How to Use the Lactational Amenorrhea Method of Birth Control

Mother nature has a birth control option for new mothers. Its called the lactation amenorrhea method (LAM). It refers to the period of time after childbirth when mothers can prevent getting pregnant by nursing their babies. Experts say if done correctly this method of birth control is 98% effective.

Instructions

1

Meet the requirements to ensure that the LAM will be effective. You are meeting the requirements if you are breastfeeding exclusively, your period hasnt returned and your baby is less than six months old.

2

Find out if you are breastfeeding the correct way. This is very important since the babys sucking is what will keep you from getting pregnant. Thats because the suckling prevents your body from producing the hormones that are necessary for ovulation. Have a lactation consultant observe you while you are nursing to make sure that the baby is properly latched on.

3

Spend enough time breastfeeding. To increase your chances for success you should breastfeed right after delivery, whenever the baby wants to instead of following a schedule, without bottles or pacifiers, without long time lapses between feedings, and during the day and at night.

How to Relieve Sore Nipples When Breastfeeding

Many women think that having sore nipples is a completely normal part of breastfeeding their baby. This is simply not true. A little tenderness in the first week or so is normal, but you can and should take care of soreness, pain, cracks or bleeding. This will make your breastfeeding experience a good one.

Instructions

1

Re-evaluate the position in which you are breastfeeding. Your baby's bottom lip should be below your areola. He should not need to pull on or stretch out your nipple to get the milk out. Place your nipple in your baby's mouth only when she opens her mouth wide. This will allow her to get as much of your aureole in her mouth as possible.

2

Turn your baby's entire body so that your stomachs are touching each other. She should not have to turn her head to reach your breast. Support her entire body and head so that she feels secure and safe in your arms. To help you do this and make it more comfortable for you, use a pillow to help support your arms and your baby.

3

Remove your baby from your breast when he has finished actively nursing. When he begins just suckling for comfort it is time for the feeding to be finished. Some clues that this has happened are his eyes might close or the frequency of sucks diminishes quite a bit.

4

Nurse your baby on the least painful nipple first. Babies always nurse most aggressively at the beginning of a feeding, so you want her to be as gentle as possible on your sore nipple.

5

Rub some pure lanolin cream on your nipples after each feeding. This will soften the skin on your nipples and promote healing. You do not have to wash off 100 percent lanolin cream, unlike many other nipple creams.

6

Avoid plastic lined nursing pads, because they trap moisture, which can make cracking worse. Change your nursing pads often. Also, only use 100 percent cotton bras. These will allow your nipples to breathe better.

7

Visit your doctor if your nipples continue to be painful after 5 or 6 days. You might have a bacterial or a yeast infection that requires medicine.

How to Get Rid of a Baby's Cold

Colds are very common, especially in infants and they are not usually reason for serious concern. While colds cannot be cured overnight, parents can provide proper care and support to ensure that their baby is comfortable during periods of illness. Prolonged colds can lead to spreading of the cold to other children or adults, ear infections, or pneumonia, so parents should always consult with the family doctor to ensure that they are doing everything possible to help their baby get the proper care needed for recovery. Signs of colds in infants include nasal congestion, runny nose, coughing, fussiness and sneezing.

Instructions

1

Remove nasal congestion with a nasal aspirator. This involves sitting the baby in a semi-reclined position in a car seat, squeezing the bulb of a nasal aspirator and placing it gently into the baby's nostril. Then release the bulb slowly to suck mucous out of the infant's nostril.

2

Offer plenty of liquids and food. If the baby is under six months of age, provide her with lots of opportunities to breastfeed or bottle feed. If she is over six months, offer her breast milk or formula along with small amounts of water and gentle foods, such as toast or infant cereal.

3

Ensure that the baby sleeps frequently during a period of illness. Sleep helps the body to rest and repair itself, leading to a smooth recovery from colds. Parents can rock their baby, wear him in a carrier, sing to him or breastfeed to comfort him during the illness and soothe him to sleep.

4

Visit the family doctor to ask what is recommended for getting rid of colds in infants. The doctor may recommend giving your baby some infant Tylenol or Motrin until she is feeling more comfortable.

How to Stop Nursing

Nursing your child is important on many different levels. It provides your baby with the nourishment she needs to get a healthy start on life and it enables you to form a significant and beautiful bond with your child. Because you can't nurse your little one forever, the time will come when you and your child move on from breastfeeding. When to stop depends heavily on your personal beliefs. Whenever you do decide, however, how you choose to stop nursing is crucial to alleviate any anxiety that your child might feel and for ease of transition.

Instructions

1

Reduce nursing sessions gradually. Drop one breastfeeding a day per week. Determine which time of day is the easiest to begin the weaning process but hold off on eliminating the first or last nursing sessions of the day. It is during this time that your baby is the most tired and likely to be resistant to feeding any other way. Once you have successfully eliminated breastfeeding at the selected time of day, choose another time to eliminate during the following week until your baby is no longer breastfeeding or expecting to nurse.

2

Allow your child to be your guide. For some children, especially those who are using sippy cups, eating baby food or are accustomed to drinking from a bottle, the desire to nurse may naturally wane. If your child is content without nursing, continue to feed her baby food and supplement her meals with baby formula or milk as instructed by your pediatrician.

