The Nest Baby Experts

Q: Prepping to Nurse?

2007-12-19T17:05:00Z

Q: "What are the best ways, other than taking a class and/or reading a book, to prepare yourself and your body for breastfeeding before you even give birth?” - jonnasue71

Andi Silverman: You are right that it is a good idea to take a breastfeeding class while you are still pregnant. You’ll learn some basics and have more confidence once your baby is born. Additionally, one of the best ways to prepare is to watch another mom breastfeed. Of course not all babies are the same, but it is nice to familiarize yourself with the process. There are also a lot of websites and blogs that focus on breastfeeding -- you can certainly check out my blog (address below).

Guest breastfeeding expert Andi Silverman is the author of Mama Knows Breast: A Beginners Guide to Breastfeeding and a mother of two. Read her blog at www.mamaknowsbreast.com, and send your questions to editors@thenestbaby.com

Milk blisters >>

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Q: Breast lumps and nursing?

2007-12-19T16:59:00Z

Q: "I have fibrocystic breast disease in both breasts with multiple 'lumps' and I am wondering if this could hinder or cause problems/complications with breastfeeding in any way?" - jonnasue71

Andi Silverman: Everyone’s breasts are different. Some women, who are prone to getting lumps, may have a usually benign condition called fibrocystic breast disease. Any time you find a lump you should see your doctor, just to make sure it isn’t something more serious. As for breastfeeding, the lumps shouldn’t be a complication. You just want to make sure that a lump isn’t a plugged duct that could lead to an infection, so definitely talk to your doctor and a lactation consultant.

Milk blisters >>

<< Sore nipples

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Q: Outside help for new moms?

2007-12-19T16:19:00Z

Q: "What's your general advice for new moms who will be breastfeeding?" -trishie7

Andi Silverman: My main advice for new moms, whether they are breastfeeding or bottlefeeding, is to line up people who can help out around the house. Certainly get your husband or partner on board, and stagger visits from friends and family in order to maximize their help. If everyone comes at once, you’ll just end up entertaining people.

If at all possible, hire someone to help out. A housekeeper or cleaning lady is a great luxury; a post-partum doula can help you take care of the baby and your house work; and a baby nurse is another option as well. Just make sure that you follow your own instincts when it comes to feeding the baby. If your baby is crying and hungry, feed her “on demand.” Don’t let someone else put her on a feeding schedule.

Newborn stress >>

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Q: Prepping to Pump?

2007-12-19T15:52:00Z

Q: "Should I start pumping immediately, or wait? I plan to stay at home for five months and then go back to work." -trishie7

Andi Silverman: You definitely want to get accustomed to using your breast pump before you go back to work -- it can take a few tries to get the hang of it. But, there’s no rush.

Focus on developing your breastfeeding relationship with your baby for the first few months. About a month before you go back to work, learn to use your pump and start storing some milk in the freezer. It’s usually easiest to pump in the morning when you will typically have a good supply.

Pumping basics >>

<< Pumping and work

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Q: Storing breastmilk?

2007-12-19T15:35:00Z

Q: "How do I store pumped milk? Should it always go straight to freezer, or does it go to the fridge first if I am using it soon? And, how do you warm up pumped milk that is stored in bags?" -trishie7

Andi Silverman: Basically, if you plan to use freshly pumped milk, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to eight days. If you can’t refrigerate it right away, it can stay at room temperature for roughly four to ten hours, depending on how hot the room is.

To defrost frozen milk, thaw it in the refrigerator (not the kitchen counter!), which takes about 12 hours. After it's thawed, it can remain the fridge for another 24 hours, but should not be refrozen. You can also hold the package under running water. To heat the milk, put the package in a container of warm water. You can also use a bottle warmer. But NEVER microwave milk or heat it directly on the stove. Store in 1-4 ounce portions to make thawing and warming easier, and make sure to date the milk.

Nursing diet >>

<< Inverted nipples

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Q: Breastfeeding positions?

2007-12-18T23:18:00Z

Q: I can't master free handed BFing -- I always have to hold the breast my son is nursing on because it'll either smother him or pull and eventually fall out. And I can't nurse laying on my side without mangling my breast. I don't think I could hold him up with out my nursing pillow, especially since I have to use one hand for breast wrangling! Is hands-free just not feasible for some?

Andi Silverman: Every mom holds her baby in the way that works best for her. There are certain traditional holds, like the cradle, cross cradle, football and side-lying holds. If you can’t get comfortable feeding him while lying down, then don’t do it. Some women swear by that position because it helps them relax, while others find it awkward. Regardless of which hold you prefer, if it helps to hold your breast with one hand, than that’s what works best for you. There’s nothing wrong with doing that -- just think of it as your special trick to help him eat.

As for the pillow, if he’s young or small, a pillow can be a big help. It raises the baby to the level of your breast so that you aren’t leaning forward to feed him. As your baby gets bigger, you might find that you don’t need the pillow anymore. Everything evolves over time.

Nursing diet >>

<< Inverted nipples

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Q: Acupunture and massage?

2007-12-18T21:45:00Z

Q: "How do you feel about acupuncture and massage during all stages of pregnancy?" -smurph

Dr. Ashley Roman: Acupuncture and massage are generally safe during pregnancy. In fact, they may help relieve some of the most common ailments of pregnancy, such as back pain and swelling!

A few things to look out for -- there are some pressure points that should be avoided in pregnant women, so make sure that your therapist is trained in pregnancy or prenatal massage. If pregnancy has made you more sensitive to smells, an aromatherapy massage may be irritating. After around 20 weeks of gestation, you should not lie flat on your back, so your masseuse should wedge you to one side (usually by placing a pillow under one hip).

If you are carrying a high risk pregnancy or are at high risk for preterm birth, speak with your doctor before scheduling a massage appointment.

Aches and pains >>

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Q: Mammogram in pregnancy?

2007-12-18T21:30:00Z

Q: "I'm wondering if it is safe to have a mammogram while you are pregnant. I am curious as to the risk involved for my baby and me." -dreams_come_true

Dr. Ashley Roman: Risks of radiation exposure depend largely on the gestational age of the fetus and the amount of radiation the fetus is exposed to. Adverse effects to the fetus may include mental retardation, increased risk of developing cancers such as childhood leukemia, and fetal growth restriction.

But, in order to develop any of these adverse effects, the fetus needs to be exposed to a substantial amount of radiation. For instance, the risk of childhood leukemia seems to increase after 1-2 rad of exposure, and a mammogram is associated with only 0.02 rad of exposure. The effect is cumulative, though. So, if you need multiple X-rays or CT scans in pregnancy for whatever reason, the exposure adds up.

The best advice is to speak with your doctor about how necessary the mammogram is during pregnancy. As with most things in pregnancy, you will have to balance the potential risks of radiation exposure to the fetus with the benefit of early detection of a breast abnormality.

Ultrasound info >>

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