You may have never intended to be breastfeeding while pregnant, but here you are. The fact is that lots of nursing mommies never actually plan to be breastfeeding while pregnant, but as many of us know…sometimes babies are conceived at the most unexpected times!
On the other hand, you may be one of the moms that actually plans a pregnancy while still breastfeeding to ensure that your sweeties are close in age.
No matter what your situation, these moms all find themselves in the situation of nursing while pregnant.
Symptoms of Pregnancy During Breastfeeding
There are various things that a nursing mother might notice that may alert her to the fact that she may be pregnant while still nursing.
* Some women notice a decrease in their milk supply. This is usually not a permanent situation and your supply will adjust back so that you can continue nursing.
* You may have sensitive nipples.
* You may be more tired or thirsty than in a previous pregnancy…but as long as you keep drinking enough and resting enough this should not be a problem.
Is It Safe to Continue to Breastfeed?
Breastfeeding.com says Absolutely! In fact, throughout much of the world, breastfeeding while pregnant is a common occurrence. It is just “normal.” There is no reason why a mother cannot preserve a good breastfeeding relationship with her child without risk to the health of her new baby who is growing inside her. It is a very safe and natural event.
Research confirms that any mother who is getting the proper nutrition should have no problem providing perfect nutrition for both her unborn baby and the breastfeeding child. However, if a child is younger than one year, it is important to watch your child’s weight gain and provide additional solid food if necessary. (Your pediatrician can help you determine your child's needs.)
Things you may notice
In some case, the nursing child will think that the breastmilk tastes different or may be frustrated by a supply drop during pregnancy. This is normal and is not a sign that you must stop breastfeeding.
If you decide you want to wean your child, it's still easiest to do it slowly. Many moms try the "don't offer, don't refuse" approach if their child is old enough. Then if you can anticipate when your child is likely to want to breastfeed, you simply offer a snack or a helpful distraction instead.
However, most children simply adjust to the taste, your breast milk supply returns and they are perfectly content to keep nursing as long as mom is willing.
Don't ForgetBreastfeeding during this pregnancy may provide one of your last opportunities to sit alone with your breastfeeding child and nurse, cuddle and truly enjoy these moments...because before you know it you will have to divide your time between him and the new baby.
Enjoy this time! Don’t rush to wean. Allow your sweet baby to nurse and he will have the reassurance that, although there is a new baby coming, you still want what is best for him, too.
information in this article came from breastfeeding.com 1/7/11
About Me
- Nizo Wear
- Admit it. Most nursing bras are kind of industrial-looking. At least that is what I thought when I was shopping around for a nursing bra. I also found that while breastfeeding is natural and wonderful, it is also difficult and complex and sometimes it really hurts! The best advice I could find was to use warm compresses before nursing and cold compresses afterwards. But nobody could give me any tips for how to make the whole compress thing practical or COMFORTABLE! So, my design was patented and Nizo Wear was born. I firgured while I was at it I should make them pretty as well. Nizo Wear makes nursing bras that are de both functional and pretty. Lace and rhinestones, playful prints, shapely lines, all designed to help you feel stylish and good again.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
How to treat Postpartum Breast Engorgement
Engorgement usually occurs 2-3 days after delivery. It is attributed to the milk “coming in”. Up until this time the breasts produced colostrum, highly concentrated first milk. When the mature milk is produced breasts may become overly full and engorgement may occur. Luckily if treated, engorgement usually only lasts a few days. Unrelieved engorgement can lead to breast infection.
The best way to treat and prevent engorgement is frequent nursing. Nurse your baby often, approximately 8-12 times in a 24 hour period, especially in the first few days. Make sure breasts are completely emptied and that the baby is positioned and latched on correctly. A lactation consultant or breastfeeding support group in your community can help to assure your baby is feeding correctly.
Apply a warm compress such as SmartChoicesBreastSoother just before breastfeeding. Heat stimulates milk flow and also helps to soften the areola. Along with heat or immediately following, massage breast are a in a circular motion to promote milk flow.
Expressing some milk after heat application will also help to lessen any pain and make it easier for the baby to latch on.
Cold compresses can be used between feedings to reduce swelling. After nursing, apply cooled relief pads directly to breast area to relieve the pain of engorgement.
Taking a pain reliever may also help. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) are anti-inflammatory medications and they can reduce swelling and lessen any pain. Also make sure to wear a comfortable bra, correctly fit bra. You may want to avoid bra’s that contain under wire the first few weeks.
