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How to Lose Weight While Breastfeeding: 7 Actionable Tips

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Are you a new mom? Have you heard that breastfeeding would simply ‘dissolve’ all the extra weight that comes with pregnancy? Does it seem like you’re not losing any weight while breastfeeding? Is the process more difficult than you’d have imagined?

This article is just for you!

Table of contents

a woman standing on a weight checker

Although most women agree that breastfeeding offers many amazing benefits, including weight loss, everything varies from person to person. For some moms, the weight loss is rapid and obvious. For others, it just may take a little longer than imagined.

This post would provide easy and reliable tips on how to lose weight while breastfeeding, as well as guide you on your postpartum weight loss journey as you breastfeed your little one.

Does Breastfeeding Boost Weight Loss?

Yes.

Medical research shows that breastfeeding can improve weight loss after childbirth, however, the amount of weight loss varies for each person. In fact, for some people the weight loss journey may be a little slower than what was anticipated.

The relationship between weight loss and breastfeeding totally depends on the calories burnt while nursing your little one.

A mom breastfeeding a baby

In fact, a combination of these two factors explains why breastfeeding mothers tend to consistently lose baby weight faster than women who don’t:

  • Calorie Loss
  • Regulated Diet

Studies show that mothers who breastfeed exclusively burn an average of 500 additional calories daily. To provide some context, this is equal to:

  • Performing 55 minutes of medium-intensity exercise, e.g. Yoga or Walking
  • Cutting out a large snack (or big burger) from your daily diet
  • Skipping a small meal

In addition, lactation consultants advice moms to increase the consumption of vegetables, lean-proteins, fiber, and fruits while nursing. This highly regulated diet may also contribute to the weight loss most women experience while breastfeeding.

Statistically, breastfeeding women are 6% more likely to return to their pre-pregnancy weight (or even experience a dip) than non-breastfeeding mothers.

Other studies even show that breastfeeding may have beneficial long-term effects on body weight by reducing overall body fat percentages in breastfeeding moms for up to five years after childbirth.

Finally, most researchers agree that the duration and frequency of breastfeeding affects the quantity and rate of weight loss after childbirth.

How Fast Can I Lose Pregnancy Weight While Breastfeeding?

The following factors will affect how fast baby weight can be lost after pregnancy:

  • Diet
  • Body Metabolism
  • Exercise
  • Amount of weight gained during pregnancy

Remember, we mentioned earlier that everything varies from person to person. Depending on how much weight was gained during pregnancy, it may take about six to nine months (or a year in some cases) to lose baby weight.

Interestingly, some women never get to lose all of it.

It is important to note that there is a rapid drop in weight immediately after childbirth. This occurs as a result of:

  • The removal of your baby
  • Expulsion of the placenta
  • Removal of the amniotic fluid

Again, the amount of weight lost varies based on the baby’s weight and the level of fluid retention in pregnancy.

Following this initial (and rapid) weight loss, you’d need to apply certain strategies to lose more of that stubborn baby weight.

To help you through this process, we’ve compiled 7 easy tips on how to lose weight while breastfeeding.

Read on to find out!

How to Lose Weight While Breastfeeding

1. Increase Your Meal Quality

The first step on your postpartum weight loss journey is to increase the quality of your meals. Go for foods that provide the following in the right quantity and best quality:

  • Proteins
  • Fiber
  • Vegetables
  • Healthy Fats (e.g. Coconut oil, Avocado oil, and Olive Oil)
  • Fruits
  • Whole Grain

In addition to increasing the quality of your breast milk supply, these meals would regulate your calorie intake and body-fat production. Interestingly, adding them to your diet also helps to tighten loose skin after pregnancy.

To ensure that you’re getting the best quality from every meal while breastfeeding, we recommend that you avoid any of the following empty-calorie foods:

  • Pasta
  • White bread
  • Junk food
  • Baked food
  • Cookies

Consuming quality food options would improve your energy levels, sleep quality, mood and boost your ability to lose weight while breastfeeding. Furthermore, healthy food options would keep your appetite in check and provide all the energy you need to care for your little one.

2. Lower the Carbs

Reducing the amount of carbohydrates you consume would also boost weight loss while breastfeeding. However, it is important to supplement this reduction with lots of fruits, protein, and veggies.

The goal should be to consume a minimum of 1,800 calories daily. This can be achieved by following a well-designed and efficient diet plan. Finally, always consult your doctor or lactation consultant before starting any new diet after childbirth.

3. Count Your Calories

To maintain your optimal body weight while breastfeeding, and keep up milk production, you need to consume at least 1,800 calories daily. Effective weight loss only occurs by creating a healthy calorie deficit, and this is a delicate process for breastfeeding moms.

A drastic cut in calories can leave you constantly tired and hungry, while a mild cut may not produce the weight loss you’ve imagined. Due to the physical strain of breastfeeding, it is normal to feel hungry or even tired after nursing. However, tracking your calories would prevent overeating and keep you on course for an effective weight loss journey.

If you exercise often, remember to increase your calorie intake whenever you workout.

4. Stay Hydrated

Water is really important for nursing moms.

water in a glass cup

In addition to improving your breast milk supply, it also assists in weight loss. We advise that you drink about 12 cups of water each day.

