Is Breast Best for You?
01 Jun 2011 3 Comments
in Healthcare for New Mums, Uncategorized
“Women should not feel guilty if they are unable to breastfeed, but they should feel guilty if they are unwilling to do so, and they should be intellectually honest enough to know the difference.” -Elizabeth Gene
If I had a pound for every time I’ve met a mother who told me that she had chosen bottle over breast, becauses she was unable to produce enough milk to feed her baby, I’d have a whole new wardrobe by now!
I have been told by many mothers that they have suffered from a low milk supply. Should we be very worried by this? I think if this is the case then it’s a really serious and worrying matter. Why is the issue of low milk production not treated as a serious medical issue if there are seemingly so many women who suffer nowadays? Surely for the human race this is catastrophic – in evolutionary terms it’s fundamental and essential for mothers to be able to feed their babies.
Mixed with the worry over this matter, is also a twinge of disbelief: I get the feeling that “low milk supply” is used often used to help assuage the guilt felt for giving up the breast in favour of the bottle as it is a “real” and “ genuine” reason.
During the course of writing this article I have undertaken some research, on the history of breastfeeding and attitudes towards the practice. I found that only 4% of women are unable to truly feed due to a low milk supply – why then do I hear so often this used as the reason for giving up breastfeeding?
It was interesting that historically not much was written about the subject of breastfeeding. This maybe because it was a natural and unremarkable function – as with walking, breathing and other necessaries in life. It also appears that for millennia we have supplemented breastfeeding with other foodstuffs and have also used other implements to assist with feeding. So why feel guilty about doing this now? If your baby and you are thriving surely this is the best that you can do?
I have also found information on the various causes of low milk supply:
1.hormonal conditions such as PCOS and untreated hypothyroidism
2.breast hypoplasia or a history of breast reduction surgery
3.cleft lip, cleft palate, or other issues that affect baby’s ability to suck properly
4.supplementing, nipple confusion, scheduled feedings, sore nipples, and other correctable breastfeeding problems
The majority of women with breastfeeding problems fall into the fourth cause listed for low milk supply. With the help of a breastfeeding consultant and good support these can be worked through and corrected to allow for a successful breastfeeding relationship.
Have I stirred a hornets’ nest with my comments and chosen quote above? Are there ladies out there who bristle at my suggestion that it may not be so simple (or actually complex) as a low milk supply, thinking that I am a breastfeeding zealot? Please let me reassure you though that I am not a zealot or a judge.
I firmly believe that a happy relaxed and calm, formula-feeding mother, is so much more beneficial to her baby than a neurotic, uptight breastfeeding one. I believe that mothers – and their supportive partners – are entitled to make choices that make life easier for them and suit their family circumstances.
Women often assume guilt if they do not want to breastfeed – either because of a perceived external pressure to do so, or from being unable to live up to their own expectations of motherhood.
There are many reasons why breastfeeding doesn’t work for everyone: at a basic level, some women will not feel comfortable with the act, unable to separate the sexuality of their breasts with the functionality required to feed, others have unsupportive family or partners who don’t want them to feed or allow them space or time to feed – depression, lack of confidence, painful feeding and work requirements are all other reasons.
I also believe that many mothers feel so guilty about making the choice not to breastfeed their child that some become physically unable to do so – a sort of psychosomatic condition bought on by not being allowed to say: Actually it’s just not for me.
As with most new Mums, I initially found feeding my first baby quite difficult: my son found it hard to latch on due to heavy congestion and I was still reeling from a hard labour and birth. After the shock and discomfort of engorgement, things settled down and feeding became easier after the first week and easier still after the weeks went by. The biggest reward came when I saw the fruits of my labour paying off before my eyes. As my weight decreased, my son’s increased. Within three months he was a beautiful bonny and cuddly baby growing well – all through the goodness of “Mother’s Milk”. Second and third babies have been easier to feed again and as successful.
The short story is that for me and my family breastfeeding works. It’s not always been easy, at times my nipples have bled, my back has been agony and I’ve had mastitis. But anyone who thinks that whole or any part of the process of having a baby is easy, obviously hasn’t read the manual!
What works for me may not however, work for you. To be weighed down with guilt about the choices that you’ve made, if they are for the best, is not healthy and can have lasting consequences.
Good luck and please don’t feel guilty for making a choice and saying for whatever reason:”it’s just not for me”.
