Beba KS

Author: bebaks

  • Oversupply

    Oversupply


    Oversupply

    Sometimes a mother produces more milk than her baby needs and this can result in a forceful ejection of milk from her overfull breast. This can be upsetting for babies during and between feedings. Typical symptoms of oversupply include:

    • Baby cries a lot, and is often very irritable and/or restless
    • Baby may sometimes gulp, choke, sputter, or cough during feedings at breast
    • Baby may seem to bite or clamp down on the nipple while feeding
    • Milk sprays when baby comes off, especially at the beginning of a feeding
    • Mother may have sore nipples
    • Baby may arch and hold himself very stiffly, sometimes screaming
    • Feedings often seem like battles, with baby nursing fitfully on and off
    • Feedings may be short, lasting only 5 or 10 minutes total
    • Baby may seem to have a “love-hate” relationship with the breast
    • Baby may burp or pass gas frequently between feedings, tending to spit up a lot
    • Baby may have green, watery or foamy, explosive stools
    • Mother’s breasts feel very full most of the time
    • Mother may have frequent plugged ducts, which can sometimes lead to mastitis
    Source: La Leche League International, http://www.llli.org/faq/oversupply.html

    To address this problem, try:

    • Nursing your baby on only one breast per feeding. If needed, you can express the other breast to relieve pressure and freeze the excess milk for later. If your baby wants to nurse again within two hours, offer the same breast again.
    • Expressing some milk before you start nursing to reduce the rate of milk ejection. Do not express too much as that will tell your breasts to produce more milk.
    • Positioning your baby more upright during nursing and/or reclining yourself so that gravity helps slow the rate of milk ejection. The side-lying position is also good.
    • Feeding your baby before he is too hungry, which means he will not suck as hard which will not stimulate your breasts as much.
    • Stopping pumping, if you have been doing so to store milk, until your milk supply better matches your baby’s current needs.

    If you are producing a lot of milk you can use breast pads to catch leaks, but remember to change them at least daily. Also, your baby will likely swallow more air, so frequently burp your baby to minimize the problem.

  • What are the best positions for labor?

    What are the best positions for labor?

    Moving around, standing, and squatting are some of the best positions.

    There is no one best position. In fact, most women end up changing positions frequently during labor. Let your body be your guide. It is best not to lie down for too long. Studies have shown that women who tended to walk or stay upright during early and active labor reduced their labor time by one hour.

    Sometimes, a medical condition will dictate what’s best for you and your baby. If you have any complications that require continuous monitoring and you need to stay tethered to a monitor by a cord, your ability to move around will be limited. Occasionally a baby’s heart rate will indicate that he prefers you to be in one position or another.

  • Medical reasons for a C-Section

    Medical reasons for a C-Section

    Cesarean birth (also called c-section) is surgery in which your baby is born through a cut that your doctor makes in your belly and uterus. For some women and babies, a c-section is safer than vaginal birth. You may need a c-section because of medical reasons that affect your pregnancy.

    If your pregnancy is healthy and you don’t have any medical reasons to have a c-section, it’s best to have your baby through vaginal birth.

    What are medical reasons for having a c-section?

    Your health care provider may suggest that you have a c-section because of complications that make vaginal birth unsafe. For example:

    Pregnancy complications:

    • You’ve had a c-section in a previous pregnancy or other surgeries on your uterus (womb).
    • There are problems with the placenta. The placenta grows in your uterus and supplies the baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord. Placental problems can cause dangerous bleeding during vaginal birth.
    • You have an infection, like HIV or genital herpes.
    • You’re having multiples (twins, triplets, or more).
    • You have a chronic health condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure, that requires treatment.

    Complications during labor and birth:

    • Your baby is too big to pass safely through the vagina.
    • Your baby is in a breech position (his bottom or feet are facing down) or a transverse position (his shoulder is facing down). The best position for your baby at birth is head down.
    • Labor is too slow or stops.
    • Your baby’s umbilical cord slips into the vagina where it could be squeezed or flattened during vaginal birth. This is called umbilical cord prolapse. The umbilical cord is the cord that connects your baby to the placenta. It carries food and oxygen from the placenta to the baby.
    • Your baby has problems during labor, like a slow heart rate. This is also called fetal distress.
    • Your baby has a certain type of birth defect. Birth defects are health conditions that are present at birth. Birth defects change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body. They can cause problems in overall health, how the body develops, or in how the body works.

    Can you schedule your c-section?

