Preparing Infant Cereal

Preparing Infant Cereal

September 10th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Infant cereal will probably be your baby’s first baby food. It is a versatile choice because it can be prepared in many different ways to change the texture, thickness, and taste as your baby progresses through new solid foods. From first feedings through the second year of life, you can prepare baby cereals to meet your baby’s changing needs and preferences.

Preparing the First Feeding

When you mix up your baby’s first feeding of infant cereal, you are setting off on a feeding adventure that will continue for years to come. The first feeding is important and exciting, but remember that your baby isn’t ready for much just yet. To avoid waste, make only a small amount of cereal. Your baby probably won’t consume much.

Infant cereal can be prepared using either breast milk, formula, or water. It’s best to stick to breast milk or formula for several reasons. First of all, they offer more nutrition than water. Secondly, they will infuse the cereal with a smell and taste that is familiar to your baby, making it more likely she will be interested in eating it. Because breast milk contains enzymes that break down the cereal, you will notice that it causes the cereal to become thinner and even soupier the longer it sits out. This is normal and won’t hurt the baby, but can make it harder to feed, so feed immediately after mixing.

Start with a rice cereal, as it is the easiest on your baby’s system. Slowly add breast milk or formula until the mixture becomes very thin and soupy. This might be difficult to get on a spoon, but your baby has only ever had liquids in her short life, so anything thicker will be difficult for her tongue to handle and she could choke. Although she is unlikely to be in and danger from the choking, it could make for an unpleasant experience she won’t want to repeat, which could lead to refusal of solids for a while.

Progressing to Thicker Cereal

As your baby gets better at moving food to the back of his mouth with his tongue and swallowing, you can start to thicken the cereal. Continue to use breast milk or formula to mix, but in a different ratio to make a gradually thicker version. During this time you will likely also be introducing baby to other foods such as pureed fruits and vegetables. Try to match the cereal’s thickness to that of the purees you are using.

As baby gets used to other foods, you can start mixing them with the cereal to add more flavor and change the texture. Add mashed bananas to infant cereal for a slightly chunkier texture. Each new texture your baby encounters will help him to learn more and progress to the next level.

Moving On From Rice

After you have tried rice cereal for a while with no problems, you can try other grains such as oatmeal and wheat cereals. Be sure to introduce them one at a time in order to judge what caused any potential reactions. Mix these cereals in the same manner as the rice cereal, using breast milk or formula to achieve the desired consistency.

All of these cereals can be mixed with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Although the idea of mixing pureed pees with oatmeal might seem odd to our grown-up palate, to a baby for whom all of these tastes and textures are new, it won’t seem so strange. Keep trying new combinations to make infant cereal new and interesting to baby.

Keeping Tabs on Baby’s Iron

Keeping Tabs on Baby’s Iron

September 8th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Babies are at a very high risk for iron deficiency anemia, a condition that results from a lack of iron in baby’s system. Most anemia is caused by a diet that is low in iron. While the best thing you can do to prevent iron deficiency anemia in your baby is to make sure there is enough in baby foods, being vigilant about anemia is a good idea too. Because iron-deficiency anemia can be hard to distinguish from other problems, you will probably need your pediatrician’s help to make sure your baby is getting enough iron.

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia

The most common symptoms of low iron are fatigue, dizziness, lack of appetite, paleness, and changes in heart rate. Most of these you are unlikely to notice in a baby, mainly because your baby can’t tell you what she is feeling, or because they require medical instruments and training to detect.

In the long term, iron deficiency can lead to behavior and learning difficulties, the severity of which depends on how long your child suffered from anemia and how serious the deficiency was. These long term effects, however, should be avoidable with vigilance and early detection of the problem.

Because the symptoms can be hard to notice and easy to confuse with other problems, your doctor is the best person to determine whether or not your baby is getting enough iron.

How Your Baby’s Doctor Diagnoses Low Iron

Most babies will have a simple blood test done between 9-12 months of age to check for hemoglobin levels in the blood. Because iron helps the body to create hemoglobin, low levels are a sign of iron deficiency. A CBC (complete blood count) test will also show the number and size of your baby’s red blood cells. If the count is low and the red blood cells are small and less pigmented, odds are good your baby isn’t getting enough iron.

There are other tests your baby’s doctor may perform, including checking iron levels in the blood directly, and checking your baby’s stool for signs of blood. In most cases however, a diagnosis won’t require extensive testing. The results of the blood tests should be enough for your doctor to recommend a therapy if necessary. This may involve both diet changes and iron supplements.

