Saturday, June 30, 2018

There and Back Again: A Nursing Mother's Tale

I see you. The Mama struggling to get her baby just to accept the breast. I see you. The Mama in true pain because her baby has a bad latch. I see you. The Mama who pumps all day but still has to give baby a bottle. I see you. I have been you.

With my daughter, Autumn, I struggled with all of those issues: avoidance, bad latch, and low supply. I wasn’t able to exclusively nurse her like I had intended. I was so devastated that I couldn’t do this “natural” act of fulfilling my baby’s needs. It pretty much ruined my immediate motherhood experience.

I don’t remember my daughter being born, but I do remember “waking up” to my husband telling me that Autumn had trouble breastfeeding and my nipple was a little beat up (I had a purple hickey from my 6lb piranha). Right from the beginning our nursing relationship wasn’t vibing. Unfortunately I let this negative experience taint my nursing.

I chose to pump for Autumn rather than struggle to nurse her. Pumping milk every three hours (every two hours at first) is more exhausting than half-asleep pulling baby to breast and dozing back off together. I was so incredibly worn out, disappointed, and disconnected from my baby that I didn’t even feel like a mother.

After 2 months of emptiness and struggle, I went to the doctor and got a diagnosis of Post Partum Depression. With teatment, I was finally able to get back in touch with myself. My patience, compassion, and joy returned quickly. I found that I was starting to enjoy motherhood instead of dread it. Autumn and I even started trying to nurse again.

Things were going along swimmingly! I’d feed her at the breast, she’d eat “real” food, wouldn’t need a bottle, and we’d share the special time just for us.

Of course something always has to shake things up. I had a seizure at work soon after Autumn began solids. I was put on new medications and advised not to nurse anymore. Outwardly I reasoned that it was a good thing since Autumn was weaning anyway. On the inside, I was devastated that just when we were beginning to get the hang of breastfeeding, we were being forced to stop. It felt so unfair.

Three Years Later

The Universe has paid me back! I am having the most beautiful nursing relationship with Porter! The odds were stacked against us from the start. He was rushed to the NICU immediately after birth and was given formula as protocol. We missed the “Golden Hour” to initiate breastfeeding while I was recovering in Labor & Delivery and Porter was being attended to by the Neonatologists.

On top of everything else, Porter was 5lb 3oz at 38 weeks, making him Small For Gestational Age (he wasn’t even on the growth chart!). These babies’ only goals are to gain weight and learn to feed effectively. Initially, I was required to give Porter a few milliliters of formula with every feeding and limit his nursing to short periods of time so he didn’t burn more calories than he was consuming. I would pump after each feeding and soon enough I amassed a small supply of pumped colostrum to supplement him with. My milk came in during our hospital stay and I didnt have to supplement with any formula since his first day!

Despite all of these obstacles that could each impact efforts to breastfeed, Porter and I have enjoyed a blissful nursing experience. My struggles nursing Autumn prepared me for this time around. I knew what to expect, what to look out for, and when to get help. If I hadn’t known how hard nursing could be, I wouldn’t know how lucky I am now.

Mama struggling to make breastfeeding work, I see you. Know that if you persist and just take it latch by latch, nursing will get easier. You know what else? If nursing just isn’t for you and your baby, causes you too much stress, or if you just can’t get over a hump, don’t fret. Seek lactation help if you want it (WIC programs and hospitals can be so helpful). Every drop of breast milk that baby gets is valuable, meaningful, and nourishing. Giving bottle (of pumped milk or formula) is just as nourishing and a great bonding opportunity for mom, dad, or any other willing bottle-giver.

If you’re agonizing over feeding choices and perceived expectations, just keep your mantra simple: Feed your baby. Feel no shame. Do what is best for you and baby.



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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

Pumping Breast Milk At Work | Philippine Law

Breastfeeding in office 2018
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Did you know that nursing moms are entitled to pump breast milk during office hours for their lovely babies?

Yes! According to Republic Act 10028 Chapter 3, Sec. 12:

Sec. 12. Lactation Periods. – Nursing employees shall granted break intervals in addition to the regular time-off for meals to breastfeed or express milk. These intervals, which shall include the time it takes an employee to get to and from the workplace lactation station, shall be counted as compensable hours worked. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) may adjust the same: Provided, That such intervals shall not be less than a total of forty (40) minutes for every eight (8)-hour working period.

That means that mommies are granted of not less than a total of forty (40) minutes in every eight (8) hours working period aside from their scheduled breaks and lunch.

Any employer who refuses to grant a nursing mom this privilege can be reported to Department of Labor and Employment.

So, to all the moms out there especially to our colleagues in the BPO industry, always remember about your privilege and let your employers know if in any case they forget about it.

Source: officialgazette.gov.ph

 



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How To Tell the Difference Between A Panic Attack And A Heart Attack


How To Tell the Difference Between A Panic Attack And A Heart Attack
Panic attacks can feel pretty different person to person (as can heart attacks), but there are a few good, general principles you can use to help you distinguish between the two the next time you’re an otherwise healthy, youngish person with a weird, panic-inducing chest twinge.

