Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
More lip tie/ tongue tie resources
Lip ties and tongue ties have been in the dark for a while. The information out there is difficult to find. And it's even more difficult to find someone to make "the snip" for you. I found this great site with great information.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Going back to work, weaning & breastfeeding complications
I had previously posted about breastfeeding complications. And while I stand behind the information I shared, I was simply sharing it to offer knowledge and support to those either interested in these topics or dealing with these situations. I had not experienced the majority of these complications, aside from nipple confusion.
Now I have experienced a few additional issues first hand and wanted to share about my experiences. When I went back to work I had no plans on stopping breastfeeding. I returned armed and ready to go with my Medela pump in style breast pump along with all the necessary accessories. It took a while for me to gain the confidence I have now in pumping at work. I was apprehensive about my pumping schedule at work and where I would pump. It helps to be versed in the Laws associated with your state. Here in CA they must provide a lactation room, not a bathroom, in which the female employee can express breast milk for her child as needed. The female is not obligated to work for or otherwise compensate for the time spent on this task. This can be done until the child is one year old. While this is great and all my situation is a bit different. First off my employer has less than 50 employees and is not required by law to follow this. My second issue was that I was given a considerable time off for maternity leave and my baby was almost a year old by the time I went back to work {yay for making it to a year of breastfeeding!!}. So ultimately I was banished to the nasty bathroom to pump. I do get enough breaks during the day though to keep up my supply, so it all worked out nicely.
Now before I had returned to work I built up a stash in my freezer for my baby. My stay is about 3 months worth of breast milk. (I cannot tell you how proud of myself I am for that.) So my small freezer is filled to the max and I have problems finding space to store the milk I pump at work. When I am home I still nurse my baby without a problem. But pumping seemed to be a bit of a headache using all my breaks and part of my lunch every single day. Lugging around this big pump. I had it in mind to cut back my pumping by reducing it by one pumping session. Well my boobs and milk supply had other plans.
I had skipped my second pumping session for 2 days. On day 3 as I arrived to work I noticed that one breast was very full. Engorged even. My guess was that the baby didn't nurse from that side during the night, which sometimes happens. Well I go to pump thinking I'm going to get immediate relief. Not so much. After I pumped I still felt a very large and very hard lump. It was very sore to the touch. I had expressed all I could and had to go back to my cubicle and back to work. As the day progressed things got worse. By noon time the throbbing was almost unbearable. I didn't even have to touch it for it to hurt. By 1:00 I was feeling flushed and nauseous. 1:30 came around and I just knew I couldn't make it the rest of the day at work, I had to leave early. On my drive home I went downhill quickly. I got very dizzy and almost blacked out a couple times. It scared me half to death. The pain from my breast quickly spread to pretty much my whole body and the aches and pains in every joint was incredible. My neck instantly got stiff. I got home safely only to find that I now had the chills and desperately wanted to take a scorching hot shower even though it was 98 degrees out. That shower felt oh so good and afterwards I promptly fell asleep on the couch nursing my baby in the hopes that it would dislodge the clog. An hour later I woke up with a temperature of nearly 103. 103 PEOPLE! I put in a call to my OB and just knew it was mastitis. She usually needs to see a patient before giving a prescription but I was so ill by this time that I couldn't even get off the couch let along drive 45 with both kids and wait in a waiting room to be seen. Thankfully she did call in some antibiotics for me. I took that and my Advil as soon as I had it in my hands but again by this time I was very ill. I had a hard time keeping my meds down, or really anything. After a day or so I was finally able to keep things down. The antibiotics kicked in and broke my fever. A day and a half later of nursing, pumping, massaging and warm compresses later the soreness was still there. I went in to see my OB and sure enough she felt the lump. There were no visual indicators on my breast that something was wrong, nor was it hot to the touch. Just the lump and the soreness. She did an ultrasound on my breast and sure enough we saw that pocket of trapped breast milk. She said that most of the time they drain it with a needle but at this point she thought it may cause more trauma. She suggested that I keep doing what I am doing and if its not better in a few days we will have to drain it so that it doesn't become an abscess. Well after a nice long 3 day weekend of nursing, massaging and warm compresses, I am happy to say that I am back to normal. I am still in shock of how fast mastitis came on and how hard it hits. Previously I knew that it was a problem that many women deal with and that it wasn't easy and even causes many women to stop nursing all together. However, having gone through it myself really has changed my outlook on it. I sympathize on a personal level with all those who have suffered and are suffering with this illness. I am also better equipped to help my clients deal with this type of complication. And the end of this ordeal and I happy to say that not only am I more knowledge in this aspect but I also did not give up on breastfeeding. I am still going strong...14 months now, and don't plan on stopping any time soon. If I could get through it, so can you.
Now I have experienced a few additional issues first hand and wanted to share about my experiences. When I went back to work I had no plans on stopping breastfeeding. I returned armed and ready to go with my Medela pump in style breast pump along with all the necessary accessories. It took a while for me to gain the confidence I have now in pumping at work. I was apprehensive about my pumping schedule at work and where I would pump. It helps to be versed in the Laws associated with your state. Here in CA they must provide a lactation room, not a bathroom, in which the female employee can express breast milk for her child as needed. The female is not obligated to work for or otherwise compensate for the time spent on this task. This can be done until the child is one year old. While this is great and all my situation is a bit different. First off my employer has less than 50 employees and is not required by law to follow this. My second issue was that I was given a considerable time off for maternity leave and my baby was almost a year old by the time I went back to work {yay for making it to a year of breastfeeding!!}. So ultimately I was banished to the nasty bathroom to pump. I do get enough breaks during the day though to keep up my supply, so it all worked out nicely.
Now before I had returned to work I built up a stash in my freezer for my baby. My stay is about 3 months worth of breast milk. (I cannot tell you how proud of myself I am for that.) So my small freezer is filled to the max and I have problems finding space to store the milk I pump at work. When I am home I still nurse my baby without a problem. But pumping seemed to be a bit of a headache using all my breaks and part of my lunch every single day. Lugging around this big pump. I had it in mind to cut back my pumping by reducing it by one pumping session. Well my boobs and milk supply had other plans.