Preventing Anemia

The best way to prevent anemia is to make certain your baby’s diet contains enough iron. During the first year of life most babies will get the required amount of iron from breast milk or iron-fortified formula. After the first year, however, the risk may increase as babies no longer breast or bottle feed and switch to cow’s milk. Cow’s milk is known to block iron absorption in large quantities, so keep your baby’s consumption in check, not more than 24 ounces a day. Be sure to feed a diet full of iron rich foods such as meat and poultry, eggs, leafy green vegetables and legumes.

You can also give your baby a daily multivitamin supplement that includes iron. Serve it separately from milk to be sure it is absorbed fully. As long as you follow these preventative measures, your baby is unlikely to develop an iron deficiency. If you need more concrete assurance, however, you can request that your baby’s doctor perform the blood tests to check for iron deficiency anemia.

Adding DHA & ARA to Baby’s Diet

Adding DHA & ARA to Baby’s Diet

September 7th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

It seems there is always some particular nutrient making headlines for newly discovered benefits to both adults and children’s health. Among the popular nutrients in recent years, DHA & ARA have been particularly noted for their importance in pregnancy and infancy. This has led to concern regarding the intake of DHA & ARA in pregnant women and babies, and the popularity of supplements.

Depending on how your baby is fed, there may already be adequate levels of DHA & ARA in his diet. There are some ways, however, that you can make sure.

What are DHA & ARA?

DHA & ARA are two essential fatty acids, part of the Omega-3 fatty acid group. They are also called lipids. They are vital to proper brain and eye development in babies. The body is able to produce these two fatty acids as long as it has a good source of the other lipids required for production, but may not be able to reach the required levels without an extra source.

DHA & ARA Before Solids

In the first 6 months of life, when your baby relies entirely on breast milk or formula for sustenance, those same liquids are the only source of essential fatty acids. Babies acquire DHA & ARA from their mother during gestation, but after birth continue to receive it through breast milk. Until recently, babies fed formula were missing out on this extra supply. Most formulas on the market today, however, are fortified with DHA & ARA. Because the version added to formula is synthetic, opinions are mixed as to whether or not it has the same effect as that in breast milk.

The best way to provide your baby with essential fatty acids for brain and eye development in the first year of life is to breastfeed. Even once you add solid baby foods to baby’s diet, it can be difficult to get enough of these nutrients, so a continued supply from breast milk is important. If breastfeeding is not possible, formula will provide your baby with the synthetic version of the lipids, as well as with the other fatty acids required to allow baby’s body to make DHA & ARA.

Food Sources of DHA & ARA

The best food source of Omega-3 fatty acids are fish. Salmon is especially high in these nutrients. Other food sources include nuts and olive oil. Because DHA & ARA do not appear in a lot of foods, it can be hard to maintain the needed levels through diet alone, especially for babies who are new to solid foods. Some baby foods are now being fortified with the synthetic version, but if you can it’s best to continue breastfeeding while your baby warms up to solids and eventually can eat more of the foods that provide Omega-3’s.

As your baby progresses with solids, you can offer her fish that are low in mercury, and nut butters on whole grain toast. Try almond butter for the best nut source of fatty acids. Cooking with olive oil instead of vegetable oil will get more Omega-3’s into your diet as well, along with your baby’s diet when she is old enough to eat the foods you are eating.

Right now, the best known source of DHA & ARA for babies is breast milk. While there are other ways to provide it, if you are really concerned, try to breastfeed for as long as you possibly can.

Healthy Eating as Your Baby Grows

Healthy Eating as Your Baby Grows

September 4th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

As your baby progresses from assisted sitting to sitting without support, her feeding abilities will progress as well. It’s time to thicken your baby’s food, and add new tastes and textures to the menu.

Advances in Feeding Skills

As your growing baby starts to really catch on to the feeding process, she will start to show more signs of readiness to move on to thicker baby foods. You will notice that baby is opening her mouth readily for food, and will close her mouth around the spoon to get all of the food off. She is less likely to spit food out now – at least, not accidentally! Although still not quite ready to try finger foods, you may notice more attempts to use her hands to bring food towards her.

Your baby is still not really ready to chew, but it’s time to start learning about thicker foods to begin that process. Thicker purees that are not quite as smooth will provide a bridge into truly chunky foods.