    Yes. If there are medical reasons for having a c-section, you and your provider can plan for and schedule it. If you’re scheduling your c-section, talk to your provider about waiting until at least 39 weeks of pregnancy. This gives your baby the time she needs to grow and develop before birth.

  • Low milk supply

    Low milk supply

    Low milk supply

    This is a common concern, but oftentimes is a false alarm. Often women are concerned they don’t have enough milk if their:

    • Breasts no longer feel full. False alarm! When your baby is between 6 weeks to 2 months old, your body has adjusted to how much milk he needs.
    • Baby has fewer stools. False alarm! From six weeks old your baby will have fewer stools than before and can go days without one.
    • Baby wants to nurse longer and more frequently. False alarm! Babies will experience several “growth spurts” in the first few months of life (often around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months), but if you let him breastfeed as often and as long as he wants this will help bring up milk supply quickly.

    Milk supply is very often a simple case of demand and supply, so the more you breastfeed, the more milk you will produce. The most important indicators baby is getting enough milk are the number of diapers and weight gain. If you are still concerned about your milk supply after considering this and ruling out the false alarms noted above, you should:

    • Call us or visit your local Beba-ks Center (Women’s Health Resource Center) for free information and support.
    • “Encourage your baby to breastfeed frequently and for as long as he will.
    • Offer both breasts at each feeding. Allow the baby to stay at the first breast as long as he is actively sucking and swallowing. Offer the second breast when the baby slows down or stops. “Finish the first breast first,” is a good general rule. This technique gives the baby lots of the fatty “hindmilk.”
    • The baby should end the feeding. He may do this by falling asleep and detaching from the breast after about 10 to 30 minutes of active sucking and swallowing.
    • Be sure the baby is latched on and positioned correctly at the breast, that is, lips should be on the areola (the darker skin area), well behind the nipple. We can help fine-tune positioning as well as suggest ideas to ease soreness.
    • A sleepy baby may benefit from “switch nursing” that is, switching breasts two or three times during each feeding. Switch breasts when the baby’s sucking slows down and he swallows less often.
    • All of the baby’s sucking should be at the breast. Limit or stop pacifier use while encouraging the baby to nurse more effectively. If you are supplementing, even temporarily, you can give the supplement by spoon or cup.”
    • Practice breast compressions; see how here.

    “This may be a stressful time. Take care of yourself. Pay attention to your own need for rest, relaxation, proper diet, and enough fluids.”

  • When should I start breastfeeding?

    When should I start breastfeeding?

    Breastfeeding within an hour after birth will give you the best start.

    This is because it will release hormones (oxytocin), which stimulate the production of milk. Extensive studies have shown that it leads to a longer and more successful experience with breastfeeding. Here is a step-by-step guide:

    1. Lay your baby skin-to-skin as directed above (if possible). Research has shown that many babies immediately placed skin-to-skin after birth will latch on and start breastfeeding all by themselves.
    2. Turn your baby’s whole body toward you, chest to chest.
    3. Touch her upper lip with your nipple, and, when she opens her mouth wide, pull her onto your breast, holding your breast for support. Her mouth should cover not just the nipple but as much of the areola (the darker part surrounding it) as possible.
    4. Don’t worry if your baby has trouble breastfeeding. It requires patience and lots of practice. Ask a nurse or friend with breastfeeding experience for help. You can also call one of our breastfeeding experts for free advice anytime.
    5. Breastfeeding should not be painful. If it is, try fixing the latch that you have as best you can by pushing the baby’s bottom into your body with your forearm. This will tip the baby’s head back so her nose is in ‘sniffing position’. If necessary, try gently pulling down the baby’s chin and/or bottom lip so he has more of the areola in her mouth.
  • Warning signs after birth

    Warning signs after birth

    Warning signs after birth Content courtesy of March of Dimes Your body goes through lots of changes after having your baby. These changes help your body recover from pregnancy and help you get ready to care for your new baby. It’s normal to feel some discomfort, like soreness and fatigue, as your body heals after giving birth. However, other discomforts and health problems may be a sign that you need medical care. Call your doctor if you have any of these warning signs:

    • Bleeding that’s heavier than your normal menstrual period or that gets worse.
    • Discharge, pain, or redness that doesn’t go away or gets worse around your C-section incision or episiotomy/perineal tear.
    • Feelings of sadness that last longer than 10 days after giving birth, you might have postpartum depression.
    • Fever higher than 38C.
    • Pain or burning when you go to the bathroom.
    • Pain, swelling, and tenderness in your legs, especially around your calves.
    • Red streaks on your breasts or painful lumps in your breast, you might have mastitis.
    • Severe pain in your lower belly, feeling sick to your stomach, or throwing up.
    • Vaginal discharge that smells bad.