June 30, 2018 at 11:44AM
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Pumping Breast Milk At Work | Philippine Law

Breastfeeding in office 2018
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Did you know that nursing moms are entitled to lactation during office hours to help them store breast milk for their lovely babies?

Yes! According to Republic Act 10028 Chapter 3, Sec. 12:

Sec. 12. Lactation Periods. – Nursing employees shall granted break intervals in addition to the regular time-off for meals to breastfeed or express milk. These intervals, which shall include the time it takes an employee to get to and from the workplace lactation station, shall be counted as compensable hours worked. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) may adjust the same: Provided, That such intervals shall not be less than a total of forty (40) minutes for every eight (8)-hour working period.

That means that mommies are granted of not less than a total of forty (40) minutes in every eight (8) hours working period aside from their scheduled breaks and lunch.

Any employer who refuses to grant a nursing mom this privilege can be reported to Department of Labor and Employment.

So, to all the moms out there especially to our colleagues in the BPO industry, always remember about your privilege and let your employers know if in any case they forget about it.

Source: official.gov.ph

 



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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

Friday, June 29, 2018

Breastfeeding in office 2018

Breastfeeding in office 2018
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Did you know that nursing moms are entitled to lactation during office hours to help them store breast milk for their lovely babies?

Yes! According to Republic Act 10028 Chapter 3, Sec. 12:

Sec. 12. Lactation Periods. – Nursing employees shall granted break intervals in addition to the regular time-off for meals to breastfeed or express milk. These intervals, which shall include the time it takes an employee to get to and from the workplace lactation station, shall be counted as compensable hours worked. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) may adjust the same: Provided, That such intervals shall not be less than a total of forty (40) minutes for every eight (8)-hour working period.

That means that mommies are granted of not less than a total of forty (40) minutes in every eight (8) hours working period aside from their scheduled breaks and lunch.

Any employer who refuses to grant a nursing mom this privilege can be reported to Department of Labor and Employment.

So, to all the moms out there especially to our colleagues in the BPO industry, always remember about your privilege and let your employers know if in any case they forget about it.

Source: official.gov.ph

 



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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

Doctor, Your Patient Is Waiting. It’s a Red Panda.


By KAREN WEINTRAUB from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2Ky9d1G
via IFTTT

Judge Strikes Down Kentucky’s Medicaid Work Rules


By ABBY GOODNOUGH from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2lG5Zvb
via IFTTT

What’s In This?: American Cheese


What’s In This?: American Cheese
All 16 ingredients in these Pikachu-yellow slices, explained (yep, even natamycin).

June 29, 2018 at 03:09PM
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Do Shin Guards Actually Work?


Do Shin Guards Actually Work?
I so was positive players fake injuries that I let a co-worker kick me in the shins.

June 29, 2018 at 01:00PM
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Design Is Like A Drug


Design Is Like A Drug
We should study workplace design the way we study drugs. Doing so will help us prescribe better treatments for organizations to work smarter.

June 29, 2018 at 10:57AM
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Thursday, June 28, 2018

A baby was treated with a nap and a bottle of formula. His parents received an $18,000 bill.


A baby was treated with a nap and a bottle of formula. His parents received an $18,000 bill.
An ER patient can be charged thousands of dollars in "trauma fees" — even if they weren't treated for trauma.

June 28, 2018 at 11:10AM
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Wednesday, June 27, 2018

It's Time To Stop Running From Gaming Addiction


It's Time To Stop Running From Gaming Addiction
Underneath it all, I think the reaction to the WHO's gaming disorder is about the fear of facing up to uncomfortable truths about game design.

June 27, 2018 at 12:42PM
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The psychology of why you feel alone even when you’re surrounded by people


The psychology of why you feel alone even when you’re surrounded by people
Despite the world's population creeping upward by around 200,000 people a day, many of us have never felt as alone.

June 27, 2018 at 07:00AM
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Breast is best, they say

Breast is best. The research confirms. The doctors agree. The playground Moms are preaching. The commercials are reminding us. Once you read this I’m sure that Facebook ads will remind you too!

Here’s the thing about breastfeeding, it sucks. Pun intended. But seriously. Some people nurse their babies with nothing but pure happiness. For a lot of people there are almost no “cons”. I picture those people nursing their babies atop a white fluffy cloud, harps playing, a rainbow above their head, unicorns, a pot of gold, big foot, all the magical things. Some people, though, are much more like me.

Before I complain, I want to say that what our bodies can do is magic. Pure magic. So if you can breastfeed I suggest you try. Just step into it as educated as possible.

I spent years researching anything baby related. It took my husband and I a long time to get pregnant so I had plenty of time to dream. During that time, I got the gist that breastfeeding was just pure amazingness with some random rare complications that I shouldn’t really worry about. Here is my real life experience:

Miracle baby #1. I had a scheduled c-section. She was absolutely perfect. She had jaundice so we were anxious for my milk to come in. Day 3, no milk. The nurse suggested I sit down with a lactation consultant. I walked down the hall with hopes in my heart & came out crying.

