The Benefits of Breastfeeding

Money Can’t Buy You Love – The Benefits of Breastfeeding

With over 25 years’ experience of making maternity and nursing bras that deliver in the comfort factor every time we asked some of our Emma-Jane mums from our group of Testers  what they felt were the benefits of breastfeeding.

Marine, mum of two including a 6 month old, said she loved the feeling of closeness with her baby and the extra special bond that she shared with him.  Marine was happy to fit in around the needs of her baby and liked working to his “rhythms” feeding him when he wanted. 

The mums we spoke to realised that physical contact is not only important to newborns, helping  them feel more secure, warm, and comforted but the mums themselves benefited  from this closeness and quiet time too.   

 Angela , mum of 3 and Karen mum of 2 year old Mia, and 8 year old Hannah were among the mums who said that they enjoyed the freedom of breastfeeding.  They could go out all day, if they wanted without worry.  No need to sterilize bottles, buy, measure and mix formula or think about warming the formula, or even having enough formula .  And there are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night! Breast milk is on tap and always at the right temperature for babies.

Less time spent winding, was a bit of a breastfeeding bonus! For most babies, breast milk is easier to digest than formula.  

The health benefits breast feeding brings were very important to our Emma-Jane mums.   The cells, hormones and antibodies in breast milk protect babies from illness. Our mums felt that breastfeeding was protecting their baby and giving him the best possible start in life. 

And…breastfeeding is also better for the environment. There is less rubbish and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies.

Interestingly no one mentioned the expense of bottles and formula compared to the  cost savings of breastfeeding.  Our mums rated feeling close to their babies followed by the  flexibility that breastfeeding offers over the fact that breastfeeding is free.

Breastfeeding top Tips

In support of UK Breastfeeding Week 2013...

Breastfeeding Top Tips

We interviewed three breastfeeding mums to find out what their top tips are.  We share their top 5 here with you here… 

•       Be prepared for the amount of leakage for the first three months!  Never leave the house without a supply of breast pads.

•        You will need at least two or three maternity bras, preferably cotton for comfort - it’s good to have spares while one is in the wash!

•  Choose bras which have a bit of spare room to accommodate breast pads and changes in breast size between feeds. 

•          Wired bras can cause the milk ducts to become blocked as your milk comes in. You need a bra with soft, giving fabric that also provides support. 

•          A welldesigned maternity bra is the best way to support your breasts comfortably and preserve your shape.

•          Choose specially designed maternity bras with good support, including when one cup is open for feeding, the other should continue to provide comfortable support.   A good maternity bra allows you to feed easily and discreetly.

•        The best time to buy your bras is during the 36th week of pregnancy 

•          When you think you have less milk, let your baby feed more often to stimulate the milk flow

•          Don’t be shy or embarrassed to ask for help,  ask at your clinic, your health visitor or find a support group

•          Follow your heart. Don’t worry about what other people think or their opinions.  Do what is right for your baby

 

Launch of our dainty new 451 nursing bra

It’s been a busy year at Emma-Jane Maternity as we continue to introduce new lines to our award winning product range.  Our latest new arrival is the 451 nursing bra, a smooth bra with dainty spots, available in either black or white.

Priced at £25.00, it's available in sizes UK32-38 B/C D/DD E/F.

As with all Emma-Jane bras, the 451 gives a smooth and comfortable fit.  For extra support each cup is made with two layers of fabric, and is lined with organic pure cotton for added luxury.

Each cup opens individually so when one cup is open the other continues to give support.  The four back eyes allow adjustment as a woman’s body changes shape post pregnancy, and the bra extender 586 can also be used to increase the length of the bra.

Emma-Jane designer Freda Scholey said, “This lovely soft bra is very comforting against the skin, whilst being practical and supportive.  It’s not just our children we want to wrap in cotton wool, sometimes it’s ourselves too, especially in the months after delivery when a women is bonding with her child.  Clothing is an important part of how we feel about ourselves, which is something we really recognise at Emma-Jane when we’re designing and choosing fabrics.”

