JUNGLE JUICE
60 ml Black Thornberry Elixor
1 Litre Berry Liquifruit
2 Litres Water
1 Sachet Rehydrate
2 Goronsan C
Mix together and drink as desired.
Yours in mothers trying their best
Monday, April 26, 2010
Immune booster
JUNGLE JUICE
60 ml Black Thornberry Elixor
1 Litre Berry Liquifruit
2 Litres Water
1 Sachet Rehydrate
2 Goronsan C
Mix together and drink as desired.
Yours in mothers trying their best
Monday, April 19, 2010
Gorgeous fingers
Want to know the hardest part of being a new mamma??
Trimming nails on those tiny, tiny gorgeous fingers!
Yours in mothers trying their best
Trimming nails on those tiny, tiny gorgeous fingers!
Yours in mothers trying their best
Saturday, April 17, 2010
A friend in need
I think that if someone wants to be truely supportive to you during the most challenging, demanding and enthralling days of your life, they should drop all expectations and give you as much time as you need (that goes for Dad's too). Don't offer to babysit so we can go out, the very thought of seperating myself from her at this vital bonding time fills me with angst and for me, there is nothing worse then listening to my baby's persistant crying in someone elses arms. I pace around like a caged tiger. Remember also, that initially a large portion of the day she is being breastfed, sometimes as often as 2 hourly (or even more) to establish milk supply and pacify (recommended). So boob and babe have to stay together.
But offering to drop off supper, straighten up your kitchen or do a grocery run... now we're talking.
Of course, cuddling your child is always on the agenda, just don't expect me for supper. Sunset is the start of the worst time of day and it kicks off with you already feeling shattered. I am so frustrated at being told you have to get out, I do. Morning tea, lunch, perfect, but in crisis hour(s), packing her into a car is a logistical nightmare, too tiring to even contemplate. You have to be prepared to come to us, you may end up making supper and washing dishes, but this is exactly what a new mother needs.
Really what is 3 or 4 months in the big scheme of my life? I am happy at home contrary to what most people might think and I am sure my baby will still end up a socially well adjusted cherub. No, I will not stay at home forever and yes, I will definately want babysitters.
There seems to be an insane notion that you must resume back to your old way of life as quickly as possible.... but what is more insane? That very notion or requesting some patience whilst you adjust to a completely new life, your old way of life is just that, your old way of life. This new life did not come as a surprise or shock to me, this is what I expected and wanted and I am loving it, even when I am crying and saying my mojo is dead and what have I done. I am making the assumption that there is no other time in my life that I will be this sleep deprived, so please be understanding and patient.
Yours in mothers trying their best
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Colic
The agony of not being able to soothe and comfort my baby has been the most emotionally challenging experience I have had to date, so I really do know what you are going through and feeling. I think if my lounge walls had flames painted on them, I truely would believe I had arrived in hell. You can see her distended belly in this picture!
One observation is SLEEP or lack of it as an indicator of the night ahead. If she does not settle and misses her morning or after lunch snooze, I know I am in bigger trouble then usual as the sun sets.
I have tried all the common recommendations, massage, warm baths and seen the Paed, but the advice is so depressing and limited, "hang in there, it will pass". Don't waste your money on Buscopan or other expensive remedies, they taste so vile, you will just end up dealing with vomit together with the colic.
A dummy seems to soothe her once she takes it, so I offer one, with a drop of Telament. My domestic also suggested wrapping fabric firmly around her waist and that also seems to help a little, you can use a flannel nappy folded into a triangle and tuck in a warm compress. I really don't know if these things are only making me feel better, but I feel worse doing nothing.
It dawned on me the other night how fearful I am getting of putting her down once she is asleep incase she wakes up! A knot of anxiety grips my heart and tears can whell at the very thought. The consequence of putting her down too soon, is about 2 or 3 additional hours of crying which has nearly pushed me over the edge on a few occassions, so I reckon it is a very justifiable feeling of angst. I try to bend as close to the bed as possible before putting her down, so she is not startled by the feeling of falling through the air.
The extract below was taken from http://www.coliccalm.com/ - a site I found very informative.
Another possible reason for infant gassiness is hyper-lactation syndrome. When a mother has a very abundant milk supply, she may produce a larger amount of foremilk. Foremilk is higher in water content, higher in lactose and usually delivered with greater force during letdown. In excess, foremilk can make baby’s stomach cramp, creating more fussiness. A baby that gulps the quickly flowing milk also tends to take in more air, thereby getting gassier. Because the baby may not be getting enough of the rich hind milk, he or she tends to want to eat more often, which perpetuates the problem. The baby that suffers from hyper-lactation syndrome is characterized by higher that normal weight gain, increased gassiness, and fussiness.