Adding to the Menu

Around this time, you can start adding more fruits and vegetables to your baby’s menu, and also start combining them for different tastes. Although it’s ok to start meat as one of baby’s early foods, most parents don’t add it until baby is a little more advanced. Meats are best served mixed with a fruit or vegetable that your baby is familiar with in order to add flavor. It’s not unusual for babies to refuse meats at first. Even pureed, meat has a very different texture from fruits, vegetables and cereal. Combine foods in whatever mixes you like, but make sure to continue the rule of adding only one new food at a time to watch for allergies.

If you are buying your baby’s food in jars, it’s time to make the switch to stage 2 foods. These will be thicker and have more interesting combinations of flavors. If you are making your baby’s food, don’t add as much water to your purees, and leave them just a little lumpy rather than entirely smooth. You can even try serving peas that are not strained to see what your baby makes of the shells.

Eating More Often

At this point, your baby might be ready to have more than one solid feeding in a day. His main source of nutrition, however, remains breast milk or formula. As he grows and his appetite develops, he should be able to have two feeding of solids a day without impacting his intake of breast milk or formula. Feed baby solids a little while after nursing or having a bottle, and let him eat until he refuses more food. Babies are far more in tune with their hunger cues than we are as adults, and they won’t overeat, so it’s ok to let him have all he wants as long as he has already met his nutritional needs through the breast or bottle.

In the coming months a whole new world of foods will open up for your baby, and as teeth begin to appear it will become easier for him to chew new foods and move into thicker, chunkier and more complex foods. Keep introducing new foods, and don’t give up on ones baby has refused before. His tastes are developing and changing; you might find he suddenly won’t eat a favorite food, or develops a new appreciation for one he wouldn’t eat before.

Why Your Baby Needs Iron

Why Your Baby Needs Iron

August 30th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Iron is a vital mineral to life, for people of all ages. Babies, however, have a special need for iron as their bodies are growing and developing at a rapid pace. Many babies are not getting enough of this essential nutrient, and serious health problems can result.

What Iron Does

Iron helps the body to create hemoglobin, which is what keeps red blood cells healthy, and makes them red. It carries oxygen throughout the body and provides it to muscles and organs, all of which require oxygen to function properly. As babies are growing quickly, their bodies require iron to create new red blood cells.

Dangers of Iron Deficiency

Babies get iron from their mother in the womb, but after birth it must be included in baby food diet for healthy weight gain and development. Babies who do not get enough iron can develop iron-deficiency anemia, a condition which can cause numerous problems including poor weight gain, fatigue, dizziness, rapid heart rate and decreased appetite.

Iron deficiency symptoms can be slow to appear, as the body’s stores of iron are depleted over time. If they are not replaced, the symptoms will start to manifest. Most cases of anemia are caught prior to symptoms developing thanks to routine testing for hemoglobin levels in babies between 9-12 months of age. Rare serious cases of iron-deficiency anemia do occur, however, resulting in hospitalization.

What Leads to Iron Deficiency

In most cases, a lack of enough iron in the diet is the reason for a baby or toddler to develop anemia. There are other potential causes as well, however.

When your baby makes the switch to cow’s milk at around a year old, the risk of anemia from low iron increases due to two factors. First, your baby is no longer receiving the extra iron found in breast milk or iron-fortified formula. Second, too much milk can actually block iron absorption. This is a big reason why babies under a year old are not advised to drink cow’s milk. Too much milk can damage the lining of the stomach and result in internal bleeding that can further deplete iron supplies. To prevent this cause of iron deficiency, keep your baby’s milk intake to no more than 24 ounces a day. If your baby is taking an iron supplement or multivitamin with iron, serve it separately from milk.

Periods of rapid growth can also deplete iron stores, as the body is using them up at a quicker pace than normal. If you see signs of a growth spurt in your baby, try to add extra iron either in the form of supplements or food in order to replace the stores that are being used up.

If your baby was premature or had a low birth weight, the risk of iron deficiency anemia is increased. Because larger babies who spent longer periods in the womb were able to absorb and store more iron, their supply will last longer and not need to be replenished quite so quickly. A premature or low birth weight baby will need extra help to build up iron stores and avoid anemia.

If you suspect iron deficiency anemia in your baby, talk to your baby’s doctor. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, your pediatrician will be able to guide you in the right steps to take in order to bring iron levels back up.

