This group organizes all kinds of events for moms, dads, and kids in the San Antonio area. You can friend them on Facebook and then be able to join one of the many subcategory groups that they oversee… such as SA Baby Wearers, SA Cloth Diapering, etc.
Check them out if you are in the area, it’s lots of good info!
Proteins
Human milk contains two types of proteins: whey and casein. Approximately 60% is whey, while 40% is casein. This balance of the proteins allows for quick and easy digestion. If artificial milk, also called formula, has a greater percentage of casein, it will be more difficult for the baby to digest. Approximately 60-80% of all protein in human milk is whey protein. These proteins have great infection-protection properties.
Listed below are specific proteins that are found in breast milk and their benefits:
Lactoferrin inhibits the growth of iron-dependent bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. This inhibits certain organisms, such as coliforms and yeast, that require iron.
Secretory IgA also works to protect the infant from viruses and bacteria, specifically those that the baby, mom, and family are exposed to. It also helps to protect against E. Coli and possibly allergies. Other immunoglobulins, including IgG and IgM, in breast milk also help protect against bacterial and viral infections. Eating fish can help increase the amount of these proteins in your breast milk.
Lysozyme is an enzyme that protects the infant against E. Coli and Salmonella. It also promotes the growth of healthy intestinal flora and has anti-inflammatory functions.
Bifidus factor supports the growth of lactobacillus. Lactobacillus is a beneficial bacteria that protects the baby against harmful bacteria by creating an acidic environment where it cannot survive
Fats
Human milk also contains fats that are essential for the health of your baby. It is necessary for brain development, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and is a primary calorie source. Long chain fatty acids are needed for brain, retina, and nervous system development. They are deposited in the brain during the last trimester of pregnancy and are also found in breast milk.
Vitamins
The amount and types of vitamins in breast milk is directly related to the mother’s vitamin intake. This is why it is essential that she gets adequate nutrition, including vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are all vital to the infant’s health. Water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, and panthothenic acid are also essential. Because of the need for these vitamins, many healthcare providers and lactation consultants will have nursing mothers continue on prenatal vitamins.
Carbohydrates
Lactose is the primary carbohydrate found in human milk. It accounts for approximately 40% of the total calories provided by breast milk. Lactose helps to decrease the amount of unhealthy bacteria in the stomach, which improves the absorption of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. It helps to fight disease and promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the stomach.
This is a great article by a natural birth supportive OB/GYN in Frisco, Texas outside of Dallas. He spells out some very candid language that doctors use if they are planning on the outcome of a labor to be a cesarean section.
Read the article here:
LEAST MERCURY
Enjoy these fish:
Anchovies
Butterfish
Catfish
Clam
Crab (Domestic)
Crawfish/Crayfish
Croaker (Atlantic)
Flounder*
Haddock (Atlantic)*
Hake
Herring
Mackerel (N. Atlantic, Chub)
Mullet
Oyster
Perch (Ocean)
Plaice
Pollock
Salmon (Canned)**
Salmon (Fresh)**
Sardine
Scallop*
Shad (American)
Shrimp*
Sole (Pacific)
Squid (Calamari)
Tilapia
Trout (Freshwater)
Whitefish
Whiting
MODERATE MERCURY
Eat six servings or less per month:
Bass (Striped, Black)
Carp
Cod (Alaskan)*
Croaker (White Pacific)
Halibut (Atlantic)*
Halibut (Pacific)
Jacksmelt
(Silverside)
Lobster
Mahi Mahi
Monkfish*
Perch (Freshwater)
Sablefish
Skate*
Snapper*
Tuna (Canned
chunk light)
Tuna (Skipjack)*
Weakfish (Sea Trout)
HIGH MERCURY
Eat three servings or less per month:
Bluefish
Grouper*
Mackerel (Spanish, Gulf)
Sea Bass (Chilean)*
Tuna (Canned Albacore)
Tuna (Yellowfin)*
HIGHEST MERCURY
Avoid eating:
Mackerel (King)
Marlin*
Orange Roughy*
Shark*
Swordfish*
Tilefish*
Tuna (Bigeye, Ahi)*
* Fish in Trouble! These fish are perilously low in numbers or are caught using environmentally destructive methods. To learn more, see the Monterey Bay Aquariumand the Blue Ocean Institute, both of which provide guides to fish to enjoy or avoid on the basis of environmental factors.
** Farmed Salmon may contain PCB’s, chemicals with serious long-term health effects.
Sources for NRDC’s guide: The data for this guide to mercury in fish comes from two federal agencies: the Food and Drug Administration, which tests fish for mercury, and the Environmental Protection Agency, which determines mercury levels that it considers safe for women of childbearing age.
About the mercury-level categories: The categories on the list (least mercury to highest mercury) are determined according to the following mercury levels in the flesh of tested fish.
Read the full article here at the Natural Resources Defense Council website: http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp
Ginger Webb has been an Herbalist in Austin for over 12 years. She recently received the Austin Birth Award for “Best Herbalist” in town. Her career began with a passion for nature and the environment and blossomed in to her own line of medicinal teas, tinctures, cordials, salves, and the like.
A library of feel good concoctions
I found out about Ginger when I met with my midwife for my 39 week prenatal appointment. She handed me a bottle of Texas Medicinals’ Blue and Black Cohosh Root. I said, “What’s this?” she said, “It’s to help you not be pregnant two weeks from now.” That was all I needed to hear. Now some might say there’s no way of knowing whether or not blue and black cohosh root actually work to induce labor, but it’s a century old midwife recipe and I went into labor on my due date, nonetheless.
