Breast is best

[UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

Breast Milk Facts
Breast milk is an amazing substance that cannot be duplicated by any
artificial means. Unique in its composition and function, breast milk:

* Breast milk helps keep babies healthy. Breast milk protects
against many types of illness like colds, flu, diarrhea and ear
infections.

* Breast milk is ready day or night, anytime your baby is hungry. It
is always the right temperature.

* Breast milk is easy for your baby to digest, since your body
makes it for your baby.

* Breast milk is naturally clean. It passes from the breast to the
baby's mouth and can not "Go Bad" or "Spoil".

* Breast milk helps prevent diaper rash.

* Breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight later in life.
They learn to stop eating when they are full, instead of when the
bottle is empty.

* Babies fully breastfed for six months or longer are smarter than
formula fed babies when given IQ tests at school age.

A human milk bank is "a service which collects, screens, processes, and dispenses by prescription human milk donated by nursing mothers who are not biologically related to the recipient infant"[1]. There are currently eleven milk banks in North America. They are usually housed in hospitals, although sometimes they are free standing. They are members of the Human Milk Bank Association of North America (HMBANA) and voluntarily abide by HMBANA's annually revised "Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of a Donor Human Milk Bank." The guidelines were developed with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and include protocols for soliciting donors, collecting, processing and distributing the milk.

To find out more, check out the official site here.

It Really is like Liquid Magic!
Breastmilk is, without a doubt, the perfect infant nutrition. But its usefulness is not limited to babies. People of all ages can benefit from the healing properties of breastmilk. From cuts and scrapes to major illness and surgery, breastmilk can be used to boost immunities, fight
infections, and soothe skin. Here are just a few of the ways that breastmilk can be used to soothe and heal.

Diaper rash
Breastmilk can heal a diaper rash as well as any rash cream on the market. Even better, there is no risk of allergic reaction to make the rash worse. Simply rub in a few drops of breastmilk on the affected area as often as needed, and allow to air-dry before putting a diaper back on.

Dry, cracked nipples
Nursing mothers often experience dry, cracked nipples, especially in the first few weeks of nursing. Lanolin is often recommended in this instance, but breastmilk works better. To heal and soothe, simply rub a drop or two of breastmilk into the nipple immediately after nursing and allow to air-dry.

Sinus, ear, and eye infections
If you or your child has a sinus, ear, or eye infection, a few drops of breastmilk will work wonders in clearing it up. Breastmilk has natural antibodies which kill infection without the harmful side effects of synthetic antibiotics, and can be administered as often as necessary without risk of overdose.

Makeup removal
Breastmilk can be used in place of cold cream to remove makeup and soften skin. Simply rub onto skin and rinse clean.

Eczema and acne
Simply rub a few drops of breastmilk into the affected area and allow to air-dry. Repeat as often as necessary to soothe and heal. Breastmilk contains natural moisturizers that will keep skin supple, which speeds the healing process.

Mosquito bites, cuts, and scrapes
Breastmilk can help relieve the itch and heal bites faster and more naturally than commercial bite remedies. A few drops of breastmilk applied to a cut or scrape before bandaging can prevent infection and speed the healing process.

Sore throat
Breastmilk is wonderful for easing the pain of a sore throat. Babies can get relief every time they nurse, but for older children and adults, a cup of expressed breastmilk can have the same effect.

Chemo patients

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment often have severe nausea after treatment. These patients can use breastmilk to calm their stomachs, help with digestion, and strengthen their weakened immune systems.

Burn patients
Burn victims can use breastmilk to help heal and protect their skin. The fat in breastmilk is an excellent skin soother and softener, and the antibodies help prevent infection.

Organ transplant patients
Patients who receive donor organs often use breastmilk to help fight infection after surgery. Organ donors can also benefit from the immunity-boosting properties of breastmilk while healing from their surgery.

These are only a few of the miraculous healing benefits of breastmilk. Who knew that our bodies could produce a substance with so much power? Breastmilk truly is liquid magic. For more information on the wonders of breastmilk, see the websites at the end of this article.

March 14, 2007 by
Amy Weekley

More uses at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/454888/things_to_do_with_your_extra_breastmilk.html?cat=25

http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-14610-Fenugreek-Seed/dp/B0002RTRZU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1245795718&sr=8-1

