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When Your Nipples Need Band-Aids - A Breastfeeding Problem
In the olden days, mothers were told to toughen their nipples to avoid pain when the baby started breastfeeding. Rubbing with a wash cloth, pumping and even alcohol was once used to toughen the nipples. The number one reason why a woman has sore nipples is poor positioning and latching, not the lack of preparation. Possibly, the baby is not turned toward the mother or the baby's mouth is not over the nipple but on the tip of it. Some babies go on to the breast with a wide mouth. But, throughout the feed, slides slowly down to the nipple. Another reason for sore nipples may be the mom is feeling exhausted and doesn't think she can deal with one more thing, including sore nipples. Pain with latch is not normal and needs to be addressed. The sooner the mother fixes the problem, the sooner she will have pain-free breastfeeding. PREVENTING SORE NIPPLES: ? Whatever position the mom wants to try, the baby's body needs to be turned in facing mom. Make sure the baby's bottom is also tucked in close. ? You want to have a breastfeeding pillow or many pillows to bring baby's nose level to the nipple. The baby can not latch properly if the baby is sliding down. ? When an infant is skin to skin its mother, the baby knows what to do instinctively. Not only will the baby wake up faster, she will breastfeed more efficiently. If the infant is fussy with her arms flailing, wrap the baby snuggly to help soothe. ? Wait for the baby to open her mouth. You want the mouth to be wide as if the baby is going to be eating a big double-double cheese burger. If the baby only wants to open as wide as if eating a small hamburger, you need to wait. Keep the infant up close to the nipple and with one hand hold the baby's head and with the other hand hold your breast and tease the baby with your nipple. Move the nipple from the baby's nose to chin in a straight line. If the baby opens wide like that double-double cheese burger, ram him onto the breast quickly. If he does not, then you are to repeat this until he does. ? Make sure that you are holding your breast properly. Hold your breast in the C hold. Bring your four fingers completely underneath your breast and lift up. With your thumb you lay it at the top line of your areola. You do not want to have your fingers near the nipple. Your fingers will look like you are holding that double-double cheese burger. ? Sometimes women may feel discomfort during the first 10 seconds of a feed. This may be normal. However, if pain continues throughout the feed and/or the nipple looks like a ski slope after the feed then the latch and positioning need evaluating. Go back and follow the directions listed above. HEALING YOUR NIPPLES: ? With improved latch ? Moist healing is preferred. ? Express your colostrum for its antibiotic factors. ? Nipple ointments for example, Lansinoh or Purelan ? Soothies or other gel pads that go over the nipple ? Alternate between ointments and gel pads for soothing relief ? Air Dry Have patience during this time. If you need more support, seek out your nurse, a Doula, Le Leche League, or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Julie L. Johnson is a wife and mother of three who has experienced every pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and breastfeeding situation there is and has lived to tell about. She is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Doula and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant practicing in Southern California. Her website http://www.birth-angel.com provides services and products to help ease the transition into motherhood.
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Alternative Medicine Pregnancy And Celiac Disease If you have celiac disease and are well controlled because you stick rigidly to a gluten-free diet, you are as likely as anyone who has not got celiac disease to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. The Pregnancy Glow and Other Myths of Motherhood It happened during the ninth month of my first pregnancy. I was going through a department store check-out lane where a teenage girl was ringing up my purchases. She looked shyly at my burgeoning belly with an expression that could only be described as reverent. Will I Get Stretch Marks? If I Do, What Can I Do? It doesn't seem possible at the outset of pregnancy, but your skin really will stretch enough to accommodate your baby. Collagen and elastin in the skin guarantee it. It seems that collagen has the tensile strength of steel and by the end of the pregnancy, you'll understand why this is important. Start Growing Healthy Children Before Getting Pregnant When I was in my early 20's, I read Adele Davis's book, "Let's Eat Right To Keep fit." I learned from her that "you are what you eat." I also learned that our babies are what we eat while we are pregnant, and then are what they eat once they are born. If you nurse your babies, then they continue to be what you eat as long as you are nursing them. My bible during my first pregnancy over 38 years ago was "Let's Have Healthy Children," also by Adele Davis. I started to follow her guidelines way before getting pregnant, knowing that my health had a big effect on my baby's health. How To Prepare For Natural Childbirth SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT BIRTH IS NATURAL, NORMAL AND HEALTHY. Reducing Your Pain In Childbirth Pain is the word most associated with labor. Women go to great lengths to deal with the discomforts of childbirth. They attend classes, buy products, read books and talk to their friends. However, relaxation is the one essential ingredient, often overlooked, which helps with the reduction of painful contractions. When Moms have fear in labor, their body tenses. When there is tension (opposite of relaxation), there is pain. Relaxation takes