3

Avoid nursing triggers and try distraction. During the times that you would normally nurse, avoid those places or habits that might naturally trigger the desire to nurse. Stay away from the room where you would normally nurse in or refrain from sitting in the chair that you typically use for breastfeeding. Instead of feeding your baby at the exact same time, feed her a little earlier or later and play or otherwise entertain her during the time that she would normally feed.

How to Stop Lactation With Cabbage

Breastfeeding can be a time for mothers and babies to bond, but just as with all aspects of growing up, it can't go on forever. Usually by a baby's first birthday, mothers are ready to wean their children from breast milk and begin them on a regimen of whole milk. This means allowing lactation to come to a stop. This can be extremely painful if no intervention is used. Fortunately, cabbage provides an all-natural aid in reducing engorgement and drying up milk from within the breast.

Instructions

1

Remove a few cabbage leaves from a head of cabbage and rinse them off under a faucet of cold water. Set them on a few paper towel sheets.

2

Press down on the cabbage leaves with the palm of your hand to crush the veins. Set the cabbage leaves in the refrigerator so that they become cold.

3

Place one cabbage leaf over each breast so the areola is completely covered. A bra with good support will hold the cabbage leaves in place.

4

Replace every four to six hours with a new cabbage leaf from the refrigerator. It will take approximately 48 to 72 hours to see a significant reduction in breast milk.

How Can I Get My 1-Week-Old to Take the Breast?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding your newborn. Meeting emotional and dietary needs, breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of the baby's life and continuing for the rest of the first year after solid foods are introduced, are suggested by the AAP, according to Kids Health Online. Some newborns and mothers may have difficulties adjusting to breastfeeding. Getting your newborn to nurse, especially once she is home from the hospital and life settles into a routine that first week, can bring challenges. You can place your newborn on a healthy breastfeeding pattern.

Instructions

1

Understand that there is no one "right" or "wrong" way to breastfeed. There is no "normal" way to breastfeed. All babies nurse a bit different. Some babies "latch on" and some babies lick and suckle a bit playfully. Both of these ways of feeding are normal and both are important. As soon as you relax, realizing that however your baby chooses to nurse is up to him and as soon as you accept it as your "normal," the sooner you both will be on the path to breastfeeding. Your baby will sense when your stress leaves and you relax.

2

Feed your newborn on demand. Be prepared for this new way of life for a short time. This may mean taking a few days off work. Keep pillows prepared in strategic places and telephones where you could need them if the phone rings. Inform family and friends that if you don't answer, that means you are nursing and will not answer. Have a sign ready to stick on your door that says, "Nursing Mother - Do Not Disturb." Preparing ahead of time will help you when the sudden feeding moment arises.

3

Prop your feeding arm up on pillows when you nurse your baby. If your baby is a slow feeder, you could be in that position on that breast awhile. Since you have already placed your sign at the door, closed the bedroom door, propped the pillows behind you and grabbed your water bottle, you are ready to settle in for a couple of hours. If you are feeding on your right side first, reach beneath your right breast with your left hand and hold your right nipple between your middle finger and index finger, cupping your breast in your hand. Gently guide the nipple to your infant's mouth. Let the infant take it at her own pace. Be patient, she will take it when she is hungry. Even if she licks and plays around, this could be her form of feeding. She may cry and fidget, but keep offering it to her and don't stress out. Continue the patience frame of mind.

4

Switch to the left breast, offering it to him with the same technique as described with the right breast. The next time you feed, start with the left breast first. Rotating breasts will help your milk flow.

What Are the Dangers of Charcoal Tablets?

If you have seen charcoal tablets sold in health food shops or pharmacies, you may have wondered how safe this product is for human consumption. Manufacturers make charcoal tablets from activated carbon. The medical use is to treat food poisoning, mercury poisoning and drug overdoses. When ingested, charcoal spreads throughout the gut, binding to various dangerous chemicals and helping them pass harmlessly out of the body. Before choosing charcoal products, be aware of several dangerous risks involved.

Drug Interactions

Charcoal not only binds to various dangerous chemicals and helping pass them pass through the system, it also binds to various prescription drugs and supplements, reducing their effectiveness. According to Drug Information Online, charcoal interacts with over 200 medications. Take charcoal either two hours before your medication or one hour after to avoid interactions.

Digestion

Ingesting charcoal tablets can lead to various gastrointestinal side effects. Reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation and bowel obstruction. These cases are rare and generally occur when someone has taken very high doses of charcoal. People suffering from constipation, diverticulitis, colitis or bowel obstruction should not take charcoal products without asking their health care professional.

Nutrition

Consumers should take charcoal tablets well away from meals to reduce the risk of charcoal binding to vitamins and minerals, reducing their absorption in the gut. Taking charcoal products long-term may result in malnutrition in a range of essential nutrients needed for overall health and well-being. In addition, some foods, such as milk, ice cream and sherbet, will render charcoal tablets less effective. Take charcoal tablets two hours before or one hour after meals.

Liver and Kidney Disease

If you suffer from liver or kidney disease, speak with your health care provider before taking charcoal tablets. Due to the cleansing actions of charcoal tablets, charcoal may put pressure on detoxification organs such as your kidneys and liver. If these organs are already impaired, it may not be safe for you to take charcoal.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

There is no evidence whether charcoal has any effect upon an unborn fetus, or if it passes through breast milk. Expecting and breast-feeding mothers should refrain from taking charcoal products. Do not give charcoal to children under one year old.