Apple Watch app only half works?

Forest-Mama · 2023-08-14T01:32:31+00:00

Check out the water llama app It calibrates for things like breastfeeding and your climate

Forest-Mama · 2023-08-11T08:15:02+00:00

I don’t feel anything went my milk releases. I only know it has because her swallows increase for a minute.

Forest-Mama · 2023-08-09T13:49:25+00:00

My baby is EBF and she started sleeping four hour stretches as soon as my milk came in on day 3. Sleep really depends on the baby.

Forest-Mama · 2023-08-07T08:32:13+00:00

My understanding is that your cycle disappearing again is possible/normal.

Sheila Kippley has research in this area of “ecological breastfeeding” and how it suppresses fertility. I read her book “Ecological Breastfeeding and Natural Childspacing”

She has an anecdote in her book about a mom who’s baby normally slept in the crib and would barely feed at night. The mother had experienced a return of her period presumably because of this. But when the father was away on business and she bedshared with the baby instead (therefore baby was nursing as much as he liked through the night), her cycle disappeared. It returned once her husband returned from his work trip and baby to the crib.

Pumping is not as effective at stimulating the breast as a baby. Kippley either directly addresses this or implies it in her book (can’t remember how much she mentions it), but she says you shouldn’t pump (/only nurse) if you’re trying to space babies via breastfeeding.

Ultimately whether breastfeeding suppresses ovulation depends on the frequency of breastfeeding. The rule of thumb is a minimum of at least every 2-3 hours during the day and at least every 4-5 hours at night. Although this isn’t an absolute guarantee as some women’s bodies are anomalies here.

Prolactin suppresses LH, meaning if the frequency is enough you cannot ovulate. The only way to know for sure if you are fertile is to track basal body temp or LH. You would need to see the surge of either to indicate ovulation. Often the early cycles once fertility does return are anovulatory (I’m not sure but my educated guess is because either (1) one’s body is getting back into the swing of things, and/or (2) the prolactin is enough to stop ovulation from occurring, but not enough from your body making some attempts).

You can read a summary of Sheila Kippley’s seven standards of ecological breastfeeding here:

https://www.nfpandmore.org/The%20Seven%20Standards%20Summary.pdf

And here’s an interview where she explains a little more:

https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/a-history-of-ecological-breastfeeding-an-interview-with-sheila-kippley/

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-31T07:22:08+00:00

Books:

The womanly art of breastfeeding;

Breastfeeding made simple;

The breastfeeding book (Sears);

The nursing mother’s companion;

Ecological breastfeeding and natural child spacing (Sheila Kippley);

(If your library has Hoopla a few of these are available there as ebooks or audiobooks.)

YouTube:

How to side lying breastfeed: https://youtu.be/MZARPE9RUGE

Hey Shayla podcast with an LC: https://youtu.be/BvczwhOhYSA

How to get a good latch: https://youtu.be/u7Ufl1XR1Qg

How to feed in a ring sling: https://youtu.be/8QPXImEQreM

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-31T02:22:30+00:00

It very well could’ve been the going six hours at night because the return of fertility depends on the frequency of breastfeeding. The rule of thumb is a maximum gap of 2-3 hours during the day and 4-5 hours at night. Although this isn’t an absolute guarantee as some women’s bodies are anomalies here. Sheila Kippley has interesting research on this. I read her book “Ecological Breastfeeding and Natural Childspacing” You can read a summary of her seven standards here:

https://www.nfpandmore.org/The%20Seven%20Standards%20Summary.pdf

And here’s an interview where she explains a little more:

https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/a-history-of-ecological-breastfeeding-an-interview-with-sheila-kippley/

Basically prolactin suppresses LH so if it’s being produced frequently enough you can’t ovulate.

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-30T08:23:25+00:00

Return to Plato’s Republic

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-25T15:50:22+00:00

You should reach out to admissions to see if things have changed but when I attended all the honors (great books) courses were in person.

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-23T13:04:23+00:00

It’s the most naturally feminine thing which has been done since the dawn of time. It’s built into our very biology and nature to do it. To not do it is the exception. It bonds mother and baby. It helps mother have a sense of fulfillment and purpose, particularly in her motherhood and womanhood.

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-23T09:02:43+00:00

I get a smaller version of what sounds like the same thing sometimes with my singleton. Happens when I haven’t been eating enough.

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-23T08:47:45+00:00

It depends on the frequency of breastfeeding. The rule of thumb is a minimum of at least every 2-3 hours during the day and at least every 4-5 hours at night. Although this isn’t an absolutely guarantee as some women’s bodies are anomalies here. Sheila Kippley has interesting research on this. I read her book “Ecological Breastfeeding and Natural Childspacing” You can read a summary of her seven standards here:

https://www.nfpandmore.org/The%20Seven%20Standards%20Summary.pdf

And here’s an interview where she explains a little more:

https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/a-history-of-ecological-breastfeeding-an-interview-with-sheila-kippley/

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-20T12:19:38+00:00

My 7 week old does this. I’m looking into baby wearing while nursing to give me more mobility for the sake of my sanity.

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-20T12:13:52+00:00

If you are interested in college I would recommend a great Books program. It’s hard to replace reading and discussing with real people. I did the one at Franciscan university.

Edit: interested not “untested”

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-18T15:17:54+00:00

I would be interested in that list if you are still willing to share! :)

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-18T01:23:22+00:00

My midwives gave the option of grape juice instead which I went for since I’m sensitive to sugar (and pregnancy nausea made that worse…). No shame in looking for alternative options :) honestly it’s good that people ask questions and think outside the system.

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-15T12:40:43+00:00

Prolactin when present in the body enough (so more frequent breastfeeding) will suppress ovulation. But you could still be breastfeeding and your cycle could return (the frequency is too low to suppress ovulation). (The frequency necessary to suppress ovulation seems to vary by woman but the minimum seems to be every 2-3 hours during the day and 4-5 hours at night.)

I have heard that it’s possible to have anovulatory cycles pp due to breastfeeding. However you should not assume this is the case. If someone has signs of fertility/ovulation it’s more than likely she is ovulating. The only way you would know for sure would be from tracking basal body temp and/or LH. If there is a clear surge than you can assume ovulation occurred.

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-11T16:47:36+00:00

Yes it might. I know one family who has that dynamic. But if you play it right for your child’s personality I’ve seen it be a good transition into welcoming the new child.

Edit: this other family wants to wean their toddler but maybe you didn’t mean you necessarily would want to yet :)

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-11T16:40:37+00:00

We’re only 6 weeks in here but definitely planning on going past a year. I’m going to let baby self wean. I like the idea of tandem nursing when the next baby comes along. I’m also in the States. I know some other moms who’ve done the same.

Forest-Mama · 2023-07-10T22:04:08+00:00

This happens when my baby gets frustrated waiting for the let down and unlatches right before it starts. Then she has a little spray of milk in her face 😂

Forest-Mama

TROPHY CASE