It's week 32. Tomorrow I have an ultrasound scheduled. I think the doctor is going to try to estimate the weight of the baby, check blood flow to the baby, and check to make sure everything looks OK. I heard that it is a good idea to drink a lot of water before the 3rd trimester ultrasound so that your water levels (amniotic fluid levels) look good. If you are dehydrated, it may show up on the ultrasound.
Bradley Class Notes on Breastfeeding:
* Advantages: bonding, involution, immunities, brain growth, less colic, cheaper, easier; Helps Prevent: SIDS, constipation, tooth decay, allergies, skin disorders and respiratory illnesses
* Supply/Demand: the more the baby nurses, the more milk the mom will have. When bottles begin to be added, the breast slows down its production. The stimulation of the breast by the baby causes the pituitary gland to initiate more milk production.
* Colostrum: yellowish pre-milk rich in nutrients. Causes early evacuation of first bowel movement called meconium. This makes the baby hungry and therefore a more vigorous nurser. Set up the right bacteria in intestines for digestion, high in protein, gives antibodies. Flushing out meconium prevents reabsorption of bilirubin, therefore reducing chances of jaundice. Milk will come in by end of 2nd or into the 3rd day unless baby is not nursing often enough.
* Nutrition: mom should be eating healthy foods, no junk food or sugar; drink lots of water, no soda, no coffee; eat fish, whole grains, keifer, yogurt (if baby can tolerate dairy)
* Don't introduce the bottle until 6-8 weeks after nursing. Bottle feeding is much easier for baby than breastfeeding so if they start bottle feeding too early, they may not want the breast.
* Don't introduce solid foods until after 6 months... babies can be 8-10 months old before starting any solids. Wait for baby's cues. Why? Solids are inferior to breastmilk.
Breastfeeding mothers should get 1500 mg of calcium each day. If you can't eat milk products, here are calcium substitutes:
Cereals, Cereal Flours, Fish, Fruits (Figs, Oranges, Rasins), Legumes and Seeds (Soybean curd, beans, garbanzo beans, sesame seeds, almonds), Syrups and sugars (black strap molasses), Veggies (Broccoli, Collards, Spinach), Fortified OJ, Soymilk
What is so special about Breastmilk?
* FATS: rich in brain-building omega 3's (DHA and AA). Formula does not have DHA, cholesterol or lipase.
* PROTEINS: Rich in brain and body-building protein components AND contains sleep-inducing proteins
* CARBS: Rich in lactose and oligosaccharides that promote intestinal health
* IMMUNE BOOSTERS: Rich in living white blood cells, millions per feeding. Rich in immunoglobluins
* VITAMINS AND MINERALS: Better absorbed iron, zinc, and calcium (50-75% of iron is absorbed as opposed to only 5-10% if using formula)
* ENZYMES AND HORMONES: Rich in digestive enzymes, such as lipase and amylase. Rich in hormones: thyroid, prolactin, oxytocin, and over 15 others. The processing of formula kills digestive enzymes and hormones (which aren't human hormones anyways).
* TASTE: varies with mother's diet; by taking on the flavor of the mother's diet, breastmilk shapes the tastes of the child to family foods.
* COST: $600 per year extra food for mother vs. $1200 per year for formula (or up to $2500 for the more expensive food)
According to our teacher, if you have the baby latch on correctly (wide open mouth, top and bottom lip open wide), there shouldn't be a lot of pain associated with breastfeeding. Also, inserting a finger in their mouth to decrease the suction when removing the baby helps a lot. If we are experiencing lots of pain or trouble, it's best to meet with a lactation consultant as soon as possible so that the baby doesn't develop bad habits.
Glendale Memorial has an excellent lactation consultant and even a mother's nursing support group:
"The Nursing Mother's Circle" meets every Thursday from 1-3pm
Location: Breastfeeding clinic in the waiting room on the basement level of Glendale Memorial Hospital, 1420 S. Central Ave in Glendale, (818) 507-4191
Lactation consultant: Roza Baghdassarian, (818) 353-7446, moreserlactation@yahoo.com
Baby J moving around - her favorite side to kick and move is my right side.
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