This would detoxify your body regularly and also flush out any water weight. Also, remember to avoid sugary drinks when trying to lose baby weight, because they contain a lot of empty calories.

For most moms, the best way to stay hydrated while breastfeeding is to have a large water bottle handy at all times (even when nursing your precious one).

5. Exercise Moderately

With your doctor’s approval, you can gradually ease back into certain safe exercise routines. We recommend focusing on postpartum-friendly workouts like yoga or walks with your baby. If you love a classic ‘stroll in the park’ with your baby, use a jogging stroller.

Mom planking in front of a child

You can begin by working out for about 30 minutes daily and about 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly. Also, it is important to feed your baby before working out to avoid breast engorgement.

6. Don’t Skip Meals

Although you’re trying to lose weight, skipping meals is bad for you.

Why?

Skipping meals may reduce your body’s metabolic rate, thereby reducing energy levels and making it difficult to care for your little one.

Also, consuming too little calories may cause your weight loss to peak or even stop. If you’re too busy to eat regularly, consider taking healthy snacks (or fruits) after breastfeeding your baby to replace lost calories.

7. Rest Regularly

We understand that it can be difficult to find quality time to rest when you’ve just had a baby. However, sleep deprivation may increase hunger, cravings, and stress levels.

woman breastfeeding a child

Attempt to get as much sleep as you can. It works.

Sleep can help your body recover faster and even boost weight loss as you breastfeed. You can try to recover lost sleep by planning a few 30-minute naps for yourself while your baby sleeps, especially after a nursing session.

Regular rest is also important as you return to postpartum exercising. This is because your muscles also need to rest and recover after workout sessions.

Why Do Some Moms Not Lose Weight While Breastfeeding?

Sadly, weight loss while breastfeeding is not equally easy for all new moms.

Here are some of the reasons why some women do not lose weight while breastfeeding:

  • Increased Appetite: It is a known fact that breastfeeding tends to increase hunger. Studies show that some women tend to eat more while nursing. When this is not combined with regular exercise as in Tip #5 above, it results in a weight gain rather than weight loss.
  • Sleep Deprivation: As we mentioned in Tip #7, sleep is really important on your postpartum weight loss journey. However, motherhood comes with irregular and interrupted periods of sleep, as you try to meet your baby’s needs.
  • Sedentary Living: It is important to remember that breastfeeding keeps you in one position for long periods. Women who live a sedentary life after childbirth tend to find it more difficult to shed postpartum weight than people who lead active lives.

Other Important Benefits of Breastfeeding

Asides postpartum weight loss, breastfeeding also offers many benefits for you and your little one.

This includes:

  • Supplies the perfect nutrition package for your baby
  • Protects your child from harmful diseases
  • Enhances brain development and mental capacity
  • Promotes uterine contraction
  • Reduces the risk of postpartum depression
  • Saves money
woman breastfeeding child in a shirt

A Final Note from Edie & Amy

Our final tip is that you don’t stop breastfeeding.

Remember that your postpartum weight loss journey is unique, and absolutely different from anyone else’s. Take it one day at a time, follow the tips above and we’re confident that everything would work out fine.

You are not alone, Mama!

Help! My baby Is Always Crying!

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All babies cry as this is their only means of communication with the outside world. While this is normal, some babies can seemingly cry NONSTOP! In this article, we would run through the reasons most babies cry and how to stop them

What Do Babies Cry And How Can I Stop It?

All babies are different and they react differently to certain conditions. However, these are the most common causes of crying in babies:

Hunger: This is the most common cause of tears. You can avoid this by looking for early markers of hunger, including lip-smacking, moving a fist to his/her mouth, or chewing their hands.

Sometimes, babies cry because they are hungry

Heat or cold: The baby might be reacting to uncomfortable weather conditions. This can be taken care of by dressing your baby in the same layers of clothing you are wearing.

Illness: The baby might be ill. One of the most common indicators of illness in babies is a raised temperature. You may also notice reduced activity of the baby and rejection of feeding. If you observe any signs of illness in your baby, please visit your doctor as soon as possible.

Dirty diapers: Stool in your baby’s clothes can be a massive irritant to the baby. Not cleaning it off can cause pain and burns to the babys’ skin.

Overfeeding: Sometimes, babies cry because of bloated stomachs. As much as possible, please avoid overfeeding the baby.

Separation from the baby’s primary caregiver or adoption.

What If I Still Don’t Know Why My Baby Is Crying?

Swaddling: You can wrap your baby in a blanket so as to make the baby feel secure.

Sometimes, wrappring your baby in a blanket helps.

Side or stomach position: Putting babies on their side and/or stomachs soothes them. However, please ensure the baby only sleeps on their back.

Swinging/Rocking: Rocking your baby in a back-and-forth manner/ rhythmically helps to calm them down and relax. You can rock your baby in a rocker or in your arms

Sucking on a pacifier can also help to calm your baby

Colic: Babies with colic are usually inconsolable and cry for hours on end. The baby may also cry during feeding. While it is a relatively common experience in babies, there is no straightforward treatment for it. It usually occurs most often before two weeks of age and usually goes away by 3 months of age.

