If you don't empty your breasts when they are full, you could get a plugged duct.
It will get "stopped up" just like a plumbing pipe. When this
happens, you might notice a small tender spot or lump in the breast. It might happen
when the baby decides to sleep through the night, or if you get busy and don't nurse as
often. Sometimes a tight bra can be pressing on a milk duct. Stress and poor
nutrition can also cause plugged milk ducts. Do this for a plugged duct:
*Get plenty of rest and nurse OFTEN. Take the baby to bed with you.
*Apply warm moist heat to the affected breast or soak it in warm water, or take a hot
shower or bath.
*Massage the breast before nursing to help the milk flow.
*Change positions each time you nurse so all ducts will be emptied.
If you have the same symptoms PLUS feel achy like you have the "flu" and a
fever, you probably have a BREAST INFECTION (MASTITIS). You get a breast infection
if you do not treat a plugged duct. If your breast does get infected, you should use
the same treatments as above and also call your health care provider. An antibiotic
will probably be prescribed for you. Remember to continue nursing frequently.
The milk from an infected breast will not harm the baby. Breast infections are
common during the holiday season because a lot of mothers get so busy they skip feedings.
(1)
Some amount of tenderness at first is normal, but if the baby is held in the correct position, nipples should never blister,
crack or bleed. If your nipples do get sore, you should do the following:
*Change positions at every feeding. This puts the pressure of the baby's gums on a
different spot each time. (Cradle hold, lying down and football hold.)
*Nurse more often, but for shorter lengths of time. If you go longer between
feedings, the baby will be hungrier and nurse too hard and make your breasts even more
sore.
*Rub breast milk on the nipple after each feeding and let dry. It actually helps
heal them.
*Don't use soap or alcohol on the nipples.
*If the pain is severe, take a mild painkiller about 30 minutes before nursing.
If your nipples are CRACKED OR BLEEDING, rub a small amount of medical
grade modified lanolin (made specifically for breastfeeding mothers) on the
nipples. This treatment, called "moist wound healing," will relieve pain,
and provide a moisture barrier that will slow the evaporation of moisture that is present
in the skin. It will allow the wound to heal much faster without forming a scab.
Pure lanolin does not have to be removed before the baby nurses. (1)
.
Nursing to me is painful (baby bites down and sucks hard in any position),
inconvenient when we are out and busy, and is not a bonding experience for me. My husband
also feels helpless when our son is crying because he is hungry and I am the only one that
can help him. I want to switch to bottles. How often do I need to pump per
day?
My heart goes out to you. I had such a bad experience with my first daughter that I
actually said I would never try breastfeeding again. My two daughters are 15 years apart
though, and time has a way of dulling memories, so I decided to give it another try. Pain
again!
This time I got help, and after I found out that breastfeeding could be pain-free, I began
to enjoy it. As time went by, I began to love it, and as you can see now, I decided to
change professions!
There is nothing in the world more wonderful than breastfeeding your baby--but it will
never be understood when you are in pain. Feeding time with your baby should be happy and
fun, so of course yours hasn't been a bonding experience! I understand your decision to
change to bottle feeding, but would encourage you before you do to try to find help.
Breastfeeding is meant to feel good! If breastfeeding hurts, it's WRONG.
It could be simply a positioning problem-- something that a lactation consultant could
help you with very quickly. It could also be a yeast problem (very likely) which causes
exquisite pain. It could be a suck problem. But regardless of what is causing the pain,
there is help available. La Leche League can also be a great help to you. It was
there that I learned how to breastfeed my baby when I was out and about and later even to
discretely nurse in public. (No bottles to fool with).
As to your husband feeling helpless, he can certainly give your baby a bottle. It is only
during the early weeks that women should avoid bottles because of nipple confusion.
Once a baby is a month old, he should be able to go back and forth from one to the other.
If you are sure that you don't want to seek further help with breastfeeding, and you want
to change to pumping bottles, my first advice to you is to get a good hospital-grade
breast pump with double pumping. Double pumping has been shown to actually help increase
supply, in addition to cutting your pumping time in half. You will need to pump on a
similar schedule to what your baby has been doing--approximately every 3 hours during the
day, and at least once at night. As your baby grows and you need more milk, you can
increase frequency for several days (every 2 hours while you are awake) to help increase
your supply. Double pumping only takes 10-15 minutes total.
