How to Reestablish the Breast Milk Supply After Weaning

If you wean your baby and then regret the decision, you may decide to attempt to relactate. Relactation can be a challenging process and success is not guaranteed, but with tenacity and effort, you may be able to begin breastfeeding a baby again. Reestablish the breast milk supply after weaning with a careful process that stimulates the breasts to begin producing milk again.

Instructions

1

Consult with a certified lactation consultant and your pediatrician before you attempt to relactate. The lactation consultant can coach you and give you support as you attempt to reestablish your milk supply. The pediatrician can monitor the baby's health and growth to ensure that the baby continues to get enough food.

2

Take Fenugreek capsules to try to increase your milk supply. Fenugreek is a herb that is common in Asian and European cuisine. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests Fenugreek as an herbal medicine that may help enhance milk supply; however, the AAP notes that no scientific data supports Fenugreek's effectiveness. Ask your lactation consultant about dosages -- a minimum of 500 mg three times each day is a common dosage, according to Pregnancy.org. You may notice results from Fenugreek within one to two weeks.

3

Begin placing the baby on both breasts to breastfeed every two to three hours, for a total of eight to 10 times each 24-hour period. Try to get the baby to suck for 15 to 20 minutes at each breast.

4

Use the breast pump to provide the same amount of breast stimulation if the baby will not breastfeed.

5

Place formula into the supplemental nursing container and attach the flexible tube to the nipple of the breast (follow manufacturer instructions). The tube will allow milk to flow to feed the baby even if your breast milk has not come back in yet. This can be an effective way to help a baby relearn the breastfeeding process and stimulate your breasts to produce milk at the same time.

6

Watch the baby for indications that he is getting enough to eat. Urination and stool patterns should not change or decrease as you attempt to relactate.

7

Gradually decrease the number of ounces the baby receives from supplemental formula as your milk supply increases. Make sure the baby gets enough nourishment, but gradually give less formula when you can see that the baby gets enough to eat after breastfeeding. A satisfied baby will be content; a baby that is still hungry will cry and root for food.

How Much Should a Two Month Old Eat?

Babies need special care and attention, especially during their early few months of life. Mothers need to know how to properly care for their baby's nutrition by exercising healthy eating techniques. During these months, babies are becoming more aware of their surroundings, and they need a lot of energy as their bodies continue to grow.

Baby feeding

Considerations

Breastfeeding

The BabyCenter, a resource for mothers, states that you should avoid feeding your baby solid foods because their digestive tract are still developing and can only handle liquids at this age. You should also consider whether he is getting the amount of food he needs. If you are breastfeeding, your breast should feel softer instead of firm after feeding--this can indicate that your child has consumed a sufficient quantity of milk. If you use formula milk, you can dispense it by using calibrated milk bottles so that you can easily keep track of how much your baby is consuming. You may also want to weigh your baby and make sure he or she is gaining 5 to 8 oz. a week at this age.

Time Frame

Calendar

Babies at this age need to be fed around eight to 12 times in a day, as the U.S. Department of Education recommends. This means that you should be nursing your 2-month-old or giving her mula every two to three hours. Babies at this age are rapidly developing, in terms of brain and bodily functions. They quickly burn through the calories they can hold in their small stomachs after a single feeding, and it is important that you provide all the nutrients and nourishment that they need, when they need it.

Identification

It is important to consider hunger signs that your baby may show to signal that she needs nourishment. A common hunger sign is when his or her mouth opens and the tongue reaches outward. It is also common for babies to bring their fists to their mouths as a sign of hunger. Some babies may fuss too, but this depends on your baby's personality.

Amount

The Healthy Smart, Healthy Start resource on the U.S. Department of Education website recommend that mothers feed their babies until their breasts are emptied of milk, or about 15 minutes per feeding session. Your baby will take in as much milk he needs, and your body will produce as much as he needs. For formula milk, babies usually need 4 to 6 oz. per feeding.

Types of Foods

Milk

A 2-month old should still be breastfeeding, if possible. Breast milk contains nutrients that can help protect your baby from illnesses and allergies. Another benefit of breastfeeding is that it's a way for mothers to lose the baby weight they might have gained when pregnant.

Although breastfeeding is best for you and your baby, you may also feed your baby with formula milk. Since a 2-month-old is not yet capable of feeding herself alone, you must help her feed from the bottle by holding the bottle until she's done feeding. There are different kinds of formula milk--powdered milk, liquid concentrates and premixed formula. Your baby's pediatrician can tell you what kind of formula your baby needs.

Can You Get Pregnant If Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding gives your child a healthy start in life, saves money on formula and baby foods and some women use it as natural birth control. But is this method effective?

Ovulation

You can get pregnant while breastfeeding. Because your period can return at any time, you will ovulate two weeks before it arrives. This can happen while you are breastfeeding.

Time Frame

Your period may remain in remission for months after giving birth, or it may return within weeks, even if you are breastfeeding. Some nursing mothers may go a year or more before seeing their periods return.

Frequency

The amount of time it takes for your period to return depends on your body, how much your baby nurses and if you are supplementing with formula. Generally, women who breastfeed exclusively and who have babies who feed frequently throughout the night and day will see their period return later than others.

Birth Control Pills

Be aware that combination birth control pills contain estrogen, which can reduce your milk production. However, you can take the progestin-only pill instead. This is commonly referred to as a mini-pill.

Other methods

Birth control that won't affect your milk production includes condoms and a diaphragm.

How to Get a Good Latch Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is natural and beneficial for both mother and baby, yet when things are not going so well early on it can also be frustrating. Both mother and baby need to learn how to work together in order to make breastfeeding possible. According to Dr. Sears, getting a good "latch" is important because it reduces discomfort and helps maintain a good milk supply. There are a few simple things you can do to get a good latch breastfeeding.

Instructions

1

Get comfortable. The first thing you to need to do is make sure that you and your baby are comfortable. Sit back and relax, prop your self up with pillows or use a pillow under the baby for support. Be sure you have everything you need like a glass of water, phone or other items you want so that you can sit down and focus on your baby. Many breastfeeding mothers like to set up little nursing stations that they keep next to their favorite nursing chairs. I used my rolling bassinet as my little nursing station because it had a place to put drinks, diapers and other essential items right underneath. With the bassinet right there you can also put your baby in the bassinet when he or she drifts off to sleep.

2

Position your baby correctly. Be sure to raise your baby up to the level of your breast. If you are a very tall woman you might need a few extra pillows. Rotate your baby on his or her side so that the babys tummy is facing your stomach area. The babys head should be aligned right next to your breast as well.

