Healthy Pregnancy

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

You may wonder why a lactation consultant–someone who considers herself somewhat of an expert in the art and science of breastfeeding–is writing an article about crying babies.  I have been moved to address this topic because every day parents ask me about hunger cues, sleep and crying.  Specifically, new parents want to know, what does that cry mean?

Crying is your baby’s way of letting you know that something is not right.  She may be hungry or thirsty, lonely, cold, afraid, uncomfortable or maybe she doesn’t even know.  She just knows she needs something–now!  Parents are sometimes told to ignore their baby’s cries–particularly as a way to “train” the baby to sleep longer or go longer between feedings. Thankfully, there is a different point of view!  The following quotes are from pediatricians who have written about babies and sleep. The name of the book follows each quote:

“A baby cries to communicate to you his need for the touch, warmth, comfort, security and love that only you can provide.  Why would anyone deny such a simple, human request?…When a baby fails to call out for his parents when he is in distress at night, it cannot be because he has ‘learned’ a useful behavior.  It is more likely that he has just given up on his parents.”

Dr. Paul Fleiss, Sweet Dreams.

“Putting your baby through cry-it-out sleep training isn’t the worst thing you can do to him, but it’s far from the best.  We know of no studies on short-term effects or even …long-term effects of crying it out in humans.  But studies of parent-infant separation involving ‘crying’ in nonhumuan primates show that the hormonal stress response of babies in these situations can be ‘equivalent to or greater than that induced by physical trauma.”

Dr. Jay Gordon, Good Nights.

“Letting the baby cry undermines a mother’s confidence and intuition…not responding to a baby’s cries goes against most mothers’ intuitive responses. If a mother consistently goes against what she feels, she begins to desensitize herself to the signal value of her baby’s cries. …  A mother who restrains herself from responding to her baby gradually and unknowingly becomes insensitive.”

Dr. William Sears,  Nighttime Parenting.

Finally, my favorite quote from Dr. Lee Salk, author and child psychologist wrote, “There’s no harm in a child crying: the harm is done only if his cries aren’t answered … If you ignore a baby’s signal for help, you don’t teach him independence… What you teach him is that no other human being will take care of his needs.” (Lee Salk)

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

Recently, a number of nutrition clients have been reporting that they have the MTHFR gene.  MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofoloate reductase) is an enzyme/ protein that is used to activate folic acid, a crucial B vitamin for pregnancy.  In certain cases, the MTHFR gene does not activate the folic acid to it’s full capacity: heterozygous MTHFR carriers activate folate at 60-70%; homozygous carriers only activate folate at 10%.  When testing for MTHFR, doctors use a blood test to look for two genes: MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C.  It is a fact that MTHFR is quite common (present in as much as 30% of the population) and by simply adding additional methylfolate a number of medical conditions including infertility and pregnancy can be supported.  Additional folic acid in cases of MTHFR can help:

• reduce miscarriage frequency
• avoid neural tube defects
• treat depression and anxiety
• heal ADD and autism
• reduce dementia
• support uric acid metabolism and resolve gout
• facilitate detoxification
• lower homocysteine levels
• encourage DNA repair which decreases cancer risk

Folic acid consumption is particularly important in fertility and pregnancy to maintain a healthy pregnancy and prevent birth defects.  If a blood test reveals that you have MTHFR, your doctor may suggest taking a higher dose of  folic acid in a methylated form that helps bypass the enzyme.  It’s important to include the other B vitamins (B6 and B12)  in your regimen as well as eating a diet rich in folate.

Folate rich foods include:  beans and lentils, peas (black-eyed peas, chickpeas, green peas), juices (orange, tomato, grapefruit, pineapple), fruits (oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, avocado, papaya, raspberries), soymilk, vegetables (green leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, and Chinese cabbage; broccoli; Brussels sprouts; asparagus; artichokes; okra; corn; cauliflower; potato; beets; green onions; sweet red peppers), nuts and sunflower seeds.  If you are folic acid deficient, avoid green tea which can limit the absorption of folate.

