Help for Baby With Silent Reflux

Active acid reflux and silent acid reflux share quite similar symptoms, only the baby does not emit vomit if he is suffering from the latter. Rather, when the baby spits up, he swallows it rather than spitting in out of his mouth. Silent acid reflux can be dangerous in babies, as it damages the esophagus and can impede proper weight gain. It is a treatable condition, however, and can often be corrected with simple steps taken at home without any medication.

Home Remedies

Breastfeed your baby rather than feeding him formula. The body can digest breast milk easier and quicker than formula. The quicker the digestion of the food, the less likely the baby will spit up. If you are breastfeeding and your baby still suffers from silent reflux, mother may need to alter her diet to see if that may be the problem. Try avoiding particular foods such as caffeine, dairy, and spicy foods to see if that helps the baby. While feeding the baby, whether by breast or bottle, hold him on at least a 30 degree angle and ensure that his spine is completely straight. This will keep him from swallowing a lot of air and allow more of the milk to reach the intestines. Offer the baby smaller feedings more frequently. Smaller quantities of food are easier for the baby to digest. If bottle feeding, burp the baby after every one to two ounces of formula. If nursing, burp the baby when alternating between breasts or anytime the baby stops sucking on the breast. You may want to experiment with various types of bottles if you are formula feeding the baby. Different nipples and sucking patterns of the baby can ,so it is important to find a nipple that will fit with your baby's sucking pattern to eliminate excess air intake. Do not lay the baby down for at least 20 minutes after feeding and try to keep his spine straight. This will allow gravity to assist in keeping the milk in his belly. Additionally, try to keep the baby from laughing, crying, or being stimulated in any way for at least 20 minutes after feeding. Stimulation can trigger silent reflux symptoms. Do not sit the baby in a bouncy seat, swing, baby carrier, or similar seats immediately following feedings that may cause him to slump over. This can create pressure in the stomach and cause the baby to spit up. Keep the baby away from anything that may cause breathing difficulty such as smoke, dust, or mold. Exposure to such things can trigger reflux. Use a crib wedge or thick books to elevate the head of the baby's crib 30 degrees to keep his body angled and allow food to stay in the stomach.

Medications

If you have tried everything at home and your baby still suffers from silent reflux, his pediatrician may recommend a medication to treat the condition. Prescription anti-acid medications are available for use in babies and may help eliminate the problem of silent acid reflux.

How to Breastfeed After a C Section

Between latching on and nipple soreness, nursing can be a challenge for any new mother, but if your baby was born via c-section, surgery recovery can add an extra layer of difficulty. Fortunately with the right positioning, support from your partner and a lactation consultant near by, you can develop a wonderful nursing relationship with your infant after a Caesarean. Here's how to breastfeed after a c-section.

Instructions

1

Prepare to nurse while you're still pregnant. Read books like "So That's What They're For" and "The Nursing Mother's Companion." See if your hospital offers a breastfeeding seminar for pregnant women. Also get the contact information for a well-regarded lactation consultant if your hospital isn't fully staffed with nurses trained in lactation--you might want to call her for help after you give birth.

2

Ask to nurse your baby as soon after your surgery as possible. Unless your baby is taken to the NICU or there are complications, you should be able to nurse as soon as you're taken into recovery. At this point, your baby will be getting colostrum, a pre-milk that's gold in color, not breastmilk--that will come in within 2 to 6 days of birth.

3

Breastfeed every 2 hours after your baby is born to encourage a strong milk supply. Even if your baby just nurses for a few minutes, you'll be encouraging your milk to come in.

4

Use either the side-lying position or the football hold, which should be comfortable to you as you recover from major abdominal surgery. Other positions might be more difficult until you've fully healed.

5

Ask nurses, lactation consultants and/or your doula for help with position and latch. Make sure you feel confident about whether your baby is in the right position before you leave the hospital. One of the few benefits of a c-section is you'll have more time in the hospital to get help from experts about positioning.

6

Get contact information for lactation consultants and any public breastfeeding "warmlines" you can call if you're having trouble with nursing. You might need some guidance in the next few weeks as you get a better handle on nursing and recover from your c-section--but in the end, it will be well worth the effort.

