Your Health Regarding Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding can be a time of intense bonding between you and your baby, it can be a time when you feel proud of how you are contributing to a lifetime of good health through breastfeeding...

Breastfeeding can be a time of intense bonding between you and your baby, it can be a time when you feel proud of how you are contributing to a lifetime of good health through breastfeeding for you baby. You are also giving yourself many healthy benefits such as a reduced risk for breast and ovarian cancer among other health benefits derived from breastfeeding your baby. There are many things that you can do to make this wonderful experience of breastfeeding an experience that you will treasure by insuring that any problems or issues you encounter on your breastfeeding journey can be handled in an efficient manner. These health tips should help you to stay the course and keep breastfeeding your baby through those first important 6 months and hopefully on to the first year or two for maximum benefits to both you and your baby.

The tips concerning health and breastfeeding that are important to most moms include getting past the first few weeks of breastfeeding and some of the “uncomfortable feelings” that may occur when you first start out breastfeeding. Other questions may focus on complications that may arise during breastfeeding, milk supply issues and diet & fluid intake while breastfeeding.

Some of the complications to breastfeeding may include breast engorgement, mastitis, plugged ducts, nipple vasospasms, and breastfeeding issues that surround what the mom can and can’t eat or drink while breastfeeding.

There are of course some complications that a woman should not breastfeed under including if she has had breast surgery, or being treated for cancer or being treated for medical issues in which medications that they must take may be counter indicated while breastfeeding. You should always consult with a doctor before making any breastfeeding decisions that may jeopardize your health like deciding to breastfeed instead of taking a medication you really need to take for the good of your own health as an example.

Breast engorgement happens after the first few days have past after giving birth. The colostrum will come in if it hasn’t already just before giving birth or right afterwards and then on the 3rd or 4th day following birth the more mature breast milk will come in. This more mature milk will flow more abundantly (you will have more of it) and your breasts will feel really full as the milk ducts fill. If you experience severe breast engorgement your breasts will become rock-hard and your areolas will become rigid. You may notice a low-grade fever. Some women experience breast engorgement for just a day or two and some have it for up to two weeks. You can treat breast engorgement and relieve the discomfort, pain and any low-grade fever you may have with the engorgement. The best thing for you to do is feed your baby frequently (10 to 12 times each day in 2 hour increments). Do not supplement with bottles unless your doctor tells you to because breastfeeding will help reduce your discomfort and prevent future breast engorgement.

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