Most mothers who are nursing completely (no solids or formula) will not have
menstrual periods for several months. Some women even go much longer than that.
It depends on your hormones. Nursing while you are having a period will not
affect your milk and is not a reason to wean. However, your nipples and breasts
might be a little tender during this time. (1)
YES, YOU CAN get pregnant while breastfeeding, but it is rare to ovulate before
you have your first menstrual period. Complete breastfeeding (no solids, formula, or
even pacifiers) will probably protect you for the first 4 or 5 months. If it is
important that you NOT get pregnant, use some other type of birth control. Ask your
doctor for advice on other types of birth control.
In countries where MOST women breastfeed, and they use NO birth control, the babies come
about every two years. (1)
Yes. Birth control pills are used by many nursing mothers, but other
contraceptive methods are better. The "mini" pill, (progestin only) or the
Norplant are commonly used. These appear to have less effect on your milk supply and
your baby's growth than the other pills. But they probably will affect both.
The "regular" birth control pill (estrogen-progestin) definitely affects your
milk supply and your baby's growth. It is better to wait at least 4 to 6 months
(when your baby is taking solids) before taking them.
There are other birth control options. Condoms and diaphragms are excellent choices
that don't affect your milk supply or your baby's growth. (1)
Thrush is a yeast infection in the baby's mouth. It looks like white
patches on his tongue, gums and inside his cheeks. It may also show up as a diaper
rash that peels or looks like red dots. It is often caused by antibiotics that have
been given to either the mother or the baby.
When a baby has thrush, it will usually spread to the mother's nipples and they will
become red and very sore. When you get sore nipples after several weeks or even
months of breastfeeding, thrush is probably the cause.
The treatment for thrush usually involves nystatin (Mycostatin) ointment or drops.
Both the baby's mouth and the mother's nipples have to be treated with it. (1)
1) Be sure to boil everyday for 10 minutes anything that goes in the baby's mouth (except
for your breast!).
2) Be sure to use the nystatin for a full ten days on both baby and you. It is best if you
apply the ointment to your nipples lightly but frequently, after every nursing.
3) Also, you should apply the nystatin lotion to baby's mouth with a Q tip and rub it all
around. It works topically, not through the stomach so swallowing doesn't help!
One lactation consultant suggests this method of applying the nystatin to baby: In the
morning, pour out the total amount of nystatin for the day into a clean paper cup. Put the
nystatin in baby's mouth after every nursing but use a clean Q tip every time you dip into
the medicine. That way you are applying the medicine more often without using too much
over the course of the day. It will kill the yeast more effectively that way.
Generally speaking, you can eat anything you want to, IN MODERATION. Most
mothers are able to eat anything they want with no problems. However, there are some
babies whose digestive systems are not fully mature, and spicy and gassy foods like pizza,
onions, cabbage, broccoli or beans MIGHT make them fussy. Chocolate and caffeine may
also give them problems. Try eating different foods, one at a time, to see how your
baby reacts to them. If something really makes him fussy and uncomfortable, don't
eat it for a couple of weeks. As his digestive system matures, he can handle much
more. (1)
Coffee, tea, and soft drinks with caffeine should be limited. Caffeine does
pass through the milk and makes some babies restless and fussy. Try decaffeinated
coffee and tea and caffeine-free soft drinks. (1)
Alcohol is a drug and it does pass through the milk to your
baby. Nursing babies whose mothers are heavy drinkers sometimes don't gain enough
weight and their central nervous systems are affected. It also affects your
"letdown." If you do want to drink occasionally, make sure you do it right
after you nurse. Drinking after nursing means the alcohol level in
your milk will be low (or gone) by the next feeding. (1)
I have quit smoking since I found out I was pregnant and haven't smoked yet. My
baby is 6 months old now and I'm struggling with wanting a cigarette. My concern is that I
don't know what will harm her....I need more information on nicotine and breastfeeding.
Congratulations on going so long without smoking. You obviously care very
much about doing the best thing for your baby. She is very lucky to have you as her mommy!
Research has shown that nicotine can enter the milk but that if moms smoke fewer than 20
cigarettes a day, the amount of nicotine in the milk is small. It is best to smoke after
nursing which will allow the effects to pass out of your system before the next nursing
session. Heavy smoking (more than 20) can reduce milk supply and have a strong effect on
the baby. Certainly the second hand smoke is most poisonous to infants and everyone should
smoke away from the baby.
