Breastfeeding and Breast Implants

I was always under the impression that if a women got breast implants, she could not breastfeed. I was wrong!

It has been found that women can still breastfeed after having breast augmentation surgery. There are somethings a women who received the surgery may want to know about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is possible, but it does depend on the type of surgery. Incisions made under the fold of the breast of through the armpit shouldn’t cause any problems. The “smile” incision around the areola puts a mother at greater risk for problems. If the nerves of the areola weren’t damaged or cut during surgery, you should be able to nurse. These nerves are vital to breastfeeding because they trigger the brain to produce prolactin and oxytocin, two hormones that affect milk production. Your chance of breastfeeding also improves if your milk ducts are intact.

So far, there has been no evidence that silicone from silicone implants leaks into breast milk, but even if it did, it wouldn’t harm your baby. Silicone is similar to a substance used to treat babies stomach gas.

After implants, women’s nipples become more sensitive. Any type of enlargement causes the areolas around the nipples to stretch making them more sensitive. Sensations can range from tickling to outright pain when the baby nurses.

You won’t know the extent of nerve damage, if any, until you begin to nurse. If you received implants and begin nursing, inform your doctor and he or she will monitor your babies weight to make sure your child is receiving enough food. If you have trouble producing enough milk, try pumping after each nursing to stimulate milk production.

If you are considering breast implants but plan to breastfeed, it may be best to wait. But if you already have the implants it still is possible and best for your child.

Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer & Ovarian Cancer

There is evidence linking breastfeeding to a lower incidence of breast cancer especially among those with breast cancer already in their families. Women, who breastfed, with an immediate family member, such as a mother or a sister, who had breast cancer are 59% less likely to get breast cancer. Breast cancer preventive benefits of breast-feeding compare similarly to the protective effects of the antiestrogen drug tamoxifen, which many high-risk women take to prevent breast cancer.Breast cancer is also linked to obesity in women. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of obesity in many women which also reduces the risk for breast cancer. But the reduction of cancer risks comes in proportion to the cumulative lifetime duration of breastfeeding. The more months you breastfeed, the more your risk of breast cancer is reduced.

Breastfeeding has also been linked to the reduce risk of ovarian cancer. One reason it may reduce the risk is because the decreases the total number of ovulation’s.  Another one of the reasons for the cancer-fighting effects of breastfeeding is that estrogen levels are lower during lactation. It is thought that the less estrogen available to stimulate the lining of the uterus and perhaps breast tissue also, the less the risk of these tissues becoming cancerous.

Breastfeeding is the best for your baby, but it might also be the best for you. There are so many benefits for the mother as well. Keep all the benefits for your baby as well as you in mind when considering breastfeeding.

Women who breastfeed are also lest likely to get osteoperosis, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Night Nursing

After having a baby, all you want is a good night sleep. But there will be nights where you will need to nurse. Night nursing increases your milk supply because more prolactin is secreted at night than during the day. Breastfeeding at night can also decrease the risk of another pregnancy.

If you want to get at least some sleep, here are some tips that may ease the night nursing.

1. In order to increase sleep periods, try swaddling your child. If you can’t get your child to stay in the swaddle or you feel like they hate it, it may because you’re not swaddling them tight enough. Try swaddling them tighter. You can also breastfeed your baby while swaddled. This way, even if they nurse frequently through the night, they go right back to sleep.

2. Consider co-sleeping.  Somewhere between 1-4 months, you baby will be big enough and well-established enough on the breast to nurse in the side-lying position. The baby can even find the nipple and latch on by themselves! Many woman are able to sleep through the whole or sometimes part of the nursing. Even smaller-breasted women can often nurse from both sides without flipping the baby to the other side of the body.

3. Try dreamfeeding. It may take several tries to get the pattern going, but after the first couple weeks most babies (especially swaddled babies) can be picked up when sleeping, will nurse in their sleep, and stay asleep when done.

4. Night nursing may increase during growth spurts, teething or during illnesses.These episodes may only last a few days or just a week, but do what is best for your baby and push through it!

Night nursing may be hard and you may feel like you are getting no sleep. But here is some good news! Night nursing has been tied to the delay return of menstruation. Just remember that nursing is what is best for your baby and essential to their development and health. This period will be short lived and you’ll get some sleep after!

Nursing Strike!

What if your nursing and your baby suddenly doesn’t want to nurse anymore? You’re baby could be on a nursing strike!

If your baby has been breastfeeding but suddenly won’t, they may be on a nursing strike! It is possible if your baby is around nine months old that he or she may potentially be weaning himself or herself. It is very unlikely if your baby is younger than nine months. A “nursing strike” usually lasts only a few days but it could last for a few weeks.  The nursing strike can cause frustration for the mother, so try to be patient.

But why are they on strike?

• Mastitis may cause your milk supply to decrease and sodium levels may rise causing the milk to be salty. This is a temporary problem.
• Your baby may be teething which can either cause your baby to want to nurse more or not at all.
• If your baby is ill nursing may be uncomfortable for him or her. If your baby has an ear infection lying on that infected ear will be uncomfortable.
• Reaction to stress. A baby may experience stress from siblings vying for your attention during nursing, change in environment, a moms overreaction to being bitten, or stress in your life.
• If you have been away from nursing your baby for a week your baby may refuse nursing.
• A change in the taste of the milk. This could result from cremes or ointments, new shampoos or deodorants, and rarely a change in your diet (excessive caffeine or some dairy products).

