Breastfeeding sounds simple when you look it up on the Internet or hear about it from your midwife, but is it really that easy? What if something comes up that you’ve not been told about? What happens if you don’t have enough breast milk?

Not Enough Breast Milk?

Many women are faced with the struggle of not having enough breast milk. It can be a scary time when all you want to do is feed your baby the way God intended, but things just aren’t going as planned.

Tip: Always make sure your baby is latched on correctly and sucking properly.

The next step is getting enough milk to feed your baby. Drink plenty of liquids each day, and even after you think you’ve drank enough, drink some more. Milk and orange juice are two good liquids to drink. This is very important as the baby takes everything it gets from you. Next, you may want to pump. Sounds pretty crazy, I know, but when I was breast feeding my first child I wanted to make sure that I had enough milk. Here is what I did:

Breastfeeding Help

After my baby was finished nursing, I would immediately pump the rest of the milk. This gave my body the idea that my baby needed more milk and it needed to produce it. For the first two to three weeks, I repeated this process until I had more than enough milk to nurse several babies.  Don’t be afraid of pumping out too much, because if done immediately after your baby has nursed, your body will have enough time to reproduce the milk.

I also used warm compresses on my breast. These helped ease my breast, along with stimulating the milk ducts. I do want to add that changing your baby’s position is very important. When the same milk ducts are used each time, the milk ducts that are not used can become clogged, which can be very painful. This happened to me with my first child. If this happens to you, use warm compresses and massage to help unclog them.

Breastfeeding Pumps

There are many types of breast feeding pumps available, but don’t search for the most expensive one there is available. You’ll only need it for a few weeks, unless you will be returning to work and will need to pump for the sitter. I used the handheld pump I received at the hospital and it worked perfectly. Be sure to ask about a breast pump before you leave the hospital. Often, you’ll get one for free.

Prenatal massage can relieve many problems associated with pregnancy: back pain, swelling in the legs, sleeping problems. Massage can also help you to relax, relieve worries or anxieties about pregnancy or childbirth, and balance fluctuating emotions.

Photo by Canwest News Service

Some Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Massage therapy relaxes muscles, relieves joint pain and improves circulation. As long as some precautions are taken, massage can relieve the back pain so many women suffer from during pregnancy, especially as your bump gets bigger and puts more strain on your lower back. Massage also stimulates the lymphatic system and can reduce swelling in the ankles (and fluid retention in general). Massage in pregnancy can relieve stress, irritability and mood swings, and it can even help you to sleep better.

During a pregnancy massage, the client often lies on her side on a massage table. She can then be propped up with cushions to make her feel more comfortable. She can also sit on a stool against the massage couch and lean against the couch, supporting herself with her arms, which allows the therapist to work on the whole back.

Studies about the Benefits of Pregnancy Massage

The Touch Research Institute has conducted several studies about the health benefits of prenatal massage. In various studies (you can read about the studies on the TRI website), prenatal massage therapy was able to

• relieve labor pain, shorten labor and reduce the need for medication
• relieve prenatal and postpartum depression (massage was used in combination with psychotherapy, and this combination led to better results than psychotherapy alone)
• relieve leg pain and back pain
• reduce anxiety, improve mood and improve sleep during pregnancy

Some forms of massage are more suitable for pregnancy than others, although many therapists trained in prenatal massage use a combination of techniques.

Pregnancy Massage Safety Tips

There are pressure points around ankles and wrists that stimulate the pelvic muscles and the uterus. Any pressure on these points must obviously be avoided, especially during the first trimester or if there is a history of miscarriage. There are also many points in the lower back that should be avoided for the same reason.

It is important for your safety and for your peace of mind to find a massage therapist who is qualified in pregnancy massage and/or who has experience in treating pregnant women. Some massage therapists do not massage women during the first trimester. If there are any health concerns or a history of miscarriage, many women choose to wait until the second trimester before they start to get massage treatments.

Sources:

The Touch Research Institute

The American Pregnancy Association: Prenatal Massage: Massage during Pregnancy (online article)

Patricia Davis: Aromatherapy, an A-Z (Random House, UK, 2004)

I’m in that awkward space postpartum. The place of dichotomy. The place of being in two places at once.

The place where you snuggle in and think, “I can’t believe it’s already been 4 weeks.” The place where part of you wishes you could find the snooze button and stop the world for just a moment longer.