How to Treat a Baby's Fever Without Medication

Your baby's temperature will constantly change over time, depending on her age and activity. Her temperature will also tend to be higher during the late afternoon and late evening. If her rectal temperature is higher than 100 F or her oral temperature is higher than 99 F, she may have a fever. If your baby is less than 2 months old and her temperature is higher than 100.4 F, you should call her pediatrician immediately. Sometimes her fever is not too serious and you can use several techniques to treat her fever without using medications.

Instructions

1

Keep your baby cool by maintaining room temperature at 68 to 70. Dress your baby lightly if the weather is hot. Use air conditioner or fan to cool the room but keep your baby out of the path of the air flow.

2

Keep your baby hydrated. Fever causes the loss of water through the skin. For young infants, breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby frequently. For older infants, have her drink a lot of fluid such as water and fresh juice.

3

Give your baby a lot of rest. Keep clean. Wash your hands every time you need to feed or to touch your child.

4

Give your baby sponge baths. Use a sponge or washcloth to rub briskly over the baby skin. When your baby's at rest, put a wet towel on your babys forehead. Change the towel every 30 minutes.

5

Do not give your baby fatty foods. Your baby's stomach activity declines due to fever and fatty foods are difficult to digest.

6

Keep your baby away from other children if her fever is due to a contagious disease.

How to Firm Breasts Naturally

As we age, gravity begins to take its toll on our bodies, especially the feature we hope will remain perky, our breasts. Add months of breastfeeding for some women, and breasts can take a trip southward faster than you can say, "Push-up bra." Aside from drastic surgeries and questionable remedies, there are things you can do to firm breasts naturally. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Get Physical

1

Shore up your pectoral muscles, the muscles supporting the breasts, through everyone's favorite activity--exercise.

2

Go swimming. Swimming is one of the best exercises to firm breasts, because it requires the pectoral muscles to continually work (that's why you don't see too many Olympic swimmers with saggy breasts).

3

Go to the playground, find the nearest pull-up bar and try a few. Yes, you can do it, girl.

4

Drop to the ground, and do as many push-ups as you can.

Dumbbell Press

5

Lie on your back with 3-5 lb. free weights.

6

Raise the weights over your head with your arms fully extended from the shoulder.

7

Lower the weights to your chest, squeezing your pectoral muscles.

8

Raise the weights back to the original position.

9

Complete two sets of 15 repetitions.

Butterfly Press

10

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 of the dumbbell press.

11

Open your arms perpendicular to the sides of your body, with the weights not quite reaching the floor.

12

Raise the weights back to the original press.

13

Feel the pectoral muscles working as you complete two sets of 15 repetitions.

Give 'Em Some Support

14

Pick the right bra for you. An average-sized woman should wear a good underwire bra to help beat the pull of gravity.

15

Get more support if you're large-breasted or extremely active, because you will have more pull on your breast tissue and muscles.

16

Purchase a sports bra to give your breasts some extra help during sports activities.

Requirements for a Lactation Consultant

Many first-time mothers dream of the special bond that is created while breastfeeding their babies --- something no one else can achieve. While breastfeeding has been done since the beginning of time, many women have a hard time getting it right, which causes unnecessary damage to their self esteem and even to their babies' diets. Lactation consultants can help ease the process by providing support and recommendations to help the mother get through this tough period and go on to nursing success.

Education

In order to become a certified lactation consultant, the candidate needs to take 90 hours of lactation-specific education. She also must take classes in 14 other health-related topics in order to get a well-rounded understanding of the body. Licensed health professionals may qualify without the extra coursework. There are programs that offer the lactation classes, or parts of them, in one week to begin certification. There is an alternative "pathway," pathway two, for students to enroll in a one-year program in which the education and training are combined. There is also pathway three, for students who have a particularly unique situation that may allow them to meet requirements in an alternative way.

Clinical Hours

All candidates must complete 90 hours of training in a lactation-support capacity in any type of environment as long as it is supervised. The candidate must engage in activities that support mothers and babies, which can comprise the periods of pre-conception through weaning. Doctors, nurses and other health care professionals should find it easy to complete these hours. Other candidates can volunteer or find paid work at a hospital or WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) office, or any other suitable venue. Candidates must complete 1,000 total hours in lactation-specific clinical experience.

