Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:05 PM
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
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Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:59 AM
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.
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
QA Index
Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:19 AM
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.
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
QA Index
Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:52 AM
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.
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
QA Index
Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:35 AM
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.
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
QA Index
Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:18 PM
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.
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
QA Index
Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 4:45 PM
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.
QA Index
Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 4:30 PM
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.
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