One Thing To Know About Breastfeeding and Dieting

 

 

 

After giving birth, we are often left with a variety of conflicting emotions.  We are deliriously happy, but want to cry all the time.  We are filled with life, but are totally exhausted.  We want to enjoy our time with our baby and relax, but we also want to get back into our pre-baby body. 

Of course, when it comes to getting back into shape after baby, there are more concerns to take into consideration if you’re a nursing mother.  One of the major components to sustaining a solid milk supply for your baby is maintaining an adequate caloric intake.  When dieting or exercising, you are intentionally reducing your calorie intake.

In order to limit the effect that diet or exercise could have on your supply, refrain from weight loss efforts until your child is at least three months.  After three months, your child has received a goodly amount of nutrition and your body has become accustomed to producing an adequate supply of milk.  

It is more critical than ever to eat and maintain a healthy diet.  Do not fall victim to fad diets or heavily restricted eating.  Eat a balanced and healthy diet full of protein, calcium, Vitamin D, leafy green vegetables, and supplement with a multivitamin. 

Getting back into shape is achievable, and can be done without causing any harm or stress to yourself or your baby.  Before starting any exercise or diet program, speak to your doctor.

Top Ten Necessities Breastfeeding Mamas Need

Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the entire world.  The physical act of producing and providing nutrition for your child is truly one of the greatest joys and gifts of motherhood.

How is it, then, that something so natural and so precious is so incredibly hard?! I remember after my first daughter being born, I thought it would come so natural. At first it was going great then my little perfect bubble popped, very loudly I must say, when I began to experience the trials and hardships that breastfeeding can bring-Cracked nipples! Feeling like a meat grinder had been on my nipples! Gasping and holding my breath when she latched out of pain!

One of the greatest injustices that we give new mothers is the false sense that nursing is 100% instinctive, painless, and easy.  As any nursing mother can tell you, this is not the case.  Breastfeeding, while natural and wonderful, is not immediately intuitive.  It can be painful and it is absolutely not easy.  Thankfully, there are many tips, tools, and techniques that nursing mothers can ‘latch’ onto for support.

1. Water -  Yes, this might seem obvious, but you need to be hydrated.  Not only will you need water to produce milk, but your body will be working hard and requiring the extra hydration.
2. Nursing Pads – Leaks happen.  All the time.  Whether you want them to or not.  Nursing pads will help protect your clothes and help save you from some potential embarrassing moments.
3. Quality Bras – Purchase a good day and nighttime bra for nursing.  The daytime bra should give ample support and make for easy nursing, while the nighttime bra should be comfortable and be able to hold in your nursing pads in order to avoid leaks.
4. Nipple Cream – This one is super important.  The pain of cracked, chapped, or sore nipples is not often talked about, but it is real and it can be a major roadblock for yourself and your baby.  Cracked nipples can lead to infection or blockage, and can be avoided with regularly applying a good nipple cream. I recommend Boob & Baby’s Nipple Cream. It’s shea and lanolin free! It also instantly melts and provides immediate relief
5. Nursing Pillow – There are a variety out on the market, and they are worth every penny.  Save your back and your arms, while cradling your baby during nursing.
6. A Confidant – Whether you join a breastfeeding support group online or in person, find someone to confide in.
7. Burp Cloths – This kind of just goes without saying.  You’ll need them.
8. Quality Breast Pump – This is not the place to skimp on quality.  Spend the money, borrow, or rent a high quality breast pump.  (Some insurances actually cover the cost of a pump.)
9. A Photo of Your Baby – Pumping mothers should always have a photo of their baby with them when pumping.  The sight of your child will aid in your milk letting down.
10. Patience – The number one reason women prematurely quit nursing is not milk supply (though that dwindles occasionally), is not latching problems (though those do happen, especially as teeth come in), and is not blockage or infection (though that does happen often).  The number one reason women prematurely quit breastfeeding is a lack of patience for all of the above.  Setbacks are guaranteed to happen, but they also have solutions.  Show patience to yourself, your child, and the process.  It will all be worth it in the end.

