Preventing and Treating Candida / Yeast Infections in the Lactating Mother

Just looked up some links recently about treating yeast in the nursing mother and thought I would share.
A yeast infection in the breast can be incredibly painful for the mother and can cause her to quit breastfeeding. These links have some great info.
Also- some mom's find that the supplement Fungal Defense from Garden of Life supplements will help to kill the yeast so that your body can come to a healthy equilibrium again.

Many mom's also find that removing yeast products (bread) and sugar and white flour from your diet is also helpful. In addition, many sources recommend probiotics, but some have found that the probiotics should be started only AFTER the yeast is under control with a product like the one mentioned above. (From my sweet and knowledgeable hubby- thanks babe!)

An old friend also recommended using Motherlove Nipple Cream which is organic and safe.

Info for treatment from Kellymom

Info from LLL International

My beloved Texas La Leche League leader had this to add also- a shout out to Louanne and LLL leaders everywhere who know so much, help so many and do it all for free!

For the All purpose nipple cream I use:

lotromin ointment (anti fungal)

antibiotic ointment (no pain relief in formula)

hydrocrotisone ointment1 %

Mix equal amounts on a clean plate and apply with cotton swab.

apply to cracked nipples (or anywhere really) after each feed

cover nipples with a 3 inch square of saran wrap until the the next feed

do not use breast pads as they can stick to the cracks and reopen the wounds

do this for 48 hours

then use 4 X's a day

most cracks in nipples are healed in 48 hours

And to clean and prevent:

1. swab affected areas at least four times a day with solution of 1 tsp baking soda to 1 cup warm water. use every where--mouth, nipples, etc. don't double dip cotton balls. let areas air dry or use blow drier.

2. apply lotromin to all affected areas except inside baby's mouth at least 4 times a day. use a cotton swab applicator and do not double dip.

3. use towels once. wash clothes daily and bras if soaked in milk. add baking soda to the laundry rinse and dry everything on high.

4. everyone in the house must use increased hygiene habits. household animals should go outside or wash after touching them (yeast can hide in cuticles and animal ears)

5. eliminate sugar and white flour and caffeine

6. follow dr. jack newman's gentain violet and diflucan regimen http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Candida-Protocol.asp

Good luck- another post to follow soon!
(This is of course something that some mom's find helpful and is not intended to be medical advise.)

Trusting Your Body To Feed Your Baby

Trust Your Body AFTER Birth

When I teach the most important lesson I want any of the students to learn is to trust their bodies. If you can do this one thing you can have a wonderful labor and birth. This trust in yourself and your abilities to mother will transfer over to breastfeeding once your baby is born.

Problems

There are a thousand things that can possibly go wrong with breastfeeding- many of them peculiar to our culture surely. I am by no means a lactation specialist so I won't talk about any of them. But one thing I notice constantly with new mothers is that they simply don't believe that they can breastfeed their baby.

This is really not surprising considering that the entire birth practice in this country from inception to birth is often tearing down mothers and telling them that an expert needs to help them with everything from fertility to getting their baby out for them and then breastfeeding and parenting.

Feed your baby on demand

First- feed your baby when it is hungry! This is so simple but can be so hard for many reasons. One reason is that there are so many baby training programs out there telling you how and when to feed your baby.

OK ladies- I have had three kids in the last 5 years- I rarely get a full nights uninterrupted sleep and haven't in a long time. I know this is hard and I have had many night time breakdowns. That being said- babies need to nurse very frequently for only a short time. Usually these frequent feedings are simply your baby telling you something-
"I'm hungry"
"I'm sad"
"I'm scared"
"I hurt"
Just like labor talks to you and tells you to move, sway, relax etc, your baby talks to you by crying or fussing or rooting. Listen to them. This seems like a long time when you are in the middle of it- but it does not last forever.

You have enough milk!

Now- if you are feeding your baby when it is hungry (this might be every 30 minutes or every 3 hours- they are all different and they change from day to day) then you should be making enough milk.