Observe Your Baby’s Preferences

Difference in the cries: Over time, you would be able to differentiate the “I am tired” cry from the “I am hungry” cry. There would be differences in the arch of the baby’s back, the noise level, and the pitch.

Reaction to situations and settings: Different babies react to different settings. Some cry when they sense too many people while others cry after overexposure to light.

References

Help Guide organisation; 15/07/2020; https://www.helpguide.org/articles/parenting-family/when-your-baby-wont-stop-crying.htm

Michelle Karten; 15/07/2020; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/babies-cry.html

10 Ways To Burp Your Baby After A Meal

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Have you ever tried to sit your baby on your laps and gently pat his/her back? No doubt, it would provide a pleasant and calming relief for your precious one, especially if it’s right after a meal.

How do I tell if my breastmilk is enough?

While feeding, your baby is likely to swallow some air which would make him/her quite uncomfortable or even full before he/she is done eating.

This is why it is important to burp your baby after each meal.

In this article, you’d find easy and reliable ways to burp your baby after a meal. In addition, we’ve compiled a few tips on burping just for you.

Why Should I Burp My Baby?

Burping your baby is necessary especially after a meal.

Baby signs of hunger, baby feeding, feeding baby.

This helps to relieve your baby and expel the air trapped in his/her tummy while feeding. If you don’t burp your baby, the swallowed air can make your baby fussy or cranky. Burping your baby also helps him or her feed longer.

When Should I Burp My Baby?

If your baby does not need to be burped, you don’t have to.

In addition, your baby doesn’t need to be burped if he or she falls asleep during or after feeding. On the other hand, if your baby falls asleep during feeding at night and then wakes up intermittently because he or she has swallowed some air, please burp him/her.

You should also burp your baby if he/she seems uneasy during feeding or pulls away and starts crying.

Another good opportunity to burp your baby is when you switch from one breast to another during breastfeeding.

10 Ways To Burp Your Baby After Feeding

1. Over The Shoulder Burp

Carry your baby such that her chin is resting on your shoulder then support his/her bottom with your hand. Use your other hand to gently rub and pat her back.

2. Sitting On The Lap Burp

Sit your baby on your lap and let her face away from you. Use one arm to support your baby’s body and the palm of that same hand to support his/her chest with your fingers supporting her chin and jaw gently but don’t put your fingers on his/her throat.

Then lean your baby forward and gently rub or pat her back with your other hand.

3. Face Down Across Your Lap

Place your baby with his/her stomach down across your lap. Use one hand to securely hold the baby and use the other hand to pat or rub her back gently.

4. Over The Arm Burp

Place your baby over your arm and gently pat his/her back as you walk across the room.

5. Knee to Chest Burp

Bend your baby’s knees toward their chest and pat his/her back gently.

6. Dance Out The Burp

Sit your baby on your knee and hold him/her between your two hands securely. Move the upper part of the baby’s body gently to the left, right, and back in a rhythmic repetitive way.

You can even bounce your knee as you do this.

7. Bouncing Out The Burp

This method works best with an exercise ball.

Hold your baby close to your chest, with one hand on his/her back and the other supporting the baby’s neck and head. Then sit securely on your exercise ball and gently bounce up and down.

8. Bicycle Burp

Gently cycle your baby’s legs towards his/her chest as if you’re pedaling a bicycle while they lie on their back.

9. Grandmother’s Burp

Sit your baby on your lap with the palm of one hand pressed into their stomach and your fingers on either side of the chin to support the baby’s head. Then run your thumb and fingers up and down the baby’s spine

10. Over The Hand Burp

Sit the baby on your lap and place the palm of your hand on his/her stomach with the chin resting on top of your hand. Lean the baby forward and pat their back.

Burping Tips

  1. Keep a bib or burp cloth between your clothes and the baby’s mouth to protect your clothes.
  2. Keep a cloth or bib handy in case your baby spits up.
  3. Most babies require only a gentle pat or rub but some others may need a slightly firmer hand.
  4. The stomach is located on the left side of the body so you should focus your hand on the left side of your baby’s back.
  5. Burp your baby right away if he or she becomes uncomfortable during feeding.
REFERENCES

Handling Frequent Urination During Pregnancy

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Are you pregnant? Do you feel like your bathroom breaks are getting a little too frequent? Well, when you have to pee, you have to pee (even if that is becoming all the time).

Frequent urination is one symptom of pregnancy that many women do not enjoy. In addition to interrupting your much-needed sleep, clean bathrooms can be really hard to find in public.

As annoying as it may be, frequent urination during pregnancy is something you shouldn’t really worry about.

Nevertheless, what causes it? Would it ever go away? How do you manage it?

Read on to find out!

Causes of Frequent Urination During Pregnancy

Having to pee all the time during pregnancy is definitely annoying.

As usual, we can blame it on one thing-hormones. During pregnancy, a hormone called HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) causes an increase in the amount of blood in your body, especially the blood flow to your pelvic area and also your kidneys.

