Why Bottle-Feed a Baby?

It's the question mothers-to-be frequently ask themselves: should I breastfeed or bottle-feed my newborn? Moms can also use a breast pump, enabling them to bottle-feed a baby using breast milk. Though some mothers may look forward to feeding time as an opportunity for physical bonding with a baby, other mothers may have a host of reasons for choosing to bottle-feed instead.

Work and Other Obligations

Breastfeeding can require feedings every two to three hours, while it can take longer for formula to digest, notes KidsHealth, a child development site. The longer intervals between feedings can make bottles and formula a more attractive option for mothers who work, volunteer or go to school. Mothers may also find it uncomfortable to breastfeed while in the store, church or while in other social settings, making bottles a preference.

Feeding Difficulties

Many health circumstances can complicate breastfeeding. Some mothers may not produce enough milk for their babies because of diabetes, smoking, poor nutrition, or prolonged bed rest, says Boston Children's Hospital. Other mothers may take a few weeks after birth before they begin producing enough milk, and in the meantime they may grow accustomed to using bottles. Some babies may have difficulties latching onto the breast during feedings, or mothers may resist breastfeeding because of sore nipples.

Surgery and Complications

Surgeries, problems with a mother's nipples and other complications may cause a mother to prefer bottle-feeding. Flat or inverted nipples can make it difficult for a baby to latch onto the breast, notes the American Academy of Pediatrics. While nipple piercings should not interfere with breastfeeding, they can pose a choking hazard to your baby and should be removed between feedings. Breast infections and breast augmentation may also interfere with a mother's ability to breastfeed. Ask your doctor about any circumstances that may complicate your ability to breastfeed, as well as what you can do to change it if you do not want to use bottles.

Bonding

The use of bottles can also simplify household responsibilities, says KidsHealth. Bottles make it possible for other family members to feed the baby, which can help new mothers get shut-eye when the baby cries for a nighttime feeding.

Postpartum Care for Abdominal Pain

Most women are surprised to learn that sometimes the pain of childbirth does not stop once the baby is born. Postpartum abdominal pain is a common experience for many women. After all, your body has spent the last nine months stretching, and the entirety of your labor contracting hard enough to deliver a baby. Pain after a C-section can be worse than after a vaginal delivery. In fact, pain is usually part of the postpartum healing process. However, pain with other symptoms may be a signal that something is wrong.

Typical Afterpains

Your uterus will continue to contract even after your baby is born. These contractions are mild, and serve two purposes: they prevent excess blood loss, and help your uterus return to pre-pregnancy size. Breastfeeding women may find that the after pains are worse while they are nursing. This is because the nipple stimulation that occurs during breast feeding releases the hormone oxytocin, which causes the uterus to contract. This will usually go away within two weeks.

Cesarean Section Pain

Abdominal soreness can last up to six weeks after a c-section. You will experience pain at the site of the incision, pain in the muscles and tissues that were cut, as well as the typical pains experienced after surgery of any kind. Bending, sitting or standing can intensify this pain; this is perfectly normal. As long as you are properly caring for your incision, and taking all the medications prescribed to you, the pain will subside a bit more each day.

Medication

Take Tylenol with your doctor's permission to relieve after pains. This should make the pain tolerable. Your doctor may prescribe a stronger medication, such as Tylenol 3. However, if you are nursing,the codeine in Tylenol 3 may cause your baby to suffer the effects of central nervous system depression, such as difficulty breathing, and extreme lethargy.

Home Treatment

Breastfeeding is nature's best cure for abdominal pain. Although it may feel like it is making the pain worse, the act of breast feeding is encouraging your uterine muscles to contract and heal. A warm bath or shower may also help. Massaging the uterus will help push out any clotted residual blood that may be causing your pain.

When to Seek Emergency Treatment

If you experience abdominal pain accompanied by fever and your abdomen is tender to the touch, seek medical attention. If you have had a c-section and experience the above symptoms or have bleeding and redness at the c-section incision, contact your doctor right away. These are signs of infection.

If your abdominal pain is accompanied by vaginal bleeding that causes you to change your sanitary pad more than twice an hour, go to the emergency room. This is a sign of hemorrhage.

How to Increase Breast Milk Naturally

One of the most common questions for new mothers is how to increase the supply of breast milk. If you are concerned that your baby is not getting enough because your body is slow to produce milk, there are a few simple ways to increase the production of breast milk naturally.

