The Physical Stress of Baby Feeding

Of all the postpartum adjustments, new mothers rarely think of feeding their baby as one of the more uncomfortable responsibilities. 

Whether you're breast or bottle feeding, position is everything. It takes a little bit of practice to support your baby's weight properly while latching or giving them a bottle and they might be small, but even the tiniest baby feels heavy after a while.

Learning the right position to hold and support your little one takes a tremendous toll on your back, neck, shoulders, arms and more. If you're experiencing more discomfort than you expected during feedings, you might be experiencing some common symptoms that many new mothers report in the first few weeks home with their newborn.

What are the most common areas on the body where nursing moms may end up with musculoskeletal pain?

While feeding their baby, moms may develop musculoskeletal pain in their neck, shoulders, forearms, wrist and lower back. During pregnancy, the muscles and posture change to accommodate that growing baby. Unfortunately this posture doesn't disappear postpartum and you'll have to re-program your body to engage their core muscles, repairing this weakened posture. This discomfort is surprisingly common and affects nearly all new mothers at some point or another as they recover after birth. 

"Nursing Neck"

This is typically the first discomfort to be felt along the way as a mother feeding her baby will arch her neck over the baby to watch them latch to the breast or bottle. You may not realize how many times you're putting your neck in this position throughout the day. To avoid overexerting your neck, try feeding while laying gently reclined or using a "u" shaped pillow supporting your neck. A reclining chair or glider typically supports this gentle recline better than lounging in bed.

"Nursing Back"

Many of us instinctively lift with out backs, particularly if we've spent 9 months trusting it to support all the weight we've developed at our front. The back pain that comes along with feedings can be just as uncomfortable as that pregnancy back pain that can sweep you off your feet. You can alleviate this pain by positioning your body using a lumbar supportive pillow throughout the day and particularly when you're feeding. 

Shoulder Pain

Holding your baby in the proper position while they feed is perhaps the most strenuous on the muscles of your shoulders. One of the biggest defenses a mom has against shoulder discomfort is regular upper body exercises and the use of a sling for baby. The sling will support the baby's weight while keeping them properly latched breastfeeding or arranged with the bottle. This takes the pressure off mom to support the weight, position, feed and soothe at the same time. While not everyone likes the sling, it does have it's place in many households as a great feeding tool. 

Exercise regularly

It might sound like a broken record, but gentle weight based exercises for your upper body really does work wonders in strengthening your core and all the muscles you activate while feeding your baby. Yoga is a favorite among many moms for it's gentle and meditative nature. Yoga utilizes your body weight to improve your posture and strengthen those muscles postpartum.

With everything, practice makes perfect.

Discomforts come along with acclimating to the different feeding positions that you'll need to feed your brand new baby. While we can't always avoid discomforts like shoulder and neck pain, there's always a few tips and tricks that can make the process more comfortable for both mom and baby. 

Can We Trust Home Pregnancy Tests?

If you think you may be pregnant, the first step is usually a trip to the neighborhood store to purchase a home pregnancy test (HPT). The convenience of a take home test is without parallel, but, how do they work? Does brand make a difference? How accurate are they?

Before you head out the door take a deep breath. We have collected the answers you are looking for to guide you in your choice and much more.

How do they work?

All home pregnancy test results are based on detecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. This hormone is created upon the attachment of the fertilized egg to the uterine wall and hormone levels are usually at the highest around the fourteenth week following your last period. 

Most home pregnancy tests provide results three to four days before your missed period. However, the earlier you take the test the greater the possibility of a false read. So, the optimal timing is one week after you have missed your menstrual cycle.

*Testing first thing in the morning provides the best results.

Is it difficult to find a home pregnancy test?

No, it is actually very easy to buy them.  Home pregnancy tests are available over the counter, without a prescription in most drugstores and grocery stores.

Their cost can vary greatly and is usually based upon whether or not they are digital. Tests can range from approximately $8 to $25. However, there is no proof that digital tests are more accurate, they just may be easier to read.

 What do the pregnancy test results mean?

Positive Result - You are pregnant (even the faintest showing of a positive result indicator almost always means you are pregnant.)

Negative Result - You are not pregnant.

How accurate are home pregnancy tests?

Urine home pregnancy tests are about 99% accurate.

It is more common to get a false negative reading than a false positive reading. In fact, it is pretty unlikely to get a false positive, but there are a few very rare cases where it may occur:

·      Your blood or protein is present in your urine (common with diabetics).

·      You are taking prescribed medications, such as tranquilizers, anti-convulsants, or hypnotics

In very rare cases, you can have a false-positive result. This means you're not pregnant even when the test says you are. False negatives usually occur based on human error.

However, you may still be pregnant if:

• The test has expired
• You did not correctly follow the instructions provided
• Your urine is too diluted
• You tested too soon
• You are taking prescribed medications, such as diuretics or antihistamines.

If you get a negative test result and still believe you may be pregnant, try retesting within about a week.

The Top 5 Most Popular and Reliable Home Pregnancy Tests on the market.

