Comments on: How Yoga Can Support Breastfeeding

By: Otelia Sadolsky

Otelia Sadolsky — Thu, 27 May 2010 06:44:04 +0000

My yoga mats have already spent a year, is a little old, you can continue to use?

By: Yoga is my Breathing Space. » How Yoga Can Support Breastfeeding

Yoga is my Breathing Space. » How Yoga Can Support Breastfeeding — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:10:23 +0000

[...] Source: http://www.fivepointsyoga.com/2009/03/how-yoga-can-support-breastfeeding/ [...]

By: Brenda K. Plakans

Brenda K. Plakans — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:26:53 +0000

My absolute fave for any kind of relaxing, but the majority of my practice during months 8-9 was Supta Baddha Konasana (tons of pillows behind back, under knees). I would set myself up for about 15 min.s and just do a simple 3-part breath (filling top of chest, middle chest, belly…exhaling in same order), or count lengths of inhale/exhale and try to lengthen the exhale by one count until it was 2-3 counts longer. Not sure if either of those have technical Sanskrit names, but they both slow the heart rate a bit (don’t do longer than 10-15 min.s) and are extremely calming. Lots of oxygen in the blood stream (so calming for me, baby got very excited and kicky).

I like it more than Savasana.

By: Yogibarrett

Yogibarrett — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:32:24 +0000

Hey Brenda, That’s a great suggestion. I teach Alternate Nostril Breath, Ujjayi Breath, and something called Breath of Joy (a stimulating standing breath) in the class. I aspire to start teaching them a preparation for Nauli Kriya once they’re advanced, but I often can’t manage that in the chaos of the class (that takes a lot of everyone’s concentration). Did you do anything specific?

By: Brenda K. Plakans

Brenda K. Plakans — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:43:56 +0000

I found a bit of pranayama before nursing was very calming to me, especially when we were going thru a bout with thrush. Those early days of breast-feeding were rather harrowing, but the lactation expert at my hospital was extremely helpful.
I was very impressed that the chick in the video was able to stay in Sirsanana, while her wee one was fishing around for a snack. I’m not sure I have the strength or balance to multi-task that much…

By: Anna

Anna — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:50:54 +0000

I used to work for WIC and our society is not breastfeeding friendly! Thanks for writing about this.

By: Yogibarrett

Yogibarrett — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:05:43 +0000

I’m sure you and your baby will be a great team when it comes to getting your baby fed!

By: Jen Richards

Jen Richards — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:00:55 +0000

thanks Barrett. Those are some of the tips that our doula recommended as well. Luckily, she is also available for unlimited lactation consultation after birth so I am really optimisitic that I can be successful with breastfeeding with this kind of support. unfortunately not a lot of women in my family have breastfed so I had to find help somewhere else!

By: Yogibarrett

Yogibarrett — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:21:50 +0000

Yes, that is great – lots of moms from my prenatal classes go to Mt. Auburn because they are pretty encouraging of natural birth and hands-on parenting. I often recommend Mt. Auburn – also because they have a midwifery practice there.

FYI, some of the statistics are tricky, in that they talk about exclusively breastfeeding, versus some amount of bottlefeeding breastmilk. I think it’s good to ask your hospital if they have lactation consultants easily available for home visits as well as hospital visits.

I should have mentioned this in the post, but the World Health Organization has 10 Steps for hospitals to follow to encourage breastfeeding: http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/eng/10steps.html

By: Jen Richards

Jen Richards — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:00:41 +0000

That was an interesting post. From statistics I have found online, Mount Auburn Hospital has a 93% success rate for new moms who leave the hospital
breastfeeding. I was surprised to find that this is higher than most hospitals in the area. I haven’t given birth yet but I think it is very promising. (they also have much lower rates of medical intervention during birth than area hospitals too!)