Breastfeeding & Diet Soda

How to Increase Breast Milk Production While Pumping

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Women's Health, breast milk is beneficial to your baby because it provides antibodies that can help fight disease. However, if you are a working mother, it is difficult to find the necessary time for actual breast-feedings. Pumps are a convenient and necessary tool that provide you with a means to accomplish this even when you are unable to feed your baby yourself. You may unfortunately find that it is difficult to get the amount of milk needed during the process without the proper preparation and technique.

Instructions

Properly Prepare Before Pumping

1

Drink more liquids such as water, juice and milk, which will keep you hydrated and promote the production of milk. Before pumping pour a glass of water and keep it at your side to sip as you pump.

2

Eat a healthy balanced diet in addition to drinking enough water. The Mayo Clinic recommends a diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Stay away from greasy junk food.

3

Speak with your doctor about taking an herbal supplement or a prescription to help with milk production. Known as galactagogues, these are meant to increase the breasts' supply of milk. Examples of the herbs that are used include fenugreek and blessed thistle. Discuss any allergies that you may have with your doctor as some of the herbs used for milk production are in the same family as peanuts.

4

Find a quiet location in your house. Place a picture of your baby across from where you will be sitting so that you can look at it as you pump.

As You Pump

5

Warm up a towel or washcloth and place it over your nipples for approximately five minutes before pumping. Place the large-size shields over your nipple.

6

Relax and free your mind of any worries or concerns that you are currently having. Pump both breasts at the same time or switch back and forth between the two. Cornell University recommends pumping one breast until the milk flow slows down and then switching to the second breast until its milk slows. Continue switching back and forth until there is one full minute with no flow of milk. Use your free hand to massage and compress the sides, top and bottom of your breasts when you are pumping one breast at a time. This will help to improve the flow of milk.

7

Increase the frequency that you pump so that you are pumping every 1 1/2 to 2 hours as opposed to every 3 hours. In addition, pump your breast 5 to 7 minutes longer, even if it seems as if no milk is being pumped. This should send a message to the brain that more milk production is needed. Pump during the night at least twice.

About Tandem Nursing

There is no need for a mother nursing a child to wean when she finds out she is pregnant or gives birth to another baby. Tandem nursing, nursing two or more children of different ages, continues to be beneficial for the mother and both children. While it may seem like a daunting commitment to nurse more than one child, many mothers feel it offers more advantages than disadvantages.

Benefits

Nursing a child into the toddler years continues to provide the child with vital nutrients and antibodies that boost the immune system. In addition, when another baby is born into a family, it is natural for toddlers to become jealous. Continuing to nurse a toddler when a new baby is born can reduce sibling rivalry and allow for a smoother transition of having a new family member that demands so much of mom's time.

Misconceptions

One unfounded concern about tandem nursing is that the mother's milk supply will not sustain two or more children, and that the youngest nursing baby who relies solely on breast milk will go hungry. The fact is that women's bodies are designed for the supply to meet the demand. The more nursing that takes place, the more stimulation to create more milk. Tandem nursing mothers are more likely to complain about over-production than under-production. The only time this is really a concern is if the mother has had a medical condition or procedure that inhibits her milk production.

Considerations

When tandem nursing, in the first few days after the new baby is born, mothers should allow the baby to nurse first so that they will get the colostrum important to their digestive system. Once the regular milk supply comes in, mothers should nurse however it makes them most comfortable. She can allow the children to take turns nursing, or nurse both at the same time.

Theories/Speculation

Tandem nursing can be more stressful for some mothers, while less stressful for others. Some mothers may feel they are spending all of their time nursing children, especially in the weeks after the new baby is born, or when the baby is going through periods of heavy feeding demands. Many mothers who ride through the difficult times report that it gets easier, even pleasant. Other women find it easier, because when her toddler becomes cranky or jealous, she can still sooth him with nursing, rather than exacerbate the problem by cutting him off.

Expert Insight

According to Anne Smith, international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), mothers can safely continue to nurse a child throughout her next pregnancy. There is no evidence that suggests that nursing will contribute to miscarriages or take essential nutrients away from the fetus as long as the mother is well nourished. Discomfort from nipple soreness may occur, as hormonal activity contributes to nipple sensitivity. This may make nursing uncomfortable, but will usually lessen as the pregnancy progresses.

How to Become a Wet Nurse

A wet nurse is a lactating woman who breastfeeds another's baby. While this may seem taboo in our culture, wet nursing was actually popular until the invention of formula. With over 70 percent of mothers' breastfeeding, it's only natural that busy moms or moms with medical reasons who can't breastfeed are turning to wet nurses. If you have extra breastmilk, you may be looking to becoming a wet nurse.

Instructions

1

Know that you must have had a baby recently so you are lactating. While it is technically possible for a woman who has not had a baby to start lactating, it's a long and involved process (usually involving hormone supplements) to start lactating. You must be able to produce breastmilk in a good supply to keep your baby and someone else's baby healthy.

2

Be prepared to take some health tests. You need to be in good health to be a wet nurse. It's also best if you go through a screening for viruses that may pass through your breastmilk to the baby such as HIV. You should also expect drug tests.

3

Agree to a contract. Most wet nurses will have to make a commitment to lead a healthy lifestyle and be drug and alcohol free for as long as they're lactating. Most clients will ask you to sign a contract.

4

Understand that you aren't just pumping the breastmilk to give to another baby; you are actually breastfeeding another baby. If you just want to pump your milk to give to others, look at becoming a milk bank donor.

5

Find a client. Many wet nurses start breastfeeding their friends or family's babies. You can also try being hired at a staffing agency such as A+ Staffing Agency.