Easing the return to work when maternity leave ends

Maternity leave has been in the press again recently, with Nick Clegg announcing that father’s are to be able to share leave under new laws to be announced by the Government. 

For any mum returning to work, it can be a daunting experience – there may be guilt from not being with your child every day, worries about how well you’ll do the job again, concerns about how you’re going to juggle it all.

There’s lot of advice out there, but the best comes from other mums who've done it.  We've compiled a few of the best tips, but please do share your experiences with us too.

Start the settling in early
It’s good to get the routine established before your first day back.

Organise back up childcareBabies and children get ill, sometimes quite often; colds, tummy bugs, chicken pox, to name but a few common ailments, so it’s important to have back up in case you can’t leave work.

Look work ready to feel work ready
Make time for a hair-cut, and invest in some new clothes to look and feel the part. One mum said made an appointment at a make-up counter for some quick and easy tips to get her out of the house quickly in the morning.  Another great idea is a session with a personal shopper – Topshop do this, so it doesn't have to cost a fortune to look great.

Get someone else to do the drop-off, but do the collection yourself.
There’s nothing worse than having to leave a child who’s clinging onto your legs crying for you not to leave, and no one is going to find it as upsetting as you are.  Going back to work is hard enough without walking in tear faced and upset.  If you can get the same person to do drop off each day, it will help establish a good routine and ensure you get to the off ready to work.  You get the good bit a pick up when your child flies into your arms shouting mummy at home time!

Allow extra time for your journey home
Better to get to the nursery half an hour early than half an hour late.  Plan for traffic jams, cancelled trains and tube problems.

Don’t feel guilty and focus on the positives
It doesn't make you a bad mother for going out to work.  Focus on the positives – what does going out to work mean for you - more holidays, career satisfaction?

Make the most of your time together
Even if you were at home all day, it’s unlikely that you’d be spending 12 hours of quality time together (cleaning, shopping, laundry, checking Facebook?!).  Make the time you have together count – without beating yourself up if a day out doesn't go as planned, life isn't perfect (bad tempered toddler, rain, queues, illness and so forth!)

Emma-Jane Maternity launches pretty new nursing bra

At Emma-Jane Maternity, we understand that while support and comfort are essential when breastfeeding, women still want to feel feminine.  So we've added to our existing range with the launch of the pretty 429 style. 

The 429 bra is black with delicate white lace flowers over the cups, which are lined with 100% cotton fabric.  It is available in sizes UK 32-38 B-G and retails at £25.00.

Two layers of fabric and straps with restricted stretch provide additional support for larger sizes.

As with all Emma-Jane nursing bras, each cup has a clip that allows for quick and easy access to breastfeeding, and opens up individually, so when one is open, the other continues to give support.  Four rows of back eyes allow the bra to grow as a woman’s shape changes during pregnancy, and it can also be used with bra extenders.

Emma-Jane designer Freda Scholey said, “As we go into the Christmas party season breastfeeding women still want to feel good about what’s under their clothes as well as on top. The 429 style provides practical, sexy femininity.”

Winter warming superfoods, mmm...

If you’re pregnant maybe you’re craving the foods you can’t have; pate, brie, sushi?  It feels as though there’s a new headline each week about what you can and can’t eat, what will cause your baby harm, what’s good for baby’s development, what’s going to improve their IQ...

Whilst there’s lots of confusing information out there, experts widely agree that the top pregnancy foods include eggs (not raw), which are a great source of protein, salmon with its omega 3 fats, beans such as lentils and chickpeas, which are packed full of fibre (great for constipation), sweet potatoes, whole grains, dark leafy vegetables, lean meats, walnuts, popcorn, all those lovely bright and colourful fruits and vegetables and Greek yoghurt – a great source of protein and calcium.

