The use of nipple shields can provide relief and encourage nipple healing without having to express and bottle feed
Nipple shields are soft silicon covers that go over your nipple before your baby latches to feed. Do this by:
·Expressing a little milk into the shield and smear some on the outside to encourage attachment
·Hold shield in place with fingers as you wait for your baby to open their mouth wide
·Move your baby to the nipple when their mouth is wide
·Hold them firmly until they have a good latch
After one to three weeks of using the shield:
·Your nipples should be completely healed
·Breast milk flow and production is more established
·Your baby is bigger
·You are more comfortable with the feeding process
It is time to encourage your baby to feed without using the shields. Do this by:
·Removing the shield halfway through a feed. Try this during the mid morning feed first as you will usually have more milk and your baby is often more alert
·Continue to focus on removing the shield for all feeds
·Eventually your baby will attach to your nipple without using the shield
Below is a video to give you an idea of what a nipple shield looks like.
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This article was brought to you by Jan Murray, Private Child Health Consultant who is an internationally renowned expert in her field. Jan encourages parents in the area of infant sleep, nutrition, activities and family balance. She publishes regular ezine and blog articles to provide free parenting tips, tools and resources to educate and support those caring for young babies and children. For more online resources visit http://www.settlepetal.com
Baby poo is a good indicator of how a baby is tolerating feeding.
What can a normal baby poop look like?
A newborn baby’s first bowel movement will be greenish-black, thick and sticky. A good one for the dads to learn how to change!
These first poos consists of epithelial cells, lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water which are intestinal substances that an unborn foetus ingests while in the womb.
As a newborn begins to ingest colostrum (mother’s first breast liquid), breast milk and or infant formula this poo will begin to change into a dark brown colour and be less sticky.
When a baby is breastfeeding the poo will progress to a more mustard colour with tiny, white, grainy seed like pieces in it. It will be a very loose consistency and can occur at every nappy change or every few days or even up to 14 days. Unlike a formula fed baby a breast fed baby does not get constipated.
All is normal if a breast fed baby’s poo is mainly mustard yellow and occasionally has green specks and streaks but then goes back to being like seeded mustard.
When a baby is regularly ingesting an infant formula their poo will be a pasty consistency and often green in colour. Each brand of infant formula creates a slightly different variation of the colour green.
Bowel movements may be less frequent than a breast fed baby but to avoid constipation a baby will need to be passing a poo every day or every second day.
A baby that is breastfeeding but has top ups of infant formula will have a variation in between these two poos depending on the ratio of breast milk to formula.
BABY POOP THAT IS NOT NORMAL AND INDICATES THE NEED FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT BY A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
Green frothy poo and possibly associated with unsettledness, bloating, wind and nappy rash
Very liquid consistency with no white seedy bits
A formula fed baby who cries when they poo and the stool is a pebble like consistency
A formula fed baby who has not passed a poo for 3 ormore days
A poo that has streaks of blood in it
A poo that is green with a stringy egg white consistency
Projectile vomiting after 3 consecutive feeds associated with no bowel movement
If you like to include this article in your newsletter or website; you can, providing you include the following blurb with it:
This article was brought to you by Jan Murray, Private Child Health Consultant who is an internationally renowned expert in her field. Jan encourages parents in the area of infant sleep, nutrition, activities and family balance. She publishes regular ezine and blog articles to provide free parenting tips, tools and resources to educate and support those caring for young babies and children. For more online resources visit http://www.settlepetal.com
I have written in the past that foods should not be seen as neither good nor bad, but rather as foods to eat more of, and some foods to eat less of. This also suggests that everything is good in moderation. But think about the moderation principle for a minute. What exactly is moderation? It can mean different things to different people. Where does it stop? What if you eat pizza in moderation, hamburgers in moderation and fried chicken in moderation? Yes, you are only eating specific fast foods in moderation, but you are still living on junk food. Using moderation as a guide to healthy eating can be very vague. It’s too general and open to misinterpretation. How can you break the addictive cycle of sugar and fat by giving yourself regular “hits” under the guise of moderation? I’m not suggestion you eat a perfect diet, but just be wary of justifying regular junk food indulgences under the guise of moderation.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
This is a very important concept to consider while raising your babies and children.
How much tinned, packaged food and takeaway food is good for your growing children?
Yes, make it easy on yourself!! Kids fight home cooking anyway so why bother!!
