Healthy Pregnancy

Even though I love to eat salad, I’m always feeling like I could use more greens in my diet. Greens are, in fact, way easier for us digest when we chew extremely well (which Paul Pitchford told me is at least 30 chews per bite) or in my new favorite form: the green smoothie. My doctor was kind enough to share the work of a local Ashland Oregon author Victoria Boutenko who wrote Green Smoothie Revolution. This book has really changed the way I eat. Victoria herself is mostly a raw foodist, which is something I am not. I believe that lightly cooked foods can be a lot easier to digest and it’s generally what I recommend to my fertility clients. That said, the Green Smoothie Revolution has bridged the two worlds of raw and cooked foods for me. By using a powerful vitamix or comparable blender, the green are liquefied making them highly digestible and I would argue absolutely delicious.

Beyond being a fabulous source of chlorophyll, a lot of the research in the green smoothie revolution is based on the fact that human beings are most compartable to chimapnazees. In fact we share about 99% in dna structure. While we do a lot of testing on these animals about various human conditions, not enough consideration has been given to their diet and what makes them healthy. What Victoria concluded is that it is there above average intake of greens. Also the way they break down the cellular wall structure to access the nutrients present in the cellular walls. With this level of nutrition, hydrochloric acid is increased in the gut which contributes to many healthy benefits including: improved digestion, increase in dietary fiber, increase in chlorophyll rich blood building properties, decrease in inflammation, gentle detoxification and more energy. I would highly recommend reading Victoria’s book to hear about all the incredible benefits derived from drinking one quart of green smoothie per day.

Every day I fill the blender with variations of the following ingredients:

2 cups filtered water
a bunch of kale
a bunch of spinach
½ a peach
½ a banana
a handful of blueberries

Kathryn Flynn is the author of Cooking for Fertility: Foods to Nourish Your Fertile Soul. Kathryn supports men and women worldwide in achieving a healthy pregnancy through nutrition and lifestyle changes in her individual fertility nutrition consultations. For additional information, please feel free to email Kathryn.

On my birthday I wondered what my mother was thinking before she went into labor?

Had she taken any childbirth classes? (No.)
Was she informed on what was going to happen with her body? (No.)
Was she scared? (Yes!)
Was my Dad going to be with her during labor and birth? (No.)
Was she allowed to make her wishes known to her OB? (No.)
Was she put under for the birth? (Yes.)
Did she have help at home after the birth? (Yes, her mom.)
Was she planning to breastfeed? (Yes.)

These questions are as common as mosquitos in the woods. They were common when I was born and still are today. The answers above were the norm in my mom’s day. How lucky we are that today’s answers are different .
Today we have professional people such as doctors, midwives, hospital staff, and doulas who will listen to the needs and wants of the birthing moms. There are options!

There are options for inducing labor, options for pain relief, options for pushing, options for feeding your baby, whether it’s breastfeeding or bottle, placenta encapsulation or not, immunization options and the list goes on & on.

Comparing the answers to my moms birthing experience and todays birthing moms I want to think that today all of the “no” answers would be “yes.”

These are things that I see or read every day: From my clients, from professionals and websites focusing on newborn issues. Each one of these statements could be an entire post. As time goes on, I hope to link each myth with a thorough explanation as to why it’s a myth. But for now, read these and remember they are MYTHS!

Breastfeeding is painful for the first few weeks.

Engorgement is normal and is a sign that everything is going well.

There is not enough milk during the first few days after the birth, so most babies need some formula until the milk “comes in.”

Many women do not produce enough milk.

A baby should be on the breast for a certain amount of time.

A mother should wash her nipples with soap before feeding the baby.

Pumping is a good way of knowing how much milk you have.

If a mother is planning to breastfeed, she should buy a pump.

Infant formulas are almost the same as breast milk.

Doctors know a lot about breastfeeding.

Some babies are lactose intolerant.

Nipples need to “toughen up” in order to breastfeed.

If you give a baby a bottle, he will not like the breast any more.

If you breastfeed you will sleep less than if you bottle feed.

You can’t eat your favorite foods if you breastfeed.

Breastfeeding makes your breasts sag.

If you breastfeed, everyone can see your breasts.

After 6 months, breast milk provides no more benefit to the baby.

If you have twins or more, you will definitely need to use formula.

Your baby will sleep longer at night if you give her a bottle of formula.

If your baby doesn’t breastfeed in the first week, he probably never will.

If you have flat nipples, your baby won’t be able to breastfeed.

Have you encountered any myths about breastfeeding? Have you heard some things that just don’t sound right? Please, post them here in the comments box. I would love to hear from you!

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

You already know that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus. Even moderate drinking can cause devastating brain damage. But what about breastfeeding? Does that glass of wine you enjoyed with dinner pass into your breast milk?

The short answer is, “yes.” The alcohol you consume enters your bloodstream almost immediately and, therefore, is in your milk rather quickly. Even though the alcohol does transfer to your milk, the amount of alcohol your baby experiences is much less than the amount you drink. Unlike the placenta, the breast provides some protection from most toxins in your bloodstream. According to Dr. Thomas Hale, the dose of alcohol in milk is less than 16% of the mother’s milk.