Pregnancy & Exercise
30 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in Fitness & Wellbeing in Pregnancy
PREGNANCY AND EXERCISE
Not that long ago, pregnant women were advised to take it easy, put their feet up and let everyone around them do all the hard work…
As wonderful as that might sound, the advice these days is very different from that and it is clear that exercising during pregnancy is something to be encouraged.
Research has proven that both mother and baby can benefit from exercise during and after pregnancy, but often confusion remains as to what types of exercise are suitable and how much is considered to be too much?
A woman’s body goes through extreme changes during pregnancy and these changes will have a natural impact on exercise and lifestyle. Every woman is unique.
You can’t help but look at inspirational athletes like Paula Radcliffe and wonder how on earth she managed to continue running twice a day through to five months, an hour a day plus training on a static bike in the evening from five to seven months, then running every other day in the last two months. Quite amazing.
But don’t forget that marathon champion Radcliffe is a trained and conditioned athlete whose body is used to extreme exertion.
Some women have an active lifestyle before they get pregnant and they rate exercise highly on their list of priorities. Others simply don’t. The point is that no two women are the same and the amount of exercise undertaken will depend on the individual.
And whilst it’s not advisable to go from sitting on the couch every night to training for a marathon as soon as you find out you’re expecting, there is no reason (in the absence of any risk factors) why you can’t look to incorporate more activity into your daily routine. It is, however, vital that you discuss your plans with your GP or midwife before you start and you should cease exercise immediately if you experience pain, bleeding, dizziness, rapid heart beat, breathing difficulties, chest pain, or uterine contractions.
Current recommendations state that most pregnant women who exercise moderately and regularly will have measurable results including reduced fatigue, reduced back pain, fewer mood swings, reduced incontinence, reduced levels of stress, and will experience easier deliveries and faster post-delivery recovery.
There are also benefits for the growing baby. Babies born to active mothers tend to require less medical help during the birth itself and are often of healthier birth weights. There is even an indication of a quicker rise in intelligence levels after birth.
Other recognised benefits to exercising during pregnancy include improved circulation and posture, toning of the muscles in the back buttocks and thighs, prevention of wear and tear on joints, reduced constipation and varicose veins, improved sleep, increased body awareness, control of excessive weight gain, and enhanced psychological well-being.
Despite the benefits however, you need to be aware that there are certain conditions during pregnancy where it would be unadvisable to undertake exercise until medial approval is sought. They include general poor health, high blood pressure, poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes, undersized baby, sedentary lifestyle, blood loss, abdominal pain, severe anaemia, fatigue or exhaustion, heavy smoker.
There are also some situations in which exercise should be avoided altogether. High risk factors include previous pregnancy problems, restrictive lung disease, incompetent cervix, multiple gestation at risk of premature labour, persistent second or third trimester bleeding, placenta previa after 26 weeks, premature labour during current pregnancy, pre-eclampsia or pregnancy induced hypertension, IVF, ruptured membranes.
Understanding the benefits and the risks is vital, but when it comes to exercising when pregnant, what can you actually do?
It is generally accepted that participation in a wide range of non-contact, moderate to low impact and moderate intensity activities appears safe throughout pregnancy. As a general rule, you can carry on doing the activities you were doing before you became pregnant as long as they are not high risk, contact sports or sports with a risk of falling, and as long as you do not overheat. Naturally, as the pregnancy progresses, it is important to listen to the body and adapt accordingly. Take each day as it comes. It is also important that expectant mothers who decide to start exercising without any previous experience only exercise at a gentle pace. Walking and swimming are ideal for beginners.
At the end of the day, the decision to exercise rests with the mother and the pros and cons need to be considered carefully. But one thing is clear. In most cases, pregnancy is NOT an excuse to stop exercising and actually carries a huge number of benefits for both mother and baby. So get those trainers on and get out there for a brisk walk in the fresh air!
Laurel Le Tocq
Instructor: Pushy Mums Buggy Workout
BSc(hons) Sport & Exercise Science
REPS L3 Advanced Instructor; CYQ L3 Ante-Post Natal Exercise
Reiki in Pregnancy by Emma Despres, BeInspired Yoga
01 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
in Fitness & Wellbeing in Pregnancy
Reiki works well in helping with all stages of pregnancy including conception and child birth providing emotional, mental, spiritual and physical support.
The Japanese word Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) means ‘Universal energy’ and is based on the free flow of this energy in a person. Eastern medicine has always recognised and worked with this energy, which flows through all living things and is vital to well-being.