The problem with smoking as many as 20 cigarettes a day would be the time away from the
baby. I can't figure out how a person could do it and nurse often enough! Actually, by
continuing to breastfeed even if you start smoking again, you are still helping your baby
to keep from getting upper respiratory infections often seen in babies who are exposed to
smoke.
For your own health, and that of your baby's, I would hope that you can keep resisting the
urge to smoke again.
I
have a cold/flu, with nasal congestion, sore throat and headache.
Is there anything I can take to relieve my symptoms?
When looking for medicine for cold or flu symptoms, look for something that
says "Non-drowsy formula." Otherwise this type of medication usually contains
antihistamines--something that breastfeeding mothers should avoid, since they can decrease
milk supply. Also it is best to avoid time-release medications. Instead, buy the
strength that you need to take again after 4-6 hours. Time-release medications do not
always go into the bloodstream (from which milk is made) in evenly-released doses.
Also, check with local pharmacists. They are usually a wonderful but often-forgotten
source of knowledge for breastfeeding women.
While you are sick, drink plenty of fluids, get extra rest, and keep nursing your baby.
You may notice your milk supply decrease while you are sick. That is a normal response to
physical stress (illness). As you get your rest and get well, your supply should come back
up. Hope you feel better soon!
I had breast surgery to correct uneven breasts. The surgery
involved reduction on one side and augmentation (saline implant) on the other. I was told
I would not be able to know if I could breastfeed until I actually tried. Now it has
been recommended to me that I not even try breastfeeding because this may lead to
infection or a leaky implant. Can you help?
You say it has been recommended to you that you not even try breastfeeding
because it may lead to infection or a leaky implant. I don't know who gave you this
advice, but it is not based on any research I know of. There is no reason to believe that
breastfeeding will cause implants to leak, and breastfeeding is not going to cause
infection.
Millions of women have breast implants, and many of these women have breastfed their
babies. You say you have saline implants, but even with silicone, there is no evidence
that the silicone used in implants can pass into the milk. Since most implants are
inserted through incisions under the breast or in the armpit, it is very unlikely that any
milk ducts would have been severed. However, one problem with implants is that they put
you more at risk for problems with engorgement. Educate yourself about how to
prevent and treat engorgement so that you will reduce the chances.
With reduction surgery, it is much more likely that nerves may be damaged or milk ducts
cut. As time passes, milk ducts can grow back, nerves can repair themselves, and
sensitivity can return.
The most important thing you can do is to educate yourself about breastfeeding in general
and signs of adequate intake (wet diapers and stools, etc.) Also realize that it is
possible to entirely sustain a baby with only one breast.
Get in touch with a local lactation consultant and La Leche League. La Leche League has a
pamphlet called "Nursing with Breast Implants." Also, La Leche League's book,
"The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding", discusses all these issues.
It is true that you will not know whether you can successfully breastfeed until you try
it. However, there is certainly a very good chance that you can. Even if you find that
your supply is not adequate, a nursing supplementer can enable you to continue feeding
your baby at the breast. Good luck!
I want to lose weight and get back in shape. Will
nursing inhibit or slow my weight loss? Also, is it ok to breastfeed
immediately after a workout?
Breastfeeding effects weight loss differently in every woman. The important
thing to remember is to take it slowly and safely. Some women find that they lose weight
more quickly when breastfeeding, and others find the opposite is true. Maintain a
balanced diet and remember that you do need to ingest enough calories to sustain your
breastmilk production in adequate amounts. You need about 200 calories per day more than
when you were pregnant to do this.
You should not lose more than 1 to 1.5 lbs. per week while breastfeeding, as the toxins
that are stored in body fat are released into the breastmilk. While this sounds terrible,
it is usually not a problem for the baby in small amounts, hence the suggestion to lose
the weight slowly. The benefits of breastfeeding definitely make it worth continuing!
As for breastfeeding immediately after working out, it is fine!
Valerie Banarie, RN, BSN, CLC
.
I just found out that my 1 month old is lactose intolerant and have
been told to stop breastfeeding. Is this
common?
