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You
may not expect it to, but having a baby changes
your life in every way. Not only do
you feel tired from the birth experience,
but you have the added responsibility of
a tiny new life, who is constantly making
her needs felt and consuming your time. Fortunately
nature has prepared us for this transition,
and we fall in love with our beautiful infants,
and willingly give them the time and energy
they need to enable them to be nurtured and
grow. However, there are some concerns
you may need addressed: |
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Some
mothers find when their full term milk
comes in (about day 3-5) their breasts
temporarily become very full. Feeding
frequently helps, and if a little milk
is expressed (about one to two teaspoonfuls)
it makes it easier for the baby to take
the breast. Applying something cold
(e.g. frozen peas in a cloth) between feeds
or putting savoy cabbage leaves in your
bra can help, too, as some of the fullness
is due to increased blood flow to the breasts.
Some mothers report that applying heat
makes it more comfortable. Whatever you
choose, make sure to apply heat (hot water
bottle in cloth/warm shower) a few minutes
before you feed. |
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Sometimes
mothers find they have an abundance of
milk and that, while their milk supply
is regulating itself, their breasts leak
between feeds. By applying pressure
with your hand and using nursing pads,
(see Lansinoh
Disposable Nursing Pads) you
can help prevent embarrassing situations
by capturing wetness and avoid irritation
by keeping the moisture inside the pad
and away from the nipples. |
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If
you notice a sore red patch on your breast,
with or without a lump, it can help to
rest, apply heat and feed frequently, paying
special attention to attachment. Many
mothers massage from the chest wall to
the nipple over the sore segment, and feed
with the baby’s nose or chin pointing
towards the sore spot. Expressing
from the sore side after a feed to “empty” the
breast can help speed up the cure. Sometimes
a pore/duct opening is blocked on the nipple;
applying heat to this before feeding can
help. If, after 24 hours of rest,
applying heat and feeding often, you feel
unwell and/or have a temperature, a visit
to the doctor and antibiotics may then
be advisable. Some women who are
prescribed antibiotics take acidophilus
bifidus (a probiotic supplement) too, to
put the good bacteria back into the body
and help avoid thrush. If you suffer from
recurrent bouts of mastitis, it may be
good to find out what is causing it. Perhaps
a tight bra, a shoulder bag or carrier
may be the culprit.
Please click
here for more information on How
to Avoid Mastits |
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Mothers
can experience sore nipples while they
and their babies are learning to breastfeed.
Most often this is due to the positioning
and attachment not being quite right for
Mum and baby. The baby needs to take
a large mouthful of breast so the nipple
is safely protected at the back of the
baby’s mouth. Lansinoh 100%
pure lanolin can soothe the soreness while
you address the cause. Lansinoh nipple
cream does not need to be removed prior
to breastfeeding, and has no taste or smell
to interfere with breastfeeding.
Please click
here for more information
on sore nipples. |
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Thrush
is a fungus that thrives in moist, dark
places, such as on nipples, in mouths or
in the nappy area. Symptoms can be
sore, red, itchy, flaky or shiny nipples,
or a nipple fissure may have white fungus
on it. Your baby may have shiny saliva
or white patches on the tongue or cheeks,
or be fussy at the breast. On the
other hand, there may be no symptoms. Pain
may last throughout a feed, and persist
even when attention is paid to better positioning.
You may also experience pain after feeding:
this pain is sometimes described as burning,
or like glass being pulled through the
nipple. The best precaution is intact
nipple skin, and no vaginal thrush at birth.
Doctors can prescribe oral medicine for
the baby and a topical ointment for the
mother, to be used at the same time. If
pain is felt within the breast a systemic
medicine may be called for, taken orally.
It is advisable for the mother to avoid
sugars and yeast. Good hand hygiene is
important. Short,
frequent feeds, and nursing on the least
sore side first can help. Washing
your baby’s hands frequently if he
sucks them and boiling everything that
goes into his mouth for 20 minutes daily
can help, too. Bras, towels, etc. benefit
from being washed at over 50 degrees C,
or ironed. Disposable
Breast Pads should
be discarded or Cloth
Breast Pads washed
after each feed. |
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Working
and breastfeeding |
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Many
women successfully combine working and
breastfeeding. It does, however, take a
little planning and commitment. Some mothers
have their babies brought to them to feed
during the day, others are able to go home
to feed. Some express breastmilk at work
as often as their baby usually feeds, store
their milk in the fridge or in an ice packed
cool bag, and then this milk is fed to
the baby the following day. Many mothers
work part-time and feed through the day
on days they are not at work. Most breastfeeding
mothers feed last thing before they go
to work, when they get home from work,
and at night. If you are feeling pressure
from your employer about your decision
to breastfeed, you can point out breastfed
babies have fewer illnesses than artificially-fed
babies, and thus breastfeeding mothers
have less time off work to be with a sick
baby.
Please click
here for more information on Working
and Breastfeeding. |
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