Is that really teaching our children a good culture for eating and health in the future?
If you like to include this article in your newsletter or website; you can, providing you include the following blurb with it:
This article was brought to you by Jan Murray, Private Child Health Consultant who is an internationally renowned expert in her field. Jan encourages parents in the area of infant sleep, nutrition, activities and family balance. She publishes regular ezine and blog articles to provide free parenting tips, tools and resources to educate and support those caring for young babies and children. For more online resources visit http://www.settlepetal.com
There are choices you make every day that will impact upon your short-term and long-term health. Reflecting on how these choices will impact on your health, and the difference it can make to your quality of life can be a great motivational tool. I have two young daughters, and I was teaching them to ride their bikes without training wheels. This involves a lot of running (staying close behind them making sure they don’t fall). I realised that being fit helped me keep up and enjoy an incredibly rewarding experience with my kids. Take time to reflect on what a difference better health can make to your life.
Prior to discussing the power of probiotics, I have made a confession. I sold an antibiotic for five years. When initially learning about the product, I was passionate about selling its efficacy, safety, etc. I felt that I had a magic pill in my ‘pharmaceutical bag’ that would eliminate any pathogen and improve the patient’s health. Five years later I had a paradigm shift in thinking.
To summarize my thoughts, antibiotics have a purpose. They save millions of lives every year when used properly. Unfortunately the general populous doesn’t have a firm grasp of how to properly utilize antibiotics and how often to take them. Antibiotics are indiscriminant killers that destroy the ‘good flora’ in our systems. Patients wake up in the morning, sniffle, then immediately run to their local family practice physician to demand a prescription antibiotic. Although responsible physicians will send them away and tell the patient to rest, there are large portions that grow weary of the harassment and simply write the prescription. The patient will take the unnecessary antibiotic and potentially cause further long term damage to their immune system. If they continue to feel ‘under the weather’ they may return to the physician’s office and ask for an additional course of antibiotics. NOTE: If your antibiotic doesn’t work the first time, it has FAILED. Asking for a second course is usually a waste of your time, the physician’s time and a waste of money due to the second co-pay.
You can save yourself trips to the physician’s office; significantly reduce the need for prescription medication and energize your immune system with probiotics. If you commit to improving your health through diet (cleaner eating) and exercise, the consumption of probiotics should be a part of your daily ritual. If you’re proactive with probiotics, you can avoid antibiotics. Get it?
Probiotics are live and active microorganisms that aid with digestion and offer protection from harmful bacteria. They flood your system with ‘good’ and ‘protective’ bacteria. You can take a probiotic supplement or consume foods that have been predigested by bacteria or fungi. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, cheese, kimchi and tempeh are fantastic sources for natural probiotics.
I take a strong probiotic every morning along with regular consumption of Greek yogurt with antioxidant rich blueberries. My profession takes me into hospitals, clinics and physicians offices. I’m exposed to harmful pathogens on a daily basis. Due to my diet and emphasis on holistic, preventative health, I’m rarely, if ever, ill.
Does your child have ‘leaky-gut’ syndrome? Many children with autism suffer from this condition. Antibiotics destroy the ‘good/protective bacteria’ in their system while ignoring harmful candida. With the depletion of good bacteria, candida begins to overtake the gut. In basketball terms, candida begins to ‘box out’ the good bacteria for space in the gut. The candida eventually turns into its fungal or mycelial form. The mycelial form is toxic and eventually burrows a hole in the gut. The gut becomes ‘leaky’. A healthy intestine allows nutrients to pass into the blood stream while filtering products like starches, proteins and fats. Children with a leaky gut have a compromised intestinal wall and are unable to filter the aforementioned harmful foreign substances. The leaky gut forces the child’s immune system to work overtime. Probiotics can prevent and reverse ‘leak-gut syndrome’.
Although not a ‘cure all’, probiotics can significantly improve your immune system, treat diarrhea, prevent yeast infections and treat eczema. You can make a significant improvement in your overall health by consuming probiotics on a daily basis. I encourage you to do so.
Harry G. Psaros is the publisher of Health, Nutrition and Wellness (.com)
Iam sure that I am not the only adult who has battled weight gain. Today, merely looking at a piece of cheesecake adds centimetres to my hips. Could this be linked to my poor childhood eating habits? Research reveals, yes. Unfortunately, obesity is not just a physical problem restricting movement but it leads to the body breaking down with conditions such as liver disease, heart disease and diabetes. Add to this low self esteem and social awkwardness leading to relationship challenges and behaviour disorders and the future looks pretty bleak. One in four children suffers obesity in Australia today. As quoted by Jamie Oliver at TED awards “these children are looking at a future with a life expectancy 10 years less than their parents”. Statistically, diet related disease is fast approaching as the number one killer and is a generational and global problem.