I am trying to express some foremilk and will let you know if it makes a difference.
Oh, I have also stopped eating diary and peanut butter.
Yours in mothers trying their best
Please refer to my blog called a "cure for colic" - you can forget all the advice above, just get this book!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Nappy rash
Just got over a really bad episode of nappy rash and after trying a heap of remedies the best, number one bum cream...
Sudocream.
Apply it THICKLY after each nappy change. Resolved in about 2 days.
Wonderful stuff.
Yours in mothers trying their best
Sudocream.
Apply it THICKLY after each nappy change. Resolved in about 2 days.
Wonderful stuff.
Yours in mothers trying their best
Are private hospital all that they are cracked up to be?
I've had time to reflect on my emotionally shattering stay in hospital, after giving birth to our little girl by c-section 6 weeks ago and will use this blog as a healing opportunity to overcome the ordeal and perhaps help you not make the same mistakes.
Madison was much anticipated. I read to her, talked to her, made her a trinket box, took her snorkelling and dreamt about her incessantly for 9 months but, also for years before that too.
When delivery day finally arrived, armed with a baby bag carefully packed and a cocktail of nerves and excitement, it was with incredulous disbelief that the first two days of her life were possibly the worst two days of my life. I literally got swallowed up in a production line of new mothers.
I had visioned lying with her, on my chest, listening to her breath, gently stroking her face...
But the first bewildering thing that happened was that she disappeared, for hours. Apparently into the baby nursery, where I presumed they were inspecting her?
I had lost complete control over my newborn. I kept asking after her, when would I see her? Why was it taking so long and no one could answer me.
What I discovered much later, was that she was hypo-glyceamic. Her blood sugar level was only 1.3 mmol/l at birth and she was lethargic and jittery. They had had to give her a sugary drink to raise her sugar level and kept her in the nursary to monitor her progress. What infuriated me was that at no point during this period, was I notified about what was going on.
Down the corridor I could hear infants crying and I had to lie there full of angst, wondering if it was her. I couldn't climb out of bed because I had had a spinal block, so I was trapped.
When she did finally arrived, she was dressed in a hospital gown and I was told to breastfeed her without delay. I was still in the dark as to what had been going on, so presumed this was obviously the norm. Under the 'care' of a maternity nurse, my boobs got pulled, shoved, bruised (genuinely) and pintched in a frantic attempt to get Madison to latch. If my boobs could have been independently operated and removed, I think they would have done it.
The whole experience was horrific, not the maternal bliss I had imagined. I had wanted time so I could quietly introduce her to me, my boobs, my heart, her father.
After finally finding my voice, I asked the nurse to please leave us alone, so I could feed her in our time, calmly, without bruising and shoving.
I have to question, what has happened to hospitals and the care givers, that a new mother can be stripped of her baby immediately after birth, given no explaination and then not given any say in how I would like to spend the first few hours with my baby?
Even in the animal kingdom, the mother swaddles her pup alone initially, and gets extremely aggressive and protective if anything comes within a radius she deems too close.
Have we become so clinical and heartless that the natural ebb and flow of life is totally disregarded? The idea of home births has always filled me with trepidation, but I now understand why some mother's so vehemently choose this option.
I would have liked to have fed her that sugary bottle and soothed her when they were busy pricking her heels to get blood sugar levels, if I had known. I could have dressed her and participated in the discussion when the pediatrician visited her.
It seemed that no sooner was she brought to me to nurse when they wanted to wisk her away again, to give me some rest, you understand.
Understand! Rest! I wanted my baby. As soon as the feeling returned to my legs, I clutched my belly and went to the nursary and fetched her. Some hours later, with her fretful and unable to settle, I again went to the nursary requesting a 'top up' bottle which they refused, I was told that I had to breastfeed or feed her with a cup.
They totally disregarding what I wanted and what the pediatrician had said, I could give her a bottle when ever and how often I felt it needed. They kept telling me (and thinking I am sure) that I was just emotional and hit up due to hormones and that Madison was fine and not to worry so much and I kept trying to tell them it had nothing to do with hormones, that Madi was simply thirsty. The more I argued, the more adament they were that it was my hormones talking.
Desperate I phoned her Dad in tears, who came flying over. We got our bottle (not a cup!) and she drank it and was satisfied. She never, ever got nipple confusion as a result of using a bottle (which I have done on numerous occassions since), ever.
To this day I 'top her up' if I feel she needs it. I discharged myself on day two at 08:00am. Missing the hearing test, discharge weight and what ever other test they had to tick off on their checklist. I couldn't wait to get out of there. I wanted to take care of my baby at home, on my terms and following my own intuition. She lost 500 grams in those two days in hospital, which thankfully she has regained, plus.
