Motherhood is a challenging phase of life. before giving birth women are all excited about holding a baby in their arms, looking at the joyful side of a journey. The journey from labor pains to childbirth is a life-changing event.
Counting babies kicks and most of all watching your baby moving in your third-trimester belly is one of the fondest memories of being pregnant.
Rest assured the joys of holding a baby are beautiful and you are going to have the most cherishable memories of all times.
Now you are ready to give birth and excited too, I highly recommend you should visit your hospital pre-birth and get yourself registered. This will save you a lot of time when you will be actually in labor and need immediate assistance.
Visit your hospital labor and delivery department to be well aware of the rooms and other formalities, you might have to take care of.
This is a very common question for first-time moms when you know it’s time to bring baby home.
Having all those excitement and butterflies in your belly; one fine day your time would come with real pains and probably with a gush of water.
When you know these are not Braxton hicks (false contractions) and you could actually time your pains at equal intervals. If your contractions are exactly at 20 minutes interval, maybe less or more, you need to pack up your hospital bag.
Well, as a matter of fact, these contractions interval may take days to shrink down to maybe 5 minutes or 3 minutes. Whenever you are able to time them for like 2 to 3 hours at the same interval, you need to call your doctor, nurse or a midwife at your hospital you are planning on to deliver.
If your water breaks, you need to call right away, even you do not feel any sort of contraction or pains.
Once you are at the hospital, you need to check in with all those bands with barcodes. These bands are going to stay on your wrist until you are staying at the hospital.
What happens in the labor room?
Nurses would take care of everything when you get there. If you have more frequent contractions, they would find out and provide immediate assistance. Your doctor or midwife is going to find out how much dilated you are by that time.
If your labor pains are not very frequent and you don’t seem to be dilated more than 2 cm, you might be sent back home.
If your baby is full-term at 39 weeks, you might want to discuss the option of Pitocin, a medicine to speed up the labor pains.
You can opt for epidural. Before that, you need to eat or drink whatever you want because once you get epidural you won’t be able to drink water even.
What happens in the surgery room in case you have scheduled a cesarean or emergency C-section?
If you have a scheduled C-section due to many reasons like baby’s position, multiple fetuses, health concerns, etc., chances are you have to get it in the morning. Thus, you have to make sure you should not have eaten at least 12 hours on the day of C-section. You have to be an empty stomach.
Eat well the night before and sleep better as you are already signing up for sleep deprivation motherhood brings. 🙂
Epidural or General Anesthesia
By any chance you end up having C-section, you most likely be given epidural (spinal) If not general anesthesia.
Nurses would make sure your area for the incision is shaved.
After that, they are going to apply medicine and all the surgical procedure you can expect.
Although doctors, surgeons, anesthesia staff, nurses, every concerned person would be in the surgery room. However, if you want your partner or husband to be in the surgery room, you can surely ask nurses.
They are going to provide the medicated clothes for him so that he can be with you inside the surgery room and you both could enjoy the birth of your baby.
What to expect right after Childbirth
You might be an expert by now for what happens in pregnancy and how to deal with those nauseous mornings, but getting to know what happens in the hospital right after birth is not too far now.
Curious to know or not – here the things you must need to know what happens after birth.
1. Apgar Evaluation
This is a necessary evaluation procedure done after birth. The purpose is to see if there are any medical concerns or not. Doctors measure five signs of the baby’s condition
Heart rate
Breathing
Reflexes
Activity and muscles tone
Skin color
Apgar evaluation score varies from 0 to 10. Babies who score 7 or more are considered healthy. Low Apgar score does not mean any necessary medical concerns.
Researchers say that in more than 98% of babies, quite often the Apgar score reaches 7 within 5 minutes of baby’s life as it is checked twice in the first 5 minutes of baby’s life after birth.
2. Vitamin K injection
Babies are born with vitamin K deficiency as it does not reach the placenta during pregnancy. Thus, doctors make sure that babies get vitamin K injection right after birth to make sure no bleeding in the brain or intestines could occur. Right after the birth baby is given vitamin K injection to help with blood to clot.
3. Antibiotic eye ointment
Your baby will be applied Erythromycin an eye antibiotic ointment to her eyes so that it does not cause an infection that could occur during delivery. Infections could occur due to sexually transmitted diseases, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
If you are concerned, babies can see through the ointment and it is not irritating for babies.
4. Oxygen saturation testing
This procedure is done to check for lower levels of oxygen in the baby’s bloodstream that might identify any significant yet rare heart defects. This is a needleless procedure involves placing a band-aid-like sensor on the baby’s right hand and right foot.
4. Baby Foot is printed
Your baby’s foot will be printed.
5. Identification Bands on wrists and legs
Your baby will also be wearing an identification band on with your name as a mother.
6. Skin to skin
Research has shown that an hour after birth is when your baby is very awake and alert and during that time and it is highly recommended when mother and baby has to be more on skin to skin.
7. Regulating the baby’s body temperature
Baby’s lose body heat fairly quickly, thus it is highly advisable to practice more and more skin to skin to regulate baby’s body temperature after birth.
8. Latching or Breastfeeding right after birth
As soon as your baby is done with all those requirements after birth, mothers are advised to start breastfeeding their babies right away, as this will help with the flow of milk supply for moms.
Breastfeeding has numerous benefits along with it helps the uterus to come back to its original size within 6 weeks.
9. Bonding with your baby
Right after birth, It is very normal to feel overjoyed to see your little bundle of happiness. Some mothers cannot feel that way which is normal too. Do not stress about bonding if you are not in that state of mind, because most of the time it is the effect of medicines as well.
However, dads would be happy to perform skin to skin if mom is having a surgical delivery.
In my both C section deliveries, at the time my first one was born I was in labor pains for three days, tired and exhausted, yet I just was super excited about bonding with my little guy. On the other hand, while with my second delivery, which was within 19 months, it took a while for me to feel normal again I was having extreme shoulder pain and my blood pressure dropped significantly. I just could not talk. And I could not hold her for a long time.
It is not advisable to hold your baby when you are not feeling normal about yourself. Bonding can weight but you as a healthy mother is more important.
Start skin to skin the moment you start feeling better and want to connect.
Nursing, latching, and feeding after childbirth
If you are a first-time mom, and you THINK that you KNOW how to breastfeed, do not stay in this misconception.
There is a big difference between knowing something and actually doing it.
Some babies do not know how to latch. They will learn slowly and gradually.
However, some babies are great at latching. They know suckle very well.
I would highly recommend first-time moms to consult a lactation specialist. Many hospitals in the US offer lactation classes which are super helpful.
Doctors would not allow you to go home if your baby is not having enough wet and dirty diapers. This means your baby is not having enough to eat.
The lactation consultants will visit you every day during your hospital stay and are there to help. Seek help, consult if you are struggling with breastfeeding.
Moms expect delayed milk supply as it takes time to settle in. However, babies are not going to eat too much in the beginning.
Colostrum is the thick form of milk that comes in before the milk supply. Colostrum is the most beneficial first baby food and sufficient for the early days of a baby’s life.
If you are not mentally or physically ready to take care of your baby, talk to your nurse about it. They are there to help. You can ask them to take your baby for the night and have her in the nursery room so you can sleep or rest for that night.
You can also tell them to bring the baby in for her feed or they could give formula if you have talked to your doctor about it.
Whatever you decide to feed your baby, remember FED IS THE BEST.
While you stay a the hospital nurses give you a chart to record about your baby eats, wee and poo schedule.
You have to feed every 2 hours or as per demand. The more you nurse the earlier and quick would be the milk supply.
Care providers want you to time baby’s eating, pee, and poo schedule to ensure baby is performing great after birth.
Baby’s First Poop
Baby’s first poo is called Meconium which is made of mucus, amniotic fluid and everything which baby has ingested while in the womb. Meconium is a black almost tar-like consistency.
Rarely, during normal delivery, babies tend to poo during the delivery process (while passing through the birth canal) which has to be monitored closely. It should not be swallowed as it could pose high risks.
Some babies poo within the first couple of days after birth. This first poo meconium is a good sign that means your baby’s digestive system is working just fine.
Colostrum, your first milk, will help meconium to excrete out of the baby’s body. It protects against infections and also acts as a laxative.
Well during your hospital stay doctors and nurses are going to closely monitor your baby’s health after birth.
Vital Signs test
Vital signs test is a baby’s hearing screening test.