When you are told for 10 months that “breast is best”, then you have your perfect little baby and they tell you that you can’t give her what’s best for her… it’s heart breaking. I wasn’t even that invested in breastfeeding. Once they told me I couldn’t, it was like someone punched me in the gut. My stomach was in knots as I watched my husband give her her first formula bottle. I sobbed. It was such a range of emotions. She was starving and gulped down that bottle like it was the first thing she’s ever drank… oh wait, it was. I had been putting her on a dry breast and was being told that she was getting something it was just a really small amount that early. It was just awful.

Day 4: my milk comes in. Yes!

Day 5 – Month 6: Hell. I spent 6 months struggling with my supply. 6 months with either a baby or a pump on my breasts. During this period I had struggled with low supply. I was supplementing with formula but also constantly trying to up my supply. I was taking supplements, eating oatmeal, “power pumping”, renting a hospital grade pump, massaging my breasts, trying anything really. All while enduring “ya but you’re not really breast feeding“, “but don’t you only do it occasionally“, “ugh I feel bad for you formula is so gross”. If one of you judgy women are reading this, be compassionate. I haven’t decided if I wanted to swear in this blog or not but I have a few choice words for you. I put in just as much effort as a full-timer. It just wasn’t in my cards.

In February of 2016 I stopped trying. I cried during her last feed, and all night. Once the sadness wore off. I felt liberated. I had my boobs back. My baby was better than fine. My nipples didn’t hurt. I wasn’t spending $75 a month on a hospital grade pump. My boobs weren’t constantly hanging out.

Looking back now, I wish I stopped sooner. I ran myself into the ground because everyone in the world was saying it was what my baby needed. But I needed things too. I needed to be me again and not just a milk factory. Once I was me again, I was a better Mom & a better Wife.

Miracle Baby #2: I had a scheduled C-section. Everything went perfect. She was jaundice. Sound familiar? This time my milk came in. It came in great early on day 3. I finally was going to get that fluffy cloud nursing experience! Cut-to a few feedings in, my nipples are killing me. The dreaded bad latch. The nurse came in and said “her mouth is really small. She just simply can’t get it open any wider”. Basically it was on me to take the pain and deal with it. Having not had this opportunity with my first, I chose to deal with the pain. During the first month my nipples were so chapped that I was crying when she was nursing. So chapped that I didn’t want to wear a bra but I had to because I was leaking so much. It hurt to shower. It hurt to put cream on them. It just hurt. Eventually baby #2s mouth grew enough for her latch to not hurt and for my nipples to recover. Thank you baby Jesus!

About a month in now, it’s finally time to get this baby weight off! If there is one thing I’m good at, it’s losing and gaining weight. If there was an award for yo-yo dieting, I’d win it. They would give me a key to the city & have a feast in my name… probably around Thanksgiving when all the good carby foods are out in full force.

Having just had a baby I am about 60lbs over what I was pre-pregnancy. I decide that I didn’t want to cut out any major food groups so not to effect my milk supply (for those of you that don’t know, it dips if you are not well hydrated and/or well fed) so the best diet for me is calorie counting. Calorie counting is simple math. I’ve lost 100 lbs before while calorie counting. So, I start.

Two weeks into daily exercises and taking in 1,400 calories a day, which My Fitness Pal tells me is necessary to lose 2 lbs a week, I have lost nothing really. I’ve gone up a few and down a few and back up a few. This is strange because everything I read said that I should have an easier time losing weight if I’m breastfeeding. This is because producing milk burns calories. During my 6 week check up, I complain to my Doctor.

“I’m a pro at losing weight and I’m so heavy right now I feel like this should be happening faster, especially with the breast feeding”

His response was disheartening. He told me that a lot of women have a harder time losing weight while breast feeding. He said us lucky ones have bodies that hold on to the weight until we finish breast feeding. And as someone that is seriously overweight, that may have been what tipped the “con” scale for me. It is also the worst bit of false information floating about the internet.

From there I tried adding calories. Exercising more. Exercising less. I’m still the same weight, now at 8 weeks postpartum and was assured it would stay this way until I stop breastfeeding.

Take what you will from this blog post. What I hope I put forth into the universe and into your mind, dear reader, is simple. Not everything is roses while breastfeeding. Not everything on the internet is accurate, even if it’s on a medical website. It is rewarding. It is best. It is not the only option. It doesn’t need to feel bad to want your body back, or to never want to give that piece of your self up to begin with. After all, you gave your body for 10 months and now with a child you will give up your sanity for 18 years or likely more.