There were were actually so many other areas of neglect in my care, I shake my head just thinking about it. Failure to check I had passed urine (essential after a spinal block and the removal of a urine catheter), failure to assist me getting out of bed for the first time, failure to check my wound for bleeding, leaving the over head lights blazing all night long with me still sitting in an full on upright position on both nights and of course, the failure to listen.
The kindest act I recieved during my stay in hospital was from the cleaner. She moved my water closer and once, after seeing I never got to drink my tea, organized a fresh, hot one. Bless her.
I can't go back and undo how things unfolded and I could beat myself up about why I didn't just speak up more, but I was overwhelmed and shell shocked. I can only thank God for a beautiful daughter, who is happy and healthy and cradled with love in the safety of her home.
I truely do appreciate that hospital births are mostly unavoidable and life saving and my experience could have been simply bad luck, but my advice?
Make sure the nursing staff see you before you go off to theatre so that they know what your expectations are and can meet them to the best of their ability, trust your new motherly instincts and stick to your guns. But, finally... go home as fast as you can so you can enjoy your new baby, the way you want to.
Yours in mothers trying their best
Madison was much anticipated. I read to her, talked to her, made her a trinket box, took her snorkelling and dreamt about her incessantly for 9 months but, also for years before that too.
When delivery day finally arrived, armed with a baby bag carefully packed and a cocktail of nerves and excitement, it was with incredulous disbelief that the first two days of her life were possibly the worst two days of my life. I literally got swallowed up in a production line of new mothers.
I had visioned lying with her, on my chest, listening to her breath, gently stroking her face...
But the first bewildering thing that happened was that she disappeared, for hours. Apparently into the baby nursery, where I presumed they were inspecting her?
I had lost complete control over my newborn. I kept asking after her, when would I see her? Why was it taking so long and no one could answer me.
What I discovered much later, was that she was hypo-glyceamic. Her blood sugar level was only 1.3 mmol/l at birth and she was lethargic and jittery. They had had to give her a sugary drink to raise her sugar level and kept her in the nursary to monitor her progress. What infuriated me was that at no point during this period, was I notified about what was going on.
Down the corridor I could hear infants crying and I had to lie there full of angst, wondering if it was her. I couldn't climb out of bed because I had had a spinal block, so I was trapped.
When she did finally arrived, she was dressed in a hospital gown and I was told to breastfeed her without delay. I was still in the dark as to what had been going on, so presumed this was obviously the norm. Under the 'care' of a maternity nurse, my boobs got pulled, shoved, bruised (genuinely) and pintched in a frantic attempt to get Madison to latch. If my boobs could have been independently operated and removed, I think they would have done it.
The whole experience was horrific, not the maternal bliss I had imagined. I had wanted time so I could quietly introduce her to me, my boobs, my heart, her father.
After finally finding my voice, I asked the nurse to please leave us alone, so I could feed her in our time, calmly, without bruising and shoving.
I have to question, what has happened to hospitals and the care givers, that a new mother can be stripped of her baby immediately after birth, given no explaination and then not given any say in how I would like to spend the first few hours with my baby?
Even in the animal kingdom, the mother swaddles her pup alone initially, and gets extremely aggressive and protective if anything comes within a radius she deems too close.
Have we become so clinical and heartless that the natural ebb and flow of life is totally disregarded? The idea of home births has always filled me with trepidation, but I now understand why some mother's so vehemently choose this option.
I would have liked to have fed her that sugary bottle and soothed her when they were busy pricking her heels to get blood sugar levels, if I had known. I could have dressed her and participated in the discussion when the pediatrician visited her.
It seemed that no sooner was she brought to me to nurse when they wanted to wisk her away again, to give me some rest, you understand.
Understand! Rest! I wanted my baby. As soon as the feeling returned to my legs, I clutched my belly and went to the nursary and fetched her. Some hours later, with her fretful and unable to settle, I again went to the nursary requesting a 'top up' bottle which they refused, I was told that I had to breastfeed or feed her with a cup.
They totally disregarding what I wanted and what the pediatrician had said, I could give her a bottle when ever and how often I felt it needed. They kept telling me (and thinking I am sure) that I was just emotional and hit up due to hormones and that Madison was fine and not to worry so much and I kept trying to tell them it had nothing to do with hormones, that Madi was simply thirsty. The more I argued, the more adament they were that it was my hormones talking.
Desperate I phoned her Dad in tears, who came flying over. We got our bottle (not a cup!) and she drank it and was satisfied. She never, ever got nipple confusion as a result of using a bottle (which I have done on numerous occassions since), ever.
