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FREE virtual event Workplace Lactation: Enforcement, Lawsuits, and Remedies
What are Nipple Shields and Do I Need Them?
What are nipple shields and when should a breastfeeding mom use one? Sheila Janakos, MPH, IBCLC and Healthy Horizons CEO gives expert advice on nipple shields and how nursing moms can decide if a nipple shield is the right fit for their breastfeeding circumstances. History of Nipple Shields and Why They are Used Nipple shields have been around for over a hundred years. The first was made of glass, then thick rubber. Fast forward to today, nipple shields are usually made of thin silicone. Th...
Benefits of Baby Sign Language
Benefits of Baby Sign Language Every parent has gone through the confusion of trying to guess what their baby is thinking. Your baby cries when it's hungry and cries when it wants to be held. It becomes the guessing game for a while until you start noticing patterns and behaviors the baby makes when they are hungry, thirsty, hot, and so on! Teaching your baby baby sign language for basic concepts (hungry, water, milk, sleep, more, hot, bath, etc) opens the door to better...
San Jose Mother's Milk Bank
The First Milk Bank In CA: The San Jose Mothers’ Milk Bank is one of the first milk banks in the United States and is the first non-profit milk bank established in California. They set the foundation and standards of processing donated breast milk that other milk banking organizations use. The San Jose Mothers’ Milk Bank is a charter member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) that started in 1985 to support non-profit donor human milk banking. Now the HMBANA has he...
Ask Sheila: Can I Breastfeed After Breast Cancer?
Melissa asks, “I am seven months pregnant and expecting our third child. I was able to breastfeed my other two for over two years without any issues after the initial learning curve for both babies. My concern is five years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy on my right side along with radiation therapy. My unaffected side has changed during this pregnancy, but the side that had the treatments has only changed a little. What are the chances I will able to successfully...
Ask Sheila: Am I Bringing Home Enough Milk From Work?
Erica asks, “My little one is twelve months old and I am barely able to pump any milk when I am away at work. I can be gone for ten hours and I only come home with three ounces of expressed milk. My daycare provider is threatening that she will start giving my baby formula if I cannot provide more milk. She says babies at this age should be consuming eight ounces at a time. This is not possible for me at all. I am so depressed that I am failing at combining working and breastfeeding. I nurse ...
Ask Sheila: Is it Safe to Exercise while Breastfeeding?
Jess asks, “Is it safe to exercise while breastfeeding? My mother insists that it will cause my milk to sour, make the baby sick and hurt my production. My son is three months old and I really want to get back to the gym and shed these extra pounds.” Moderate exercise is excellent for a new mother and has only has positive effects on her health and does not impact breastmilk in a negative way. Aside from burning extra calories and helping with weight loss, mothers who exercise have...
Finding Quality Childcare
Are you or a co-worker getting ready to return from maternity or paternity leave and need to start thinking about childcare? This article can be used as a resource for helping parents successfully make the transition by knowing how to find a high quality day care or caregiver. We cover the fundamental qualities parents should look for when they go day care hunting and what to avoid. Equipped with this information your employees will be able to judge a quality child care provider! Qualificatio...
Ask Sheila: Flying with an Infant
Aimee W. asks, “I have to take a flight with my five month old daughter Marie, who is breastfeeding. How does that work and should I take a bottle?” Marie is the perfect age to travel with on a plane and breastfeeding will make the trip that much easier. She is portable, not yet mobile or wanting to crawl. Most breastfed babies, like Marie, are easily calmed and quieted during the flight if they have access to the breast for feeds and comfort. Some mothers find that bringing an inflatable p...
Benefits of Wearing Your Baby
One important piece of advice that all soon to be parents and new parents should know is that babywearing has numerous positive impacts on baby. Babywearing combines skin-to-skin contact and easy transportation all in one cozy wrap! This gives baby the best experience! But wait, there's more to just wearing your baby. In fact, it is a tradition and custom in many cultures to wear your baby and for a variety reasons. No matter how you wear your baby (wrap, pouch, carrier, sling with rings)...
Breastfeeding Week 2016
Breastfeeding and supporting breastfeeding is a key component to sustainable development. Sustainable development preserves social, environmental, and economic structures by improving well-being of present and future generations. Environment and Climate Change Breastmilk is a natural, renewable food that contributes to a sustainable environment! The 3 top reasons are: 1. The production of breastmilk is delivered to the baby without pollution, packaging, or waste. 2. The prod...
Three Strategies To Address Your Employees’ Concerns About Working and Breastfeeding
We recently spoke to a group of mothers returning to work in a month at our Healthy Horizons Back to Work Class. Many mothers had the same issues and concerns returning to work. We talked to the mothers about what they can do to prepare themselves for their return to the workplace. We also noted what companies can do to assist their employees’ return to work. Here are three ways you can address the top concerns of mothers going back to work 1. Provide easy access to information about your c...
How to Help Transition Moms Back to Work
Your employee is returning to work after her maternity and bonding leave. What can you do to enable a smooth transition for her back into the workplace? Before They Return to Work Before your employee returns to work, send her an email congratulating her on the birth of her baby. Tell her that you are looking forward to having her back to work, send helpful information your company has on it's breastfeeding program, and encourage her to ask questions about her return. It is helpful for ...
Five Ways That Moms Can Use the Mother’s Room to Their Advantage
Working mothers often need to pump milk 2-3 times a day. Considering that a pumping session can take 20 minutes, how can a busy mother take advantage of her time in the mother’s room? 1. Networking Many mothers have made connections with other moms from other areas of their company through Mother’s Rooms. Moms often see the same people in the mother’s rooms every day, so it is natural for them to get to know each other and chat while pumping. They find out more about other divisions, projec...
A Teacher’s Experience Returning to Work & What Schools Can Do
One of our lactation educators recently met with her son’s teacher to discuss high school admissions. The teacher is due with her second baby in two months and her goal is to provide breastmilk for her baby for one year, with as little supplementing as possible. As a working mom she had concerns about returning to work and being successful with breastfeeding. We address her main concerns below and how she and the school can work together to support her in reaching her goal. Planning Ahead wit...
Ask Sheila: My Daycare Provider Thinks My Baby Needs More Milk
Q: Sherry asks, “Why does my four-month-old baby girl Ellie take less milk compared to the babies in her daycare that are getting formula? I just returned back to work and have been pumping my milk and leaving twelve ounces for her to drink during the day. She is growing well and very happy, but the daycare provider is making me feel like I am starving her.” A: First of all Sherry, what a wonderful job you are doing by pumping for your baby while you are at work. Most moms bring home between ...
How to Find The Perfect Nursing Bra Pad
Most mothers may not think about what type of nursing bra pad they need until they start leaking. It could be at the dinner table with friends or when the baby wakes and starts to cry. Suddenly the front of your shirt becomes a see-through blouse, as you try to use your arms to cover up. You could be at work running a little late for a pumping session and discover that the front of your blouse has two prominent wet spots, and you are frantically trying to see if you have anything that you can...
