How to Know if an Infant Is Sensitive to Milk

How to Encourage a Breastfed Baby to Accept the Bottle

If you breastfeed your baby, you may want her to take a bottle occasionally. If your baby is older, she may be resistant to doing so. Once a baby has become accomstomed to nursing, it may be difficult to get to to feed from a bottle when she is at the babysitter or if your partner would like to feed her. If your breastfed baby is refusing the bottle, try the tips here to encourage her.

Instructions

1

Try giving your baby the bottle when she has an empty stomach. She may be more receptive to eating from the bottle when she is hungry.

2

Try giving your baby the bottle when his tummy is full. If your baby rejects the bottle on an empty stomach, it may be because he is too frustrated to try something new when he hungry. Give him the bottle between feedings. He may be in the mood for a snack and since he is not really hungry, he may be willing to give the bottle a try.

3

Play with your baby before you offer the bottle. Give him the bottle before you try to feed him. If he has a chance to play with the bottle and get used to it, he may be more likely accept it as a food source. If you allow him to play with the bottle, he may even put it in his mouth himself (like he does with everything else).

4

Let someone else give your baby the bottle. She will be more likely to accept the bottle from her dad or grandma. Make sure that you are out of the room and out of sight. If her typical source of food is out of the picture, she may be more likely to take the bottle. Be sure to stay away until your baby is used to the bottle. Even hearing the sound of your voice may cause her to reject the bottle in the hopes of nursing.

5

Fill the bottle with your baby's favorite liquid. Some babies will be more likely to accept the bottle if it is filled with breast milk. But for others, the breast milk only serves to remind the baby that she wants her mommy and wants to nurse. If your baby refuses a bottle of breast milk, try formula or diluted fruit juice.

6

Know when to call it quits. Do not let the bottle become a battle. You and your baby will just become frustated and upset. If your baby rejects the bottle, take it away and try later. Keep trying and keep your cool. Being persistant and calm will probably be all it takes to get your baby to eventually accept the bottle.

How to Wean Your Baby off the Breast

Weaning can be a difficult time for both mother and baby, but doing it gradually with lots of love can ease the transition.

Instructions

1

Proceed slowly. Your baby may find abrupt weaning traumatic, and it can lead to uncomfortable engorgement and mastitis in your breasts. Mastitis is an infection that can cause fever and flulike symptoms, as well as pain, hardness, redness, or heat in your breast - usually just one breast, not both.

2

Eliminate one daily feeding session at a time over a period of weeks or even months, starting with the nursing session that seems the least important to your baby emotionally.

3

Offer your baby a substitute for the breast. If she is less than 1 year old, you may need to substitute formula in a bottle to make sure she gets the nutrition she needs. If she is past her first birthday, eating a variety of foods and drinking from a cup, you may be able to offer her food or distract her with a fun game or activity.

4

Give extra affection. Weaning can make babies feel vulnerable for a while, and your baby may need added reassurance that you still love her.

5

Keep your baby occupied by going to the park, taking a walk or playing in the garden.

6

If your baby clearly wants to nurse, and if your attempts to distract her with other snacks or activities aren't working, it's OK to nurse. This way, you can avoid a battle of wills.

7

Continue to nurse for comfort if necessary. Often, a more or less weaned baby will want to nurse after a fright or a fall. This is OK. It will take her a while to get used to the other forms of comfort you offer.

8

Contact your doctor, a lactation professional or your local La Leche League if you experience pain or engorgement while waiting for your milk to dry up. They can offer some solutions for a safe and pain-free transition.

9

If you wean your baby from breast to bottle, avoid putting her to bed with a bottle. It poses a choking hazard and promotes tooth decay. If she gets thirsty at night, keep a spillproof cup of water nearby and offer it to her when she wakes.

Uses for Fenugreek Tea

Fenugreek is a plant used for various nutritional and health benefits. It is found most often in southern Europe, where it is used as a spice. However, the extract from the leaves, as well as the seeds, can also be used to make a tea. The tea is made by mixing 500 milligrams of the fenugreek seed with five ounces of water. Allow it to sit for three hours, and then strain out the seeds.

Breastfeeding Benefits

Fenugreek tea can be used to aid in milk production during the process of breastfeeding. This is because the seeds contain hormones that increase the milk supply in the body, according to Breastfeeding.com. According to the site, this can occur with 24 to 72 hours after drinking the tea. However, it should be noted that the tea has a harsh taste and is tough on the stomach.

Blood Sugar/Cholesterol Control

Fenugreek tea can also be ingested to help control blood sugar. According to Beth Israel Medical Center, use of fenugreek reduces blood sugar. This can directly benefit people with Type 2 diabetes. It also helps to reduce cholesterol, benefiting those who struggle with high cholesterol.

Easing Constipation

Because fenugreek is high in fiber, ingesting the tea may help to ease constipation. In fact, in capsule form, it can also be used as a mild laxative. Conversely, while it is safe, ingesting too much fenugreek can result in stomach upset. When taking it for health benefits, Beth Israel Medical Center recommends taking no more than 30 grams of this herb three times daily.