Comment below and let me know your "must haves" for breastfeeding!

6 Natural Ways to Comfort a Fussy Baby

 

 

Let's face it. Every newborn baby occasionally has those extra fussy days. If you're a new mom, there's no doubt that you can relate. On top of the sleepless nights, teething baby and high stress levels, a fussy baby can add extra stress to the entire family (insert snappy sleep deprieved mama going off like a chihuahua on her husband) If you've tried everything, from your mom's well meaning but useless advice to your gran's dirt old remedies with no success, you're in luck! Did you know that there are quite a few things you can do to naturally calm and soothe your baby. Yes, it's true. Here are some of the best ways to comfort a fussy baby, the all natural way. 

 

Rocking – Nothing comforts a fussy baby like the embrace of his or her mom or dad. If you have a rocking chair in the nursery, try rocking your baby until he or she calms down and falls asleep. If you don't have a rocking chair, simply rock your baby back and forth while walking around the room. The rocking motion is a familiar motion to baby and has shown to be therapeutic and soothing.  

Baby Swings - Most experienced mommies will tell you that a baby swing is an excellent tool you can use to comfort a fussy newborn. Next time your baby is extra fussy, try putting him or her in a baby swing that sways back and forth mimicking your own comforting motions. 

Car Rides - Another great way to calm a crying baby is to put him or her in the car seat and head out for a ride around the block. This is because many babies are soothed by the subtle vibrations and humming sound of a vehicle while in motion. 

Swaddling – You could also try swaddling your baby to calm him or her down on a fussy day. To swaddle your baby, simply wrap him or her up like a burrito with hands to the side of the body. Swaddling is reminiscent of mommy's womb for babies! 

Burping – Sometimes a baby might be fussy because he or she is experiencing tummy pain from gas. To help your baby get some much needed relief, try consistently burping him or her after each and every feeding. 

White Noise – If you still can't calm down your fussy baby, you should try the white noise method. Do this by putting on a playlist of calming instrumental tunes or recordings of rain falling or waves crashing. The white noise minimizes all other noises in baby's nursery so he or she can relax and fall fast asleep come nap time.  

 

If all of these methods fail and your baby is fussy for an extended period of time, this could be a sign of a more serious problem such as colic. If you suspect this is the case, you may want to make an appointment with your pediatrician as soon as possible in order to address your concerns.  

 

What are your go to ways to comfort your baby when he or she is feeling a bit fussy?

Could your painful breasts be a clogged duct or mastitis

Let’s be honest for a minute:  Being a new mom means getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.  Sitting down?  Hurts.  Standing up?  Aches.  Bathroom activities?  Altered. Boobs?  Swollen.  Nipples?  Cracked.   

Sometimes super swollen and cracked. 

Sometimes painfully and disproportionately swollen, hardened, and cracked. 

The two most common causes for swollen and painful nipples are clogged duct, or mastitis.  How does one know if they are afflicted by one of these conditions?  And how can you tell the difference between the two? 

Let’s break it down: 

Clogged Duct:  This condition is exactly what it sounds like.  A clogged duct is an area of the breast where milk flow is blocked. The blockage can be found in the nipple itself or even further down the ductal system.   A clogged duct tends to become gradually noticeable and tends to only effect one breast. 

Symptoms of a clogged duct include redness, hotness, swelling, and a hard lump or wedge on or underneath the nipple.  Plugged ducts tend to be more painful before a feeding, and can be particularly painful during let down.  There are generally no other obvious systemic side effects associated with clogged ducts, but you might notice stringy or thickened grains of fatty milk when nursing or pumping.  You might also notice a decrease in milk supply. 

 

Mastitis:  This condition happens to nearly 20% of new mothers, and generally occurs in the first 2-3 weeks postpartum.  While mastitis can be caused by an obstruction, much like a clogged duct, it can often be caused by an infection or allergy.  Unlike clogged ducts, mastitis comes on quickly and painfully.   