Expecting a baby

Therefore, your body needs to produce more fluids and get rid of waste faster, and not just for you, but for your baby too. This means that your kidneys have to work harder and more efficiently; leading to an increase in urination.

Your growing womb is another reason why you’d spend more time inside the bathroom than out of it during pregnancy. This is because your womb sits directly on your bladder and puts more pressure on it as it grows. Therefore, your bladder has less room to store urine and you’d to spend more time in the bathroom letting all that urine go.

Also, as you approach the end of your pregnancy, your baby will begin to prepare for childbirth and attain the birthing position. This usually means that his head will “drop” down into the pelvis-directly on top of your bladder. You already guessed it-this means you will have to go more than ever before!

When Does Frequent Urination During Pregnancy Start?

Frequent urination is an early pregnancy symptom, although, when it starts differs from woman to woman. However, most women begin to feel that incessant urge to pee from around weeks 6-8 of pregnancy, and sometimes, as early as week 4!

How Frequent is Frequent Urination?

Well, there is definitely no absolute standard. Just do not hold it in. When you’ve got to pee, you’ve got to pee Mama!

Will it Ever Stop?

Frequent urination may ease up for a while once you enter your second trimester. Sadly, it will most probably return (with a blast) later on in your pregnancy.

This is because your baby puts more pressure on your bladder as she grows, and adds more pressure when she “drops” into your pelvis just before birth.

Cephalic presentation

Thankfully, you can say good-bye to this problem once your baby is born!

Managing Frequent Urination During Pregnancy

Unfortunately, this symptom of pregnancy is one you cannot run from.

You really shouldn’t want to.

This is because your frequent urination is actually a good sign; that you are drinking enough fluids, well-hydrated and healthy.

This does not make it any less annoying though, so we have some tips to help make your life a little bit easier:

  • You need to properly empty your bladder each time you pee to reduce the amount of times you will have to pee. A tip to do this is to lean forward when you pee. This ensures that you get most of it out.
  • Avoid drinking too much water at night or just before bed. This will help minimize the number of times you will have to pee at night.
  • Caffeine will make you pee a lot, so stay away from foods and drinks containing caffeine.
  • Get yourself familiar with pelvic exercises and practice them. Kegel exercises are a good place to start and it will help to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. This will prevent leaking of pee when you cough, sneeze, or even laugh while pregnant or after childbirth.
  • If you do find yourself leaking when you cough or sneeze, use a panty liner.
  • Always make sure you pee beforehand if you are going out or have a long meeting. And when you do leave your house, locating the closest bathroom should be the first thing on your list (to avoid embarrassing situations).

Can Frequent Urination During Pregnancy Indicate A Problem?

Frequent urination during pregnancy is usually not something to bother yourself about as it is normal. Nevertheless, it can sometimes be an indication of a medical condition.

Some of these conditions include:

1. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

If you have a UTI, frequent urination will be accompanied with ;

  • Fever
  • Cloudy urine
  • Blood in your urine
  • Feeling a strong urge to pee, but only a few drops coming out
  • A burning (pepperish) sensation as your pee passes from your bladder to the exterior

If you notice any of these symptoms or you think that you may have a UTI, consult your doctor immediately.

2. Gestational Diabetes

This is a type of poorly controlled blood sugar that affects some expectant mothers. It is serious and can cause complications for you and your baby if not managed properly. Thankfully, it usually resolves after childbirth. Frequent urination is one of the symptoms of gestational diabetes.

Other symptoms include:

  • Persistent thirst
  • Nausea
  • Insatiable hunger
  • Fatigue

Your doctor will most likely test you for gestational diabetes during the 24th and 28th weeks of your pregnancy.

In addition, you should note that reduced urination and dark/orange coloured urine may be a sign if dehydration. Dehydration is not good for anyone, most especially pregnant women.

If this happens, try to take in more fluid (lots of water will do) till you notice your urine return back to a normal pale, yellow colour.

A Final Note

Look on the bright side; frequent urination is a sign that you are well hydrated and healthy, even though you would be spending more time in the bathroom than you would like.

Don’t worry, your increased urge to pee will disappear once your baby is born.

REFERENCES
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Problems of the Digestive System, January 2014.
  • Bastian LA, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 19, 2016.
  • Pexels.com

Five (5) Side Effects Of Guinea Corn For Children

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Making the right food decisions for her child is something every mother worries about. Guinea corn is widely known for its numerous health benefits. Nevertheless, before you incorporate guinea corn into your child’s diet, there are some side effects you may want to look out for.

what are the side effects of guinea corn?

First, What’s Guinea Corn?

Guinea corn (also known as sorghum) is a cereal. It is grown and eaten mostly in West Africa, especially Nigeria. Guinea corn is a good complement for baby food because it’s rich in nutrients such as vitamin B, potassium, magnesium, and iron.

As a result of this, it is a very popular cereal. Nevertheless, despite its great health benefits, guinea corn can also be a source of potential harm, especially to babies.

Side Effect
stethoscope

This article provides you with all the key information you need about guinea corn.

Read on to learn five side effects of guinea corn in children and some tips on feeding your child with guinea corn.

