Stay hydrated!

With temperatures on the rise in our area, it is important to remember to stay hydrated. You can become dehydrated quicker than you realize. If your urine is yellow in color, increase your fluid intake. But, remember to avoid drinks high in caffeine and alcohol as these types of drinks can contribute to dehydration. Drinks with electrolytes, such as Gatorade, will help keep you hydrated.

Please leave a comment if you have any other questions or join us for the next Breastfeeding Community Gathering on Thursday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to Noon in the Shannon Women’s & Children’s Center family room (3rd floor), 201 E. Beauregard.

Nighttime feedings

During last week’s Community Gathering, we discussed nighttime feedings.

Some babies begin to sleep longer at night sooner than other, while some continue to wake up several times a night. A recent study showed that if your baby is gaining weight appropriately and your milk supply is sufficient, many infants will go back to sleep at least once without feeding if they are comforted, changed and put back to sleep. They will eat a little more during the day to make up for less feeding at night.

However, some babies want to continue feeding at night regardless. You can always try to only feed them during the day. As long as your baby continues to gain weight appropriately and your milk supply does not decrease you might just be able to get more sleep— something all new moms can use.

Don’t despair if your baby does not cooperate with the new nighttime feeding schedule at first. They will eventually decrease their nighttime habits.

Please leave a comment if you have any other questions or join us for the next Breastfeeding Community Gathering on Thursday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to Noon in the Shannon Women’s & Children’s Center family room (3rd floor), 201 E. Beauregard.

Deciding to breastfeed

During last week’s Community Gathering, we had several pregnant moms attend who were still deciding whether or not to breastfeed. We encourage new moms, who may be unfamiliar with breastfeeding or unsure if it is something they want to do, to attend a breastfeeding class so they can be better informed and make an educated decision. Having as much information as possible will help you be better prepared before your baby arrives.

We recommend books and articles written by health professionals and advise caution against information from other sources as it could be inaccurate. Another strategy that might help is getting the opinions of moms who have breastfed. Some moms may have bad stories, but those are few and far between. You can also contact a lactation consultant if you have any questions.

Please leave a comment if you have any other questions or join us for the next Breastfeeding Community Gathering on Thursday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to Noon in the Shannon Women’s & Children’s Center family room (3rd floor), 201 E. Beauregard.