How Do I Know When My Milk Has Dried Up?

Your breast milk supply constantly fluctuates to accommodate your baby's needs. It isn't always easy to tell if he is getting enough milk or if he is simply nursing to pacify. You need to check your milk supply by attempting to express milk. Lactation depends on stimulation and emptying of the breast. If your breasts are not emptied, your milk will dry up on its own.

Instructions

Identify How Much Milk You Are Producing

1

Use a breast pump to express your milk. Attach the pump to your breast. Turn it on and allow to remain for 15-20 minutes. Lack of milk in the bottle may indicate a diminished supply.

2

Express breast milk manually. Grasp your breast with one hand with your thumb just above your nipple and the remaining fingers just below the nipple. Apply gentle pressure, but do not squeeze until you feel pain. If after several tries you are not able to express milk by hand, this is another indication of a diminished milk supply.

3

Feel your breast, checking for firmness. It is common for your breast to become softer after several weeks of breastfeeding. Softness alone does not indicate that your milk has dried up. Loss of breast firmness indicates that your milk supply is not as abundant as it was in the first weeks.

If you have not been able to express milk with a pump or by hand and have a noticeable loss of firmness and breast size, there is a strong possibility that your milk has dried.

Side Effects of Valerian Root Teas

Teas brewed from the root of the valerian plant, embraced for centuries as a mild tranquilizer, are a popular natural remedy. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), based on studies on humans and animals, valerian (Valeriana officinalis) contains properties scientifically proven to treat insomnia and ease anxiety. Other scientifically unproven uses listed by NIH include valerian root's purported ability to relieve depression, stomach and menstrual cramps, high blood pressure, digestion, headaches, angina, nervous tension, muscle pain and arthritis. Although valerian is listed on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) list and is considered safe by the American Herbal Products Association, those who drink valerian root tea may encounter side effects, which vary based on occasional or chronic use, and other factors, such as pregnancy and breastfeeding and liver disease.

Side Effects for Occasional Drinkers

Although Valerian root tea most often is well-tolerated with occasional use, minor side effects may include headache, upset stomach, low body temperature, and feeling edgy, dizzy, unsteady and excitable.

Side Effects for Chronic Drinkers

Drinking Valerian root tea for two or more months sometimes reverses its original intended effects and may cause depression and insomnia, as well as night terrors and stomach pain. Chronic use may also diminish concentration and critical thinking. Valerian extracts are highly concentrated; when used in tea brews, they can cause a drug "hangover" effect when used incorrectly or for too long. When you stop drinking the tea suddenly, the effect is described as "Valerian withdrawal," which includes confusion and rapid heart beat.

Pregnant/Breatsfeeding or Liver Disease

The safety of valerian root tea is not clear for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Valerian root teas are a no-no for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding because its safety during pregnancy is undetermined and it is unknown whether it passes through breast milk. People who have liver disease or damage also are discouraged from taking Valerian, especially with medications that metabolize the liver.

Drug Interactions

Little is known about the effect Valerian may have with other drugs or herbs.

Little research exists to assess the side effects of ingesting any combination of herbs, supplements, drugs and food. The NIH suggests valerian may increase the drowsiness effect inherent in some prescription and over-the-counter drugs and when valerian is mixed with alcohol and recreational drug use. The NIH also reports incidences of confusion, agitation and anxiety when taken with some prescription medications and concern over valerian's affect on anti-seizure medications and those metabolized by the liver. When combined with other herbs and dietary supplements, valerian root has led to sweating, nausea, weakness, increased pulse and blood pressure, and muscle cramps.

How to Nurse a Sleepy Baby

Trying to nurse a sleepy baby is a common concern for new moms who are breastfeeding. Newborns don't always recognize when they're hungry, so some of them have a tendency to sleep through it instead of wanting to nurse. The mother must learn gentle techniques for encouraging her baby to wake up to eat and stay awake during the entire feeding. Babies are usually able to start determining their own feeding times between a few days and two months of age.