Exam

All pathway one candidates must complete all of their requirements before applying for the certification exam. To apply, candidates must fill out an application form that can be found at the IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners) website, submit an exam fee of $490 (or higher for late postmarks.) Tests are administered at various testing centers across the U.S. Exam decisions can be appealed, and applicants can retake the test as many times as needed.

Continuing Education

Certification lasts for five years. Certified consultants must re-certify before the expiration date of their certification by getting 75 CERPs (Continuing Education Recognition Points). One point is equivalent to 60 minutes of instructional time. At least 50 CERPs must pertain to the instruction of lactation, while at least five CERPs must pertain to the ethics of breastfeeding. There are several well-known, approved CERP providers, such as La Leche League and Lamaze, both of which have branches across the U.S.

How to Get the Most From Pumping Breastmilk

If you're a nursing mom and it's time to return to work, one big challenge is how to continue feeding your baby with breast milk, which is essential to her growth. Pumping breast milk and storing it for your infant to consume while you're away is the only way to ensure that your child receives breast milk even if it's through bottle-feeding. With proper planning, the right equipment and a positive attitude, you can continue to breastfeed for a longer time and sustain your child's nutrition.

Instructions

1

Meet with a health professional who will be able to familiarize you with your breast pump, give you pointers on how to properly set the vacuum levels, and make sure your equipment is working. She will also check the size of the pump horn and can help you order different horns if they do not fit.

2

Drink plenty of water. If you are dehydrated, you will not maintain a good supply of milk. To know if you are drinking enough water, look at your urine. If it is the color of lemon juice, you are doing well. If it is dark or if it has an odor, you need to drink more water.

3

Pump milk at least 10 minutes per breast, but no more than 20 minutes. Do not rush. There may be periods when it seems like your body is done giving milk. It is normal to go through cycles when the milk will flow and stop throughout your pumping session.

4

Relax when you are pumping so your milk will let-down (a tingling feeling as the milk begins to flow out). If you feel relaxed but still do not experience let-down, put a warm compress over your breasts, look at a picture of your child or carry a piece of clothing that smells like your baby. These will help stimulate let-down.

5

Find something to occupy your time while you are pumping. This will help you keep your mind off of how many ounces of milk you have pumped. If you find yourself obsessing over the amount of milk expressed, lower your shirt over the pump horn and bottle.

Tips on Quitting Breastfeeding

There is no doubt that breastfeeding is healthier for your baby. Not only is breast milk the most natural food he can receive, it also provides a special time for the two of you. This bond can make weaning your child from breastfeeding difficult. It's not always the transition from breast milk to solid food that's hard, but rather the loss of shared time. However, you can ease this transition.

Make It Your Decision

Quitting breastfeeding should be your choice alone. Do not be influenced by others who feel your child is too old to be nursing or who think you are now breastfeeding because you are too emotionally attached to stop. You know your child best, and you know what is best for her. When the time is right to stop breastfeeding her, you will know this too.

The Natural Way

The natural way of quitting is to allow your child to decide when he is ready to stop nursing. This can occur abruptly or gradually. This doesn't mean you relinquish complete control to your child. You can still coax him away from your breast during a nursing session to stop him from nursing out of habit rather than nutritional necessity.

Stopping Abruptly

Before taking this option, discuss it with your doctor. Switching abruptly from breastfeeding to giving your child other foods can create problems. For you it can mean painful breasts as they continue to produce milk. For your child it can cause both emotional and physical problems.

Weaning Gradually

This is perhaps the best option to stop breastfeeding, for mother and child. It can ease the emotional difficulty both of you may experience, as well as breast pain you may feel from the reduced feedings. You can start by reducing one feeding a day, and substituting that feeding with other nourishment. Begin doing this every other day until your child has adapted to it, and then begin doing it daily. Continue to decrease feedings by one once your child has adapted until she is weaned.

Nutritional Substitutions

As you begin to weaning, use sippy cups to ease the process. You can also express your milk from the feeding he would have had and place it in his cup, giving him incentive to drink from it. Other foods to give him include fruit, cereal, vegetables and chopped or pureed meats.

Relieveing Breast Discomfort

Even if you wean your child gradually, you may still experience breast pain. One remedy is to express your milk using a breast pump. Another is using cabbage leaves when your breasts become engorged. Wrap the cabbage leaf around your breast and leave it on for 20 minutes or until the leaf has wilted. Do this twice a day, or after each nursing session.