The Side Effects:

1. Gluten Intolerance

Guinea corn contains a form of an insoluble protein called gluten. It’s possible that your child may be allergic to gluten or some of the other constituents of guinea corn.

Baby experience diarrhoea

As a result, you should watch out for any of the following symptoms when introducing guinea corn into your baby’s diet:

  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea
  • Belching
  • Fat in stool

These are the most common symptoms of gluten intolerance in children. Therefore, if you notice this at any point, withdraw guinea corn and book an appointment with the doctor.

2. Gastrointestinal Intolerance

The high fiber content of guinea corn can make some kids experience tummy issues after eating it. A common symptom of this condition is excessive farting.

However, this reaction to guinea corn is rare.

3. Diseases Of The Digestive System

High fiber products and meals (such as guinea corn), are not recommended for children who are prone to or who are suffering from diseases affecting their digestive systems.

Furthermore, cereals high in fiber are not suitable for the immature digestive system of your child. Therefore, be careful to observe any reaction by your child when you feed him or her guinea corn.

4. Diarrhea Or Constipation

A sudden introduction of guinea corn to your baby’s diet may lead to diarrhea or constipation. This occurs when the child’s digestive system doesn’t have enough time to adjust to the change.

Therefore, we recommend a slow but consistent introduction during weaning. This typically involves having a spoon full of the food type over three days before increasing quantities or adding other types of food.

5. Reduced Weight Gain

Guinea corn is a good source of complex carbohydrates which helps a person stay fuller for longer. Although this effect is good for those who want to lose weight, it is not ideal for your baby because he or she needs to gain weight.

bay weight

To help you deal with this side effect, here are some simple Nigerian meals that are guaranteed to help your baby gain weight fast.

Tips on Feeding Your Baby With Guinea Corn

baby cereal
  1. Guinea corn meals should be fortified before giving to children. Since the digestive system is still immature, it’s safer to avoid cereals with large fiber content.
  2. Be Slow But Steady: Don’t make guinea corn meal the main dish in your child’s diet. 1 or 2 servings are enough for a day. In fact you can add have the guinea guinea corn fermented as in pap to make it easier for your child.

Finally,

As long as you keep an eye out for these symptoms, everything would work out just fine.

References

3 Ideal Nigerian Meals for a 6-month-old

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Congratulations!

You have just entered the next adventurous phase of parenting. Your 6-month-old is sitting up and has started showing interest in your meals. You and your little one are going on an exciting ride called weaning.

I am sure you’re wondering what all the fuss is about. Why this is such a big deal?

Well, according to UNICEF, 2 out of 10 children under the age of 5 in Nigeria; suffer from malnutrition. Another 2 out of 10 are dealing with hidden hunger. This is an excessive intake of macronutrients (such as carbs) and not enough micronutrients (vitamins, minerals). It’s mainly because most parents focus more on caloric intake (and weight gain) versus nutrient density when weaning.

These issues stem from:

  • Misconceptions about child nutrition,
  • Higher interests in foreign processed foods
  • Poor replication of a balanced diet using our Nigerian foods.

It is important to note that for any weaning journey the ultimate goal is to help the child wean from a liquid diet and transition effectively to eating family meals by 12 months.

In this article, we will explore the amazing benefits of 3 must-have meals for a 6-month-old which are made from foods that are locally found, easily accessible and highly nutritious for any Nigerian.

We’ve got you covered!

1. Potato Porridge

Nigerian food for 6 months old baby, potato
A sweet potato tuber

This is often a forgotten dish. Just like yam porridge, potatoes can be paired with almost anything to give a balanced, nutritious and tasty meal. One of my favorites when weaning is sweet potatoes paired with chicken and carrots.

The chicken provides good protein. On the other hand, potatoes provide vitamin A, fiber and complex carbohydrates. The carrots are a great source of beta carotenes. Beta Carotenes are important for eye-sight and building immunity.

2. Avocado Purees

Avocado is a Nigerian food for 6 months old baby

Filled with omega 3’s, magnesium, B vitamins and manganese; this fruit makes for a great first food for any 6-month-old. Avocadoes can be paired with bananas for a sweet tooth or with a boiled egg yolk for a savoury twist.

They can also be taken a step further by being pureed with fish and tomatoes. This combo is a vitamin-rich, iron and DHA (a type of omega 3) filled meal.

3. Swallows

“Swallows” as they are popularly called are basically milled grains or boiled pounded tubers that are eaten as an accompaniment to Nigerian soups.

Plantain is a Nigerian food for 6 months old baby
Plantains can be mashed into a swallow

From Eba to Plantain swallow, Amala, Tuwo, and even pounded Yam; introducing different kinds of swallow to your 6-month-old is a great way to welcome them into any Nigerian family.

When paired with the numerous varieties of soups available, swallows and soups are a great way of getting a lot of nutrients into a 6-month-old meal.

What’s more, you don’t need to worry too much about the combination. Another great benefit of the swallow is the fact that almost any cereal or grain can be made into a swallow.

This encourages any child who may not appreciate a meal in one way but would enjoy it when made into a swallow paired with their favourite soup.

Why are these meal ideas great?