I have spared you the details of my chapped nipples. You’re welcome. Just know that it’s nothing insignificant like chapped lips. A mommy friend of mind shared with me that her daughter was spitting up blood from hers being so chapped. I know. It makes you squirm, doesn’t it? Well, that’s what us Mamas do. We endure for our children. I have had Mommy friends in the hospital with mastitis. I have had mommy friends suddenly loose supply. I have had mommy friends struggle with over supply. I have personally had minor blocked ducts, ouch. Breast feeding isn’t easy, for some of us. Although I feel that the scale is tipped towards “cons” for me, I still breastfeed miracle #2 and her tiny little mouth. Special mention to the mommy’s doing all this with multiples!

If you choose to breastfeed, here are some things that make it easier for me:

A good and portable breast pump. With miracle #1, I was all like “I’m no bougie, I don’t need a portable pump. I’ll use the one insurance covers fully”. Then I had miracle #2 and I was like, “what the f*ck was I thinking?”. It’s worth the extra money. Here is the one I used.

Spectra S1

Good breast pads. Your boobs will leak. If you’re anything like me, it’ll be really inconvenient. You need absorbent pads. I tried cloth pads but I leak way too much for those to work. If you have a heavy flow and don’t want to be soaking your shirts, go for something disposable. I used these

Lansinoh Ultimate Protection Nursing Pads

When you’re flow gets lighter, I enjoyed the feel of Bamboobies

A milk collector. I feel like my goals with breastfeeding was to have a good stash. It almost feels like an animal instinct to want to stash your liquid gold away some place safe. When you are giving baby one breast, the other is leaking. Don’t let it go to waist, girl. I used this when I was squirreling, and loved it.

Nature bond silicone milk saver suction

A good hand pump. Technically the milk saver is a hand pump but I could never figure it out. I like hand pumps for when I just needed quick relief. I used it a ton before I got a portable breast pump. There was less parts and for me less hassle. This is the one I used.

Lansinoh manual breast pump

Nipple shields. I didn’t even know what these were before miracle #2. Shout out to the mommy with the bleeding nipples for bringing these to my attention! Basically it’s the material of a bottle nipple, but thinner, and it goes over your nipple and helps with bad latching and chapping. Life. Saver.

Lansinoh nipple shield

Nipple cream.

HPA Lanolin

Thank you for reading! Click on any of the pictures to come follow us on Instagram.

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any product failure or disappointment. I am not paid to promote them.



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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

These People Say Kratom Is An All-Natural Cure For Addiction. The Feds Say It’s Just Another Opioid.


These People Say Kratom Is An All-Natural Cure For Addiction. The Feds Say It’s Just Another Opioid.
Is kratom the answer to the opioid crisis — or the start of a new one?

June 26, 2018 at 07:46AM
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Monday, June 25, 2018

Walgreens Pharmacist Denies a Woman Medication to End Her Unviable Pregnancy


Walgreens Pharmacist Denies a Woman Medication to End Her Unviable Pregnancy
Nicole Arteaga, a first-grade teacher who lives in Peoria, AZ, had a Walgreens pharmacist deny her medication that had been prescribed for a failed pregnancy. Her account of the episode on Facebook prompted calls to boycott the company.

June 25, 2018 at 01:55PM
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Housing and cannabis


Housing and cannabis
Why some low-income tenants must choose between medicine and home.

June 25, 2018 at 12:44PM
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The Truths About Breastfeeding

When you are expecting and planning the first years of your child’s life, one of the considerations taken is whether or not to breastfeed.

Early on I decided that I wanted to breastfeed my baby before I realized her gender or decided how long I would do it. The truth of the matter was that I had little to no knowledge of what that decision meant. I read articles of encouragement, debates on myth versus fact, information on how to succeed, etc. . But what I was in for was more than basic facts or even dependant on my own person. It went beyond the ability to persevere or the need to provide the very best for my child.

New Beginnings

When I took my baby to the breast for the first time — she gazed at me with those inquisitive eyes of hers, ears and hands grasping at anything and everything in reach — it cemented my decision and I knew I had to try my best to keep that natural quality of her personality happy and healthy. The nurses showed me how to properly latch, providing suggestions and advice as we entered our new path together. But it wasn’t until we went home that I began to realize our journey was only just beginning its surprises.

Breastfeeding at Home

With some help from a local lactation consultant, I learned that I was over-producing — far from my irrational fear of not producing at all because I didn’t experience any leaking prior to delivery. My baby was able to latch and fill her tummy from one breast more than once before needing to switch (though I switched between feedings as was suggested in the hospital).

I thought I was lucky… until I was told that a likely contributing source to her colic, a common condition found in young children, was the lack of the heavier milk reached toward the back of the breast. That heavier milk would have helped counter the lighter, airier, milk at the front of the breast that contributed to her gas. I didn’t recognize the connection until my consultant asked, inquiring if she had hiccups after feeding and if she usually fed herself full on one side. It turned out she had the same experience when nursing her own child.

I realized the cause of the over-producing was likely do to my pumping of milk after feedings in preparation for when I returned to work. I did this because it was much easier to pump, i.e. I got easier flow, after the breast experienced the natural nursing of my baby. Although it didn’t explain how I initially begun over-producing prior to pumping, which I learned comes naturally to some women just as under-producing may to others.