I had skipped my second pumping session for 2 days. On day 3 as I arrived to work I noticed that one breast was very full. Engorged even. My guess was that the baby didn't nurse from that side during the night, which sometimes happens. Well I go to pump thinking I'm going to get immediate relief. Not so much. After I pumped I still felt a very large and very hard lump. It was very sore to the touch. I had expressed all I could and had to go back to my cubicle and back to work. As the day progressed things got worse. By noon time the throbbing was almost unbearable. I didn't even have to touch it for it to hurt. By 1:00 I was feeling flushed and nauseous. 1:30 came around and I just knew I couldn't make it the rest of the day at work, I had to leave early. On my drive home I went downhill quickly. I got very dizzy and almost blacked out a couple times. It scared me half to death. The pain from my breast quickly spread to pretty much my whole body and the aches and pains in every joint was incredible. My neck instantly got stiff. I got home safely only to find that I now had the chills and desperately wanted to take a scorching hot shower even though it was 98 degrees out. That shower felt oh so good and afterwards I promptly fell asleep on the couch nursing my baby in the hopes that it would dislodge the clog. An hour later I woke up with a temperature of nearly 103. 103 PEOPLE! I put in a call to my OB and just knew it was mastitis. She usually needs to see a patient before giving a prescription but I was so ill by this time that I couldn't even get off the couch let along drive 45 with both kids and wait in a waiting room to be seen. Thankfully she did call in some antibiotics for me. I took that and my Advil as soon as I had it in my hands but again by this time I was very ill. I had a hard time keeping my meds down, or really anything. After a day or so I was finally able to keep things down. The antibiotics kicked in and broke my fever. A day and a half later of nursing, pumping, massaging and warm compresses later the soreness was still there. I went in to see my OB and sure enough she felt the lump. There were no visual indicators on my breast that something was wrong, nor was it hot to the touch. Just the lump and the soreness. She did an ultrasound on my breast and sure enough we saw that pocket of trapped breast milk. She said that most of the time they drain it with a needle but at this point she thought it may cause more trauma. She suggested that I keep doing what I am doing and if its not better in a few days we will have to drain it so that it doesn't become an abscess. Well after a nice long 3 day weekend of nursing, massaging and warm compresses, I am happy to say that I am back to normal. I am still in shock of how fast mastitis came on and how hard it hits. Previously I knew that it was a problem that many women deal with and that it wasn't easy and even causes many women to stop nursing all together. However, having gone through it myself really has changed my outlook on it. I sympathize on a personal level with all those who have suffered and are suffering with this illness. I am also better equipped to help my clients deal with this type of complication. And the end of this ordeal and I happy to say that not only am I more knowledge in this aspect but I also did not give up on breastfeeding. I am still going strong...14 months now, and don't plan on stopping any time soon. If I could get through it, so can you.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
How to get pregnant
I have been asked "How do I get pregnant?" several times. Yes, it may seem like a silly question... we all know what you need to do to get pregnant. It's not so much asking how but more of asking what are the things to do to get ready to trying to concieve (ttc) to provide an optimal environment for pregnancy. I believe this is not only a valid question but a smart one.
First off I would say that if you are on any sort of hormonal birth control go off of it and try to start tracking your cycles without it. We all know timing is everything and you have to see how coming off hormonal birth control affects your cycle. It is different for everyone. I personally had no change after coming off the pill the first time. However I have heard of others having their cycle either changing a few days to a completley new schedule. Its important to give your body time to adjust to its natural cycle.
Here are some online resources about ttc after birth control:
http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/getting-pregnant-after-birth-control
http://www.thebabycorner.com/page/2425/
The key is to DTD (do the deed) on the days leading up to your O-day and maybe even a day or so after your O-day. You can only get pregnant when you ovulate. Sperm can live inside your body up to 5 days so its good to start before your O-day because if you miss an opportunity to DTD on your O-day they still have a chance to do their thing inside you. Cycles have been known to act up while ttc, I think mostly because of stress, so there may be a chance that you O a little later than usual. That is why I suggest DTD even a day or so after your O-day. {a side note: not DTD during that time frame does not guarentee you will NOT get pregnant. This method should not be used as a form of birth control}
I had great success using Fertilty Friend to track my own cycles. What I love best about them is that they offer their basic ovulation calendar free of charge. You can upgrade to get notifications and added features for an additional price, but honestly, I never needed any of that stuff. The free version worked great for me. If you dont like the calendar offered on this site you can do a goole search for 'ovulation calendar' and you will get dozens of different links to one.
After I had my first two children I noticed that my cycle never went back to my 'normal' cycle. Having a baby just threw it off and it was sort of all over the place. So when I wanted to have another child, getting pregnant proved to be a little more difficult. The tracking on fertility friend just wasnt cutting it. So I invested in some OPK test (ovulation tests). They work the same was as a pregnancy test {you pee on them}. The way I found them to work best for me {with an irregular cycel} was to take 2 tests daily. Once in the morning when I first woke up and another in the afternoon. It is a test that predicts LH (Luteinizing Hormone) surge, and in turn, when you are likely to ovulate and possibly conceive. A surge can happen at any time and is gradual. So thats why you test twice a day. You may not have had a surge in the morning but you may later that evening. A positive test will have 2 lines. It starts out light and as your surge increases the lines will darken. Its as soon as you see a positive that you should DTD. Most OPK directions will tell you that you can stop testing after you get your first positive but I prefer to continue testing to see exactly how big of a window I have to get pregnant. I keep testing until the test goes back to negative {1 line}. During your window, or positive opk test days, DTD at least every other day. If you are looking for cheap OPK tests, I highly recomend buying from www.saveontests.com. They are affordable and come in huge packs. They also sell pregnancy tests and for those that are obsessive testers during the 2ww buying these will definately save you money. Also as a little fun fact, did you know that OPKs can also be used as a pregnancy test? Yep, if you are pregnant they will be positive as well. The way you know the difference between a positive for ovulationa and a positive for pregnancy is that the ovulation one will fade and eventually be negative. The positive for pregnancy will remain positive for as long as you remain pregnant.
1. Wear boxers, not briefs. Briefs cause the testicles to be closer to the body, thus keeping them warmer. Heat actually kills sperm. So for the most number of swimmers boxers are better.
2. Change to a healthier lifestyle.
Conception isn't the only reason to revamp your diet. Additional research shows that dads who drink heavily — the equivalent of two drinks a day — during the month prior to conception have babies who weigh on average 6.5 ounces less than other babies. Low birth weight is a serious medical condition that can affect your child's health and behavior for the rest of his life.
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pre...on/4188.html#1
• Eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants: They help prevent sperm defects and boost its motility (movement). An eight-ounce glass of orange juice contains 124 milligrams. Aim for at least 60 mg of vitamin C daily, more — at least 100 mg — if you smoke.