It is unusual for a 4 week old infant to be diagnosed "Lactose
Intolerant". That has become somewhat of a catch all phrase for many things. If
there are dairy allergies in the family, your child could be reacting to the protein of
the dairy that you consume. I would first suggest eliminating as much dairy from your diet
as possible. (Check labels for things that contain whey, casean, any dairy!) It takes
about 2 weeks for an infant to begin to react to the dairy that you consume. It will take
at least 2 weeks to get the dairy out of your system. It would be interesting to
know the criteria used to diagnose your infant lactose intolerant.
My toddler is a very active nurser. He twists around, kicks, pokes,
grabs and more. He pinches and pulls any moles he can get his hands on and he grabs my
other nipple whenever possible. What can I do to stop or reduce this behavior? I like
nursing, but all this other touching is too much for me. My nipples are sensitive and I
want to go through the roof whenever he 'twiddles' one while nursing on the other.
Often toddlers will twiddle the opposite nipple, some experts feel that it helps to
encourage a faster or additional letdown. It can be very aggravating, and in some
cases quite painful!
I view this problem more as a behavior modification situation than a nursing problem
Basically you must use behavior modification techniques similar to what you are probably
already doing to discourage other unwanted behavior in your toddler. I would not allow him
to pinch ever! If he pinches, you can put him down and say no, it hurts mommy or something
equally emphatic. He will soon learn that he cannot nurse if he does that.
The nipple twiddling is often harder to break after a baby learns to do it. Some mothers
hold the baby's hands or encourage the child to hold something in his hand while nursing.
Perhaps he has a lovey blanket or stuffed animal that he can cuddle even while nursing.
You may even have to keep the opposite side completely covered and keep your arm ready to
push his hand away if he goes for it. Again, consistency with love should win out.
Your baby may be growing out of his need to nurse. You may want to limit his nursing to
only times when he is tired or needs comforting. If he is twisting around he may be
nursing due to boredom and then something interesting happens and he is distracted. He may
also just not know what he wants to do. You, as his mother, can channel his interests at
this young age toward new things. Reading books is a good transition because the baby
gets to cuddle up and gets "laptime" without needing to nurse. Dad's are good
for this too!
You may not be thinking of weaning but all this is the normal pathway to your baby
becoming a little boy, gradually and with lots of love!
If you don't empty your breasts when they are full, you could get a plugged duct.
It will get "stopped up" just like a plumbing pipe. When this
happens, you might notice a small tender spot or lump in the breast. It might happen
when the baby decides to sleep through the night, or if you get busy and don't nurse as
often. Sometimes a tight bra can be pressing on a milk duct. Stress and poor
nutrition can also cause plugged milk ducts. Do this for a plugged duct:
*Get plenty of rest and nurse OFTEN. Take the baby to bed with you.
*Apply warm moist heat to the affected breast or soak it in warm water, or take a hot
shower or bath.
*Massage the breast before nursing to help the milk flow.
*Change positions each time you nurse so all ducts will be emptied.
If you have the same symptoms PLUS feel achy like you have the "flu" and a
fever, you probably have a BREAST INFECTION (MASTITIS). You get a breast infection
if you do not treat a plugged duct. If your breast does get infected, you should use
the same treatments as above and also call your health care provider. An antibiotic
will probably be prescribed for you. Remember to continue nursing frequently.
The milk from an infected breast will not harm the baby. Breast infections are
common during the holiday season because a lot of mothers get so busy they skip feedings.
(1)
Some amount of tenderness at first is normal, but if the baby is held in the correct position, nipples should never blister,
crack or bleed. If your nipples do get sore, you should do the following:
*Change positions at every feeding. This puts the pressure of the baby's gums on a
different spot each time. (Cradle hold, lying down and football hold.)
*Nurse more often, but for shorter lengths of time. If you go longer between
feedings, the baby will be hungrier and nurse too hard and make your breasts even more
sore.
*Rub breast milk on the nipple after each feeding and let dry. It actually helps
heal them.
*Don't use soap or alcohol on the nipples.
*If the pain is severe, take a mild painkiller about 30 minutes before nursing.
If your nipples are CRACKED OR BLEEDING, rub a small amount of medical
grade modified lanolin (made specifically for breastfeeding mothers) on the
nipples. This treatment, called "moist wound healing," will relieve pain,
and provide a moisture barrier that will slow the evaporation of moisture that is present
in the skin. It will allow the wound to heal much faster without forming a scab.
