Healthy Pregnancy

You may have read that it is necessary to restrict your diet in order to breastfeed. Or that spicy foods will upset your baby’s tummy. Perhaps you have heard that eating certain foods will make “better” milk. Thankfully, nature has ensured that we will make high quality milk for our babies no matter what we eat! In fact, when you eat a varied diet with a wide variety of tastes and aromas, your baby gets to experience a variety of tastes in your milk. This prepares her to enjoy the foods you love when she’s old enough to sit at the dinner table.

So where does this list of “bad foods” come from? It comes from well-meaning professionals and mothers like you who have seen a baby react negatively to a particular food or class of foods. When you see a list of foods to avoid while breastfeeding, use some common sense and consider the following:

If you have food allergies in your family, it may be a good idea to avoid those foods while breastfeeding.

Vary your diet. Don’t eat a lot of one food in the course of a day. I knew a baby who was quite fussy until his mom stopped drinking 8 glasses of orange juice a day! He handled one glass a day just fine.

Go ahead and eat that spicy Thai food. Thai mothers do!

Written by Renee Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC. Renee is a lactation consultant in private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is available for home/hospital visits and phone consultations. Renee can be reached at www.second9months.com

This is a test! Please read the following statements and respond “true” or “false” to each one.

1. If I breastfeed, I have to eat a bland diet.

2. If I eat broccoli, my baby will have gas.

3. If I have a glass of wine, I have to “pump and dump.”

4. I cannot drink coffee while breastfeeding.

5. If I eat chocolate, my breastfed baby will get diarrhea.

6. I have to drink lots of milk to produce milk for my baby.

7. I can’t eat spicy foods and breastfeed my baby.

If you answered false to each question, congratulations! Your score is 100 percent!

1. Babies love a varied diet. One study demonstrated that babies nurse longer after their mothers ate garlic.

2. It is a rare baby who doesn’t like nutritious vegetables. On the other hand, if your baby seems to be gassy after a particular food, try avoiding it for a few days and then re-introduce it just to be sure.

3. Drinking alcohol when breastfeeding is NOT the same as drinking while you’re pregnant. An occasional drink is just fine while breastfeeding.

4 and 5. Caffeine and chocolate in moderation are fine for mom and baby.

6. When was the last time you saw an adult cow or any other adult mammal drink milk?

7. Spicy foods? Mothers all over the world breastfeed and enjoy the foods of their culture.

So, indulge in the nutritious foods you love. Enjoy the occasional pleasure of a glass of wine or some yummy chocolate. You deserve it!

Written by Renee Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC. Renee is a lactation consultant in private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is available for home/hospital visits and phone consultations. Renee can be reached at www.second9months.com

The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is given when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. Most of the time, ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube, but they can also be found in the ovary, pelvic cavity and cervix. An ectopic pregnancy is never viable and immediate treatment is essential to protect the mother from the possibility of internal bleeding from a burst fallopian tube and preserve future fertility. Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester. Women with a history of pelvic inflammatory disorder (PID), previous ectopic pregnancy, past pelvic surgeries or endometriosis have a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancies can be somewhat difficult to diagnose since it is generally early in the pregnancy and a woman may exhibit “normal” pregnancy symptoms until gestation is at a stage where the growth of the fetus puts pressure on the tube. An ectopic pregnancy may include any or all of the following symptoms and warning signs:

• Positive pregnancy test
• Tender breasts
• Spotting or bleeding
• Dizziness or fainting
• Low back pain
• Pelvic pain centered on the right or left side
• Shoulder pain

An early ultrasound will look for the presence of a gestational sac in the uterus to determine whether there is an intrauterine pregnancy (vaginal ultrasounds are quite accurate as long as the pregnancy is far enough along that the sac has developed). The ultrasound may also show whether or not there is fluid in the pelvic cavity, another sign of ectopic pregnancy. A blood panel can ascertain current HCG levels to find out the stage of pregnancy and whether the numbers are doubling each day as they might in the average pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy may show an unusual pattern of HCG and lower lingering levels. In some cases, dropping numbers may indicate that the ectopic pregnancies will resolve like a natural miscarriage by reabsorbing in the body. Others can continue to pose problems even with low levels of HCG particularly when the numbers are not dropping sufficiently as they might in an average miscarriage.