3

Hold your breast in position. After your baby is in the correct position the next step you need to take is to hold your breast in position for the baby to latch on. Women who have very large breasts may need to roll up a small receiving blanket and place it under their breasts in order to bring the breast to the same level as the baby.

4

Tickle your babys bottom lip with your nipple. In order to convince your baby to open his or her mouth you typically need to use your nipple to help the baby open their mouth. Hold your breast up gently and tickle your babys bottom lip with your nipple. You can also put a small amount of milk on your nipple to entice the baby to eat.

5

Put your nipple in the babys mouth. Once your baby opens his or her mouth place your entire nipple and most or all of the areola into the babys mouth. Keep repeating the first few steps until you get a good latch. A good latch is when the babys entire mouth is firmly on the nipple and areola. The nipple should be pretty far down the mouth because nipples are delicate and the milk is only going to be efficiently expressed when the baby is latched on to the nipple and areola. The baby has to be able to properly compress on the areola in order to get milk. The babys lips and mouth should be curled outwards around the areola.

How to Make Nursing Shawls

Breastfeeding is back and breastfeeding in public is becoming more popular than ever before. One way to make feeding your baby a little more modest in public is to sew a nursing shawl. Nursing shawls are long, blanket-like cover-ups with an apron strap that prevents the baby from pulling it down. While you can buy nursing shawls from baby stores and online retailers, you can just as easily make your own within an hour and for a fraction of the cost.

Instructions

1

Wash and dry your fabric to prevent the final product from shrinking.

2

Cut a 40 by 36 inch piece of fabric and set aside. Cut one strap measuring 4-by-20 inches. Cut a second strap measuring 4-by-8 inches.

3

Place the large piece of fabric wrong side up on an ironing safe surface. Fold the edges in 1/4 inch and then 1/2 inch, pressing the fabric down both times. Iron the folded fabric to create the hem.

4

Place the straps wrong side up on the ironing safe surface and fold in the edges 1/4 inch. Fold the straps in half width wise, to make long, thin straps with the raw edges tucked in. Iron the folded straps.

5

Sew along the hem of the main piece and sew the straps closed.

6

Place the D-rings onto the shorter strap and fold one edge over them about 2 inches into the strap. Sew the D-rings in place on the strap.

7

Position both straps along one long side of the main piece, roughly 6 inches in on both sides. Sew the straps in place.

8

Weave the long strap through the D-rings.

Diets for Weight Loss While Breastfeeding

While pregnant, many mothers feel compelled to eat as nutritiously as possible. Lean meats such as chicken and fish and loads of fruits and vegetables are extremely helpful in making sure that your baby is the healthiest it can be, during those nine months before birth. But after giving birth, many mothers undoubtedly find that eating for two has had its consequences.... So how can you lose the pregnancy weight while still having nutritious breast milk to feed your newborn?

Understanding Healthy Breast Milk

EasyBabyLife.com, an online resource for new mothers, says the most important thing to remember about your diet during breastfeeding is to eat something. So many mothers, they say, neglect entire meals at a time because of all the new responsibilities that come with having a baby. But there are fewer dietary rules when the baby is actually out, and mothers should take advantage of that.

Water is the most important thing you can drink in the year after you've given birth. You need to be extra-hydrated to produce milk for your baby, so make sure water is close by at all times.

Also, fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and minerals that your newborn will need in the first years of his or her life. So while many restrictions have been lifted on what you can eat, this doesn't mean you're free to eat cheeseburgers for breakfast and milkshakes for lunch. Be sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables at every meal.

The website also states that drinking an excess of milk, or eating an abundance of dairy products, is not necessary to produce milk yourself. Your body will make the milk it needs naturally, and it doesn't take a lot of calcium for you to lactate.

If you'd like your baby to develop a taste for fruits and vegetables from infancy, make sure they are part of your diet while lactating. The foods will permeate the breast milk and your newborn will develop a craving for these foods as a small child.

The Whole Grain Diet

Anne Collins, of AnneCollins.com, writes that breast feeding may actually help you lose weight. She writes that according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the process of breastfeeding releases hormones into the body which helps the uterus shrink back to the size it was pre-pregnancy.

That said, watching calories is still important if you want to be sure to lose weight. Collins says that 1,800 calories a day should be the goal, and that whole grains should be a large part of a new mother's diet, as it they help stimulate breast milk production. MayoClinic.com describes the Whole Grain Diet as one of the simplest diets to follow and also one of the most effective.

What sets this diet apart from others is that it doesn't require a radical reformation of what you eat and what you don't. Instead, several suggestions are simply given for adding whole grains to your everyday diet. For example, try replace white rice with kasha, brown rice, wild rice or bulgur. Also, make sandwiches with whole grain breads or tortillas instead of white bread--and eat high-fiber cereals. Making these small changes, MayoClinic.com says, can reduce calories, help you lose weight and make your breast milk healthier for your baby.

The High-Protein Diet

Protein is also a necessary component to any healthy mom's breast milk for her newborn. While infusing whole grains into your diet, you can also try the High Protein Diet suggested by WebMD.com.

For breakfast, try a green pepper and onion omelet. While it may be a little high in cholesterol because of the eggs, one cup of peppers and onions each should bring nearly 14 grams of protein. For lunch, a tuna sandwich (with no mayonnaise) should suffice, as a can of Starkist tuna contains 13 grams of protein. Dinner should consist of a cut of some kind of lean meat. A breast of chicken or a slice of fish, with vegetables and a fruit smoothie, should be all you need to keep your newborn healthy and your figure slim.

How to Balance Breast Size During Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to feed and bond with your baby. Balancing your breast size can take a little practice, though. Once you know how to feed your baby evenly and efficiently, you and your baby can spend this special one-on-one time focused solely on each other. Read on to learn how to balance breast size during breastfeeding.

Instructions

1

Start breastfeeding on the side that's least full. Your breast makes as much milk as your baby can eat. If he completely drains one side, then that breast produces more for the next time.

2

Nurse for 15 to 20 minutes. This makes sure she gets the hind milk, which has more protein in it than the initial milk your breasts produce.

3

Switch sides and nurse your baby until he's full. Don't pump extra milk from a breast that's overproducing because this causes your breast to make the same amount or more next time. Leaving the milk in your breast is the signal your body needs to slow production on that side. If you are not overproducing, pump the excess milk so the breast doesn't begin to underproduce.

4

Pump in between feedings for 15 to 20 minutes on the full breast and five to 10 minutes longer on the breast that's underproducing. You can avoid pumping if both sides are overproducing or if you're only offering your baby the breast. You can freeze the milk you pump or feed it to your baby in a bottle.