Probiotics and Your Baby’s Health

Probiotics and Your Baby’s Health

August 26th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

The newest word in the area of immune health and digestive support is probiotics. These helpful bacteria are proving to have a number of benefits for good health in both adults and children. From thrush to colic to gastroenteritis, probiotics have been connected with helping to treat a number of conditions in babies.

How Probiotics Work

The human body is filled with microorganisms, some of which are beneficial to the body’s function, and some of which are not. Good bacteria exist naturally in the digestive system, but many factors can lead to reducing their levels so that they are no longer able to perform their tasks. This can cause reduced immunity to illness, poor digestion, and influence a number of other problems in the body.

Probiotics are supplements that can be taken as pills or added to foods to populate your body with good bacteria and help to bring the balance back to normal. These supplements add to your body’s natural supply of beneficial bacteria to help regulate your digestion and support your immune system.

What Can Probiotics Do for Your Baby?

Research is still being done on probiotics and their effects on the body. So far, there is encouraging evidence that these supplements may provide relief for a number of problems suffered by babies. Reducing colic, improving digestion to reduce gas, constipation and diarrhea, and lessening the impact of viral infections on your baby’s stomach are just a few of the benefits research is turning up for the use of probiotics.

Probiotics have also been connected with improvements in eczema, and with treating thrush, a yeast infection of the mouth that is common in young babies. If your baby has to take antibiotics, which are known for encouraging yeast infections and also causing diarrhea, a probiotic supplement will reduce these reactions.

Probiotics can also shorten the amount of time your baby will have to suffer with a stomach bug, as the good bacteria will more quickly bring health back to the digestive system.

Breast milk does a better job of supporting production of good bacteria in your baby than formula, but even breast fed babies can benefit from the addition of supplementary probiotics.

How Should I give My Baby Probiotics?

Some new formulas contain probiotic cultures, but if your baby is not using formula, or you do not wish to use that type of formula, there are other ways to add probiotics to your baby’s diet. Probiotics capsules can be opened and added to baby’s bottle or even put directly into baby’s mouth. If your baby is eating solid baby foods, you can add probiotics to purees or also choose foods that naturally provide probiotics.

The most commonly known food that provides probiotic benefits is yogurt. Many commercial yogurts, however, have been heated to extend shelf life. To truly reap the probiotic benefits of yogurt, you should look for one that has not been heated, usually available in health and natural food stores. Many other foods are now showing up on the shelves that have had probiotics added, as their popularity rises due to the new research.

Although probiotics are believed to be safe for use in very young babies, you should always discuss any supplement or medication with your baby’s doctor prior to using it. Your doctor can recommend the best way to add probiotics to baby’s diet as well as the appropriate amount of the supplement for the most benefit.

The 5 Most Important Reasons to Breastfeed

The 5 Most Important Reasons to Breastfeed

August 25th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Breastfeeding can be challenging. While it’s a natural process, that doesn’t make it an easy one. Many new moms struggle with getting the hang of it, and it can be frustrating and disappointing. Although a rough start to breastfeeding can lead many moms to throw in the towel, remember that there are very good reasons to push forward. You are making an excellent choice for your baby as well as for yourself. Check out this list if you need a reminder of why it’s worth every minute of the struggle.

1. Building Baby’s Immune System

Formula can’t give your baby the antibodies needed to stay healthy in the first few months of life. Until around 3 months old, your baby’s body isn’t yet capable of producing its own antibodies, so breast milk is the only source. Even beyond the first months, the incredible combination of nutrients found only in breast milk will continue to strengthen your baby’s immune system. This means fewer colds, infections and other illnesses to make your baby (and you) miserable. It also means that those illnesses your baby does contract will likely be over faster and less severe, as your baby’s body is better able to fight it off.

2. Protecting Baby’s Future Health

Breastfeeding has been connected with a lower risk of a number of conditions later in life. Breastfed babies are less likely to obese, and less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. They have a lower incidence of asthma, allergies and other respiratory issues. Breast milk has also been connected with a lower risk of childhood leukemia.

3. Providing Your Baby with the Perfect Nutrition

Breast milk is not just the perfect baby food; it’s the perfect food for your baby. Every woman produces breast milk that is designed specifically for her own baby’s needs. The balance of nutrition and composition changes over time, meeting the ever-changing needs of your baby’s growing body. This is something formula just isn’t capable of doing. While formula is one size fits all, breast milk is tailored perfectly for the baby it is being made to feed.