• Get more zinc in your diet. Several studies show that even short-term zinc deficiencies can reduce semen volume and testosterone levels. Great sources to help you get the 15 mg you need a day include oysters (six medium oysters have a whopping 76.3 mg), extra-lean ground beef (a three-ounce serving has 4.5 mg), baked beans (a one-cup serving has 3.55 mg), and dark chicken meat (2.38 mg per three ounces).
• Fuel up on folic acid. Studies suggest that men with low levels of this key B vitamin — the same one women need to reduce the risk of neural tube birth defects — have low sperm counts. You may be able to get the amount you need (400 micrograms a day) from fortified breakfast cereals, leafy greens, legumes, and orange juice, but just to be sure, it can't hurt to take a folic acid supplement or a multivitamin.
• Increase your intake of calcium and vitamin D. Infertility researchers at the University of Wisconsin at Madison suggest that consuming 1,000 mg of calcium and 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day may improve men's fertility. Good sources of calcium include low-fat milk (an eight-ounce glass has 414 mg) and yogurt (one cup has 302 mg of calcium). You'll find vitamin D in milk (an eight-ounce glass has two mcg) and salmon (a three-ounce serving has eight mcg).
• Cut out or cut back on alcohol. While an occasional drink is generally considered safe, studies show that daily consumption of wine, beer, or hard liquor can decrease testosterone levels and sperm counts and increase the number of abnormal sperm in your ejaculate.
http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/can-dads-diet-make-healthier-baby
My last tip is that after you have DTD stay laying down for at least 20 min. {Dont stand up, as this will cause the semen to leak} Keep a small pillow under your hips to slightly elevate your uterus and help the sperm reach your cervix. You dont want to prop a dozen pillows under you to the point that you are practically doing a handstand though haha! This will actually cause the semen to pool behind the cervix and none actually get inside to swim to the egg. Try to relax during this time and actually invistion the sperm getting to the egg. Possitive affermations and visualizartions really work wonders.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyloss/mcgettingpregnantagain.html
http://miscarriage.about.com/od/tryingagainafterloss/Trying_to_Conceive_After_Miscarriage_Pregnancy_Loss.htm
Here are also some links to some ttc after loss forums:
http://forums.fertilitycommunity.com/trying-conceive-after-loss/
http://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/4493594/ShowForum.aspx?MsdVisit=1
http://boards.babyzone.com/trying-to-conceive-after-loss-f431.html
http://community.babycenter.com/groups/a723395/ttc_after_a_2nd3rd_trimester_loss
First off I would say that if you are on any sort of hormonal birth control go off of it and try to start tracking your cycles without it. We all know timing is everything and you have to see how coming off hormonal birth control affects your cycle. It is different for everyone. I personally had no change after coming off the pill the first time. However I have heard of others having their cycle either changing a few days to a completley new schedule. Its important to give your body time to adjust to its natural cycle.
How long should you wait after coming off birth control?
That is a personal question and really only you and your doctor can decide what is right for you. I have found various sites stating to wait at least one cycle. I think that's smart. I personally choose to wait 3 cycles to make sure everything was out of my system and I could properly track my cycle. However keep in mind that some women only forget to take a pill one day and they get pregnant. So once again, everyone is different.Here are some online resources about ttc after birth control:
http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/getting-pregnant-after-birth-control
http://www.thebabycorner.com/page/2425/
Are you on any medications?
I cannot stress the importance of this enough. If you are on any medications its best to discuss if it is safe to take prior to ttc and during pregnancy. See if you can obtain the medication's insert with full disclosure. I was on a migraine medication prior to ttc. Unbeknown to me, this medication was also used as an anti-seizure medication. Anti-seizure medications are linked to a plethera of birth defects. {of course I had no idea until much later, when it was too late} I came off this medication shortly before ttc but evidently there was still enough in my system to cause problems. I went on to have a baby girl born with Anencephaly who was stillborn in 2007. Though there is no solid evidence proving this medication caused it, the fact that my daughter died was proof enough to me. So please please please check the medication you are on if you are thinking of getting pregnant. It just may save your baby's life. {Also if you are a smoker it's best for you to quite smoking to increase your chances of getting pregnant, not to mention its better for children to not have any smokers in the home}Tracking your cycle
This is probably the most important part of ttc, and the most complicated part of ttc if you ask me. First off Im sure you have heard that most women have a 28 day cycle. If you are on the pill, yes, it does that for you while you are taking hormones. Some naturally do have a 28 day cycle but many do not. Normal is anywhere from 21 - 35 days. Despite how many days your entire cycle is one thing is true for everyone. From your ovulation day (O-day) till the day you expect your period is always 14 days. {this is in regards to those without any fertility issues} Even with irregular cycles O-day to the day of your period {period= aunt flow= AF} is always 14 days. That 14 days is refered to as the two week wait (2ww) {to find out weather or not you are pregnant}. The key is to DTD (do the deed) on the days leading up to your O-day and maybe even a day or so after your O-day. You can only get pregnant when you ovulate. Sperm can live inside your body up to 5 days so its good to start before your O-day because if you miss an opportunity to DTD on your O-day they still have a chance to do their thing inside you. Cycles have been known to act up while ttc, I think mostly because of stress, so there may be a chance that you O a little later than usual. That is why I suggest DTD even a day or so after your O-day. {a side note: not DTD during that time frame does not guarentee you will NOT get pregnant. This method should not be used as a form of birth control}
I had great success using Fertilty Friend to track my own cycles. What I love best about them is that they offer their basic ovulation calendar free of charge. You can upgrade to get notifications and added features for an additional price, but honestly, I never needed any of that stuff. The free version worked great for me. If you dont like the calendar offered on this site you can do a goole search for 'ovulation calendar' and you will get dozens of different links to one.
After I had my first two children I noticed that my cycle never went back to my 'normal' cycle. Having a baby just threw it off and it was sort of all over the place. So when I wanted to have another child, getting pregnant proved to be a little more difficult. The tracking on fertility friend just wasnt cutting it. So I invested in some OPK test (ovulation tests). They work the same was as a pregnancy test {you pee on them}. The way I found them to work best for me {with an irregular cycel} was to take 2 tests daily. Once in the morning when I first woke up and another in the afternoon. It is a test that predicts LH (Luteinizing Hormone) surge, and in turn, when you are likely to ovulate and possibly conceive. A surge can happen at any time and is gradual. So thats why you test twice a day. You may not have had a surge in the morning but you may later that evening. A positive test will have 2 lines. It starts out light and as your surge increases the lines will darken. Its as soon as you see a positive that you should DTD. Most OPK directions will tell you that you can stop testing after you get your first positive but I prefer to continue testing to see exactly how big of a window I have to get pregnant. I keep testing until the test goes back to negative {1 line}. During your window, or positive opk test days, DTD at least every other day. If you are looking for cheap OPK tests, I highly recomend buying from www.saveontests.com. They are affordable and come in huge packs. They also sell pregnancy tests and for those that are obsessive testers during the 2ww buying these will definately save you money. Also as a little fun fact, did you know that OPKs can also be used as a pregnancy test? Yep, if you are pregnant they will be positive as well. The way you know the difference between a positive for ovulationa and a positive for pregnancy is that the ovulation one will fade and eventually be negative. The positive for pregnancy will remain positive for as long as you remain pregnant.