Infant Cold Remedy

The common cold, a viral infection in the upper respiratory system, stays in a baby's nose and throat and causes runny nose, nasal congestion and sneezing. Babies contract colds because of their growing immune system. According to mayoclinic.com, babies get between eight and 10 colds during the first two years of life. Pediatricians don't recommend cold medicine or aspirin for children younger than four years old, but infant cold remedies lessen symptoms.

Give Fluids

Give your infants their usual amounts of fluids recommended for their age. Mayoclinic.com says babies don't need extra fluids when they have colds. Continue breastfeeding to provide antibodies needed to protect them from germs that cause colds. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, breast milk protects the respiratory tract years after breastfeeding ends, and kids who breastfeed have about five times fewer ear infections than their bottle-fed counterparts.

Suction Nose

Use rubber suction bulbs to clear babies' nasal passageways when they have a cold. Clear their noses before feeding them. The American Academy of Pediatrics says the proper way to use rubber suction is by first squeezing the bulb, inserting the tip in one nostril and slowly releasing the bulb. The small amount of suction pulls mucus from the nasal passage, helping babies breathe better. Babies fight the rubber suction, even crying, coughing or pushing the bulb away. Squeeze contents of the bulb into a tissue. Wash the bulb with soap and water once you finish. Use suction as many times during the day as needed.

Use Humidifier

Use a cold-mist humidifier in infants' rooms to add moisture to air. Moisture in the air treats cold symptoms such as runny noses and congestion. Place the humidifier close to the crib for full moisture benefits. Change crib bedding every day to prevent bacterial and mold growths. The American Academy of Pediatrics says avoid hot-water humidifiers because they cause serious scalding and burns.

Thin Mucus

Thin mucus with over-the-counter saline nose drops to remedy your infants' colds. These nasal drops loosen thick mucus. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to use a dropper cleaned with soap and water, placing two drops in each nostril 15 to 20 minutes before feedings followed by suctioning. The Academy also says to avoid any drops containing medications. Read labels before purchasing drops to avoid additional ingredients.

Clean Home

Keep your home free of things that will aggravate infants' cold symptoms. The best infant cold remedy is to avoid smoking around them. The U.S. National Library of Medicine says secondhand smoke causes numerous health conditions, including the common cold. Clean hands before handling infants, and don't let sick people around your babies. Keep toys and common areas clean.

How to Take Tylenol While Breastfeeding

While it is advisable to limit the amount of medications taken while breastfeeding, it is not always possible to do so. In 1998, the Center for Disease and Control (CDC) found that Tylenol, or acetaminophen, is the most common medicine taken by women during their child-bearing years. Lactation expert Kelly Bonyata, creator of the breastfeeding website www.kellymom.com, shares that on a one-to-five scale of risk for medications to take while lactating, Tylenol rates one--the lowest risk. It has been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics for breastfeeding mothers.

Instructions

1

Discuss with your doctor, ideally before beginning to breastfeed, if Tylenol will be a good option for you to take if needed while nursing. Discuss under what types of situations and how frequently you may be taking Tylenol.

2

Take the recommended dosage as needed. Read the label carefully.

3

Have another discussion with your doctor if you feel you are overusing Tylenol.

How to Make Your Own Nursing Poncho

There are many benefits to breastfeeding. Mother's milk contains natural antibiotics, which seem to protect the infants from various viruses and infections. Breastfeeding is also less expensive than formula and is more convenient. Nursing your baby is something you can do almost anywhere at anytime, but sometimes it may be challenging to adjust your clothing. In just a few hours, with some basic sewing skills, you can make a nursing poncho that can help preserve your modesty when nursing in public.

Instructions

1

Cut a square piece of fabric, 36 inches wide by 36 inches long. Use a measuring tape to measure a strip 2 inches wide along one of the sides of this square. Mark this strip using tailor's chalk. Cut the strip off the fabric and set it aside for the neckband.

2

Turn over 1/2 inch on the two shorter sides and one of the longer sides of the square and pin in place. Press with an iron. Remove the pins and turn the edges over another 1/2 inch, so the cut edges of the fabric are tucked inside the rolled hem you are creating. Pin in place.

3

Stitch around the three sides using a straight stitch on a sewing machine. Sew close to the edge of the rolled hem.

4

Sew a line of gathering stitches along the un-hemmed side of the fabric square, using a long straight stitch on the sewing machine. Pull gently on the ends of thread from this line of stitching so the fabric begins to gather.

5

Keep pulling gently on the gathering threads until the edge of the fabric measures 18 inches in width. Fold the fabric in half and mark the mid-point of this gathered edge.

6

Fold the strip of fabric set aside for the neckband in half, so the short ends meet, to find the mid-point of the length of the strip. Mark this mid-point by inserting a pin in the spot.

7

Lay the poncho on a flat surface with the right side facing you. Lay the neckband strip along the gathered edge of the fabric square, aligning the cut edges and midpoints, with the right sides facing each other. Pin in place.

8

Stitch the neckband strip to the poncho with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Fold over 1/2 inch along the long edge of the strip, toward the wrong side of the fabric. Pin in place. Press with an iron. Remove pins.

9

Fold the neckband strip toward the wrong side of the fabric so the edge is aligned with the seam that attached the strip to the poncho. Pin in place. Stitch close to the edge of the strip.

10

Measure 12 inches on each side of the center-point of the neckband and cut the strip at that spot. Join the two cut ends together by overlapping about 1 inch and folding the cut edge to the inside of the overlap. Stitch in place, forming a loop to be thrown over your head when nursing.

What Is Galactocele of the Breast?

Galactoceles are cysts that affects the mammary glands around the nipple. Galactoceles are most common after a woman has finished breast feeding. They are usually harmless and easy to deal with, and should not be a cause for concern.

Cysts

Cysts are pouches of tissue that can form anywhere on the body, including inside organs such as the lungs. They can be filled with many different substances and can be caused by infected or clogged glands.

Galactoceles

A galactocele is a cyst that has formed because a mammary gland has become clogged. Mammary glands are found in the breast. They are connected to the nipple and supply the milk used in breast feeding. Galactoceles differ from cysts in that they are filled with a thick milk.

Causes

Galactoceles can occur at any time during lactation, as any blockage to the mammary glands when they are producing milk can cause one. However, the most likely time to develop galactoceles is just after breast feeding has ended, when milk is allowed to sit in the glands and stagnate.

Treatment

Galactoceles can be easily lanced with a needle and drained of fluid. However, if the galactocele becomes infected, it may require surgical removal.

Considerations

Galactoceles feel like lumps in the breast. Please consult your doctor if you find any lumps in your breast, whether or not you feel it may only be a galactocele, as it may be a symptom of a different condition.

