Marketing Manager, Author at Cary OB/GYN

Breastfeeding in Public: Challenges and Advocacy

by Marketing Manager | May 18, 2023 | Babies

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Breastfeeding is a fundamental aspect of motherhood that provides not just essential nutrients but also emotional and psychological bonding between a mother and her child. However, the act of breastfeeding has been continuously questioned and judged, and women who breastfeed in public often face stigmatization and discrimination. This issue highlights the need for advocacy and support for women’s health and the right to breastfeed in public.

Public breastfeeding remains a controversial topic, with many people perceiving it as indecent exposure. Women all over the world report experiencing judgment and stigma when breastfeeding in public. In some cases, they are harassed, forced to cover up, and even asked to leave public spaces. These incidents can discourage women from breastfeeding or lead to unpleasant experiences that can cause emotional distress.

To address these challenges, advocacy and public awareness campaigns have emerged to shed light on the issue of public breastfeeding. Various women’s health organizations and breastfeeding support groups have launched social media campaigns and online petitions to advocate for a mother’s right to breastfeed in public without judgment.

Furthermore, laws and policies are being established in some countries to protect women’s rights to breastfeed in public. For instance, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom have laws that protect breastfeeding in public, and violators can be penalized. Other countries like the Philippines, India, and Argentina have also recently enacted laws to protect breastfeeding in public.

Moreover, businesses and public spaces are encouraged to provide designated areas for breastfeeding mothers, such as nursing rooms or designated areas with comfortable, private seating. Such initiatives demonstrate a more welcoming and inclusive environment for nursing mothers and serve as a significant step towards normalizing public breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding in public is a critical women’s health issue that must not be overlooked or stigmatized. Advocacy and awareness campaigns, along with protective laws and business initiatives, are necessary to ensure that breastfeeding mothers will receive the support and dignity they deserve. By working towards a more inclusive and accepting society, we can promote a healthier and happier future for every mother and child.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1618658856512{margin-top: 75px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Services We Offer:”][vc_column_text]

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Co-Sleeping with Your Child

by Marketing Manager | May 11, 2023 | Babies

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Co-sleeping, or sharing a bed with your child, is a practice that has been around for generations. In many cultures, it is a common and natural way to care for infants and young children. However, in Western cultures, co-sleeping has become a controversial topic, with some experts advocating strongly against it.

Proponents of co-sleeping argue that it fosters a stronger emotional bond between parents and children. Many parents who co-sleep with their infants find that it makes breastfeeding easier and helps infants settle into a regular sleep pattern. In addition, parents who work outside of the home may find that co-sleeping provides a unique opportunity to connect with their child after a busy day.

However, opponents of co-sleeping argue that it is dangerous and can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Studies have shown that infants who sleep in the same bed as their parents are at a higher risk of suffocation, accidental injury, and even death. In addition, some experts point out that co-sleeping can create an unhealthy dynamic where parents are unable to establish healthy boundaries with their children.

Parents who choose to co-sleep should take precautions to protect their child. Those precautions include using a firm mattress, keeping pillows and blankets away from the baby, and never leaving the baby alone in the bed. Additionally, parents should never co-sleep with their infants if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, as this increases the risk of accidents.

In conclusion, the decision to co-sleep with your child is a personal one that should be made based on your individual needs and concerns in conjunction with recommendations from your physician. While there are risks associated with co-sleeping, these can be minimized with proper precautions. Ultimately, parents should do what is right for their family and prioritize the safety and well-being of their children.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1618658856512{margin-top: 75px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Services We Offer:”][vc_column_text]

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Hair Loss After Pregnancy

by Marketing Manager | May 5, 2023 | Postpartum

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What can you expect to experience with hair loss after pregnancy?

Many women experience excess hair shedding after pregnancy. This hair shedding is most prevalent at around 4 months post pregnancy.

Why Do Women Experience Hair Loss After Pregnancy?

Hair loss after pregnancy is normal and common. It happens because of the changing hormone levels in our bodies during and after pregnancy. During pregnancy, especially during the third trimester, our bodies increase the amount of estrogen produced. This increased estrogen causes more hair development than pre-pregnancy. After pregnancy, our levels of estrogen decrease, and this causes us to stop producing as many hair follicles.

How Do I Treat the Hair Loss?

There is nothing available to treat postpartum hair loss, but oftentimes there is no need to treat it either. Most women find that their hair returns to its normal state at around one year after delivery. If you are concerned about your appearance during the postpartum hair loss stage there are a few tricks that you can try to help feel your best during this time:

Try a new hairstyle. Some hairstyles can make your hair appear thicker
Try a volumizing shampoo to add an appearance of fuller hair
Try a lightweight conditioner and only use conditioner on the ends of your hair so that your hair is not weighed down
Avoid tight hairstyles that can pull at your hair

Things to Watch Out for With Postpartum Hair Loss

It’s possible that strands of hair may wrap around parts of your baby’s body causing pain and damage to their circulation. This is called a “hair tourniquet” and is considered rare. Be sure to check on your baby, and, if you notice a hair tourniquet either remove the hair strands or contact your baby’s healthcare provider to remove them.