Source:

Delgado Family Care

Stone Medical Center

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.

Expect the unexpected is very apropos when it comes to births. There are so many different and unexpected things that can happen and no birth is ever alike. Each one presents its own challenges and excitement. This is one big reason why I love what I do!

No matter how many classes expectant couples take, no matter how many books they have read, no matter how many people they have talked to, their birth never goes the way they planned. Of course, very little in life goes as planned.

That is one of the many reasons to have a doula. She has experienced all of these unexpected events, seen different scenarios, and will help you when the unexpected occurs.

When I was attending my son’s wedding in Cabo the resort put on Fiesta Night. This included Mexican entertainment. There was a bandleader who coordinated all of the acts. He reminded me of being a doula.

While all members of a band know their part, it is the bandleader that coordinates them and makes it music not just noise. This is also true of a doula. She coordinates with the doctor, midwife, nurse, and other staff members so that YOUR needs are met! This is most important and is the essential value that she is giving you.

A doula must be an excellent listener to her clients and everyone else involved. In this way, she can assimilate all the information to advocate the clients’ needs and wishes while also respecting the advice of the medical professionals. This ensures the clients have the most positive and successful births possible.

Whether it is to explain a certain procedure, special technique or just give emotional support to the parents-to-be it is good to have a “bandleader!”

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.

Are you wondering if health care legislation that includes provisions for breastfeeding is a good idea?  How do you feel about requiring businesses to accommodate mothers who want to pump at work? Consider the following:

Every year, more than 3 million mothers in America breastfeed. These provisions are good public policy for not only the baby and the mother, but also for the business community and our overall economy. Breastfeeding can improve more than 10% of the Healthy People 2020 health goals for the nation.

Promoting and increasing the rate of breastfeeding in the United States can provide upwards of $14 billion per year in cost savings related to just the treatment of several childhood illnesses seen in higher rates in those infants who are not breastfed. Research shows that breastfeeding lowers the baby‘s risk of infections, diarrhea, SIDS, obesity, diabetes, asthma, and childhood leukemia. A 2009 study of nearly 140,000 women found that women who breastfed for at least one year were 10-15% less likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease compared to mothers who never breastfed. Breastfeeding also lowers the mother‘s risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

Companies providing lactation accommodations reap a 3 to 1 return on investment and can save hundreds of thousands of dollars every year on reduced health claims, lowered employee turnover, decreased absenteeism, and less money spent on recruitment and training of new employees. At the same time, The Business Case for Breastfeeding, a program created in 2008 by the Department of Health and Human Services, showed that employees whose com- panies provide breastfeeding support consistently report improved morale, better satisfaction with their jobs, and higher productivity.

Excerpt from the United States Lactation Consultant e-newsletter.

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

Nearly every new mother I see asks the question, “Is it ok for my baby to use a pacifier?” Here is the simple answer: Yes and no!

The concern addressed in that question is whether pacifier use will interfere with breastfeeding. I can say with confidence that I have never seen a baby prefer a pacifier over a breast filled with nummy milk! In addition, in over 20 years of helping resolve breastfeeding issues, I have never named the pacifier as the source of the problem.

Even though pacifiers are not necessarily the cause of breastfeeding difficulties, they should be used with caution—especially during the first few weeks of life. Newborns don’t necessarily know when they are hungry or thirsty. Thankfully, they don’t need to figure that out. All they know is they need to suck! Frequently! When that suckling is at the breast, it ensures that babies get plenty of milk and moms have an abundant milk supply.

Conversely, when a baby uses a pacifier to get her sucking needs met, there is a danger that she will not spend enough time at the breast. My primary concern about pacifier use is this: All that sucking requires energy. A baby worn out from sucking on a pacifier may not have the energy to obtain nourishment from the breast. In addition, she may “fool” her parents into thinking she is getting enough to eat, as she falls asleep while using a pacifier.