With just these 3 meals, any 6-month-old is sure of getting a balanced diet that doesn’t break the bank. This is essential for proper growth and development, especially when weaning to solids. Exploring these meals while breastfeeding and offering other wholesome foods, ensures that more children avoid being a statistic of malnutrition. We then now look forward to preserving the lives of the next generation.

Author of the Nigerian food for 6 months old baby

Ifeyinwa Omesiete

Mastitis can be a challenge for mums when weaning goes wrong
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Nipple Confusion: My Baby Prefers Bottle Feeding

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Do you know that the texture of the teat and flow of the milk during bottle feeding or while using a nipple shield is usually quite different from the way your breastmilk flows from your own nipple during breastfeeding?

Nipple confusion, nipple contact shield
Nipple shield

Your baby will have to do a bit more work in sucking to get milk out at the same quantity and speed when feeding directly from you. Shields are usually introduced to help breastfeeding with flat or inverted nipples or dealing with nipples sores which make breastfeeding painful.

Nipple confusion in breastfeeding, feeding bottle

As a result, babies on the bottle or using a shield tend to get frustrated whenever they are breastfed. They may eventually lose interest in direct breastfeeding. This is called nipple confusion.

We can avoid nipple confusion by :

  • Making sure proper latching and direct breastfeeding your baby is fully established before introducing a bottle/shield. This also one of the steps to ensuring your baby gets enough milk.
  • Always check that you are using the right teat for your baby’s age. As your baby gets older, the number of holes in the teat of the bottle increase from 1 to 3 and so on. A 3 week old has no business with a teat that has 3 holes.

If nipple confusion already exists consider…

  • Ensuring you feed baby on demand… follow baby’s early hunger cues and not the clock.
  • Consider pumping or hand expressing before putting your baby to breast to encourage milk let down . Milk let down is the initial flow of milk. This way, your baby does less work to suckle.

Dear Mama, not being able to breastfeed your baby directly does not make you less of a mother. Some mums have to pump their breast milk exclusively to feed their babies and so on and that’s totally fine. It’s just a different way to go.


Check out our previous posts on alternative ways of feeding baby breast milk and as well as tips on how to wean your baby off a nipple shield.

How To Wean Your Baby Off A Nipple Shield

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Dear Mama, you had a challenge with breastfeeding that required a nipple shield.

You got the right size shield.

The challenge has over time been solved / corrected. Your baby no longer has a tongue tie, your flat or inverted nipple is now corrected.

Your baby is currently feeding adequately (i.e. gaining weight, peeing and pooing as expected etc).

How then do you transition smoothly to directly breastfeeding your baby?

We’ll share some tips on how to wean baby off the nipple shield :

Follow your baby’s early hunger cues

  • Breastfeed your child on-demand to prevent the baby from getting impatient and upset at feeding times.
  • Try pumping or hand expressing to encourage milk let down before baby latches.
  • Ensure your latching technique is on point and baby opens her mouth wide for a deep latch.
  • Try starting the breastfeeding session with the nipple shield then unlatch baby and take the shield off to continue breastfeeding directly . Gradually keep reducing the time you spend feeding with the shield per session.
  • Experiment with different breastfeeding positions.


Please…

Don’t cut the top of the nipple shield while weaning as some advise. It will create dangerous sharp edges that can hurt your baby’s mouth.

Ensure your nipple shield is made from high-grade silicon. If all else fails, don’t stress yourself, Mama. Weaning may take longer for you and your baby than some other mums.

Please be patient.

How To Make Tom Brown Cereal From Scratch, Ingredients, Health Benefit and Step by Step Guide

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Tom Brown is a locally made meal that is usually used to wean babies in Nigeria. It is a thick powder gotten from a combination of yellow corn, millet, guinea corn (cereals), groundnut (peanuts), and soybeans (legumes).

Tom Brown Babies

This healthy powder is highly nutritious and filling, maintaining your baby’s health even after you’ve stopped breastfeeding. It’s one of the popular Nigerian meals used to wean babies.

Although it is majorly prepared for and consumed by babies, Tom Brown also serves as food for adults. This is because it’s easy to prepare (basically under 5 minutes). This helps adults cope with their busy schedules and early breakfasts.

This article is a step-by-step guide on how to make Tom Brown.

Ingredients For Making Tom Brown Powder

  1. Millet – 500grams
  2. Guinea corn – 1kilogram
  3. Yellow corn -1kilogram
  4. Soybeans – 500grams
  5. Deshelled Groundnut (peanuts) – 200grams

Optional Ingredients:

  • Crayfish- 1cup
  • Ginger- 1 handful
  • Dates (sweetener also known as dabino) – 1 handful
  • Cloves (kayan kanshi) – 2 tablespoons

In Addition,

Remember to vary the quantity of ingredients if you want your tom brown to come out nicely.

Let me explain….

It’s best when the corn (yellow maize and guinea corn) is more than the other ingredients, and your millet and soybeans are half the measure of your corn. Corn has more starch compared to millet. It helps to bulk up the meal.

The groundnut (peanut) helps to add a pasty texture to the tom brown. However, it has a lot of oil, therefore the quantity of groundnut used should be less than all the other ingredients.