This test is done before you leave the hospital. During this hearing screening, babies are monitored to respond to any sounds by using tiny earphones.
Some babies do not pass their test on their first attempt due to fluids in ears. There are very likely to pass the next day or so. In order to keep baby calm, the examiner might have to give sweet water (don’t worry, it’s just a drop) to have baby calm during the test.
Hearing problems are not very uncommon. If newborns by any chance do not pass the test, it would be helpful to treat any hearing defects earlier.
Physical weight check
Baby’s weight is monitored right at birth and then within the first few days after birth. It is very normal for babies to reduce weight during the first few days of their life.
It is normal for a baby to lose 7 to 10 percent of birth weight in the first couple of days after birth. If your baby keeps losing weight more than 10% of birth weight then you might want to consider supplementing.
Waiting for breastmilk supply is a great way to ensure healthy nutrition for your baby, BUT, if your baby is losing weight and you are struggling with milk supply, you should discuss your concerns about it with your doctor.
They measure the baby’s weight, height, and head circumference.
They are going to check how is your baby breathing.
Number of wet and dirty
To ensure how well your baby is eating, the number of wet diapers could depict. If your baby does not wee or have a wet diaper within 24 hours then your baby needs more nutrition.
Despite, your baby is losing weight after birth within limits even then the number of wet diapers confirms your baby is eating just fine.
If there are no wet diapers for more than 24 hours then you should be concerned.
Shots / vaccinations
If your baby has got a shot/vaccination, the hospital will provide you with a card and name of the vaccination with dates and everything that you need to know for a record.
Hep B vaccination
All Babies get the hepatitis B vaccine before leaving the hospital. HBV is a series of three different shots. All three of them will be received over the course of two years i.e. three times in 24 months.
Newborn Metabolic screening
This test is done by pricking your baby’s heel to take blood samples to rule out any signs of illness or diseases. This is done to make sure the baby does not have any disabilities, organ damage, etc.
First bath
The nurse is going to give the baby a bath. Wash baby’s hair and rest she sponge bath baby without having umbilical cord wet.
Additional tests for baby
Measuring bilirubin levels
Some, but not all, newborns require a bilirubin level check – a substance in the bloodstream responsible for causing jaundice.
Baby’s blood type test
Those babies who are born to women having Rh negative or O blood type must be tested. Other babies may get tested depending on the requirements and circumstances.
Other blood tests
Other tests are done to check blood sugar, blood counts, and blood cultures as per the circumstances.
Circumcision
Circumcision is the surgical procedure of removing foreskin on a baby boy’s penis.
Most but not all, boys get their penis circumcised before hospital discharge. Choosing this procedure could be personal or religious preference and could be scheduled even after discharge from the hospital.
In case you want to get it done for your baby boy, circumcision is widely practiced all over the world with many health benefits.
Always discuss its pros and cons with your doctor before you even decide to get it done for your baby boy.
Given the risks and concerns, this needs a lot of aftercare. Watch any signs of an infection. Keep the area dry and keep it covered with cotton gauze and a substantial amount of petroleum jelly on the wee-wee area.
This does not mean to get the process done right away. If you want your boy to get this done, you may want to do it in a couple of days after birth. The earlier the better as it heals pretty quickly within just a few days.
Nurses are going to guide you with care instructions.
We all know what
breastfeeding is, but knowing and practically doing are two different things.
Breastfeeding experience varies from one mom to the other.
You have to understand what breastfeeding may seem like in the first couple of weeks; it won’t stay like that. Those who are worrying about the flow should know that there have been millions of moms who were able to breastfeed successfully.
That being said, every mom has struggled with breastfeeding one way or the other.
You must have heard the slogan, “breast is best,” indeed it is, due to its natural benefits and nutritional value. Breastfeeding is getting popular as compared to a few decades ago when fewer moms chose to breastfeed, although it may get to the point that you have to struggle a bit more to get good results.
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Tips for breastfeeding moms
Although it takes several weeks for breastfeeding moms to have everything go smooth and you may have to give your baby some time to establish a good latch that will eventually lead to a picture-perfect breastfeeding experience. Remember every mom’s experience is different and so as their body.
For exclusively breastfeeding, new moms have to stay put and see how well you experience yourself as a nursing mom.
For moms who choose a combination feed for their babies does not make them bad in any way. in addition to that, there are a few moms who may not have enough supply even after several weeks of trying. No matter what way you choose to feed your baby, remember, “fed is best”. You should not starve your child just for the sake of giving breast only.
1. Milk Supply takes a couple of days
Before you jump on to supplementing, remember breastmilk and the right flow takes about a couple of weeks. It is a matter of supply on demand. Your baby’s latch is essential to have the flow ready.
Babies take time to latch. Some are quick learners. They have good suckle naturally, while some have to learn and they take their sweet time.
2. Take the right advice
You may have tons and tons of advice or pressure from other moms in the family, friends, nurses, doctors, lactation consultants, listen to what they say. Some of the advice may prove to be helpful. Also, be aware you may end up having unsolicited suggestions, contradictory, confusing or just plain wrong advice.
If you want to breastfeed, someone’s advice may prove to be helpful and make things better for you. But if it is not helpful in any way, follow what you think best for your child.
During this struggling period, if you think your newborn is losing weight and dehydrated due to no milk supply or less milk supply, you have to discuss it with your doctor. DO NOT STARVE YOUR BABY just out of sheer pressure of breastfeeding.
It is okay to wait for milk supply if you wish but for that, you have to remember, neither every baby is the same nor every mom, choose what is best at the right time for your baby.
3. Search for support groups
Breastfeeding could be
daunting and painful in the beginning but it is not going to be the same in the
coming week or months. It is going to be a beautiful motherhood experience.
However, if you still feel overwhelmed search up for support.
Find an international board-certified lactation consultant IBCLC. These consultants are professionals with knowledge and training in breastfeeding support. Ask your hospital or your baby’s doctor for the name of a local lactation consultant.
Call the national
breastfeeding helpline call la leche league or visit their website www.lalecheleague.org
iii). Get help from the hospital
Hospitals offer breastfeeding classes with lactation specialists. For the first time moms, they may want you to have a lactation class at the hospital if you are struggling with breastfeeding experience. Always ask your hospital or nurses if there is something like that.
I highly recommend first-time moms to take breastfeeding class at the hospital or take advantage of lactation expert visits while you stay at the hospital.
They are really helpful if you want to
LEARN how to breastfeed.
Turn to your pediatrician for further advice or assistance.
Always talk to your baby’s pediatricians about your problems and struggles with breastfeeding and they will help you.
iv). Help from friends and family
Don’t be hesitant to enlist your spouse, partner, or friends.
Join a support group or don’t be afraid to talk to your friends and family about it. Someone’s advice or support may prove to be helpful.
4. Breastfeeding is healthiest of all feeding options
Breastfeeding is healthiest in all aspects. Not only it is nutritionally healthy food for babies, but it also reduces the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), reduces the infections, allergens or concerning health conditions.
Breastfeeding gives moms an altogether different perspective. Your breasts are nurturing a child is an incredibly beautiful experience for moms.
Although mother feed is the healthiest food for baby, however, it should not take a toll on your mental and physical health.
There is always room for formula feeding if you ever want to think about it. Even though a few moms get overwhelmed with the idea of breastfeeding but still most of them choose to breastfeed.
Once you deliver, the first thing you are asked to do at the hospital is to latch your baby to the breast. Some babies learn it fast while some may take time. This totally depends on the hospital staff attitude towards breastfeeding.
It is very obvious for moms to feel emotionally and physically exhausted, which may hinder breastfeeding experience. It does not hurt to take some time in order to feel physically or emotionally ready to breastfeed.
However, the ideal situation would be to start latching or breastfeeding, right after delivery (even in the delivery room or recovery room). The sooner the better.
6. Breastfeed every 2 hours or more frequent
Sometimes nurses may take babies to the nursery room and feed a ready-made bottle so that moms can rest. If you want to breastfeed the right way, you should start while you are in the hospital at least every 2 hours to establish a good milk supply immediately after delivery.
7. Getting Comfortable While Breastfeeding
When you are breastfeeding, you have to make sure you are comfortable. Either you had a vaginal delivery or a C-section delivery, you have to make sure the way you are holding a baby is not putting stress on your shoulders, belly, back, etc. Your posture should be straight and comfortable.
Have a couple of pillows for support. Keeping your essentials in an arm’s reach is helpful, a book, a phone, some snacks to munch on, a water bottle, TV remote control, etc.