Treatment Options:

Lingering HCG numbers and pain indicate a need for immediate treatment. If the ectopic pregnancy is caught early enough, a doctor can administer the drug methotrexate, an anti-folate that stops cellular replication, helping to end the ectopic pregnancy. With methotrexate, HCG levels are tested in regular intervals thereafter to ensure numbers are dropping sufficiently. Depending on the outcome of the initial treatment subsequent injections may be required. Methotrexate is a popular treatment because it can avoid surgeries that are inevitable once the fallopian tube has burst, risking internal bleeding. Another option is reparative surgery to remove the ectopic pregnancy through laparascopic surgery or removing the portion of the tube affected and fusing the remaining parts together. The chance of having subsequent ectopic pregnancy increases about 15% after the first case.

Do ask your doctor if these stretches/exercises are right for you while on bed rest, but don’t be surprised when she looks at you as if you’re an A+ student going above and beyond. These stretches are simple, but will help to ease out the kinks of being sedentary, and therefore, will make you feel a little better! Remember, a good stretch is always accompanied with deep and steady breathing.

Start by sitting up, with head reaching for the ceiling (spine is lengthening), and an engaged core. Begin with the neck—looking up to the ceiling, and down to your belly button. Inhale as you look up, exhale as you look down. Continue for several breaths. Then look over each shoulder, moving head side to side (always following your breath), then drop ear to shoulder, alternating sides. Finish stretching the neck by taking a few head circles in each direction.

Moving down the body, begin to stretch the shoulders by bringing a straight arm across the body, and pulling the elbow toward the body with the opposite hand. Take a few breaths, and then change sides. Do shoulder rolls, shrugging both shoulders up toward the ears, and then sliding the shoulder blades down the back. Then do arm circles in the same manner, reaching toward the back. Reach one hand behind the head, while the other comes up from underneath and behind the back, clasping hands together. If this stretch is too deep, grab the ends of a sock or a towel to give yourself a bit more slack. Next for the shoulders and chest (still sitting tall), place your hands behind your sit bones on the bed or floor, with your wrists touching, and press palms downward, letting your upper body open.
Focusing on the torso and lower back, gently twist side to side by sitting tall, grabbing opposite knee with opposite hand, and gazing over the shoulder. Hold stretch for 10-20 seconds, and alternate sides as many times as your back and body need. From there, lie down and perform the same twists again, this time reaching the same side arm and knee in opposite directions. The knee comes across body toward bed, and the arm/face/torso reach in the opposite direction.

Focusing on the lower body, hold behind calve, knee, or thigh, and roll ankles. If you have the flexibility and your tummy is not in the way, cross one ankle over the opposite knee, and pull the legs into the body to open hips and stretch the outer thigh (which in turn may help release lower back pain). Take time here, leaving feet in the air to aid blood flow back to the heart. (In fact, prop feet up often to have more energy, lessen edema, and to reduce the chances of varicose veins.)

Once again, focusing on the mobility of the back, come into a bridge pose. Lying down, knees bent, the feet will press into the mattress and gluts will engage to lift the body up, one vertebra at a time, until your body makes a bridge. Raise and lower slowly, letting your breath move the body, and making sure to articulate the spine.

Last stretch. Touching the corners of the universe, lie on your back and stretch the limbs as far as they will go in their respective directions (including fingers and toes). Take several deeps breaths as the body reaches longer and longer, and then take several deep breaths as the body melts into the mattress. (if this is the only stretch you do. It is well worth it. It alleviates postural discomfort by lengthening the spine, opening tight chest muscles (typically manifest in the form of slouching shoulders), and releases tight hip flexors (which in turn releases back muscles and eases back pain).

And there you have it! Do these stretches everyday, and you should be feeling great! Your body will be happy, and bed rest will seem more of a luxury!

There is nothing more comforting than a hearty, nutritious bowl of homemade soup especially as we head into the cooler months of fall and winter. Not only are soups known to promote healthy digestion, but they also support the reproductive organs, which correspond to the Water element in Chinese medicine, favoring cooked foods, slowly simmered in liquid. As an added bonus, the corresponding flavor of the water element is salt, so to build your fertility, immunity and combat stress, I recommend cutting up pieces of dried seaweed like kombu and wakame and adding them to any soups, stews, hot breakfast cereals and casseroles. You will be getting a healthy dose of minerals without compromising on taste!

Adzuki Bean stew

This soup delights the palate and includes healthful onion and garlic which help to build immunity and keep blood flow moving. Spinach, rich in chlorophyll, combines with tomatoes to fortify and purify the blood. Make a big batch of this flavorful soup on a Sunday and enjoy throughout the week! To make this dish suitable for vegetarians make this stew with vegetable stock and omit roasted chicken.