Newborn Cries When Nursing

Newborn crying can be challenging for any parent. Generally by 6 weeks of age, the time a newborn spends crying peaks and then the fussing tapers off gradually, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. If your newborn cries while nursing, explore the possible reasons behind this behavior to help your baby feed effectively.

Impatience

When a mother puts a baby to the breast to feed, the sucking action stimulates the milk ducts to eject milk, a process known as letdown. The time necessary for letdown to occur can vary for mothers. If a mothers milk letdown is slower than average, the baby may become frustrated and impatient as he sucks without receiving milk, according to the KellyMom website, a breastfeeding support source. This impatience may cause a newborn to pull off the breast and cry because he doesnt understand why milk isnt letting down. Kneading the breast gently may stimulate a faster letdown.

Overactive Letdown

A baby may cry while nursing if the he experiences an overactive letdown, advise the authors of The Effects of an Overabundant Milk Supply and a Forceful Letdown Reflex, published the Overactive Letdown website. When this situation occurs, the mothers body responds so forcefully to the stimulation of breastfeeding that milk flows too fast for the baby to handle, states KellyMom. A baby may cry when this occurs. Some mothers pump for about one minute prior to putting the baby to the breast to allow a slight moderation in letdown.

Gas

Breastfeeding babies generally ingest less gas than bottle-fed babies, but babies who nurse may still ingest some excess air during feeds. If your baby gulps and swallows air during breastfeeding, he may experience discomfort from the trapped air, which could make him cry, warns the American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children.org website. You may resolve this situation by interrupting the feeding to burp your baby before allowing him to finish.

End of Feeding

A baby may reach the point where shes satisfied and finished breastfeeding. Instead of simply pulling off the breast, the baby may cry to indicate that shes done. Its also possible that a baby may desire more sucking but is no longer hungry. The continued flow of milk may bother her in this situation. End the breastfeeding session and offer a pacifier instead to satisfy her sucking needs.

How to Treat Hyperpigmentation With Skin Lightening Gels

Hyperpigmentation, or darkening of the skin, can be treated in a variety of ways. Not all patients are candidates for all of the treatments, however. One of the cheapest and least risky ways to treat hyperpigmentation is with skin lightening gels. There are many different formulations of skin lightening gels on the market. Some are available over the counter, and others require a doctor's prescription.

Instructions

1

Have your hyperpigmentation evaluated by a dermatologist. A dermatologist can tell you the best ways to treat your skin based on the type of hyperpigmentation you have, its cause and your skin characteristics.

2

Try an over-the-counter strength of skin lightening gel first if you only have minor darkening. You may not need to use a strong formula to produce the desired results, and over-the-counter products are usually inexpensive.

3

Start using prescription-strength skin lightening gel if necessary. The main ingredients in most types of skin lightening gels are hydroquinone, kojic acid and glycolic acid. Both hydroquinone and kojic acid are melanin blockers, and glycolic acid is an exfoliant.

4

Apply skin lightening gels after cleansing your skin with a mild cleanser. Your skin needs to be clean to absorb the product. Use them two times daily or as directed by your dermatologist.

5

Wait at least 20 minutes before you apply any other skin products to the same area as the skin lightening gel. Waiting allows the gel to soak into the skin. Not waiting can cause the gel to be rubbed off of the skin.

6

Give the treatment several months to work. Using skin lightening gels is not an overnight process. There are other treatments that are more immediate, including chemical peels and laser resurfacing.

Estrace and Breastfeeding

Estrace, a prescription form of the hormone estrogen, is used for a variety of medical conditions in both men and women. While it can be very helpful when used properly, it also poses several concerns for women who are breast-feeding. Further research is needed to fully confirm the risks associated with breast-feeding and Estrace.

Description

Estrace is the prescription brand name of estradiol, a form of the hormone estrogen. It is most often used for symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and vaginal itching, dryness, and burning. This medication is also used to treat certain forms of hormone-related cancer in both men and women. Taking Estrace may also help to prevent osteoporosis and correct certain hormonal imbalances.

Birth Defects

The biggest concerns with taking Estrace during pregnancy come from the high risk of birth defects associated with the medication. In fact, the FDA classifies Estrace as a category X drug for pregnant women because of the severe risk it poses for the unborn child. In addition to causing birth defects, Estrace also increases the risk of certain types of childhood cancer when taken during pregnancy.

Estrace in Breast Milk

Normally, small amounts of Estrace can be found in the breast milk of women who take this medication while they are nursing. While opinions differ about whether or not these amounts are enough to harm the infant, all doctors will agree that the risk to the infant is far less than the risk posed to the fetus before birth.

Delayed Growth

In addition to these concerns, doctors must use caution when prescribing Estrace to children because it may keep them from developing at a normal rate. Children who do take Estrace must be monitored carefully to be sure that their growth is not stunted. While there is no medical evidence to support that Estrace in nursing mothers causes delayed growth in infants, this concern has also not been overruled.

Decreased Lactation

Finally, Estrace is commonly prescribed in order to limit lactation in women who choose not to breastfeed their infants. Because of this, mothers who take Estrace while breastfeeding often produce lower quality breast milk in smaller quantities. This problem alone may hinder the baby's growth, even if the hormones present in the breast milk do not.

Conclusions

Professional opinions differ regarding the safety of taking Estrace while breastfeeding. While some doctors are willing to prescribe it in some cases, others believe it to be dangerous to the infant. Because of this, most women taking Estrace are asked to stop breastfeeding, or to wait until continuing treatment with Estrace.