While you are nursing, you have to make sure, you are not leaning on the baby rather bring your baby to the level of breasts by using support pillows or nursing pillows.
However, there are different ways you can choose to breastfeed.
i) Cradle hold
This is the most common way to breastfeed. If you had a C-section delivery you need a lot of belly support. Wearing a postpartum belly belt would give you good support. However, it may get a little uncomfortable for too many layers but it is helpful for breastfeeding as well as shrinking your body faster.
Putting pillows in the back
would give your back good support to avoid any aches and pains while
breastfeeding. Have a specially designed nursing pillow that would help in
positioning your baby sideways.
Remember you bring baby closer to you, not lean on to get closer to the baby. Adjust baby’s height with pillows and support the baby’s head with your arm on each side while breastfeeding.
Before you try other breastfeeding positions, you should be aware of your baby has started latching.
ii) Football or clutch hold
You position your baby on one side of your arm just like a football player holding a football under his arm and runs the downfield. Position baby’s head closer to your breasts so you can nurse with convenience.
iii) Side by side are lying down position
Once you get comfortable breastfeeding and get your flow just in time, you can breastfeed in laying down position. You can do this if you feel exhausted or just due to c-section delivery.
8. Make sure there is enough Breathing room for baby
Regardless of what breastfeeding position you choose, you have to make sure you and your baby are comfortable. Your baby needs support under her head. But you still need to make sure there is plenty of room for her to adjust while she is close to your breast.
There should be enough room to breathe at all times. As a general rule, at least one nostril is visible at all times and not completely covered by your breast.
9. Make the best use of Colostrum
It is the first natural food for your baby, thick and yellowish milk your breast starts producing earlier in the second trimester. Colostrum provides them everything they need for the first several days of life including nutrition and infection-fighting antibodies.
By the end of the first week, if not sooner, you most likely be able to produce runny flow milk called transitional milk.
However, if you are already producing colostrum, you are almost halfway there.
10. Ensure a Proper Latch
When your baby latches, you have to make sure, it has the whole areola in her mouth (the darker part) as she sucks.
To nurse effectively, babies
tend to use their tongues to essentially lap or massage milk out of the
breasts.
However, sucking with no outcome is going to be painful for a while and after that, it is smooth sailing.
You have to develop your baby’s interest in breastmilk by gently expressing a few drops to have her coming for the target.
Rooting reflex is a reflex that should have a baby open her mouth in search of mom’s nipple.
Try to lightly stroke her cheeks just to the sides on her mouth to stimulate rooting reflex. You should help her open her mouth wide.
If baby’s suckle is bothering you because of the wrong latch, gently insert your finger in baby mouth and pull a breast out with the help of your finger. Do not just pull off as it is going to hurt more.
Do not hesitate to try again if the baby refused to nurse for the first time.
12. Dealing with tongue-tie
You have to make sure if your breastfeeding experience is not working with all the struggle, there are chances your baby is tongue-tied.
Tongue-tie is caused when a piece of tissue under the tongue limits the ability of the tongue to extend known as ankyloglossia. The vast majority of babies have been able to successfully breastfeed with no issues. However, for some in order for them to breastfeed, they need a minor procedure to help them latching.
Not every breast or nipple is created equal. There are different sizes and shapes. Sometimes nipple size may become a problem for breastfeeding. In order to solve that, moms may use a nipple shield for a better breastfeeding experience.
Breastfeeding becomes painful with sore nipples, cracked and dry nipples that hurt. Once you have the flow and your baby gets a proper latch then the pain surely fades away.
Mild irritation or discomfort that occurs only at the start of each feeding is generally associated with newness of breastfeeding. Use alternate breasts to get used to the new journey of nursing.
Once mother feed starts coming in, you have to make sure the baby is latching properly and the pain will go away. Using nipple cream after every feed is highly recommended.
14. Timeline for milk supply you should keep in mind
It takes about 2 to 5 days for milk to settle in from colostrum to transitional milk, and then mature milk.
Although for some moms it is a few hours of colostrum and then good enough milk to have a sufficient flow of transitional milk. Mom and baby both get hang of breastfeeding smoothly.
There could be a number of
factors in delayed milk production, most common in C-section moms.
The effect of IVs for
C-sections mom.
The effect of a medicine.
15. How much milk supply is enough in the beginning
However, for a few new moms, it is not as easy as it may sound. The noticeable change in milk takes place over the course of a few days. If you are concerned about your milk flow, or if your newborn baby is getting enough, or there are signs when you are not sure what is going on.
For instance, you may notice a perfect latch but no supply or your baby is crying unusually too much possible due to hunger or, not having enough wet diapers, then you should never delay a visit to a pediatrician.
Not every case is the same. You should never delay if you feel your baby is not getting enough.
When milk production
progress, you would know when yellowish milk becomes white, appears thinner and
clearer.
The baby would be making more obvious and gulping noises, and they may seem more calm and busy
Every mom would have that tingling sensation, although not the same for everyone when milk production increases and breasts become more fuller.
16. Ways you can deal with breast engorgement
When milk production starts, fullness from breastmilk often called engorgement. It means full to the capacity of being painful.
Frequently nursing your baby can help with breast engorgement as fuller breasts can be painful and the letdown tingle can be seriously uncomfortable for new moms.
Using a Breast pump can be helpful if the let-down is pretty quick.
Express some of the milk to
relieve the pain. And expression to the extent that your body gets the message
of producing more.
Taking a warm shower and using a warm compress on your breast can be a source of relief.
17. Dealing with Mastitis
Mastitis is the breast infection when one of the milk ducts gets infected that stores milk. This will cause swollen, red, painful breasts. In a couple of days, you start feeling sick, feverish, very achy in your breast.
You need to start antibiotics
once it is evaluated by the professional health provider.
In the meantime, you can
still breastfeed as frequent as every two hours to keep the breasts becoming
overly sore
Make sure your baby is latched on well every time you breastfeed and try to change the positions.
Apply a warm compress
Wear a supportive bra and try to massage breast may speed up the healing process.
18. Dealing with Leaking breasts
Not every mom has the same amount of leaking breast issues.
Leakage will subside with time. You may experience more leakage with your first child doesn’t mean it is going to be the same as the second one too. This process will take its own time of recovery. Do not stress over it.
Another way you can stop leaking is by putting inward pressure on your breasts. Pushing back your breasts with closed arms if you are in public, may work most of the time.
Using breast pads and keep a few in your baby bag if you have leaky breasts most of the time, would help with public exposure of wet shirts.
19. Use nursing bra for the better breastfeeding experience
A good nursing bra, a sports bra is going to be super helpful for your whole breastfeeding experience. It is not only going to protect your breast from sagging but also keep them in a good shape.
You need a good fitting bra, not too tight and try to wear it 24/7.
Prefer a comfort and convenience when choosing a bra that you are going to wear 24 hours a day.
It should be easy to use and has flaps to fasten and unfasten.
There is a room of expansion as when the breasts are fuller, it should not be bulging out.
20. Feeding frequency
The aim is to give 8 to 12
feedings to your newborn baby during 24 hours.
For newborns, you need to feed more frequently every 2 to 3 hours once your milk supply settles in.
During the day, keep it more
frequent feedings for a better and faster flow. However, for the night, if your
newborn sleeps for at the most 4 hours and eats well during the day then you
can stretch your night feedings for upto 4 hours. Set your alarm to feed your
baby.
Most likely babies wake up within 3 to 4 hours at night to breastfeed.
If you are struggling with your milk flow and your baby is not eating well during the day or does not have enough wet diapers, then you should wake up every two hours to establish a good flow to breastfeed.
When you are trying to
establish a breastfeeding routine for your newborn, you should breast every 2
to 3 hours, keeping one stretch for 4 hours or more preferably at night for a
better routine.
21. Breastfeeding on the go
One of the advantages of breastfeeding is you can nurse whenever your baby needs to eat. Either you are traveling by car or in an airplane, visiting a friend or going to the mall, you have all the ease and convenience of feeding your baby without having to worry about bottles.
22. Breastfeeding in public
Many moms, if not all, are comfortable breastfeeding in public and there is nothing wrong about it. It is all about when and what your baby needs and how comfortable you are to breastfeed in public.
Using a nursing cover while in public is the best you can do for having some privacy.
23. Breastfeeding by number
Breastfeeding every 2 to 3 hours means, if you are feeding at 8 AM in the morning, that may last till 8:30 with a consequent diaper change, then the next feed is going to be at 10:30.