The amount of alcohol in your milk will peak 30 to 60 minutes after you enjoy your drink. After that time, the alcohol level decreases rapidly as long as you don’t have another drink. Alcohol is not stored in your milk. It quickly dissipates as your blood-alcohol level decreases.

There is no need to “pump and dump” if you enjoy an alcoholic beverage. But it is a good idea to time your drink for just after a breastfeeding session. That way most of the alcohol will be out of your bloodstream by the time your baby wants to eat again.

What about alcohol and milk supply? Many mothers are told to drink a beer so their milk will “come in” faster. Perhaps your mother advised you that beer would increase your supply. On the contrary, we now know that alcohol inhibits oxytocin release. Since oxytocin is responsible for your milk-ejection reflex or let down, alcohol consumption actually decreases the amount of milk released from the breast during a feeding.

Drinking during breastfeeding is a personal choice—one of many decisions that you will make as a mother. The bottom line is that alcohol in moderation, keeping in mind the timing of your drink, is probably not harmful. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists alcohol as “usually compatible” with breastfeeding. Excessive drinking can, however, lead to developmental delays.

Your milk is the best thing for your baby. Planning your alcohol consumption is advised over using formula to replace milk that may contain a small amount of alcohol.

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

Many parents find that swaddling helps their newborn sleep for longer stretches. For sleep deprived parents, this is a good thing. But is swaddling good for babies?

Swaddling done correctly should not cause any problems for your baby’s physical development. A recent study published in the journal, Pediatrics, demonstrated that the practice of baby wrapping for extended periods in Mongolia, caused no harm. The Mongolian infants reached motor milestones right on target. Still it’s important to follow some common-sense guidelines to make sure your swaddling technique does not interfere with your baby’s development.

Dr. Charles Price, director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) in Orlando, offers the following words of wisdom:

• Swaddle so that your baby can move her legs a bit. Pinning her legs down or pressing them together forces her hips and knees into an extended position. This extension can lead to hip problems.
• Look for a a swaddle blanket that is approved by the IHDI. One example is “Halo SleepSack Swaddle.” Baby’s arms can be snug, but her legs can move.
• Use cotton or other light fabric that allow breathability and movement.
• Swaddling should stop when your baby can roll over.

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

Both my husband and I were surprised to become a cosleeping family when our newborn arrived.  We had heard about the “family bed” concept and it’s pros and cons from more experienced friends.  It happened right from the get go when the nurse handed me my baby along with a handout about safety considerations for cosleeping.  In the “olden days” my mother in law told me they’d take the baby to the nursery to give the new mother a good nights rest.  Not in our case!  As it was, the nurses seemed to know what I would soon learn: there would not be much sleep for anyone but rather a lot of feasting and staring through the night for many nights to come.

More and more research is revealing that cosleeping, when practiced safely, has many benefits including:

Higher Self Esteem and Independance

While one might assume that cosleeping might lead to higher dependencies, studies reveal that children who share sleep with their parents are more confident, less fearful and have less tantrums.  Boys who coslept between birth and five years of age, reported “higher self-esteem [and] experienced less guilt and anxiety.”  Girls in the same age group also had higher self esteem and a 1998 study by Lewis and Janda concluded that “cosleeping appears to promote confidence, self-esteem, and intimacy, possibly by reflecting an attitude of parental acceptance.”  Dr. Sears notes that the babies in his practice seem to “thrive more”: intelectually, physically and emotionally when they share sleep with their parents, possibly due to the extra touch or increased feedings (cosleeping babies appear to breastfeed more often).

Increased Attachment for Mom, Dad and Baby

In many cultures, cosleeping is accepted as the norm and anthropological evidence suggests the custom of sleep sharing has existed through the ages.   In fact, according to a 1998 study by Young in Midwifery Digest “cosleeping is the cultural norm for approximately 90% of the world’s population.”   The closeness between the mother and the baby creates a sense of security, bolstered by skin to skin contact during the night.  In general the entire family often experiences better sleep since the babies needs are easily, limiting the disturbances from fully waking and crying out for a parent in another room.

Preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Medical anthropologist, James McKenna has conducted studies on infant cosleeping, where mother and child sleep close enough to each other to “access, respond to or exchange sensory stimuli such as sound, movement, touch, vision, gas, olfactory stimuli, CO2, and/or temperature”.  McKenna’s studies reveal that cosleeping may be protective against SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)  due to the synchronicity of mother and child sleep and arousal patterns causing a protective effect on the infant’s respiratory patterns, central nervous system, and cardiovascular systems.

Resources:

Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory

The Natural Child Project

Ask Dr. Sears: Safe Cosleeping

The ladies at Bella Materna graciously took the time to explain how to properly fit a breastfeeding bra. This is what I learned:

Find your band size. This is the measurement around your rib cage-along the underside of your breasts. The band should feel snug and firm. The band should not ride up.

Remember that bras lose elasticity over time, so don’t start with a bra that is a bit loose! The more your bra is worn, the looser it will feel. Tighten the hooks as needed.