    Trust your instincts. If you feel like something’s wrong, call your doctor. Many of these problems can be treated easily. But if you ignore warning signs and they go untreated, they may cause more serious problems. Call your doctor or go to the hospital immediately if you think your life may be in danger, or if you have any of these warning signs:

    • Bleeding that can’t be controlled.
    • Chest pain.
    • Trouble breathing.
    • Signs of shock, such as chills, clammy skin, dizziness, fainting, or a racing heart.

    The first six weeks after birth

    Content courtesy of March of Dimes

    During pregnancy, your body changed a lot. It worked really hard to keep your baby safe and healthy. Now that your baby is here, your body is changing again. Some of these changes are physical, such as your breasts getting full of milk. Other changes are emotional, such as feeling extra stress. Here’s what you can expect.

    What is perineum soreness? The perineum is the area between your vagina and rectum. It stretches during labor and vaginal birth, and it may even tear. It often is sore after you give birth. You may be even more sore if you had an episiotomy (a cut made at the opening of the vagina to help the baby out). Here’s what you can do to manage perineum soreness:

    • Do Kegel exercises. These strengthen the muscles in the pelvic area, which helps the perineum heal. To do them, squeeze the muscles that you use to stop yourself from passing urine. Hold the muscles tight for 10 seconds and then release.
    • Put a cold pack on your perineum. Use ice wrapped in a towel. Or you can buy cold packs that you freeze in your freezer.
    • Sit on a pillow.
    • Soak in a warm bath.
    • Wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom. This can help prevent infection as your episiotomy heals.
    • Ask your doctor about medicine to help ease the pain.

    What are afterbirth pains?

    These are cramps that you feel as your uterus shrinks back to its regular size. Right after you give birth, your uterus is round and hard and weighs over 1kg. By about 6 weeks after birth, it weighs only 50gr. The cramps should go away in a few days. Ask your doctor about over-the-counter medicine you can take for pain.

    What body changes can happen after a cesarean section?

    A cesarean section (C-section) is major surgery, so it may take a while for you to recover. You may be really tired for the first few days or weeks after a C-section. This is because you lost blood during the surgery. Also, your incision (the cut on your belly) may be sore. Here’s what you can do:

    • Ask your doctor for pain medicine and check with them before you take any over-the-counter medicine for pain.
    • Ask your husband, family and friends for help with the baby and around the house.

    What is vaginal discharge?

    This is bodily fluid that comes out of your vagina. It is also called lochia. Vaginal discharge may increase during and after pregnancy. After your baby is born, your body gets rid of the blood and tissue that was inside of the uterus. For the first few days, it’s heavy, bright red and may contain some blood clots. Over time, the flow gets less and lighter in color. You may have discharge for a few weeks, or even for a month or more. Use sanitary pads until the vaginal discharge goes away.

    What is breast engorgement?

    This is when your breasts swell as they fill with milk. It can be painful. Once you start breastfeeding, it should go away. If you’re not breastfeeding, it may last until your breasts stop making milk.

    What is nipple pain?

    If you are breastfeeding, you may have sensitivity or pain in the area in and around your nipples during the first few days, especially if your nipples crack. But breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful; if it is, there is likely a problem with baby’s latch and we can help.

    What is swelling?

    Lots of women have swelling in their hands, feet, and face during pregnancy. It is caused by extra fluids in your body that helped you get ready for labor and birth. It may take time for the swelling to go away after you have your baby. Here’s what you can do to manage swelling:

    • Lie on your left side or put your feet up.
    • Try to stay cool and wear loose clothes.

    What are hemorrhoids?

    Hemorrhoids are painful, swollen veins in and around the anus. Lots of women get them during pregnancy. They may get worse after giving birth. Here’s what you can do to manage hemorrhoids:

    • Soak in a warm bath.
    • Use an over-the-counter spray or cream to help relieve pain. Ask your doctor which ones are OK to use.
    • Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain bread and cereals.
    • Drink lots of water.
    • Try not to strain when you’re having a bowel movement.

    What is constipation?

    This is when you have painful gas or trouble having a bowel movement. It may happen after you give birth. Here’s what you can do to manage constipation:

    • Eat foods that are high in fiber: nuts (almonds, pecans, and walnuts), beans, fresh fruit (pears, kiwi, and berries), and dried fruit (prunes, apricots, and figs).
    • Drink lots of water.
    • Ask your doctor about medicine to take.