Mastitis and Breast Engorgement
Luckily breast engorgement is short lived and can be resolved fairly quickly. If engorgement has not cleared up nor has not much improved please contact your health care provider if you experience any flu-like symptoms, fever, extreme soreness or pain, hardness or redness, please contact your health care provider as this could be a sign of mastitis or breast infection.
Thanks Breastfeedingmagazine.com for this helpful information.
The best way to treat and prevent engorgement is frequent nursing. Nurse your baby often, approximately 8-12 times in a 24 hour period, especially in the first few days. Make sure breasts are completely emptied and that the baby is positioned and latched on correctly. A lactation consultant or breastfeeding support group in your community can help to assure your baby is feeding correctly.
Apply a warm compress such as SmartChoicesBreastSoother just before breastfeeding. Heat stimulates milk flow and also helps to soften the areola. Along with heat or immediately following, massage breast are a in a circular motion to promote milk flow.
Expressing some milk after heat application will also help to lessen any pain and make it easier for the baby to latch on.
Cold compresses can be used between feedings to reduce swelling. After nursing, apply cooled relief pads directly to breast area to relieve the pain of engorgement.
Taking a pain reliever may also help. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) are anti-inflammatory medications and they can reduce swelling and lessen any pain. Also make sure to wear a comfortable bra, correctly fit bra. You may want to avoid bra’s that contain under wire the first few weeks.
Mastitis and Breast Engorgement
Luckily breast engorgement is short lived and can be resolved fairly quickly. If engorgement has not cleared up nor has not much improved please contact your health care provider if you experience any flu-like symptoms, fever, extreme soreness or pain, hardness or redness, please contact your health care provider as this could be a sign of mastitis or breast infection.
Thanks Breastfeedingmagazine.com for this helpful information.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Milk Trays breast milk freezing system
Milk Trays™ are a breast milk freezing system that has been specifically designed for expressed breast milk.Notable attributes of Milk Trays™ are:
- Total of 16 semi-cylinder cavities that are 1 oz. each
- Eliminates waste associated with nurser bags
- 1 oz. Milk Sticks fit through ALL bottle openings, unlike “ice cubes”
- Lids block out freezer burn, eliminate freezer smells and are easy to stack
- Slim in size to ensure ample room in the freezer
- Plastic is very flexible making it easy to remove the frozen Milk Sticks.
- Reusable and can last, depending on use, for up to one year
- Made from hard plastic and does not allow fat soluble nutrients to adhere or cling to the sides like the soft plastic of nurser bags
- Invented by breastfeeding, working moms
You don’t want to have hundreds of barely filled nurser bags in your freezer that you'll tend to pour four to eight ounces into. The entire bag must be thawed and since breast milk cannot be refrozen once thawed (even warming then cooling then warming again is also a “no-no” because of early spoiling and even more destruction of valuable nutrients) usually several ounces get thrown away. Think about that for a moment…several ounces thrown away…that can really add up over time.
Here are just some simple numbers to consider……
If you were to waste only two ounces of breast milk in one day.
That equals 10 ounces wasted in one work week!
That adds up to 40 ounces wasted in one work month!
You have now wasted 480 ounces in one year!
WOW, and that is only counting just two ounces a day
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Desperate breast-feeding moms reveal secrets
(CNN) -- All newborn babies cry, but Anika Reese seemed to be in a category all her own. She screamed in pain nearly all the time, grabbing her own little cheeks so forcefully she sometimes drew blood.
Her mother, Suzanne, describes Anika's first four months as "living in hell with an angel."
"There are almost no words to describe what I thought was only some form of prison camp torture," Reese says.
Reese noticed her baby's stomach was swollen and her poops were green and frothy. Several friends and family members suggested it might be a problem with Reese's breast milk, and urged her to give Anika formula instead. But Reese was "hell-bent" on nursing and refused to stop.
Only 43% of moms breast-feeding at six months
Unlike Reese, many mothers, for various reasons, give up on nursing. While 75% of mothers breast-feed their babies soon after birth, only 43% are still nursing six months later, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends moms breast-feed for at least a year, but the first six months are especially crucial, says Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, a spokesperson for the academy, since most babies that age aren't yet eating solid food and rely solely on milk for nutrition.
Reese was committed to nursing because of the significant health benefits to her baby: fewer cases of gastroenteritis and ear and upper respiratory infections, to name a few, and now a new study out of Australia shows some breast-fed babies do better academically later in life.