Expect a 2-cup increase in pre-pregnancy size. So if you were a B before you were pregnant, expect to measure a D when you’re breastfeeding.

Did you know that a 36D is the same cup as a 34E and the same cup as a 32F? I didn’t either!

If your straps are digging into your shoulders or back, you probably need a larger cup size.

If you want an underwire bra, the underwire should fit around and beneath the breast tissue—never on top of breast tissue. Be sure that your breasts are positioned correctly in the bra each time you put it on.

Breasts should not bulge or spill out of cups. If you’re experiencing “spillage,” you need a larger cup size.

Of course, nothing beats a personal fitting—especially when you are looking for nursing bras. If you’re lucky enough to be in Seattle, plan to visit Bella Materna’s beautiful show room for a personal fitting. Otherwise, their expert fitters will be happy to help you find your perfect bra in the perfect size with an email or phone conversation.

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 milk that we buy at the grocery store has been pasteurized and homogenized. The pasteurization process kills all the bacteria and live cells in the milk—making it safe for us to drink, but also less stable. Homogenizing the milk blends in the fat so that it doesn’t separate and float to the top. Most of us don’t have experience using fresh milk straight from the source. Fresh milk from any mammal—including humans—looks different from the milk we buy at the store.

After your milk has been expressed and it has been sitting on the counter or in the refrigerator for a while, the fat will begin to separate. You may notice a thin layer of cream on top of milk that looks quite watery. That is perfectly normal. Your milk has not gone “bad.”

Since fat content varies by the time of day, the fat layer may range from just barely visible to a half-inch or more. Milk fat content also varies widely among mothers, so expect to see a difference among your friends. There is no need for concern that your milk isn’t “good enough” for your baby.

To Use Stored Milk:

Shake the milk gently before giving it to your baby in order to mix in the cream.

If it’s been refrigerated, you can gently warm it to room temperature in a bowl of hot water.

Frozen milk can be thawed slowly in the refrigerator or you can thaw it in container of hot water.

Never use a microwave to thaw or warm your milk. Important nutrients will be destroyed if the milk gets too hot.

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

In this Mother’s Day season I want to congratulate all the mothers in the world. In the past few months I have realized how amazing and resilient we all are by having some incredible “aha” moments.

Whenever I come into an unusual situation or new challenge I think of my birthing moms, you are amazing!

Here’s an example. In Cabo, for my son’s wedding, I had the opportunity to go zip lining.  I did a few runs that were okay and then there was the ultimate, 1,800’ run above a canyon. There was also a “chicken run” for those who are faint of heart. I started in the chicken line, talked to another “chicken” who told me she had hurt her leg and was also scared. I mentioned that I was a doula and it made me think of how brave my clients are.

On that thought I switched lines! If my birthing mom’s can give everything they have, I could do the ultimate zip!

My other aha moment was trying to restart my lawn mower.  I was cutting the grass very nicely when it stopped. So I cleaned out the grass clippings, put the choke on and tried to start it. After five tries I paused and tried again. By this time I am sweating.  Again I thought, my birthing moms’ can do  it, so can I!

After three more times, voila it started.

During this Mother’s Day season, realize how important and how amazing you are and enjoy your “special day!”

Feel free to write me (jan@janmartinka.com) with any (non-medical)birth or postpartum questions to get a doula’s perspective. To find out about my services, please visit my website at www.janmartinka.com.

Smart moms look for bargains. Hand-me-downs are often as good as new and can save you a lot of money. When it comes to purchasing a breast pump, however, think twice about buying used or sharing with a friend.

I often hear, “My pump is used, but I bought a new pump kit so I know it’s safe.” Unfortunately, buying a new kit is not the answer. It’s possible for tiny droplets of milk or air-born pathogens to get into the motor and cause cross contamination. Even though there are no documented cases of mothers or babies being infected via a second-hand pump, why take a risk?

The FDA defines breast pumps as single-use devices. Most professional-grade pumps are “open systems.” This means that there is no barrier between the milk collection kit and the pump motor. If a mother uses the pump when she has cracked or bleeding nipples, or if she has an infection or an infectious disease, it’s possible that the motor can become contaminated. According to the FDA, …”a breast pump should only be used by one woman because there is no way to guarantee the pump can be cleaned and disinfected between uses by different women.” (Rental pumps are “closed systems” and shareable.)

Diseases such as hepatitis and cytomegalovirus (CMV) can be passed to others when the carrier isn’t even aware of being sick. So even if you know and trust the previous owner of the pump, there is a risk that it is unsafe. “The money you may save by buying a used pump is not worth the health risks to you or your baby. Breast pumps that are reused by different mothers can carry infectious diseases…” (FDA website)

Here’s the good news: All Hygeia breast pumps have FDA clearance as multi-user pumps. There is a filter between the pump kit and the motor that eliminates the risk of cross-contamination. Hygeia pumps are effective, affordable AND shareable! If you’re interested in purchasing a Hygeia pump, or have questions, contact our lactation consultant, Renee Beebe, via phone or email. Not in Seattle? No problem. Renee is available to mothers anywhere!

Related articles:

Are Used Breastpumps a Bargain?

The Health Risks of Breastpump Sharing