To this day I 'top her up' if I feel she needs it. I discharged myself on day two at 08:00am. Missing the hearing test, discharge weight and what ever other test they had to tick off on their checklist. I couldn't wait to get out of there. I wanted to take care of my baby at home, on my terms and following my own intuition. She lost 500 grams in those two days in hospital, which thankfully she has regained, plus.
There were were actually so many other areas of neglect in my care, I shake my head just thinking about it. Failure to check I had passed urine (essential after a spinal block and the removal of a urine catheter), failure to assist me getting out of bed for the first time, failure to check my wound for bleeding, leaving the over head lights blazing all night long with me still sitting in an full on upright position on both nights and of course, the failure to listen.
The kindest act I recieved during my stay in hospital was from the cleaner. She moved my water closer and once, after seeing I never got to drink my tea, organized a fresh, hot one. Bless her.
I can't go back and undo how things unfolded and I could beat myself up about why I didn't just speak up more, but I was overwhelmed and shell shocked. I can only thank God for a beautiful daughter, who is happy and healthy and cradled with love in the safety of her home.
I truely do appreciate that hospital births are mostly unavoidable and life saving and my experience could have been simply bad luck, but my advice?
Make sure the nursing staff see you before you go off to theatre so that they know what your expectations are and can meet them to the best of their ability, trust your new motherly instincts and stick to your guns. But, finally... go home as fast as you can so you can enjoy your new baby, the way you want to.
Yours in mothers trying their best
Saturday, April 10, 2010
What does a c-section cost?
For my stay in a South African private Life Hospital and care =
R24 660,99.
Discovery Health medical aid did cover the full amount on a Classic Saver account.
R24 660,99.
Discovery Health medical aid did cover the full amount on a Classic Saver account.
Monday, April 5, 2010
A love letter to my unborn daughter
Dear Madi,
I know your Dad will be an awesome father; he is such a gentle soul and is so hard to upset. He loves the beach and speaks about taking you snorkelling with him as soon as you can swim. I think he will pass his love of the ocean onto you. If you want to see your Dad happy, take him down to some gullies or a beautiful river and let him explore the world underwater. He loves it! I hope you will too?
I dream you will be happy, feel loved and free of any unnecessary pressures. School can be so tough, trying to fit in – just be you. Don’t be afraid to be friends with the kids who are “a little” different, who march to their own band. Be different yourself, question and trust. Don’t worry if you like purple ribbons in your hair or stripy socks. The world needs colourful people and I hope you will be one of them. Please read a book called “Mister God this is Anna” by Fynn. I hope you will be a little like Anna. Loving life, seeing beauty everywhere, especially where other people don’t and daring to challenge beliefs (in a gentle, soft way of course) and seeing the magic and beauty of life in the simplest of situations, those moments are all around us.
Well my little Madi, for now I must rest. You are making me want to go to bed really early these days... not that I mind.
Together we will sleep until we meet.
Much love to you my sweet - my angel -
Your mumma XX
P.S Your Dad’s favourite song when he thinks of your arrival into this world is “daughter” by Live.
Do Schools kill creativity by Ken Robinson
If you have a few minutes to spare, take the time to check this out on You Tube. Being a new mom myself I found this talk extremely thought provoking and well worth listening too.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Yours in mothers trying their best
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Yours in mothers trying their best
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Sunday, April 4, 2010
What I know for sure about being a new mother
Your baby will cry for no apparant reason, apparently this is just their way of communicating, I try to remember... all moments, good or bad, pass quickly.
2. Breast feeding is NOT easy - WHAT?? Really it isn't! My nipples are broken, my arms, neck and back ache, and 6 weeks on I can still sometimes struggle to latch her effectively. Why do I soldier on? Because I know it is best for my baby and in some macabre way, I am totally addicted to it. It gives me a sense of utter amazement at my body's ability to produce and provide enough milk to see her gain weight (alot of it!) and it evokes a feeling of intense motherly protectiveness and pride.
3. Oprah always speaks of 'Ah ha' moments in life, giving birth is one of them. I am 38 years old and have endured many baby showers and mothers tea parties and swore I would never become one of those obssesive mothers. Drooning on and on about milestones and what little 'Jimmy' did today and yesterday and the day before that. After being handed my little girl, I got it. I understood. The light bulb came on and before I knew it I was looking forward to tea and chat with other new obssesive mothers. Fancy that!
4. Trust your instincts, even the baby clinic's Nursing Sister doesn't know everything. Your baby is unique and as the days pass into months, the better you get at intuitively knowing what's best.
