Green Papaya Fish Soup is traditionally eaten during confinement period after giving birth. The Chinese believe that it will help to boost milk supply too!
Serves 2
Ingredients
Method
Cooking tips:
Recipe and image was contributed by Souper Diaries.
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So you’ve noticed that your breastmilk is pink and you look down and realise that it’s coming from your cracked and bleeding nipple. While it can be scary when you first come across it, there’s likely nothing to be worried about!
Can you still breastfeed?
Yes you can! There’s no need to dump that precious liquid whenever you spot blood in your milk.
A small amount of blood in your milk is not harmful to baby. As long as your baby is nursing well, you can continue to breastfeed. The problem should go away on its own within a few days.
However, you should pay close attention if you have an infection that can be transmitted through your blood. It is still safe to breastfeed with infections such as Hepatitis B or C in the absence of blood. But when blood is present, you should stop breastfeeding. For infections that spread through blood and body fluids, exposure to blood through your milk may increase baby’s risk of getting it too.
What to do if you spot blood in your milk
Can you store breastmilk if there’s blood in it?
Blood can change the taste of the milk. It may be even stronger after a period of time in the fridge or freezer. It is best to give the milk to baby immediately after pumping.
How will the blood-tinged milk affect baby?
Blood in your milk may not have any effect on baby at all. But some babies may encounter the following issues:
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Image credit: Getty Images
If you’re breastfeeding and pumping, keeping your pump parts clean is a super important step you should not overlook.
Pumping alone can be very time consuming, but its well worth the effort to ensure that your pump is nicely cleaned and safe for baby’s consumption every time you use it. You just need to get into hang of it and it will all be part of your routine in no time.
Here are some things to know about cleaning your pump parts:
1. Infections can happen, though uncommon
Though the chances of your baby getting a serious bacterial infection through incorrectly sanitised pump is super rare, it is worth taking note that it can happen! And let this be a crucial reminder every time you feel like you’re too lazy to do this extra step. Providing baby with this precious liquid gold is just one part of it, we need to do our part to protect them from infections too!
2. Keep everything that comes in contact with your pump and milk clean
Before you even begin pumping, it is important to keep your hands clean! Wash them thoroughly before you start to pump. Disinfecting wipes made specifically for cleaning pumps can come in handy to clean counter tops as well as the different pump parts.
3. Inspect your pump
Take apart your pump parts before you use it to make sure that no mould has formed – the tubes, bottle parts or membranes. Have spare parts on hand if you spot anything amiss.
4. Wash the parts after every single use
Rinsing or soaking your pump isn’t enough. If you’re in the office, keep a wash basin (a lock n lock works great) with baby dish liquid soap around. Scrub each individual piece of the pump with soap and rinse it under running water. Let the parts fully air-dry on a paper towel on your desk.
A quick tip you can do if you want to safe time, is to put your pump parts in the fridge after you use till your next pump. You can do a proper scrub down of the parts when you’re home.
There are many convenient sanitising tablets or solutions you can invest in too. Just let them soak in the wash basin and let it air dry.
5. Sanitise them for extra precaution
Once you’ve done the necessary washing, it’s time to get some heat on! This shouldn’t be an issue if you’re home, but if you’re in the office, you can consider investing in a small portable sanitiser.
6. Store the pump properly
Once you’re done cleaning and sanitising, place the parts in a clean container that is exclusively for your pump. Storing it in a dusty drawer and cabinet can expose the parts to more germs
7. Store your breastmilk safely
Store your milk in milk bottles or storage bottles and milk bags that are specifically for breastmilk. A tip is to divide the milk into serving-size amounts to avoid any wastage when you thaw it.
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Image credit: Dr Weil
Once you become a mummy, there are several minor discomforts that are encountered often. Out of these, engorged breasts is the most common.
First few days after giving birth, your breasts tend to become sore. Colostrum, the first milk, super rich in immune components is produced that nourishes the newborn. After colostrum is produced, your breasts become warm, tender and fuller secreting milk.
Why do breasts get engorged?