 First Response Gold

Digital
When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period
Costs: $21.10 for 2 tests

Accu-Clear Early Pregnancy Test

Standard stick test

When it says you can test: The day you expect your period
What it costs: $15.75 for 2 tests

e.p.t. Certainty

Digital test

When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period

What it costs: $21.99 for 2 test

Clearblue Easy

Standard
When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period
What it costs: $17.49 for 3 tests

Target Brand

Standard stick test

When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period
What it costs:  $9.99 for 3 tests

Induction 101

Those last few weeks pregnant can feel like a waiting game. 

"Am I ever going to go into labor?"

Although its easy to feel impatient, your body will begin labor when it's ready, but some women need a little help to start the process. 

For some expectant mothers, it can seem like baby's too comfortable to make their grand appearance and must be medically induced to get the ball rolling. Induction doesn't have a bad reputation, but there are a fair amount of unknowns and a lack of awareness of the process.

What does it actually mean for your labor to be induced?

Induction is the artificial start of labor when it has not begun on it's own. Induction uses synthetic versions of hormones that occur in a mother's body to kick start the labor process. The most commonly used induction drug is Pitocin which is an artificial version of Oxytocin, the hormone that produces contractions.

Sometimes contractions are not enough to stimulate labor on their own, so other hormones may be used or doctors might advise manually breaking your water or opening the cervix. 

Is labor induction safe?

40 weeks is the average gauge to timeline your pregnancy. When a pregnancy continues past 42 weeks, it can become unsafe for mom and baby. The placenta begins to work less effectively, causing fresh oxygen to be in short supply for baby. Medical inductions are routine and they are often utilized as a means to keep mom and baby as safe as possible. 

When can induction be unsafe?

The maturation of your pregnancy is actually an estimation factored by your menstrual cycle at the time you discover you're pregnant. This can mean your due date is off by a few days to even several weeks. Inducing too early can put your baby at risk if they have yet to fully develop. Professionals recommend asking your doctor to wait until you are at minimum 39 weeks to induce labor if you are experiencing an otherwise healthy pregnancy. 

How long does induction take?

Every body and pregnancy is different. Induction can take anywhere from several hours to almost 3 days. Typically a first pregnancy will take longer to induce, as will a pregnancy that is termed earlier than 37 weeks. This is one of the biggest uncertainties that parents face when they're experiencing an induction; inductions can really take days. Once induction begins your progress will be closely monitored to determine the success of the induction method. 

Risks Associated with Inducing Labor

According to the March of Dimes, there are a series of risk factors associated with labor induction that parents should educate themselves on. With any medical procedure or birth preference, the best way to stay confident and in control is to open a line of communication with your doctor and care provider. Talk to your doctor about how your specific pregnancy and health may influence some of these risk factors or if you are at an elevated risk. 

If you're nearing the end of your pregnancy or your doctor is talking about induction, don't panic.

To actively reduce cesarean birth rates, your doctor will recommend the plan of action that is in the best interest of you and your baby's health at your comfort level. If it becomes safer for you to be induced, don't hesitate to discuss your options, risks associated and the methods involved with your potential induction. 

Your birth team's main goal is to always bring your baby to your arms as swift, safe and comfortable as possible.

They Just Let You Leave The Hospital with a Baby?!

Write here...

So the story goes, 2 partners conceive a baby, one of the partners grows that baby in their womb and 9 months later gives birth. The day that happens, you and your partner are officially deemed 'Parents', which is likely something you both have been waiting for for a long time.

But after the excitement calms down, your family members and friends will likely give you and your new family time to bond before heading home. 

You pack the baby into the car, install the carseat safely like you've practiced a thousand times, and you're off to bring your newest family member home. THAT is where it sinks in. 

They Just Let You Leave The Hospital with a Baby?! 

So this might sound silly but trust us, it happens more than you think. Even though you've grown the baby and birthed the baby, many parents still feel unprepared for the road ahead.

We've put together this post to give expectant parents a realistic idea of what to expect when they bring baby home. 

First, let's talk about baby's digestive system. Since it is usually the first thing that catches new parents off guard. 

We'll start with gas. Babies are notoriously known for having lots of gas. Anything that causes baby to take in too much air can result in some serious gas. Whether breastfeeding or bottle feeding, your baby is likely to take in a bit of air while learning feeding technique of your choice resulting in some stink-age around the house. 

Then we move on to bigger and better things, poop! You may pop open a stinky diaper and find what looks to be a pile of gunky motor oil looking back at you (this is usually when parents call the doula). No reason to be alarmed, Meconium is made of amniotic fluid, mucus, skin cells, and other stuff ingested in utero. So your first few days of poop may be greenish-black, tarry and sticky. 

Many parents know that the road ahead includes some long and sleepless nights but many parents fail to realize that the days can be long and restless too. It is likely that baby keeps you up at night for feedings and changes, and it is also likely that your family, friends and loved ones want to come visit during the day. 

It can be hard to predict how frequently you will want visitors in your home until baby is actually there. 

Remember that your loved ones will understand if you need some time alone to bond with baby, or even get a few sweet moments of rest yourself. 

As pregnancy is, parenting is also one heck of a ride that can leave you feeling unprepared and/or unqualified.

If you and your partner are interested in additional support as you navigate this new transition please do not hesitate to contact us and learn about our Postpartum Doula Services.