Babies are born to breastfeed; they expect a breast, and biologically, they need it for at least their first year of life. They must breastfeed to survive, and there is no reason to stop. But there are some babies who, from one day to the other and usually between 8 months and a year old, stop breastfeeding, and then they don’t want to get close to the breast anymore: this is also called a nursing strike. When the mother does…
Newborn baby poop is a subject that worries mothers a lot and is a common topic of consultation and debate. The color, texture, smell, and other details of it can be a cause of worries and concerns. Here, we will try to answer the usual questions about this subject for babies who are exclusively breastfeeding and do not have any other food or formula: Does my baby have diarrhea? The normal stools of a breastfed baby can be confused with…
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a disease of the peripheral nervous system that occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm to the hand, is pressed or trapped inside the carpal tunnel at the wrist. The median nerve controls sensations in the front part of the fingers (except for the little finger), as well as impulses from some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move. What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel…
The use of medication to stop breast milk supply can generate questions. So here are the most frequently asked questions on this subject, which usually come up when weaning a baby from the breast: 1. What is cabergoline, and what does it do? Dostinex® (cabergoline) is a medication that causes a drop in prolactin in the blood, which can result in a drop in breast milk supply. It is especially effective if the mother takes it immediately after giving birth….
Breastfeeding mothers frequently ask our experts if they need to take certain vitamin supplements and minerals so they don’t get nutritional deficiencies that could affect their health and the quality of their breast milk. A wide range of such vitamin supplements on the market target nursing mothers. Even certain eye-raising pediatricians on YouTube recommend 3 different jars of vitamin complexes to breastfeeding mothers and specify what each of the nutrients is supposedly important for. The belief that breastfeeding requires mothers…
Pee leaks are very common after childbirth. However, this should not be taken as normal, as it may mean that something is wrong with your pelvic floor. There are different problems during the postpartum time that end up causing urine incontinence. Urine incontinence after childbirth After pregnancy and childbirth, the pelvic floor undergoes changes, and to avoid long-term complications, it is important to have a pelvic floor check-up at 6 weeks after a vaginal birth or 8 weeks after a…
Let’s talk about different types of commercial formula milk: which are the most suitable, when is it necessary to change the type of milk, which formula should a baby that is intolerant to cow’s milk protein have, and can they have plant-based drinks? Here, we clarify some of these questions. I don’t want or can’t breastfeed; what milk can I give my baby? During the first year of a baby’s life, the main food should be milk, either breast milk…
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a common occurrence in babies. It is the return, spitting up or regurgitating stomach contents to the mouth, usually without effort and occasionally. It is most common after feeding. Reflux occurs in about 1 in 5 healthy babies. It is considered a physiological and normal situation and should not be a cause of concern. Generally, it resolves without any treatment before the age of one year. It is important to differentiate between physiological gastroesophageal reflux (GER)…
It is very common for breastfeeding newborns to develop jaundice, the yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, in the days or weeks after birth. Jaundice can become a serious health problem for babies, and it is important to get familiar with the situations related to breastfeeding that can cause a baby to get excess bilirubin levels in the blood. What is jaundice exactly? Before they are born, babies have more red blood cells in their blood. This helps them…
Our IBCLC lactation consultants are often asked if cabbage leaves are recommended to relieve breast engorgement in breastfeeding, as some of you might have seen or heard of this either in person or on social media. In this article, you can learn more about breast engorgement and the reverse pressure softening technique (RPS) to relieve it. First of all, as with many topics related to breastfeeding and women’s health, there is practically no scientific evidence, and it is very limited,…