If the nursing session lasts from 8 AM till 9 am on each breast, then the next feeding will be at 11 am.
24. How frequent mom should nurse
Moms need to feed 8 to 12 feedings in 24 hours a day to make sure your newborn is not dehydrated and gaining weight.
25. Consider Signs of inadequate Milk supply
Newborns who are still waiting for mother’s milk to come in or those who are slow to latch on, or nurse even when there is abundant milk supply would end up having less energy and tend to sleep more.
When newborns seem less interested in feeding become lethargic, sleepy, dehydrated and more fatigued.
In the beginning, new moms have to work hard to have them eat every 2 to 3 hours during the day to establish routine and healthy weight gain.
This is a really important
measure after birth. Although all newborns are expected to lose weight after
birth but not more than 7 to 10% of their birth weight. Your pediatrician in 3
to 5 days appointment can tell you if your baby is losing more weight. On your
baby’s 2 weeks checkup, if she is gaining back her birth weight then it is a
sign the breastfeeding experience is going great.
However, if your baby is
losing weight then it is a matter of concern and you should not delay a visit
or call doctor’s office without waiting for a 2-week checkup.
28. Alternate breasts to nurse
Nursing on both sides every
time is going to be helpful for good flow on both sides as well as avoid
engorgement on one breast.
Ideally, 15-minutes of breastfeeding on each side is going to prevent any lopsidedness in your breasts.
29. Hindmilk – benefit of emptying breasts
Some experts believed that fully nursing on one side would give babies a dessert equivalent of hindmilk that is richer in fats and more creamy than foremilk that babies need to grow and develop.
If you notice, your baby has green frothy poops, this could be a sign your baby is not getting enough hindmilk.
Emptying one breast in each feeding would help your baby benefit from hindmilk.
Keep track of what side you have nursed previously and then start off with the other side if you are choosing one side for each feeding.
There is no such thing as spoiling your newborn babies for the first several weeks. If your baby demands feed or seem hungry, nurse if needed. You should always be available to your newborn needs in order to make sure they are well fed.
31. Avoid Using Pacifier for the first few weeks
Newborns tend to suck on as their natural instinct. For some babies, sucking is not just about getting fed. This interest is known as non-nutritive sucking and this is the reason why pacifiers come in handy to console the fussy baby.
Using a pacifier may calm babies when they just want to suck on fingers or breasts with no urge to eat.
You can use a pacifier to help baby sleep at night.
32. When you should start using a bottle to feed
If you want to introduce a bottle whether formula or breastmilk in a bottle you should wait at least 4 to 6 weeks until you have a good milk supply to pump. Babies find artificial nipples more convenient and effortless than to lap out milk out of breasts.
So if you want to introduce a bottle, wait for a few weeks. Let your baby get regular on latching, nursing, peeing, pooping and gaining weight then you can start on pacifier or bottle feeding.
For irregular pumping, you can use a manual pump. Whereas for a routine and scheduled pumping, using an electric pump is a great option.
Besides, what type of pump you end up getting, Haakaa manual pump is something you need anyway. This will help moms save gold milk during sudden leaks and preserve it with a lid. Also, it can significantly help with breast engorgement which is painful.
Most likely if you have insurance, you may get on free from your insurance depending on the perks you have.
If you are pumping then there are chances your body is producing more milk. You can pump and store in the freezer in milk storing bags.
34. Keeping milk outside or frozen
Breastmilk is good for 6 to 8 hours at room temperature if it is very clean but no more than 3 to 4 hours is the best.
Refrigerated breastmilk is good if used within 3 days. It is still okay if used within 3 to 5 days.
Breastmilk can be frozen and used for up to 12 months on 0-degree Fahrenheit or colder. Otherwise 6 months on 24 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
Once you thaw frozen breastmilk you should never freeze again.
Writing dates on the milk storing bags is a great way to avoid any expired milk consumption. However, as a general rule of thumb if breastmilk smells bad it is better to dispose of.
35. Breastfeeding moms eating habits
Breastfeeding doesn’t take
more than 500 calories a day. Moms do not have to go wild over their cravings.
However, you still have the right to eat for two. Drink plenty of water and
avoid extra sugars to stay in shape and lose weight while you are
breastfeeding.
Babies can handle pretty much everything you eat, however, you still want to avoid some gassy foods for several weeks when your baby’s digestive system is developing. Although this is not supported by research, yet a lot of moms swear by some foods that they ate made their babies gassy.
Whenever you breastfeed keep a water bottle with you to stay hydrated. You can have flavored water or just plain water as per your taste. Staying hydrated can definitely help things get flowing.
Whether you are taking
supplements, herbal medication, prescription or pain medication, you should
always talk to your doctor about it, regardless. Medications may have a
negative effect on the milk supply.
Some medication is safe to use in breastfeeding as it does not have any effect on breastfeeding babies.
Studies reveal that intake of Caffeine – i.e. 2 to 3 cups of coffee (200 to 300 mg of caffeine) per day poses no inherent harm to nursing mothers and babies.
That being said, if you still notice your baby is irritable or fussy, you might want to try decreasing or gradually eliminating your caffeine intake.
37. Impact of Smoking and alcohol on breastmilk
Smoking cigarettes pose some health issues for your newborn. It may increase the risk of asthma, and SIDS.
Those moms, who still smoke, the AAP recommends only doing so right after nursing, smoking no more than a few cigarettes, and never smoking around your baby in your house or car.
Consumption of alcohol may significantly impair mothers’ ability to care for their newborns. However, knowing all those side effects of alcohol, AAP recommends having an occasional drink of alcohol right after nursing. Wait for 2 hours for the alcohol content to drop in breastmilk before starting the next feed.
Marijuana has the ability to reach fetuses during pregnancy and as well as potentially affect breastfed infants.
38. Bottles and nipples care for pumping
For newborns, the 4-ounce bottle is a perfect choice. When baby gets bigger you can start using 6 to 8 ounces bottles.
When you choose a bigger
bottle make sure you also buy nipples for 3 months and 6 months as required to
have better flow and better feeding experience.
Angled bottles and those with disposable bags, built-in vents or flow, may help in swallowing less air while feeding. An added benefit of milk storing bags is, you need to wash only nipples in the end.
39. Safety measure on Heating Breastmilk
Do not use the microwave for heating breastmilk, However, bottle warmers are the best option to warm breastmilk.
40. How to clean up bottles
Although all ready to feed
bottles come with packages nipples that are safe to use, however it is still
recommended to sterilize all feeding supplies and pacifiers before using.
You can buy a sterilizer available in the market or else you can sterilize your supplies by putting them in boiling water for about 5 minutes.
Washing bottles after every
feeding is also practiced by many parents and that also kills most of the
germs.
Invest in bottle and nipple brushes that are inexpensive and invaluable for cleaning hard to reach places.
You can buy a dishwasher safe basket to hold all your small feeding supplies to wash in a dishwasher.
41. Take Growth spurts into consideration
When babies grow their needs, and eating requirements grow too. That means increased hunger as your baby keeps growing. So moms need to incorporate variability in baby’s everyday routine.
42. Feed on demand or Cluster feeding
When you choose to feed on demand is called cluster feeding. If a baby decided to eat several times of the day when you are not following a 2 to 3 hours timeline.
Remember, babies who eat well during the day may end up sleeping at stretch at night.
Vitamin D is an important nutrient that helps prevent rickets and strengthens the immune system and reduce the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Chances are your pediatrician is going to provide you with vitamin D drops on your baby’s first checkup. You may have to apply a few drops on your nipple so the baby can easily suck on while feeding.
Breastfed babies need vitamin D drops whereas among formula-fed babies require only those who do not drink at least 32 ounces of formula every day.
44. Choosing pacifier
You can choose to use a pacifier for your baby if she is super fussy and sucking on fingers even after getting a good number of feedings.
Be sure not to offer pacifier
when your baby needs to be fed and hungry.
Babies seem disinterested in pacifiers when they do not see anything coming out of it. Keep trying if you feel your baby is still in search of breast just for comforts not because of hunger.
45. when babies get gas due to mother feed
Breastfed babies tend to get gassy due to specific types of food moms eat. Although this argument is not supported by science still many moms notice babies being fussier when they eat certain types of food. Not every mom face this, like I said, every mom and baby is different.