The real challenge starts when your breasts become sore and painful due to the constant suckling by your young one. Also, when milk is not expressed on time, your breasts tend to become fuller and harder with the piling lactation inside. This is also termed as breast engorgement.
This may turn into a difficult situation, especially when your little one is not in a mood to suckle or when you are away from your baby.
Engorgement is also a concern for your baby as latching gets more difficult on the harder breasts with no elasticity. Poor latching may make your infant to suckle hard, causing sore or even bleeding nipples. This can get pretty uncomfortable!
How to relieve engorged breasts
The amount of lactation varies with each woman. You can be one of those who have heavy milk production all the time, or the ones with lesser quantity but more swelling. Breast engorgement can happen in either case.
There are several ways where you can make sure that the breasts do not face the engorgement. Below are few measures that you can implement:
Nurse regularly
Breastfeed your child immediately after he is born. This helps your baby to develop connect with his source of nourishment faster. Often, babies who latch themselves comfortably are those that have been nursed right after delivery.
Have a routine going
By the time your newborn is few days old, you will begin to understand his ‘timings’. Make sure you note your baby’s feed timings. Scheduling your nursing time helps you to relieve your breasts from the milk to prevent a build up.
Constant nursing
Try and breastfeed your baby at least 8 to 10 times in a span of 24 hours. This method has a two-fold effect. One, it helps in healthy nursing of your child and two, your breasts remain comfortable.
Pump for the missed feeds
In case you have missed out feeding your baby at times because of any reason, make sure you pump out the piling milk with a hand expression or a breast pump.
Treatment for engorgement and sore nipples
You may need help in case your breasts have already reached the state of engorgement. There are various ways of treating engorged breasts and sore nipples and reduce the pain:
Apply warm heat
Apply moist heat on the affected area or take a warm shower. The milk also starts flowing out on its own due to the heat, thereby reducing engorgement.
Use cold compress
A cold compress also helps. Apply a cold compress for ten minutes after feeding to relieve the pain.
Medications
In case you are unable to handle the engorged state for long, talk to your doctor for options in pain medication.
Nursing bra
A nursing bra is very useful to give comfort and support to your heavy breasts while feeding. Try to use cotton and wireless bras for maximum comfort.
Breast massage
Once your breasts are engorged, gently massage around them to make the area softer. This helps reduce discomfort while stimulating lactation.
Use your pump when needed
Use a breast pump to get the excess milk out anytime. This is highly effective in preventing and reducing the engorgement.
Apply ointment for sore nipples
Consult your doctor who will prescribe a safe ointment that can be applied on your sore and bleeding nipples.
This situation is a temporary phase until you and your baby get comfortable with the nursing cycles. Being aware of the measures to implement in times of crisis will better equip you. Suckling and lactation are a natural process. Hang in there till you are settled in with the same. Happy Nursing!
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Article written by Deepa Balasubramanian
Tongue-tie happens when the string of tissue under the baby’s tongue (frenulum), which attaches her tongue to the floor of her mouth, is too short. This can restrict tongue movement and interfere with breastfeeding.
However, tongue-tie doesn’t always have an impact on breastfeeding and it doesn’t always require treatment, as many tongue-ties resolve on their own by 2 or 3 years old.
If your baby is struggling at the breast and doesn’t seem to be getting enough milk, or if you feel pain during and after feeds, you might want to look out for these signs to see if your baby has a tongue-tie. It’s good to identify the issue to ensure that baby is getting enough during her feeds.
Signs of tongue-tie
Do note, however, these signs might also be related to other lactation issues. If you notice any of these signs, consult your doctor or a lactation consultant to confirm it.
Treatments
If your baby is diagnosed with a tongue-tie, a minor and straightforward procedure called a frenulotomy or frenectomy can be done. This is where doctors will snip or divide the frenum to free up movement.
For younger babies (under 4 months), this can usually be done without anaesthetic. She may be a little annoyed to be held down and have fingers placed in her mouth, but will be easily settled after a little TLC!
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With the sheer amount of breastfeeding information and literature available, it is only natural for new mothers to feel overwhelmed.