What should you do?

While your baby is on strike, you need to express your milk as often as your baby has been nursing previously. By expressing your milk you will prevent problems with engorgement or plug ducts. You will also be able to still feed your babies with your milk. Visit your pediatrician to find out if its any medical problems. If your baby has an ear infection try nursing them in an upright position or the football hold to reduce pressure on the ear. Offer your baby the breast frequently and give your baby lots of skin-to-skin contact. Try nursing in a rocking chair or while walking around. The movement is soothing to your baby.

It can be stressful and frustrating as a mom but remember to be patient. If you are still at a loss of what to do, see a lactation consultant or contact La Leche League for advice.

Breast Milk Nutrition Facts

In previous posts I’ve discussed how good breast milk is for a baby. Many may be wondering why? Why is breast milk the best for my child health wise? Lets dive into the nutrition facts of breast milk, starting with the nutrients. The facts about the nutrients can be found at americanpregnancy.org.

Here is some basic nutritional information for breast milk:

• 70 Calories
• 89.97 grams of water
• 7.4 grams of carbohydrates
• 4.2 grams of fat
• 1.3 grams of protein

Breast milk contains two types of proteins: whey and casein. The milk is made up of about 60% whey and 40% casein. This balance allows for quick and easy digestion. Casein is more present in formula, making the milk harder to digest. Combined these proteins have infection-protection properties. The fat in breast milk contributes to brain development, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and is the primary calorie source. The vitamins found in breast milk are directly correlated to the mothers vitamin intake. Pregnant and lactating women should consume both fat soluble (A, D, E, K) vitamins and water-soluble (C, and all B) vitamins. All are vital to a child’s development. Finally the carbohydrates. The main carbohydrate found in breast milk is lactose, which decreases the amount of unhealthy bacteria in the stomach.  Breast milk provides the perfect balance of all the nutrients. Formula may try to replicate the nutrients produced in breast milk but it is nearly impossible. Breast milk aids in fighting infections. Nothing can compete with milk from the body.

As a mom your diet can directly affect the breast milk. Make sure you take the adequate amount of vitamins and minerals. Eat a variety of foods providing different vitamins and minerals. It is suggested women to increase their caloric intake between 2,500-2,800 calories per day. Drink about 2.5-3 quarts of water daily. Overall healthy eating will benefit your baby.

For recipes and ideas of foods to eat while breastfeeding visit webmd.com.

“It’s double the giggles and double the grins, and double the trouble if you’re blessed with twins. “

Obviously, breastfeeding twins can require more work then feeding just one baby. So let’s make it so it doesn’t overwhelm you if you’re a mother or soon to be mother of multiples. Babycenter.com has many helpful information on how to make the process easier.

Here’s just a few:

-Breastfeeeding takes about the same amount of time to bottle feed.

-When nursing both babies at once, use rolled up towels or a nursing pillow to support the babies.

-If you breastfeed when your babies want to eat, you can trust that your body will supply enough milk.

-Keep lots of water nearby. Nursing can make you thirsty.

-Breastfeeding multiples doesn’t make you more likely to have sore nipples.

What if you don’t want to breastfeed your babies at the same time? Some women have found that breastfeeding one, and bottle feeding the other during one feeding round works. The next time they are hungry feed the one who was bottle fed breast milk, and the other formula. This way both are able to get the nutrients and anti-bodies from the breastmilk, without making you feel overwhelmed.

Many twins are born earlier and are considered preemies. During this time they may be seperated from the mother and unable to nurse. Remember that the nutrients found in breast milk are extrememly benificially to your babies help. Consider pumping. The best time to pump is the time of feed (if only one baby is nursing) or before the feed. Remember your body continuosly makes milk so no matter how long the baby nurses there will still be milk.

So let’s finish with some tips for the nursing mother:

1. Relax! Tune out anything that makes you worried, stressed or anxious and focus on feeding your babies.

2. Accept help. Whether it be from a friend or a spouse. Say yes to friends bringing dinner since you may not have the time to make it. If feeding one have your husband burp the other.

3. Try and try again. If one way doesn’t work try another. There is no “right way” so find out what works best for you and your babies.

4. Take care of yourself! By neglecting yourself you are neglecting your babies. Drink plenty of water, eat nutritious foods and rest when you can.

Multiples can make things a little more difficult. But find out what works for you. The beginning may be difficult but things will get easier. Just remember the benefits that the breast milk has for your baby. It will all be worth it.

“Eat Well, Lose Weight, While Breastfeeding”

The above title is a title of a book written by Eileen Behan and can be found here. This book is an excellent guide for women on what to eat and do in order to lose weight after birth.

If there is no incentive to breastfeed other then the possibility of losing the weight from the pregnancy, well I think that is incentive enough! One of the most difficult parts of pregnancy for women is that they are rapidly gaining weight. Gaining weight for women is extremely difficult to deal with sometimes.