Obesity is a preventable disease largely due to the following four areas:
One: The increase consumption of processed and takeaway foods. Everything needs to be quick or better still instant and readily available with minimal preparation. I am not just talking about teenagers; it is starting with babies.
Two: A poor understanding of natural foods and why they are important for good health. Children start their life with canned and packaged foods with no involvement in the preparation or culture around healthy eating.
Three: Minimal outside play. We live in a community with larger houses and smaller backyards and the fear of paedophiles and kidnappers in our streets. Parks can have hidden needles on the ground leaving inside activities a safer more appealing option.
Four: Tired parents who are working and stressed keeping up with the demands of life and financial pressure, take the easy option for pre prepared foods. Children are often tired and cranky after being in care and getting home late. Giving them what they demand isn’t always the healthiest option but it prevents arguments.
Here are four easy steps to start a healthy future for your baby or child?
One: Be kind to their developing liver and limit or better still avoid highly processed and packaged foods containing preservatives.
Two: Decrease their likelihood of developing obesity and related diseases by limiting or avoiding simple carbohydrates and refined sugars which are stored as fat if not used.
Three: Encourage plenty of supervised playtime in the fresh air. Create bigger backyards.
Four: Take control. Shopping shelves are stacked with nutritionally lacking foods but it is you who chooses what stays out and what goes in your trolley.
When you familiarize babies and children with whole foods eaten at regular intervals with daily physical activity, you are demonstrating healthy habits for life. Weight gain and associated lifestyle changes creep up slowly and insidiously, robbing us of abundant life.
If you like to include this article in your newsletter or website; you can, providing you include the following blurb with it:
This article was brought to you by Jan Murray, Private Child Health Consultant who is an internationally renowned expert in her field. Jan encourages parents in the area of infant sleep, nutrition, activities and family balance. She publishes regular ezine and blog articles to provide free parenting tips, tools and resources to educate and support those caring for young babies and children. For more online resources visit http://www.settlepetal.com
If you have ever felt a wave of panic when you drop your children off at family day care; you are not alone.
Many parents are concerned about how happy their children are throughout the day and their associated behaviour. Did you know that how parents manage their children at home has a direct influence on their behaviour at family day care? Here are three of the top influences that could be affecting your child’s behaviour.
Influence One:Sending your child off for the day without a suitable breakfast or no breakfast. Food is fuel to a child’s body. What they eat determines the capacity of their output. If your child has no food or unsuitable nutrition at breakfast, it can lead to them having poor concentration with emotional outbursts of frustration or an inability to cope in challenging situations. They can also be uncoordinated and clumsy leaving them more at risk of falls.
What to do instead:Avoid giving your child milk throughout the night. This will allow them to be hungrier in the morning. Ensure the foods you offer for breakfast include protein, complex carbohydrates, fruit, essential fats and iron. Avoid simple sugars and processed cereals containing preservatives.
Influence Two:Putting your child to bed too late in the evening.Being overtired before going to bed makes it hard for your child to settle to sleep. When they eventually fall asleep their sleep is often restless and fitful with waking. Their activities before a late bedtime often include watching TV and mischievous behaviour, both causing unsettled sleep.
What to do instead:Introduce an age appropriate evening routine.This will include a suitable meal time, bath time and play time before a pre bed time routine of books. Encourage family time with no TV distractions during the one and a half hours before bed.
Influence Three:Eating foods that provide an unsuitable and adverse effect on a child’sbody.Research shows obesity now affects 1:4 children in Australia and allergies and intolerances have increased 500% over the last 6 years. These preventable health issues are rapidly becoming the number one focus for our health industry’s funding.
What to do instead:Go back to basics. Avoid or at least reduce the amount of pre packaged food that your child consumes. Buy a lunchbox suitable for presenting natural foods in. Understand your child will not starve and you can create new habits with their eating behaviour. It is important to know; it is not up to your child to choose what to eat, only whether to eat. It is up to responsible adults to show children how to build a strong and healthy body for their future.