Warning

According to Beth Israel Medical Center, fenugreek has been shown to cause contractions of the uterus in guinea pigs. Therefore, the facility recommends that pregnant women avoid ingesting more than five grams of fenugreek, including fenugreek in tea form. In fact, it is generally recommended that pregnant women use this herb only as a spice and not in any medicinal manner at all.

WIC In Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Women, Infants, Children, or WIC, program provides nutritional services to breastfeeding and expectant mothers and to children up to the age of 5. Single fathers are also eligible to receive services for dependent children who meet the age requirements. To receive Pennsylvania WIC benefits, applicants must meet household income requirements and be a resident of the state; however, citizenship is not a requirement.

WIC Foods

The WIC program distributes vouchers that you redeem for specific foods. Examples of food items available through the program include milk, eggs, cereal, bread, peanut butter, juice and cheese. Vouchers are also available for fresh fruits and vegetables that you can purchase through your regular grocer, or at some local farmer's markets. Infants on the program may receive infant formula, baby cereal, jarred baby food, bananas and juice.

Breastfeeding Support

Pennsylvania encourages new mothers to breastfeed. Pregnant mothers receive food vouchers, and when the mother chooses to breastfeed postpartum, she continues to receive food assistance, with additional foods that support the enhanced dietary needs for creating healthy breast milk. The Pennsylvania WIC program distributes breast pumps to mothers who return to work or school and have lactation consultants that counsel and assist mothers who have difficulty breastfeeding.

Health Screenings

WIC participants receive basic health screenings that evaluate nutritional risks. Weight, height and iron levels are monitored periodically to assess growth patterns and anemic deficiencies. In addition, a WIC counselor reviews recipients' health and immunization records and provides referrals to outside agencies when necessary. In general, outside referrals are made to agencies that offer services for free or reduced cost to income-eligible Pennsylvania residents.

How to Apply

At the time of publication, the income requirement for WIC assistance ranges between $20,036 and $68,469 annually, depending on the size of the applicant's household. If you receive other Pennsylvania assistance, such as food stamps, Medicaid or TANF, you already meet income requirements. To apply for the program, call your local WIC clinic to schedule a certification appointment. When you attend the appointment, remember to bring documents to prove your income, residency and identity. You must also bring immunization records and birth certificates for any children who may receive WIC foods.

How to Breastfeed Twins

Breastfeeding is the best start mothers can give their children. Having twins can make the start a little rough if you don't know how to do it. Although it can be difficult and demanding, breastfeeding twins is possible if you follow these steps.

Instructions

1

Decide which position you want to breastfeed in. There is the football hold, the cradle hold and the position in which one is in each hold. Refer to the book "Double Duty", written by Christina Baglivi Tinglof for descriptions and pictures of the positions.

2

Breastfeed your twins together about 80 percent of the time and then individually the remaining 20 percent of the time to assure they get individual attention.

3

Switch the sides that the babies breastfeed on to ensure they do not develop a favorite side and to prevent mismatched breasts. Babies are not going to eat exactly the same amount and therefore they need to switch to even out the supply.

4

Encourage a simultaneous schedule for the twins. If one baby wakes to eat then wake the other one and feed him too. If they eat at the same time every time this frees you up to do other things with them.

5

Check to make sure that each twin is having six to eight wet diapers a day and several bowel movements. This assures that they are getting enough breast milk.

6

Keep the number to La Leche League, a resource for happy mothers and breastfed babies, close by for any problems or advice you may need regarding breastfeeding. They're a great resource and they are free!

How to Wean the Baby From Using the Breast to Sleep

Nursing your baby to sleep will eventually become a problem. As she gets older, you will find that she will become dependent on this behavior and will not go to sleep without being breastfed. If you want to stop your baby from sucking for comfort and make breastfeeding sessions exclusively about nourishment, you must wean her to stop this habit. Gradually wean her for a more positive outcome for you and your baby. Weaning is all part of the natural breastfeeding experience.

Instructions

1

Breastfeed your baby a little before his scheduled nap time or bedtime so you can put him down for a nap or bedtime while he's slightly awake. This will help him get used to falling asleep without having to nurse.

2

Eliminate one feeding for several days if she's waking up throughout the night wanting to feed to go back to sleep. Decrease the number of feedings throughout the night as the days progress until she's not waking up to feed at all.

3

Encourage your spouse have an active role in this weaning process. Get Dad to try to put the baby back to sleep if he wakes during the night.

4

Give the baby a sippy cup with water to drink if she insists on drinking something before she goes to sleep. According to BabyZone.com, it is safe to introduce your baby to water as early as age 3 or 4 months with moderation. Eventually she will expect this cup and will cut back on the need to breastfeed to sleep.

5

Move the baby to his own bed if he is sleeping with you, which should also decrease the need to breastfeed during the night.