Pure lanolin does not have to be removed before the baby nurses. (1)
Nursing to me is painful (baby bites down and sucks hard in any position),
inconvenient when we are out and busy, and is not a bonding experience for me. My husband
also feels helpless when our son is crying because he is hungry and I am the only one that
can help him. I want to switch to bottles. How often do I need to pump per
day?
My heart goes out to you. I had such a bad experience with my first daughter that I
actually said I would never try breastfeeding again. My two daughters are 15 years apart
though, and time has a way of dulling memories, so I decided to give it another try. Pain
again!
This time I got help, and after I found out that breastfeeding could be pain-free, I began
to enjoy it. As time went by, I began to love it, and as you can see now, I decided to
change professions!
There is nothing in the world more wonderful than breastfeeding your baby--but it will
never be understood when you are in pain. Feeding time with your baby should be happy and
fun, so of course yours hasn't been a bonding experience! I understand your decision to
change to bottle feeding, but would encourage you before you do to try to find help.
Breastfeeding is meant to feel good! If breastfeeding hurts, it's WRONG.
It could be simply a positioning problem-- something that a lactation consultant could
help you with very quickly. It could also be a yeast problem (very likely) which causes
exquisite pain. It could be a suck problem. But regardless of what is causing the pain,
there is help available. La Leche League can also be a great help to you. It was
there that I learned how to breastfeed my baby when I was out and about and later even to
discretely nurse in public. (No bottles to fool with).
As to your husband feeling helpless, he can certainly give your baby a bottle. It is only
during the early weeks that women should avoid bottles because of nipple confusion.
Once a baby is a month old, he should be able to go back and forth from one to the other.
If you are sure that you don't want to seek further help with breastfeeding, and you want
to change to pumping bottles, my first advice to you is to get a good hospital-grade
breast pump with double pumping. Double pumping has been shown to actually help increase
supply, in addition to cutting your pumping time in half. You will need to pump on a
similar schedule to what your baby has been doing--approximately every 3 hours during the
day, and at least once at night. As your baby grows and you need more milk, you can
increase frequency for several days (every 2 hours while you are awake) to help increase
your supply. Double pumping only takes 10-15 minutes total.
Most mothers who are nursing completely (no solids or formula) will not have
menstrual periods for several months. Some women even go much longer than that.
It depends on your hormones. Nursing while you are having a period will not
affect your milk and is not a reason to wean. However, your nipples and breasts
might be a little tender during this time. (1)
YES, YOU CAN get pregnant while breastfeeding, but it is rare to ovulate before
you have your first menstrual period. Complete breastfeeding (no solids, formula, or
even pacifiers) will probably protect you for the first 4 or 5 months. If it is
important that you NOT get pregnant, use some other type of birth control. Ask your
doctor for advice on other types of birth control.
In countries where MOST women breastfeed, and they use NO birth control, the babies come
about every two years. (1)
Yes. Birth control pills are used by many nursing mothers, but other
contraceptive methods are better. The "mini" pill, (progestin only) or the
Norplant are commonly used. These appear to have less effect on your milk supply and
your baby's growth than the other pills. But they probably will affect both.
The "regular" birth control pill (estrogen-progestin) definitely affects your
milk supply and your baby's growth. It is better to wait at least 4 to 6 months
(when your baby is taking solids) before taking them.
There are other birth control options. Condoms and diaphragms are excellent choices
that don't affect your milk supply or your baby's growth. (1)
Thrush is a yeast infection in the baby's mouth. It looks like white
patches on his tongue, gums and inside his cheeks. It may also show up as a diaper
rash that peels or looks like red dots. It is often caused by antibiotics that have
been given to either the mother or the baby.
When a baby has thrush, it will usually spread to the mother's nipples and they will
become red and very sore. When you get sore nipples after several weeks or even
months of breastfeeding, thrush is probably the cause.
The treatment for thrush usually involves nystatin (Mycostatin) ointment or drops.
Both the baby's mouth and the mother's nipples have to be treated with it. (1)
1) Be sure to boil everyday for 10 minutes anything that goes in the baby's mouth (except
for your breast!).
2) Be sure to use the nystatin for a full ten days on both baby and you. It is best if you
apply the ointment to your nipples lightly but frequently, after every nursing.
