Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Cards For Baby Shower- Some Thoughts

Pregnancy is a time for celebration and every one comes together to attend a pregnancy celebration and have a fun time. This is a time to spread love and affection amongst the friends and family. After all, a new life is going to arrive into the world any time soon. The pregnant mother will be tired but still ecstatic, and to share her happiness cards for baby shower are sent out. These invitation cards could be sent by email, by regular mail, or by phone. They could be handwritten or printed and they could be formal or funny in style to make the guests and family members have a good laugh.

Send Out The Cards Well In Advance

What you should remember of course is that the cards for the baby shower should be sent well in advance, at least four to six weeks ahead of the date fixed for the baby shower party; so that the guests have enough time to make their travel plans and let you know if they will be able to make it or not.

What You Should Remember While Making Baby Shower Cards

You must also let the guests know the name of the person you are organizing the baby shower for, who is going to be the host or hostess, and if it going to be a surprise event don’t forget to mention it in the baby shower invitation cards. Don’t forget to write down the date and time of the event, the theme of the party, and the favorite colors of the guests of honor. Why not write out some ideas for gifts for the baby shower? These suggestions could prove helpful to the guests in choosing their gifts. Always remember to attach a map and give directions so the guests are able to find the venue easily. You might even want to mention if meals have been planned.

Those were some tips on preparing cards for baby shower. You can be rest assured, if you follow these tips you will be delighted with the response. For more information visit pregnancy period.

The Difficulties Of Feeding With Breast Implants

Breast feeding with breast implants can be very painful. In addition, you may not be able to breast-feed your infant properly, if you have had a breast implant. However, some mothers continue to feed their new born, despite having had breast implants.

What are Breast Implants?

Breast implants or breast augmentation is surgery to have larger breasts. The breasts are implanted with silicone or saline. An incision is made around your areola, cutting off some of the major milk ducts. In the other method, an incision is made under the breast or in the armpit. This method does not damage the milk ducts.

If you have had breast implants, you should monitor the supply of milk from your breasts, to ensure that your baby is getting a proper feed.

Breast Implant Difficulties

Usually, with breast implants, the nerves and milk ducts are damaged, thereby affecting the milk flow. This is because; the milk is not able to pass through the damaged ducts. Another reason is that, the signal sent to the brain to release hormones that produce milk, when the baby breast-feeds, is blocked because of the damaged ducts and nerves.

Doctors still do not know how it will affect your baby, if the silicone in your breast leaks into the milk. This may have a dangerous affect and this is a difficulty with silicone implants.

You also may suffer from breast fullness or engorgement due to the implants. Talk to your doctor about this.

If you are feeding with breast implants, in the early weeks post pregnancy, have your baby’s weight checked often, to make sure it is getting enough milk. You may have to feed it with a supplementary diet. You may bottle feed or formula feed your child as well.

It is wise to consider the pros and cons of having breast implants while feeding, because it can adversely affect nurturing your baby. For more information visit pregnancy period.

Increasing Your Breast Feeding Supply

A first time mother sometimes may face a problem of breast feeding supply. This means that, no matter how much you breast-feed your baby, the baby asks for more milk. What should one do in this situation and how do you increase your breast feeding supply of milk? We suggest that you give yourself a few days and concentrate only on increasing your milk supply using various methods. Some of the methods are as follows:

Nurse frequently

Nurse your baby as frequently as possible. You should nurse your baby for at least one to one and a half hours a day and three hours a night, even if it means waking your baby up to nurse it. Nursing is better than pumping your breasts, because it stimulates breast milk production better. Also, allow your baby to feed on both breasts.

You May Require to Pump Your Breasts

If your baby does not nurse frequently, use a pump to pump out the milk. Each session should last for ten to fifteen minutes.

Allow the Baby to Suckle Your Breasts

You must also allow the baby to suckle at your breast, to meet all it breast feeding requirements. Do not put a pacifier in its mouth at this time.

Avoid Giving the Baby Supplements

Avoid using supplements as a part of the baby’s diet. Do not feed it formula or juices. Only breast feed the baby.

The Right Foods

Eat foods rich in protein and calcium.

Take Enough Rest

You must also take as much rest as possible along with your baby, so that the skin-to-skin contact encourages nursing.

Eat Fenugreek

Fenugreek is a herb that enhances breast milk supply. You can obtain fenugreek capsules at a natural store or your chemist. You will notice an increase in milk supply in a day or two after eating the capsules. You may also notice that your perspiration and urine smell like maple syrup. This is perfectly normal, and fenugreek suits most people, but if you get asthma symptoms or your glucose level changes or you get diarrhea, you must stop taking the pills immediately.

Those were some ways to increase breast feeding supply. If you have any doubts, we suggest that you read more on the topic in good books and health magazines. For more information visit pregnancy period.

Breast Feeding Questions And Confusions Cleared

When you are breastfeeding for the first time, there may be many doubts and questions in your mind. Here are some breast feeding questions answered.

Will the Milk Be Enough for My Baby?

You may often wonder, if the milk your breasts produce will be enough for the baby’s needs. You should know that, if the baby suckles the mother’s breasts correctly, and is allowed to nurse for as often and as long as it likes, your breasts will begin to produce a hormone that creates milk. Those babies, who do not gain weight while breast-feeding, are probably not suckling correctly.

What if My Breasts are small?

Some mothers feel that because they have small breasts, they will be unable to produce enough milk for the baby’s needs. This however is not true, as women with small breasts can produce adequate milk to feed their babies. It is in fact women with larger breasts, who sometimes find it difficult to get their babies to suckle correctly.