RELAX! Just because your baby wants to eat again does not mean you are not making enough milk. You are most likely doing fine your baby just needs you again or is trying to increase your supply by nursing. This is OK. This is natural and it does not mean you are not producing enough. Frequent nursing is your babies way of increasing your milk supply. Just like the baby participates in birth by moving and turning, it also participates in eating. He is not just a passive onlooker. He will help you make more milk.

Take Care of You

Those first few weeks after the birth will probably leave you tired and maybe a little sore. This is not a bad thing. This is natures way of telling you (or shouting) that you need to slow down, relax and just focus on feeding a new baby. Listen. The more you rest the first couple of weeks the better you will feel in six.

Sleep with the baby when you can, let people help you, have lots of healthy snacks around and drink lots of water. Taking care of yourself will help you make enough milk. And staying home a little bit will save you the trouble and challenge that going out in public and nursing in public can bring in the early days.

I vividly remember taking my 3 day old baby to the Dr for his well baby check up. Of course I couldn't even fit into a bra, and in the waiting room my milk let down. I was absolutely soaked. And to top it all off- very new to breastfeeding and just couldn't get him to nurse- especially in public and especially under a blanket. (And a little plug for home-birth and the midwife visit! YEA!)

We have all been there- it can be hard. Relax, believe in yourself, trust your body and your baby. Count those wet diapers, drink your water and find supportive women to surround yourself with. Remember- it takes two weeks to become good at nursing so give yourself a break and just do your best.

LLL International has wonderful info regarding La Leche League groups in your area and problems with breastfeeding.

Dr Sears Books and Harvey Karp's Happiest Baby on the Block video have great ways to calm and love your baby when they need you but don't necessarily want to eat.

Meditation for Relaxation During Labor -

Here are some scripts for relaxation during labor. It is most effective if you practice these or something similar with your partner daily leading up to the birth. If this is done, you will be able to automatically relax at the sound of their voice and words.
Please, if you have any more to share- post them!

Here is a quote that somebody reminded me of today too- this helped greatly with my first birth in just helping me not be afraid of the upcoming somewhat mysterious event:

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
...And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
~Frank Herbert, Dune

Enjoy!!!

Meditation for Relaxation During Labor - Childbirth Resources at StorkNet's Childbirth Cubby
Relaxation poem- covers the birth process, long but good-
http://www.cafemama.com/secret/birthmeditation.html
Birth meditation, this is a classic rainbow visualization-
http://birthingforlife.com/rainbowscript.html

Alternative Birthing Methods - ABC News

Alternative Birthing Methods - ABC News

The Bradley Method- Preventing C-sections!

Yeah, Those Are My Stretch Marks! And I Like Them!

"Oh Sorry- I Didn't Recognize You"

I always gain about 45 pounds with pregnancy. This results in months of feeling overweight, stretch marks, and skin that does not look the way it did when I was 19. And yes- people don't recognize me with fat face! Honestly, I beat myself up about it, contemplate starvation, and try to punish myself with work-outs.

Pregnant with my first, I just assumed I would be one of those women you see 3 weeks after they have the baby and they are back in their regular jeans. Instead I was one of those women who took 9 months to gain 45 pounds, and took 9 months to lose it.

I HATE Her!

Everywhere I go it seems like there is some actress on the front of a magazine or walking down the red carpet, skinny as all get out, while somebody else watches her baby (or babies) back home for her. Why don't I look like that a month later!?

Even though I intellectually know this isn't realistic for me (since I don't have access to trainers, cooks, and excellent photo-shop skills) I still spend a lot of time wondering why I do not get into that great of shape that quickly.

Recently a few things have made me rethink the hatred that I direct towards my post baby shape. First I read this blog about some flagrantly airbrushed pictures of an actress post baby, click here.

I also had somebody close to me get plastic surgery to correct the effects of aging. While I was talking about how horrified I was at their blatant act of vanity, it occurred to me that I show the same kind of distaste toward what childbearing has done to my body.