Folic acid & prenatal vitamins
This is another important topic. I have dedicated an entire post to the importance of folic acid here. You must read this, it could end up saving your baby's life. But the short version is that as soon as you have decied that you want to ttc, you should get on prenatal vitamins. As to how far in advance, again that is something that you and your doctor should decide on. I personally start 3 months before. In addition to your prenatals it's important for you to take folic acid. You can find folic acid at any health food store, drugstore or vitamin shop.What can the men do?
As you have imagined there is a lot less for men to do to get ready to ttc than women. However, there are steps they can take to create optimal conditions for getting pregnant.1. Wear boxers, not briefs. Briefs cause the testicles to be closer to the body, thus keeping them warmer. Heat actually kills sperm. So for the most number of swimmers boxers are better.
2. Change to a healthier lifestyle.
Why diet matters for men
Nutrition has a direct impact on the potency of your sperm. Research shows that poor eating habits and regular consumption of alcohol, for instance, can lower the quality and quantity of sperm, making conception more difficult. And since infertility is nearly as much a man's issue as a woman's — up to 40 percent of fertility problems can be traced to men — eating healthfully now will boost your chances of conceiving a child.Conception isn't the only reason to revamp your diet. Additional research shows that dads who drink heavily — the equivalent of two drinks a day — during the month prior to conception have babies who weigh on average 6.5 ounces less than other babies. Low birth weight is a serious medical condition that can affect your child's health and behavior for the rest of his life.
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pre...on/4188.html#1
Which nutrients are most important for men?
Your diet should be every bit as balanced, varied, and nutritious as your partner's. Specifically, future dads should: • Eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants: They help prevent sperm defects and boost its motility (movement). An eight-ounce glass of orange juice contains 124 milligrams. Aim for at least 60 mg of vitamin C daily, more — at least 100 mg — if you smoke.
• Get more zinc in your diet. Several studies show that even short-term zinc deficiencies can reduce semen volume and testosterone levels. Great sources to help you get the 15 mg you need a day include oysters (six medium oysters have a whopping 76.3 mg), extra-lean ground beef (a three-ounce serving has 4.5 mg), baked beans (a one-cup serving has 3.55 mg), and dark chicken meat (2.38 mg per three ounces).
• Fuel up on folic acid. Studies suggest that men with low levels of this key B vitamin — the same one women need to reduce the risk of neural tube birth defects — have low sperm counts. You may be able to get the amount you need (400 micrograms a day) from fortified breakfast cereals, leafy greens, legumes, and orange juice, but just to be sure, it can't hurt to take a folic acid supplement or a multivitamin.
• Increase your intake of calcium and vitamin D. Infertility researchers at the University of Wisconsin at Madison suggest that consuming 1,000 mg of calcium and 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day may improve men's fertility. Good sources of calcium include low-fat milk (an eight-ounce glass has 414 mg) and yogurt (one cup has 302 mg of calcium). You'll find vitamin D in milk (an eight-ounce glass has two mcg) and salmon (a three-ounce serving has eight mcg).
• Cut out or cut back on alcohol. While an occasional drink is generally considered safe, studies show that daily consumption of wine, beer, or hard liquor can decrease testosterone levels and sperm counts and increase the number of abnormal sperm in your ejaculate.
http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/can-dads-diet-make-healthier-baby
Some extra tips
The question of how often to DTD comes up a lot and once again it is a personal decision. I have come across a few forums that have discussed this. Its the age old question if its better to DTD everyday or every other day. It has been suggested that sperm need a regeneration period. If you DTD everyday the sperm quality is lower. But if you wait every other day it has replentished fully and you have more quality sperm. I have yet to see an offical study of this but I prefer to do every other day. Even if this were not true, I would still choose every other day because in my opinion DTD everyday is more of a chore than having fun. And its important to still enjoy yourself while trying to make a baby. Not only that but you would be surprised how burt out men can get by DTD everyday :)My last tip is that after you have DTD stay laying down for at least 20 min. {Dont stand up, as this will cause the semen to leak} Keep a small pillow under your hips to slightly elevate your uterus and help the sperm reach your cervix. You dont want to prop a dozen pillows under you to the point that you are practically doing a handstand though haha! This will actually cause the semen to pool behind the cervix and none actually get inside to swim to the egg. Try to relax during this time and actually invistion the sperm getting to the egg. Possitive affermations and visualizartions really work wonders.
TTC after miscarriage/ stillbirth
Trying for another baby after a pregnancy loss is a personal choice. It is natural to want to become pregnant again right away after going through the heartache of losing a baby. However, you should wait to attempt again until you are physically, as well as emotionally ready. I would suggest you speak with your doctor to see when is the soonest you would be able to ttc physically. Below are some helpful links to information to help you make an informed decision: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyloss/mcgettingpregnantagain.html
http://miscarriage.about.com/od/tryingagainafterloss/Trying_to_Conceive_After_Miscarriage_Pregnancy_Loss.htm
Here are also some links to some ttc after loss forums:
http://forums.fertilitycommunity.com/trying-conceive-after-loss/
http://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/4493594/ShowForum.aspx?MsdVisit=1
http://boards.babyzone.com/trying-to-conceive-after-loss-f431.html
http://community.babycenter.com/groups/a723395/ttc_after_a_2nd3rd_trimester_loss
Folic Acid
Researchers have found that 50-70% of NTDs (neural tube defects) can be prevented when women supplement their diet with folic acid, a water-soluble B vitamin. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends all women of childbearing age eat a diet high in folic acid or take a multivitamin with 0.4mg of folic acid each day, especially one month prior to conception through the first three months of pregnancy. This dosage is the amount found in most over-the-counter multivitamins. However, women who have had a previous NTD pregnancy are recommended to take an even higher dosage of folic acid prior to planning a pregnancy. They should increase the daily dose of folic acid from 0.4mg to 4.0mg (10x the recommended amount), one month prior to conception through the first three months of pregnancy. The 4.0mg of folic acid should only be obtained through a prescription from the doctor.
