Breathing is regulated by the autonomic nervous system and is subconscious.  Breathing and our breath are things that we mostly take for granted.  So, why am I writing a blog post about breath?  

Recently I was attending a birth (as a Birth Doula) and I realized how much I focus on helping mothers to breathe during labor.  The following day I was working with a mom as a Lactation Consultant and again I found myself focusing on her breath.  That led me to think about how much I use breath/breathing slowly as a parent and in my day-to-day life to keep myself calm and focused.  I felt the topic deserved to be explored.

During labor....

• Mothers who control their breathing tend to be calmer and able to keep their body more relaxed.  
  
• By breathing slowly and steadily the mother is helping to deliver a steady flow of oxygen to baby through the placenta.
• Deep breathing with vocalization can help to manage discomfort and pain during the final stages of labor.
• If baby's heart rate was to drop it can raise right back up if mama does some good steady breathing. 
  
• Breathing that resembles panting can help a mother who feels the urge to push but is not completely dilated and is asked to wait.
  
• Slow focused breathing during the pushing stage can ease a baby out and help to avoid tearing of the perineum.  
  
• Some mamas will almost "breathe the baby out" by barely pushing and just allowing baby to ease out with mama's breath.
  
• Mother and partner breathing in unison can create a calm atmosphere in the birth space and help both to focus.
  

Once baby is born.....

• Baby's first breaths are what parents are waiting to hear.  They let us know that our baby is ok.
  
• Once the umbilical cord is cut the baby is now required to breathe on its own for the first time.
  
• Slow steady breathing can help mama deal with the discomfort of the first postpartum contractions of the uterus.
  
• If any repairs to the perineum are necessary, your partner or Doula can help you control your discomfort by talking to you about breathing out and breathing slowly.
  
• Making sure we control our breath while breastfeeding can help us to relax while mama and baby learn to latch.
  

While breastfeeding....

• There may be times when breastfeeding is uncomfortable.  Breathing slowly can help us to deal with that discomfort.
  
• When I work with new mothers as an IBCLC I often talk to them about their breath as I gently press down on their shoulder to show them that they need to relax.
• As we go on to nurse our babies into toddlerhood, we often struggle with discomfort during ovulation and our menstrual cycle.  Taking the time to breathe calmly can help us to not snap at our innocently nursing toddler even when the feeling is grating on our last nerve.
  

As Parents....

• Over the years I have found myself in some pretty frustrating situations...understatement....and breathing has helped guide me through.  
  
• When a toddler throws a tantrum in a restaurant....just breathe, smile and then pick them up and remove them from the situation.
  
• When a school-aged child talks back....breathe then respond calmly.
  
• Oh and when a high school-aged child openly defies you....breathe and then let them know what the consequences to their actions are.  
  
• As you watch your first-born child depart for college....just breathe.  They will be fine.

Breathing and Breath are so incredibly important!!  Start paying attention and using it to help you deal with all that life throws at you. 

What is the role of your Doula in supporting your breastfeeding relationship?  

I was reading a Facebook post recently about a mother's first birth/breastfeeding experience.  She made a comment similar to, "I did everything right.  I hired a doula, had a natural unmedicated birth, etc. and still had breastfeeding issues."  I thought to myself...what do mothers expect from their doulas in regards to breastfeeding support? 

Doulas are Childbirth Professionals which doesn't actually mean that they are Breastfeeding Professionals.  In San Antonio I am currently the only Doula that is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).  Many of my fellow Doulas have made the effort to obtain additional breastfeeding education which is something I applaud them for and support them in doing.  I love being a resource for my fellow Doulas who come to me asking which programs I recommend or ask for guidance on their road to becoming more breastfeeding proficient.  

Two weekends ago my business partner Ginger and I taught a class to a group of newly trained Doulas on Breastfeeding.  We loved working with these new Doulas and we loved putting together the class.  Here is some of what we shared with those Doulas regarding the Role of the Doula in regards to Breastfeeding:

At your prenatal visits your Doula should...

• Discuss breastfeeding basics, skin-to-skin and how your birth can affect your breastfeeding relationship.
  
• Provide you with resources for local breastfeeding classes and support groups.
  
• Suggest breastfeeding books, dvds, etc. that would be helpful to you.
  
• Discuss your plans to go back to work and how that will affect breastfeeding.
  

At your birth your Doula should....

• Assist you with latching your baby.
  
• Make you comfortable and take care of any needs that you have while you are nursing.
  
• Ask the medical staff for assistance if you need it and she is unable to provide it.
  

At your postpartum visits your Doula should....

• Make sure that breastfeeding is going well.
  
