Tag: #breastfeedingmom

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Review of New borns and new moms #myfriendalexa

New borns and new moms

BLURB:

As soon as a baby is born, a woman’s life is engulfed by inevitable chaos. Newborns and New Moms dispels the confusion new mothers in urban India often go through.

Drawing from her own experience as a mother and her years as an accomplished and empathetic family physician, Dr Farah Adam Mukadam offers valuable tips and advice tailored for Indian parents through a book that:

Prepares a mother for her new life once the baby comes home
Validates Indian traditions surrounding childcare from a scientific and modern perspective
Provides insights about what to expect from family members and how to handle complex domestic circumstances after childbirth
Covers pertinent topics like mastering breastfeeding, accepting your changed body, postpartum mental and sexual well-being and readjusting to work after maternity leave
Contains useful tips for expecting couples in the age of Covid-19
Packed with wisdom and strengthened by real-life examples, this accessible how-to is the inspiration you need to embrace and enjoy motherhood.

MY REVIEW :

Whoever said that a toddler is a blender without a lid failed to relate this to a new mothers brain.

Being a new mother myself, there were a lot of things running in my mind. The baby, my toddler, my elderly parents and the covid pandemic that added itself to my ever piling up list of worries.

It was the right time that I grabbed Farah’s book which was exactly like she had a CCTV control room at her office.

A new mother is confused about her capabilities of mastering Breastfeeding, accepting her bodily functions post delivery, mental and sexual well-being yes that’s important too after delivery and adjusting herself to workplace post maternity.

Farah writes about postpartum care of the new mother. Most households have a similarity in the confinement period, belly binding ( you need not be in a hurry, but yes you could do it if you are comfortable and want to get back to pre pregnancy body ) .

The diet that the new mother is advised to what she can and what she has to avoid inorder to have a smoother transition.A set of general guidelines outlining the must be done and mustn’t be done. The meal should be simple, light, according to the mother’s taste and special foods that need to be mandatory in her meal. A lovely meal plan for new mothers charted by Farah is an easy guide for all new moms. The meal plan makes it easy for making prior preparation so that she doesn’t have to spend much time cooking.

Baby’s sickness and health is the four chapter where we get to know about various conditions pertaining to baby growth, brain development, colic, spit up and constipation. The doctor unapproved substances like Kajal, castor oil but are a must as per family traditions are very well explained on why being termed as unapproved.

Breastfeeding chapter discusses about the basic know how’s , preparation and must haves.A separate section about saboteurs and self doubters is something I really enjoyed reading and relate much. The field of lactation is been made aware only recently. We only knew about gynecologist and paediatricians. But the role of lactation consultant in between these two is known recently and is helping families from switching to formula and instead correct issues in breastfeeding. The appearance of bumps during breastfeeding, the causes and first aids to be followed are explained clearly so that you can conclude what you are suffering from.

A separate chapter on body image issues faced by women postpartum clearly explains why women look the way they are post delivery. A workout routine and eating right to keep metabolism levels up also helps new mothers to get back to their pre pregnancy weight.

PPD or postpartum depression would be the next word on Google suggestions if you type postpartum. Farah discusses about mood swings and ways to divert yourself.

The bedrooms after the baby, right from sleeping with the baby to getting back to sex life what you need to know is just waiting for you to read. All your doubts and inhibitions would be cleared very well once you read this book.

Just a like an extra wish, as a new mother, you could also offer your advice and care to couples who are planning for pregnancy during this time of #pandemic . Yes Farah has an exclusive epilogue just to address this.

At simple usage of words, mix of her personal and other real life experiences from patients, Farah makes this book a go to guide for every #newmother .

BOOK DETAILS

Format : Paperback

Pages : 288

Publisher : Pan

Price : Rs. 319

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Farah Adam Mukadam is a family physician from Bengaluru, India. She completed her MBBS from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and holds a Diploma in Family Medicine. She is a mother of two kids, a six-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. She is a consulting physician at Narayana Hrudalaya Multispecialty Clinic, Bengaluru and has a special interest in providing breastfeeding and postpartum support to new mothers. She has a YouTube channel called ‘Momstein’ where she often busts myths around contemporary medical aid.
Instagram @dr.farah_momstein
Facebook @dr.farahadam


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The invisible load of Breastfeeding mom

Breastfeeding mom

When a baby is born, the mother is also born. The anxiety, stress, tiredness from delivery still takes days for her to settle down. But is she prepared for the invisible load.