Jan’s book ‘taste it’ is available from www.settlepetal.com andis specifically helpful for parents wishing to address the influences discussed in this article.
It concerns me as I watch families with babies and young children:
eating pre packed processed foods at home as well as in day care and school lunch boxes
consume regular takeaway food
children watching TV while meals are being prepared
eating snacks as well as meals infront of the TV either alone or as a family
What destiny are we leading our children towards? Are we slowly killing our children?
Obesity is a preventable disease. In Jamie Oliver’s video clip below it is his wish to teach children about food in schools and inspire families to cook again. It is my wish to get in even earlier than that and teach parents to start their babies off with the best first mouthfuls. Make real changes for your child’s destiny today that will pass onto future generations. Make real changes now for the future and learn to cook and share an enjoyable culture around eating.
Breast milk of course is the absolute best milk for your baby during the first one or two years but if this is not possible there are other alternatives; but which one do you choose?
In days gone by babies were given watered down ‘carnation milk’, ‘condensed milk’ or cow’s milk; some added ‘Pentavite’ for vitamins, some did not. Research has shown that these are not the best choices for babies and could even do harm.
Today in 2010, we are fortunate enough to have infant formula that has been researched, modified and tested and continues to be researched to provide milk closest to living breast milk. It is commercially synthesised therefore it will never reach the premium standard of natural breast milk but at least it has to be better than what our ancestors used.
Up until the age of 12 months a baby requires an infant formula for optimum digestion and nutrients.
There are many types and brands of milks listed under the age categories of starter (1), follow on (2) or toddler (3). ‘Starter’ and ‘Progress’ formulas are complete food substitutes but ‘toddler milk’ is like a vitamin in milk form and not a food substitute. ‘Progress’ (2) formulas have added iron and nutrients for increased growth and development requirements but if the ‘starter’ formula is better tolerated after six months and solid food has been introduced then it is not absolutely necessary to use.
Cow’s milk based infant formula – This is commercially modified cow’s milk to resemble breast milk and is suitable for most babies. It is not suitable when babies have a cow milk protein allergy, lactose intolerance or have parents who want to keep away from animal based foods. Some milks have now been further enhanced with added docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Omega – 3 fatty acids and prebiotics and probiotics for added immunity and digestion. Research is ongoing for even further refinements.
Goat milk based infant formula – This commercially modified goat milk contains slightly less lactose than cow’s milk with the protein similar to cow’s milk but forms a softer non clustered curd. These facts can make goat milk formula easier to digest for some babies.It is more rapidly digested therefore can be helpful for a baby with reflux.
Soy based infant formula – This milk is commercially made from the soya beans which have similar protein content to cow’s milk. It contains lactose. During processing the protein is isolated without its cofactors needed for digestion and metabolism and therefore is not a good choice for babies.
Lactose free infant formula (LF)- This milk is usually cow milk based and has no lactose. This formula may help babies who suffer from excessive wind, explosive poos and unsettled sleep patterns due to lower bowel pain.
Anti Refluxinfant formula (AR)- This is usually a cow milk based formula that has been thickened using either carob bean gum or maltodextrin (enzymatically derived from any starch but usually corn or wheat). This thickened milk is for babies who have difficulty keeping milk down. Depending on the thickening agent used this milk may not be suitable for babies who are lactose or wheat intolerant.
Protein modifiedcow milk infant formula (HA)- In this milk the cow milk protein has been broken down to make it easier for babies to digest and is an alternative milk for babies who have a primary risk of dairy allergy. Do not use if a baby has already been exposed to dairy through breast milk or another formula.
Protein free infant formula – An extensively hydrolysed 100% whey protein specialty formula for babies with a diagnosed dairy protein or soy allergy. Medical supervision is required for babies on this formula and in Australia is only available by script.
Casein dominant or whey dominant infant formula –Whey and casein are the proteins found in milk. Whey dominant formula is the most common on the market, is closest to breast milk and digested quicker than casein based. Very hungry babies are thought to do better on casein dominant formula.
After 12 months a baby’s gut is mature enough to progress onto cow’s milk or an alternative such as rice milk, oat milk, soy milk, goat milk or toddler milk. These milks are not natural or organic but the choice of which one to use is yours. Babies require full fat milk until at least 2 years old.
Goat milk has a similar protein in a comparable quantity to cow’s milk but forms a softer, non clustered curd and contains slightly less lactose, possibly making it easier to digest.It is more rapidly digested, therefore may be helpful for an infant with reflux or frequent positing. It is usually not tolerated by those who have a cow milk protein allergy.