The other side of 4-weeks-postpartum is the place of emergence. The place where you blink your eyes like a no-longer-slumbering bear and peek from your den to see if it’s safe to come out yet. The place where you say, “I can’t believe it’s only been 4 weeks.” because it feels like your heart has belonged to this tiny creature forever. The place where you long for a bigger world and a new normal.

I’ve scheduled my 6 week check up. My mind begins to awaken to life beyond my breasts, her hunger and the never-ending load of laundry.

Current news begins to become current again. Creativity flows; I’ve filled an entire steno pad and still my mind buzzes like a hive of honey-filled ideas.

My husband catches my eye across the room and I see the twinkle there. I feel the twinkle there. I feel myself thawing and warming…smoldering like an ember that awaits the spark.

Vivian is thriving. Double chinned.

Gorgeous skinned.

And those baby feet that get me every time.

We’re 4 weeks in to the rest of her life and loving every minute.

So as the mother of five now you’d think I would know a thing or two. And of course, I do. After all, I grew up as the oldest of eight children so I was always comfortable being around children. But as any parent knows – it’s different when it’s YOUR child, isn’t it?

Which leads me to my current parenting dilemma - poddy training. Again – this being my third child you would think I knew what I was doing already but each child is so different. When 5MinutesForMoms asked me to share what Wal-Mart was doing with their Baby Step’s Website information I was interested to see what they would have to say. Help for new babies in the areas parents have the most questions about, I thought it would be primarily about diapering, feeding and health.

So imagine my delight when I saw some interesting videos about poddy training! Because this Little Man of ours is definitely not interested right now. Browsing through the poddy training videos, especially “What to Do When Poddy Training Isn’t Working” was reassuring to me that it’s ok to wait a little longer.

See more subjects and titles on the BabySteps Website or 5MinutesforMoms for a full listing of the videos provided. Hopefully future titles will include a Breastfeeding guide or two since that’s the only subject I didn’t see mentioned that I think should be covered. Otherwise nutrition, basic health, diapering and poddy training are all mentioned. This is a link I could see including in a resource handout at an Infant Care Childbirth Education Class.

I was compensated for review the BabySteps Website. I really DO have a three year old who has no desire to sit in “the big boy poddy.” You’d think I would have it all down to a science by now but I really, truly do not. 

There are sometimes in your life that people will give you unasked for advice, but never so much as when you have a new baby. Trust yourself! And don’t be afraid to ask for what you need, do your own research and second-guess what you’re being told. Here are some of the things I’ve done in my own family that I feel have made a big difference in the health of my children.

As part of this Million Moms Challenge I’ve been participating in I wrote some of my personal family health choices – and hopefully you will be encouraged as well!

What about you? What do you do to help raise healthy children?  

Children’s health is at the top of every mother’s mind. Click over and share: What’s your favorite tip for raising a healthy baby? By replying, you will be entered to win an exclusive Million Moms Challenge Gift Pack, which includes an iPad2, a custom-made Million Moms Challenge pendant and a $50 donation in your name to Global Giving.

Nurse: “Ok, let’s get you hooked to this IV and get the antibiotics started.”

Me: “Excuse me? IV? Antibiotics? I am having a natural birth and my birth plan states I do not wish to be on an IV. I don’t mind you puting in the heplock for just-in-case, but no IV unless needed.”

Nurse: “Yes, I know, but you are strep-B positive and you need the antibiotics in your system 4 hours before you give birth to protect the baby.”

Insert shocked look from me, my husband, and my best friend.

1. No one called me, or let me know at the visit following my strep-B test, that I had tested positive and would need to be on an IV.

2. I had labored as long as I could possibly stand it at home and walking around Wal-Mart and the local mall. There was no way I had 4 hours left of labor.

And, we were right. 1.5 hours later, Lucas Harrison was born. It was the perfect birth. Hard, yes, but quick, natural, and empowering. We spent the next twelve hours bonding with our son, getting lost in bis beautiful eyes, amazed at his strength, and looking forward to taking him home the next morning.

We were warned during the IV discussion that if I didn’t have that antibiotic in my system for at least four hours there would be a chance of the baby becoming infected and that at 12 hours post-birth he would need to be tested. We were assured it was rare for a baby to actually need treatment, but if he did he’d have to spend 48 hours hooked to an IV with antibiotics, after which he’d be tested again. If he was still in danger they would keep him an additional 7 days.

