Breast Feeding Survival Tips

• Feed on demand, the more the baby takes, the more milk your body will make.
  
  
• Don’t give ‘top up’ bottles of formula, it will upset the balance of supply and demand.
  
  
• Try different feeding positions – ask a midwife for help.
  
  
• Get support, ask about local groups or contact La Leche (check the phone book for a local group) or Cuidiu (www.cuidiu-ict.ie) ph: 01 872 4501 or from www.breastfeedingsupport.ie
  
  
• Express milk – then you can have some time out.
  
  
• Persevere – breastfeeding does get easier.
  
  
• Look after yourself – Eat healthily and rest when the baby sleeps.
  
  
• Keep going – the World Health Organisation advises mothers to breast feed exclusively for the first six months, and in conjunction with solids for at least a year.
  

Reduce Stress During & After Pregnancy

A lot of books and parenting supplements out there talk about stress and parenting. Complete freedom from stress is almost impossible, but what is certain is that prolonged and severe stress can cause you and your baby harm. It is therefore important to find ways to manage your stress when it is getting too much for you.

Actions To Take To Reduce Stress

1. Talk it out, share it with some other caring person.
   
   
2. Write it out, it is easier to put it in perspective when it is put on paper.
   
   
3. Shrug it off, raise your shoulders, take a deep breath and then drop them and relax your body while breathing out – sounds simple, but it works.
   
   
4. Sort it out, list practical options, wait, decide and then act.
   
   
5. Create “worry time”; put aside 15 minutes for a worry session and forget them until then.
   
   
6. Work it off, do something physical, clear your head, divert your energy.
   
   
7. Reverse it, consider taking an opposite approach and explore alternatives.

Positive Coping Strategies

• Take regular exercise.
  
  
• Take time out for yourself.
  
  
• Practice abdominal breathing.
  
  
• Enjoy healthy nutrition.
  
  
• Anticipate stressful situations, plan how to deal with them before they happen.
  
  
• Remember you can’t drive your car if there is no petrol in it, so we need to put the same fuel into our bodies and minds, i.e. solid, healthy food!
  
  
• Establish a regular sleeping pattern.
  
  
• Accept what you cannot change.
  
  
• Change your attitude.
  
  
• Become more assertive by saying no and managing your time.
  
  
• Discuss your feelings and thoughts with caring other people.
  
  
• Do one thing at a time.
  
  
• Avoid self medication with drugs or alcohol.
  

Your Baby’s Cries

Everyone knows that babies cry for various reasons, but few know that the reason itself can be interpreted from the cry itself. In some cases listening carefully, not just to the cry itself, but often the minutes preceding it, can help to work out what the problem might be. We have listed the 5 main types of crying identified.

The Hunger Cry
This is the most common cry. It begins gradually then works up to an explosive cry, followed by a pause. It usually gets louder and louder and the baby tends to make a ‘neh’ sound, with the emphasis on the ‘n’, particularly in the pre-cry stage. If you are giving the baby regular feeds but he never seems satisfied and cries continuously with the hunger, speak to your doctor about it. In the case of bottle feeding, it’s possible the teat of the bottle is too small or blocked.

The Tired Cry
It fluctuates in tone and volume and is often accompanied by sucking fingers or rubbing eyes. Tired, crying babies tend to shape their mouth, yawn and make an ‘owh’ sound. Try rocking them to sleep – if they are tired it should only be a few minutes before they nod off.

The Trapped Wind Cry
It’s important to remember that babies can suffer from trapped wind several times a day – not just after feeding. Not winding them properly can cause bubbles of air to move into their intestine, making them uncomfortable. There are four different ways to wind a baby correctly. Babies often need to be winded an hour after their feed. Crying babies with trapped wind often make an ‘eh’ sound.

The Pain Cry
This cry is loud, long and shrill. The baby’s body tenses as he draws his hands and feet up. The cry caused by internal or external pain is the same. Check for signs such as swelling, sensitivity to touch, vomiting, a change in bowel movements and a change in the pace of breathing, particularly where it is noisy and fast. If your baby is showing any of these, seek the help of your doctor immediately.

The Aversion To Loud Noise Cry
Many babies don’t like loud noises and will express this with a piercing loud cry, followed by a gasping for breath. The sound of a loud television or sudden bang can frighten them. The obvious thing to do is to distance them from the source of the noise.

Want To Know More?

If you have found these short articles useful and you would like to know more about our antenatal classes or post natal courses, Contact Us today.