The Bifidus Factor in Human Milk

Bifidus factor is a carbohydrate growth factor in human milk. It prevents digestive tract infections because it induces and improves the growth of good intestinal flora. Bifidus is considered a probiotic and it is found in, for example, Activa, which is a yogurt manufactured by Dannon. Probiotics are beneficial because they replace missing micro-organisms that your body needs to properly and efficiently digest food. When your body has a sufficient amount of good bacteria in the digestive track, your digestive system runs smoothly. Additionally, probiotics lessen the chance that you will be stricken with a UTI (urinary tract infection) or a yeast infection.

What It Does

Humans need gut flora, which is the good and proper kind of flora in your intestinal tract. Bifidus factor has low protein content, high lactose concentration and low bulk. When there is high lactose content, the lactose is available to assist in generating bacterial fermentation in the intestine. This creates an acidic environment, which is good because it reduces the likelihood that bad bacteria can thrive in the intestines.

Breast-Feeding

Bifidus factor makes lactobacillus bifidus grow; this is beneficial to a breast-feeding infant because it safeguards the baby against dangerous bacteria. It stimulates the manufacturing of acids that protect the infant's digestive system, destroying harmful bacteria. Bifidus milk provides superb nutritional health benefits for infants and children, points out Dairyforall.com.

Disease Resistant Properties

Bifidus factor is one of the oldest known disease resistant properties in human milk. Breast milk is considered the perfect food for a newborn for many reasons, including the biochemical bifidus factor that prompts good bacteria growth. When a child is breastfed, his mother's milk somehow works to oust the growth of harmful organisms and makes way for the growth of good bacteria in the baby's belly, explains Breastfeedingonline.com. No one understands exactly how it is that the mother's immune system knows how to create antibodies against bad bacteria and pathogenic bacteria, but it does.

Human Milk

When an infant's GI tract contains bifidobacteria from the breast milk, pH levels appear to be reduced and this makes it more difficult for bad bacteria to grow. The feces of breast-fed infants contain lactobacillus bifidus. This shows that human milk has a specific growth factor for L. bifidus that becomes inactive upon storage.

How to Lose Weight and Breastfeed

After you give birth, you probably want to lose your pregnancy weight as fast as possible. But in order to produce healthy breastmilk, you actually need to increase your caloric intake to about 2,500 calories a day and not worry too much about dieting. But there are some things you can do to lose your pregnancy weight and still breastfeed.

Instructions

1

Remember, it took you about a year to put on your pregnancy weight, and it's healthiest if it takes about a year for you to lose all your pregnancy weight.

2

Breastfeed as much as you can. Try not to supplement a breastfeeding session with a formula feeding unless necessary. All the calories and fat in breastmilk come from you, from your fat and caloric stores. You will lose your pregnancy weight the fastest if you breastfeed your baby.

3

Check what you're eating. Motherhood can be difficult and getting a square meal may seem impossible. But making an effort to eat healthy, to eat whole grains, lean protein and fruits and vegetables will help you lose weight and keep your breastmilk healthy for your baby. If take-out and fast food seem easier, try to pre-cut your fruits and vegetables, buy premade foods, get some help around the house or consider ordering healthy take-out.

4

Start exercising about four to six weeks after you give birth, if you feel up to it. You may find it more comfortable to breastfeed your baby before you work out. You may also need the support of a well-fitted exercise bra. Sometimes babies will reject the breast after exercise due to the salty taste of mom's skin. Taking a quick shower after exercise but before breastfeeding may help with that.

How to Extract Milk From the Breast

A breastfeeding mother might need to remove milk from the breast in order to save it for later use, relieve pressure within the breast or get milk production started before feeding her baby. Learning how to extract milk from the breast manually can be useful for any lactating mother, but some mothers will find it invaluable. A mother who has difficulty getting enough milk using a breast pump may find that the gentler method of hand expressing milk works better for her.

Instructions

1

Wash and dry a wide-mouthed bottle or container that you plan to use for collecting the milk.

2

Place a warm, wet washcloth on each of your breasts for three to five minutes before starting to express milk. Gaze at a photograph of your baby to get your maternal hormones flowing, which makes extracting milk easier.

3

Hold the collecting container over your nipple using the hand that you will not be using to express milk. Do not press the container tightly against your skin. Instead, hold it lightly in place so that expressed milk will squirt into the container but will not interfere with your hand expressing.

4

Place your hand on your breast with the fingers on the bottom of the breast and the thumb on the top of the breast. Your hand should be about 1 to 1-1/2 inches from the nipple.

5

Press your fingers and thumb gently into the breast and pull gently back towards your body. This pulls your hand back behind the milk ducts.

6

Roll your fingers and thumb toward the nipple, stopping at the areola. Don't slide your fingers along the skin, but instead roll them like you are taking a fingerprint.

7

Perform hand compressions until the milk flow slows or stops. This indicates that the milk duct is now empty and you can move on to the next duct.

8

Rotate your hand about an inch clockwise on your breast and repeat the process. Continue rotating your hand around the breast with each compression to get all of the milk ducts.

9

Switch breasts and repeat the entire series of hand compressions on the other breast.

Hair Loss While Breastfeeding

During pregnancy, a woman's hair often seems thicker and fuller; it may also grow faster and longer. After pregnancy, many women notice that their hair falls out at a faster rate than usual, leaving them with thinning patches. This is especially true for women with longer hair. However, hair loss and breastfeeding are actually not related at all.

Normal Hair Loss

A healthy woman who is not pregnant will experience normal amounts of hair loss; about 100 hairs a day. According to babycenter.com, during a normal growth cycle approximately 85 to 90 percent of your hair is growing while the rest of it is resting. The resting hair falls out gradually, causing normal amounts of hair loss (especially during washing or brushing).

Pregnancy Hormones

During pregnancy, women have a different hormonal balance than they do normally (they have more estrogen during pregnancy). This causes hair to grow thicker and fuller by increasing the percentage of growing hair and reducing the percentage of resting hair.

Childbirth

During childbirth and shortly afterward, a woman's hormone levels begin to return to normal. This causes all the extra hair that was growing to begin resting, and eventually to fall out.

Hair Loss

The hair that has begun to rest after child birth will start falling out, usually about three months after the baby is born. Since the woman had extra hair growth during pregnancy, she now has extra hair loss. It can last for a few months, but usually within one year of baby's birth the woman's hair growth and loss patterns will return to normal.

Breastfeeding

There is no connection between breastfeeding and hair loss. The reason some women think this is because they usually breast-feed their babies during the time that their hair falls out. This is a coincidence; the two things are not related.

About Glandular Fever in Babies

Glandular fever--better known as "mono" in the United States--is notorious for striking teenagers. Extreme fatigue, sore throat, a feeling of coming down with the flu--It's no fun. But is your baby susceptible? How might your child catch mono? Is it dangerous? Here's what every parent should know.