While it's not easy to overcome the hurdles of early breast-feeding -- whether it's sore nipples, a screaming baby, or a low milk supply -- Reese managed to do it.
When she noticed Anika's belly swollen and strange, frothy green poops, Reese called lactation consultants, who told her all babies have gas and to be patient. Then, when Anika was 7 weeks old, Reese noticed blood in her daughter's stool.
The Reeses raced to the emergency room near their home in Ramona, California. Doctors gave Anika a barium enema to get a good look at her intestines.
The test showed Anika's colon was normal. The Reeses then took Anika to a pediatric gastroenterologist, who advised Suzanne to stop eating foods that might be bothering Anika. But
Suzanne was already down to a diet of chicken, beef, sweet potatoes, and rice -- there was nothing more she could cut out.
Feeling like "a total failure," Reese still wasn't ready to give up nursing her baby. She called another lactation consultant, who listened patiently to her story and immediately offered this tip: pump some milk, throw it away, and put Anika to her breast.
"OVERNIGHT, we had a new baby!" Reese recalled in an e-mail. "INCREDIBLE! We were utterly relieved -- to the point of tears."
The lactation consultant explained Reese was producing too much foremilk, which is full of sugar and can irritate a baby's delicate gut if she gets too much of it. By pumping off the foremilk and getting rid of it, Reese was giving Anika more hindmilk, which has significantly less sugar.
"I was also utterly angry that we had to go through all of this when it was such a simple fix," Reese says.
Breast-feeding advice from moms who've been through "hell"
Reese found when it comes to breast-feeding, sometimes the experts who should know the answers -- pediatricians, lactation counselors -- don't.
"We're getting better at training residents to learn more about breast-feeding, but we still have a ways to go," says Feldman-Winter, a professor of pediatrics at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey.
Reese is glad she kept looking for answers -- she's still nursing Anika, who turns 2 next month.
Various websites offer helpful breastfeeding tips, such as the American Academy of Family Physicians, pregnancy.org, and La Leche League International. In addition, La Leche League and babycenter.com offer forums where moms can seek advice from each other.
Read the full article to hear what other mothers who have to been through it have to say:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/23/breastfeeding.secrets/index.html
By Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent
cnnAuthor = "By Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent"December 23, 2010
Her mother, Suzanne, describes Anika's first four months as "living in hell with an angel."
"There are almost no words to describe what I thought was only some form of prison camp torture," Reese says.
Reese noticed her baby's stomach was swollen and her poops were green and frothy. Several friends and family members suggested it might be a problem with Reese's breast milk, and urged her to give Anika formula instead. But Reese was "hell-bent" on nursing and refused to stop.
Only 43% of moms breast-feeding at six months
Unlike Reese, many mothers, for various reasons, give up on nursing. While 75% of mothers breast-feed their babies soon after birth, only 43% are still nursing six months later, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends moms breast-feed for at least a year, but the first six months are especially crucial, says Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, a spokesperson for the academy, since most babies that age aren't yet eating solid food and rely solely on milk for nutrition.
Reese was committed to nursing because of the significant health benefits to her baby: fewer cases of gastroenteritis and ear and upper respiratory infections, to name a few, and now a new study out of Australia shows some breast-fed babies do better academically later in life.
While it's not easy to overcome the hurdles of early breast-feeding -- whether it's sore nipples, a screaming baby, or a low milk supply -- Reese managed to do it.
When she noticed Anika's belly swollen and strange, frothy green poops, Reese called lactation consultants, who told her all babies have gas and to be patient. Then, when Anika was 7 weeks old, Reese noticed blood in her daughter's stool.
The Reeses raced to the emergency room near their home in Ramona, California. Doctors gave Anika a barium enema to get a good look at her intestines.
The test showed Anika's colon was normal. The Reeses then took Anika to a pediatric gastroenterologist, who advised Suzanne to stop eating foods that might be bothering Anika. But
Suzanne was already down to a diet of chicken, beef, sweet potatoes, and rice -- there was nothing more she could cut out.
Feeling like "a total failure," Reese still wasn't ready to give up nursing her baby. She called another lactation consultant, who listened patiently to her story and immediately offered this tip: pump some milk, throw it away, and put Anika to her breast.
"OVERNIGHT, we had a new baby!" Reese recalled in an e-mail. "INCREDIBLE! We were utterly relieved -- to the point of tears."