But even if you are not actively trying to get pregnant one should still take folic acid if you are engaging in any acts that may result in pregnancy. This is because the early spinal cord of the embryo begins as a flat region, which rolls into a tube (the neural tube) 28 days after the baby is conceived. When the neural tube does not close completely, an NTD (Neural Tube Defect) develops. NTDs develop before most women know they are even pregnant.
Its a good idea to increase your folic acid dosage even if you have not had history of a prior NTD. I am living proof that taking the recommended dosage does not prevent all NTDs. I was on the recommended dosage 3 months before trying to conceive and all through my pregnancy with Genesis. Had I been taking more folic acid she may have not been born with anencephaly. Though know that even with an increased intake of folic acid there is still a 1% chance you may have a child with a NTD. Another thing to keep in mind is that most people who have a child with a NTD hav had no prior family history of NTDs.
What Foods Contain Folic Acid?
Approximately half of all pregnancies are unplanned, so the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has taken steps to fortify certain foods so that all women of childbearing age get a daily dose of folic acid. The following foods can help you obtain your recommended amount of folic acid:
Can You Overdose On Folic Acid?
Folic acid has no known toxic level. If you were to eat a bowl of fully fortified cereal (400 micrograms), take 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) folic acid supplement, and eat fortified foods and foods rich in folate, women of reproductive age would not have a problem with too much folic acid. Even in very high amounts folic acid is non-toxic. Nevertheless, it is recommended that women consume no more than 1,000 micrograms of synthetic folic acid a day. Large amounts of folic acid may hide the ability to quickly diagnose pernicious anemia, a rare vitamin B-12 deficiency. This condition primarily affects the elderly population and, in some cases, can lead to neurological damage. Today, Doctors can use a simple definitive test to check for a B-12 deficiency. Folic acid is water-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the urine. That means you need a continuous supply of the vitamin in your diet. Because of this, overdose is not likely. Anything your body cannot absorb gets excreted through your urine.
Findings from a survey conducted in 1998 to assess folic acid knowledge and practices among women of childbearing age in the United States indicate that of all women surveyed, only 13% knew that folic acid helps prevent birth defects, and only 7% knew that folic acid should be taken before pregnancy to prevent birth defects.
Who Is At Risk:
NTD-affected pregnancy. It is not possible to predict which women will have a pregnancy affected by an NTD. 95% of NTDs occur in women with no personal or family history of NTDs. However, some risk factors are known:
Types Of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)
There are two types of NTDs. The most common type are called the open NTDs. Open NTDs occur when the brain and/or spinal cord are exposed at birth through a defect in the skull or vertebrae (back bones). Examples of open NTDs are spina bifida (myelomeningocele), anencephaly, and encephalocele. Rarer types of NTDs are called closed NTDs. Closed NTDs occur when the spinal defect is covered by skin. Common examples of closed NTDs are lipomyelomeningocele, lipomeningocele, and tethered cord.
Lastly, spina bifida occulta (SBO) is potentially another form of an NTD in which there is a typically benign (or non-symptom-causing) bony change in one or more vertebrae, but not involving the nerves within the spinal column. The incidence of SBO is not well defined; however, it is more common than the NTDs described above. The cause and potential similarities, or, link to NTDs, has not been established.
Even More Folic Acid Resources:
But even if you are not actively trying to get pregnant one should still take folic acid if you are engaging in any acts that may result in pregnancy. This is because the early spinal cord of the embryo begins as a flat region, which rolls into a tube (the neural tube) 28 days after the baby is conceived. When the neural tube does not close completely, an NTD (Neural Tube Defect) develops. NTDs develop before most women know they are even pregnant.
Its a good idea to increase your folic acid dosage even if you have not had history of a prior NTD. I am living proof that taking the recommended dosage does not prevent all NTDs. I was on the recommended dosage 3 months before trying to conceive and all through my pregnancy with Genesis. Had I been taking more folic acid she may have not been born with anencephaly. Though know that even with an increased intake of folic acid there is still a 1% chance you may have a child with a NTD. Another thing to keep in mind is that most people who have a child with a NTD hav had no prior family history of NTDs.
How a woman can get enough folic acid?
There are two easy ways to be sure to get enough folic acid each day:
What Foods Contain Folic Acid?
Approximately half of all pregnancies are unplanned, so the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has taken steps to fortify certain foods so that all women of childbearing age get a daily dose of folic acid. The following foods can help you obtain your recommended amount of folic acid:
- Leafy green vegetables, such as large spinach salad
- Citrus fruits, such as orange juice
- Beans
- Breads
- Cereals
- Rice
- Pastas
Can You Overdose On Folic Acid?
Folic acid has no known toxic level. If you were to eat a bowl of fully fortified cereal (400 micrograms), take 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) folic acid supplement, and eat fortified foods and foods rich in folate, women of reproductive age would not have a problem with too much folic acid. Even in very high amounts folic acid is non-toxic. Nevertheless, it is recommended that women consume no more than 1,000 micrograms of synthetic folic acid a day. Large amounts of folic acid may hide the ability to quickly diagnose pernicious anemia, a rare vitamin B-12 deficiency. This condition primarily affects the elderly population and, in some cases, can lead to neurological damage. Today, Doctors can use a simple definitive test to check for a B-12 deficiency. Folic acid is water-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the urine. That means you need a continuous supply of the vitamin in your diet. Because of this, overdose is not likely. Anything your body cannot absorb gets excreted through your urine.
Findings from a survey conducted in 1998 to assess folic acid knowledge and practices among women of childbearing age in the United States indicate that of all women surveyed, only 13% knew that folic acid helps prevent birth defects, and only 7% knew that folic acid should be taken before pregnancy to prevent birth defects.