5. Your relationship with your man suffers. Nothing can prepare you for the life flip a new baby brings with it. We haven't had sex in months, we are sleep deprived and have a demanding babe and what used to be his attractive lover, is now clad in baggy pajama's, smelling of sour milk and constantly talking baby. I know this too will pass - reassure him and love him when you can.
6. Every new mother will have a moment when they think 'what have I done?'. This is usually at midnight, when the rest of the world is asleep and you have big crocodile tears running down your face, whilst you sway to the rythem of 'doo doo my baby'. Take a deep breath and carry on, one little smile (even if it is wind induced), will make it all worthwhile, it does get better.
7. Until it is you, no one can describe or imagine the emotion of looking at your child for the first time... I wish I could rewind that moment over and over and over again. Magical, surreal, incredulous.
8. You think you won't cope, but you do and and you get better at it. You start to feel less tired in the day even though you have had the same amount of sleep at night.
9. You will want visitors. You WONT... not initially. Your senses are reeling and you need time, lots of it, alone with your man and with your babe.
10. You would die for your baby - its true. Suddenly you are in love with a tiny little cherub you hardly know, but instinctively love.
Top tips for new mothers
I am a first time mother of a six week year old and have been learning some really valuable lessons as time goes by. If you are unsure about how to prepare for caring for your newborn at home, here is a list of life saving "must haves" I wish I had known about before I went home.
1. Lanolin. Expensive but worth every cent to apply to sore, cracked nipples after each feed.
2. Aqueous cream, unscented. ALOT of products have scent and on newborn delicate skin it is a nightmare. I use it in place of soap and it is fantastic.
3. The old fashioned flannel nappy. I can not emphasize enough the amount of times I have used these. Not as a nappy, but for mopping milky faces, drying bums, covering the changing mat with something soft, towels (folded once into a triangle and wrapped around the babies body before washing hair works like a dream). They are easy to launder and bleach if you need to, no stress about ruining your 'good stuff'. Couldn't be easier.
4. Formula and a back up bottle. Don't get me wrong, I breastfeed and am pro it, but when your baby is yelling and you know she is still hungry, to have it at hand has been a life saver. I did try to express at the same time, to keep up the milk production and also had my fiance give her a bottle when exhaustion was reducing me to tears. I wouldn't be without it.
5. Grocery list on line. I had a c-section so was not able to drive to the shops (and didn't feel up to it). Find you favourite gorcery shop on line and create a shopping list of basics. Then when you need to fill the fridge/freezer, you just make the odd one or two changes and you can have it delivered to your door. Remember to add snacks you might not usually have, breastfeeding moms need a bigger calorie intake and it helps to have them at hand to grab on the run.
6. Stock up on juice. Cordial, rooibos (herbal teas), ginger ale etc. You definately drink more (and should) fluid when breastfeeding.
7. Ear buds. Especially for cleaning her umbilical cord.
8. Hand wash soap powder. For those soiled clothes and cloths.
9. If you can afford it, hire a domestic to help with housework. You seriously will not be up to much else but being a mom, when she finally arrives. My domestic, Monica, has been a God sent, I have her twice a week to handle the washing and ironing.
10. Baby grows with wide, stretchy arms. Remember your little one has the tiniest hands and trying to get them through a snug sleeve is a NIGHTMARE.
11. Pacifier. You might not be to keen on using them but after listening to a screaming baby for hours and ruling out all reasons she might be crying - you might find yourself desperately reaching for one.
12. Nappies. Personally I prefer Pampers because they are slightly bigger then Huggies and therefore leave a space between the skin and the nappy, letting air circulate.
13. Good old vaseline, unscented. Great barrier cream to prevent nappy rash.
14. Nightlight. Keeps the atmosphere calm at night and wont disturb your partner as much especially if he has work the next day.
15. Mosquito net. I use mine every night, wouldn't be without it.
16. Breastfeeding pillow. One that wraps around you.
17. Round ended nail scissors to trim your cherubs nails. They grow much faster then expected!
18. Course salt. Lovely to add a handful to your bath and to hers! Healing and soothing.
19. Electric breast pump. I would not have survived without this. I wouldn't recommend buying one, you won't need it for long enough to justify the expense, you can hire them at most pharmacies. I have used mine extensively to express if going out and if my nipples were too painful for breastfeeding. Remember if your breasts get engorged you must express a little to relieve them and prevent mastitis.
20. Faceclothes, make sure you know which one is for the bum and which one for the body. Choose ones you can colour code or with pictures so you don't get muddled.
I hope this helps you prepare for your new arrival - best of luck!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Establishing your milk supply
Establishing Your Milk Supply
Submitted by Enkade on Friday, July 17 @ 09:43:31 MST ShareThis
In today’s society, many women have never seen anyone nurse a baby. If possible, attend a prenatal breastfeeding class. Just seeing other mothers happily nursing their babies in a relaxed environment can help boost your confidence level to establishing your milk supply.
