At any stage of motherhood, it can be hard to know where to get the best advice. There are so many parenting tips out there that it can be hard to decipher which ones are actually helpful and which ones are just urban legends that someone once heard somewhere. In general, being a new parent is a period during which you feel unsure about what you’re doing most of the time. Nobody expects you to have all the answers and nobody will judge you for not knowing something. But as a mom, it’s your job to learn as much as possible about how to best care for your child.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are challenging experiences for many women, but with the right information, they don’t have to be that way. Knowing what challenges might come up and what ways to cope with them beforehand will make this period much more enjoyable for everyone involved!
1. Know the Signs of Labor
If you’re pregnant, it’s important to recognize the signs of labor. Labour can be unpredictable and progress quickly, so it’s best to be prepared. Labour is a process in which the cervix slowly opens up and starts to expel the baby. Labour is often accompanied by painful contractions. During labor, there may be some changes in your body that you might mistake for other pregnancy-related problems. For example, you might have some cramping in the lower back. This is normal, so don’t worry! It’s not an indication that anything bad is happening; it’s just your body preparing for childbirth.
2. Know the Warning Signs of a Breastfeeding Problem
If your baby is having a problem breastfeeding, you’ll want to identify and fix the issue as soon as possible. Some breastfeeding issues can be resolved without any medical intervention, but others might require the advice of an IBCLC lactation consultant. If your baby is having trouble latching onto your breast or if your breasts are too sore to latch properly, you’ll want to try using a breast pillow to help you take the pressure off your breasts. Breastfeeding problems can also be caused by an incorrect latch. If your baby is having trouble feeding, it might be because the nipple is positioned incorrectly in the baby’s mouth. This can lead to painful breastfeeding and serious nipple damage. If you notice any of these warning signs, be sure to get help as soon as possible. The sooner you identify and resolve breastfeeding problems, the better!
3. Know Which Medications Are Safe While Breastfeeding
If you need to take a medication while breastfeeding, you’ll want to know which medications are safe. Different medications have different effects on babies, so it’s important that you know the risks before taking something. If you are planning to breastfeed and take medicine, it’s always best to consult with a medical professional. According to physicians at Newton-Wellesley OB/GYN, some medications can be transferred to your baby through breast milk and others can’t. It’s important to know which medications are safe so you can minimize the risk of negative side effects.
- Antacids: Antacids are safe for breastfeeding babies, but they should be taken at the lowest dose possible.
- Antihistamines: Antihistamines are safe for breastfeeding babies, but they should only be taken at the lowest dose possible.
- Aspirin: It’s best to avoid taking aspirin while breastfeeding, as it can be transferred to your baby. This can cause bleeding in your baby’s stomach, which can be dangerous.
- Birth Control: Birth control (including the pill) is safe for breastfeeding babies.
- Blood Pressure Medication: Blood pressure medication is safe for breastfeeding babies, but it should only be taken at the lowest dose possible.
- Breastfeeding Nasal Spray: Breastfeeding nasal spray is safe for breastfeeding babies.
- Breastfeeding Oral Rinse: Breastfeeding oral rinse is safe for breastfeeding babies and is often recommended by doctors.
4. Know Which Medications Are NOT Safe While Breastfeeding
Some medications are definitely not safe for breastfeeding babies, but there are some medications that are only mildly unsafe. You should always check with a medical professional before taking any medication while breastfeeding and always try to take the lowest dose possible.
- Anticoagulants: Anticoagulants are extremely harmful to breastfeeding babies, so it’s best to avoid taking them if possible.
- Strong Antibiotics: Strong antibiotics are extremely harmful to breastfeeding babies, so it’s best to avoid taking them if possible.
- Immunosuppressants: Immunosuppressants are moderately harmful to breastfeeding babies, so it’s best to avoid taking them if possible.
- ACE Inhibitors: ACE Inhibitors are moderately harmful to breastfeeding babies, so it’s best to avoid taking them if possible.
- Steroids: Steroids are moderately harmful to breastfeeding babies, so it’s best to avoid taking them if possible.
- Tranquilizers: Tranquilizers are moderately harmful to breastfeeding babies, so it’s best to avoid taking them if possible.
- Birth Control: Birth control (including the pill) is moderately harmful to breastfeeding babies, but it should only be taken at the lowest dose possible.
- Breastfeeding Nasal Spray: Breastfeeding nasal spray is moderately harmful to breastfeeding babies.
- Breastfeeding Oral Rinse: Breastfeeding oral rinse is moderately harmful to breastfeeding babies.
5. Have a Game Plan for Dealing With Nipple Pain During Breastfeeding
If you’re breastfeeding, you might find that your nipples become sore, cracked, or even bleeding. It’s natural to feel frustrated when this happens, but you don’t have to suffer in silence. If you have cracked nipples, it’s important to try and treat them. If you have nipple blisters or a nipple infection, it’s even more important to treat it. There are a few things you can do to relieve nipple pain during breastfeeding.
- First, make sure you’re using the correct latch when breastfeeding. You should be able to see the baby’s mouth around your nipple. If the baby’s mouth is around your nipple and the areola, you’re using the incorrect latch and are likely causing nipple damage.
- You can also try a nipple cream or ointment. Some people recommend applying vitamin E cream to your nipples as a nipple cream; others prefer lanolin ointment.
6. Have a Game Plan for Dealing With Constipation During Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant, you might find that you need to deal with pregnancy constipation. This is a fairly common condition that affects many pregnant women, especially in the first trimester. Pregnancy constipation is basically when your bowels don’t move as well as they should.
There are several things that can cause constipation during pregnancy. It can be caused by hormonal changes, more stress on your body, and a greater need for fiber. You may also experience constipation if you don’t drink enough water or if you don’t exercise enough. Pregnancy constipation is nothing to be ashamed of, and it can be treated easily. If you’re experiencing constipation during pregnancy, there are a few things you can do to treat it.
- Try to increase the amount of fiber in your diet. You can do this by eating more high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. You can also take a fiber supplement.
- Exercise regularly. If you’re not exercising regularly during pregnancy, you’re more likely to experience constipation.
- Drink plenty of water. Not only will drinking plenty of water help you avoid constipation, but it will also help you avoid dehydration, which can be dangerous during pregnancy.
- Try eating more iron-rich foods. Iron is essential for healthy blood flow, and it can also help to reduce constipation.
- Have a game plan for dealing with constipation while breastfeeding. Diarrhea is a serious risk during breastfeeding, so constipation is even more important to avoid while breastfeeding.
