Before your milk comes in your breasts will produce a thick, yellow fluid, or first milk known as Colostrum. This is a rich source of nourishment from protein, fat, minerals, milk sugar (lactose), and antibodies that help protect the baby from infection.
Colostrum
Is less than 1 ounce per feeding. In the first days, baby’s stomach is about the size of a marble, so this is the perfect amount for them.
Continue reading "Breastfeed After the Baby is Born" »
I've worked with many moms who have one baby and yet have the twin challenges of difficulty with breastfeeding and postpartum depression. A new study has confirmed what many of us know from caring for women, that the two are linked.
Depression is often found when experiences and expectations aren't in sync. When a mom has the expectation that she will be able to nourish and feed her baby and then the experience doesn't match, it can set off a domino effect. Combine that with a crying baby, lack of sleep and a hormonal roller coaster and it's a recipe for postpartum depression.
Continue reading "Problems with Breastfeeding" »
A recent study on a small group of pregnat women found that those who took DHA, Omega-3 supplements during their pregnancy had a decreased risk of postpartum depression. According to the lead author, Dr. Michelle Price Judge, it's thought that as pregnancy progresses into the 3rd trimester, more of the mother's stores of DHA are transferred to the baby, which causes a depletion in the mother.
Continue reading "Omega-3's Reducing Depression" »
Sharon, not her real name, was so excited to be pregnant and was preparing for her baby's arrival. She had been surprised to get pregnant during a lull in her chemotherapy and had decided to postpone more chemo for her pregnancy. We were all thrilled that she was fulfilling her dream of being a mother. I saw her for a pre-delivery visit to go over her birth plan and talk about her options in labor and delivery.
Continue reading "Why Some Moms Don't Breastfeed" »
You may have read about a recent study that found that children who are still drinking their milk from a bottle at age 2 have higher obesity rates. I wonder what the association is with this finding, and if the bottle is more comforting than using a sippy cup? No matter what the association is, there are few things to remember.
Continue reading "Introducing A Cup to Your Baby" »
Do I need to use sterile water to mix up my baby's formula? Can I use tap water? What about flouride?
I get these questions a lot, so let's cover them here. First and foremost, water supplies vary from state to state and within different communities. Your baby's own health care provider will know the best answer to whether you can use tap water that's been boiled and then cooled, or whether you need to buy Filtered Spring water. So, when in doubt, call your pediatrician and use bottled spring water until you find the answers you need.
Continue reading "Mixing Formula With Water" »
Did you know that a human baby's bone mass increases by a whopping 300% in the first year of life? Really! Babies are absorbing and using calcium at a great rate. They are building bone mass at an incredible rate, as they build upon the cartilage and early bone that is present at birth. And, what is even more amazing is that there is never another time in a person's life where there is so much bone being built.
Continue reading "Why Calcium is So Important in a Baby's First Year" »