Instructions

1

Allow your baby to suckle more frequently and for longer periods of time. When your baby suckles, your body is given the message that it needs to produce more milk. Often, simply allowing your baby to suckle longer and more often can quickly increase the amount of breast milk your body produces naturally.

2

Permit feeding to last until the baby is finished. Never stop a feeding prematurely, as it can affect your body's natural triggers to produce milk. Furthermore, the portion of breast milk your baby takes at the end of feeding contains healthy fat imperative to growth and weight gain, and allows the baby to go longer between feedings.

3

Take care of yourself and your body by drinking plenty of water and juices, as fluids are essential in your body's milk production. Drinking excessive amounts of fluids will not increase your milk supply, however proper hydration is important. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, get plenty of rest and reduce stress. A strong body has more energy to produce the adequate amount of breast milk for your baby.

4

Increase your caloric intake. While new mothers are often preoccupied with losing the baby weight and are trying to reduce calories, breast-feeding requires at least an extra 500 calories per day. Too few calories and your body will not have sufficient energy for proper milk production.

5

Drink tea containing the natural herb fenugreek to increase milk supply. Fenugreek may be the most effective herbal enhancer of breast milk production, and is readily available in tea form. Fenugreek is a natural expectorant whose only side effect is to give your breast milk a slight smell of maple syrup. The amount of tea you drink depends on the manufacture's directions.

How to Clear Mucus From the Head

When dealing with a cold or upper respiratory infection, mucus can build up in the head and lungs. Mucus is no fun, but thankfully there are effective methods for removing this green slush from your head. If you have a severe upper-respiratory infection or bronchitis, you may also need antibiotics to clear up the infection. Some people naturally produce more mucus than others because each person deals with viruses and bacteria differently. Your diet can also influence the amount of mucus you produce. If you are allergic to certain foods like milk or other dairy products, you may notice that you have more mucus even when you are not dealing with a cold.

Instructions

1

Take an over-the-counter expectorant medication. Effective active ingredients to look for are medications containing a combination of guaifenesin and dextromethorphan. These medications are found at your local pharmacy---ask your pharmacist for help. Before taking this medication, talk to your doctor if you are taking any other prescription drugs or if you are breastfeeding or pregnant.

2

Drink 8 to 10 glasses of pure water each day. Water will help clean your body on the inside and hydration is always vital when dealing with a cold. This can help clear mucus from your head, but more steps are needed to get the job done. Avoid drinking chlorinated tap water as this is not good for your urinary tract.

3

Buy some ultra soft facial tissues at the grocery store. Blow your nose several times per day to draw out the mucus through your nose.

4

Take a hot shower twice per day. Be sure the water is very hot so that steam can accumulate in the room. Shut the door and breathe in as much steam as possible. If your municipal water system is heavily chlorinated, attach a chlorine filter to your shower before doing this because inhaling chlorine is not good for your lungs.

5

Drink raw vegetable juices daily. Fluids are vital when you are trying to clear mucus from your head. You can also drink additional healthy beverages besides water. Raw vegetable juices like beet, carrot and cucumber supply your body with vitamins, enzymes and minerals needed to fight infections. If you like fruit juices you can also drink raw pineapple juice because this fruit contains high levels of enzymes to boost immunity.

Breast Pump Advice

When mothers cannot be with their infants during feeding time, they can use a breast pump to gather breast milk for later use. The device can also help to alleviate the pressure that nursing women feel when their breasts are full as well as stimulate breast milk production, which can be beneficial if they have a premature baby. A number of mothers find the device to be convenient, but first-time users may have some problems when choosing and using their breast pump.

Types

There are a number of different types of breast pumps, including hand operated and electric models. There are also breast pumps that attach to one or both breasts. When choosing a breast pump, consider how often you will be using it. If you will only be using it occasionally, get a small hand pump. If you work long hours and expect to be away from your infant most of the day, get an electric pump. This type of pump is considered to be more effective because it more completely empties the breast of milk.

When purchasing a breast pump, consider how easy it is to assemble. You will want to be able to easily remove parts of the pump that come in contact with your breast and breast milk to clean them. To sterilize your breast pump, put it in hot dishwasher or boiling water for between 10 and 20 minutes. Also look at the suction, noise level and heaviness of the pump. It is important to have a breast pump that will not disturb others, that allows you to control its suction and that is lightweight enough so that you can carry it, especially if you are taking it with you outside of the home. Make sure that the suction cup is not too small for your breast because standard size suction cups will likely not fit over large breasts. If you have large nipples or nipples that engorge during breastfeeding, look at the size of the breast shield on breast pumps because many companies design shields for women with smaller nipples.