4. Protecting Your Health

The newest research indicates that breastfeeding isn’t only beneficial to the baby. Mothers who breastfeed have a lower chance of both breast and ovarian cancer. It also encourages postpartum weight loss, and research shows that not only do breastfeeding mothers lose more weight; they also keep it off better than non-breastfeeding mothers. Despite previous concerns about calcium being leached from the bones of breastfeeding mothers, the newest evidence suggests that breastfeeding actually strengthens bones and results in a lower chance of osteoporosis later in life.

5. Keeping Your Budget in Check

Have you looked at the price of formula recently? It’s expensive, and it adds up fast. Not only does breast milk save you a lot of money on formula, but also on bottles, nipples, washing and sterilizing equipment and probably on laundry too – formula spit up tends to stain while breast milk spit up doesn’t.

Whenever you feel like breastfeeding is just too hard, remember all of these important reasons to carry on. You are doing something incredible for your baby and for yourself, and you will see the benefits for many years to come. Although there may be hurdles to overcome as you settle in to breastfeeding, they will soon be a thing of the past. These benefits however, will last a lifetime.

Is Your Baby Ready for Solids?

Is Your Baby Ready for Solids?

August 24th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

The transition to solid baby foods is the first major transition your baby will face, and everyone has an opinion on the subject. Knowing when your baby is really ready for solids can be a bit tricky, but there are some signs to look for. There is also a great deal of misinformation regarding the transition to solid foods that can cause mothers to add solids before baby is ready. Check your knowledge and find out if your baby is ready to try!

At What Age Should Solids Be Started?

Although traditionally the answer to this question has been anywhere from 4-6 months old, the AAP now officially recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. Every baby is different, however, as you have heard on so many subjects, and there are better indications than age to determine when a baby is ready. While the 6 month mark is a good place to start, your baby might not be ready until 7 months, so don’t stress it! Eventually, your baby will get there.

What are the Physical Signs of Readiness?

There are some physical abilities your baby must master in order to be ready for solid foods. Until baby is physically ready, you won’t have much success and you risk choking. Watch for these signs your baby is good to go:

  • Able to sit up with moderate support, such as in a high chair. This means that baby isn’t just propped up in the chair, but can lean forward as well, and really only needs the chair to prevent falling over.
  • Able to hold up the head well – this should go along with sitting up, most babies who can sit up well enough to start solids have developed their neck muscles enough to hold their heads up well.
  • Losing the tongue-thrust reflex. Babies have a reflex that helps to protect them from choking by causing the tongue to push out foreign matter in the mouth. By 4 months old this reflex starts to fade, but it often isn’t gone entirely until 6 months old. This reflex will make it difficult to get baby to swallow any solid foods. Also around 6 months old, baby will start to master the ability to use the tongue to push food to the back of the mouth to be swallowed.

What Other Signs of Readiness are There?

In addition to the physical development needed to eat solid foods, there are a few other signs you can look for in your baby to tell if it’s a good time to start solids.

  • Baby shows interest in how the others at the table are eating and may reach for your food. The best way to watch for this sign is to bring baby to the table. Pull the high chair up when you are eating, so that your baby can watch what is going on and develop an interest.
  • Baby mimics your eating behaviors, such as bringing food to the mouth or opening up for a bite.
  • Baby has the ability to indicate yes or no either through gestures or simply opening or closing the mouth.

What is Not a Sign of Readiness?

There is some misinformation out there, mainly perpetuated by well-meaning friends and relatives, regarding a baby’s readiness for solids. Just because you have a large baby does not mean you need to start solids earlier. No matter your baby’s size, breast milk or formula are all that is needed for the first six months. Also contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that starting solids earlier will help a baby sleep at night. Night wakings are not a sign of readiness.

Watch for the above signs of readiness to make sure that your transition to solids goes smoothly for everyone!

Breastfeeding for Working Moms

Breastfeeding for Working Moms

August 23rd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Returning to work can be a difficult challenge for moms who would like to continue breastfeeding their baby. In addition to fitting work and family time into your busy schedule, you must now add pumping and cleaning of bottles and pump parts. But if you can manage to find a way, continuing to breastfeed your baby after returning to work is a healthy choice for your little one.

Continued Health Benefits and Immunity

Unless you are one of the lucky few who have a family member able to watch your baby, or can afford a nanny in your home, odds are your baby will be going to daycare when you go back to work. This means baby will be exposed to a lot more germs than at home with you. The antibodies and nutrients a baby receives from breast milk mean a stronger immune system, which could keep your baby from getting sick. While it does take extra time to pump and provide breast milk for your baby, it’s nothing compared to the time you will lose from work if you have to be at home with a sick infant.