This does not mean you should avoid eating gassy foods altogether, however, the best approach is to avoid gassy foods for about 4 to 6 weeks after delivery until the baby’s digestive system gets mature enough to handle gas.
Although it may take several weeks for breastfeeding moms to have everything go smooth and you may have to give your baby some time to establish a good latch that will eventually lead to a picture-perfect breastfeeding experience. Remember every mom’s experience is different and so as their body.
For exclusively breastfeeding, new moms have to stay put and see how well you experience yourself as a nursing mom.
For moms who choose a combination feed of their babies does not make them bad in any way. in addition to that, there are a few moms who may not have enough supply even after several weeks of trying. No matter what way you choose to feed your baby, remember, “fed is best”. You should not starve your child just for the sake of giving breast only.
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Struggles for establishing a milk supply post-delivery
The irony is what’s natural doesn’t always come naturally. Breastmilk is natural but it takes time to have enough supply. Unfortunately, this becomes a struggle for new moms to have that idealistic picture of breastfeeding.
Babies take time to latch. Some are quick learners. They have good suckle naturally, while some have to learn and they take their sweet time.
You may have tons and tons of advice or pressure from other moms in the family, friends, nurses, doctors, lactation consultants, listen to what they say. Some of the advice may prove to be helpful.
Also, be aware you may end up having unsolicited suggestions, contradictory, confusing or just plain wrong advice.
However, if you are a first-time mom or expectant mom with a plan of breastfeeding, here is what you need.
A virtual breastfeeding class by a Certified Lactation Educator, Stacey at Milkology. She is going to teach you what you actually need to know as a first-time breastfeeding mom.
To be honest breastfeeding may seem easy but it is NOT in the beginning. Learn how you can make it easy.
How to deal with Painful breastfeeding and breast irritations
For good nursing experience, you have to make sure your baby is latching on properly called an asymmetrical latch.
1. Use Nipple Shield
Not every breast or nipple is created equal. There are different sizes and shapes. Sometimes nipple size may become a problem for breastfeeding. In order to solve that, moms may use a nipple shield for a better breastfeeding experience.
Breastfeeding becomes painful
with sore nipples, cracked and dry nipples that hurt. Once you have the flow
and your baby gets a proper latch then the pain surely fades away. Mild
irritation or discomfort that occurs only at the start of each feeding is generally
associated with newness of breastfeeding.
You have to make sure, the pain will go away in a couple of weeks after you establish a good milk supply.
2. Use Nipple Cream
Use a lanolin cream to help with sore nipples. Apply generously before and after the feed and let it air dry. Or using your own breastmilk on the breast is an effective remedy to help cracked nipples.
If one breast is hurting, choose the other one.
However, if the pain does not go away for a few weeks, seek professional help.
Sometimes it is about yeast infection that is not letting the discomfort go away. For any breast-related issue that is making you uncomfortable and it is not getting better, do not hesitate to seek doctor’s advice.
3. Cramping in your abdomen
When you have milk flow coming in, you may notice cramping in your uterus. This is the reason if you breastfeed, your uterus shrinks back to its original size in a few weeks. These contractions are considered responsible for triggering the milk let-down reflex.
4. When will milk come
As we have discussed it takes
about 2 to 5 days for milk to settle in from colostrum to transitional milk,
and then mature milk.
Although for some moms it is a few hours of colostrum and then good enough milk to have a sufficient flow of transitional milk. Mom and baby both get hang of breastfeeding smoothly.
However, for a few new moms, it is not as easy as it may sound. The noticeable change in milk takes place over the course of a few days. If you are concerned about your milk flow, or if your newborn baby is getting enough, or there are signs when you are not sure what is going on, for instance, you may notice a perfect latch but no supply or your baby is crying unusually too much possible due to hunger or, not having enough wet diapers, then you should never delay a visit to a pediatrician.
Not every case is the same. You should never delay if you feel your baby is not getting enough.
5. Why there is a delay in milk supply
There could be a number of factors in delayed milk production, however, the most common in C-section moms are due to;
The effect of IVs for
C-sections mom.
The side effect of a medicine.
6. Going with a flow
Once your baby gets hold of a
good latch, the next thing that comes to mind, is your baby getting enough
milk?
Newborns get colostrum in the first few days of life, rich in what they need in the first few days of life. Colostrum is rich in proteins, but it lacks fats and sugars. It is the perfect food that your newborn needs.
When you see colostrum a yellowish thick milky secretion from your breasts, that’s a sign you are going to have transitional milk, white thin milk.
Mother’s milk takes about 2 to 5 days to settle in. the latter case is for C-section moms.
7. Breastfeeding is about Demand and supply
Colostrum is a complete food your newborn baby needs at this time, that would make them hungry and wants them to feed more. This process of demand and supply would help milk supply settle in about a week to meet your baby’s nutritional demands. Once the follow settles in your supply keeps on increasing with your baby’s demand. The more your baby breastfeeds, the more your body will sense his increased demand and respond by stepping up milk production accordingly.
Breast size would increase
while you are pregnant and when your milk flow settles in, that is going to
make a massive difference.
8. The letdown tingle during production progress
When milk production
progress, you would know when yellowish milk becomes white, appears thinner and
clearer.
The baby would be making more obvious and gulping noises, and they may seem more calm and busy.
Every mom would have that tingling sensation, although not the same for everyone when milk production increases and breasts become more fuller.
9. Alleviating the discomfort of engorgement
When milk production starts,
fullness from breastmilk often called engorgement. It means full to the
capacity of being painful.
The discomfort is something new for first-time breastfeeding moms. As the days progress, things will get better.
Do you want to exclusively breastfeed? then you need pumping Class by Stacey. Stacey is a lactation educator and helping millions of other moms too.
Ways you can deal with
breast engorgement
Frequently nursing your baby may help with breast engorgement.
1. Manual Pumping or electric pumping
Pumping is the best solution if the let-down is pretty quick. Some women happen to overproduce breastmilk. If the letdown is too quick you may notice baby’s gagging a lot.
If you are pumping then there are chances your body is producing more milk. You can pump and store in the freezer in milk storing bags.
3. Breast Massager
Using this breast massager has helped moms significantly. This product is amazing in soothing the clogged milk ducts, improving flow before pumping.
Either you are a working mom or a stay at home mom, using this breast massager before pumping significantly improves milk flow.
What is Mastitis
It is the breast infection
when one of the milk ducts get infected that stores milk. This will cause
swollen, red, painful breasts. In a couple of days, you start feeling sick,
feverish, very achy in your breast.
You need to start antibiotics
once it is evaluated by the professional health provider.
In the meantime, you can still breastfeed as frequent as every two hours to keep the breasts becoming overly sore.
Make sure your baby is latched on well every time you breastfeed and try to change the positions.
Wearing a well-supportive bra and massaging a breast may help speed up the healing process.
What is Leaking breasts
Every breastfeeding mom must have experienced leaking breasts and for that, you should know: leakage will subside with time. You may experience more leakage with your first child doesn’t mean it is going to be the same as the second one too. This process will take its own time of recovery. Do not stress over it.
Another way you can stop leaking is by putting inward pressure on your breasts by a finger poke. It works like a charm.
Also, pushing back your breasts with closed arms if you are in public, may work most of the time.
Choosing Breast pads
Using breast pads and keep a few in your baby bag if you have leaky breasts most of the time, would help with public exposure of wet shirts.
A good supportive bra, the sports bra is going to be super helpful for your whole breastfeeding experience. It is not only going to protect your breast from sagging but also keep them in a good shape.
You need a good fitting bra, not too tight and try to wear it 24/7.
Prefer a comfort and convenience when choosing a bra that you are going to wear 24 hours a day.
It should be easy to use and has flaps to fasten and unfasten.
There is a room of expansion as when the breasts are fuller, it should not be bulging out.
invest in a good nursing bra for a better experience.
Using Haaka – a manual pump
Haakaa is a silicon manual pump, a game-changer for leaking breasts. While nursing from one side, you may notice full milk let down on the other side that is being wasted, and ironically, you cannot nurse baby from both sides at the same time. Therefore, it is very essential to have Haaka manual pump to save your “gold milk” for the next feeding. You can use the one with a lid.
You can save breastmilk for 4 to 6 hours at room temperature and 24 to 48 hours in the refrigerator.
Breastfeeding in public
In the US, moms have all the legal rights to breastfeed in public. You may want to use a nursing cover to be more comfortable while breastfeeding in public.
Breastfeeding problems and solutions in a nutshell.