You should not take folic acid if you have any of these conditions. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use folic acid:
- Kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis)
- Hemolytic anemia
- Pernicious anemia
- Anemia that has not been diagnosed by a doctor and confirmed with laboratory testing
- An infection
- If you are an alcoholic
- If you are allergic to folic acid
Who Is At Risk:
NTD-affected pregnancy. It is not possible to predict which women will have a pregnancy affected by an NTD. 95% of NTDs occur in women with no personal or family history of NTDs. However, some risk factors are known:
- An NTD-affected pregnancy increases a woman's chance to have another NTD-affected pregnancy by approximately twenty times
- Maternal insulin-dependent diabetes
- Anti-seizure medication use
- Medically diagnosed obesity
- High temperatures in early pregnancy (prolonged fevers and hot tub use, for example)
- Race/ethnicity (NTDs are more common among white women than black women and more common among Hispanic woman than non-Hispanic women)
- Lower socio-econimic status
Types Of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)
There are two types of NTDs. The most common type are called the open NTDs. Open NTDs occur when the brain and/or spinal cord are exposed at birth through a defect in the skull or vertebrae (back bones). Examples of open NTDs are spina bifida (myelomeningocele), anencephaly, and encephalocele. Rarer types of NTDs are called closed NTDs. Closed NTDs occur when the spinal defect is covered by skin. Common examples of closed NTDs are lipomyelomeningocele, lipomeningocele, and tethered cord.
Lastly, spina bifida occulta (SBO) is potentially another form of an NTD in which there is a typically benign (or non-symptom-causing) bony change in one or more vertebrae, but not involving the nerves within the spinal column. The incidence of SBO is not well defined; however, it is more common than the NTDs described above. The cause and potential similarities, or, link to NTDs, has not been established.
Even More Folic Acid Resources:
Friday, March 18, 2011
Milk Supply Boosters
I had previously written a post with a few recipes for foods that may help you increase your supply. But I thought I would go more in depth with what steps you can take to actively increase your milk supply.
First and foremost I recommend seeing your local lactation consultant or La Leche League Leader.
1. Nurse, Nurse Nurse
It's the basic principle that you will hear me and other birth professionals repeat like a broken record: Supply and Demand. The more your baby nurses the more milk your body produces. Simple as that. If you are not nursing then pump, pump, pump. The first few weeks are the most demanding but DON'T give up! All the frustrations and sleepless nights and hours at the pump will pay off. Try pumping between nursings as well to signal your body to produce more milk. Don't get discouraged if you don't actually pump a whole lot. Keep pumping for at least 15 minutes on each breast. Another bit of advice along the lines of pumping: the amount you pump is not the amount you produce. Having your baby nurse is the most efficient way to empty your breasts. Pumps do not remove anything near what your baby does. So please don't measure your success on what your pump removes.
2. Avoid artificial nipples and formula
As mentioned earlier, the first few weeks are the hardest and most crucial weeks to establish a good milk supply. A key to success is to remove anything that may stumble your efforts in trying to provide milk for your baby. A baby has a strong need to suck even when they are not nursing. Allow baby to suck on the breast even when they are not nursing. That sends messages to produce milk as well. Consider avoiding using artificial nipples to satisfy that need at least for the first month or so. Also consider removing formula from your home. I personally know how tempting it is to just mix a bottle of formula that is sitting on the counter while you have been struggling to feed the baby for hours, frustrated to no end and has left both you and the baby crying. My biggest word of advice: DON'T GIVE IN TO THE TEMPTATION! Sadly most mothers that go on to "just supplement with formula for a couple feedings" are never really able to establish a good milk supply and eventually give in to formula feeding full time. {please not that there are exceptions and that some are able to get back to breast feeding. However of the women I have encountered 9 out of 10 women will not be able to nurse exclusively or at the level they were hoping to have nursed} If you must supplement then do so with very small amounts, 2-3 oz at a time and consider feeding your baby by not using artificial nipples (example: needle less syringe or SNS).
3. Don't wait for your breasts to "fill up" to determine when it's time for another feeding. There is always milk in your breasts for your baby, and more milk is made while you feed. Studies have shown that fat levels in milk are higher when the time between feedings is shorter. This means when you offer the breast again minutes after the last feeding (when your breasts may still feel "empty"), your baby is getting high-fat milk that will help him gain weight. Letting your breast fill up or get engorged actually signal you body to produce less milk, so the trick is to keep your breasts drained by having your baby nurse or by pumping frequently.
4. Consider a galactagogue
A galactagouge is a substance that increases milk supply. Here is a list of some of the most commonly used herbal galactagogues:
Fenugreek
Blessed thistle
Alfalfa
Brewer’s Yeast
I personally had a great experience increasing my supply with the products from MotherLove. I have to tell you, the drops taste terrible. And they make baby's gas smell wretched. BUT it totally works and increased my milk a ton. So for me personally it was well worth it. If you are not sure if its for you, my suggestion is to buy a small bottle and go from there.
I also found much success in drinking Mothers Milk Tea. Clicking on the link to the right will take you to their site to print out a coupon. You can buy this tea at various places including ebay and amazon.com.
5. Your diet
You must make sure that you are well hydrated. Drink to thirst. Drowning yourself in water isn't going to make you produce more milk. Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol as those things can actually lower your milk production. You may also want to consider eating these types of foods that have been said to increase milk supply for many women:
Black Beans
Papaya
Oatmeal
6. Talk to your doctor about domperidone
Domperidone is a medication used for stomach problems that has a side effect of increased milk supply. To read more about it click here. I personally took this after the birth of my second child to help with milk production. I did notice a difference but my OB refused to refill the prescription more than once and I found that after the medication wore off my supply would drop and I was back at square one.
7. Nurse longer. Don't limit the length of your baby's feedings to a predetermined number of minutes on each side. Allow your baby to finish the first breast before switching to the other side. This gives baby an opportunity to fill up on the high-fat hindmilk brought down by the milk-ejection reflex. If you switch your baby to the second side too soon, he'll fill up on the watery foremilk, which will make his tummy feel full but may not give him enough calories to grow.
8. Trust that nature's system works. If you're nursing often enough, and baby is sucking effectively, you will make enough milk. It's rare that a mother is unable to produce enough milk for her baby. And while it may seem that your life is stressful, mothers throughout history have breastfed their babies through war, famine, and personal tragedies. Your body nourished this baby through pregnancy. There's no reason to think that you won't succeed at breastfeeding.
9. Relaxation & Sleep
You will be shocked that once you begin to relax while breastfeeding or your pumping sessions, just how much more milk you will begin to have. If pumping, one of the most important thing – do not look at the breast milk while you are pumping. Everyone says to get enough sleep, but what new mother gets enough sleep during those first weeks after the baby is born. The good thing about breast pumping is that dad can feed the baby while you get a few extra hours of sleep.
{please note that this post is for informational purposes only. I am not a medical professional and each person should first consult with their doctor before trying any herbal or medical options. Please do your research on possible side effects}
First and foremost I recommend seeing your local lactation consultant or La Leche League Leader.