This Body Can Do Anything

All of this disturbing introspection made me think of how I felt about my body after my first child was born. I had a long labor and he was only born after 4 hours of hard pushing. It was the hardest I had ever worked for anything in my life. Even though I was baby fat and stretched out, I felt like I could do anything. I had no idea that my body was capable of that kind of physical endurance and strength. I felt like a female warrior.

I had never before exercised and I started to a few months later. When my baby was 6 months old I ran my first 5k and even though it was hard for me, I knew I could do. When I felt like giving up I just told myself "You spent 4 hours pushing out a 8lb 6 oz baby- this is nothing". And I did it!

Ignoring the Demons

Even though I once felt awesome about my female body post baby, I slowly lost that feeling of wonder. Two more babies later I found myself desperately trying to lose the baby weight again, wondering why my skin had to stretch out so much, irritated that I had even MORE stretch marks and - trying to not eat again.

Every time I look at the computer it seems like Heidi Klum is walking down a runway in her under ware 3 weeks after giving birth and I look nothing like her! And even though I should know better, I feel bad about myself and I hate this amazing body because it doesn't seem as good as the one that other women have.

Who cares?! I (and all of us) need to ignore the ridiculous portrayals of women in media who look like they have never had children. I am not saying that once you have kids you should never try to feel good physically again, I just realized that my focus was ridiculous. It honestly never occurred to me that their pictures were airbrushed and totally fake. I just kept wondering what was wrong with me. Why do we hate the way our shapes change with children anyway? Does our society constantly tear down motherhood and all symbols of on a daily basis? I think it does. Look at any magazine cover and you will see that this is true. It is time to rethink the way we see ourselves post baby.

Reality Check

So- even though I have been really disturbed lately about somebody I love altering their body with surgery, it made me realize that I have looked at myself the same way.

I forgot how incredible this body is. I forgot that all those scars and stretch marks and "imperfections" were earned with every pregnancy and birth. I also forgot that every little bit of it was worth it. My baby body flaws are not a sign of my weakness and imperfection. They are just proof that I have lived, given birth, and brought life into this world. I love them!

"Can I Hold My Baby Yet?"- Postpartum Care and Your Baby

I have been wanting to write more often but it has been a little tougher after having number three- so forgive me for not offering more references to back up my opinions. Here goes-

My First Birth-

I have always wanted to have my babies naturally and so I got ready for the first by taking a Bradley Method childbirth class. It was wonderful, and along with the other studying I did it was great preparation for a natural birth. One thing that I did not think about much though was postpartum care. I was so wrapped up in accomplishing this natural birth that I hardly considered what came after.

I was able through some knowledge and some luck to have a natural birth in a hospital setting with the help of a wonderful midwife and my husband. I knew that the baby would be taken for a while after the birth to be checked but I felt fine about that as long as my husband was with him.

After the birth I tried to nurse immediately but with the noise, 10 people in the room, and all the bright lights, not to mention me laying flat on my back so I could get stitched up, it just did not work out.

When I was wheeled up to the recovery room, as soon as I got there a nurse came to take my baby so that he could be cleaned and "checked". I was not too worried about it since hubby went along to watch out for him.

I had had a very long labor and second stage so I was exhausted. Everybody told me to get some sleep. I tried but- was totally wired and could not sleep for even a minute. I just lay in my hospital bed wondering when he would be brought back to me.

Finally he did come back, by now it had been over an hour and he was clean but fast asleep. Thus began a few weeks of jaundice, overly tired baby, and a frustrated mom trying desperately to breastfeed her first child but fighting an uphill battle.

What Happened?

As it turns out, both baby and mother are programed to be alert for a short time immediately after the birth. This is natures way of having an awake mother and baby even after a long and tiring ordeal so that they can not just nurse but get to know each other.

If we take the baby from the mother almost immediately after the birth what happens? We get an mother full of endorphins and oxytocin (love hormones) sitting alone in her room with no baby to bond with or nurse. We also get a baby spending the first few hours of its life surrounded by strangers in a bright room who incessantly poke, prod, and clean it.

What we do not get is an easy transition into motherhood or a smooth start to the breastfeeding relationship.