Use

Usually it takes between 10 and 15 minutes to pump milk out of each breast. Manual pumps can take up to 45 minutes to pump both breasts. A breast pump with two suction cups pumps both breasts at once. Use your pump about eight times a day, once every two to three hours. Breast pumps that have a cycle of 25 times per minute and a pressure of between 200 and 230 mm Hg have been found to be most effective. When using an electric pump, put your breast inside the cup and turn the machine on. When using a manual breast pump, you will use a squeezing or plunger mechanism to extract milk from your breast.

Make sure that your breast is positioned correctly within the suction cup and the suction and speed levels are not too high so your nipple does not get pinched. If your breast pump is only gathering a small amount of breast milk, you may need to adjust the suction or cycling pressure on your device. If your breast pump does not have a storage device, put the milk in a plastic or glass bottle and refrigerate it within 72 hours of collecting it to keep it fresh.

Feeling Bad About Not Breastfeeding

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization endorse only breast milk for the first six months of a baby's life, and extended breastfeeding for at least a further six months. Some mothers, however, do not want to or are unable to breastfeed for a range of reasons. Mothers who choose to formula feed their babies may face criticism from friends, family and health professionals, which can make them feel guilty or inadequate.

A Personal Choice

Deciding whether to breastfeed your baby is the first important decision you will make as a new mother. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009 77 percent of American mothers decided to breastfeed and 47 percent of mothers breastfed for at least six months. Formula feeding may be the less popular option, but there are various legitimate reasons to opt for it, such as the mother's comfort, lifestyle and medical considerations. All mothers should make themselves aware of the facts, the pros and cons of both feeding methods, and make a decision they are comfortable and happy with.

Bonding With Baby

Many formula-feeding mothers worry that they won't bond with their newborn in the same way that their breastfeeding counterparts do. This should not be a concern, says KidsHealth. Formula feeding still provides plenty of opportunity for a mother to bond with her infant, and it actually gives the father more chance to bond with baby because he can be involved in the feeding process.

Nutritional Concerns

Although manufactured infant formula milk doesn't contain any of the antibodies found in breast milk to give a baby enhanced protection against infection and illness, it is a nutritious alternative and contains everything a baby needs to develop. Formula even has certain vitamins and nutrients that breastfed babies may be lacking in, such as vitamin D.

Dealing With Criticism

If you are absolutely certain that breastfeeding is not for you, don't feel bad about it. You should, however, be prepared for some level of criticism -- even from complete strangers. If somebody upsets you, try to stay calm and politely inform her that the decision to breastfeed or not is a personal one that no mother takes lightly, suggests breastfeeding information website Best for Babes. Remember that millions of mothers have made the same choice as you. Focus on your baby, who simply needs your love, care and attention, no matter what feeding method you use.

How to Take Prenatal Vitamins While Not Being Pregnant

Prenatal vitamins are vitamins that are usually recommended for women who are trying to get pregnant, currently pregnant, breastfeeding or who have recently had a baby. Prenatal vitamins are often higher than regular daily vitamins in iron, folic acid and calcium. These extra components are important for women who are pregnant and trying to become pregnant. It is also possible to take prenatal vitamins while not being pregnant.

Instructions

1

Take prenatal vitamins as directed for pregnancy if you are trying to conceive, postpartum or breastfeeding. Many brands recommend taking one vitamin per day, and other brands recommend taking up to six daily. Always follow the directions carefully.

2

Consider taking a regular multivitamin instead of a prenatal vitamin if you are not trying to conceive, pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding. While it is not dangerous to take prenatal vitamins when not pregnant, it's not necessary, either.

3

Take the vitamins as directed if you choose to take them when not pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or after having been pregnant. Read the directions on the bottle. It is often helpful to take the vitamins before bed or after a meal to avoid nausea.

4

Stop taking prenatal vitamins if you are not pregnant and are experiencing side effects. Common side effects include constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Call your doctor if the side effects continue after you stop taking the prenatal vitamins.

5

Eat a healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables, proteins and whole grains while taking prenatal vitamins. Vitamins are not a substitute for good nutrition, so it is important to maintain a healthy diet whether or not you are pregnant.