Mothers often ask, whether it is all right to feel pain in the breasts while nursing. While nursing, if your baby latches on correctly, you should feel a tugging sensation. Paying attention to positioning can prevent soreness of the breasts. Alternating between breasts can prevent tenderness and soreness. If you feel pain, get in touch with your health care practitioner. You may have a yeast infection.

Should I Give My Baby Water?

In hot weather, if the baby becomes irritable and cranky, you can give it some water, however the mother’s milk provides the ideal mix of nutrients, including water. It is advisable that you drink a lot of water instead.

How Will I Know That My Baby Has Finished Breast feeding?

Your baby will indicate you that it has finished feeding, by leaving the breast.

Is Breast Feeding Better or Formula Feeding?

Breast feeding is any day better than formula feeding. The benefits of breast feeding are many. The mother’s milk contains antibodies that prevent a baby from falling ill. It builds the baby’s immune system and helps in mother child bonding. It also ensures better growth and development and a higher IQ in the child.

We hope those breast feeding questions and answers cleared the air quite a bit. We wish you and your baby, happy bonding. For more information visit pregnancy period.

Breast Feeding Problems And Tips On Nipple Care

Sometimes, the picture of a mother contentedly breast-feeding her offspring is just a picture, when actually you could be facing breast-feeding problems. You could be facing the condition of sore and cracked nipples that begin to bleed or run dry, when you put your baby to your breast.

Causes of Sore Nipples

Usually, sore nipples do not last for more than a few days. The most common cause is when the baby is not able to suckle at the mother’s breast properly. If this is not the reason and your baby latches on properly, you may be experiencing an infection called thrush. The other reasons could be blisters, nipple pain, nipple cracking, or bleeding. You must seek advice of a lactation consultant or a specialized doctor, to help you with these problems.

Taking Care of Your Nipples

Find the most comfortable breast feeding position for yourself. Change positions often. Use pillows to prop up your baby, so that tugging and pulling is less.

Breast feed your baby as often as it likes. If your baby is not left hungry for long periods, then it will not feed at the breast as vigorously. Also, always feed the baby on the less sensitive breast first.

Rub your nipples with ice before breast-feeding, to numb them.

Do not use soap on your nipples, as it dries the skin. Keep your nipples dry, avoid dampness, and expose them to air frequently.

There are other breast feeding problems, such as plugged ducts and mastitis. These can be prevented by taking good care of your nipples. However, if the problem persists, you must visit your health care practitioner.

You should also read a lot of good books and health magazines of medical advice on breast feeding problems. The more you learn about your condition, the better informed you will be, and being well informed is the first step to better health. For more information visit pregnancy period.

Breast feeding Pillows Make Breast Feeding Easy

You’ve just been through the difficult task of delivery. You are thrilled at the sight of your newborn baby, but you cannot help but feel tired all the time and sometimes, even go into a depression. Mothers, its time for you to relax, your baby is born and now when you breast-feed your baby, learn to relax a bit. Why not buy yourself some comfortable breast feeding pillows? Soon you’ll be able to sleep soundly. Give your body a much required break. There are breast-feeding pillows available in all sorts of colors, shapes, and sizes. Treat yourself to one of them. It’s worth it.

Here Are Some Benefits of Breast feeding Pillows

Babies just love them, because they can cuddle into one and sleep or breast feed. It makes the breast-feeding experience more enjoyable and we do not want the experience to be a task, do we? Not just that, mother and baby bond better too.

It is also very comfortable to have a nursing pillow beside you, while you are breast-feeding your baby or resting.

Your baby gets complete support with the nursing pillow when it is breast feeding. This means, you do not have to continuously prop the baby up in your arms. Moreover, you can feed your baby as frequently as the baby asks for, without getting tired.

Often, a first time mother spends a lot of time and energy on finding the right position to breast-feed the newborn. Sit with your back straight and your laps flattened. A breast feeding pillow helps you attain a comfortable position while breast feeding.

All it takes to buy some really great breast feeding pillows is surfing on the net. You can get some very good deals and you will certainly not repent your decision of buying these comfortable breast-feeding pillows.For more information visit pregnancy period.

Breast Feeding Help For First Time Mothers

As a first time mother, you may need some breast feeding help. You may have certain questions and doubts in your mind. What to do if you face exhaustion after the baby is born, when to feed the baby, with what to feed it, and how to feed the baby if you are running dry and your baby is crying. This is the time that lactation consultants and other breast feeding specialists can be of use to you in giving you the required advice.

The Expert Advice of a Lactation Consultant

Many hospitals provide breast feeding help in the form of a lactation consultation, as a part of their pregnancy package. Sometimes, a lactation consultant may work privately also. A first time mother should seek help from a lactation consultant. It is much better to learn by practically seeing how breast-feeding is done, rather than trying to interpret and translate words and pictures. So get to a lactation consultant before you begin to have breast feeding problems or sore nipples.

Your lactation consultant can help you with any difficulties you may have in getting your baby to latch on or suckle or any other health problems the baby may have that affect breast feeding.

Ask your hospital or your doctor for a good lactation consultant. Check their credentials. They should have the IBCLC or the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant qualification attached to their name.

A first time mother, who is having a really bad time with breast-feeding and needs to pump milk or needs breast shells, should take the advice of a lactation consultant.

The La Leche League

Finally, you could also approach the La Leche League and ask a la Leche volunteer to help you out in times of difficulty. La Leche League is a breast feeding charity that has a world wide network. Here, volunteers help mothers by telephone and also through support meetings.

When you need breast feeding help, do not worry. Approach a breast feeding consultant.