Breast-Feeding! DO IT!

The working mom. The busy mom. The mother of 1, the mother of 4. It really doesn't matter which type of mother you are, if you are the mother (or soon to be mom) of a newborn infant then you SHOULD breast feed your baby!

Breast milk is the best milk. I repeat, BREAST MILK IS THE BEST MILK!

Numerous studies in countries all over the world have demonstrated that human breast milk is superior to any artificial formula on the market. Artificial milk is designed to appear "thicker" than breast milk and more "creamy", which causes many consumers to assume that artificial formula more filling or healthier for their baby. In actuality, the creamy/thick appeareance of formula is due to the larger fat content of artificial milk compared to breast milk. Infants who are exclusively bottle fed are more likely to develop adolescent/adult obesity and are at greater risk for diabetes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular disease.

In addition to the obesity link, children who breastfeed for the first 6 months of life have fewer sick visits (less trips to the pediatrician), decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), lower rates of tonsillitis, upper respiratory infections, and fewer ear infections. In developing nations, breast milk has actually been associated with a decrease infant mortality. In industrialized nations (like the US, Canada, etc) breast feeding has been associated with fewer infant hospitalizations in addition to decrease rate in infant death.

Breast milk contains many unique properties which formula milk lacks. Breast milk contains cells from the mother's immune system that help to provide infants with the tools to fight off infection. A baby's immunue system is immature. Since babies live in a sterile world inside of the uterus an infant is not immediately prepared t deal with all of the germs present in the outside world, thus putting infants at a higher risk of infection when compared with adults. Until the baby's immune system begins to recognize and defend itself against bacteria and viruses, the mother's immune cells are passed through the breast milk into the baby's system and are available to help keep baby healthy and feeling well.

Many of the immune cells are lost with freezing of breast milk, so make sure to squeeze in a few breast feeding meals between pumping. Breast milk is good for 24 hours if kept refrigerated and the immune cells are not destroyed with refrigeration. Therefore, once its time to return to work, you could pump several bottles in the evening, freeze some and leave the others in the refrigerator. That way some of the feedings will contain cells from your immune system and the others will contain vitiamins and minerals that formulas cannot duplicate!

Breastfeeding also benefits mom! Some of the maternal advantages to breastfeeding are:
1) It's FREE (and face it, this is a recesion)
2)It helps your uterus shrink faster than without breast feeding (so you can fit into your Beyonce jeans faster)
3)Birth control-mothers who exclusively breast feed are at a decreased risk of becoming pregnant.
4)Bonding- it is a way to bond with your your newborn

The American Dietetic Association recommends the infants should be exclusively feed breast milk (that means NOTHING ELSE, ONLY MILK FROM THE BREAST) for the first 6 months of life! After 6 months, baby food can be introduced with breast milk until 12 months of life.

Remember, breast milk is truly the best thing for you and your baby. Give your baby the best chance at life and start them off right!

(c) CGees 2008

Sweet Almond Oil

I was recently watching the comedy "Baby's Mama" and laughing at the scene in the birthing class where it was suggested that the partners massage the expecting mother's perineum (entrance to the vagina) with oil daily to help stretch the area and prevent tearing.

Later, the same week, I came across a review article on the ACOG website that mentioned this same thing! It seems that there is evidence to suggest that starting around 34 weeks, it is helpful to message and gently stretch the entrance to the vagina with oil ( you can really pick whatever oil you like, I'm not really sure why they select sweet almond oil. . .)

Now at 34 weeks, your belly might prevent you from reaching down and massaging the area yourself, so get your partner to do it. You still might tear, but it appears to lower the risk. In general, Caucasians or more likely to tear than African Americans, but hey, anyone can tear. So go ahead and get your significant other/partner/hubby/ whoever to slap a little almond oil down there and stretch :)

(c) 2008 CGees

Birth Control Pills (with estrogen) and Blood Clots

Disclaimer: ***The information in this article is not meant to substitute for the advice of a professionally trained medical professional. Health related questions are best addressed by your physician/nurse practitioner and NOTHING on the internet should substitute or replace their advice!***

Have you received a form of this email? (the content of the email is in green)

PASS THIS ON EVEN IF YOU DO NOT USE IT
Pass it to women as well as men. Men please pass this to all the women you know .