The pain mastitis is more intense than a clogged duct and can often cause red streaks to appear on the skin around the affected area.  What sets mastitis apart from a clogged duct are the physical symptoms that accompany it.  Women suffering from mastitis often have fevers of over 101.3, as well as flu like symptoms and extreme exhaustion.  (You know, more than just the typical exhausted mother type.)  Milk can often look lumpy, chunky, or gelatin like.  (That sentence even grossed ME out.)  The milk will often taste salty and occasionally contains mucus or blood.   

Ultimately, when in doubt, call your doctor.  While it may be true that motherhood is painful, there is no need in suffering needlessly.  Clogged ducts and mastitis alike can rob you of sleep, happiness, and even threaten your ability to nurse.  Mothers have to suffer enough as it is.  Life is short:  Sit on doughnut pillows and call your doctor if you’re worried about your aching boobs.

How to increase breastmilk supply

Breast feeding comes with a whole love of contradicting feelings.  On the one hand, it is a beautiful and sacred moment with your baby, uniting you in the beautiful exchange of emotional and physical nourishment.  On the other hand, it can be awkward and hilarious.  (Raise your hand if you’ve ever taken off your bra to step into the shower only to suddenly start spurting milk like a backyard sprinkler in the summer, covering the mirrors, the sink, and the walls.  What, only me?  No way.  I don’t believe it.)
There is another feeling that often accompanies breast feeding that we seem to be afraid of discussing out loud.  It is a natural, healthy, and normal feeling – and yet we so rarely talk about it.  
Frustration.
Despite what we might think, nursing is not always intuitive and it is not always easy.  Cracked nipples.  Sleepless nights.  Engorged breasts (that may or may not randomly spurt milk towards unexpecting bathroom mirrors).  One of the things that causes the greatest amount of frustration that leads to prematurely ending breastfeeding is a reduced milk supply.  Too often, mothers see their supply dwindle, become frustrated, and throw in the towel.
There is another way.
Here are three of the most simple and easiest methods to increase your milk supply without the aid of supplements or medical intervention:
1. You, my friend, must relax.  Easier said than done, for sure.  Motherhood is a never ending cycle of stressful situations, and usually on a reduced amount of sleep.  When your body is in a state of stress, it enters into survival mode.  In survival mode, preferential treatment and support is given to the absolutely essential body functions that will sustain your life.  Your body begins to store fats, reduce your metabolism, and reduce the energy spent producing milk.  Take a bath.  Take a nap.  Take a break.
2. Nurse Early.  Nurse Often.  If you are really dedicated to increasing your supply, you are going to need to nurse and pump at all hours of the day, and very frequently.  Milk is produced as an ‘on demand’ system.  The more milk you ask your body to make, the more it will produce.
3. Share and Share alike.  There will be times that your baby will lose interest in nursing after only one side.  Resist the temptation to pop the girls back in their bra and go about your day.  Make sure your baby attempts to nurse on both sides.  Not only will this encourage positive feeding habits for your baby, but it will demonstrate to your body the need to produce more milk.
4. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry.  Your body needs nutrition in order to create nutrition.  Drink lots of water each day and eat healthfully.
5. Trust that your body CAN do it.  Every nursing mother has worried that she is not producing enough milk for her child.  When mothers get nervous, they sometimes start supplementing.  When they start supplementing, they’re sending a message to their body that it doesn’t need to make as much milk.  When the body starts to make less milk, the mother gets nervous and supplements more.  And so on, and so forth.  Resist the urge to supplement, and focus on nursing and pumping.  (The obvious exception to this is if your doctor tells you that supplementing is imperative.  Always listen to your trusted physician.)
Nursing is filled with joy, laughter, and some tears.  Get more of the good stuff, and less of the stress.  You can do this, and you’ll be glad when you do.