No matter how much a mom is prepared for her journey post delivery, she still undergoes a lot of things unsaid and her mind is always preoccupied.

Being a new mom myself let me list them out.

Being the only one who can feed

Yes, if you are an exclusive breast feeding mom, you’re the child’s only source of food. Your duty cannot be passed on or taken over by someone else.

But if you would want your milk to be fed to your baby , you could pump, you at least have that exclusion. No, that needn’t make you feel guilty.

Staying hydrated

Yes, staying hydrated is part of your new mom schedule. You need to keep yourself hydrated in order to make milk that would suffice your baby’s hunger. Yes load yourself with water, flavoured , unflavoured, juice, buttermilk, milkshakes but limited caffeine. Definitely no alcohol.

Leaking milk and blocked duct

This definitely needs to be said. Milk leaking on your favourite shirt ,dress. You ain’t going without your breast pads on. The blocked duct and don’t forget to mention the pain that it offers you. Oh my god, nobody told me that if you make excess you’re going to suffer. So make sure your baby empties your breast it you at least pump the milk out to save yourself from pain that the engorgement gives you.

Feeling tired of being touched

With constant feeding, hugging and cuddling though it does have a lot of positive effects like the absolute delightful bond between mom and child, increased milk production, at times you just feel tired and don’t want to be touched. Especially if you’re co-sleeping or during the growth spurts when you cluster feed at times you get too tired and drained out especially the breasts.

Worry they’re getting enough

That mom guilt you get whether you’re making enough for your child. The constant thoughts that your mind keeps getting whether the child is full. You touch their stomach, see if they burped and are sleeping well. It’s an age old quotient they say, well fed baby sleeps well. Those were people who didn’t know about growth spurts, regression, colic and so on.

You’re Cinderella clock is only 2-3 hours

Yes, your baby needs you so you definitely aren’t getting away anywhere for more than a maximum of three hours. They want you to cuddle them , hold them and feel you so you better get back earlier.

Pumping and labelling

Did I tell you the hack that even if you’re the only source of nutrition you could excuse yourselves by pumping. I forgot to mention that pumping has its own accompaniments too. Yes labelling the pumped milk and storing them. The different temperatures to store and the time period they can be stored to be used. So now your refrigerator has extra compartmental spaces for your milk so keep out those squashes, cakes , juices and pizza out.

Adjusting caffeine alcohol and diet

I did mention while talking about being hydrated that caffeine has to be taken in moderation. If you’re someone who could survive without caffeine I’d clap my hands or if you’re someone like me who needs a dose of it everyday, make sure you get it before evening. A strict no to alcohol, but if you’re too addicted make sure you don’t feed the baby at least for 6-8 hours.

Diet is yet another aspect where you got to make adjustments and compromises. Yes , the postpartum diet is healthy and makes you put on a lot of weight. They say feed the mother well so the baby gets enough so in the process you tend to put on those extra kilos. Learning to say no or not to get tempted seeing your favourite foods which aren’t part of postpartum diet. Though they say the food taken by the mother doesn’t affect the baby, it all depends on the baby in the end.

Being the one waken up for night feeds

The night feeds especially the ones immediately post delivery the next one to four weeks are tiring and makes you lose sleep. Again you’re the only source you will have to wake up when your baby needs milk. But if you’re someone who doesn’t want to look at your husband whose happily sleeping like a baby, I’d say you pump and make him feed or make him get you some midnight snacks you could munch on.

Limited dress options

Did I tell you that you have limited dressing options too. Don’t let your eyeballs bulge out. The need to nurse makes you have only very little options for wardrobe and don’t forget that the boobs need to be secured well inorder to not sag and most importantly not to reveal when they leak. Not to forget those elderly advices hide your breasts you’re a feeding mom, people might look at you.