During your pregnancy, your body nourished your growing baby through the food that you ate. Now that your baby is born, and if you have chosen to breastfeed, your baby will still depend on your diet—and the milk you produce—in order to thrive outside the womb. Here, a few simple guidelines on eating right.
A breastfeeding mother is in reality, eating for two, but that doesn’t mean you need to consume an excessive amount of food. During lactation, your body will adjust to utilise nutrients more efficiently, ensuring that both baby and you have enough of what’s required. In the initial period after delivery, your body will also tap into the fat stores remaining from pregnancy for the extra energy necessary to produce milk. What you eat does make a difference, however—and you need between 300 and 500 extra calories a day to make milk for baby.
It’s recommended that you try to eat as healthfully as you can while you are breastfeeding. It’s been drilled into us long enough (and proven too) that processed foods, foods that are overly salty or sweet, as well as carbonated drinks are typically laden in fat and sugar. These are known as “empty calories” too, as while the consumer may rack them up quickly and easily, they are disproportionately low in nutritional value and are also the common culprits to myriad health woes.
Coming up with a sensible eating plan that takes breastfeeding into consideration can be as straightforward as simply including more of the nutritious foods that you normally eat. Opt for nutrient-dense foods (more nutrition per calorie) that fill you up for longer and doesn’t result in energy crashes. Because of the extra nutritional needs of mother and baby, continue your prenatal vitamin supplements during breastfeeding, unless your doctor advises otherwise.
For balanced nourishment on a daily basis, you should aim to eat from the five basic food groups:
* whole grain bread, cereal, rice and pasta: 6-11 servings daily
* vegetables: 3-5 servings daily
* fruits: 2-4 servings daily
* fish, meat, poultry, eggs, beans and nuts: 2-3 servings daily
* milk, yogurt, cheese and other dairy: 2-3 servings daily
But that’s not all. For even more balanced nutrition, portion the foods across these five groups into three basic calorie groups: carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats. Carbohydrates should make up 50-55 percent of your total daily calories intake, protein should constitute 15-20 percent, while healthy fats should offer around 30 percent of your total daily calories.
While most of your nutrients should be preferably derived from fresh and natural sources across these basic food and calorie groups, pesticides and other agricultural or industrial pollutants may be of concern to some people. As a result, it is not uncommon for breastfeeding mothers to zealously ensure that the food they eat is organic and are non-genetically modified (GMO) as well. These failsafe options are however, costlier than average farm-grown produce. If you’re nursing and concerned, you still can do your bit to minimise the possibility of any harmful substances entering your milk from the food you eat. Avoid seafood that comes from contaminated waters, or simply minimise consuming fish skin which is believed to contain more concentrated levels of possible toxins than the flesh. The same applies for the fatty portions of meat and poultry. Also, always peel and thoroughly wash all fresh fruits and veggies to ensure their surface is free from any fertilisers or pesticides.
Calcium counts
Breastfeeding mothers also require plenty of calcium (at least 1,000mg a day), as intake of this vital mineral will grow and strengthen your baby’s developing bones. Some mothers fear that breastfeeding may actually deplete their calcium reserves faster than usual, but in fact, nursing may actually protect your bones against osteoporosis. According to some studies, the bone density of breastfeeding mothers returns to pre-pregnancy or even higher levels during and after weaning. On the contrary, studies have found that women who did not breastfeed tend to have a higher risk of hip fractures after menopause.
If you are still concerned about your calcium levels, you may resort to taking a supplement. However, obtaining calcium from a variety of foods is just as ideal, if not better. Also, fret not if you’re not a fan of milk—drinking it doesn’t mean your production will be far superior; cows after all, don’t drink milk to produce milk! Apart from milk, you still obtain calcium from other dairy sources such as cheese and yoghurt (which may also be more forgiving to those with lactose intolerances). Even “unlikely” foods such as sardines, salmon, bean curd, soybeans, raisins, figs, broccoli and even carrot juice can provide adequate amounts of this bone-building requisite too, as long as there’s a wholesome variety!