Recently this past week, my cousin Nicole Dishuk (age 31...newly graduated student with a doctoral degree about to start her new career as a Doctor...) was flown into a nearby hospital, because she passed out.

They found a blood clot in her neck, and immediately took her by helicopter to the ER to operate. By the time they removed the right half of her skull to relieve the pressure on her brain; the clot had spread to her brain causing severe damage.

Since last Wednesday night, she was battling... they induced her into a coma to stop the blood flow, they operated 3 times... Finally, they said there was nothing left that they could do... they found multiple clots in the left side of her brain... the swelling wouldn't stop, and she was on life support...

She died at 4:30 yesterday. She leaves behind a husband, a 2yr old Brandon and a 4yr old Justin... The CAUSE of DEATH - they found was a birth control she was taking that allows you to only have your period 3 times a year... They said it interrupts life's menstrual cycle, and although it is FDA approved... shouldn't be - So to the women in my address book - I ask you to boycott this product & deal with your period once a month - so you can live the rest of the months that your life has in store for you.

*Please send this to every woman you know - you may save someone's life... Remember, you have a CYCLE for a reason !

The name of this new birth control pill is (Insert any birth control brand name here)

Okay okay okay. For years there have been various forms of this email circulating around the internet urging women not to use birth control pills of different brands, warning that they can cause clots, leading to stroke, death, etc. What many women don’t realize is that you actually have a greater risk of developing a blood clot while you are pregnant. Yup. According to the Katz in Comprehensive Gynecology, 3/ 10,000 women will experience a clot when taking a birth control pill that has an estrogen dose between less than 50 micrograms. 6/10,000 women will experience a clot during pregnancy.

Smoking over the age of 35 raises your risk of adverse effects if you are on an estrogen containing pill, so if you are approaching your mid 30s it is time to start thinking about quitting (though if you are smoking you should be thinking of quitting no matter what age).

If you have a known clotting disorder (protein C, protein S, or antithrombin III deficiency or activated protein C resistance) then you are at a higher risk of developing a clot and you should inform your physician of this prior to starting any estrogen containing pill. Current data suggest that the risk of a deep venous thrombosis (a blood clot in the legs) is about 30/10,000. Routine screening of clotting disorders is not recommended unless there are items in your history to suggest a disorder (like family history of clots at a young age in multiple relatives). If you do have a family history or personal history of blood clots, you can take a pill with only progestin in it (no estrogen).

So in short, your risk of developing a clot on estrogen containing birth control pills is lower than your risk of developing a clot while on birth control for the average woman without a known clotting disorder. If you have questions, consult your health care provider, but don’t let these emails scare you away from your right to prevent pregnancy.

© 2008 CGees

Are you having another baby

:) It seems that people are having or wanting babies left and right (which is why I'll always have a job, THANKS!!!)However, did you know that optimal birth spacing (time between pregnancies) is 2 to 5 years?

This is because women becoming pregnant less than two years or more than 5 years from their previous birth are at increased risk for obstetrical complications for both mom and baby.Women having children less than 2 years from a previous pregnancy are at increased risk of having babies with low birth weight. Though mothers naturally love their little boo boos, if you think of the fetus as a minature little parasite (I know I know harsh words) that is basically trying to gain as much of your body's nutrients as possible for 10 (not 9) months, then you'll understand why you need to give your body time to recoop from that in order to live healthy not only for yourself, but for future little boo boos that will need the same nutrients that you gave your previous child or children.

Prolonged pregnancy spacing (greater than 5 years) has been associated with increased risk of preeclampsia and still births. Pregnancy between the optimal 2 to 5 year window has been shown to produce improved outcomes for mom (less utuerine bleeding, anemia, depression, etc) and better outcomes for baby and the family as a whole.