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This kept me going!, August 29, 2007
By S. Sou "KS4E" (MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I had to decrease my baby's feedings when I had to return to work 8 weeks postpartum. Eventually, my hectic schedule and numerous illnesses made me stop. My son is now 3 months and I have been feeling incredibly guilty about stopping, so I'm attempting to relactate. I only had about 2 drops of milk from each side, but after almost a week of Fenugreek (9 pills a day), I'm noticing more droplets and an occasional squirt. I find that incredibly impressive. Without this, and my pump, I would have given up and felt guilty for the rest of my life.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for increasing your milk supply, April 24, 2008
By Loving motherhood! - See all my reviews
My milk supply began to decrease significantly after I started back to work (my son was about six month's old at this time). I took -- and still take, 3 tablets of fenugreek and blessed thistle each per day at least twice a day. If I am not able to pump, I add another round of the herbs and let my son nurse more, to keep my milk supply going strong. This is a wonderful blessing to know that my milk supply can easily be reestablished, if stress, schedule or other factors inhibit our desire to feed the old fashion way! Five stars for fenugreek (and blessed thistle, too!) As a side note, the lactation nurses have told me, that these herbs do lower your blood sugar, so they should be taken with food. I say that from experience. All in all, it more than met my expectations.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth a Try., November 17, 2008
By Gary Peterson (San Diego, California USA) - See all my reviews
Our baby was born in early October. My wife wanted to feed him the way nature intended and we were visited by a lactation nurse at the hospital. She advised us and said that if we ever had problems with obtaining enough milk, we might try Fenugreek, a supplement available at health-food stores. Of course, we forgot the peculiar name shortly thereafter. Well, my wife started to have difficulties a few weeks later in keeping up with the baby's growing needs. We mentioned the problem to a young couple who had a recent child. The woman said she had the same problem and told us to get Fenugreek. She said it had worked for her. There was that strange-sounding word again.

We purchased Nature's Way Fenugreek shortly thereafter. Strange stuff. It's an herbal supplement in capsule form, but the label doesn't say what it's for. I guess you just have to know. Evidently, it's one of those things that takes a certain amount of faith. Anyway, since we heard about it from two completely independent sources, my wife started taking it. Well, it wasn't a miracle. There was no immediate change. However, my wife gradually began to keep up with the baby's needs and has kept up ever since. Was it the Fenugreek? Perhaps. Maybe she was just adapting to the new baby. It's hard to tell. However, if anyone is having this problem, I'd say the Fenugreek is worth a try.

Gary Peterson

Amazon has the best price for this product!

What are the best storage containers for breast milk

* Standard baby bottles (glass or plastic)
* Custom-purpose milk storage bags

How long can I:

* Leave my freshly-expressed milk at room temperature?
o Up to four hours at 80 degrees F (27 degrees C)
o Up to 10 hours at 70 degrees F (21 degrees C)
o Up to 24 hours at 60 degrees F (16 degrees C) e.g. in a cooler with ice packs
* Store milk in the refrigerator?
o Five days at 39 degrees F (4 degrees C)
* Store milk in the freezer?
o Two weeks in a freezer compartment inside a refrigerator
o Three months in a self-defrosting freezer (store away from the door)
o Six months in a deep freeze that maintains a constant 0 degrees F (-19 degrees C)

NOTE: You can combine milk from different pump sessions, but cool each batch first and store according to the age of the oldest milk. It is best to freeze your milk in small quantities (2 to 4 ounces depending on the age of your baby) within two days of expressing. Leave room in the container for expansion when freezing, and date each container. As your milk cools, the cream may form a thin layer on the surface. Swirl to redistribute the cream when you warm the milk.

How do I heat breast milk?
Microwaving destroys some of the anti-infective properties of the breast milk and may create "hot spots" that could burn your baby. Place the container of milk in a bowl of warm water, or place under the hot water faucet, and heat to room temperature. Your baby may refuse milk straight from the refrigerator, but cold milk is not harmful.

Can I reuse leftover milk?
While there is no research on this topic, many mothers refrigerate milk the baby did not finish and use it at the very next feed. If you have any doubt, discard the milk.

How do I thaw frozen milk?
Place the container of breast milk in a bowl of warm water. Use the milk immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Do not refreeze.

Why does my frozen milk smell unpleasant when I thaw it?
Lipase, the enzyme that digests fats, stays active when milk is frozen. Some mothers have a high level of this enzyme and their milk smells and tastes soapy when thawed. The milk is not harmful but the baby may refuse it. You can scald your milk before storing it to make the lipase inactive by heating the milk to about 180 degrees F (82 degrees C), or until small bubbles form around the edge of the pan. Chill quickly and store.

• Ask to see a lactation consultant at the hospital. They will give you a free breast pump and accessories. The downside is that it is a handpump, but you can use the machines there and rent one if you aren't going to use it for very long.
  
• If you have WIC (the Women Infant Children program), they can give you a free electric breast pump to use as long as you need.
  
• Instead of a nursing pillow, just use pillows around the house to rest your babies body on instead of an expensive nursing pillow. Just make sure the pillow you are using is clean.
  
• Most lactation consultants will give you a trial size tube of lansiloh nipple cream, but what worked really good for me, and what a lot of lactation nurses will suggest, is to express some milk after you nurse or pump and use that to lubricant the nipple. For severe cracking, use the nipple cream.
  
• Use a lightweight blanket or yardage of fabric as a nursing cover. Simply wrap around like a poncho and secure with a clothes pin or safety pin.