Step-By-Step Preparation of Tom Brown Powder

Tom Brown Grains
tom-brown-grains
  1. Put your grains in separate trays and carefully remove the stones and foreign particles
  2. After picking out the stones from your grains, wash them separately and spread them out to dry in the sun.
  3. Pack them in separate bowls once they are completely dry.
  4. Toast your corn using a wide frying pan. Be careful not to fry too much to a point where it begins to pop like popcorn.
  5. Also roast your groundnut, millet and soya beans separately till they become golden brown.
  6. After toasting, spread your grains and allow them to cool down.
  7. The next step is to remove the outer shell/ seed coat (also known as chaff) of the soya beans. You can do this by grinding it softy with a mortar and pestle.
  8. When you are done grinding, sift the chaff away by breezing it out. Then pour it into a suitable bowl.
  9. Next thing is to grind your crayfish, ginger and kayan kanshi. You can either use a mortar and pestle for this or you use a blender. Put it inside a bowl after grinding.
  10. Now, you need to grind your dates (dabino) as well. Break them open and remove and discard the seeds inside first. Then crush the outer fruit with a blender or mortar and pestle.
  11. Pour all your ingredients in a bowl and mix them well.
  12. You can blend this mixture with a high power blender at home or you you take it to a local mill to blend. Do not add water while blending.
  13. After blending, pour your powder on a wide tray and allow it to cool down completely.
  14. Next thing is to sieve your mixture to remove any residual chaff. This leaves you with a smoother powder.
  15. Viola! Your tom brown is ready. Just store it inside a sizeable container and prepare it anytime you want.

How To Prepare Tom Brown Before Serving It

Tom brown is a quick and easy meal that you can prepare under 5 minutes.

Tom Brown
tom-brown

These are the steps:

  1. Measure a quantity of tom brown powder into a bowl. Add water gradually until it becomes a pasty mixture. Be careful not to add too much water.
  2. Put some water on the fire and allow it to boil. Pour in your tom brown paste once your water begins to boil very well.
  3. Stir continuously until your tom brown attains a custard-like texture.
  4. There you have it! Your meal is ready. You can fortify it with milk and fruit purees to make it even more nutritious for your baby.

Health Benefits of Tom Brown

Tom brown has many health benefits for both babies and adults, some of which include:

  1. Lowering blood cholesterol levels.
  2. Supplying essential antioxidants.
  3. Improving vision
  4. Control of diabetes.
  5. Reducing inflammation or swelling
  6. Boosting energy levels.
  7. Control of high blood pressure.
  8. It is free of unhealthy preservatives

Tom brown is on our list of meals that help babies gain weight ie. this would be awesome for nursing malnourished kids to health.

What’s The Difference Between Tom Brown And Pap (Ogi)

As you may have observed above, Tom Brown is made from toasted cereals. Pap, also known as ogi or akanmu is made from fermented cereal. Learn how to make pap from scratch here.

The fermentation process in pap production gives it a distinctive flavor and light texture. In addition, it incorporates probiotics into the meal (which increases the ability to produce vitamin B and K from food, improve gut health and immunity). Finally, fermentation breaks down the nutrients in the grain to small easier to digest units. Other ingredients such as soy and groundnuts are added after the pap is cooked.

Tom brown on the other hand is from toasted/ roasted cereals. All the ingredients are added and milled together. This makes a denser, more filling, more viscous meal. The fiber content is likely to be higher, keeping hunger at bay for longer. It may not be as rapidly digested as pap.

Finally, we have just one question….

What are you waiting for? Start making your own tom brown baby food today.

Trust us, your baby will thank you for it!

References
  • Essien, N. C., Umoh, I. B., Uboh, F. E., & Lawal, O. O. (2010). Evaluation of the nutritional quality of “Tom Brown” weaning diets. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 16(1).
  • Okoh, P. N. (1998). Nutritional quality of plant foods. AU Osagie, OU Eka, eds, 32-52.
  • Olowoniyan, F. O. (1994, November). Household processing and utilization of soybean in Nigeria. In Society for International Development (SID) and West African Farming Systems Research Network (WAFSRN) Joint workshop in Ibadan.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY BABY IS GETTING ENOUGH?

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“Is my baby getting enough milk? ” New mums all over the world are constantly asking this question. Newborn feeding constantly leads to friction between new mothers and their mothers and mothers-in-law in Nigeria.

Is my baby getting enough? is a constant source of arguments

The anxiety this causes tempts us to introduce water or formula in the first few days of life when our actual goal was to breastfeed exclusively.  

Anxiety and fearof starving the baby causes mums to introduce formula

These conflicts stem from:

  • Ignorance of individual and general signs of hunger and feeding patterns in newborns
  • Lack of knowledge of the normal progression of weight gain/ fluctuations
  • Not knowing the signs that a baby is being adequately nourished.
  • Poor infant feeding practices or alternatives when challenges arise

What are the general signs of hunger in newborns?

Babies are usually good communicators.