Now don't freak out if things didn't go according to plan and you find yourself pregnant outside of this interval, just make sure you are getting your regular OB visits like EVERY pregnant woman should. Don't think "oh my gosh, its been 6 years since I've had a child, so now I can't have one" because that's not what I am saying. Or don't think "its been less than 2 years and I'm already pregnant. . . oh no" becuase that's not what I'm saying either. Again, just make sure to consult your doc, take care of yourself, and put it in God's hands. However, if you have the opportunity to plan and you think that you might want another boo boo in the future, just keep this spacing interval in mind since the wide array of contraceptive measures available today make pregnancy planning easier than ever before!

*The advice in this post is in no way shape or form to serve as a substitute for regular physician visits or to suggest one embark on a new treatment plan without first seeing your doctor. It is to provide information so that you can take a proactive role on your health*(c) 2008

Emergency Contraception

Emergency Contraception
Disclaimer: ***The information in this article is not meant to substitute for the advice of a professionally trained medical professional. Health related questions are best addressed by your physician/nurse practitioner and NOTHING on the internet should substitute or replace their advice!***


Ooops! Did the condom break? Did it slip? Did you have one too many martinis (or margaritas) and just didn’t remember to use protection? Millions of women world wide are faced with similar scenarios yearly and seek a mechanism to prevent unintended pregnancy.

The mechanics of fertilization

For pregnancy to occur, coitus (sex) must happen up to two days prior to ovulation or on the day of ovulation itself. This is because sperm (which are called spermatozoa) only retain their fertilization capabilities for 48 hours after sex and the egg (ovum at this stage) is only capable of being fertilized within 24 hours after ovulation. Ovulation, however, does not always occur at the exact time every month.

For a women with the standard 28 day cycle, ovulation can occur anywhere from day 12-16 of your cycle. Therefore, it is generally thought that a woman with regular cycles has a risk of becoming pregnant is unprotected sex occurs 5 days prior to ovulation or on the day of ovulation itself. . . . giving the average women with a 28 day regular cycle a 6 day window each month where pregnancy could in theory occur. *

*The fertilization window above only pertains to a woman with 28 day, regular cycles. If your cycles are longer or shorter, or irregular, your period of fertilization will be different. Basically, if you are worried that you are pregnant and you have no idea when you ovulate (which is the majority of women) go get Plan B. It’s not going to hurt you to take it, but an unintended pregnancy could alter your life plans.

How emergency contraception works

So as you can imagine, if you have unprotected sex during your “fertile” window (midcycle) and you are not trying to become pregnant and not already on a form of birth control you might decide to try something as a “last resort” before becoming pregnant.

Plan B (0.75mg Levonorgestrel) is a progestin only pill. Plan B is believed to work by preventing ovulation, which means that the sperm would have nothing to fertilize, thus preventing pregnancy. Plan B does not cause an abortion and will not disrupt an already established pregnancy. It is most effective if started within 72 hours of unprotected sex. If you are age 18 and up you DO NOT NEED A PERSCRIPTION for Plan B. Simply go to the pharmacist counter and ask for it! If you are under 18, you will need to find your nearest healthcare professional and ask them to write you a prescription.

If more than 72 hours have passed, but less than 7 days, another option to prevent pregnancy involves the emergency placement of an IUD (intrauterine device). A copper IUD is an effective method of emergency contraception for up to seven days. The copper IUD will not prevent fertilization because it does not contain a hormone. However, it works by preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg into the lining of the uterus, which is required for a pregnancy to become established. An IUD must be placed by a qualified health professional, so you will need to make an appointment, but it is worth it if you still have doubts about your risk of pregnancy and are within the 7 day window.


Why am I using emergency contraception?

Though many women fear pregnancy, not enough attention is given to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, etc. The same way you put yourself at risk for needing Plan B is the same way you put yourself at risk of getting any combination of these infections. Plan B, IUDs, birth control, etc do not prevent sexually transmitted infections! Using a condom each and every time is the only way (other than abstinence which is 100% full proof) of getting an STD and helping to prevent pregnancy. You’re worth it!

***The information in this article is not meant to substitute for the advice of a professionally trained medical professional. Health related questions are best addressed by your physician/nurse practitioner and NOTHING on the internet should substitute or replace their advice!***
© 2008 CGees