.

My husband is supportive and I couldn’t do this without him. He’s now used to seeing a breastpump in the middle of the living room. And, he helps me with the filled boxes, which are too heavy to carry once they are ready to be shipped.

I am grateful for this experience. I feel so fortunate to have a healthy baby and provide milk for her. I can’t imagine having a sick child and not being able to provide milk, especially during such a difficult and stressful time. I am so glad I can do something little like this that helps, and potentially saves lives.

I’m extremely grateful that I’ve been able to donate 8,721 ounces to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas.

I encourage new moms to talk to lactation consultants and get the support and advice they need to succeed. And, if you can donate, then the experience is well worth it.

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Filed Under: Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Support, Donor Moms Tagged With: Atlanta, breastfeeding, donating breastmilk, donor moms, Georgia, milk bank, nursing, pumping breastmilk, working mom

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