breastfeeding

breastfeeding is cool, right? | tess

August 13, 2010

Breastfeeding’s Cool, Right? Here in the middle of August, we who dwell in the Northern Hemisphere tend to grow weary of those little annoyances like triple-digit temperatures and stagnant, humid air. Summer may be nice at first, as it presents us with opportunities like late morning wake-ups, afternoons by the pool, and plenty of chances [...]

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world breastfeeding week: what’s so new about that? | tess

August 8, 2010

World Breastfeeding Week: What’s So New About That? It may seem that there isn’t much about breastfeeding that can be newsworthy, since women have been nursing their babies since the dawn of humankind. But earlier this week, as if somehow prompted by the joyous celebrations occurring around the globe to honor World Breastfeeding Week, researchers [...]

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what a mom wants, what a mom needs | tess

July 23, 2010

There’s probably not a mom out there who doesn’t want the best for her kids. It seems to just come with the territory of motherhood. From her first moment of morning sickness, a mom will typically find room in her heart to put her own needs to the back burner so she can tend to [...]

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it’s day three: where’s my milk? | tess

May 28, 2010

Lactogenesis II is a fancy name for the onset of the mature milk after a baby is born. Usually, this process should occur by the third day postpartum, but sometimes, the milk is delayed, and the only thing that can be expressed is colostrum, making it difficult to satisfy a baby’s needs.  There are few [...]

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breastfeeding can save you thousands of dollars | tess johnson

April 23, 2010

Most new parents are at least mildly concerned about the financial impact that their long awaited newborn will have on the household budget. There certainly are many necessities that go along with having a baby, like baby clothes, diapers, blankets, a car seat, and countless other items.  In addition to these factors, many women may [...]

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tess johnson | feeding cues

April 16, 2010

FEEDING CUES While everyone can agree that babies need to be fed when they are hungry, not everyone is as clear about just how babies communicate their hunger to their caregivers. Breastfeeding mothers often hear people say things like, “Never wake a sleeping baby. He’ll cry when he’s hungry.” But often, when moms wait until [...]

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moms aren’t to blame when breastfeeding fails | tess johnson

April 8, 2010

Moms aren’t to blame when breastfeeding fails When a new study about breastfeeding’s benefits was published in the journal Pediatrics earlier this week, the presses around the globe and here in Fresno went wild. This study identifies and quantifies the losses that are associated with failure to achieve the recommended breastfeeding rates and duration in [...]

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tess johnson | best ways to get sleep when you have a breastfeeding baby

April 5, 2010

When a beautiful new baby comes into the family, there are tons of reasons to celebrate. Months of waiting have finally come to an end, and the warm little bundle is finally in the arms of his loving family. The first few hours after the birth often feel like a dream of sorts. There is [...]

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tess | boosters and barriers: things that increase and decrease milk supply

March 12, 2010

A mother’s breast milk supply naturally varies from day to day, and even from hour to hour throughout any given day. Milk volume is not a constant. However, most fluctuations in milk supply are not large enough for mother or baby to notice. There may be a few additional feedings requested by the baby for [...]

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tess johnson | weathering the storms of breastfeeding

March 4, 2010

Weathering the storms of Breastfeeding In Fresno, the skies have been dark and gloomy for days, with great downpours of rain filling the streets. Travel was sometimes challenging this past week, as the drainage gutters failed to keep up with the huge volumes of water being sent their direction. Then came Thursday morning, when it [...]

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tess | lactation cookies?

February 25, 2010

are there really cookies that can help increase milk production? Many women who breastfeed worry about the challenge of keeping their milk supply high enough to meet baby’s needs. For most of these mothers, simply increasing the frequency of feedings, or adding some pumping after the feedings, will provide enough added stimulation to build plenty [...]

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why there should be a tour guide in the breast pump aisle

February 19, 2010

Any mother who has tried to navigate through the array of breast pumps at her local baby store would probably agree that it would be nice to have a knowledgeable tour guide available for the adventure. There seem to be as many types of pumps out there as there are flavors of ice cream in [...]

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tess | in search of breastfeeding classes and support in fresno

February 12, 2010

British philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, “The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.”  And in the minds of most women who want the “good life” for their babies, a more accurate statement about breastfeeding will never be found. It is first a powerful love for the precious baby being nurtured within [...]

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tess | the amazing value of postpartum lactation care and support provided in the home

February 5, 2010

Much has been said about the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby throughout the life spectrum. Additionally, it is common knowledge that while most women initially choose to breastfeed, some will not succeed past the first few days.  The question, then, is what can be done to close this gap. If most women [...]

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tess johnson | hhm’s newest contributor

January 31, 2010

Thanks again to Happy Hour Mom’s most recent guest host, Tess Johnson, RN, PHN, IBCLC. An incredible woman, mom of three, and one of the best resources for your lactation needs here in the Central Valley. Check out Tess’s website for more details at http://www.tjlactation.com. Her services include: Home Visits, phone consultations, etc. Eco-friendly breastpump [...]

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adiri | just like a boob

July 15, 2009

My husband and I played babysitter today to our 11-month-old’s little buddy SB. She was so much fun! It is great to see our girls reaching the age where they can play together (we had the same due date and hed the girls exactly two weeks apart) and to see how they are developing. And [...]

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nursing covers for the breastfeeding mom

May 10, 2009

This is a definite mommy must-have! With my first baby I always dreaded the occasional (and traumatic)peepshow that my poor friends and strangers would have to endure when I was out and about during the frequent (my kids are animals!!) feedings. But this time around things are different. Yes, almost as necessary as my cell phone these [...]

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