If the breastfeeding battle goes on you may try these solutions.
4. Breast shells for sore and cracked nipples. This will help saving milk from leaking breasts.
5. Tongue-tie is a condition in babies when they are unable to develop a perfect latch because when the tissue under the tongue does not allow the baby’s tongue to form a latch. This may need a doctor’s evaluation so that a minor procedure can be done to solve the issue.
Breastfeeding Position and posture
Once you choose to breastfeed, you should know that a perfect posture plays a vital role in your overall breastfeeding experience, regardless of your birth procedure (vaginal or cesarean).
Elevate baby to your breasts rather than leaning on to your baby. Use pillows for the right amount of support to elevate the baby closer to you. This will help your back and your shoulders stay more relaxed and you would not get tired immediately.
Although these breastfeeding struggles worth so much, still that does not mean you cannot supplement because you will be judged as a bad mom. No, if breastfeeding is taking a toll over your mental health, and giving you more anxiety and stressing you out, you should talk to your doctor about other options like formula or donated breastmilk.
Breastfeeding is a sensitive subject for new moms. Soon after giving birth, the struggle of breastfeeding begins. Many women get lucky to nourish and feed their babies right away, whereas some might have to strive for more days actually to get the right amount of flow.
Breastfeeding is all about demand and supply. More latching leads to more milk supply. A lot of moms feel so stressed about having less feed, which makes it even worse. Stress about anything would actually lessen the supply. Every woman’s body is different, hence, the response is not the same in every case.
Either you have cesarean or vaginal delivery; on average, it takes about 3 to 5 days for milk supply to settle in. However, some might have enough milk supply the very next day after delivery, if not all, while some have to struggle for over a week to establish sufficient milk supply.
Babies’ first food is called Colostrum. It is the first form of milk babies get and it has way too many health benefits. Colostrum is sufficient to feed a newborn in the first couple of days of his life. Ideally, with every latch, your milk supply has to increase and your baby should feel full.
However, sometimes this does not happen and moms might have to consider supplementing to meet babies’ nutritional requirements. Once the supply settles in, you can exclusively breastfeed your baby.
Breastmilk is by far the best you can give to your baby. There are options that might help to increase milk supply to fill those tiny tummies with lots of nutritional value food.
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Healthy Food that improves milk supply for breastfeeding moms
Following is the list of food items for new moms, struggling with breastfeeding and milk supply.
1. Oatmeal improves milk supply
Oatmeal is a fiber-rich food for breastfeeding moms. It is a high source of proteins and antioxidants. Amazing source of iron as if you are low on iron you might have to struggle with milk supply.
A bowl of oatmeal in the morning works great for milk supply. Oatmeal also helps you reduce weight and lower cholesterol levels.
As a new mom, you might not be having enough time to wait for oatmeal to be ready. Once you become a mom, it’s all about quick meals.
Boil oatmeal in water and add a little bit of salt and pepper. You can also add milk if you want it with honey or brown sugar, whatever you may find healthy.
You can add any type of fruit or nuts you want: Berries, apples, bananas, raisins, almond, walnuts etc.
Once things settle down in a couple of weeks after delivery, you may want to start Steel-cut oats. Although it takes a while to cook it is healthier and tastier than regular oats.
Moreover, oatmeal helps significantly with post-delivery chronic constipation as well.
2. Boiled eggs
Eggs have allergens for some people. If you are not allergic to eggs and your baby has not shown any signs of allergies then you should take eggs in any form you like.
Eating boiled eggs is a healthier option rather than eating in fried form. You can cook eggs fresh every day while your coffee or tea is getting ready, or you can boil them in advance and refrigerate. Enjoy eggs with avocados and whole wheat bread as you prefer.
3. Bone broth
Bone broth is a highly nutritious food for breastfeeding moms. You can make bone broth using any type of meat in a slow cooker or in a regular pot. Bone Broth is a nutritious food to promote milk production for breastfeeding moms and it is highly recommended by Indian women during postpartum.
How to make Bone Broth for nursing moms to increase milk supply.
You need to use bone-in meat of your choice, beef, lamb, mutton, or chicken (organic chicken is a much better and healthier option).
Add a few of garlic cloves, onions slices, salt, black pepper(optional), and cumin seeds. Add water as needed. Make sure meat is dipped in just right amount of water. Cook for at least couple of hours or more for extra nutrition.
Now, the bone broth is ready, meat is deliciously tender. You can adjust the spices as you like.
Bone Broth is a super hydrating, and protein-rich, nutritious meal. It is a healthy meal for c section moms for better and quick internal and external healing of the surgical wounds.
You can prepare bone broth in advance and freeze it before your due date. Just warm it up in a microwave, and your meal is ready.
Milk is a rich source of calcium and vitamin D. Your baby has extracted a lot from your body while you were pregnant. Now she is going to take nutrients from you through breastfeeding, so you need to amp up your calcium and vitamin D intake.
Drinking milk at night with a couple of dates or banana works best for milk supply.
5. Water
Staying hydrated while you breastfeed is very important. You need plenty of liquid in any form. Be it juice or flavored water or Gatorade, although plain water works the best. Also, it will significantly help with milk flow.
Ideally, you should drink two glasses of milk (2% or whole milk, as per your choice) every day at least for the duration you choose to breastfeed.
Dates are natural energy boosters. A high source of natural sugar gives you energy right away. Dates significantly promote milk supply for breastfeeding moms.
Eating dates with a glass of milk every night is an excellent milk booster for nursing moms.
7. Banana with milk at night
Banana and milk combination at night works amazingly. A glass of cold milk with one banana at night would surprisingly increase the milk flow. In addition to that, banana is an excellent source of potassium, and it helps so much with night-time leg cramping.
8. Prenatal vitamins
You should never skip your prenatal vitamins while you are breastfeeding. You need them every day just like you were taking while you were pregnant. Skipping them will make you cranky, stressed, depressed, sad, and you would not realize that it is because of nutritional deficiencies.
9. Supplements to increase milk supply
Moreover, new moms can use organic supplements to improve breast milk supply, if they are struggling big time with lower milk supply.
If you are really struggling with milk supply and nothing seems to be working with natural ingredients then you should consider taking milk tea. They are made with herbs that are helpful in increasing milk supply.
11. Green leafy veggie
Spinach is a rich source of iron. You must include green leafy veggies in your diet especially if you are anemic or had a c-section delivery. You can take spinach in the form of juice or salad. Otherwise, adding an iron supplement would help suffice your iron deficiency.
12. Cumin seeds
Most of the Indian women add cumin seeds in their diet for an immediate increase in milk supply. It is a highly recommended, and super effective natural way to promote milk supply for breastfeeding moms.
Chew on a teaspoon of cumin seed every day is beneficial for good milk supply, or you can bake cumin seeds in bread or cookies for an extra flavor.
You can also sprinkle a teaspoon of cumin seeds on your salad bowl. These seeds are very aromatic and chances are, you are going to love it.
13. Fenugreek seeds
Fenugreek seeds are known to be milk boosters for breastfeeding moms. Taking fenugreek seeds with water fenugreek tablets would significantly improve milk supply.
14. Poppy seeds
White poppy seeds are also known to increase milk supply and may help mom and baby to stay relatively calm. Due to the sedation properties, poppy seeds may improve sleep habits for babies.
15. Fennel seeds
Fennel seeds are great for digestion, and also known to increase milk supply, as well as help moms and babies with gas or colic issues.
You can drink fennel seeds water after delivery. It will immensely help with bloating and weight loss. All you have to do – boil water with a tsp of fennel seeds.
16. Semolina
Semolina is also a milk supply booster. It is consumed in the form of dessert.
Sauté a few tbsp of semolina in organic ghee. Soon after, it starts changing color, add water, and let it cook and simmer for some time. You can add almonds, cashews, raisins any sort of dry fruit of your choice. Add sugar as per your taste.
Semolina pudding is an amazing source to increase milk supply and keeps moms energized.
17. Brewers yeast Powder
A lot of moms find brewers yeast powder as an effective ingredient to increase milk supply. You may use these in cookies, shakes, or anything you can make at home to improve milk supply.
There are vegan and non-vegan options available for brewers yeast, you can choose any you prefer.
18. Lactation Cookies
Breastfeeding moms may want to produce more milk since they are exclusively breastfeeding or pumping for freezer stash. Lactation cookies mix may significantly improve milk supply. You can either prepare cookies from scratch but as a new mom, you are just too busy to do that. A ready-made lactation cookie mix is a win-win.