Additionally, if you’ve noticed that you’re still excessively shedding hair at one year postpartum, you should consider speaking with your healthcare professional as there could be another cause of your hair loss.

References

“Hair Loss In New Moms”. AAD, American Academy of Dermatology. 5 August 2010.
“Postpartum Hair Loss”. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic. 13 June 2022.

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How to Take Care of Your Breasts While Breastfeeding

by Marketing Manager | Apr 27, 2023 | Babies

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s important to take care of your breasts if you choose to breastfeed so that you’re able to optimally feed your baby. There are steps you can take to help promote your breast health and comfort during breastfeeding, including:

Wear a supportive bra

During breastfeeding, your breasts will be larger than their pre-pregnancy size. Due to this size increase, it’s beneficial to wear a supportive bra to help hold up your muscles and ligaments. This will help prevent any pain or discomfort from the weight of your heavier breasts. It’s recommended that you wear a supportive bra both during the day and at night.

Avoid tight fighting clothing

Clothing that is tight can compress your breasts and may contribute to clogged milk ducts. Clogged milk ducts can cause discomfort and can increase your risk of infection. In addition to tight fighting clothing, you should consider avoiding bras with underwire as the underwire may also compress your breasts to cause clogged ducts.

If Your Nipples Hurt, Try Different Latching Techniques

It’s normal for your nipples to be sore as they adjust to breastfeeding, but your nipple shouldn’t be sore after a few days. If your nipples hurt, this could be an indication that your baby is not latching onto your breasts properly. You can try different latching techniques such as position changes to help improve your baby’s latch.

Don’t Use Soap When Washing Your Nipples

Your nipples make their own natural lubricant. Using soaps on them can remove this lubricant, which can cause cracking and nipple pain.

Treat Your Clogged Milk Duct

Feed your baby often. This will help your breasts drain. You may have greater success if you position your baby with their nose towards the blockage, as this will help the duct drain better.
Massage the lump towards your nipple. This will break up the clog and help the milk flow.
Take a warm shower or use a warm compress before feeding. This can trigger your let-down reflex and help clear the blockage.
Drain any milk left in your clogged breast after feeding. You can use a pump or hand expression to do so.

References:

“Breastfeeding Care Instructions”. Penn Medicine, Penn Medicine.

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Preventing Gestational Diabetes

by Marketing Manager | Apr 20, 2023 | Pregnancy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs in women who are pregnant who don’t have a history of diabetes while not pregnant.

During pregnancy, your body goes through changes like weight gain and increased hormone levels. These changes can cause your body to be less responsive to a hormone called insulin; insulin is a chemical that your cells need in order to take in blood sugar. With gestational diabetes, your body does not produce enough insulin to meet your body’s needs.

Researchers still don’t fully understand why some people end up with gestational diabetes while other women don’t, but they have identified some risk factors that may predispose some to having it.

Some of these risk factors include:

Poor physical activity
A history of prediabetes
A history of delivering a baby weighing over 9 pounds
Having a BMI >25

Whether you have these risk factors or not, there are some steps that you can take to lower your risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy. Some of these steps are listed below.

Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

Even before your pregnancy, you want to be choosing a diet that includes plenty of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Diets high in processed sugars can change how your body uses insulin and responds to sugars, and this can put you at a higher risk of diabetes.

Maintain a Consistent Exercise Routine

Exercise is an important way to lower your risk of gestational diabetes. Exercise has been shown to improve your body’s ability to use insulin effectively, meaning that you body won’t need to produce as much. Exercise also lowers your blood sugar levels.

It’s often recommended that you get at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. But you should check with your healthcare provider about how much, and what types of exercises are safe to do with your pregnancy.

Start at and maintain a healthy weight

If you are planning a pregnancy, it’s important to start it at a healthy weight. Research has shown that people who are overweight are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.

It’s also important to have a healthy amount of weight gain during your pregnancy. Weight gain during pregnancy is healthy, but you want to be careful that it’s not too much. Recommendations for healthy weight gain will depend on your body type and how many babies you’re carrying.

Get Tested for Gestational Diabetes

You can get checked for gestational diabetes during your prenatal appointments through a “glucose test.” With a glucose test, your healthcare provider will measure your blood sugar levels after drinking a sugary syrup. If your blood sugar reading is considered high, you will likely have to have the test repeated with additional blood sugar readings to confirm a diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

References:

“Gestational Diabetes” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic. 09 April 2022.
“Gestational Diabetes”. CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 30 December 2022.
Morisset, A. S., St-Yves, A., Veillette, J., Weisnagel, S. J., Tchernof, A., & Robitaille, J. (2010). Prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus: a review of studies on weight management. Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews, 26(1), 17–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/dmrr.1053

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Breastfeeding in Public: Challenges and Advocacy

Co-Sleeping with Your Child

Hair Loss After Pregnancy

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How to Take Care of Your Breasts While Breastfeeding

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Preventing Gestational Diabetes

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