    What urinary problems can happen after giving birth?

    You may feel pain or burning when you urinate. Or you may try to urinate but find that you can’t. Sometimes you may not be able to stop urinating. This is called incontinence. If you have pain, burning, trouble urinating, or you have incontinence, here’s what you can do:

    • Drink lots of water.
    • Run water in the sink when you go to the bathroom.
    • Soak in a warm bath.
    • If the pain continues, tell your doctor.
    • Do Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles. This can help with incontinence.

    Why may you sweat after giving birth?

    This happens a lot to new moms, especially at night. It’s caused by all the hormones in your body after pregnancy. Here’s what you can do:

    • Sleep on a towel to help keep your sheets and pillow dry.
    • Don’t use too many blankets or wear warm clothes to bed.

    Why may you feel tired after giving birth?

    You may have lost blood during labor and birth. This can make your body tired. And your baby probably doesn’t let you sleep all night. Here’s what you can do:

    • Sleep when your baby sleeps, even when he naps during the day.
    • Eat healthy foods, like fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads and pasta, and lean meat and chicken. Limit sweets and foods with a lot of fat.
    • Ask your husband, family, and friends for help with the baby and around the house.

    When can you get pregnant again?

    If you’re not breastfeeding, your period may start again in 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth. If you are breastfeeding, you may not start again for months. Some women don’t have a period again until they stop breastfeeding. It’s possible that you may ovulate (release an egg) before you get your period again. This means you could get pregnant, whether you’re breastfeeding or not. Use birth control to help make sure you don’t get pregnant again until you’re ready. If you’re breastfeeding, ask your doctor about which birth control to use. Not all kinds of birth control are safe to use when breastfeeding.

    Can you lose weight after giving birth?

    Now’s a great time to get to a healthy weight, no matter how much you weighed before you got pregnant. You feel better and are less likely to have health conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, if you’re at a healthy weight. And just in case you get pregnant again, or if you plan to have another baby sometime in the future, it’s best to be at a healthy weight before your next pregnancy. Here’s what you can do to lose weight:

    • Talk to your doctor about your healthy weight. If you were overweight before pregnancy, you may want to lose more weight than you gained during pregnancy.
    • Eat healthy foods. Limit sweets and foods with a lot of fat.
    • Drink lots of water.
    • Do something active every day. Walking and swimming are great activities for new moms.
    • Breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding helps you burn calories. This can help you lose the weight you gained during pregnancy faster than if you weren’t breastfeeding.
    • Don’t feel badly if you don’t lose the weight as quickly as you’d like. It takes some for your body (and your belly) to get back into shape.

    What skin changes can happen after giving birth?

    You may have stretch marks on your belly, thighs, breasts, and bottom where your skin stretched during pregnancy. Use creams or lotions on your skin to manage stretch marks.

    What hair changes can happen after giving birth?

    Your hair may have seemed thicker and fuller during pregnancy. After your baby is born, your hair may thin out. You may even lose hair. Hair loss usually stops about 3 to 4 months after your baby’s birth. Here’s what you can do:

    • Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. These may help protect your hair and help it grow.
    • Be gentle with your hair. Don’t wear tight ponytails, braids, or rollers. These can pull and stress your hair.
    • Use the cool setting on your hair dryer.

    Baby blues and postpartum depression (PPD)

    You could be more emotional after giving birth due to hormonal changes, pain from the birth, lack of sleep, and other emotional adjustments to motherhood. You could be happy most of the time, but at times be more irritable, cry more easily, feel sad, or feel confused. This is the “Baby Blues” and affects up to 80% of new mothers. It peaks three to five days after delivery and lasts for a few weeks after birth. Although the “blues” are not pleasant, you can function normally. The feeling usually lessens and goes away over time on its own. But if it doesn’t and you think you are getting worse rather than better, you might have postpartum depression (PPD) and need help. Around 15% of women have PPD sometime within the first year of birth. For more information about PPD, including symptoms and treatment options, click here.

  • Will I have enough milk?

    Will I have enough milk?

    Yes, just by nursing often and getting a good latch. If you are worried there are ways to increase your milk supply.

    Milk production is almost always a simple matter of supply and demand – the more your baby demands i.e. the more you breastfeed, the more milk you will produce. It is normal to worry as you can’t actually see how much milk your baby is taking. Here are some simple ways to be sure baby is getting enough:

    1. Diaper output – your easiest clue, 4-6 wet diapers and 3-6 soiled diapers per day during weeks 1-6. Urine should be clear-to-pale yellow in color.
    2. Weight gain – baby regains birth weight within two weeks, but keep in mind baby will lose 5-10% of their birth weight in their first 3-4 days of life.
    3. Relaxed baby – baby seems relaxed and happy after a feed.
    4. Softer breasts after a feed.
    5. Swallowing – look or listen for swallowing during a feeding.