Other foods that are also known to help increase milk supply for nursing moms
Quinoa is another gluten-free and a very healthy option if you like it already then it’s a win-win.
Avocado is considered a very healthy food for pregnant women as well.
Flax seeds have omega 3 fatty acids (good fats) that you need just in the right amount. Sprinkle some seeds on your salad bowl, or chew on roasted ones Flax seeds are what fed to chickens to produce eggs with higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids.
Garlic: Some researches conclude that using garlic in your diet would help increase milk supply.
Breastfeeding Class to increase milk Supply
If you are a first-time mom and struggling with breastfeeding, I would encourage you to get a Breastfeeding class online. It would help you know the basic techniques of breastfeeding that no one tells you other than Lactation consultants.
Excessive consumption of Green tea or weight loss products might affect your milk supply.
Stress whether emotional, physical or mental, it is going to affect milk supply.
A lot of IVs and medications before delivery, especially before C-section, might be a cause of delay in milk let down.
Smoking would also have a negative impact on milk supply.
Parsley, peppermint, sage, oregano cabbage if consumed in excessive amounts would adversely affect milk supply.
Do not stretch time in between feedings for the first several weeks when it is time to establish milk supply. The more frequently you are going to feed your baby the better will be the flow.
If you are taking extra supplements or medications while breastfeeding, it never hurts to discuss it with your doctor.
However, if you think you are not meeting the nutritional requirement of your baby, and your baby seems hungry all the time, you definitely want to consider supplementing with formula after having a consultation with your pediatrician.
Moreover, there are health concerns when moms cannot feed their babies, they can supplement formula or breastmilk from milk banks. You should never hesitate to talk to your doctor about it.
Eating a healthy diet and plenty of fluids would definitely help with the increase in milk supply for breastfeeding moms. Breastfeeding is known to reduce postpartum depression, however, if you still feel that you are not emotionally and mentally connected to your baby, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor about it.
A full of nutrition healthy diet plays a vital role in your overall physical, emotional and mental postpartum health. Your mood has a strong correlation with your inner healthiness. Every mom needs to eat a nutritious diet to improve postpartum health.
Eating a healthy diet should not be overly complicated. However, some specific foods or nutrients have been proven to have a positive effect on mood. Though, it’s your overall dietary pattern that is considered to be more nutritionally productive.
The goal of a healthy diet should be to replace processed food with real food whenever possible. Organic food is definitely healthier than processed food.
During the postpartum period, the nursing moms are too busy to eat for two. They sometimes get lazy making a trip to the kitchen solely for themselves. Lack of nutrition could be one of the reasons for Postpartum Depression or anxiety because a mom had already been through the baby nourishing process for the whole 9 months and now whatever is left it’s going to be sucked out by a nursing baby. It is really essential for a mom who is taking care of her family should take care of herself too.
There were times when I felt actually low in my moods. After having a miscarriage I felt lethargic, depressed and stressed out all the time. One day I started searching up the internet and found out that vitamin B deficiency actually gives you mood swings, low energy, and tiredness.
I started taking Folic Acid and Vitamin B complex tablets and it actually helped me feel so much better emotionally. It certainly worked as a mood booster for me.
There are important components of a nutritional diet that help you feel better and drastically helps reducing anxiety and depression. We have to incorporate all that nutrition in our diet or take supplements if your doctor recommends it. You should take your prenatal supplements from pregnancy until you nurse your baby. I can’t emphasize that enough …You need a lot of nutrition.
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How to improve emotional health with a nutritious diet
These are the nutritions every new mom needs after having a baby for emotional and mental health.
Vitamin B Complex Supplements
This vitamin has many important functions to maintain overall health. It is essential to be taken every day as it is water-soluble and your body does not store it. Folate (Folic Acid) is essential, especially for a pregnant woman to be part of their supplements because its deficiency can cause birth defects.
However, everyone needs folic acid for the production of cells. It is especially important for healthy hair, skin, nails, eyes, liver and red blood cell production.
Some studies show that Vitamin B12, B6, and Folic acid can work as an antidepressant. It helps to boost your mood and emotional health. If you feel depressed all the time try to add vitamin B complex supplements in your diet. or you can include leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale in your diet. Meat, fish, eggs, poultry, fruits, nuts, beans, and whole grains have high amounts of folate or folic acid.
That being said, vitamin B is super essential in your daily diet before or after having a baby as it can be helpful for pulling moms (women) out of depression.
Iron
It is an essential component of our diet. It helps to regulate oxygen throughout our body. If you are low on iron, you become anemic. Low iron levels can cause fatigue, breathlessness, heart palpitations, pale skin, lack of focus, increased irritability, reduced stamina.
Taking Iron helps to improve your stamina, gives you energy and regulates your body temperature. Women who have C-section and are low on hemoglobin are advised to take iron supplements.
Vitamin C
This vitamin has a benefit of protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, and prenatal health problems. Vitamin C also helps in iron absorption and it prevents iron deficiencies. Studies have shown that vitamin C helps to improve your thinking and memory as you age.
Magnesium
Magnesium is really essential for muscle health, calcium absorption, and bone health. It helps in relieving anxiety and migraines headaches.
Source of magnesium is Almonds, Shrimp, Banana, sunflower seeds, cow milk, spinach, edamame, black beans, cashews, oatmeal.
Vitamin D
Rates of depression are higher in people with a lack of Vitamin D compared to people who have adequate levels of vitamin D. Studies have shown that deficiency of this vitamin is linked to depression, dementia, and autism.
Sunlight is the rich and natural source of vitamin D.
Iodine
Iodine deficiency eventually leads to thyroid problems. The thyroid gland plays a vital role in your overall health. You have to keep a balance of your iodine salt intake. However, thyroid problems lead to depression, anxiety, fatigue, sluggishness, and weight gain or weight loss. These health issues have a direct impact on your emotional health.
Supplements for Pregnant and Nursing Moms
The following are some recommended supplements for nursing and expecting moms.
1. I personally take and highly recommend GNC prenatal vitamins WITH IRON formula as suggested by my doctor.
Since organic has apparently no hormones or artificial flavors so you can try to include organic food in your diet. Although organic food is relatively expensive still you can try (if you can afford) to add some of it in your diet.
2. Fruits are a great source of vitamins and minerals. Also, dry fruits are a wonderful source of healthy nutrition and you should always have them at an arm’s reach for easy access while nursing or during work.
3. Vegetables are a great source of iron and magnesium. Spinach is rich in iron. If you happen to have a C-section try to include iron in your diet to cope up with blood loss during surgery.
4. Meat is a good source of protein. Eggs, fish, red meat or white meat could be included in your diet if you are non-vegetarian. Moreover, red meat helps C-section moms for quick internal heal. Try to drink meat and bone broth after delivery for healthy nutrition.
5. Lentils, legumes, black beans, chickpeas, tofu, and mushrooms are a good source of protein for vegetarians.
6. If you had a c section and you are low on your hemoglobin, it is a good idea to take an iron supplement to have your energy throughout your day. If you have any medical condition, ask your doctor about it. Red meat is a rich source of iron. Find out a detailed post on Postpartum Diet for Moms.
7. Manage to walk, run, or exercise as per your routine and circumstances. The goal is to have some physical activity as part of your lifestyle to feel more active and energized. However, if you recently had a C-section, you might want to wait to resume exercise.
8. If you are a nursing mom, you should be taking your prenatal vitamins. If you are not nursing anymore then you should have daily vitamin supplements to have that nutritional requirement fulfilled.
9. Eat breakfast, and eat smaller meals or portions throughout the day. A healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism while eating small, healthy meals keeps your energy up all day.
10. Try to avoid sugary drinks and excessive amounts of caffeine. Caffeine intake should not be excessive, as it can trigger panic attacks in people who have anxiety disorders.
11. Drink plenty of water, at least 8 glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration. Studies show that even mild dehydration can cause fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood changes, headache, dizziness and/or constipation.
12. Do not skip meals. Eat-in smaller portion sizes. Skipping meals leads to fatigue and lack of concentration.
Your diet is of utmost importance. You become what you eat. Postpartum depression is a serious condition. Please seek help if you think it is taking a toll on your health and your lifestyle. If you have any suggestions on food which happens to be a mood booster for you, comment below and I would really like to know.
Motherhood is not just about picture perfect beginnings; it has it’s highs and lows, especially when it comes to managing sleep after having a baby. Getting uninterrupted sleep is almost impossible when you have a newborn at hand.