When to wean advices

The most important or needed purchases post your delivery is good pair of airports or headphones. You might need them for a longer period until you decide to wean your child upon your own will. Untill then the advices keep pouring in stating reasons like milk isn’t enough or the baby is growing and needs solids. Happily plug in your ears and listen to some soothing music or watch your favourite series and don’t give a heed. You’re the mother and who exactly know when to start solids for your child. Until then keep calm and offer your breasts happily.

Responsibility of the weight

As long the baby is breastfed the weight factor depends completely on you. You take full responsibility if the baby is gaining or no. Here’s one other reason for moms to stress on. But let me say as long as your baby is happy and active don’t get the number get into your mind. Your baby needn’t be plump when compared to others nor is going for a weight lifting competition for you to worry about.

So let me tell you though these are invisible loads keep yourself calm and composed you can do it. Keep telling yourself that you’re a good mother and doing the best for your child. That’s the mantra to keep yourself going.

Also check out what Arti has to say and what Debidutta shares about sanitizers.

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Ten Breastfeeding Myths Busted

Soon after a woman delivers , advices start pouring in from all directions. Starting with healing from delivery, Breastfeeding, taking care of baby, postpartum care and what not. Most often they are centered around some age old myths that have been in place. Let’s take a look at the top ten myths relating to Breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding myths busted.

1 Do not nurse when you’re sick.

Our bodies produce antibodies when we’re sick. When we continue to breastfeed babies, the antibodies we produce to fight against sickness gets transmitted to the babies and helps in raising the immunity levels in them. During these times where covid19 is at its peak of spreading, breastfeeding is a great way to protect babies. WHO has also issued guidelines that a mother who is covid positive can continue breastfeeding her baby and this is in a way much better to protect the baby against infections.

2. Small breasts do not produce enough milk.


Size of breasts doesn’t decide the amount of milk. Every woman has the ability to produce breastmilk for her baby. So the size of the breasts be it big or small doesn’t decide the quantity that would be produced.

3 Prepare your breasts and nipples by toughening them for Breastfeeding.


Nipple stimulation can induce labour, just gently massage them and they would do their job. In olden days ghee was used to massage the breast and nipples. Though this is a tradition that is being followed even now , sometimes could lead to preterm labor.

4 . Clean your nipples before every feed.


This is much important for bottle feed. This was a precaution cause impure nipples can lead to bacterial formation and later lead to health hazards. But when it comes to Breastfeeding, you needn’t clean your nipples each time. Cause if you do, you are wiping away the lubrication that’s is being provided by the oils from the glands.

5. Eat bland food when you’re breastfeeding


Eat anything in moderation that won’t affect the baby. The food that you eat is fully digested and then utilised to produce breastmilk. Hence the food is broken down before breastmilk preparation. So you can eat anything, but in moderation.

6. Breastfed babies tend to be clingy and dependent


Studies have proved that breastfed babies have grown up to be more independent. Quite often when women say they are breastfeeding post age one, the immediate comments they get is you are making your baby much clingy. The kids will be dependent on you. Breastfed babies actually tend to be more independent and capable of being more stronger .

7. You can’t get pregnant when you’re breastfeeding.


We’ve been told ovulation doesn’t occur when you breastfeed, but you can’t trust that to be birth control method. It is true that Breastfeeding can help in relating period and so ovulation doesn’t occur. But it is not always a trusted method of birth control. So it is always advisable to consult your doctor for a suitable birth control method.

8. Do not nurse when you have blocked duct or infection.

Nursing often doesn’t lead to blocking. Nursing during duct actually clears it up. Blocked duct most often can be cleared if you feed after got or cold compress. But inorder to avoid duct formation its always adviced to feed frequently.

9. Drink milk to make your milk.



Even if you do not drink milk your supply won’t be affected. Drinking milk is not the only way to produce breastmilk. Intact no food is said to boost supply, each woman has the won ability to produce breastmilk for their baby. Whether or not they drink milk, their breasts would be producing breastmilk.

10. If your breasts don’t grow when you’re pregnant you cannot make enough milk.

Generally breasts go up by one or two cup sizes for most women when they’re pregnant. But that does not decide if you produce more or less breastmilk. Whether they grow or no your breasts will be making milk.

So ditch the myths and continue breastfeeding. That’s what our babies needs.

If we have myths busted for Breastfeeding why not parenting myths debunked. Read on to know more.

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