The lactation consultant explained Reese was producing too much foremilk, which is full of sugar and can irritate a baby's delicate gut if she gets too much of it. By pumping off the foremilk and getting rid of it, Reese was giving Anika more hindmilk, which has significantly less sugar.
"I was also utterly angry that we had to go through all of this when it was such a simple fix," Reese says.
Breast-feeding advice from moms who've been through "hell"
Reese found when it comes to breast-feeding, sometimes the experts who should know the answers -- pediatricians, lactation counselors -- don't.
"We're getting better at training residents to learn more about breast-feeding, but we still have a ways to go," says Feldman-Winter, a professor of pediatrics at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey.
Reese is glad she kept looking for answers -- she's still nursing Anika, who turns 2 next month.
Various websites offer helpful breastfeeding tips, such as the American Academy of Family Physicians, pregnancy.org, and La Leche League International. In addition, La Leche League and babycenter.com offer forums where moms can seek advice from each other.
Read the full article to hear what other mothers who have to been through it have to say:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/23/breastfeeding.secrets/index.html
By Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent
cnnAuthor = "By Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent"December 23, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Funny Breastfeeding Statistics
Did you know?
1. Norway is the only country to include breast milk in national food statistics.
2. The Philippines earned a unique Guinness Book of World Records achievement when 3,738 mothers nursed their babies simultaneously in Manila.
3. A study published in the June 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine shows that breast milk is known to cure warts.
4. Kangaroos sometimes nurse their young until they're the same size as the mothers. Yikes!
Stats provided by S. Seip & A. Hedger in If These Boobs Could Talk
1. Norway is the only country to include breast milk in national food statistics.
2. The Philippines earned a unique Guinness Book of World Records achievement when 3,738 mothers nursed their babies simultaneously in Manila.
3. A study published in the June 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine shows that breast milk is known to cure warts.
4. Kangaroos sometimes nurse their young until they're the same size as the mothers. Yikes!
Stats provided by S. Seip & A. Hedger in If These Boobs Could Talk
Monday, December 13, 2010
8 Natural Cold Remedies
With the cold season if full swing, here are some natural cold remedies. My son's eyes bugged out of his head when I read him #3 (...turn off the wii...) he said "it does not really say that does it mom?" It was too funny! I have to say he did love doing number six though! What remedies work for you??
1. Vitamin D: is an important infection fighter and most children are not getting enough. The AAP recommends 400 IU per day. An eight-ounce glass of milk has about 100.
2. Probiotics: Some research suggests that bacteria found in foods like yogurt and keifer may help prevent respiratory infections. You can also simply purchase an over the counter pro-biotic for more bacteria for your buck! In one study of kids ages 3-5, those who consumed active lactobacillus cultures daily for six months during cold season were less likely to get sick and if they did the duration was shorter. It is especially important to give a pro-biotic if your child is on an antibiotic.
3. Sleep: Sleep and immune function are intertwined. People who don't get enough sleep are more susceptible to colds. If your child does get sick, let him stay home from school, turn off the Wii for a while, and let him rest.
4. Salt: A study last year in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology found this natural anti-inflammatory can help release mucus and ease breathing as well as soothe sore throats and coughs. For congestion, make a saline rinse with a half to a full teaspoon of salt per pint of warm water and administer it with a dropper (inexpensive saline nose rinses are also widely available). To treat a sore throat or cough, try teaching your child to gargle with the same warm saltwater solution. Try to make it a game and they may actually do it!
5. Moist air: Either a cool-mist humidifier or a warm vaporizer in your child's bedroom can help steam-clean nasal passages, reducing congestion. (Just make sure you keep whichever model you choose clean and out of your child's reach.) You can also steam up your bathroom, then take your cranky kiddo into this homemade sauna.
6. Honey: A study in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found that honey at bedtime was more effective at quieting coughs than honey-tasting cough medicine. The dose is similar to that of over-the-counter cold medicines: a half teaspoon for kids age 1 to 5, a full teaspoon for kids 6 to 11 and two teaspoons for children 12 and up. (never give honey to a child under 1) The study used buckwheat honey, but other kinds should work fine too Dr. Kemper says (my son agrees).
7. Chicken soup: It's the go-to-get-well meal for a good reason-it helps! Research has shown that chicken soup has anti-inflammatory powers that stimulate the release of mucus reducing congestion (probably due to all the salt!).