Many women think that after they have their child, that dieting, exercising vigurously, and even skipping meals will help them lose the weight faster. This puts toxins into the breast milk. The best way to lose the weight is gradually. Women have a healthy diet and exercise end up losing all the weight gained from pregnancy. A comment made by a user on babycenter.com said “My childbirth educator promised us that if we ate good food, then it didn’t matter how much weight we gained, we would nurse if off. If we didn’t eat well… well, she wasn’t going to make any promises. =) I gained 45 pounds and had lost all but 5 of it by my 6 week check up – no exercise or dieting at all. Most moms lose weight while nursing, but may have a hard time with the last 5 pounds until weaning.”

Interesting Facts:

-Women who breastfed exclusively for more then 3 months lose more weight than those who do not.

-Breastfeeding is best for you and your baby.

-Breastfeeding burns an extra 500 calories a day.

This is a gradual process. Starting to breastfeed your baby doesn’t mean you’ll loose the weight in a week. Remember, it did take 9 months to put that weight on. Breastfeeding, a healthy diet, and exercise will increase the weight you lose after pregnancy. So why not try breastfeeding maybe for your benefit? It can only help.

MyPyramid Plan for Moms can help you while you are pregnant and breastfeeding. It can help you know which foods to eat as well as an adequate amount of calories for your goal.

Breastfeeding and Obesity

It has been found that an estimated 10.4 percent of two- to five-year-olds, 15.3 percent of six- to 11-year-olds, and 15.5 percent of 12- to 19-year-old’s are overweight. New research has proven that waiting longer to start infant on solid foods may lead to slimmer adults. Extended breastfeeding is usually associated with delayed introduction to baby food. In a study, children who were breastfed as infants had a lower risk of obestiy by the ages three and four. Babies who are breastfed have significantly lower rates of fat compared to formula-fed babies at one year of age. At five to six years of age, children who were never breastfed had obesity rates of 4.5 percent compared to obesity rates of 0.8 percent for children who were breastfed for more than 12 months.At 18 years old, teenagers who were exclusively breastfed for three months or longer were leaner and had less body fat.

Why is this? Well maybe it’s because breastfed infants learn how to control the amount of human milk and calories they consume better then bottle-fed infants, who are often forced to continue feeding and finish the bottle after they are satisfied.

Let’s decrease obesity by increasing breastfeeding! Although there are many factors contributing to obesity, it seems that through these studies we may have found a way at limiting children’s risk of obesity. Decreasing the obesity in children will increase there health as adults. They will lead healthier lives, maybe because there mom’s made the choice to breastfeed.

Think about it.

Statistics were found on La Leche League International’s website.

The “Ick” Factor

In the United States, some women are grossed out by breastfeeding. In other countries it is strange and odd for a women NOT to breastfeed. Below is a chart from Kellymom.com on the breastfeeding rates around the world:

Breastfeeding Rates Around the World

Country	% of mothers who start	% who continue 6 months or longer
Sweden	98	53
Norway	98	50
Poland	93	10
Canada	80	24
Netherlands	68	25
Britain	63	21
United States	57	20

So why is the United States so low at starting and contuining breastfeeding? I think its because it is considered gross by many people. Are you not considering breastfeeding because you’re afraid you’ll be judged?! Well let us fix that problem.

In the United States it is your right to breastfeed in public. In Boulder, Colorado, for example, one mother was told by a staff member at a public pool that she would have to go to the restroom to nurse her baby. Knowing her rights, the mother staged a “nurse in” as she and other nursing mothers gathered at the pool and discreetly breastfed their children. Sure enough, it turned out the nursing mother had every right to breastfeed her child at the public pool. She was later offered an apology by the pool staff. This story is not the only one of its kind. There are many others out there.

But if you don’t want to be stared at and feel judged when nursing look into buying a breastfeeding cover. They even make adorable ones now a days. Look at the Nursing Cover Boutique or if that doesn’t work out for you, try using the restroom. Many restrooms provide a sitting area designed for nursing mothers.

Just remember, you are doing what is best for your baby. You’re not trying to flaunt your breasts or even call attention to yourself. When you’ve done everything to prevent the “ick” factor, let others judge. You’ll never see them again.

Breastfeeding May Prevent Mental Health Problems

According to new research, children who are breastfed are less likely to suffer mental health problems later in life. Children who were breastfed for shorter periods experienced worse behavior. These children were also more likely to suffer from depression and anger.

But why?

• Experts believe that nutrients in the mothers milk contribute to improve the brains development.
• The bonding process between mother and baby has a lasting effect on the development of the brain.

Six months may seem like a long time to breastfeed your child. But why not? By doing so, you are decreasing your child’s risk for mental health problems. Studies have shown that children breastfed for longer than six months exhibit a stronger mother-child attachment which could provide lasting benefits.

Not only will your babies mental health risks be lowered, but so can yours. Women who breastfed were less likely to suffer from postpartum depression.

So try it! It can only help. Because who wouldn’t wanna see there child will such a smile on their face.