What is Glandular Fever?

Glandular fever (also called "infectious mononucleosis" or simply "mono") is caused by a virus that's in the herpes group. It's extremely common, and a person can be infected but never know it.

Can Babies Get Glandular Fever?

Anyone can get glandular fever, although it's far more common in teenagers and adults than it is in babies. The infection is transmitted through saliva; this is why it's sometimes called "the kissing disease." Kissing is a common way of catching glandular fever, but if someone coughs or sneezes on your baby, they could also transmit the disease.

If a breastfeeding mother is immune to the infection (because she's already had it), she might transmit her immunity to her baby as long as he is breastfeeding. But soon after she stops breastfeeding, the baby is likely to catch the infection. Those who are infected carry the virus in their bodies, so all it takes is a mother's kiss to pass the illness on.

Symptoms

Symptoms of glandular fever are usually different for infants and toddlers than they are for teens and adults. Many children never present symptoms, or the symptoms are confused with a common cold or flu.

Babies might have a slight fever and a bit of fatigue. They might eat less or might have a mild cough and runny nose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that glandular fever in babies is usually "indistinguishable from the other mild, brief illnesses of childhood" (see Resource 1).

Diagnosis

It's rare a baby is diagnosed with glandular fever because the symptoms are so mild and could be caused by any number of other illnesses. However, if glandular fever is suspected (perhaps because someone else in the household has the illness), a blood test might be taken for diagnostic purposes.

Treatment

Treatment is rarely necessary, even in adults with more prominent symptoms. Antibiotics will not be given not for glandular fever (because it is a virus), but they might be given for a secondary infection. Babies usually recover fully from glandular fever within four weeks.

The incubation period for glandular fever is six weeks.

How to Use Nutrisystem While Breastfeeding

Nutrisystem is a diet plan that helps you lose weight by controlling portion sizes and calories through the purchase of prepared meals. When you buy into the program, Nutrisystem will send the meals directly to your address. This can be a lifesaver for new moms, who may not have the time to prepare healthy meals. However, if you are going to use Nutrisystem while you are breastfeeding, you need to make sure you are eating enough calories to feed both you and your baby.

Instructions

1

Talk to your doctor about Nutrisystem and breastfeeding. Before you buy into the Nutrisystem program, you should discuss the idea with your doctor to be sure that she feels that it is right for you. She may suggest some calorie guidelines that may be different from the traditional person following a Nutrisystem diet. This is because you need approximately 500 extra calories a day to produce breast milk.

2

Choose the Nutrisystem plan that's best for you. Consider the Nutrisystem options and choose between the regular and vegetarian options, based on your dietary preferences. Understand that while these meals will form the base of your diet, you'll also need to supplement with other healthy foods.

3

Order the food to be delivered to your door. Nutrisystem offers pre-selected packages or allows you to custom order the foods that you like.

4

Eat a Nutrisystem meal at breakfast, lunch and dinner. For each of your main meals, microwave a Nutrisystem meal. These meals are healthy and pre-portioned, so you can get a quick meal that you know you can trust. This is perfect for breastfeeding mothers, who may need to fix a meal quickly.

5

Supplement your meals with other nutritious foods. Don't eat the Nutrisystem meal on its own. If you do, you will not be getting enough calories to produce breast milk, and your baby may not gain enough weight. Follow Nutrisystem's suggestions for healthy supplemental foods, such as salads or fresh fruit.

6

Have a snack every time that you breastfeed. This will help you keep your energy up and remind you to eat at regular intervals.

7

Drink water to help keep you hydrated. Water is also essential for breastfeeding women and dieters alike. Keep a water bottle with you all the time so that you always have something to drink.

8

Track your calories when breastfeeding on the Nutrisystem diet. Be sure that you are eating in the calorie range that your doctor recommended.

How to Defrost Frozen Breastmilk

Expressing your breast milk and storing it in the freezer is a good way to ensure that your baby has a constant supply of food. As you can store breast milk in the freezer for up to six months, your baby can benefit from breast milk nourishment even when you are away or unable to breast feed yourself. Ensure that you use the correct procedures to defrost frozen milk, as incorrect thawing methods can destroy nutrients, cause bacterial contamination and endanger your baby's health.

Instructions

1

Place the frozen milk in the refrigerator for four hours to defrost. Do not thaw the milk at room temperature, in the microwave oven or on the stove. Thawing breast milk at room temperature can encourage bacterial proliferation, while microwaving and stove heating will cause loss of nutrients and anti-bodies.

2

Place the bottle or bag containing the breast milk in a bowl of warm water for three minutes, once it has fully defrosted -- babies do not like cold milk. You can also hold the breast milk container under warm tap water.

3

Feed your baby the defrosted breast milk immediately. Discard partially drunk portions of breast milk, as it is contaminated with your baby's saliva and unsafe for freezer storage or for consumption later.

Signs & Symptoms of HIV in Babies

Infants can contract HIV from an HIV-positive mother during pregnancy, at birth or through breastfeeding. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, manifests differently in babies than in adults, generally developing more quickly and affecting growth and development as well as overall health.

Identification

Tests to check for the presence of HIV's RNA (polymerase chain reaction test) are normally run on the children of HIV-positive women. This is because a newborn will have his mother's antibodies to the virus, making standard antibody tests useless.

Features

About one out of five HIV-positive children develop become seriously ill during the first year of life and die mostly before the age of four. In other children, HIV progresses more slowly and they may not develop symptoms for years, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Features

Infants and toddlers with HIV are slow to grow physically and mentally. They may have trouble gaining weight and height and are behind other children in skills like crawling, walking and speaking, the NIAID says.

Effects

Children with HIV may develop HIV encephalopathy, a brain disease. Effects include seizures, trouble walking and performing poorly in school.

Types

Babies with HIV also experience opportunistic infections. The most commonly fatal of these is a fungal pneumonia, pneumocystis (formerly known as PCP). HIV-positive children also develop thrush, an oral fungus, and chronic diarrhea, and become more sick than other children as the result of infection with childhood illnesses.

Treatment

HIV-positive babies face repeated hospitalizations for infections. Children, like adults, can be treated with antiretroviral drugs to manage HIV.

How to Nurse a Newborn in Public

In many parts of the world, nursing in public is as accepted as bottle feeding. In the United States, however, the idea of breast feeding a baby in public is not as widely accepted. Things are changing, though. Many states even have legislation upholding the rights of mothers to nurse their babies in public. If you feel comfortable, there is no reason that you cannot nurse in public. You can learn to breastfeed in public so discreetly, that most people will not even notice. The following guidelines will come in handy the next time you have to nurse your baby.

