A Wisdom Archive on Breastfeeding - Weaning

In the early years of the human species, breastfeeding was as common as it was for other mammals feeding their young. There were no alternative foods for the infants, and the mother, along with other lactating females, would have no choice but to breastfeed the children. This process is still seen in many developing countries and is known as shared breastfeeding. The Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires saw women only feeding their own children. However, breastfeeding began to be seen as something too common to be done by royalty, ...

Read more here: » Breastfeeding: Encyclopedia II - Breastfeeding - History of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the process of a woman feeding an infant or young child with milk produced from her breasts, usually directly from the nipples. Babies have a sucking urge that usually enables them to take in the milk, provided there is a good latch, a detached phrenulum, and a milk supply. Breast milk has been shown to be best for feeding a child if the mother does not have any transmissible infections. Nevertheless, some mothers do not breastfeed their children, either for personal or medical reasons. Some diseases, such as H ... Including:

• Breastfeeding - Beginning lactation
• Breastfeeding - The let-down reflex
• Breastfeeding - Benefits
• Breastfeeding - Benefits for the infant
• Breastfeeding - Benefits for the mother
• Breastfeeding - Bonding
• Breastfeeding - Recommendations and research
• Breastfeeding - Difficulties with breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding - Breast refusal
• Breastfeeding - Medical conditions of the infant
• Breastfeeding - Medical conditions of the mother
• Breastfeeding - When breastfeeding can be harmful to the infant
• Breastfeeding - Health and diet
• Breastfeeding - Feeding options and requirements
• Breastfeeding - Expression
• Breastfeeding - Infant formula
• Breastfeeding - Tandem extended and shared breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding method
• Breastfeeding - Feeding and positioning
• Breastfeeding - Breast and nipple pain
• Breastfeeding - Weaning
• Breastfeeding - History of breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding - Developing alternatives
• Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding in Japan
• Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding in Canada
• Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding in Cuba
• Breastfeeding - Publicity promotion and law
• Breastfeeding - Recent global uptake
• Breastfeeding - Lactation without pregnancy

Read more here: » Breastfeeding: Encyclopedia - Breastfeeding

Co-sleeping, also called the family bed, is a practice in which babies and young children sleep with one or both parents. It is standard practice in many parts of the world outside of North America and Europe and was widely practiced in all areas up until the 19th century as well, until the advent of giving the child his or her own room and the crib. More recently, it has been re-introduced into Western ... Including:

• Co-sleeping - Effects of co-sleeping
• Co-sleeping - Sharing a bed

Read more here: » Co-sleeping: Encyclopedia - Co-sleeping

Childfree is a term used to describe those who do not have, and do not desire, children. A popular alternative description is "childless by choice". Childfree - Etymology and usage. The term stands in contrast to "childless", which some argue implies that children are "lacking" and desired; childfree persons would argue that their lives are no more or less complete without offspring. Some may like children, others may be indifferent, and still others may dislike children; but the commonality between childfr ... Including:

• Childfree - Etymology and usage
• Childfree - Organizations
• Childfree - Motivation
• Childfree - Statistics and Research
• Childfree - Controversy
• Childfree - Childfree slang
• Childfree - Books
• Childfree - Television

Read more here: » Childfree: Encyclopedia - Childfree

As a contraceptive, demand breastfeeding is said to be more than 90% effective in the first month of post-partum even if no other forms of contraception are used, with decreasing effectiveness in successive months. This effect is said to be responsible for the natural spacing of children seen in countries where contraception is not widely available and is thought to be an evolutionary means of ensuring adequate care is provided to each newborn. The 90% effectiveness only applies if three criteria are met: 1. The mother has no periods at all (Amenorrhea) 2. The baby is exclusively breas ...

Read more here: » Prolactin: Encyclopedia II - Prolactin - Use of breastfeeding as contraceptive

Prolactin has many effects, the most significant of which is to stimulate the mammary glands to produce milk (lactation). Increased serum prolactin during pregnancy causes enlargement of the mammary glands of the breasts and increases the production of milk. However, the high levels of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy acts directly on the breasts to stop ejection of milk. It is only when the levels of these hormones fall a ...

Read more here: » Prolactin: Encyclopedia II - Prolactin - Production of milk

Prolactin levels may be checked as part of a sex hormone workup, as elevated prolactin levels suppress FSH and GnRH and hence lead to hypogonadism, for example causing erectile dysfunction in men. Prolactin levels may be of some use in distinguishing epileptic seizures from psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. Prolactin - Conditions causing elevated prolactin. Hyperprolactinaemia is the term given to having too-high levels of prolactin in the blood. Prolactinoma Hypothyroidism Prolactin - Conditions causing decreased prolactin.

Read more here: » Prolactin: Encyclopedia II - Prolactin - Diagnostic use

There are two basic types of co-sleeping. Co-sleeping can be started within a few months of the child's birth, or at birth, and continue into toddlerhood. In this case, children who began co-sleeping as infants exhibited more self-reliance and social independence than children in the second case or children who slept alone. This showed itself in areas such as settling disputes with playmates on their own rather than involving adults. Co-sleeping can begin later, in response to the child's sleeping difficulties. In the this case, the sleep of everyone in the bed (i.e. parents and child) is oft ...

Read more here: » Co-sleeping: Encyclopedia II - Co-sleeping - Effects of co-sleeping

The terms "Elimination Communication" and "Natural Infant Hygiene" were coined by Ingrid Bauer and are used interchangeably in her book, Diaper Free! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene (2001). Bauer had traveled to India and Africa where she noticed that most mothers would carry their diaperless babies constantly, yet she saw no elimination "accidents" as would be expected in industrialized countries where babies wear diapers almost continuously from birth. Subsequently, she raised her own babies with minimal use of diapers a ...

Read more here: » Elimination communication: Encyclopedia II - Elimination communication - Origins

The sleep patterns of a healthy adult will prevent injury to the child, but not all people are healthy adults. Some common advice given is that a child should never sleep with a parent who smokes, is taking drugs (including alcohol) that impede alertness, or is extremely obese. It is also recommended that the bed should be firm, and should not be a waterbed or couch; and that heavy quilts, comforters, and pillows should not be used. Young children should never sleep next to babies, because young children sleep in a way that would allo ...

Read more here: » Co-sleeping: Encyclopedia II - Co-sleeping - Safety

Sexual activities are often performed in a bed. Couples engaging in these also often sleep in the same bed. Non-sexual sharing of a bed may occur in families where there are not enough beds for everybody separately. It may also occur when lodging in a hotel, or inn etc., a famous example being the Great Bed of Ware. Reasons may include being more cosy, more practical, cheaper, and more rooms not being available in the hotel. Intermediate between sharing a bed and having separate rooms is, of course, having separate beds in the ...

Read more here: » Co-sleeping: Encyclopedia II - Co-sleeping - Sharing a bed