My Second Birth

Though happy with my hospital experience overall, by the time I had my second I was ready to try an out of hospital birth, for two reasons. One, I was in Texas where it was difficult to find a natural childbirth friendly hospital, and second, I was not pleased with the common hospital practice of removing the baby from its mother right after birth.

My daughter was born in a dimly lit room. Besides my husband there were only three other people there, my midwife, her assistant, and a prospective midwife. It was quiet, dark and peaceful. She was not breathing immediately so was checked out briefly and then handed to me rather quickly. I was holding her probably within 15 minutes of the birth.

I was amazed how easy it was to nurse her. I was half expecting the same battle that had occurred before, but it never came. Naturally born babies are born wanting to nurse and suck, and if mom knows some basic things about breastfeeding and is given the proper help and encouragement, breastfeeding is much easier.

I was so much happier with this experience and in particular with the postpartum care that I was in love with the out of hospital birth experience.

My Third

I recently had the blessing of having my third baby at home. I thought that the experience in the birth center was wonderful but this was even better and less inter feared with.

My baby was handed to me immediately after the birth. I held her until the placenta delivered. The cord was not even cut until after the delivery of the placenta. Nobody took her (though my mom tried!) except for family that I let hold her.

Babies do need to be checked over a little after they are born and she was- about 2 hours later. My midwives policy was to not take a healthy baby for the first 2 hours of life.

She nursed easily within a few minutes after birth and it has been such a blessing to be the first to hold and talk to my baby. I had never felt such a strong bond.

Why This Matters

Babies need their mothers- but mothers also need their babies. We need to hold them, love and nurse them for as long as needed after birth. Not only does it help with things like postpartum hemorrhage, but it causes our body to release oxytocin, which in turn, helps us form a fierce and protective bond with our baby.

How many women have you met who experience severe postpartum depression? How many have trouble with nursing, with feeling connected to their baby, their body and their birth? Maybe you are one of them. I know that I was after my first birth. I had accomplished what I had set out to, but the time away from my baby at such a special and sensitive moment was difficult. Looking back I realize what a big difference that separation made in my bonding with him. I spent many hours crying and feeling sad over trouble nursing that was not necessary.

SO MANY WOMEN GO THROUGH THIS- and so often is is just a matter of poor, outdated hospital policy to take a baby than any need. When you pick your birth place check on their postpartum policies. Many hospitals now can do any checks in your room with you there. This is something that is totally worth looking into and demanding. When we make our voices heard we create change.

Home Birth

Birth

I have really wanted to write about the home birth of my daughter but it is so hard to put down into words. Birth is such a private and sacred event that it is difficult knowing what to share and what to make public. Let's see how this goes.

The Plan

I was excited with this birth to finally be planning a home birth. Truthfully, it is something I had considered with my others but was either too scared to do or just too broke to pay for since insurance did not cover it. My first was born in a hospital with midwifery care and my second was born in a stand alone birth center.

I was so lucky and blessed this time to find a home birth midwife willing to allow me to make payments. I want to give praise to all those midwifes out there that are willing to be so generous so that women can have the beauty of a home birth.

I felt strongly with this birth that it should be at home and I knew that all would be well with this choice. It is a wonderful thing to feel comfortable and safe in our decisions regarding birth.

The Day

I was of course a week and a half overdue!!! Which is frustrating when you are uncomfortable. I had been going to bed every night HOPING that I would go into labor (since I had always started at night with my others).

This time I woke up in the morning and started laboring. Since I knew I was having the baby at home I spent the morning running around trying to clean things up, picking grapes with the kids, and making a dinner for that evening. I just couldn't get everything done fast enough.

I think the idea of having children at birth is wonderful, but honestly, having my kids climb on me in the middle of a contraction was a little distracting so in the afternoon I called my mom to have her come pick them up and take them to eat and play. (MacDonald's anyone?)