Still, none of this prepared me for the heart wrenching that would grab hold of my entire being, when the nurse came to take my newborn from me, after tests indicated infection. I wouldn’t describe the initial feelings as fear, as I didn’t yet know how this infection could affect him, or how helpless I would feel when I finally saw him on the IV. All I knew was that my baby was being taken from me. The kind nurse gave me a few minutes to sob while I sat on the side of the bed, holding onto Luke’s little bed for support. She gently encouraged me to pick him up and hold him a few minutes and I did.

I don’t know how long that lasted. It seemed mere seconds and he was being wheeled out of my room. My husband held me and I wept.

That was 4am. Come 7 the nurse returned to tell me Lucas was awake and hungry and if I wanted to go see him I could, and that I could nurse him, and that we would be able to visit him in the nursery as often as we’d like. We could hold him too. Off we went! We peered through the nursery windows and tried to guess which of the 3 babies were ours. One had way too much hair. The other two looked just like Lucas and one was on an IV. I was sure it was him. Then my husband saw the name on the crib. Not our baby. Where on earth was OUR baby???

We knocked on the nursery door and were let in. We were instructed to wash well and were handed yellow gowns to put on. Then we were led to a dark corner of the nursery that you couldn’t see from the windows. Our baby was alone in the corner.

First of all, let me say, I don’t even pretend to know what parents go through when their child is born prematurely, with defects, or conditions requiring special care. I have no idea what it’s like to spend weeks or months scared for my child’s life. I only know that when you’re not expecting complications and you’ve just had the most beautiful birth you could hope for, seeing your baby attached to an IV and 4 monitors is not easy. It’s downright terrifying. And, you will cry.

Had my husband not been strong for me, I probably would have lost it. There lay our son, pale, lethargic, and pitiful, wires coming from 5 different directions, stuck to his tiny body with little plastic rounds of medical tape. When they said IV I knew it would be hard to see. I guessed he’d have a tiny hep-lock in his hand or arm, but I had no idea he’d also have so many monitors, or that in the 3 short hours since I’d seen him he could go from being so strong and healthy to looking so sick. A nurse explained what was happening, then she carefully gathered up the wires to one side and placed my baby in my arms.

Every 3 hours for 2 days and 2 nights I would return to that corner to hold and nurse him. The first few times I was discouraged, maybe even a bit resentful. I wanted to say unkind things to the staff at my doctor’s office for not telling me about my test results so we could avoid this. I wanted to just take my baby home. I wanted his big brother to be able to hold him. I wanted to finally be the little family of four that we’d been dreaming of for the past 9 months.

I wanted so many things.

God had other plans.

On one of my next visits to the nursery I was told a new baby had come in and needed some attention so I’d need to wait just a few minutes to come in. They offered to let me through a set of doors to the OR hall and let me look through some other windows. There was another entry there that led straight to the part of the nursery my baby was in. It was labeled NICU.

Until this time it hadn’t hit me that my baby wasn’t actually in the nursery. I hadn’t caught on that his nurses were special. This realization that my son wasn’t just being monitored hit me like a ton of bricks. He really was sick.

We didn’t have a family pediatrician in town, so come morning we opted to use the on-call Doctor. From the moment we met him we knew, this was the doctor we wanted caring for our son. He explained the situation so that we could understand the danger of this infection, but he did it without talking down to us or trying to scare us. He said “God is good and He is looking out for your baby” then he assured us the nurses caring for Lucas were the very best and he praised the night-nurse who had run the tests and taken Luke to start his IV. He said she had probably saved his life. I silently said my first prayer of thanksgiving.

When I entered the nursery around lunch time the first day the day-nurse said the night-nurse had just called to check on Lucas. She hadn’t slept yet because she’d been up praying for him. My heart became a little softer and I thanked God again for placing us in this hospital, with these nurses. The nurses came and went with shift change. Each time we were in awe that they were so tender with our son, so sensitive to our desire to be with Luke, and so willing to work with us so that we could have the best possible experience. Each time I thanked God for yet another amazing nurse.