Instructions

1

Dress properly. If you dress correctly, you will be able to nurse your baby while barely exposing any skin. Wear a button down shirt or special nursing tops.

2

Practice before going out in public. Sit in front of a mirror and nurse your baby to see how much skin you actually expose. You will be able to see how to hold your baby so that you are barely exposed.

3

Use a blanket or nursing cover and drape it over you and your baby.

4

Use a sling. Wearing your baby close can make nursing in public easier. You will be able to eat, shop and walk around while nursing. People will just think that your baby is sleeping.

5

Find a private area to nurse while you are out. Find a bench, a spot under a tree or a booth in a restaurant away from others. Turn your body away from everyone until your baby latches on. You can then turn back and be almost completely covered.

6

Feed your baby early. Don't wait for your baby to start wailing and crying before you feed her. A crying baby will attract more attention to you while you are trying to nurse.

7

Be comfortable with your rights. Breastfeeding in public is not illegal anywhere (except in a moving vehicle). Breastfeeding in public is not illegal even in states that do not have special legislation for nursing mothers.

How to Grow Larger Breasts

Many women want to grow or get large breasts. How do you get them? Does exercise really make your boobs bigger? Here are some tips for getting bigger boobs and larger breasts.

Instructions

1

Always wear a bra. The more you wear a bra the more your breasts are supported. They will grow outwards instead of sag. Boobs that grow with support often grow larger than ones without support. This is a good habit if you want large breasts.

2

Exercise does not make your breasts larger. In fact, it may even make them smaller. Boobs are made of fatty tissues and if you do large breast exercises you will lose some of that fatty tissue. Throw this old wive's tale out the window.

3

Gain weight. If you are thin, try gaining weight to make your breasts large. Sometimes women will gain a big amount of weight, then lose it and their breasts will remain large.

4

Breastfeed. If you have a baby or are planning to have children, breastfeeding can cause your boobs to grow and remain large afterwards.

5

Eat foods with high amounts of natural estrogens such as pure soy products and whole grains. This may or may not help. Some say what you eat can have no effect on your breast growth. Others, take estrogen tablets during their late teens and early twenties to help their breasts grow.

Foods That Cause Gas in Babies That Are Nursing

While all babies produce a significant amount of gas, you may notice persistent symptoms of gassiness and fussiness in your baby. According to Kelly Bonyata, licensed lactation consultant and founder of the website KellyMom, a mother's diet generally has little effect on the digestive tract of her child. However, gassiness accompanied by signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, vomiting, eczema and wheezing, may indicate an allergy to a food ingested by a breastfeeding mother.

Vitamins and Supplements

A breastfeeding mother who takes vitamins and supplements may notice gassiness in her child. This excess gas is often accompanied by a rash, diarrhea, vomiting and a runny nose. These are all signs of a child with sensitivity to vitamins and supplements.

Any Foods Other Than Breastmilk

According to Bonyata, if your baby ingests any foods outside of breastmilk, this will most likely cause gassiness. An occasional bottle of formula, medicines, and solid foods can disrupt the digestive system of a breastfeeding baby and cause increased gas production.

Common Allergens

The most common allergens among adults and children are eggs, wheat, soy, corn and peanuts. If a breastfeeding mother eats any of these foods and notices a reaction of her own, the food may also cause a reaction in her child. Gassiness can also occur as the result of a mother eating a new food or foods she dislikes.

Cow Products

Cow products account for a large amount of food allergies, as well. Most commonly, babies react to the proteins in dairy products, not lactose. Switching to a lactose-free product will not eliminate excessive gassiness in breastfed children. This also applies to soy, goat and sheep milks. To test your child for dairy sensitivity, eliminate all dairy from your diet for three weeks. If symptoms disappear, continue with a dairy-free diet. Reintroduce dairy between six and 18 months. If your child still shows symptoms of a dairy allergy, try again intermittently. Most dairy-sensitive children can handle cow products by the age of three.

Herbal Detox for Breastfeeding Women

Detoxing is the process of trying to eliminate harmful materials from your body. Drug addicts need to detox the drugs from their system before they can treat their addiction. Others with unhealthy diets will try to purge food toxins from their bodies, and many people look for ways to eliminate environmental toxins. Detoxification can be more complicated while breast-feeding since fasting is never a good idea for a nursing mother. Herbs are one option and there are some that are more effective and safer than others.

Diet and herbs

Always maintain a healthy diet when nursing, including during the detox process. Remember that your baby can only get the nutrients that you provide for her, so if you don't keep yourself well-nourished, your baby will suffer nutritionally. For general elimination of toxins, herbalist Susan Weed recommends dandelion as an effective liver tonic. Dandelion works best when taken immediately before meals. Weed also recommends nettle infusion as an excellent kidney tonic that can be consumed in small or large amounts with no ill-effects for the mother or the infant. Comfrey and raspberry leaf, red clover, nettles, and alfalfa are all recommended for encouraging breast milk production. Organic fennel seed is another effective detoxing herb while nursing, according to Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine.

Watch Your Amounts

Herbalists generally recommend limiting herbal intake to one or two treatments at a time while nursing, and they encourage consulting a physician before doing so. Overindulgence in herbs may not affect you, but while nursing it could be overwhelming and detrimental to the baby. Susan Weed recommends staying away from both milk thistle and golden seal while nursing.

Why Does Hair Fall Out After Pregnancy?

Basics

One of the physical changes that most women enjoy during pregnancy is a fuller head of hair. The hair becomes much thicker during pregnancy but, unfortunately, the change is short lived. After the pregnancy ends, the hair begins to fall out again. For those who are not expecting this change, it can be alarming.

Hair Cycle

According to the American Pregnancy Association, approximately ninety percent of hair is in an active, growing state while ten percent is in a dormant state at any given time. The dormant hair eventually falls out and is replaced by new strands. This is true for everyone, not just in pregnancy. The average person can lose up to 100 strands of hair per day.

During Pregnancy

When pregnant, the increase and change in hormone levels keeps the hair of pregnant women from entering the dormant phase. Because of this, pregnant women lose very few strands of hair during pregnancy. This results in much thicker hair throughout the pregnancy. For most women, it is a welcome and positive change of pregnancy. But as with other pregnancy symptoms, this one also typically comes to an end as soon as the pregnancy ends.

After Pregnancy

When the pregnancy ends and hormone levels return to normal, the pattern of active and dormant hair strands begins again. According to the American Pregnancy Association, up to sixty percent of hair strands can enter the dormant phase. Hair loss is rampant at this point as the amount of hair returns to pre-pregnancy levels. Though this will not result in balding spots, many women still fear this because the loss just after pregnancy is so significant. Hair loss typically returns to a normal ninety-ten split approximately six to twelve months after the pregnancy ends.