Time is always blurry in labor but I think I called my midwife around 3 in the afternoon to give her a heads up. My husband had some patients at 4 and I told him to go see them (always thinking about cash flow, that's me). Around 4:30 my mom came to get the kids and my mother in law who we live with realized that I was in labor. My mom wouldn't leave me alone and around this time I had her call the midwife, and I told her that my husband needed to come home NOW.

My midwives were both about an hour away so I was honestly worried that they wouldn't make it.

Everybody Arrives

My husband came home, my mother in law was busy cleaning and bringing me damp cloths and ice chips, the kids were away and my midwives showed up.

This was my most intervention free pregnancy and birth and it was wonderful. In labor was the first time I had exposed the baby to any ultrasound at all when they checked the heart rate intermittently with the Doppler.

The midwives knew that I wanted this to be as hands off as possible so the only suggestion that they made was that I not labor in a sitting position. For some reason when I sat the heart rate was difficult or impossible to find.

So I labored all over the house. I was in the tub when I asked to have dilation checked because, honestly I just couldn't take it any more and wanted to know if I was close.

I was at a 9 1/2 with a lip on one side. My midwife recommended that I roll over so that the lip would disappear on that side. I did that and got out and was ready to push! YEAH!

About this time my mom showed up with my kids to see if she should take them to her house or what and when she heard how far along I was she said she was not going anywhere. I heard my midwife tell her that we would have a baby in a few minutes.

I had envisioned this birth a very certain way and that is much how it played out. I went into our TV room and squatted by our couch. I had really seen myself catching the baby. I just wanted it to be something that I did on my own without being messed with.

Pushing

So, with my mother, mother in law and children in the next room, listening but not watching, and me, my husband and the two midwives in the TV room, I started to push.

I have to admit that pushing is the hardest part for me and I kind of dread it. I have heard that lots of women love this but- well, I don't.

I started to push- and I admit- this time I really understood the epidural. This for me is the most intense time. I hate to call it pain because pain is such a small and silly word to use when talking about labor and birth. However, it was intense beyond belief. This is definitely my rock and a hard place. Something that has to be done but something I really wish someone else could do for me.

My water burst all over the place (kind of neat actually, I had never had this happen before) and in a few short (or incredibly long) minutes my sweet baby girl is born!

I had imagined catching the baby myself but I was starting to slip while squatting and I had to hold onto my husband so as not to fall over, so the midwife caught. The baby was born with the cord wrapped around the neck which explained why some positions were bad for the heart beat.

The Beginning

I have only been to a few births and one thing I noticed when I wasn't the mother was that when the baby is born it is kind of all over for the birth team. There is not much to do except clean up and leave. But with the birth of your own child the birth is just the beginning of something beautiful. Now you get to get to know this new sweet person that you have been waiting for for so long. It is the beginning of a new life for the whole family.

What I Loved

This birth was so amazing and satisfying in so many ways. I have loved the births of all my children, but this was so untouched and pure, it just seemed like birth with no regrets. It was birth how it should be. I feel so blessed and lucky to have been able to have a birth like this.

I am so grateful for two midwives that were not only generous, but so incredibly respectful of me and my wishes. There was no ego involved for them. They seemed to have zero need to feel important. They were fine with just being on the sidelines, just in case, because that was what I wanted. They respected all of my wishes and needs, even if what I wanted was to be left alone. I never got any pressure from them to do anything that I felt uncomfortable with or pressure to have the baby on a certain day or in a way that worked well for them.

Why

I know that from the outside I just seem crazy to people. Here I am, a housewife, obsessed with natural childbirth- who cares right? This is why-

I want so badly for women to know that birth is beautiful. It can be hard and crazy, even painful, but it is so much more. It is awe inspiring, amazing, and heavenly. It is our moment to be so close to life and death that we can just taste it. It is overwhelming and it is worth it.

I wish that women everywhere were respected and loved in this most sacred moment of their lives. I wish that we all could look at birth as so much more than just something that you have to go through in order to get a baby. I think of birth as a right of passage, a preparation for motherhood, a gift of love to your baby, yourself, and the world.
I know this sounds cheesy but it is true!

What more can I say! I love birth and I feel grateful everyday to be blessed to experience it in this life.