For information on establishing your milk supply there are good basic reference books: The Complete Book of Breastfeeding, Nursing Your Baby, The Nursing Mother’s Companion, and Nursing Mother, Working Mother. Each baby is unique, and so each nursing experience will be different. Put your baby to the breast as soon as possible after birth, while his sucking instincts are strongest to establishing your milk supply.
Nurse often to establish your milk supply. Newborns usually need to nurse 10-12 times or more in 24 hours. The more he nurses, the sooner your milk will come in, and the more milk your body will produce. If you are separated from your baby after birth, or if he doesn’t nurse well, use a hospital or professional grade pump (015 Classic, 016 Lactina Select, or Pump In Style) to stimulate and maintain your milk supply.
Nurse for comfort as well as nourishment to establishing your milk supply. Plan to spend most of your time nursing in the early weeks to establishing your milk supply. Babies nurse for lots of reasons, and they are all valid. Don’t be afraid to use the breast as a pacifier – it works, makes your baby happier, builds your milk supply, and forces you to stop and rest. If friends and family members want to help, let them take care of you while you take care of the baby.
Offer both breasts at a feeding. Many babies will only take one breast at a feeding once your milk supply is well established, especially if you have a plentiful milk supply, but in the beginning, you need to stimulate both breasts.
Don’t be surprised if your baby ‘cluster feeds’. For most babies, this means nursing at least 8 times in 24 hours. However, if your baby has regained his birth weight by day 3, there is no reason to set your alarm and wake him up every 2 hours to nurse. Remember that the mythical “average” baby doesn’t really exist.
Avoid artificial nipples and supplemental feeding during the early weeks of nursing. While some babies switch back and forth from breast to bottle easily from the first day, many babies will become nipple confused if you introduce artificial nipples before they have mastered the art of breastfeeding.
Most babies will lose some weight in the first couple of days after birth – the average seven and a half pound baby will lose about 7% of his birth weight, or around 8 ounces.
Babies don’t need water, even when it is hot outside. Human milk contains plenty of water.
Formula takes longer to digest than breastmilk, so your baby stays full longer and is less likely to nurse as often as he needs to stimulate your supply. See the article on “Introducing Bottles and Pacifiers to the Breastfed Baby” for detailed information on alternate feeding methods such as cup, syringe, tube, or finger feeding.
Make sure that your baby is latched on correctly and is nursing effectively. Learn signs of effective, nutritive nursing. Some babies will stay on the breast for long periods of time, but will ‘flutter suck’ ineffectively in their sleep, and won’t get the milk they need or supply you with the stimulation to produce more.
Learn how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk. Once your milk comes in, you will produce transitional milk – a mixture of colostrum and mature milk, which may be yellowish and creamy looking. During the next week or so, less and less colostrum is produced, and by the time your baby is two weeks old, mature milk has replaced the transitional milk and no more colostrum is produced. Even if you only nurse your baby for a few days or a couple of weeks, you are still providing him with important immune factors.
During your 48-hour hospital stay, your baby will alternate between sleeping and nursing. Babies even suck their fingers in utero. The most important thing is that you make sure your baby gets enough to eat while lowering your stress level, enjoying your baby, getting your strength back, and continuing nursing. If you have been feeding every 1-2 hours around the clock, and your baby doesn’t go any longer stretches than that in 24 hours, consult a Lactation Consultant if this pattern continues longer than a few days.
Know When to Ask for Help
· Your baby is not latching on well, or nursing just doesn’t “feel right”.
· Your baby is sleepy and hard to wake up for feedings. He is nursing less than 8 times in 24 hours.
Remember that nearly all breastfeeding problems can be solved if you are strongly committed to nursing your baby, and you receive advice and encourage from a knowledgeable breastfeeding professional.
Source: http://www.articleavenue.com
Submitted by Enkade on Friday, July 17 @ 09:43:31 MST ShareThis
In today’s society, many women have never seen anyone nurse a baby. If possible, attend a prenatal breastfeeding class. Just seeing other mothers happily nursing their babies in a relaxed environment can help boost your confidence level to establishing your milk supply.
For information on establishing your milk supply there are good basic reference books: The Complete Book of Breastfeeding, Nursing Your Baby, The Nursing Mother’s Companion, and Nursing Mother, Working Mother. Each baby is unique, and so each nursing experience will be different. Put your baby to the breast as soon as possible after birth, while his sucking instincts are strongest to establishing your milk supply.