Reiki is completely safe and the deep relaxation and peacefulness many people experience during and after a Reiki treatment can be of benefit to both pregnant ladies and those trying to conceive. Reiki may help to reduce stress, heal physical issues, deal with (old) problems and the accompanying emotions; deepen the relationship between mother and child (even in spirit) and increase the confidence in motherhood.
Juliet Bousefield, who received Reiki during the latter stages of her pregnancy, commented, “I found the session very restful, it helped me focus on the baby and I felt calm for the rest of the day”.
Furthermore the mother’s body changes significantly during pregnancy and her energy balance – mentally, physically and emotionally – is constantly under pressure. Holly Newark comments, “I had numerous sessions of Reiki with Emma during my pregnancy which I found incredibly beneficial. It was my first pregnancy and I have always used Reiki for grounding and general well being which I found I required even more when I was pregnant. The last session I had was the day before my due date and Emma commented that I was very grounded and balanced and sure enough Finley was born the next day on his due date”.
Reiki may also be very effective in helping to restore balance on all levels following the birth. Caring for an infant can be draining for both partners and Reiki can help to restore balance and energy levels as well as providing some much-needed serenity and nurturing (for both parent and infant) during this time.
Head Lice, by Martha Huntley, Pharmacist
23 Jul 2010 1 Comment
Head Lice
Head lice are grey –brown in colour and are small wingless insects that live on the scalp. They feed by sucking blood from the scalp. Infection is spread by direct head to head contact. The lice cannot swim, jump or fly. The female louse lays eggs in sacs. These are known as nits. Nits are attached to hairs close to the scalp and hatch in around 7 to 10 days. The condition is most common in children aged 4-11, however anyone with hair can catch head lice and it does not matter whether the hair is long or short, dirty or clean. Head lice only affect humans and cannot be caught from or passed on to animals.
Symptoms
- Detection of head lice is difficult even after close inspection. Itching of the scalp can often occur but only if there is an allergy to the lice. Itching can take up to 3 months to develop.
- If you think your child has head lice, check the base of the hair for eggs and comb the hair over a piece of white paper looking out for lice.
- Tiny red spots on the scalp may be visible. A good place to check for the lice is the nape of the neck and behind the ears.
Your pharmacist can confirm diagnosis.
Treatment
Once head lice have been detected, treatment can begin either by using the wet combing method or medicated preparations from the pharmacy.
Wet combing should be carried out as follows-
- Wash the hair using shampoo. Use a wide-toothed comb and conditioner to untangle the hair. (The conditioner causes the lice to lose their grip on the hair)
- Once the comb moves freely through the hair switch to a fine-toothed comb with spacing of less than 0.3mm- available from the pharmacy. Slot the teeth of the comb at the roots and draw down to the ends. Check the comb for lice and wipe clean after each stroke. Repeat this process for at least 30minutes over the whole head.
- Rinse out the conditioner as normal.
- Carry this out every three days for at least two weeks to clear the lice.
Medicated Preparations
Medicatied preparations should only be used if a live louse is detected. Ask your pharmacist for an insecticide lotion or dimeticone (non- insecticide). Always seek advice from the pharmacist if treating head lice in babies under 6 months, pregnant or breast feeding women or people with allergies or asthma as certain treatments must be avoided. Inform the pharmacist of any other medical conditions or any medicines currently being taken. Apply the preparation according to the instructions on the pack and remove the lice and eggs with a fine toothed nit comb. It is advisable to treat once and repeat the treatment seven days later.
Resistance
There is a possibility that lice may be unaffected by a particular product- this is due to resistance of the lice to the insecticide. In this case another product containing a different active ingredient should be tried.
Prevention
Checking your families’ hair regularly using the wet combing method is the best way to limit head lice infestation. Long hair should be tied back to reduce the possibility of contact with an infected individual.
For further information ask your pharmacist for free confidential and professional advice.
Hello world!
21 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Fitness & Wellbeing in Pregnancy, Healthcare for Kids, Healthcare for New Mums, Healthcare in Pregnancy, Uncategorized
We have created this Guernseymums Blog so that you have access to the great articles and contributions that we are receiving from our Guernsey readers who are expert in certain fields. Raising children can be fun-filled, satisfying, hard work and downright draining – all in equal measures!
We are aiming to build here, a useful and interesting library of articles covering a variety of topics ranging from pregnancy issues, healthcare and hygiene for kids and new mums, behavioral issues in children and many more…. Let us know what will help you through the tough times and we’ll try to find a resident expert who can help.