Lack of sleep makes moms cranky, edgy, and temperamental. It is normal to feel stressed out because your body needs rest, and unfortunately, you are unable to take proper rest when your baby is also learning to adjust to this new life outside the womb.
Stress and fatigue can affect you mentally, physically, and emotionally. At the beginning of your motherhood journey, it is okay to feel overwhelmed but not to the point that it could cost your sanity. This needs to change!
While you are in your exhausting post-baby period, you need to set priorities and plan everything, so you could cope up with the baby’s needs, your six-hour sleep and a reasonable to-do-list. Well, this does not necessarily mean you could sleep in advance, but you must give yourself some time to heal and delay things that could wait.
Even if you are a first-time parent, you will learn as you go, you do not have to look like a Zombie. Here are the few best strategies that could get you some sleep after having a baby.
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Best Tips to manage sleep deprivation for new moms
Not to surprise you, but you can’t do much about sleep deprivation for the first couple of weeks. Some babies are great sleepers naturally. In this regard, you consider yourself lucky.
However, if your newborn has gas issues, or she is colic, etc, you would not be able to sleep that well at night. But, things do get better only if you follow the right strategy for yourself and the baby.
1.Understand Newborn sleep from the beginning
The OBGYN recommends 6 hours of sleep for a new mom, so the mind and body could function better right after having a baby (postpartum).
As disheartening as it may sound, once you become a mom, uninterrupted good night sleep is rare and surely is a treat. Once your baby gets hang of the proper bedtime schedule, you may sleep better, and on some lucky nights, you can get more chances of uninterrupted sleep for at least 4 to 5 hours.
Newborns tend to wake up every one to two hours for feedings, and they get hungry faster due to a small stomach size. Gradually, you can stretch the time in between feedings for the night – if the baby is well-fed during the day. That way you will be able to get much better sleep.
Newborns do not need sleep training for the first several months. However, at the same time, you do not want to switch your baby’s sleep clock altogether and not be on a schedule. Every baby is different but remember, you should be working in a direction to sleep train so your baby could be on a proper sleep schedule And that is possible ONLY if you do not make sleep mistakes with your baby.
The best advice you could get; DO NOT STRESS about the baby not sleeping. When you have a newborn, be prepared for the middle of the night cries, frequent wake-ups due to gas, acid reflux, colic, and whatnot.
You might get lucky if your partner helps get you enough sleep at night so that you can function all day long. But for a mom who is exclusively breastfeeding or pumping, things are different and a lot more challenging.
As a co-sleeping parent for over four years, I can tell you that kids’ sleep schedule adjusts just fine as you move on in your parenting journey. Not to mention, the transition may get stressful, but things do come off in the right way with a lot of patience and perseverance.
3. Take a short nap if you are feeling drowsy
Drowsiness can be really dangerous when you have a newborn. Try not to doze off while you are breastfeeding your newborn. Keep your newborn safe in your lap, or use a nursing pillow for proper support.
As baby gets bigger, try safe nursing positions, so you could get some rest while breastfeeding.
Nursing while being drowsy could be fatal for the baby. That is why it is always a good idea to have a partner or someone else with you for a few days unless your routine settles down.
When you are close to your due date, give your body as much rest as you can. Once the baby arrives, you won’t be able to rest like before.
Either you have a newborn, or you have older kids who need time and attention, when you are sleep deprived, it is not as easy to fulfill your family’s needs like before.
Plan some activities or get help for your older kids. Do not add extra chores to your schedule for now. First, you need to feel better regardless of the delivery you had.
Do not overexert, eat healthy, stay active and strengthen your bond with your little one.
You must nap when the baby naps, essentially for the first six weeks. Get the rest that your body needs the most.
At night, try to sleep when the baby is asleep. As long as the baby is safe and healthy, do not overthink about staying awake to monitor the baby. Luckily, the baby knows the language of crying to communicate. You will see when the baby needs to be fed, requires a diaper change, burp, and whatnot.
Use baby monitor if your baby is sleeping in the nursery.
If you are an overprotective parent, and your sleep is really affected because you are fearful of something happening to the baby, you can use baby Owlet monitor socks. Using the Owlet Monitor sock might get you the peace of mind and much-relaxed sleep.
6. Nap when you have the help of your partner or anyone around
Not everyone is lucky enough to have help, especially at night. Try to get enough sleep and nap whenever you can. Deep cleaning and dishwashing can wait. Thanks to disposable plates and cups.
Getting a night’s sleep should be the priority if you are the only one to take care of your kid(s) all day long.
I understand the importance of “Me Time” and finding a balance between motherhood and spouse. You need to prioritize your tasks during the day.
Plan your meals ahead of time.
Try to sleep early for a well-rested night after having a newborn.
7. Choose to Co-sleep if your baby is a light sleeper
If your baby is an extremely light sleeper and you are breastfeeding, I would advice to co-sleep. That way you’ll be able to get much better sleep.
Not every parent enjoys co-sleeping; it could get challenging as your baby gets older. Once you start noticing a better sleep pattern, try bed transition that may take some time to adjust but it is certainly not impossible.
Depending on the schedule of your family member, for light sleeping moms and babies, the sound machine is a game-changer. Some families live independently, while some share their family space. No matter what family setting you are living in, I highly recommend using a sound machine for a newborn and also for a co-sleeping parent.
I have been using the sound machine for my kids for almost 2 years now. One thing I must assure; even if you are sleeping for a couple of hours, your sleep quality gets better. Your mind is well-rested and you may notice a considerable decline in discomposure.
This is the sound machine I use. Out of all, the rain sound is the best. As long as the functionality is concerned, it is super light, portable, and travels all over the world with us.
9. Reduce /avoid using cell phones or gadgets when close to bedtime
I understand how much ME TIME is essential for your sanity, but your sleep takes up the priority for a few months after the baby is born. Try to cut down your gadget time and sleep when your baby sleeps. Try unnecessary gadgets at night, so you can have a well-rested sleep, even if it is not 8 hours long.
10. Avoid Caffeine intake or Tea close to bedtime
Avoid taking caffeine close to bedtime. You can take tea, coffee or any other caffeinated drinks during the day to stay active and more alert.
11. It’s okay to delay Cleaning and other overwhelming tasks
Try to get your sleep debts whenever you can manage while everything else can wait. It’s okay if your house seems messy. Try to be there for your kids when they need you in the best of your emotional and physical state.
Hang in there, everything falls in place with time.
If you have enough space, or you have set up a separate baby nursery, I highly recommend you having a rocking chair with an Ottoman or a footrest. For night feeding, a swivel nursing chair is ideal.
This is the one I have with Ottoman. You can use a nursing chair not only for breastfeeding but also to soothe a crying baby. Sit back, relax, and enjoy baby sleeping on your chest. Indeed, that’s the most beautiful way to bond with your baby.
13. Listen to your body and do not ignore any signs
An overwhelming routine does affect your overall health and shifts focus in the long run. For parents having multiple kids with less gap, it could be a mind jolting experience. Stress is the root cause of most of the health concerns. It affects your quality of life when you don’t feel good about your health. Restless legs, dizziness, body aches, and brain fog could be the causes of sleep deprivation.
While you have a baby to focus on, do not ignore any health signs that may go unnoticed.
If you are a new mom or expecting a baby pretty soon, I highly recommend that you should at least know how to manage your newborn sleep for at least the first six months; these are the toughest for new moms. No matter what kind of sleeper your baby is, this NEWBORN SLEEP EBOOK has everything you need to know about putting your newborn on sleep track from day 1.
Sleep deprivation is part of motherhood as babies may experience sleep regression, teething, sick nights, night terrors, and much more. But you have to take care of yourself too. You are as precious as your baby is. If you are sleep deprived, you can’t parent the way you want to. You need the stamina to deal with tantrums.
Just hang in there, Mama; this too shall pass. Remember – things do get better with time and you can enjoy uninterrupted sleep before you even know it.
I am Madiha, mom to two beautiful kids. Here you find helpful tips about pregnancy, postpartum, newborn care, toddlers, and product reviews. Join the tribe, and let’s grow together as moms. Enjoy having kids while they are little and more fun.
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I am Madiha, mom to two beautiful kids. Here you find helpful tips about pregnancy, postpartum, newborn care, toddlers, and product reviews. Join the tribe, and let’s grow together as moms. Enjoy having kids while they are little and more fun.