Nurse often to establish your milk supply. Newborns usually need to nurse 10-12 times or more in 24 hours. The more he nurses, the sooner your milk will come in, and the more milk your body will produce. If you are separated from your baby after birth, or if he doesn’t nurse well, use a hospital or professional grade pump (015 Classic, 016 Lactina Select, or Pump In Style) to stimulate and maintain your milk supply.
Nurse for comfort as well as nourishment to establishing your milk supply. Plan to spend most of your time nursing in the early weeks to establishing your milk supply. Babies nurse for lots of reasons, and they are all valid. Don’t be afraid to use the breast as a pacifier – it works, makes your baby happier, builds your milk supply, and forces you to stop and rest. If friends and family members want to help, let them take care of you while you take care of the baby.
Offer both breasts at a feeding. Many babies will only take one breast at a feeding once your milk supply is well established, especially if you have a plentiful milk supply, but in the beginning, you need to stimulate both breasts.
Don’t be surprised if your baby ‘cluster feeds’. For most babies, this means nursing at least 8 times in 24 hours. However, if your baby has regained his birth weight by day 3, there is no reason to set your alarm and wake him up every 2 hours to nurse. Remember that the mythical “average” baby doesn’t really exist.
Avoid artificial nipples and supplemental feeding during the early weeks of nursing. While some babies switch back and forth from breast to bottle easily from the first day, many babies will become nipple confused if you introduce artificial nipples before they have mastered the art of breastfeeding.
Most babies will lose some weight in the first couple of days after birth – the average seven and a half pound baby will lose about 7% of his birth weight, or around 8 ounces.
Babies don’t need water, even when it is hot outside. Human milk contains plenty of water.
Formula takes longer to digest than breastmilk, so your baby stays full longer and is less likely to nurse as often as he needs to stimulate your supply. See the article on “Introducing Bottles and Pacifiers to the Breastfed Baby” for detailed information on alternate feeding methods such as cup, syringe, tube, or finger feeding.
Make sure that your baby is latched on correctly and is nursing effectively. Learn signs of effective, nutritive nursing. Some babies will stay on the breast for long periods of time, but will ‘flutter suck’ ineffectively in their sleep, and won’t get the milk they need or supply you with the stimulation to produce more.
Learn how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk. Once your milk comes in, you will produce transitional milk – a mixture of colostrum and mature milk, which may be yellowish and creamy looking. During the next week or so, less and less colostrum is produced, and by the time your baby is two weeks old, mature milk has replaced the transitional milk and no more colostrum is produced. Even if you only nurse your baby for a few days or a couple of weeks, you are still providing him with important immune factors.
During your 48-hour hospital stay, your baby will alternate between sleeping and nursing. Babies even suck their fingers in utero. The most important thing is that you make sure your baby gets enough to eat while lowering your stress level, enjoying your baby, getting your strength back, and continuing nursing. If you have been feeding every 1-2 hours around the clock, and your baby doesn’t go any longer stretches than that in 24 hours, consult a Lactation Consultant if this pattern continues longer than a few days.
Know When to Ask for Help
· Your baby is not latching on well, or nursing just doesn’t “feel right”.
· Your baby is sleepy and hard to wake up for feedings. He is nursing less than 8 times in 24 hours.
Remember that nearly all breastfeeding problems can be solved if you are strongly committed to nursing your baby, and you receive advice and encourage from a knowledgeable breastfeeding professional.
Source: http://www.articleavenue.com
7 myths about breastfeeding
7 Myths About Breastfeeding-Get The Facts... by Farrell Seah
Article Posted: 10/22/2006
7 Myths About Breastfeeding-Get The Facts...
In spite of public awareness campaigns around breastfeeding, many myths and malpractices still abound – some women may even decide not to breastfeed or would stop prematurely because of it.
To help you tell fact from fiction, here are seven of the most common breastfeeding myths:
MYTH 1: Your baby can be allergic to your milk.
FACT: Human infants are never allergic to their own mother’s milk. We have found no documented cases in the medical literature. Occasionally babies can have problems with foods mom eats.
MYTH 2: If you nurse your baby every time he fusses, he will learn to "use you as a pacifier".
FACT: Your baby is designed by nature to suckle frequently at the breast. It is a human survival strategy. Your baby doesn’t “use your breast” as a pacifier any more than he “used your womb” as an incubator.
Myth 3: Many women do not produce enough milk.
FACT Not true! The vast majority of women produce more than enough milk. Indeed, an overabundance of milk is common. Most babies that gain too slowly, or lose weight, do so not because the mother does not have enough milk, but because the baby does not get the milk that the mother has.
The usual reason that the baby does not get the milk that is available is that he is poorly latched onto the breast. This is why it is so important that the mother be shown, on the first day, how to latch a baby on properly, by someone who knows what they are doing.
