chatwithketch

Over and over again, I have had breast feeding mothers tell me that they don’t make enough breast milk to feed their babies. Or they would say, their babies get hungry too often and so it is difficult to keep up with the crazy schedule of ‘feeding on demand’ that breast feeding requires of you.

Breast milk is very important to new born babies and really no child should be deprived on the many benefits of breast feeding exclusively. There are some mothers who, by reason of specific health conditions, cannot breast feed their babies. However, the greater majority of mothers are able to make enough breast milk to keep their babies satisfied.

Here are our top five tips for breast feeding properly:
o Patience: You’ve got to have loads of it. Sometimes, your baby feeds and then stops a bit just to gaze into your eyes. Give him/her the time needed to bond with you.
o There are two types of milk in the breast milk: the fore and the hind milk. You have to be sure that your baby gets both during each feeding session.
o Give the fore milk to quench thirst. The fore milk is mainly water and low in fats. If you observe, it’s bluish in colour. Its high water content is the reason why you don’t need to give your baby extra water. It’s also rich in protein, carbohydrates and vitamins.
o Be sure to give the hind milk. Now, if you finish giving just the fore milk and stop, the baby will be hungry thereafter as she has essentially only taken water. The milk that comes after the fore milk is thicker containing fats and has a whole lot of calories. The baby needs this to be very well nourished and to satisfy the hunger pangs. The longer a mother waits between meals, the more foremilk is produced and it takes your baby that much longer to get to the more filling hind milk.
o Let your baby feed on demand and each session should last until the breast ‘feels’ empty. I say ‘feel’ because the breast never really empties out After this, change to the other breast.

Remember that breast milk is the best and cheapest food for your baby. It also helps fortify your baby against diseases…so, now you have the right tools to get this done right.

Go for it and have a great weekend, people 😀

Q: Ma’am, I have pain in my right leg but it usually comes and goes. This time, however, as I started to learn driving the pain came back and this time, it’s really serious to the extent that I fell down. Please ma’am, what can I do?

A: Thanks for writing in. The pain in your right leg which has worsened may need further evaluation.

There are quite a number of causes of pain in the leg. Pain in one leg may be due to an injury, a fall or hitting the leg against an object. This pain may be felt immediately after the incident that caused it and subside after a few days, with the proper care. It can also linger for some time, if perhaps there was a break in the bone which was not properly taken care of and affected some nerves.
Other causes include arthritis, leg swelling from different causes like infection, vein abnormalities, diseases like heart problems, diabetes, and liver problems. In long standing hypertension, or diabetes that is not properly managed, there could be nerve problems, often described as a cramp, feeling of lack of blood, or a feeling like pins pricking the feet. The pain could also result from a muscle cramp, which typically occurs at night and may last a few seconds to minutes. There is also condition known as familial recurrent knee dislocation, in which there is repeated dislocation of the knee, followed by a fall, due to lack of stability. It runs in families and can be very painful too. There are also some cancers that can give similar symptoms.

I would advice that you reduce stress on your legs as much as possible, i.e. avoid standing for too long. You could also start some mild exercises focusing on the legs. These may help to strengthen any lax ligaments and improve blood flow, thereby helping any nerve disease, if that’s responsible.

Good diet, rich in proteins and vitamins are also important. You may occasionally take a mild pain relief to reduce the pain (but do not make it a habit). If the pain worsens or continues despite pain tablets, please see your doctor.

In conclusion, I strongly recommend you see a doctor who will take a proper history and examine you thoroughly, and proffer a line of management for your symptoms.

Hope this helps, Best wishes

****The answer to this question was contributed by a doctor guest blogger.

Have a fab weekend, y’all 😀

Q: Hi Dr Ketch,is the electric blanket safe for my 4months old baby?

A: Congratulations on your new bundle of joy 😀
No, the electric blanket is not ideal for your baby because of the risk of over-heating burn or even a burn. So, please don’t use it. Focus more on dressing baby warmly, avoiding clothes with long strings that may pose a strangulation risk. Whatever you do, make sure baby’s head and face are not covered. If you can get a baby sleeping bag, that would be perfect.

Now, I’ll give you some extra tips to help you and baby sleep comfortably…tonight 😀

During night time feedings, keep lights low. Night lights stop you and baby from coming fully awake and so you can go back to sleep after the feed…effortlessly.

Commit to sleep and make it a priority in your life. The advice frequently given to new mothers to get some sleep when the baby is asleep, may appear clichéd and ‘an old wives’ tale, but is useful.

Give yourself permission to let some things go and don’t feel the pressure to catch up on all your emails, text messages, house shores when he’s asleep.

Remember that good sleep starts before you’re actually trying to fall sleep. Ensure you start winding down your day early enough so you can get to sleep early at night. Ensure you’re not getting too wound up during the day and inhibiting your ability to sleep at night

Be intentional about sleep. As a new mother, you’ve got so many things pulling at you: night time feeds, your other children, if you’ve got them, their home work, your husband etc. So ensure that your sleep equipment – pillows, mattress pad/topper and mattress – provide the right support and comfort. Get a good pillow and comfortable mattress…it’s a worthwhile expense

Be open to alternative remedies. Create a personal spa at home: use aromatic oils at bath time and in your room. Lavendar has been found to be very helpful by some.

Feed during the day: Aim to give your baby most of his milk feeds during the day, so he doesn’t make up for it at night (and end up waking for cuddles too!).

Teach him to go to sleep by himself: Put him down when he becomes sleepy but is still awake – about 15 minutes before his usual nap time – so he learns to fall asleep without you comforting him. If you always feed, rock or cuddle your baby to help him sleep, day or night, he’ll learn to expect this.

Give him a comforter: This will act as a transitional object to help him feel secure when you’re not around. It could be a muslin square or light baby blanket – just make sure you have two for when one is in the wash!

Use music: Play lullabies or nature sounds at nap times and when your baby wakes up in the night, so you can all get your rest.

Now you’re empowered 😀 Go catch up on some much-needed sleep!

Have a good night y’all 😀