Occasional pacifier use for short periods of time will not likely interfere with breastfeeding. But keep in mind that a pacifier is a breast substitute and use with caution. If your newborn baby needs to suck, she probably needs to eat!

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

Inflammation is believed to be one of the root causes of many imbalances in the body. The stress of inflammation is indicated as a contributing factor in several infertility diagnosis including PCOS, endometriosis, recurrent miscarriage, poor sperm and egg quality. So it makes perfect sense that when you are ready to get pregnant, this diet can help to resolve any inflammatory responses in the body that could be preventing conception or impacting your health during pregnancy.

Even before tackling the dietary principles, it is important to take a close look at how stress may be impacting your life. It has been long known that cortisol, a stress hormone, is a leading cause of inflammation in the body. Choose activities that provide peace and relaxation each day can help to heal conditions of inflammation. This can be anything from a foot soak, a massage or even a funny movie at the end of the day. Something that helps you to unwind. Also, choose exercises you enjoy that replenish you, while detoxifying and reducing stress. Swimming, walking, dancing, yoga and gardening are all low impact exercises that get your blood flowing. One recent study on the benefits of stress reducing yoga has shown that a regular practice may have the capacity to reduce inflammation in the body, measured by C-reactive protein (CRP).

Along with stress reduction and gentle exercises consider adopting these anti-inflammatory dietary tips:

Avoid sugars and artificial sweeteners- especially in soda and processed candy

Limit caffeine, coffee (prefer green tea and herbal teas), alcohol, red meat, burnt food

Eat an abundance of colorful fresh fruits and vegetables for the bioflavanoids- especially dark leafy greens.

Cook with anti-inflammatory herbs or sprinkle on food: ginger and turmeric.

Consume a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water each day

Limit nightshades

Enjoy herbal Teas like Yogi detox, licorice, chamomile

Eat Omegas at every opportunity. Favor Omega 3’s and reduce omega 6 oils (corn, soy, canola, safflower and sunflower oil)

Foods containing a high ratio of omega 3 oil: Menhaden, salmon, cod liver, cod, shrimp, tuna, pink salmon, king crab, Mackerel, flax, flaxseed (sprinkled on salads or oatmeal in the morning) hemp, hemp nuts, canola, walnut, & pumpkin, pumpkin seeds.

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.

This young mother called me at the urging of a friend who already knew and trusted me. Breastfeeding was very important to Marissa, but she didn’t know how she could go on with so much pain. Normally, I would have seen this mom and baby in person. She lives in another city, however, and she felt most comfortable working with me. I gave her guidance over the phone several times over the course of a few weeks. Since her baby was gaining weight and she had a great milk supply, she just needed some minor adjustments to make breastfeeding comfortable.

After a few weeks of breastfeeding, I felt defeated. My nipples were cracked and bleeding. Each nursing was becoming more painful, and I was beginning to dread feeding my baby. After every feeding my son would spit up blood. I was beginning to accept this as my breastfeeding fate when I decided to call Renee. On the phone, she was able to describe in detail the way my son should be properly latching on. While we were talking, I could hold him in the positions she was describing to me, and get a complete visual understanding of how to get him to latch on properly. She also recommended that I visit her blog and watch a video of a baby getting a good latch. Within a day or two my nipples were healing, nursing was no longer painful, and I was able to finally enjoy these beautiful moments with my son.

Note: Lactation help in person is optimal for helping mom and baby breastfeed. It is often necessary in order to complete an accurate assessment. If Marissa’s pain had not quickly resolved after our phone conversation, I would have recommended lactation consultant in her area who could have helped her face to face.

You don’t have to live in Seattle to receive expert guidance from a lactation consultant. Renee is available for phone consultations for moms anywhere. You may reach her at www.second9months.com Send her an email and she’ll call you the same day to set up a “meeting.”