breastfeeding
Around your third month of pregnancy, and continuing through the early days of breastfeeding, your breasts will produce colostrum, a special type of breastmilk for your newborn baby. But what exactly is colostrum? Colostrum is the first type of milk that your breasts make. It is a thick and sticky liquid that has a yellowish to orange color. During the last few months of pregnancy, you may even begin to leak a small amount of this thick yellowish substance. But do not worry if you are seeing this sooner or aren’t seeing any at all. Some women start to leak earlier and some women…
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Let me start by saying: I am a HUGE proponent of breastfeeding. I believe in it and support it 110%. I nursed my daughter for 16 months and my son for 14 months. There were many aspects of breastfeeding that I adored, like the bond it created between my children and I and the satisfaction I had in knowing I alone could nourish my child. But I will be the first person to admit that there were also a great number of things that I disliked about breastfeeding, and that almost made me give up on it altogether. Before I…
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Man cannot out-science or out-create nature! We continue to learn this, and one of the best examples is in the birth and mothering process. Breastfeeding and its benefits are connected to cognitive development, growth and weight gain of the baby, and immune system resilience. In the last decade, formula companies have continued to work to mimic nature’s perfect food: breastmilk. This form of “nature’s gold” produced by a mother for her child provides the perfect balance of macronutrients (carbs, protein, fats) along with the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to support optimal development and growth. However, up-to-date research demonstrates that beyond its nutritional…
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Tender, swollen breasts after childbirth are to be expected — after all, they’re filling with life-giving milk to nourish and protect your brand new baby. (The giant, post-birth mesh panties that your kind nurse who just witnessed you push a bowling ball through your lady bits will offer you? Those are slightly less expected, but surprisingly welcome nonetheless.) However, if upon returning home, either breast becomes extremely painful — you could be in trouble. Even more so, if you start to feel like you’re coming down with the flu. Chances are good that you may be suffering from mastitis: a…
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