Breastfeeding at Work

There are several laws and regulations regarding breastfeeding mothers in the workplace. I highly suggest you research local laws governing your area for this topic.

I did some research before returning to work and realized that the rights of breastfeeding moms in the workplace needs quite a bit of improvement. However, I was relieved that there were at least minimum standards required to be met by my employer at the time. These included: a private “place”, other than the bathroom, and reasonable break times that could be used to express milk however many times needed. Pretty basic, right?

There are no federal regulations declaring that the space used for expressing milk must be hygienic (other than requiring that it not have to be a bathroom), or that workers not bother, harass, or rush you to get back to work while you are in said “private” place. Also, notice how it protects the employers by not requiring any pay, however minimal, for said time usage by nursing mother’s, further discouraging the desire to breastfeed for families already stressed about finances after the addition of their new member.

Like I said earlier, there are different laws in different states – some more protective while others more conservative – so please check out the laws of your area if you intend to breastfeed while attending work (or school).*

Breastfeeding in public.

If you’ve ever tried, or plan to try, breastfeeding in public, realize that everyone has different opinions concerning the matter. Be prepared for the whispers or glances, the avoiding as well as the attention it may get by both familiar and unfamiliar faces. That’s right, even friends and family have their opinions.

Don’t be discouraged! Focus on your baby, (s)he needs you. Get lost in those eyes or the shine of their head. Lock into memory the feel of their hand in yours, or the pressure of their kick outside your tummy. This is Your time together. Take advantage of it.

In the United States, breastfeeding in public is federally permitted by law. However, details may vary by state, just as they do with breastfeeding and the workplace laws.

For more information on breastfeeding laws, please see the Breastfeeding State Laws on the National Conference of State Legislatures website.

I’m sure other countries have similar laws, so do your research if you wish to protect yourself or friends and family.

Knowing When to Stop

The decision of when to stop breastfeeding is always a personal one, but is it always Your decision?

Whose Decision is it?

In truth, it is a combined decision of each of all parties directly involved you (your mind), your body, and your baby.

Baby’s?

Some infants decide on their own that they would prefer solid foods, or even formula. Don’t take this personally. We all have different tastes, digestive systems, and interests. Trying to force your child to nurse because you read of all the benefits, or perhaps because you find it convenient, can lead to other problems down the road. Listen and watch for the signs your child gives you – be they the obvious turning of the head toward other options or the more subtle shifts in their feeding schedule.

Mom’s?

On the other hand, You may decide that enough is enough! And desire your own personal space back. Or perhaps the pain is getting to you and you just can’t take anymore! The decision to stop breastfeeding is yours in these cases. Don’t let others shame you into thinking you didn’t try your best — everyone has their limits!

External or Internal Forces?

But what about those times when external influences or internal conflicts create a difficult breastfeeding environment?

Milk Production

I was lucky to not have too much trouble nursing early on, but as time passed that over-production of milk became an under-supply for my growing baby.

I believe it had something to do with switching from skin-to-skin nursing to the manual and mechanical expression of milk experienced much more frequently after I went back to work. My body could tell the difference between Baby and Not-Baby, and tried to slow the supply thinking my baby didn’t need it. (Or perhaps my pumping wasn’t as effective as Baby’s lips.) This under-supply lead to the need to supplement with soft foods earlier than both I and my baby desired. Therefore I began searching for ways to boost my milk supply, and found a solution in the form of lactation cookies.

Lactation cookies aren’t the only way said to increase milk supply, but they sure seem the yummiest! Although certain specific ingredients believed to increase milk supply, such as fennel, are often found in lactation cookies, other options include getting enough rest (which can be hard if you are also working), drinking plenty of water (not just fluids), fully emptying each breast after a feeding or expression session as well as with frequent skin-to-skin nursing, and having a healthy diet and lifestyle.

For more information, please read a post on Nursing Supplement Reviews by Paul Grudnitsky.

Illness

There are also times when an illness gets in the way of breastfeeding goals. In most cases it is recommended that you not start, and to discontinue, weaning when you are sick, because your baby would have likely been exposed to the same germs that got you sick before you even began feeling symptoms. The antibodies your body produces to counteract the illness will help reduce the effects that illness has on your nursing child. There are exceptions such as extreme illnesses that penetrate the bloodstream. It’s best to ask your pediatrician, OBGYN, midwife, or pharmacist especially if medication or over the counter remedies are involved.

Sometimes, however, it’s the medical condition of your nursing child that inadvertently dictates when breastfeeding should slow to a crawl. Unlike viruses that benefit from antibodies found in breast milk, certain conditions such as allergies or constipation can have your nursing child turning their nose from the breast, and indeed most other foods. In these situations you may decide to switch entirely to expressing milk for the duration of said condition. However, if you are already having problems with milk supply, this can certainly compound the situation. Please read the above section on nursing supplements, or refer below to the list of helpful links.