In the hours following I began to feel the fear lifting. I came to terms with the idea of staying in the hospital for two extra days. We got Lucas on a feeding schedule and I got some sleep in between feedings. The day nurse put a CD player next to Luke’s bed and all day and all night he got to listen to classic Disney movie tracks and worship music. On the second day Luke’s monitors started fussing that something was wrong with his IV. The nurse on duty tried to find the problem, but couldn’t. She told me they’d probably have to move it to another spot and warned I probably wouldn’t want to watch as there could be lots of pricking and Luke was sure to cry. I thanked her for the warning and I trusted her judgement. When I came back about an hour later my son had a tube attached to a needle in his forehead. The tape had been put on right over his beautiful brown hair and I cried inside, knowing that when removed it would surely pull his hair out, leaving him bald. I also imagined it would hurt. A lot. I wasn’t prepared though for how much happier he would be not to have that contraption on his hand. His now-bright eyes greeted me and his little arms waved in excitement. In just one short day he’d gone from lethargic to peppy and I felt hope rise within me. On the other side of the NICU wall the OR was abuzz. A baby was being delivered by c-section and would soon join Lucas in the NICU. I was warned that the newcomer would probably need a lot of attention at first and that I would be asked to leave while they got him settled. I snuggled my sweet one a bit longer then laid him back in his bed and left. When the nurse called my room a few hours later to let me know Luke was awake and ready to eat I got a swift kick in the pants that sent the remainder of my selfish attitude for a hike.

As I nursed my tiny one in the corner rocker, four nurses stood around the bed of the new baby boy. He was only a few weeks early, but he needed some help breathing and since his mom was still in recovery, he needed nourishment. The problem? The nurses couldn’t get his IV started. They pricked him everywhere. They tried so many times. They called in every off-duty NICU nurse and within minutes the nursery was full of ‘help.’ One of the nurses I’d grown to love turned to me and asked, “If you’re the praying-kind, please say a prayer for this baby.” I did. With all of my heart. When I looked up, the nurses had joined hands around that baby’s bed and they were all praying for guidance, for steady hands, and for the baby’s health. Peace flooded the room and I cried. I can still feel His presence, like a dense fog, rising. It was almost visible in the room. In that quiet moment between the prayer and the nurse trying again to set the IV,  I became aware of the worship music playing and the nurses humming along.  The nurse tried one more time and it worked.

There I sat in my little corner, staring at the precious baby in my arms. I felt small. Very small; aware of something so much bigger than me, bigger than my problem, than my baby’s problem. Bigger than anything I’d ever felt. I knew, at that instant, that we, that I, was exactly where I was supposed to be. This moment had been arranged and I was meant to be a part of it, to be affected by it. And, that I would never be the same. I was there when the window blinds were opened and the father got to see his son for what was probably the first time. I felt pain for the mother in recovery when I realized the photos he was taking on his phone were the only way she could see her baby. And suddenly, I found myself overwhelmed with thankfulness.

True to the doctors and nurses predictions, Lucas was tested again after 48 hours of treatment. His levels were much improved and he was cleared to go home.  I know that his life was saved by those nurses, their training, their persistence, and their dependance on God’s guidance.  I can’t put into words how thankful I am for them, and their willingness to let Jesus love on us and our baby, through them. I can’t count how many times I have seen my son’s smile and thanked God for putting those women in our lives for 48 hours. And I still can’t believe I’m saying this…

I’m thankful our baby spent 48 hours in the NICU.

“Having a baby changed my life – the way that getting married changed my life. You cross this thresh hold you can never “uncross”. I could never NOT be a mother again, just like I could never be single again once I said “I do.” There is a brilliant joy, and tinge of bittersweet, in letting go of one thing, to embrace another. I choose to embrace it whole-heartedly. “

This is the first part of a post I wrote as part of the Million Moms campaign. Read the full post and find out how you can be entered to win an exclusive  Million Moms Challenge Gift Pack, which includes an iPad2, a custom-made Million Moms Challenge pendant and a $50 donation in your name to Global Giving.

How did this baby make me stronger? Find out.

I was asked to write a post as part of the One Million Moms campaign with BlogFrog and share with you guys one of the best, or worst, pregnancy moments I’ve experienced. So I chose to tell you about when the hardest moment, also became one of the best. And how I learned my own strength through the process.

Read the full story at ABC’s One Million Moms website, and see what happens When Your Baby Makes You Stronger.

Preparing your dog for a new baby requires some advance planning and preparation.