Integral iron
Besides calcium, another mineral that is essential in the diet of a lactating, post-partum mother is iron. This is necessary not just to replenish any blood loss during delivery, but iron also is needed to make sufficient oxygen-carrying red blood cells for circulation throughout the body. Having oxygen-rich blood in your system combats fatigue (and new moms need all the energy they can muster!) and even bolsters your immunity to ward off infections. Iron contributes to healthy skin, hair, nails and cells too—so that you can prolong that pregnancy glow! Nursing mothers should consume such foods as red meat, poultry, fish, soy products, green leafy veggies and iron-fortified cereals. Ensure you have sufficient amounts of vitamin C too, which helps improve the absorption of iron from food. This is commonly found in most fruits and veggies.
While iron should remain one of the mainstays in a balanced diet, you may be surprised that your recommended intake is only 9mg if you’re breastfeeding; whereas the required amount during pregnancy is 27mg! That’s because breastfeeding actually has an iron-preserving effect that suppresses your period and prevents you from menstruating. Hence there is no pressing need to replenish iron in your body as the levels are not being rapidly depleted.
Drink up!
A breastfeeding mom’s best drink? Water! It doesn’t have calories, and it’s perhaps the most convenient and excellent way to keep optimally hydrated. Breast milk is, after all, a liquid; so it makes sense that breastfeeding mothers are usually advised to increase their fluid intake. It’s interesting to note, though, that drinking more doesn’t mean you will start producing more milk. First, the type of fluid also matters. Caffeinated drinks have a diuretic effect which causes you to pass more urine—not to mention traces of valuable vitamins and minerals, which are flushed out as well. In fact, excessively consuming fluids can actually hinder milk production as this also increases urination and fluid loss.
Researchers from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics conducted a study where breastfeeding mothers were given 25 percent more fluid than their original baseline intake for at least a week. Although they were drinking more, the mothers’ milk production did not change significantly and in fact dropped slightly, albeit at levels that were not “statistically significant”.
Overall, what this means is that while additional fluids won’t hurt or harm, you don’t need to obsessively monitor how much you are drinking.
Mom’s Snack Cravings: An Afterword
Although we know which titbits are bad, worse, or off-limits even, we just can’t help ourselves sometimes! How about this then? Rather than rule out “sinful snacking” altogether then feel guilty when that happens, it’s simply best to cut ourselves a little slack as new mothers. This means minimise rather than eliminate, and to permit small quantities that are spaced out— for example, an after-dinner scoop of ice-cream is fine twice a week, instead of binge eating an entire tub of Ben & Jerry’s in one sitting then beating yourself up about it non-stop. Chances are, this constant bemoaning might make you feel rotten to the extent that all your best intentions evaporate and you find yourself stuck in the same frustrating cycle.
The truth is, when it comes to losing post-pregnancy weight, we can’t have our cake and eat it too. Let’s face it: we now have a new baby to nurse and nourish, and that real responsibility really doesrequire a lifestyle change. Breastfeeding can be a time-consuming and even stressful affair for some mothers, and obsessing about slipping back into your pre-pregnancy jeans won’t do you any favours either. What’s important is that you continue to nourish yourself and baby with the right foods in the right amounts, AND with allowance for occasional slip-ups. Think fuelling up and going the distance, instead of filling up just for the sake of moving.
If and when you do slip up, try rationalising with yourself why that happened instead of justifying it away and in so doing, sliding further down the slippery slope. Do so, however, only if such incidents affect you greatly. It really depends. Some moms take it in their stride and move on; for other moms, it may have been a treat or reward for their milk production efforts; and there are still moms who snack excessively when they’re in a negative mood.
To encourage responsible and moderate snacking, identify the reasons (or triggers) for these instances of “extra eating”. Find healthier alternatives—yoghurt to ice cream, whole wheat crackers to chocolate cream biscuits, baked snacks, not fried. Some people are not necessarily drawn to taste but textures, too, so if you like chewy candy, try a healthier option like some dried raisins or figs instead (the latter even has tiny seeds for added bite!).
Who says snacking is always bad? Make those calories count, and your body, milk production and your precious baby will tally up in thanks!