Cow milk is a nutrient dense food when ingested in its raw organic form (breast milk or unpasteurised milk) but unfortunately vitamins and minerals are lost today with the pasteurisation and homogenisation process (heating it to make it better for us!) There is also a difference in milk produced from relaxed cows grazing in open fields of grasses and flowers to a mass produced commercially fed cow living in overcrowded cement floor stalls. Milk just isn’t the same milk as years past. Lactose free cow’s milk is also available.
Soya milk is made from soya beans and has the equivalent amount of protein to cow’s milk therefore it is not tolerated if allergic to cow milk protein. Research shows that processed soy can prevent the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. The commercial processing involved in isolating the protein in soya beans leaves out the natural digestive and metabolism cofactors, deeming soya milk often difficult to digest.
Rice milk is made from brown rice, has no lactose and is usually fortified with vitamins and minerals, and is higher in carbohydrate and lower in protein and calcium. A suitable milk alternative when cow, goat and soy milks need to be avoided.
Oat milk is made from whole oats making it higher in fibre than other milks. It is usually calcium fortified and naturally sweet.
Toddler milk is marketed for toddlers 12 months to 3 years. Yes, it contains added nutrients and iron but if a toddler’s diet is adequate then this milk is unnecessary. It can be helpful for a poor eater as it increases iron into their diet which will improve their appetite as well as supplying a balanced amount of nutrients. Do not give more than the required milk intake as it is NOT a substitute to food.
Depending on your breastfeeding routine, alcohol consumption as with all aspects of your diet while breastfeeding needs to be carefully considered. Generally it is not recommended that mothers drink alcohol while they are pregnant or during breastfeeding.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding your baby’s development and nutrition is directly effected by all that you consume. That includes absolutely everything and if you drink then alcohol impacts too. Alcohol has been shown to have adverse effects on unborn babies even in small amounts, and there is direct transfer of alcohol to breastmilk in breastfeeding mothers. Peaks in exchange from blood stream-breastmilk are from 30mins to 1hour post drink so it can take from 3-4hrs to clear alcohol from your system and be safe to feed again when you are breastfeeding.
During breastfeeding, breastmilk is the most critical source of fats and immune-building products your baby can get. Keeping your own diet and health at optimum level is vital to ensure you have a great milk supply for your baby so they can thrive. Alcohol can interfure with your breastfeeding and whether to consume alcohol while you are breastfeeding or wait until you have finished is an important decision to make.
Research advises that regular alcohol intake can reduce breastmilk production and be hazardous to your baby. And in fact breastfeeding mothers who drink are advised not to co-sleep with their baby due to suffocation dangers. Alcohol content in breastmilk can contribute to both overactivity and lethargy in your baby and may have unknown effects on development. If you do choose to drink alcohol, we advise you exercise extreme caution and moderation and follow some basic guidelines to prevent problems and danger.
• Regular (daily) alcohol consumption is not recommended as it can result in a cumulative effect on your system, on breastmilk or on breastmilk production. Medical research advises that alcohol consumption be restricted to not more than one standard drink every few days or once per week for breastfeeding mothers who choose to drink. Where 1 standard drink = 12 oz of 4% beer, 5 oz of 12% wine. This could be changed to metric measures as well.
• Research advises that consumption be restricted to drinks of low alcohol concentration, not more than 12% (concentration of a standard wine) and mixed with soda, or other to be a diluted alcoholic drink. Or as an alternative, consume a large drink of water or juice after the alcoholic drink.
• Other medical recommendations include that alcoholic drinks be consumed with a meal to slow down digestion and reduce the rate of alcohol released into the blood.
It is difficult to organise to drink alcohol while you are breastfeeding, babies always demand when you least expect it and as well as its adverse effects it is widely discouraged by the medical community.
Many women do not drink alcohol while they are breastfeeding and maintain their health with an optimal diet, of 5-6 smaller meals per day and lots of water, juice, nuts and fruit, lots of treats and plenty of rest. If you do have to drink, always give your body plenty of time (at least 3hrs) to process the alcohol before you serve breastmilk again and always follow an alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic one. Keep in contact with your health professional while you are breastfeeding to identify any problems or discuss your concerns.
Article researched and written by Tabitha Lloyd for Jan Murray. We hope this article has been of interest.