    Milk removal is especially important in the first 2-3 weeks because that is when your milk production capacity is established. The more milk you remove in this time, the more you will have for your baby over the longer term. But don’t worry if you have trouble in those first few weeks, there are ways to improve your supply later on.

    Once you start producing milk, it is always being made faster when the breast is less full, and slower when the breast is more full. This is why your milk production will slow if you wait until your breasts “fill up” to feed your baby, so don’t wait! It is also why your breasts are never truly empty, you can always get more out!

    Ways to increase your milk supply:

    • Call us or visit your local Beba-ks Center (Women’s Health Resource Center) for free information and support.
    • “Encourage your baby to breastfeed frequently and for as long as he will.
    • Offer both breasts at each feeding. Allow baby to stay at the first breast as long as he is actively sucking and swallowing. Offer the second breast when baby slows down or stops. “Finish the first breast first,” is a good general rule. This technique gives baby lots of the fatty “hindmilk.”
    • Baby should end the feeding. He may do this by falling asleep and detaching from the breast after about 10 to 30 minutes of active sucking and swallowing.
    • Be sure baby is latched on and positioned correctly at the breast, that is, lips should be on the areola (the darker skin area), well behind the nipple. We can help fine-tune positioning as well as suggest ideas to ease soreness.
    • A sleepy baby may benefit from “switch nursing” that is, switching breasts two or three times during each feeding. Switch breasts when baby’s sucking slows down and he swallows less often.
    • All of baby’s sucking should be at the breast. Limit or stop pacifier use while encouraging baby to nurse more effectively. If you are supplementing, even temporarily, you can give the supplement by spoon or cup.
    • Practice breast compressions; see how here.

    “This may be a stressful time. Take care of yourself. Pay attention to your own need for rest, relaxation, proper diet, and enough fluids.”

  • Is breastfeeding meant to hurt?

    Is breastfeeding meant to hurt?

    No, so you might have a problem with baby’s latch onto your breast. We can help.

    Tender nipples are common at the start of a feed for the first week of breastfeeding. However, if nipples are very sore, or are cracked, bruised, or bleeding, there is something wrong. Almost always, sore nipples are caused by improper positioning of the baby at the breast. Click here to learn on how to get the best position and latch for breastfeeding.

    Other causes of sore nipples include: 1) engorgement; 2) incorrect use of a pump; 3) pacifiers or bottles causing your baby to have nipple confusion and therefore breastfeeding incorrectly; 4) yeast infection; or 5) removing baby from breast without first breaking the seal by inserting your finger in the corner of her mouth.

    Taking the baby off the breast is a last resort. There are lots of ways to treat sore nipples:

    • Nurse on the least sore side first or only nurse from the least sore breast for part or all of the day if you are able (check diapers to be sure baby is getting enough milk).
    • Experiment with different positions, some will be less painful than others.
    • Try short, frequent feedings to encourage a less vigorous suck.
    • Apply freshly expressed breastmilk to your nipples (if a yeast infection is not present).
    • Expose your nipples to air as much as possible.
    • Use a nipple ointment, like pure lanolin, after breastfeeding and do not wash it off.
    • Do not wash your nipples frequently. Daily bathing is more than enough.
    • Apply a warm, moist compress to your nipples (if a yeast infection is not present).

    If you are unable to breastfeed at all because of pain, in spite of trying all the above methods, try taking a short (2-5 day) break from breastfeeding to allow the nipples to heal. During this time, it is best for you and the baby if the baby is fed your expressed milk. Click here for information about pumping and bottle feeding. That way you can keep your milk supply up and continue breastfeeding once your nipples have healed.

  • Will it ruin my boobs and my body?

    Will it ruin my boobs and my body?

    It is a myth that breastfeeding makes your boobs droopy. Get the facts here.

    Most women find that breastfeeding helps them lose weight faster and in their belly, hips, and thighs. Most women lost 0.8kg per month during their first six months of breastfeeding.

    Breastfeeding doesn’t make your breasts droopy, but pregnancy may cause them to change size and shape after having a baby. When pregnant, breasts increase in size, and the ligaments that support them may stretch, and it is this stretching that can result in slight sagginess. This will happen whether you breastfeed or not.