MYTH 4: Your baby eats "too often", so you must not have enough milk.
FACT: Most babies need to eat 8 - 14 times a day in the early weeks. If your baby has soft stools and clear or pale urine, he is getting enough milk.
Myth 5: Giving the breast a nursing "rest" can help ensure more milk.
Fact The more you nurse, the more milk you make. Breaking your regular nursing schedule to "rest" the breast actually may decrease your milk supply.
This myth got started, because skipping a feeding or pumping during the day results in greater supply of milk at night. But by the next day you will have less milk if you skip a feeding. "The only way to ensure a steady supply is to keep expressing milk as regularly as you can." You should nurse at least nine to 10 times a day to ensure milk production.
Myth 6: "Small breasts will not produce enough"
FACT Being able to breastfeed successfully does not depend on the size of your breast. The size of the breast depends upon the amount of the fatty tissue layer under the skin. Breastmilk is produced by special glands in the breast that are present in all women.
Myth 7: Breastfeeding ruins the shape of your breasts
FACT This is simply not true. As soon as a woman becomes pregnant permanent changes occur in her breasts. Even if she doesn't carry to term, or chooses to abort, her breasts will never be the same as they were before she became pregnant. Whether or not she then goes on to breastfeed will not effect her future breast shape one way or another.
Heredity plays a large role in this matter, as does excessive weight gain or loss. It is helpful to maintain the tone of the muscles that support your breasts, and avoid large and sudden weight gains or losses, pregnancy-related or otherwise.
It is not necessary to believe something or use it as a basis for a major decision in life, regardless of the source from which it came. Get the facts, gather all the information and make an informed decision -- an informed decision that is best for you and your baby.
Article Posted: 10/22/2006
7 Myths About Breastfeeding-Get The Facts...
In spite of public awareness campaigns around breastfeeding, many myths and malpractices still abound – some women may even decide not to breastfeed or would stop prematurely because of it.
To help you tell fact from fiction, here are seven of the most common breastfeeding myths:
MYTH 1: Your baby can be allergic to your milk.
FACT: Human infants are never allergic to their own mother’s milk. We have found no documented cases in the medical literature. Occasionally babies can have problems with foods mom eats.
MYTH 2: If you nurse your baby every time he fusses, he will learn to "use you as a pacifier".
FACT: Your baby is designed by nature to suckle frequently at the breast. It is a human survival strategy. Your baby doesn’t “use your breast” as a pacifier any more than he “used your womb” as an incubator.
Myth 3: Many women do not produce enough milk.
FACT Not true! The vast majority of women produce more than enough milk. Indeed, an overabundance of milk is common. Most babies that gain too slowly, or lose weight, do so not because the mother does not have enough milk, but because the baby does not get the milk that the mother has.
The usual reason that the baby does not get the milk that is available is that he is poorly latched onto the breast. This is why it is so important that the mother be shown, on the first day, how to latch a baby on properly, by someone who knows what they are doing.
MYTH 4: Your baby eats "too often", so you must not have enough milk.
FACT: Most babies need to eat 8 - 14 times a day in the early weeks. If your baby has soft stools and clear or pale urine, he is getting enough milk.
Myth 5: Giving the breast a nursing "rest" can help ensure more milk.
Fact The more you nurse, the more milk you make. Breaking your regular nursing schedule to "rest" the breast actually may decrease your milk supply.
This myth got started, because skipping a feeding or pumping during the day results in greater supply of milk at night. But by the next day you will have less milk if you skip a feeding. "The only way to ensure a steady supply is to keep expressing milk as regularly as you can." You should nurse at least nine to 10 times a day to ensure milk production.
Myth 6: "Small breasts will not produce enough"
FACT Being able to breastfeed successfully does not depend on the size of your breast. The size of the breast depends upon the amount of the fatty tissue layer under the skin. Breastmilk is produced by special glands in the breast that are present in all women.
Myth 7: Breastfeeding ruins the shape of your breasts
FACT This is simply not true. As soon as a woman becomes pregnant permanent changes occur in her breasts. Even if she doesn't carry to term, or chooses to abort, her breasts will never be the same as they were before she became pregnant. Whether or not she then goes on to breastfeed will not effect her future breast shape one way or another.
Heredity plays a large role in this matter, as does excessive weight gain or loss. It is helpful to maintain the tone of the muscles that support your breasts, and avoid large and sudden weight gains or losses, pregnancy-related or otherwise.
It is not necessary to believe something or use it as a basis for a major decision in life, regardless of the source from which it came. Get the facts, gather all the information and make an informed decision -- an informed decision that is best for you and your baby.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
