Recent Articles
When Can I Stop Burping my Baby?
In general, it has been found that you can stop burping your baby at around the age of 4 – 6 months old. At this stage, the baby's digestive system is mature enough to handle the air that is swallowed, and they will be able to release it themselves. At 4 – 6 months, your baby also has more control of his body, can turn from side to side, can hold his head up effectively, and has started eating solids.
Postpartum Depression Management
Postpartum depression is defined as “any major or minor depressive episode during pregnancy or in the first year after childbirth.” Around one in seven women will suffer from postpartum depression in their lifetime. This article discusses treatment options for postpartum depression.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum blues due to hormonal changes are common after childbirth. These feelings arise because of a sharp drop in the pregnancy hormones and an increase in hormones that cause anxiety and depression. Severe and prolonged symptoms may be a sign of postpartum depression for which you should seek medical help.
Phototherapy for Jaundice
Phototherapy, or "light therapy," is a treatment doctors prescribe if your newborn appears jaundiced. Phototherapy involves using light, whether sunlight or a similar form of light, to remove accumulated Bilirubin in the body. Read on to learn more.
Postpartum Hormonal Changes Explained
Postpartum blues due to hormonal changes are common after childbirth. These feelings arise because of a sharp drop in the pregnancy hormones and an increase in hormones that cause anxiety and depression. Severe and prolonged symptoms may be a sign of postpartum depression for which you should seek medical help.
Are All Fevers in Your Baby Due to Infections?
Fever is one of the most common reasons parents bring their child to visit a doctor. While fevers usually indicate infections in babies, they can be caused by external factors, teething, and vaccinations. Read on to learn more.
Why Do Babies Spit Up So Much?
Spitting up during or after a feeding is common. The Mayo Clinic estimates that half of all babies spit up during the first three months, and most babies outgrow spitting up by a year. Most cases of spitting up have to do with the fact that your baby’s digestive system—specifically the muscle between their esophagus and tummy—isn’t fully mature yet, so the milk they consume is more likely to come back up.
Is Breastmilk Different on Each Side?
It is common to have one breast that is smaller than the other and which produces less milk. While this is nothing to fret about, it is possible to even out the milk supply of both breasts. This can be achieved by starting your breastfeeding sessions on the less productive side, nursing your baby on that breast more frequently, pumping that side more often, and taking steps to improve your let-down reflex.
Pelvic Floor Strengthening Exercises
Most of us notice that after childbirth we don’t have the pre-pregnancy pelvic muscle control we once had. Because of the stigmatism around incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunction is significantly under-reported.
Tips for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave
Some of the biggest fears we have about going on maternity leave include being passed over for promotions, becoming irrelevant, or being unaware of the changes happening at work. In this article, we will help you plan ahead so that you are taking control of the situation and communicating effectively with your employer or manager.
5 Tips for Balancing a Career with Motherhood
While we don’t want to be viewed as less capable or less dedicated to our work, we also want to give our children lots of time and attention. Striking a balance between motherhood and a career is no easy task, but it is possible.
Colostrum vs. Milk: What New Parents Need To Know
Colostrum is the yellowish milk you produce right after your baby is born. After about 3-4 days, colostrum transitions to mature breastmilk. Mature milk is similar to colostrum, but has a different balance of nutrition, is whiter in color, and is much greater in volume.
What is a Lip Tie?
A lip tie prevents the upper lip from flanging well and this causes an inability to have an effective seal at the breast or bottle. These babies swallow large amounts of air when feeding which results in colic, gas, and overall discomfort.
Can a Woman Get Pregnant While Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding affects fertility and provides a fairly robust form of temporary natural contraceptive. Only 1 or 2 out of 100 women who exclusively breastfed in the first 6 months got pregnant following childbirth. Research has found that even for non-lactating women, ovulation will only occur at around 6 weeks after birth.
When Will My Perineum Heal?
Around 9 out of 10 first-time mothers will experience some sort of perineal tear, graze, or episiotomy. The perineum is the space between the anus and the vagina. It often tears when the baby’s head is too big to fit through the vagina, or the vagina cannot easily stretch around the baby’s head.
Can I Consume Caffeine While Breastfeeding?
The good news is that it is safe to consume caffeine while breastfeeding. Read on to find out how much caffeine you can ingest per day.
Covid Vaccine and Breastfeeding
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine has recommended that healthcare workers who are pregnant or breastfeeding who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 receive the vaccine. Although there is limited evidence to date to show whether this occurs in the case of COVID-19, antibody studies on other respiratory diseases have found that infant protection is likely.
What is bilirubin in a newborn?
Have you ever wondered why your baby can sometimes look yellow? This is what doctors call jaundice. It occurs commonly in newborns and may be due to many causes. Learn about the different causes of jaundice and what to watch for here.
COVID-19 and Its Effect on Breastfeeding
Mothers are being discharged earlier from maternity wards, hospital guests are restricted from visiting, there has been a decrease in access to lactation support services, and an increase in the use of milk substitutes for newborn babies. Earlier discharge also means that mothers are more likely to experience breastfeeding issues at home.
How long can you safely store breastmilk?
Freshly expressed breastmilk can be stored at room temperature for 4 hours, stored in the fridge for up to 4 to 6 days, and in the freezer for 12 months.