1. Nurse, Nurse Nurse
It's the basic principle that you will hear me and other birth professionals repeat like a broken record: Supply and Demand. The more your baby nurses the more milk your body produces. Simple as that. If you are not nursing then pump, pump, pump. The first few weeks are the most demanding but DON'T give up! All the frustrations and sleepless nights and hours at the pump will pay off. Try pumping between nursings as well to signal your body to produce more milk. Don't get discouraged if you don't actually pump a whole lot. Keep pumping for at least 15 minutes on each breast. Another bit of advice along the lines of pumping: the amount you pump is not the amount you produce. Having your baby nurse is the most efficient way to empty your breasts. Pumps do not remove anything near what your baby does. So please don't measure your success on what your pump removes.
2. Avoid artificial nipples and formula
As mentioned earlier, the first few weeks are the hardest and most crucial weeks to establish a good milk supply. A key to success is to remove anything that may stumble your efforts in trying to provide milk for your baby. A baby has a strong need to suck even when they are not nursing. Allow baby to suck on the breast even when they are not nursing. That sends messages to produce milk as well. Consider avoiding using artificial nipples to satisfy that need at least for the first month or so. Also consider removing formula from your home. I personally know how tempting it is to just mix a bottle of formula that is sitting on the counter while you have been struggling to feed the baby for hours, frustrated to no end and has left both you and the baby crying. My biggest word of advice: DON'T GIVE IN TO THE TEMPTATION! Sadly most mothers that go on to "just supplement with formula for a couple feedings" are never really able to establish a good milk supply and eventually give in to formula feeding full time. {please not that there are exceptions and that some are able to get back to breast feeding. However of the women I have encountered 9 out of 10 women will not be able to nurse exclusively or at the level they were hoping to have nursed} If you must supplement then do so with very small amounts, 2-3 oz at a time and consider feeding your baby by not using artificial nipples (example: needle less syringe or SNS).
3. Don't wait for your breasts to "fill up" to determine when it's time for another feeding. There is always milk in your breasts for your baby, and more milk is made while you feed. Studies have shown that fat levels in milk are higher when the time between feedings is shorter. This means when you offer the breast again minutes after the last feeding (when your breasts may still feel "empty"), your baby is getting high-fat milk that will help him gain weight. Letting your breast fill up or get engorged actually signal you body to produce less milk, so the trick is to keep your breasts drained by having your baby nurse or by pumping frequently.
4. Consider a galactagogue
A galactagouge is a substance that increases milk supply. Here is a list of some of the most commonly used herbal galactagogues:
Fenugreek
Blessed thistle
Alfalfa
Brewer’s Yeast
I personally had a great experience increasing my supply with the products from MotherLove. I have to tell you, the drops taste terrible. And they make baby's gas smell wretched. BUT it totally works and increased my milk a ton. So for me personally it was well worth it. If you are not sure if its for you, my suggestion is to buy a small bottle and go from there.
I also found much success in drinking Mothers Milk Tea. Clicking on the link to the right will take you to their site to print out a coupon. You can buy this tea at various places including ebay and amazon.com.
5. Your diet
You must make sure that you are well hydrated. Drink to thirst. Drowning yourself in water isn't going to make you produce more milk. Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol as those things can actually lower your milk production. You may also want to consider eating these types of foods that have been said to increase milk supply for many women:
Black Beans
Papaya
Oatmeal
6. Talk to your doctor about domperidone
Domperidone is a medication used for stomach problems that has a side effect of increased milk supply. To read more about it click here. I personally took this after the birth of my second child to help with milk production. I did notice a difference but my OB refused to refill the prescription more than once and I found that after the medication wore off my supply would drop and I was back at square one.
7. Nurse longer. Don't limit the length of your baby's feedings to a predetermined number of minutes on each side. Allow your baby to finish the first breast before switching to the other side. This gives baby an opportunity to fill up on the high-fat hindmilk brought down by the milk-ejection reflex. If you switch your baby to the second side too soon, he'll fill up on the watery foremilk, which will make his tummy feel full but may not give him enough calories to grow.
8. Trust that nature's system works. If you're nursing often enough, and baby is sucking effectively, you will make enough milk. It's rare that a mother is unable to produce enough milk for her baby. And while it may seem that your life is stressful, mothers throughout history have breastfed their babies through war, famine, and personal tragedies. Your body nourished this baby through pregnancy. There's no reason to think that you won't succeed at breastfeeding.
9. Relaxation & Sleep
You will be shocked that once you begin to relax while breastfeeding or your pumping sessions, just how much more milk you will begin to have. If pumping, one of the most important thing – do not look at the breast milk while you are pumping. Everyone says to get enough sleep, but what new mother gets enough sleep during those first weeks after the baby is born. The good thing about breast pumping is that dad can feed the baby while you get a few extra hours of sleep.
{please note that this post is for informational purposes only. I am not a medical professional and each person should first consult with their doctor before trying any herbal or medical options. Please do your research on possible side effects}
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Breastfeeding is a piece of cake
The title of this post is not necessarily true for most people. Someone once told me, "How hard can breastfeeding be? you just put the baby on your boob and poof....you're breastfeeding." There are a few, and I do mean few, who have experienced such easy nursing. And to you all I say that I am jealous and that I'm happy it worked out so easily for you. Please do not take that for granted. But for the majority of nursing mothers, it takes some work. It truly is a learned art. No two nursing pairs are alike and each pair must learn on their own.
This post is not to discourage any from breastfeeding. On the contrary, I encourage you to not only do it, but to not give up when its most difficult (in the first few weeks). It is most definitely the best thing you can do for your baby and for yourself as it lessens the chance of you getting certain types of cancers among countless other benefits. And I promise you, the pay off is huge when you succeed. But this post is to tell you the truth about breastfeeding and the obstacles you may encounter. Id rather you to be prepared for anything and succeed than for you to be caught off guard with a complication you have never heard of, feel confused, disappointed, frustrated and then quit.
So here are a few complications that you may or may not encounter:
This post is not to discourage any from breastfeeding. On the contrary, I encourage you to not only do it, but to not give up when its most difficult (in the first few weeks). It is most definitely the best thing you can do for your baby and for yourself as it lessens the chance of you getting certain types of cancers among countless other benefits. And I promise you, the pay off is huge when you succeed. But this post is to tell you the truth about breastfeeding and the obstacles you may encounter. Id rather you to be prepared for anything and succeed than for you to be caught off guard with a complication you have never heard of, feel confused, disappointed, frustrated and then quit.