away the fear, therefore, reducing tension and pain. You can't have relaxation and tension at the same time. Calcium and Pregnancy Studies show that most women do not get enough daily Calcium. And many pregnant women do not realize that the typical prenatal vitamin only contains 4-20% of the RDA of Calcium. Calcium is essential for strong teeth and bones, muscle contractions, nerve function and blood clotting. Calcium-deficiency results in decreased bone density (which in turn leads to osteoporosis and increased bone fracture risk), hypertension, preeclampsia, and increased cavities. There is also clinical evidence that correlates Calcium-deficiencies with preterm deliveries, low birth weight babies, high blood pressure in baby and cesarean sections. Our bodies cannot produce Calcium, therefore we must consume it. The Recommended Daily Allowance of Calcium for pregnant or, breastfeeding women, is 1,200 mg. Good sources of Calcium are listed on the bottom of this article. There is, however, much more to getting your daily allowance than just consuming 1,200 mg of calcium. There are many factors that contribute to how much calcium is actually absorbed by the body. For example; Infertility and Pregnancy When a couple is unable to conceive a child, it is the couple's problem, and not the "fault" of one partner or the other. Female issues are the most common reasons cited, but some studies suggest that up to 40% of infertility is caused by one or more reasons originating with the male partner. Exercising After Pregnancy Generally most women can begin a formal exercise program within 6 weeks of giving birth, though this time frame might be slightly longer for some women, including those recovering from a C-section. Most women recovering from a C-section will be able to exercise after there incision has healed and their doctor has cleared them for exercise. Common Sense Approach To Pregnancy Weight Loss Ok so everyone gains weight while they are pregnant. This is perfectly normal. It is also perfectly normal for a woman to want to lose that weight after pregnancy. We have established this much at this point in time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with aspiring to get yourself back into shape right after your pregnancy, in fact I certainly encourage it! Early Signs of Pregnancy Think you may need to do a home pregnancy test? Pregnancy can be a life changing event. Here are some of the early signs of pregnancy to help you decide if it's time for that all important test: How do Pregnancy Tests Work? Pregnancy tests identify a special hormone in the blood or urine produced during pregnancy. This hormone is called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), often referred to as the pregnancy hormone. There are two basic types of pregnancy tests, blood and urine. Maintaining Balance During Your Pregnancy Pregnancy is a beautiful time. And it is also a time for out-of-control hormones which can get a little stressful and chaotic. But there is good news for women who are planning to become or already are pregnant. A variety of wonderful hormone-balancing treatments are available today. You don't even need a prescription to obtain such pregnancy hormone medication. Obesity And Pregnancy If you are overweight when you become pregnant, your physician will likely recommend that you gain less weight than a woman who is average or normal weight. You should not diet during pregnancy because it is vital that you supply your body and unborn baby with an adequate number of nutrients. What you can do however to minimize your weight gain is to ensure that you eat a healthy selection of foods during your pregnancy. You Can Do Exercise During Pregnancy, but Dont Overdo It Don't get so lazy during your pregnancy. Move your body if you want to delivery your baby easily, do some exercise! Some studies show that women who exercise during pregnancy are more likely to have easy labor and deliveries and faster recoveries. Pregnancy Fashion - Look And Feel Great During Your Pregnancy! Have you ever wondered what makes women tick? Well among other things it is good, no wait? great fashion sense! Fighting the Pregnancy Blahs Every pregnant woman has experienced the pregnancy blahs. I can remember feeling so big and unattractive throughout my two pregnancies, and secretly wishing for the pregnancy to be over so that I could have my body back and fit into my normal clothes. It's sad to say, really, because pregnancy is such a beautiful experience and the fact that you created this little human being that is developing in your body should make you feel wonderful through every step of the way. Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk: Why Women Do It Exclusively pumping breast milk is best thought of as an alternative to formula feeding. While there are some women who decide to exclusively pump even before their babies are born, they are by far the minority. Instead, most women who exclusively pump fully intended to breastfeed and believe strongly in the benefit and value of breast milk. When confronted with difficulties or situations that make breastfeeding difficult or impossible, these women turn to the use of a breast pump to ensure their babies receive breast milk. Pregnancy Week By Week There are three stages of pregnancy. These are the first, second and third trimesters. The first trimester runs from week one to week fourteen, the second covers weeks 15 26, then the third is weeks 27 40. How to Get Your Pre-pregnancy Body Back The second biggest question you will ask yourself as a new mom is, "Will I be able to get back into shape after I give birth?" (The first, of course, is, "Will I be a good mother?") The truth is, yes, you can get back into pre-pregnancy shape and, if you desire, you can get yourself into even better shape than you were in before your pregnancy.
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