Going to the dentist and having a good dental hygiene routine are always important to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. And during the breastfeeding period, this is just as important, or even more so, than at any other stage of our lives. But can I go to the dentist if I am breastfeeding? There are still many misconceptions and a lack of information about what to do and what not to do while breastfeeding. We received many questions on this…
Breastfeeding mothers get sick, and breastfeeding does not prevent them from becoming ill, just like the rest of the population. But you might wonder: can I take medication? There is a great fear of medication during breastfeeding because there is a belief that the drugs the mother takes go directly into her breast milk and reach the baby’s body straight away. This has two negative effects: mothers either do not take any medication they need or they stop breastfeeding, partially…
Can breastfeeding be used as a method of contraception? What is breastfeeding as birth control, also called the LAM method? LAM stands for Lactational Amenorrhea Method. LAM is a contraceptive method that relies on the natural infertility that occurs when breastfeeding. This happens because the baby’s suckling manages to suppress the production of the hormones required to ovulate. Therefore, a breastfeeding mother can experience several months without ovulating (this is called amenorrhea). How does this work? To use LAM safely…
“I am Esther Leal, mom of Iria, 31 months old, whom I breastfed very happily until she was 28 months old, and triathlete of 11 years. Although this has not been my profession, triathlon is part of my life, and adapting it to my new life as a mother has not been easy. Still, by learning and listening to my body, I have achieved the best results of my life, including first place in the women’s amateur category in the…
Many of you may have noticed that with pregnancy or after the birth of your baby, women usually sweat more, and body odor changes compared to how it was before pregnancy. Not to mention that you will notice that your ability to perceive certain odors increases during this period of time. This often makes you look for ways to contain that odor with deodorants, either to feel more comfortable or to avoid making the people around you uncomfortable. This is…
Bronchiolitis is a rather frequent lung infection during winter months in infants and toddlers. It causes inflammation and congestion in the smaller branches of the bronchial airways (bronchioles). In most cases, bronchiolitis is caused by a virus such as the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the rhinovirus, or the influenza (flu) virus, among others. It begins as a cold (mucus, sneezing, sore throat, slight fever) and from the fourth day on, it spreads to the bronchi. This stage usually lasts between…
The 25th of November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. How does violence impact women’s health?
Today is World Lupus Day and we would like to talk about breastfeeding with lupus. Worldwide more than 5 million people have this disease and nine out of every ten of them are women. Nutritionist Iria Quintáns Álvarez wrote this post, she is an expert in lupus as she suffers from this autoimmune disease herself. You can find her on Instagram @nutrienfamilia Lupus and breastfeeding Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly believes it should ‘attack’ its own…
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. It is estimated that one in 10 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. The age range in which it appears is wide, yet 25% of these cancers develop before the age of 50, so it usually appears during the childbearing years1. In addition, evidence shows that there is a transient increase in the risk of breast cancer in the mother in the first three to four…
The breastfeeding mother’s diet is a recurring theme. As a Dietitian-Nutritionist, the most important thing I would say to a breastfeeding woman would be: eat healthily. But do it for yourself, not because of being breastfeeding. And do it because you are now a mother and your children are watching you (the availability of food in the home and the power of setting an example is important). But at the same time, there is another recurring question among mothers: “can…