Ginger at her office on E. 7th St. In Austin
Ginger is known for her concentration on woman wellness and makes many great things to help prenatally and postpartum. I asked her to talk about a few of her favorite things…
From left to right: Emotional Rescue, Mama Calm, Postpartum Perineum Spray, Iron Woman, and Milk Mama
These herbal remedies are formulated with pregnant and nursing women in mind and their titles reflect their jobs.
She also makes some lovely teas, one in particular is her Strong Mama blend that has red raspberry leaf and other uterine toning properties. It’s great to drink from the beginning of your 2nd trimester on, to help prepare your muscles for labor.
Strong Mama tea and Iron Syrup
Her Iron Syrup is a really great way for women to get their extra dose of iron that they lose during menstruation or for an extra boost while growing a baby.
Ginger has an amazingly warm nurturing spirit. She cares a great deal about the wellness of others. If you are interested in learning more about natural herbal remedies for things during or after pregnancy, she is a great resource.
You can visit her website at www.texasmedicinals.com
Smart Birth Texas does not assume any responsibility for the outcome of your herbal remedy use. Please consult an MD or midwife before using any herbal products you are unfamiliar with.
A newborn baby may seem such a mystery, but he or she does have a surprising ability to communicate. This handout explains how your baby can tell you what is happening while breastfeeding.
Milk Flow Too Slow
Eyes wide open. Looks worried. Little effort to suckle. Long pauses.
The flow is too slow. If you feel that you have a lot of milk, then this baby is telling you that he or she cannot access it. You will need to massage the breast to increase the flow and have the baby’s latch reviewed.
Eyes shut. Signs of REM sleep. Still firmly attached to the breast.
The flow of milk slowed down to the point that the baby fell asleep while waiting for more milk. If you remove the baby from the breast he or she will start to root and fuss quite quickly. This is probably a mellow baby who risks becoming an apathetic nurser if the problem is not corrected.
Pulls off breast, screaming. Flails arms. Attempts to relatch.
This aggressive baby is frustrated by the slow flow. He or she is not rejecting the breast at this point but may eventually do so if the flow is not improved.
Sucks and swallows well for a few minutes and then seems lazy.
If you have to keep stimulating your baby to suck, then the milk flow is probably too slow. Most healthy, full-term babies will feed steadily until full as long as there is a good flow. Newborns will only suckle a slow-flowing breast for a few minutes before settling into a drowsy state while waiting for more milk.
Jerks head away from breast but maintains grip on nipple.
The baby is a frustrated and baby looking for a faster flow.
Wants to suck right after feeding. Would suck any time. Feeds are constantly.
This is a hungry baby who is not filling up at the breast. Although babies do find the breast comforting, babies do not use the breast as a pacifier! A safe rule is that a “sucky” newborn is a hungry newborn.
Milk Flow Too Fast
Appears startled. Eyes wide open. Noisy gulps. Almost no pauses.
Flow is too fast. Hold the baby as upright as possible and lean back after latching to allow the baby’s throat to be higher than the nipple.
Pulls off frequently but relatches immediately. Won’t maintain a deep latch. Milk drips and sprays each time the baby pulls away.
This baby is probably gaining weight well but is overwhelmed by the flow of milk. To gain some control over the flow, the baby is maintaining a shallow latch. This may eventually result in apathetic nursing and an undersupply.
Acts hungry soon after the first breast but screams when offered the second breast.
Baby is still hungry, but the flow from the second breast is too fast. The baby should be returned to the first breast to complete the feeding at a more leisurely pace.
Needs to Burp
Swallowing well but upper body is wriggling or twisting.
Some babies just burp while breastfeeding and continue without a pause. Do not interrupt a feeding to burp the baby unless your baby seems uncomfortable.
A Successful Feed
Although breastfeeding is a different experience for each nursing couple there is a pattern you want to see at most feedings once the milk has “come in” (about day 3 or 4). Let’s follow a newborn through a feeding.
The parents notice that the baby is rooting and the mother offers her breast. She does not wait for the baby to start crying because she knows the baby will be disorganized and more difficult to latch if kept waiting that long. For the same reason she delays changing the diaper. The baby looks a little frustrated for the minute or two it takes for the milk to start flowing well, but then starts swallowing audibly and steadily. There are brief pauses that are much shorter than the feeding bursts. The baby swallows almost every suck.
The baby’s body is relaxed. Dad picks up an arm and finds it limp. Baby’s eyes are probably closed but the baby is not sleeping. The jaw is moving steadily and swallows continue.
When the mother notices that the baby is no longer swallowing at most sucks, she takes the baby off the breast and changes the diaper and/or burps the baby. As she does this she notices that the baby starts to root again. The mother checks to see if her breast feels heavy with milk and notices the first breast is still firmer than it would be if empty. She returns the baby to the same breast. (Note: If the first breast had felt soft, the mother would have offered the second.)
The baby has shorter suck bursts than at the beginning of the feeding and the swallows are quieter. The pauses are longer but the baby is still swallowing most of the time. Abruptly the baby pulls away from the breast, lips pressed together with an expression of contentment on his or her face. He or she may stay quietly awake at this point or sleep until the next feeding.
Some babies do forget to pull away from the breast when full. Instead you may feel the tongue “flutter” against the nipple and find that the baby falls easily away from the breast. Any time a baby will not release the breast that baby is still hungry. You may use both breasts more than once during a feeding, though this is usually not needed.
Read full article here:
http://www.pamf.org/children/newborns/feeding/understanding.html
Smart Birth Texas 