3) Also, you should apply the nystatin lotion to baby's mouth with a Q tip and rub it all
around. It works topically, not through the stomach so swallowing doesn't help!
One lactation consultant suggests this method of applying the nystatin to baby: In the
morning, pour out the total amount of nystatin for the day into a clean paper cup. Put the
nystatin in baby's mouth after every nursing but use a clean Q tip every time you dip into
the medicine. That way you are applying the medicine more often without using too much
over the course of the day. It will kill the yeast more effectively that way.
Generally speaking, you can eat anything you want to, IN MODERATION. Most
mothers are able to eat anything they want with no problems. However, there are some
babies whose digestive systems are not fully mature, and spicy and gassy foods like pizza,
onions, cabbage, broccoli or beans MIGHT make them fussy. Chocolate and caffeine may
also give them problems. Try eating different foods, one at a time, to see how your
baby reacts to them. If something really makes him fussy and uncomfortable, don't
eat it for a couple of weeks. As his digestive system matures, he can handle much
more. (1)
Coffee, tea, and soft drinks with caffeine should be limited. Caffeine does
pass through the milk and makes some babies restless and fussy. Try decaffeinated
coffee and tea and caffeine-free soft drinks. (1)
Alcohol is a drug and it does pass through the milk to your
baby. Nursing babies whose mothers are heavy drinkers sometimes don't gain enough
weight and their central nervous systems are affected. It also affects your
"letdown." If you do want to drink occasionally, make sure you do it right
after you nurse. Drinking after nursing means the alcohol level in
your milk will be low (or gone) by the next feeding. (1)
I have quit smoking since I found out I was pregnant and haven't smoked yet. My
baby is 6 months old now and I'm struggling with wanting a cigarette. My concern is that I
don't know what will harm her....I need more information on nicotine and breastfeeding.
Congratulations on going so long without smoking. You obviously care very
much about doing the best thing for your baby. She is very lucky to have you as her mommy!
Research has shown that nicotine can enter the milk but that if moms smoke fewer than 20
cigarettes a day, the amount of nicotine in the milk is small. It is best to smoke after
nursing which will allow the effects to pass out of your system before the next nursing
session. Heavy smoking (more than 20) can reduce milk supply and have a strong effect on
the baby. Certainly the second hand smoke is most poisonous to infants and everyone should
smoke away from the baby.
The problem with smoking as many as 20 cigarettes a day would be the time away from the
baby. I can't figure out how a person could do it and nurse often enough! Actually, by
continuing to breastfeed even if you start smoking again, you are still helping your baby
to keep from getting upper respiratory infections often seen in babies who are exposed to
smoke.
For your own health, and that of your baby's, I would hope that you can keep resisting the
urge to smoke again.
I have a cold/flu, with nasal congestion, sore throat and headache.
Is there anything I can take to relieve my symptoms?
When looking for medicine for cold or flu symptoms, look for something that
says "Non-drowsy formula." Otherwise this type of medication usually contains
antihistamines--something that breastfeeding mothers should avoid, since they can decrease
milk supply. Also it is best to avoid time-release medications. Instead, buy the
strength that you need to take again after 4-6 hours. Time-release medications do not
always go into the bloodstream (from which milk is made) in evenly-released doses.
Also, check with local pharmacists. They are usually a wonderful but often-forgotten
source of knowledge for breastfeeding women.
While you are sick, drink plenty of fluids, get extra rest, and keep nursing your baby.
You may notice your milk supply decrease while you are sick. That is a normal response to
physical stress (illness). As you get your rest and get well, your supply should come back
up. Hope you feel better soon!
I had breast surgery to correct uneven breasts. The surgery
involved reduction on one side and augmentation (saline implant) on the other. I was told
I would not be able to know if I could breastfeed until I actually tried. Now it has
been recommended to me that I not even try breastfeeding because this may lead to
infection or a leaky implant. Can you help?
You say it has been recommended to you that you not even try breastfeeding
because it may lead to infection or a leaky implant. I don't know who gave you this
advice, but it is not based on any research I know of. There is no reason to believe that
breastfeeding will cause implants to leak, and breastfeeding is not going to cause
infection.
