Breastfeeding and the Holidays

Breastfeeding and the holidays

So it’s that season again when most moms are busy with shopping, decorating, baking and party preparation. You may have office parties to attend, cookie exchanges to bake for and the “to do” list goes on and on.
So does all this preparation and running around have an impact on the breastfeeding mom & baby (dyad)?
The breastfeeding dyad is a symbiotic relationship. What this means is that a breastfeeding mom is hard wired in a way to her baby hormonally. What affects mommy affects baby and vice versa.
So if mom is busy with the holiday duties and breastfeeding becomes an “inconvenience” or another task on the “to do” list breastfeeding does suffer. Instead of breastfeeding in a busy mall during the holiday season mom may just take a bottle of formula to give instead or because family are over and want to “help” by holding the baby and of course feeding the baby again breastfeeding is pushed aside.
Usually how this presents is a mom whose baby is much too young to wean reports difficulties with the baby becoming fussy at the breast during a feed, or she reports her breasts don’t feel as “full” as they used to, baby seems hungry and “likes the bottle better”. The term coined by La Leche League; an international volunteer mother to mother breastfeeding support organization as the “holiday weaning syndrome”. The weeks leading up to the holidays baby is spending less and less time at the breast for feeds, or if mom is pumping sessions become fewer, shorter in length and formula may be used instead. It’s the start of a slippery slope, but one that can be turned around usually with a few days of feeding on cue, pumping when baby would normally feed, and lots of skin to skin contact.
So how can you avoid falling into this scenario? Firstly remember you are your baby’s everything. Remember why you wanted to breastfeed in the first place (emotional closeness, health benefits for mom & baby).
Keep things simple this year, having a potluck dinner is a great way to spread the work instead of having one person cook and bake for a week leading up to the celebration. I can remember when my twins were babies if people wanted to celebrate Christmas with us they needed to come to us and bring the food. We just provided the space. Ask your friends & families if they could pick up some Christmas gifts for you at the mall, especially if they are going anyways, shopping online is a great option as well to avoid the holiday rush & crowds.
So as you prepare for this holiday season, remember to enjoy family & friends and most importantly reconnecting with baby by sitting down and nursing.
For more information on “holiday weaning syndrome” refer to La Leche League’s website http://www.lllc.ca/
Happy Holidays!
Camilla Aviss RN, BHSc(N),CCCE, IBCLC
Multiple Reasons Lactation Support Services
www.multiplereasons.com
Article is property of Camilla Aviss and may only be copied and distributed in its entirety on the condition that it is not used in ANY context that violates the WHO International Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (1981) and subsequent World Health Assembly resolutions.

M.O.M (Moms of Multiples) Breastfeeding drop-ins/meet-ups

Hello Mommies,
I am starting my M.O.M breastfeeding meet-ups starting on Nov 13, 2009 from 10:00-12:00 at Oak Park Moms & Tots in North Oakville.http://www.oakparkmomsandtots.ca/

If you are a M.O.M come on out and meet other M.O.M. If you are expecting multiples and want some information on breastfeeding or anything to do with multiples this is the place to come!

As a M.O.M (twins)I had a group of other "twin moms" who I met up with usually on a weekly basis either for play dates, coffee or dinner. Looking back I don't know what I would have done without these wonderful women in my life. They spoke my language, understood what it was like to have two babies crying at the same time, two toddlers fighting over the potty!

The M.O.M breastfeeding drop-in/meet-up will run the 2nd Friday of every month (with the exception of December, it will run Dec 4, 2009)

Check out meetup.com/Halton-Hamilton-Peel-Breastfeeding-Mommies
if you want to join the group and get information on upcoming dates, topics, etc.

Happy Breastfeeding!
Camilla Aviss RN,BHSc(N),CCCE, IBCLC
Multiple Reasons Lactation Support Services
www.multiplereasons.com