Serves 4
Cooking time: 60 minutes

3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon thyme
2 cups adzuki beans, pre-cooked
32 ounces organic chicken stock or veggie stock
4 whole stewed tomatoes
8 ounces spinach
1/2 cup edamame
Optional: 1 cup roasted chicken (main attraction) or brown rice
Sea salt or dulse flakes to taste

Sauté garlic and onions in olive oil until softened. Add thyme and adzuki beans.
Slowly stir in chicken stock. The longer you allow this soup to simmer, the better it tastes. Finish by adding stewed tomatoes, edamame and spinach, until wilted.

Source: Cooking for Fertility: Foods to Nourish Your Fertile Soul

Bed Rest? While we joke that bed rest would be wonderful, many moms who actually experience it find it can be anything but relaxing. Often times, laying in bed when there are a million responsibilities floating around can be maddening and depressing— creating a mental stress because one can see all the chores, but is not able to do them. Suddenly the desired bed rest can become what seems to be a prison sentence.

The key to surviving—and thriving—with bed rest is to employ a secret that we likely learned back in kindergarten: Adjust Expectations. This is also known as “Blooming Where You’re Planted” or “Making Lemonade out of Lemons,” or “Living in the Moment.” It sounds too simple, but if you try it, you’ll find this philosophy yields amazing results. Honestly. Change your expectations of yourself, and find the joy in the moment. Try these steps:

1) Set in place a network—spouse, relative, neighbor, church associates—who will help to do the essentials around the house.

2) Give self permission to rest—let go of self-imposed deadlines (because most of the deadlines we meet are self-imposed)

3) Focus on what you can do, and what you want to do. Staying in bed is a great time to let your mind workout, even if your body can’t. It is a time to… Actually feel rested, have time to decide on baby names and a myriad of other exciting decisions, to write in your journal, to set goals as a mother, to read up on the latest parenting skills books or to do some handwork… It is also a great time to build relationships—reading to a child, with your husband, or getting in touch with friends. This time can be pure extravagance when you take time to do some of the things you’ve been meaning to get around to.

Remember that bed rest is only for a blink of time—even if it lasts through your whole pregnancy. Your most important goal is to be healthy and make a healthy baby. If that means staying off your feet, then enjoy it! Living in the moment= a life without regret. This is because, instead of waiting for a time to be happy, you are creating happiness wherever you are!

Antioxidants create biochemical bliss at the cellular level – readily neutralizing those destructive molecules called free radicals that are constantly generated within our cells. Plant foods have always been the ideal place to get them and thanks to two new investigations, we should all be even more reassured that we are doing our antioxidant duty when enjoying our fruits and whole grains. Scientists working at England’s Institute of Food Research analyzed apples, peaches, and nectarines for “total” polyphenol content (which is the largest class of antioxidant chemicals) They discovered the fruits contained up to 5 times more of these life-preserving compounds than previously reported (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, July 09).

In the second report, scientists performed another first-of-its-kind evaluation and found that many popular whole grain breakfast cereals, and even whole grain snack foods provide “surprisingly large” amounts of antioxidant polyphenols – gram for gram, levels comparable to those in fruits and veggies! Of the whole grain snack foods tested, popcorn came out on top. For cereals, those made from wheat were the antioxidant winners followed by corn, oats, and then rice. Bottom line, eating the right plant foods are the most powerful weapons you have for combating broad spectrum disease and aging. The antioxidant superstars from the plant kingdom include: red onions, tomatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, red bell peppers, garlic, dark leafy greens, apples, red grapes, berries, pomegranates, cherries, oranges, plums, black beans, kidney beans, tea, dark chocolate, and red wine. Go eat some now!

One of the biggest concerns of new moms is “will I make enough milk?” Most of the time this concern is unfounded because our bodies are beautifully designed to feed our babies. When I work with a mom who truly does not have enough milk to feed her baby, I always ask her if she had any trouble getting pregnant. There are often underlying hormonal issues that can explain the difficulties with milk production.

Luteal phase defect is a common cause of miscarriages. Women with luteal phase defect do not have enough progesterone in the second half of their menstrual cycle. Studies have shown that higher progesterone levels in pregancy result in greater milk production. There is some evidence that progesterone supplementation during pregnancy may help women produce more milk postpartum.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with infertility. It can cause low progesterone and higher levels of testosterone, estrogen and insulin. These women may also have less glandular tissue in the breast—therefore have difficulty producing enough milk. The good news is that these mothers often can increase milk production with the help of herbs or medications. If you have PCOS, meet with a lactation consultant soon after the birth of your baby to get support.

If you experience infertility or other conditions that involve hormones, talk to your health care provider about your desire to breastfeed. Lactation support soon after the birth of your baby will help maximize milk production. And remember that any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial to you and your baby!

Written by Renee Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC. Renee is a lactation consultant in private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is available for home/hospital visits and phone consultations. Renee can be reached at www.second9months.com