8. Relaxation: That means you, Mom! "Parents stress when their child is sick," notes Dr. Bernstein. "Meanwhile, the kid's on the floor, playing with his toys, happy as can be, with snot coming out of his nose and coughing." Of course, if your child develops a fever or his symptoms seem to worsen, consult your doctor. Otherwise, try to remember: a normal cold will run its course over a week or so.
Thanks Laura Beil from Parenting Magazine's November Issue for the great tips!
1. Vitamin D: is an important infection fighter and most children are not getting enough. The AAP recommends 400 IU per day. An eight-ounce glass of milk has about 100.
2. Probiotics: Some research suggests that bacteria found in foods like yogurt and keifer may help prevent respiratory infections. You can also simply purchase an over the counter pro-biotic for more bacteria for your buck! In one study of kids ages 3-5, those who consumed active lactobacillus cultures daily for six months during cold season were less likely to get sick and if they did the duration was shorter. It is especially important to give a pro-biotic if your child is on an antibiotic.
3. Sleep: Sleep and immune function are intertwined. People who don't get enough sleep are more susceptible to colds. If your child does get sick, let him stay home from school, turn off the Wii for a while, and let him rest.
4. Salt: A study last year in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology found this natural anti-inflammatory can help release mucus and ease breathing as well as soothe sore throats and coughs. For congestion, make a saline rinse with a half to a full teaspoon of salt per pint of warm water and administer it with a dropper (inexpensive saline nose rinses are also widely available). To treat a sore throat or cough, try teaching your child to gargle with the same warm saltwater solution. Try to make it a game and they may actually do it!
5. Moist air: Either a cool-mist humidifier or a warm vaporizer in your child's bedroom can help steam-clean nasal passages, reducing congestion. (Just make sure you keep whichever model you choose clean and out of your child's reach.) You can also steam up your bathroom, then take your cranky kiddo into this homemade sauna.
6. Honey: A study in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found that honey at bedtime was more effective at quieting coughs than honey-tasting cough medicine. The dose is similar to that of over-the-counter cold medicines: a half teaspoon for kids age 1 to 5, a full teaspoon for kids 6 to 11 and two teaspoons for children 12 and up. (never give honey to a child under 1) The study used buckwheat honey, but other kinds should work fine too Dr. Kemper says (my son agrees).
7. Chicken soup: It's the go-to-get-well meal for a good reason-it helps! Research has shown that chicken soup has anti-inflammatory powers that stimulate the release of mucus reducing congestion (probably due to all the salt!).
8. Relaxation: That means you, Mom! "Parents stress when their child is sick," notes Dr. Bernstein. "Meanwhile, the kid's on the floor, playing with his toys, happy as can be, with snot coming out of his nose and coughing." Of course, if your child develops a fever or his symptoms seem to worsen, consult your doctor. Otherwise, try to remember: a normal cold will run its course over a week or so.
Thanks Laura Beil from Parenting Magazine's November Issue for the great tips!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Amazing gift
Met with Lori from "Tied up with a Bow" today. Not only does this amazing lady offer personal shopping for the holiday season (perfect for those either to busy or not physically able to shop on their own) but she will
1. drive to your house (no additional charge here people!)
2. pick up your already purchased gifts,
3. and either wrap them there with you if you prefer or she will take them home and return to you in two days! (again, no additional charge)
4. She uses all of her own wrapping supplies (and I have seen first hand that she does an beautiful job!)
5. She will also ship them for people who are unable or simply want her to!
The best part, besides that she is completely affordable, you can give her as a gift to someone!!! It is the gift that keeps giving! To give a gift that is not only practical, but to give joy to someone who no longer can wrap and give their own gifts? PRICELESS. If you live in the Madison area consider using her services or giving her as a gift! I love it! tiedupwithabow@hotmail.com
1. drive to your house (no additional charge here people!)
2. pick up your already purchased gifts,
3. and either wrap them there with you if you prefer or she will take them home and return to you in two days! (again, no additional charge)
4. She uses all of her own wrapping supplies (and I have seen first hand that she does an beautiful job!)
5. She will also ship them for people who are unable or simply want her to!
The best part, besides that she is completely affordable, you can give her as a gift to someone!!! It is the gift that keeps giving! To give a gift that is not only practical, but to give joy to someone who no longer can wrap and give their own gifts? PRICELESS. If you live in the Madison area consider using her services or giving her as a gift! I love it! tiedupwithabow@hotmail.com
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