Instructions

1

Undress your baby. Take off all blankets and clothes except for the diaper, because less warmth will encourage wakefulness. Keep your baby in contact with your skin so that he or she doesn't get too cold.

2

Use activity to keep your newborn awake. Do diaper changes before feedings. Switch back and forth between breasts frequently, or stop to burp when you notice that your baby is nodding off.

3

Provide gentle stimulation. Softly tickle hands and feet, give a massage, or run your fingers along his or her face. Ask someone else to help with this while you hold the baby if you need to. Talk to your baby and look into his or her eyes if they're open.

4

Hold your baby in a different position. Try using the football hold by placing your newborn on the side of your body with his or her legs under your arm. Try sitting up and placing the baby in an inclined, seated position rather than lying horizontally.

5

Take a break from trying to nurse if you become frustrated. Realize that stress isn't good for you or the baby, and nursing is more likely to happen when you're relaxed. Try again when you're calm.

6

Get help from a lactation consultant or nurse if you're still having a difficult time breastfeeding.

Mother & Infant Custody Laws in California

In California, parents are encouraged to come to a custody agreement between themselves outside of court. California courts also require parents to attend at least one court-ordered mediation session to resolve any issues regarding child custody and to create a visitation schedule for the noncustodial parent. If the parents are still unable to come to an agreement after mediation, the court will determine custody of the minor child.

Necessary and Proper

California Family Code Section 3022 grants broad discretion to family courts to determine the custody of a minor child. Under California law, the courts are permitted to make any custody ruling "that seems necessary or proper." With respect to an infant, it is typically necessary and proper to award sole custody to the mother given the child's tender age and the child's needs from the mother. Nursing mothers are almost always given custody of their dependent infants in California.

Best Interests of the Child

When determining custody, California courts also examine the collective best interest of the child. When determining the child's best interests, the courts consider a number of factors including which parent was the primary caretaker of the child, any history of family abuse, the age of the child and the safety, health and welfare of the child. With respect to infants, mothers have typically been the primary care taker of the child and, in the case of nursing infants, custody being awarded to the mother is usually best for the health and welfare of the child. For these reasons, mothers are usually awarded custody of their infants in California.

Other Considerations

If a mother has a history of drug use or abuse, the father or a third party, such as child services, may be awarded custody of an infant. The custody arrangement may be temporary or permanent. In the event the mother is not awarded custody, California law ensures the mother will have "frequent and continuing contact" with the child through regular visitation.

What to Clean on a Medela Pump

Medela manufactures a line of breast pumps, which often are used by working mothers to pump their milk while they are away from their baby. Because some of the pump parts touch the mother's skin and milk, they require cleaning after each pumping session to keep them free of bacteria, mildew and mold. None of the pump parts require cleaning when switching breasts during an individual pumping session, but some must be cleaned after each individual pumping session is complete.

Parts of Medela Breast Pumps

Medela offers manual and electric breast pumps. The parts that can contact the breast milk and require regular cleaning include collection bottles, breast shields, breast shield valves, personal fit connectors, cylinders from manual pumps, tubing, bottle covers and bottle nipples. Medela pumps use common parts for their entire pump product line.

Sterilizing Medela Breast Pump Parts

When using new pump parts for the first time, sterilize the parts that will contact the breast milk and mother's skin to eliminate any surface bacteria. To sterilize pump parts, place them in a pan and cover with at least one inch of water. Bring the water to a boil, and maintain the boil for 10 minutes. Remove the parts from the boiling water using clean tongs, and let them air dry on a clean cloth.

For manual pumps, sterilize the pump cylinder and piston, breast shields, breast shield valves, personal fit connectors, storage bottles, bottle covers and bottle nipples. For electric pumps, sterilize the breast shields, breast shield valves, personal fit connectors, storage bottles, bottle covers and bottle nipples.