• Make sure that you are taking care of yourself so that you can take good care of your baby.  Hydration, nutrition and rest are important to successful breastfeeding.
  
• Provide resources for lactation professionals if you need additional support outside of her knowledge.
  

What your Doula should NOT do....

• Provide assistance out of their Scope of Practice.  For example,  a Doula should not be doing an oral assessment on a baby unless she is a trained lactation professional and is working under that scope.
  
• Your Doula should not be in the way during your initial breastfeeding and should make sure that your partner is able to see what baby is doing so that they can assist you when no one else is around.  
  
• Your Doula should not be holding your baby for long periods of time.  Your baby needs to bond with you and your Partner.  Your baby should be learning your scents and tastes not anyone else's.  The Doula should never be center stage at a birth especially during early bonding.
  

Make sure that your Doula is covering the topics that we suggested and that they are not working outside of their Scope of Practice.  Working with babies is a delicate thing.  A newborn baby can start to go downhill pretty quickly if they are having issues with milk transfer or if you are having issues with your milk supply.  You should always consult with your Health Care Provider as well as with an IBCLC when you are experiencing breastfeeding difficulties.

On October 8th, 2014, The MILC Group was so honored to be a sponsor of a special mothers-only day at French & Michigan Gallery.  The exhibition we were there to enjoy....Supply and Demand by Sarah Sudhoff.  

From the French & Michigan website, "Turning to the politics of breastfeeding, Sudhoff pulls from her inability to produce enough milk for her then-young son as inspiration for documented performances, milk typologies, self-portraits, and sculpture.  The milk serves as subject and metaphor for feelings of loss and failure experienced by so many mothers, while highlighting the way in which breastfeeding is highly medicalized and undeniably personal in contemporary American culture."

Thank you to all the mothers who came out with and without their babies.  We would also like to thank Celeste Wackenhut who has so beautifully curated this exhibit and brought us into the project and Elizabeth Pearson who is the most amazing chef we know and provided the delicious treats we enjoyed that morning.  Most of all thank you to Sarah Sudhoff for this beautiful work!

Exhibit Information:

Supply and Demand by Sarah Sudhoff
French & Michigan
115 Michigan Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78201
210.378.0961

We have all seen or heard lots of great reasons to breastfeed our children.  The MILC Group wanted to provide five more reasons that are a little less "traditional."  These are brought to you by Tina whose son just started college in Olympia, Washington.

1. When you choose to breastfeed your child you will feel rest assured that you provided them with a hearty immune system as they embark on their college journey far away from home.
2. A breastfed child (particularly one breastfed beyond a year) may be very independent since they had all their early attachment needs met.  Thus you will know that you provided the roots for them to grow and the wings for them to fly....possibly thousands of miles from home.  
3. If your child chooses to attend a hippie liberal arts college (as Tina's has done) they will immediately have so much street cred.  Being able to share that they were breastfed into toddlerhood holds a lot of weight with hippie kids.  If your kid was also homebirthed, co-slept, etc. then they are in!  Tina's son is able to say that his Mama is a La Leche League Leader, IBCLC and Birth Doula...he's Golden!
4. Raising a child in a breastfeeding friendly environment can aid in developing a very kind, generous and loving human being.  Being able to send one of those out into the world is a pretty good thing!  
5. Breastfeeding could possible aid in intelligence.  For years we have heard that breastfed children score higher on IQ tests.  Whether or not you choose to believe that tidbit we are here to say that we have seen this in our own children.  Tina's son proudly received a National Hispanic Merit Scholar Award and was ranked 35th out of 500 kids in his class.  He had his pick of colleges and was awarded multiple scholarships and awards helping him to attend the college of his choice.  
   

We are sure you didn't need more reasons to breastfeed but we wanted to let you know that all the effort you mamas are putting in today WILL pay off in the future!  

Starting childcare and going back to work may be an emotionally challenging time for parents and baby. Here are some tips that can help families and caregivers make this transition:

1.    Parents might consider spending time at the childcare center before they return to work or school in order to let their baby get comfortable with their new surroundings. 

2.    Parents may also consider returning to work on a graduated schedule, or working shorter weeks at first.

3.    Parents might leave something that smells like mother; for example, some parents may leave a T-shirt mom may have slept in.
                                                                                                                                         
4.    Baby may cluster feed in the evening or wake more often to feed at night; during the first few weeks in childcare, it is normal for breastfed babies to choose to not feed during the day while in childcare.

5.    Getting a daily update on baby’s activities to include diapers and feeding can make parents feel more connected with their child’s day.

6.    Parents may find that wearing or holding their babies often in the evening helps reestablish the emotional connection.

7.    Mothers may plan to breastfeed at the childcare facility when dropping off and picking up to ease the transition.