Deciding to Stop Breastfeeding

No matter whose decision it was or what circumstances led to this decision, having decided to stop breastfeeding is not the end of this road. Now comes the decision of when to completely cut off the milk supply. You shouldn’t completely cut off your child from one day to the next — It would ultimately cause more undue stress on both you and baby, and likely attachment issues. These things take time…

In my case, it took a course over several months, but this is far from the norm. What ended up happening after I made the decision to stop nursing and when, is that my daughter got sick soon after I began the gradual process which I had initially planned to take about a month.

As I stated earlier, antibodies found in breast milk are good for boosting the immune system. So, while my daughter was sick and for a short while after she got better, I took a break from trying to wean her off before trying again.. Then it happened again!

My poor baby,” I thought. “How will I ever wean you off the breast if you keep getting sick when I try?”

If this sounds familiar, you at Not alone. Babies get sick. It’s a fact of life. Nursing infants have the added immunities of Mom, but all children eventually must build their own antibodies to their environment. When we aren’t permitted, we end up living in a bubble like that over-protected girl from the 2017 movie, Everything, Everything.

Even when I realized what was happening, it was still hard for me to completely wean her off, feeling as guilty as though I were choosing between her health and my own personal desires. It wasn’t until nature intervened and my daughter developed a decreased appetite due to a temporary medical condition that I finally had the chance to breathe… so-to-speak.

By the time she finally did get better, my milk supply had dwindled to near empty. (Since I had already decided it was time to wean her off, and been subsequently trying to do so for a couple months, I chose not to supplement or express milk during the time she was sick.) When she was ready to nurse again, she quickly ran out of milk and had to decide for herself if she was truly hungry and needed solid food, or if she was simply comforted by the act of nursing. It turned out to be mostly the latter as she began to allow herself to fall asleep in my arms or lap.

It is an important consideration to acknowledge that as your child begins to wean from the breast, they should be permitted to express there attachments in other ways. They need to know they are still loved and wanted, so don’t be surprised to find your little one cuddling up for some close attention. If you chose to stop nursing to recapture that elbow space, keep in mind that this transition is normal and usually temporary.

My daughter is still very much a mama’s girl, but at least she learned she doesn’t need to nurse to feel comforted. Now, a few months down the road, I often find her cuddled up on the bed or floor sleeping by herself. This leads to other sleep schedule problems for another day… 😅

Helpful links:

*For more information on breastfeeding laws, please see the Breastfeeding State Laws on the National Conference of State Legislatures website.

For more information on nursing supplements, please read a post on Nursing Supplement Reviews by Paul Grudnitsky.



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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

Sunday, June 24, 2018

The truth about gaming disorder, from Fortnite to World of Warcraft


The truth about gaming disorder, from Fortnite to World of Warcraft
As the amount of gamers worldwide has risen sharply, so have addiction narratives.

June 24, 2018 at 09:59AM
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Lactation life, on the express train.

Some mama’s breastfeed, some formula feed, some do a mixture of both.  There are also a group of mama’s who have an abundance of breastmilk and for whatever reason purely express pump and bottle their breastmilk to their babes – I like to call them “EBM  mama’s” (EBM stands for express breast milk for those who may not know).  No matter which category you or someone you know falls into, you best believe that they work hard to keep their babies fed, happy and healthy.  Each of these mama’s should be celebrated equally.

Although I started Ezra off on the breast, I am and remain a proud and strong EBM mama.   My journey started with low milk supply so naturally, I tried the whole works – tea, vitamins, cookies and then, I had too much milk.  I found myself needing to express every 2-3 hours and wow, that was exhausting because by the time I finished I had to start again soon after.  I then developed clogged ducts and milk lumps which then lead to mastitis.  I felt sore all over, fluey, had chills and fevers at 39 degrees.  Just when I thought I had recovered from mastitis I noticed a hard mass in my right breast which my GP described as feeling hard like “wood”.  Initially I didn’t think much of it because I felt fine but the antibiotics I was prescribed didn’t reduce the hardness and my skin had turned red.   A conversation with my chiro about my general wellbeing lead me to see a physio for mastitis ultrasound therapy however, she wasn’t convinced I had mastitis and encouraged me to have an ultrasound done as soon as possible.  Once I had the ultrasound done my physio was on the phone to my GP and in a matter of hours I had packed my bag and was sitting in the emergency waiting room of the Royal Melbourne Hospital.  At the time,  I (perhaps naively) thought I would be in and out within a few hours.  Boy was I wrong. The hard mass in my right breast was a 7 x 3 cm abscess which required ultrasound guided aspiration.  This essentially meant a needle was inserted into my breast to drain the pockets of puss in the abscess.  I was also required to be hooked up  to a drip every six hours for a course of antibiotics.  By the fifth day (yes fifth!), I was pacing the corridors, packing my things, getting antsy waiting for the doctor to come and tell me that I could finally go home and thankfully, he did.

