One thing I really wanted to cover was breastfeeding and some awesome good information about that. I had the opportunity to work with AmWell (American Well)- an online based doctors office that you can do from the comfort of your cell phone or laptop/computer. It's amazing. I have gone to them before and I love the privacy and convenience of that. Please note that you have to put your credit card information in to hold the appointment, then once you log back in for your appointment time you will be prompted to enter the promo code.
Amwell Lactation Experts are available to make an appointment all the time and some are available for immediate visits which are great. I scheduled my appointment for this morning and was able to ask some really awesome questions and get professional answers. Some of my ideas were myth busted and I think that's awesome.
I was so excited when I was done with the appointment, I called my friend right away to share the news. It wasn't just a share the awesome info I had written down but, the medical professional I talked to emailed me all of the info I would be able to share for future reference.
Some really great reasons to use AmWell include:
*Lactation consultants are not available at every hospital this addresses that issue.
*New mothers have so many questions when it comes to breastfeeding their new babies, however, not every mother is able to see a board-certified lactation consultant to help answer those questions before leaving the hospital
*Video allows the consultants to assist with latching, breast pain due to feeding issues, questions about milk supply or going back work
*Allows new mothers at any stage to get answers to their questions and issues usually within 24 hours of request.
Interview with a lactation expert
Engorged breasts- what to do?
The most important thing to do is express the milk. Even if you have to do it by hand make sure you have something to express it into. Moving the milk so your breasts can continue to produce.What are the signs of mastitis?
Mastitis is very painful. Some of the signs to watch out for with mastitis are flu symptoms, fever, soreness in the breasts, swelling, hot patches, redness, nipple discharge. Some of the symptoms are just like a plugged duct.For producing milk, is food necessary to make more milk?
The expert made some great points. Making milk is one of those amazing things that a mother's body does. It really is a magical thing to me. Eat like normal and you will make the milk that the baby needs pretty much. The more milk you move out of your breasts, the more milk your body will make.
Her example was in third world countries where women are barely able to feed themselves, they still make enough to feed their baby. It's beautiful.
*Myth Buster* Caffeine does not slow milk production.
Are there foods that should be avoided for baby's sake?
The baby will let you know if there are things that should be avoided. Watch out for poop to change or fussiness.
One of the best ideas that she said was to keep a food diary. That way you know which foods you have eaten that may not agree with the baby's tummy. Or other things like fussiness, not sleeping and gas are signs to watch out for.
Is it safe for mom to have a few drinks?
If a mom wants to drink a glass or two of wine, how long does she wait to nurse?The amount of time it takes to get the alcohol through the blood to the milk is quite awhile. The body filters and cleans so by the time the alcohol gets through the body, it's not going to really affect the milk.
Drinking more alters the question.
Do the pump and dump 3 times to be safe?
If you are taking a night to get drunk or have a few more than just a few drinks, then yes pumping and storing it would be better. Pumping and dumping is a No.The best time to nurse if you will be drinking is when you first start because of the time it takes to get to the milk. If you had more than a few drinks, you can pump the milk and store it. You can add in the non-alcohol breastmilk to dilute it but it's still safe.
What to do about working and breastfeeding?
There are so many obstacles with breastfeeding and working. It's the balance every mom has to make. But it is possible. Not every job makes it easy to breastfeed. In most places, there aren't rooms to go and sit. You may only have a bathroom to pump in and only a few minutes at that.A manual pump is the best option for these times. You don't have to worry about the setup time or cleaning it every time like an electric pump. If you have a manual pump, you can store it in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator in between pumps and it is perfectly safe. You can disinfect it when you get home after work.
The most important thing is making sure you take the time to pump even if it is only 5 minutes every hour or so. That keeps the milk production going.
Is nursing good for all ages? Is there an age cut off that moms should be aware of?
If you are able to have a baby, you are able to breastfeed as far as age goes. There isn't any age restrictions or cautions. It's pretty cool how that works.AmWell is a great place to find a reliable IBCLC to help you along the way. No life is perfect and there are questions. Find your answers at AmWell.
Get your breastfeeding questions answered from the comfort of your own home with a live lactation consultant. Visit AmWell to learn more.
Compensation was provided by Amwell via Momtrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Amwell or Momtrends.
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