Millions of women have breast implants, and many of these women have breastfed their
babies. You say you have saline implants, but even with silicone, there is no evidence
that the silicone used in implants can pass into the milk. Since most implants are
inserted through incisions under the breast or in the armpit, it is very unlikely that any
milk ducts would have been severed. However, one problem with implants is that they put
you more at risk for problems with engorgement. Educate yourself about how to
prevent and treat engorgement so that you will reduce the chances.
With reduction surgery, it is much more likely that nerves may be damaged or milk ducts
cut. As time passes, milk ducts can grow back, nerves can repair themselves, and
sensitivity can return.
The most important thing you can do is to educate yourself about breastfeeding in general
and signs of adequate intake (wet diapers and stools, etc.) Also realize that it is
possible to entirely sustain a baby with only one breast.
Get in touch with a local lactation consultant and La Leche League. La Leche League has a
pamphlet called "Nursing with Breast Implants." Also, La Leche League's book, "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding",
discusses all these issues.
It is true that you will not know whether you can successfully breastfeed until you try
it. However, there is certainly a very good chance that you can. Even if you find that
your supply is not adequate, a nursing supplementer can enable you to continue feeding
your baby at the breast. Good luck!
I want to lose weight and get back in shape. Will
nursing inhibit or slow my weight loss? Also, is it ok to breastfeed
immediately after a workout?
Breastfeeding effects weight loss differently in every woman. The important
thing to remember is to take it slowly and safely. Some women find that they lose weight
more quickly when breastfeeding, and others find the opposite is true. Maintain a
balanced diet and remember that you do need to ingest enough calories to sustain your
breastmilk production in adequate amounts. You need about 200 calories per day more than
when you were pregnant to do this.
You should not lose more than 1 to 1.5 lbs. per week while breastfeeding, as the toxins
that are stored in body fat are released into the breastmilk. While this sounds terrible,
it is usually not a problem for the baby in small amounts, hence the suggestion to lose
the weight slowly. The benefits of breastfeeding definitely make it worth continuing!
As for breastfeeding immediately after working out, it is fine!
I just found out that my 1 month old is lactose intolerant and have
been told to stop breastfeeding. Is this
common?
It is unusual for a 4 week old infant to be diagnosed "Lactose
Intolerant". That has become somewhat of a catch all phrase for many things. If
there are dairy allergies in the family, your child could be reacting to the protein of
the dairy that you consume. I would first suggest eliminating as much dairy from your diet
as possible. (Check labels for things that contain whey, casean, any dairy!) It takes
about 2 weeks for an infant to begin to react to the dairy that you consume. It will take
at least 2 weeks to get the dairy out of your system. It would be interesting to
know the criteria used to diagnose your infant lactose intolerant.
My toddler is a very active nurser. He twists around, kicks, pokes,
grabs and more. He pinches and pulls any moles he can get his hands on and he grabs my
other nipple whenever possible. What can I do to stop or reduce this behavior? I like
nursing, but all this other touching is too much for me. My nipples are sensitive and I
want to go through the roof whenever he 'twiddles' one while nursing on the other.
Often toddlers will twiddle the opposite nipple, some experts feel that it helps to
encourage a faster or additional letdown. It can be very aggravating, and in some
cases quite painful!
I view this problem more as a behavior modification situation than a nursing problem
Basically you must use behavior modification techniques similar to what you are probably
already doing to discourage other unwanted behavior in your toddler. I would not allow him
to pinch ever! If he pinches, you can put him down and say no, it hurts mommy or something
equally emphatic. He will soon learn that he cannot nurse if he does that.
The nipple twiddling is often harder to break after a baby learns to do it. Some mothers
hold the baby's hands or encourage the child to hold something in his hand while nursing.
Perhaps he has a lovey blanket or stuffed animal that he can cuddle even while nursing.
You may even have to keep the opposite side completely covered and keep your arm ready to
push his hand away if he goes for it. Again, consistency with love should win out.
Your baby may be growing out of his need to nurse. You may want to limit his nursing to
only times when he is tired or needs comforting. If he is twisting around he may be
nursing due to boredom and then something interesting happens and he is distracted. He may
also just not know what he wants to do. You, as his mother, can channel his interests at
this young age toward new things. Reading books is a good transition because the baby
gets to cuddle up and gets "laptime" without needing to nurse. Dad's are good
for this too!
You may not be thinking of weaning but all this is the normal pathway to your baby
becoming a little boy, gradually and with lots of love!
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