I’m usually quite private when it comes to personal and medical matters but I promised myself that once I felt as though I had won this battle that I would share my story and the lessons I learned to help other mama’s out there.  Each of these lessons at their core are about making time, making time to:

  • Get well acquainted with your breasts.  Massage them well and drain them as best you can.  I started off double pumping (to save time) but learned quickly that single pumping so I have one hand free to massage and drain my breasts was the more timely but effective way of emptying my breasts.
  • Take care of yourself.  We have a tendency to push through pain and discomfort because motherhood not only means that we are busy but we are all of a sudden wired to put our babies first.  Make that doctors appointment, invest in those vitamins, that heat  pack, that nipple cream and say yes to that amazing trusted human that offers to watch your baby so you can get an extra couple of hours sleep.
  • Do your research.  Find yourself the right network of professionals to connect with and a pump that suits your needs because you need to be well and properly supported and equipped!  I was fortunate to have found professionals that go above and beyond to take care of you and recommended to purchase a pump that is now one of my most prized possessions.
  • Celebrate you.  My bestie who is an amazing super mama told me to not be so hard on myself and to set a goal to make it to each month and she is so right.  Be kind to yourself and celebrate you.  Each time Ezra turns another month, I celebrate his life, parenthood with my husband and another month as an EBM mama.

When you fall pregnant, most of the focus is on labour but let me tell you, labour pain as much as it is out of this world, indescribable pain –  it is a fleeting moment.  Lactation life on the other hand is a daily grind of damn hard work, Just yesterday I experienced a wave of panic because hard lumps had formed in my right breast and I did not want to go through the same experience of blood, sweat and tears – literally and in abundance.  But I got through it – I massaged and heat packed the crap out of those lumps until my hands hurt and my eyes could no longer stay open.   It can be gruelling and utterly relentless but life on the “express train” is a life choice I have made for my body and my baby.   When I look down at my happy, healthy Ezra in all his chubby glory, I know I’ve made the right decision for me.

If you have any questions, need recommendations on anything mentioned above or even just need to vent about your experiences, please feel free to DM or comment on Instragram at ezra.reign.



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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Can Too Much Loneliness Actually Kill You?


Can Too Much Loneliness Actually Kill You?
Scientific studies show that being lonely actually makes cold symptoms worse.

June 23, 2018 at 09:21AM
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The Trump Appointee Who’s an Addiction Specialist


By ABBY GOODNOUGH from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2JZS2H7
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Reuniting and Detaining Migrant Families Pose New Mental Health Risks


By BENEDICT CAREY from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2tCB3Qf
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When an Iowa Family Doctor Takes On the Opioid Epidemic


By ABBY GOODNOUGH from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2MkaY03
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Friday, June 22, 2018

I Want to Believe That Emergen-C Will Make Me Immortal


I Want to Believe That Emergen-C Will Make Me Immortal
An ode to the neon orange powder.

June 22, 2018 at 02:19PM
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Breathing Tubes Fail to Save Many Older Patients


By PAULA SPAN from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2yxLPwy
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Here’s a plan to fight high drug prices that could unite libertarians and socialists


Here’s a plan to fight high drug prices that could unite libertarians and socialists
First, attack monopolies. Second, replace patents with prizes.

June 22, 2018 at 08:56AM
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Summer Giveaway: 8 FREE BOOKS + BONUS MATERIAL!

Captured_Book_OneVOTN

Captured: Book One Of Vixen Of The Norse

These are dangerous times for English folk living on the Northumbrian coast, as tales of violent men from across the seas spread throughout the country.

Aedra is a high-spirited youth who enjoys the chance to escape the protection of her parents, but the young girl is soon to learn a harsh lesson at the hands of vile strangers.

Will she survive or will she succumb to the cruelty of the Norsemen?

THECAGE1

The Cage: Book One Of Groupie

Katy is desperate to make her mark as a music journalist, and when she gets her chance, she lets rip in an album review.

Little does she know that her next assignment will be to interview the band, and that in the music industry, what goes around comes around.

Abducted_One

Abducted: Book One Of The Mating Games

Luna never wanted to go into space. But life can play tricks on you sometimes.

Struggling for a living, working two jobs and living in a run-down apartment in a rough part of the city, her life is stuck in a rut.

Then, one night, something strange happens to Luna, an unexpected encounter that will set in motion an extraordinary adventure and change her life for ever.

OVERFLOWING

Experimentally Overflowing

Kelly is a struggling, beautiful young artist trapped in the deadbeat town of Twin Falls, Minnesota.

When an opportunity to swipe some fast cash comes along in the form of testing a new hormone drug, she doesn’t stop twice to think about the implications of a hormone-induced rack will mean in the experiment room. 

HEFOLLOWS

He Follows + A Hotwife Valentine

Martin and Karen are a typical suburban couple, living a comfortable if passionless marriage, life, troubled only by the fact that Martin has a big secret that is weighing him down with guilt, but a chance encounter with a mysterious man is about to change all that. In the course of one extraordinary day, Martin follows the mysterious man as he visits the houses of several married women throughout town.