The trouble is we don’t often pay attention or know what to look out for. The following are common signs that your baby is hungry: 

  • Baby keeps opening the mouth
  • Sticking out the tongue
  • Making sucking movements 
  • Your little one is constantly bringing their hands up to their mouth
  • Moving their limbs as though crawling or cycling in the air
  • Turning their head towards the chest or breast of whoever is carrying them
  • Crying and being irritable. When they cry, it is a late sign of hunger. Some may get so worked up that they won’t want to latch onto your breast or teat of the bottle! Alternatively, they could latch onto your nipple in their haste and annoyance.

This, I assure you, will bring you exquisite pain while breastfeeding

Are Preemies Different?

When preemies are hungry they could lick their lips, become restless, stick out their tongue or flutter their eyes.

Conversely, when they have had enough they relax, and their color changes if they are light-skinned). Some of them may change the rhythm of their nursing and they may touch the breast.


7 Signs your baby is hungry

A satisfied baby is relaxed with inactive limbs. The baby may turn away from your chest, lets go from breast or bottle feeding and fall asleep.

Baby’s tend to cluster feed at times when they are experiencing rapid growth. Cluster feeding is characterized by showing signs of hunger more frequently than usual.

This is often observed by mothers who schedule their baby feeding times at intervals (as opposed to feeding baby on demand). A baby who usually feeds every 3 hours may demand food every 2 hours for a span of 3 days. For breastfeeding mothers, it’s nature’s way of increasing your milk supply. Demanding more milk from you in response to your baby’s next stage of growth is characterized by the need for larger quantities of milk. Growth spurts can be observed at 2 days old, 3 months old, and  6- 9 months old

How much milk does my baby need?

Your newborn’s stomach size is really small at first.

At the first to the third day of life, your baby’s tummy is the size of a cherry or 1 grape and can only hold a teaspoon of milk ie. 5-7 mls per meal. By day three to five, it is the size of a table tennis ball or walnut.

From six days old up to 3 weeks old baby’s stomach is the size of an egg and so on.  Knowing this should restrain you from overfeeding your baby which could cause undue discomfort and distract you from the real cause of why our child may be fussy.

All babies lose no more than 10% of their body weight within the first 5-7 days of life before returning to their birth weight by week 2. Baby’s weight should increase by 50% at 6-8 weeks old and double his/her birth weight at 4-5 months old.

This topic, weight gain, is another source of anxiety and potential conflict with loved ones as far as a first-time mum is concerned. Look out for these variations and verify during your first well-baby visit after childbirth. Make sure you use an appropriate infant weighing scale.

Any deviation from this may then prompt investigation of your baby’s nutrition or breastfeeding practices. The weight and length measurements for your baby should be entered in a chart which usually comes with your immunization card. Each entry is benchmarked against the normal range for baby’s age within our environment which is also indicated on the chart. This forms a more objective view of if your baby is being adequately nourished.

Signs That Your Baby Is Being Adequately Fed

A well-fed baby will :

  • Have 4 -6 wet diapers (urine) and 3-4 poopy diapers daily. Note that exclusively breastfed babies can go up to 3 days without passing stool at 3 months old. Also, formula-fed babies can get easily constipated if you fail to follow the instructions for proportions of water to formula while preparing their meal.
  • Gain weight in accordance with the normal range for his/her age and race as entered in the growth monitoring chart mentioned above

Is there a need for vitamin supplements in infants? Formula-fed babies do not need multivitamins. However, babies being exclusively breastfed are required to get vitamin D drops. There apparently isn’t enough vitamin D in breast milk and babies and mums don’t get as much sunlight as needed.

What Can I do When Challenges Arise

The bedrock of a breastfed newborn getting enough milk from its mother is ensuring your little one is draining the breast adequately. Next mother has to have an adequate supply.

Your infant will drain your breast if he/she latches on properly ie. your nipple and most of the areola complex are in baby’s mouth with the areola in contact with baby’s hard palate and tongue.

If your breast is constantly being drained by the end of each feeding session, the initial increase in milk production and supply which is governed by demand and supply feedback will be activated.

Nigerian foods that help increase your supply

Some structural challenges such as tongue-tie in the baby or a mismatch between the size of their mouth and your nipple-areola complex can hinder adequate feeding. It is important that these are found early and addressed by a trained health professional or lactation specialist.

As mentioned above, it is important that the exact instructions for preparing a baby’s formula are followed. This prevents them from developing hard stools that are difficult to pass out (constipation). Constipation will come up from a concentrated mix of formula. On the other hand, a formula mix that’s too dilute will result in their not getting enough calories.

What if my baby doesn’t like feeding on a bottle?

This is a question that worries mothers who may need to return to work or leave their baby in the care of others for a few hours. If they refuse to breastfeed or accept a feeding bottle, the following alternatives are viable feeding options:

  • Cup and baby spoon 
  • A small syringe (without the needle)
  • Feeding cup 

Feeding a newborn as a first-time mum can seem daunting. It is important to arm yourself with the right information to avoid common mistakes. Furthermore, information gives you the confidence to push back and advocate for yourself and your little one when the need arises. These are tips you should learn during an antenatal visit or birthing and breastfeeding class.

References

Wagner C. Counselling the Breastfeeding Mother. Emedicine. February 2015 Accessed September 9th 2019
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/979458-overview

How to increase your supply and build a stash of breast milk