In addition to keeping baby’s immune system strong, the longer you breastfeed, the more of the other health benefits your baby will receive. Especially if you are going back to work fairly soon after baby is born, continued breastfeeding until at least 4 months of age will give your baby a good start on the path to health.

Pumping at Work

One of the biggest challenges working moms face is finding both a time and place to pump at work. If you don’t have a private office and don’t want to use the restroom, ask your boss if there is a meeting room or other private space where you can close the door and pump. Some moms also use their car to pump, which might be difficult depending on what your parking space is like.

If you don’t have access to a refrigerator at work in which to store the pumped milk, keep a cooler filled with ice in the trunk of your car. You can safely store your milk there until you get it home. A small cooler bag with an ice pack or two kept near your desk works great too. Cleaning up the pump parts after use can be difficult if all you have access to is a restroom sink. There are convenient wipes you can use to clean the parts quickly, and give them a wash at home – or, keep the parts cold along with the milk until you get home.

Compromises are Ok

If you are really struggling to provide enough breast milk for your baby while working, don’t let it become a source of major stress for you. It’s ok to supplement with formula. Breastfeeding isn’t an all or nothing proposition. Whatever amount of breast milk your baby receives will help. If you choose to use formula during the day and nurse in the evenings, that is ok! You have a lot to deal with, so don’t feel bad if you have to make compromises.

Every bit of breast milk your baby receives will help, so do your best to continue some level of breastfeeding when you return to work, if you can. There is no doubt that it is a challenge that requires some effort and ingenuity, but the benefits to your baby are well worth it.

Dealing with Pain and Engorgement

Dealing with Pain and Engorgement

August 22nd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Especially in the early weeks of breastfeeding, you may experience swelling and tenderness of the breasts. As your milk comes in, your breasts will become engorged and full of milk, and it will take a little while for your body to regulate milk production so this doesn’t happen all the time.

Breastfeeding is supply and demand – the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body produces. In the first weeks, your body needs to figure out how much milk it needs to make in order to meet your baby’s needs. This process usually begins with a lot of milk being produced, but soon the production will settle down to the right level. In the meantime, there are some steps you can take to ease the discomfort.

Relieving Engorgement

The quickest way to relieve engorgement is to let the baby nurse. If baby is sleeping or not hungry, you can express a small amount of milk to take some of the pressure off, but use caution. Expressing too much will tell the body that the baby needs more, setting off higher levels of milk production and making the engorgement worse! The best way to express only a small amount of milk is to do it by hand, avoiding the breast pump. Try taking a warm shower and gently massaging the breasts until the milk lets down. Just the warm water and massage will ease the pain, even if no milk is released. However, if you can get a small amount of milk to come out this way, it will also take off some of the pressure.

Use warm compresses prior to nursing and cold compresses in between feedings to bring down the swelling. Using a cold compress prior to nursing will make it difficult for the milk to let down for baby. A great way to make a cold compress is to put some water in a newborn size diaper and put it in the freezer. Then, simply slip one into each side of your bra for soothing relief. Some women also use cabbage leaves as compresses to relieve engorgement.

Other Sources of Pain

Not all pain during nursing is caused by engorgement. Your nipples may become painful, red and crack or even bleed, especially as they get used to nursing. Lanolin ointments can help to relieve the dryness and cracking. Cold compresses will also help with pain. Make sure to gently clean nipples after nursing and allow them to dry before putting your bra back on to help prevent further problems.

Mastitis, a painful infection of the milk ducts, can occur anytime during breastfeeding, but is most common in the early months. It happens when a milk duct becomes clogged and it is not relieved quickly. Avoid mastitis by making sure to empty the breast completely, nursing baby on both sides equally, and dealing with any sign of a blocked duct quickly. If you notice a tender spot on the breast, a hard area where engorgement is not relieved in spite of nursing, or a general feeling of pain in the breast, you may have a blocked duct. Massage the area gently, apple heat, and allow the baby to nurse regularly to free the blockage. If you notice redness, swelling, or the pain does not go away within a few days, contact your doctor.

Some pain and discomfort during the early stages of breastfeeding is normal, and should resolve within a couple of months. With careful treatment and precautions, you can avoid most breastfeeding pain. However, don’t hesitate to call your doctor if you have continuing problems.

Page 2 of 512345