But what happens when Martin follows the mysterious man to his own house?

Martin is about to learn a great deal about himself, his marriage, and what it takes to be a man.

XMASPRESENT

Blacked Wives: Big Black Christmas Present

Sarah loves her husband, Mike, but as the heat fades from their marriage, she turns to her innermost fantasies, exploring her enduring lust for an interracial encounter.

One day, Mike surprises her with a proposition, a proposition that will make her dreams come true. Will she remain the faithful, frustrated wife, or will she take the plunge and face her desires?

SWINGING

My Swinging Confession

Helen and Jack have an idyllic marriage. They live in a beautiful house in a pleasant part of town and everything between them is perfect. Well, almost perfect.

There is one secret, one dark fantasy that Helen thought would never come true, until they meet a couple who push their boundaries and turn desire into reality.

Bimbo_Amnesia

Bimbo Amnesia

Simon is a middle-aged nobody, stuck in the same boring job for fifteen years. So when Helena, the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, asks him on a date, he thinks he is the luckiest guy in the world.

But Simon’s life is about to get a lot more complicated when Helena brings her daughter Hannah to live with them.

How lucky can one guy get? Simon is about to find out.



from lactation « WordPress.com Tag Feed https://ift.tt/2tiDhEQ
article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

It's an Evil Wind. It's a Sonic Weapon. It's Mass Hysteria.


It's an Evil Wind. It's a Sonic Weapon. It's Mass Hysteria.
Stories are contagious and more powerful than we think. They can feed back into our physiology in ways we continue to misunderstand.

June 22, 2018 at 07:50AM
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The Mysterious Medical Condition That Defined All My Relationships


The Mysterious Medical Condition That Defined All My Relationships
No doctor could figure out why I was in chronic pain. In the meantime, I struggled to let men get close to me.

June 22, 2018 at 07:50AM
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Thursday, June 21, 2018

It’s Perfectly Normal to Injure Yourself Putting On a Pair of Pants


It’s Perfectly Normal to Injure Yourself Putting On a Pair of Pants
Let Brandon Morrow’s embarrassment serve as a reminder of all the hilariously dumb celebrity injuries of the modern age

June 21, 2018 at 01:39PM
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A Quick Illustration Of Why You Should Never Look At A Laser Pointer 


A Quick Illustration Of Why You Should Never Look At A Laser Pointer 
The New England Journal of Medicine posted a pair of images on Twitter showing the effects of "repeatedly gazing into the laser beam." It's not pretty.

June 21, 2018 at 12:53PM
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A Common Virus May Play Role in Alzheimer’s Disease, Study Finds


By PAM BELLUCK from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2K6PXVT
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This Doctor Does A Truly Amazing Job Of Distracting A Baby While Administering Shots


This Doctor Does A Truly Amazing Job Of Distracting A Baby While Administering Shots
When he pulled out the bubble gun, we knew it was all over.

June 21, 2018 at 11:20AM
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Wednesday, June 20, 2018

The Men Who Can’t Cum


The Men Who Can’t Cum
The reasons why are far more complicated than "death grip."

June 20, 2018 at 01:31PM
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Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Name C.E.O. for Health Initiative


By TIFFANY HSU from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2MFPLP2
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Meet the yogis who hang out in cadaver labs


Meet the yogis who hang out in cadaver labs
You can hone your corpse pose by hanging out with actual corpses.

June 20, 2018 at 07:30AM
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Tuesday, June 19, 2018

When should a therapist decide to break confidentiality? – Pamela Garber


When should a therapist decide to break confidentiality? – Pamela Garber
I was shaken and transfixed in the aftermath of the shootings at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Like most of those in the United States, prevention was on my mind.

June 19, 2018 at 12:08PM
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Pizza Hut commits to antiobiotics-free chicken wings by 2022


Pizza Hut commits to antiobiotics-free chicken wings by 2022
After eliminating antibiotics important to human medicine from its chicken for pizza last year, the fast-food chain is now expanding to cover side orders, too.

June 19, 2018 at 12:08PM
via Digg https://ift.tt/2yqMFLE

Monday, June 18, 2018

People’s egos get bigger after meditation and yoga, says a new study


People’s egos get bigger after meditation and yoga, says a new study
So much for quieting your inner narcissist.

June 18, 2018 at 08:51AM
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Sunday, June 17, 2018

How Realistic Skin Covers For Bionic Limbs Are Made


How Realistic Skin Covers For Bionic Limbs Are Made
These silicon-based, prosthetic "livingskin" look so very similar to the real deal.

June 17, 2018 at 09:58AM
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The Ultimate Guide to Intermittent Fasting


The Ultimate Guide to Intermittent Fasting
What it can do for you, and how you can get started.

June 17, 2018 at 09:58AM
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Saturday, June 16, 2018

A Family in Transition


By JACKIE MOLLOY and DENISE GRADY from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2JJg5de
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