We’re not medical experts, but we’re up for anything that supports the health and development of you and your baby, so here are a few of our favourite ‘superfood’ winter warming recipes:

Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup

• 2 red peppers seeded and cubed
• 500g / 1 ¼ lb of sweet potato, cubed
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 cloves of chopped garlic
• 2 pints of vegetable stock
• Tabasco sauce to taste
• Salt and pepper

Put all the ingredients into a pan (except the Tabasco), bring to the boil then simmer for 30 mins or until the vegetables are soft.  Then simply blitz in a food processor and serve.

From soup by Debra Mayhew

Indian Style Salmon Curry with Tomato & Lime

• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
• 10-15 curry leaves
• 250ml vegetable or fish stock
• 1 teaspoon caster sugar
• Juice of 1 lime
• 900g of skinless salmon fillet
• Freshly ground pepper

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over a low heat and cook the onion, until translucent. Add the coriander, cumin and turmeric and cook for another 2 minutes or until fragrant.

Add the cayenne, tomatoes, curry leaves, 1 teaspoon of salt, then pour in the stock.  Cook, stirring frequently for 10 minutes.  Add the sugar and lime juice and cook for 1-2 minutes.

Cut the salmon into cubes, add to the pan and simmer for 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat and leave to stand for 5 minutes to allow the salmon to finish cooking.

Season and serve the steamed rice.

Feed Me Now! Bill Grainger

Winter Vegetable Chicken

• ¼ cup plain flour
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 teaspoon ground roast cumin seeds
• 2 chicken legs
• 2 chicken thighs
• 1 carrot peeled and chopped into small chunks
• 1 turnip peeled and chopped into small chunks
• 1 parsnip peeled and chopped into small chunks
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 celery stalks washed and chopped
• 1 leek, washed and sliced
• 1 cup of chicken stock
• Roughly chopped parsley

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/Gas 4).  Put the flour and seasonings into a bowl and toss the chicken pieces so that they are well covered.

Put half the vegetables into the base of a casserole and ten top with the chicken (shake off any excess flour).  Add the remaining vegetables and stock, cover the dish with a lid of foil and put in the oven for 1 hour 20 minutes.  Remove and serve sweet with potato mash and your choice of green veg.

Fresh, Marie Claire

Tips for a good night's rest when pregnant

If you’re an expectant mother, you’re probably hoping to stockpile as much sleep as possible before your baby arrives, but this isn’t always what nature seems to have intended.

Our bodies don’t seem to be designed to sleep well in the weeks running up to the arrival of a new baby.  Finding a comfortable position with swollen boobs and big bump is almost impossible and there isn’t a mother out there who doesn’t worry about the health and safe delivery of her child.  These are all very normal emotions; caring and worrying about our children is what us good mothers. 

Many women also experience indigestion, heartburn, leg cramps and the need to constantly visit to the loo.  Luckily, they all disappear as soon as the baby’s born and there are a few practical things you can do to aid a good night’s rest in the run up to your delivery:

·         Drink as little as possible in the hour before bedtime

·         If you’re feeling sick at night, eat a high carbohydrate snack such as a rice cracker.  Nausea always feels worse on an empty stomach.

·         If you suffer from indigestion or heartburn, eat meals at least four hours before bedtime and avoid citrus foods, fried food, spices and chocolate because these can irritate the oesophagus. The one pill you can take when pregnant is an antacid!

·         If you suffer from leg cramps, gently flex your foot or massage your leg.  Another trick is to place a hot water bottle on the cramped area or to walk around.

·         Purchase some good underwear to support your breasts when asleep.  The same goes for nightwear, look for soft, button and clip free bras, nightdresses and pyjamas.

·         A warm bath, some fresh air or gentle exercise during the day can also aid a good night’s rest, especially if you’ve been lying awake for hours in the night.

·         Antenatal classes are a good way to meet other parents to be.  Talking to other mothers you’ll find you’re not the only one with worries and anxieties.

Perhaps it’s just nature’s way of easing us gently into sleepless nights.  Rest assured (excuse the pun), all babies eventually sleep through the night and before you know it, they’re teenagers you have to drag out of bed.  Sometimes it seems difficult to savour the moments, but time goes by so quickly and before you know it, you’ll be wishing for it to happen all over again.