Pregnancy brings with it many changes, not only for the expectant mom but for the entire family. Your dog is no exception. He will need to learn to accept your new baby and the changes in your routine. But with a little effort and preparation prior to the birth, your dog and baby can learn to get along well with each other.

Dogs and Babies: Before the Birth

Before the birth of your baby, take some time to familiarize yourself with your dog’s body language and look for habits you may need to change before the baby arrives. Behaviors such as jumping, pawing or nibbling may have been acceptable before, but with a new baby in the house, that will no longer be the case.

Work with your dog to replace undesirable behaviors with more appropriate behaviors. Training basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “leave it” is one of the best things you can do to prepare. Use rewards in the form of tasty treats, favorite toys or extra attention to teach these commands and make sure to keep training sessions fun. Once your dog responds to these commands, they can be used to replace the behaviors you want to discontinue. For instance, when your dog jumps on you, command him to sit and then reward for doing so. He will soon learn what you expect.

Preparing Your Dog for the New Baby

Practice as many of the routine daily activities that will be necessary when your baby arrives as possible by substituting a doll or teddy bear for your baby prior to your delivery. Include your dog in these exercises. For instance, practice taking your dog on a walk with a baby stroller. Take your dog for a ride in the car with a baby seat in place. Carry the doll or teddy bear through your home and practice putting it down for a nap with your dog in tow. Practice feeding your substitute baby with your dog in the room.

Allow your dog to get used to the baby’s equipment. Set up the crib, changing table, play pen and other baby equipment well in advance and give your dog time to adjust to its presence.

Prepare a dog-free zone and a baby-free zone within your household. Just as your baby will need time away from your dog, your dog will need time to himself away from the baby as well. If your dog is not used to being confined, allow him to get used to the idea before the baby comes.

When the Baby Arrives

When your baby is born, bring a blanket or clothing item that your baby has worn home to your dog before you bring the baby home, if possible. Give your dog the opportunity to familiarize himself with the scent of the new baby before the real introduction.

Jen Shryock of Dogs and Storks offers more information about preparing your dog for a new baby in this podcast interview.

Photo Courtesy of Jacobim Mugatu/Flickr.com

If baby and you are planning to take a trip anytime soon, here are some simple tips and ideas to make the journey as easy and stress-free as possible for both of you.

Choose the Right Destination

Start your holiday with baby right by picking a destination that both your little one and you will enjoy. Family resorts, camps, bed-and-breakfasts, nature camps, beaches are all safe and fun destinations for babies and parents, alike.

Make Traveling with Baby Easy with Snacks and Drinks

A well-fed baby is a happy child. So, make sure that you carry enough snacks and drinks to keep your little one’s tummy full. If baby has not yet been weaned, you’ll want to make sure that you’re wearing something comfortable so that you can breastfeed easily either on the plane or in a car.

Be Well Prepared for a Happy Journey

Carry a well-stocked diaper bag to make changes, feeds and entertaining baby super-easy. Make sure you have enough changes of clothes, cloth nappies or disposable diapers, the requisite snacks and drinks as well as items to keep baby entertained. (See ideas below)

Stay Safe and Stress-Free When Traveling with Infants

Safety should be of prime importance when travelling with babies. Carry a basic childproofing kit to make your hotel room safe for baby to explore. For car travel, ensure that the car seat is secured properly and use window shades to keep baby from getting sunburnt. Another must-do safety travel tip is to attach a small ID card with baby’s name and your contact information especially if you’ll be moving in crowded areas. This is a must for babies who’ve started walking or crawling.

Travel Tips to Make the Journey Fun and Interesting for Babies

Here are some simple and easy ways to keep little ones entertained during long journeys:

• Play finger games. Itsy-bitsy Spider and This Little Piggie are classics.
• Sing nursery rhymes or play a favorite CD, if travelling by car.
• Board books can also keep babies engrossed and entertained on long journeys. I’ve found that picture albums too do the trick.
• Carry along comfort objects, such as a favourite stuffed toy or a blankie to help baby sleep easily and peacefully.
• If on a road trip, take frequent rest stops so that your baby can get out of the car seat, crawl or just relax and stretch a bit.

 Travel with baby does not have to be exhausting and stressful. Being prepared and flexible will ensure that all of you have a happy time during the travel and at your destination as well.

Photo Credit: ryaninc