Cleaning Medela Pump Parts

For regular cleaning, Medela pump parts that come into contact with breast milk can be washed by hand in hot soapy water or on the top rack of the dishwasher. The tubing used to connect the breast shield to an electric pump cannot be sterilized in boiling water or washed in the dishwasher; it must be washed by hand using hot soapy water and rinsed thoroughly by allowing clear hot water to flow through it.

For manual pumps, wash the pump cylinder and piston, breast shields, breast shield valves, personal fit connectors, storage bottles, bottle covers and bottle nipples. For electric pumps, wash the breast shields, breast shield valves, personal fit connectors, storage bottles, bottle covers and bottle nipples.

Special Considerations

Medela recommends that mothers of premature infants regularly sterilize pump parts instead of using standard washing methods due to the infant's compromised immune system If a mother is pumping milk for multiple children, she does not have to clean any of the pump parts when switching storage bottles during a single pumping session as long as the bottles have been cleaned properly.

How to Get Rid of Warts During Pregnancy

As an expectant mother, you're used to drawing attention. Keep that attention on your baby bump, not on an unsightly wart. Many over-the-counter removal methods could be dangerous to your unborn child, as could some in-office treatments. Using duct tape to naturally remove your wart during pregnancy might be the safest bet.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

Most over-the-counter wart removal methods contain salicylic acid, according to MedicinNet. Salicylic acid is not considered safe during pregnancy. "You should not use any products that contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or any of the retinoids. They are not safe to use during pregnancy," states dermatologist Sumayah Jamal, MD, PhD, in an article for WebMD.

In-Office Treatments

In addition to over-the-counter wart treatments, there are numerous options available at your doctor's office. These include prescription creams, injections and cryotherapy, all of which utilize chemicals that may not be safe during pregnancy or while breast-feeding. Tell your doctor about your pregnancy and discuss the safety of any suggested removal method before choosing any one method.

Duct Tape Removal

According to BabyCenter.com, duct tape can be all you need to remove a wart. Clean the affected area and dry thoroughly. Cover the wart with a small piece of duct tape. Place a bandage over the duct tape if desired. The bandage is only to disguise the duct tape; it is not necessary to the removal of your wart.
Leave the duct tape in place for six days. If the tape falls off before you've reached six days, replace it as quickly as possible and continue on to the original sixth day. Remove the tape and soak the wart in warm water. Scrape away as much of the wart as possible with a nail file. It most likely will not come off completely the first time. Leave the tape off and allow what remains of the wart to sit uncovered overnight. Reapply more tape and a new bandage bandage in the morning. Repeat this process as many times as necessary for up to two months.

Considerations

It is not actually necessary to do anything about a wart during pregnancy. Warts typically go away on their own in a matter of months. However, if the wart is in an obvious location or is simply bothering you, check with your doctor before attempting any type of at-home wart removal during pregnancy.

How to Use a Postpartum Weight Loss Calculator

Once you've had a baby, you quickly realize that your life will never be the same. After all, experiencing the gift of life is truly one of nature's miracles. However, it may also become quickly apparent that your figure is no longer the same either. Fortunately, it doesn't necessarily take a miracle to lose the postpartum weight. It will take some effort, though. Learning how to use a postpartum weight loss calculator is one way to get started in the right direction.

Instructions

Use a Postpartum Weight Loss Calculator

1

Use an online postpartum weight loss calculator, such as the one located on the "Baby Center" website (see Resources below).

2

Enter your height, weight, age, your activity level and whether or not you are breastfeeding into the option fields. Then press the 'Calculate' button to get the results.

3

Note the number of recommended daily calories that you should intake that appears in your results. The postpartum weight loss calculator takes certain variables into account that you may have entered, such as the extra energy needed to provide adequate breast milk or how much activity you typically experience in a day.

4

Observe the recommended rate of weight loss provided in the results of the postpartum weight loss calculator as well. For instance, your individual results may suggest losing no more than 1 to 2 pounds per week.

5

Consult with your obstetrician or a nutritionist about your postpartum weight loss calculator results. Professional guidance can be very beneficial to developing an effective plan to lose excess pounds without compromising the health of yourself or your baby.