Breastfeeding

If the woman is breastfeeding, hormone levels do not return to normal after the pregnancy ends. In this case, the shedding of excess hair may not occur until breastfeeding has stopped. For some women, hair loss still occurs during breastfeeding but is less extreme than it is for women who are not breastfeeding.

Considerations

The American Pregnancy Association states that hair loss could also be due to a miscarriage, abortion, hormonal imbalance or change in birth control methods. If hair loss seems excessive or is causing concern, consult the doctor for further evaluation. For most women, hair loss after pregnancy is not a cause for concern. However, the doctor can determine if the hair loss is a normal symptom or the result of another condition.

How to Freeze Plantar Warts Safely During a Pregnancy

Plantar warts are warts caused by the HPV virus that appear on the soles of the feet. They look similar to other viral warts in that they're white, bumpy and dry on top. Because they are pressed into the skin while walking, they can become quite painful. Plantar warts are relatively harmless, but highly contagious. The best way to get rid of them is by freezing them with liquid nitrogen, which is also the safest method for pregnant women. Freezing plantar warts while pregnant carries some slight risks (just as using any other kind of medication), but most pregnant women should be able to treat plantar warts as easily as they would if they weren't pregnant.

Instructions

1

Talk to your OB/GYN before having warts frozen or freezing them yourself with over-the-counter medications. She will know the risks, if any, associated with a medication and will advise you on whether the need to remove the wart outweighs the risks to your baby.

2

Avoid any kind of medication to treat plantar warts in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Any topically applied medications are absorbed into the skin and the developing fetus is most at-risk for developing birth defects in the first trimester.

3

Use over-the-counter wart freezing medications only in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy,. Because these contain dimethyl ether and propane, there may be some risks to the babies of pregnant and breast-feeding women, so be sure to check with your doctor first.

4

Have a doctor freeze the plantar wart with liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen is the safest method for freezing a wart during a pregnancy and it's the most effective. You may have to have repeated treatments every 2 to 4 weeks to make sure the wart doesn't come back.

5

Have your partner or a friend apply over-the-counter wart freezing medication if you're in the last trimester of pregnancy. You might find it difficult to reach your foot over the bump, and you risk falling and hurting yourself or the baby.

How to Wake a Sleeping Newborn to Nurse

Your newborn may be content to sleep through feedings. However, allowing your baby to sleep through feedings means that he will not be getting enough food. Allowing your baby to sleep through feedings may also lead to an insufficient breastmilk supply. Use these tips to wake your baby when it is time to eat.

Instructions

1

Try to wake your baby when he is in active or REM sleep. Your baby is in active sleep when he is moving his arms and legs, making faces and fluttering his eyelids.

2

Uncover your baby. Unwrapping or unswaddling your baby will often be enough to wake her. If taking off her blanket does not work, try undressing her and holding her close for skin to skin contact.

3

Change your baby's diaper. Even if he does not need it, changing his diaper may be enough to wake him up.

4

Pick up your baby and carefully hold her upright. This will often get her to open her eyes. Lift her upright or raise her into a sitting position and gently pat her back.

5

Talk to or sing to your baby. Once he opens his eyes, try to make eye contact with him. Social stimulation may encourage him to stay awake.

6

Use a cool (not cold) washcloth. If you are having trouble waking your baby, try placing a wet, cool cloth on her forehead. You can also gently wash her face with the cloth.

How to Make a Nursing Sling for an Infant

For mothers who like privacy while nursing their babies, a sling or cover is a must-have. A sling or cover can help a mother feel comfortable when breast feeding in public or among family and friends. Nursing slings are an easy craft, and can be made by expectant mothers or as a gift for a pregnant friend or family member.

Instructions

1

Cut the pieces of fabric needed. Cut a 38-by-26-inch rectangle for the main cover, one 3-by-30-inch strap and one 3-by-5-inch strap.

2

Fold the longest strap lengthwise, right sides together. Press. Sew along the length with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn the strap over. Press. Tuck 1/4 inch in one end and sew closed. Repeat procedure with the short strap.

3

Sew the D rings into the shorter strap. Place the rings on the finished end. Fold the fabric over the rings and sew closed.

4

Take the main piece of fabric. Fold each side 1/4 inch twice to create a hem. Press. Top stitch two short sides and one long side. Leave the top side unstitched to be able to add the boning and straps.

5

Place the main piece of fabric on a flat surface. Place the unfinished sides of the straps on the top edge, 10 inches away from each side. Pin in place. Place the boning in between the two straps on the top edge. Fold the top edge down twice. Pin and sew.

How to Tell if Breastfeeding is Going Well

Breastfeeding can be a challenging process for a new mom. Many new moms are willing to stick with it, but want to know if they are doing it correctly. This article highlights different ways to tell if breastfeeding is going well.

Instructions

1

You can recognize your baby's feeding cues. Babies do different things to signal their hunger. Some of the early cues are sucking on their hands, bringing their fists to their mouths, making smacking sounds with their lips and sticking out their tongues. All of these things signal early feeding cues. The more time you spend with your baby, the better you will be at recognizing these cues.

2

You are able to nurse in more than one position. This is a sign that you are comfortable with breastfeeding. There are four main positions for nursing: cradle, cross-cradle, football and lying down. Nursing your baby in different positions will also help alleviate nipple soreness.

3

The baby is positioned properly on the breast. When feeding your baby, make sure that his ear, shoulder and hips are in alignment and that he is facing you, tummy to tummy. Positioning your baby correctly on the breast will make breast feeding more effective and less painful for you and him.

4

The baby latches on well to the nipple. Your baby should be taking all of the nipple and about one-half to one inch of the lower areola in her mouth when nursing. If your baby is just sucking on your nipple, it will get sore very quickly and milk production will not be as productive.

5

You are making a sufficient supply of milk. In the first few days after delivery, you will make colostrum, which is enough to feed your baby. After the second or third day, the milk supply will increase.

6

Your baby is getting enough milk. This is hard to gauge in the very beginning, but you should watch to see if your baby is satisfied. If so, he will break himself off of the nipple at the end of a feeding or simply fall asleep. He will also be producing wet diapers daily and nursing anywhere from 8 to 12 times or more in a 24 hour period.

7

You are comfortable nursing. Nursing can be quite an uncomfortable experience in the beginning, but the more you feed, the better it will become. Just remember that you are new to this process and so is your baby, so give each other some time to adjust and have faith in the process.

How to Prevent Engorgement When Breastfeeding

Engorgement is the pressure your breasts feel as they fill with milk. This fullness hardens your breasts and makes them uncomfortable to touch. Engorged breasts occur as mature milk comes in after birth and when you miss feedings.