So here are a few complications that you may or may not encounter:
- bad latch
- nipple pain
- cracked/chapped/bleeding nipples
- engorgement
- plugged duct
- nipple confusion
- candidiasis
- mastitis
- overactive letdown
- lip/tongue tie
These are just a few of the most common complications. Don't let this list or any other complications intimidate you. You can and will overcome these should you encounter any. First off, I highly recommend doing three things if you are expecting and planning to breastfeed (no matter how long). First, contact your local La Leche League office and start attending meetings during your pregnancy. I know we all lead very busy lives but these meetings will be for the greater good. If your schedule doesn't allow for it, then at least have their information such as phone number and address and LLL Leader info readily available for any breastfeeding questions and concerns. Second, I highly recommend choosing a location to birth you baby at that has a lactation consultant on hand. Now just because they have one on hand doesn't mean your are going to have everything work out. I personally have experienced horrible treatment from the lactation consultant where my children were born and I think it may have lead to me not being able to breastfeed all my kids. So I encourage you to meet the lactation consultants before hand. Get a feel for the type of support they offer. They should have a personal interest in you and want to see you succeed. If you don't get a good vibe from them or would like additional support for when you are discharged, I encourage you to find a local lactation consultant and at least have a consultation with them (either over the phone or in person) and have them ready to go on speed dial should you need their help once baby is here. These steps might just save your breastfeeding relationship with your baby. And last but not least, I encourage you to find a comfortable and easy to use nursing bra. I highly recommend looking at La Leche League nursing bras and Medela nursing bras. I personally have had great experiences with both those brands. I have also tried your generic nursing bras from Walmart, Target, Motherhood Maternity and the such... and have found that you get what you pay for. You buy cheap you get cheap. So investing in a good great bra will pay off in the long run and is totally worth the investment. I promise you.
Now getting back to the complications. For those of you birthing in a hospital let me give it to you straight. They say they are pro breastfeeding, but actions speak louder than words. Approximately 75% of the hospitals that I have supported at here in the Los Angeles area that I have supported at, are hardly acting in line with what they say. Almost everyone I have known that has given birth in the hospital was forced into giving their child formula. Myself included. Milk takes a few days to come in. 3 days for some, 5 days for others and even as many as 7 days or more for others. A typical stay in the hospital is 2 days. So for the majority of mothers, your milk will not have yet come in during your stay. You will have colostrum in small amounts. This is perfect for baby, don't see the small amount and feel discouraged or like there is something wrong with you. Babies loose as much as 10% of their birth weight in the first week. Totally normal. (Let me add a disclosure that in some rare moments it may be necessary to supplement due to a condition mom or baby has, so follow the advice of your doctor) So my first suggestion is let the staff know you plan on breastfeeding. Have this in your birth plan in bold and underlined. Have multiple copies of your birth plan for not only your doctor but for all the staff taking care of you. That includes different shifts in both the maternity and postpartum ward. Print a total of at least 10 copies of your plan to give out. I strongly suggest avoiding all artificial nipples as this may lead to nipple confusion in your infant (trust me, I am speaking from experience here). Some may even tell you there is no such thing as nipple confusion. And to those I pity how ignorant they are that they are not knowledgeable in a field that has failed so many breastfeeding relationships. Print out a sign such as this one:
onesie or hat. Very cute ideas. Be prepared for the staff to tell you that you must supplement for various reasons ranging all the way to weight loss, jaundice and dehydration along with any possible medical conditions, again there are some rare conditions in which it is necessary. If you are forced to feed your baby formula fear not. There are alternatives. First off I encourage you to ask if they have an SNS (supplemental nursing system) you can use. Here are examples of some types of SNS.
 |
| This is an example of finger feeding using an SNS |
If you are anything like me, I purchased an SNS for cheap on eBay to have on hand at the hospital if I needed it. Luckily I didn't need it and it is a small price to pay for breastfeeding success. If you are unable to buy one ahead of time and your hospital doesn't have any readily available for you there are still options for you. You could ask for a small cup, usually the same cup they dispense medication with, to cup feed your baby. Though this can be a bit messy. Babies will usually lap it up like a little puppy does. I highly recommend asking for a syringe to feed the baby (needle-less of course). This is a fantastic way to not letting baby get used to sucking from an artificial nipple, I know this from experience. All the while I encourage you to first put your baby to the breast and ask for a breast pump to help stimulate milk production. {A HUGE tip upon being discharged: DO NOT TAKE ANY SAMPLES OF FORMULA WITH YOU! it is way to tempting to use it if you have it. I have seen higher breastfeeding success rates among mothers who leave the free formula samples than those that take it. Fight the urge. In this case, free isn't good} I personally had to syringe feed one of my children for the first 2 weeks or so. I was adamant to breastfeed and not give my child an artificial nipple. Syringe feeding isn't the most convenient especially when you are not home or in a moving car. And it is a bit time consuming. My baby still had not really grasped how to do a deep latch yet. So I settled on Adiri bottles to maybe help making feedings easier. The Adiri bottles actually helped teach my baby how to latch on my breast and we have been nursing perfectly ever since. She just needed to be shown how to latch onto something. And using the Adiri bottle that simulates a breast was the perfect thing for us. So if you are having these same problems you may want to try this.
If you find you continue to have latch/ sucking problems with not getting a deep enough latch, I encourage you to check if your child has a lip/tongue tie.
I have heard countless stories of problems with lip and tongue ties and simple snip can fix the problem. Check with your local lactation consultant if you believe your child has a tie. You can also find great resources on this here, here, here, here and here. Also I wanted to let you know that sometimes a snip is not needed at all to fix the problem. One of my children had a lip tie (shown on the top photo) and we were able to nurse just fine without doing a snip.
If you find that nursing is very painful, causing your nipples to crack and bleed or if you hear a clicking sound coming from the baby, these are signs of a bad latch and I encourage you to seek a lactation consultant asap before you add more trauma to the breast. To ease pain on cracked/bleeding/sore nipples I recommend using Lansinoh Lanolin Cream. It really works wonders.
I recommend Kelly Mom as the #1 online reference to everything breastfeeding. Please know that no online reference, Kelly Mom included, replaces a lactation consultant. If you think you have any of the listed complications or any others, please, please, please... call your local LLL Leader and a lactation consultant. Plus if you are a WIC participant, they offer breastfeeding support as well.
If I can leave you with only one golden rule to breastfeeding, it would be to not give up. Keep going, keep trying, you will and can get it.
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