B..B..b..b.. What begins with B? Barber, baby, bubbles and a bumblebee! ~ Dr. Suess

B..B..b..b.. What begins with B? Beth breastfeeds baby Bob in bed B..b..B! ~ Melodie

The following post was inspired by Adventures in [Crunchy] Parenthood’s ABC’s of the blogosphere. Only I realized most of the breastfeeding words out there start with “B” so I decided to stick to just the one letter.

B is for Breastfeed – “feed a baby at the mother’s breast rather than from a bottle; nurse; suckle” (from Gage Canadian Dictionary)

B is for…

Babies – Young, tiny humans for whom breast milk is intended to help them develop, thrive and grow.

Baby-Led Weaning – There will come  a time at some age that your child will not find nursing so essential to her well being. She may stop asking so often or be distracted sometimes from nursing. You will naturally respond a little less quickly to requests and over time your child will abandon all but a few favorite nursing times, and then dropping those ones slowly until they are weaned – from Mothering Your Nursing Toddler by Norma Jane Bumgarner.

Babywearing – Babywearing is an excellent way to develop attachment between baby and its caregiver. Moreover, it makes for modest breastfeeding in public and is a great way to breastfeed when your hands are busy.

Bacterial Infection – Sometimes a squirt of breast milk is all it takes to treat minor bacterial infections, like an ear infection, blocked tear duct, or diaper rash. Other infections require more vigorous treatment. Err on the side of caution if you’re not sure and discuss with a health care professional.

Bags, Milk Storage - Thick, plastic, self-sealing bags, often pre-sterilized and designed specifically for freezing human milk. Other storage containers made be made of glass, plastic or stainless steel. Glass offers the most protection.

Balance - One of the hardest things about motherhood is achieving balance. As we try to juggle our kids, a relationship, a job and a personal life usually the three latter ones get left by the wayside while we struggle with just trying to care for our children. It’s hard enough to find time in the day to shower or prepare a meal when we are having to tend to the many cries, diaper changes, allotment for play and the feeding needs of an infant. Being kind to ourselves and having a good support system can go a long way to obtaining the balance we need.

Bank, Milk – Donor milk banks are services established for the purpose of collecting, screening, processing and distributing donated human milk to meet the specific medical needs of individuals for whom it is prescribed. All member banks operate under the guidelines of The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).

Bath – Bathtime can be a wonderful time to relax, bond with and breastfeed your baby. Often prescribed to moms whose babies are having trouble latching or are on a nursing strike.

Bed Sharing – A good way to connect with and be there for our breastfeeding wee ones throughout the night, builds trust between mom and baby fostering healthy attachment, keeps mom’s milk supply levels up and helps protect our babies from SIDS. To read more about this go here.

Birth Bonding - The manner in which a baby is born can affect his or her interest or ability to breastfeed. Natural birth is the best method for ensuring a healthy, alert, breastfeeding-interested baby. Birth bonding is the act of laying baby on mom’s chest immediately after birth and breastfeeding when baby is ready, which is usually within the hour but can vary from baby to baby if self-attachment is practiced.

Bisphenol A (BPA) –  BPA is used primarily to make plastics like baby bottles. It contains endocrine disrupting properties that have been linked to hormone dysfunction in rats and is suspected to harm to individuals. Although BPA has been banned from containers used for children under 3 (like baby bottles) in many places over the past year, it is still used in other plastics. Recently, levels of BPA have been found in jars of baby food, most likely coming from liners on the metal lids. BPA is another good reason to breastfeed from the source, or to use glass or other BPA-free bottles.

Biting - Often a concern for many women who are contemplating breastfeeding who assume that biting will occur once the baby gets teeth. Biting can occur when babies are teething, but some babies never bite. Nursing does not involve using one’s teeth. There are many ways to discourage biting that do not involve weaning.

Blebs (Milk Blisters) – White spots on the nipple that may be caused by a plugged milk duct, thrush, skin blocking the milk ducts, or trauma to the nipple.

Blogs – There are a few of us bloggers who like to talk about breastfeeding. Here are some of them (that start with a ‘B’): Blacktating, Bee in Your Bonnet, Breastfeeding 1-2-3, Breastfeeding Mums

Bonding – One of the best benefits of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding moms prone to or suffering from post-partum depression are encouraged to breastfeed as the hormones released during this time are natural endorphins that can help moms feel more bonded to their child.

Bottles – Images of bottles are something a lot of us breastfeeding moms are against. Despite the fact that some breast pumping moms use bottles to feed their babies their breast milk, the bottle is generally a symbol of a formula feeding culture we’d like to change.

Bowel movements (BMs) - The BMs of a breastfed baby are totally different from those of a formula fed baby. For one, they smell better. As well, they are a great indicator of how breastfeeding is going and if your baby is getting the proper balance of foremilk and hindmilk. The colour, consistency and regularity of your baby’s BMs will help you figure it out. You can use this chart to track your infant’s pees and poops, compliments of Tiny Playground. A helpful tool in the early days for an uncertain new mom.

Bras, Nursing – A good nursing bra is an essential part of your wardrobe as a breastfeeding mother. For a list of my reader’s personal favorites go here. If you are large busted be sure to check out the comments section for some more great recommendations.

Breast Milk - The best first food for babies. Breast milk changes over the breastfeeding period to meet your child’s specific health needs. For example, the breast milk produced for infants is different from that for a toddler, and the milk produced when you or your child is sick is different from that when you are well. Breast milk can also be used as a substitute for regular milk in cooking or baking. To read a recipe for breast milk cupcakes, go here.

Breast Pump – a device used to pump breast milk for families who want to or need to bottle feed breast milk. See my post here and check out the comments section for some advice on the good and not-so-good ones out there.

Burping – If your baby becomes fussy later in a feeding she or he might need to burp. If your baby is a “gulper” she or he is likely taking in a lot of air as well as milk. Burping will help your baby feel better.

I’ve probably missed a few good Breastfeeding B’s. If you can think of one please feel free to include it in the comments section. Thanks!

Related posts:

1. Monday Musings: Is It Okay To Advertise Baby Bottles To Pumping Moms?
2. Breastfeeding Nature’s Way
3. Monday Musings: How Hospitals Contribute to Lower Breastfeeding Rates
4. Nurse the Earth
5. Monday Musings: How Strict Are You About What You Put In Your Body When Breastfeeding?

Tags: babywearing, bed-sharing, biting, breast milk, breast pump, milk banks, nursing bras