Instructions

1

Nurse shortly after delivery. Frequent nursing in the first 2 days gives your baby colostrum. This yellow, thick milk is rich in proteins and antibodies that help your baby's growth.

2

Have your baby stay in the room with you as much as possible while you're in the hospital. This enables you to breastfeed at least eight to twelve times every 24 hours and allows you to learn his signs of hunger.

3

Latch her to your breast properly. Her body faces you as you align her so that her cheek and nose touch your breast. There are several breastfeeding positions. If cradling her to you doesn't work, try the alternatives until you find one that works for both of you.

4

Express milk using a breast pump or your hand to soften your breast and allow the milk to flow easier. Apply a warm cloth and massage your breasts. For short feeds, pumping milk fully empties your breasts to prevent engorgement.

5

Let him suckle on your breast instead of using a pacifier. Don't use formula or water during the first few weeks after birth unless recommended by a doctor. These can complicate breastfeeding and lessen your milk production if introduced too soon.

6

Wean her off slowly once you decide to stop breastfeeding. Skip one feeding and instead give her a bottle of expressed breast milk or formula. If you normally feed every 3 hours, try going 4 hours and increase in increments weekly.

Causes of Hiccups in Infants

Baby hiccups occur as a part of normal development in babies under one year of age. As a parent, you shouldn't become concerned unless the hiccups interfere with your baby's sleeping or eating patterns, according to the website Baby Center. Hiccups are probably more disturbing to you than they are to your child, and there's usually no need to take action because they will go away on their own, according to the website KidsGrowth.

Air Intake

When babies suck on a bottle or breastfeed, they can take in air, which can result in hiccups. To avoid unnecessary air intake when bottle-feeding, tilt the bottle at a 45-degree angle. If breastfeeding, make sure your infant's mouth is correctly latched on. Continue to feed your infant if he begins hiccuping during feeding. There's no risk of choking, according to KidsGrowth, because the epiglottis covers the opening to the lungs when the hiccup occurs.

What Mom Eats

If you breastfeed your baby, sometimes the foods or beverages that you eat can affect her. Dr. Sears recommends avoiding cow milk products to see if that makes a difference. If not, other foods that may be causing the problem include wheat, chocolate, citrus fruits, eggs, shellfish, peanuts, soy products and caffeine.

Disease

Gastroesophageal disease, also known as GERD, occurs when acid from the stomach travels upward into the esophagus. GERD can result in baby hiccups. If your child's hiccups are accompanied by spitting or throwing up or your child is extremely irritable, contact her doctor. Your child's pediatrician will be able to determine whether or not your child has the disease.

Rare Causes

Other things that can cause hiccups, but are rare, include medication side effects or overdoses, infections and multiple sclerosis. Monitor your child after giving medication. If hiccups occur, contact the doctor. In addition, if your infant experiences hiccups that make him irritable, or they last several hours, contact his pediatrician.

Excessive Eating

If your baby ingests too much food or milk during a feeding, her stomach can become quite full and press up on her diaphragm. In return, the diaphragm begins to spasm and results in hiccups, according to the website Parents.

Prevention After Exposure to Staph Infection

Staph infections, technically called staphylococcal skin infections, stem from a particular type of bacteria called Staphylococcus. These skin infections typically occur on the skin of the face, feet, arms, shoulders and in the nose, and less commonly occur around other parts of the body, such as the mouth and genitals. Extremely contagious, staph infections can be contracted by any person or animal. There are ways to prevent contracting a staph infection, which are best understood with solid information about this persistent and unsightly skin condition.

Identification and Symptoms

Punctured skin that is draining fluid is the first cause for staph infection concern. A staph infection makes the skin appear bright red and swollen, and as the pus-drainage increases, the patient will also experience mild pain, which increases as the infection worsens. Many staph infections begin as abscesses, technically referred to as boils or furnacles, on the skin. Staph infections can also be in the form of folliculitus, when pus-filled red blisters expand around the hair follicles. Crusted lesions and blisters, called impetigo, are also common forms of staph infections.

Staphylococci Bacteria

The bacteria that causes staph infections, called staphylococci bacteria, lives safely on the skin surface of 20 to 30 percent of adults, reports Dr. Melissa Conrad Stppler of MedicineNet.com. The bacteria remains harmless until it is able to seep into an open wound on the skin. Any injury or damage that punctures the skin makes it vulnerable to disease-threatening, infectious staphylococci bacteria. A variety of illnesses can be caused by more than 30 types of staph bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus, or S. aureus, is the specific type of bacteria that causes staph infections, which can turn into more serious illnesses and diseases beyond the initial skin irritation. Cellulitus is the medical name for the skin infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Causes and Contagiousness

Staph infections are contracted from contact with the infected bacteria, which can be from other people, animals, and contaminated objects. This skin condition is extremely contagious, and microscopic-sized bacteria can be transferred with one simple touch. An infected person is sometimes unaware in the infections first stages, when the skin irritation appears minor, like a rash or an acne reaction. After the condition is diagnosed, all people exposed to the patient at least a week before the diagnoisis should carefully examine their skin for beginning signs of infection, and consult a doctor. Staph infections can worsen and become serious. Children often are culprits for spreading the infection, since they habitually touch their face and often put their fingers in their nose, where the infectious bacteria is common.

People Prone to Staph Infections

Staph infections can be obtained by anyone, children or adult. Certain health conditions cause people to be more prone to infections, however. Weak immune systems, and skin conditions such as eczema make people more vulnerable to infection. Diabetes also weakens protection from bacterial infection. Breastfeeding mothers and newborn babies are also at a higher risk for contracting staph infections.

Diagnosis After Exposure

Cultures or blood samples instantly identify the bacteria of a staph infection. Doctors prescribe antibiotics, and provide patients with antiseptic topical creams upon diagnosis. Regardless of how quickly the infection's visibility seems to diminish, the patient must never assume that the infectious bacteria is gone until confirmed by the doctor. It is crucial the treated area remain as clean and dry as possible at all times. Drainage that occurs before and during treatment can easily spread the bacteria to bed linens and clothes, which must all be washed and disinfected. If a patient is not found to have a staph infection, but lives in the presence of an infected person, there are crucial preventative methods that must be followed (listed below).

Prevention

Proper hygiene is the most effective way to avoid staph infection. Do not share clothes or linens if living in a multi-person environment. Use caution with any cuts or open wounds, regardless of size, keeping them clean, applying anti-bacterial ointments, and covering them with bandages. Keep the feet covered when walking on the ground of public facilities, such as pool areas and gyms, where bacteria grows and spreads easily. Do not share sports equipment, makeup, toiletries, or razors. Be sure that children are not sharing toys or picking their noses. Sneeze into tissues when possible.