The most important thing to ensure successful breastfeeding and good weight gain in the breastfed baby is a good latch. However, sometimes a baby may have a good latch, and be sucking, but not swallowing because of slow or poor milk flow. Some babies will tend to fall asleep at the breast when there is poor milk flow; others will pull away and may cry. This is when it is useful to try breast compression.

Breast compression can help with:

• Poor weight gain in a breastfed baby
• A baby who falls asleep at the breast
• A baby who wants to feed ‘all the time’
• A baby who takes a long time to feed
• A colicky baby
• Sore nipples, blocked ducts, and/or mastitis

Breast compression also works well in the first few days of breastfeeding to help the baby get more colostrum.

How to do breast compression:

• Get comfortable and get the baby well latched on. Shift your arms so that you are holding the baby with one arm and hand.

• Support your breast with the other hand, encircling it so that your thumb is on top, and your other fingers below the breast, with your little finger touching your
rib cage. Your fingers and thumb should be well back from the nipple.

• Observe how the baby is feeding: watch for the pause after the suck and listen for the swallow; the baby’s mouth should open wide – pause – then close and
swallow.

• When the baby is no longer doing this, but just ‘nibbling’ at the breast, or sucking quickly without the pause and swallow, compress your breast to increase the
pressure – and the flow of milk.

• Just squeeze and hold your breast (don’t roll or stroke your fingers down the breast). This should not hurt! You should now see and hear the baby swallow.

• Keep the pressure up until the baby is again sucking without swallowing, and then release the pressure (and let your hand rest). Your milk should start to
flow again and the baby should start to suck and swallow again. If your baby again stops swallowing, compress your breast again.

• Continue doing this on one side until the baby does not suck and swallow even with compression. Let the baby keep feeding on this breast for another few
minutes to see if you will get another ‘let-down’.

• If the baby wants more, change to your other breast and do the same thing.

• Remember: compress when the baby is sucking but not swallowing. Wait for the baby to start sucking before you start compressing!

For more information and a video, demonstration go to: www.breastfeeding.ca

The first approach to increase low milk supply would be breastfeeding:

A) Breastfeeding on demand. You need to watch your baby, not the clock.
B) Offering both breasts at each feed.
C) Compress your breasts when feeding to maximize milk removal.
D) Hand expresses after breastfeeding if baby still hungry
E) Pump after breastfeeding if needed.
F) Hold your baby skin to skin.

Nutrition & Hydration

To increase low milk supply, ensure maternal adequate nutrition, hydration. There are also some herbs and foods that may help increase production:

You should endure adequate Protein intake, especially if you are a vegan or a vegetarian. You can also eat certain foods & herbs to increase milk supply like:

• Oates (eat daily)
• Barley
• Yams,
• nuts & Seeds including almond, flaxseed, …
• Hemp
• Garlic in moderation
• Dill
• Raspberry leaf
• Alfalfa
• Fennel seeds
• Fenugreek seeds
• Carrots
• Brewer’s Yeast
• Okra
• Chia seeds
• Nettles tea
• Red Clover
• Goat’s rue
• Milk thistle (not blessed thistle)
• Moringa
• Chamomile

Taking Supplements

Another great way to increase the low milk supply is by taking supplements. There are a lot of supplements out there but we recommend:
• Appropriate Multivitamin
• Fish oil
• Vitamin D

Assessing Emotional Factors

Anxiety, stress, and even embarrassment can interfere with the let-down reflex and cause you to produce less milk. Creating a private and relaxing environment for breastfeeding and making the experience enjoyable and free of stress can help increase breast milk production

Assessing medical reasons

On top of emotional factors, your low milk supply might be caused by a medical reason.
• Make sure thyroid hormones are normal
• Assess for iron deficiency

Homeopathy & Naturopathy

Homeopathy is another approach that may work and consulting with a good naturopath or homeopath may prove helpful

Contact Us

If you have any questions or if you want to learn more about the cause of low milk supply, you can always call us. We will provide you with the answer you are looking for or point you in the right direction to get those answers.

Vomiting in pregnancy or, better known as morning sickness, affects an estimated 80% of pregnant women during weeks 5-18. A generally mild condition that may be managed with simple measures, the severity of these symptoms can vary. A small percentage of pregnant women experience more severe onset of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, with the most severe form being a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. Although the definition of this condition has not been standardized, accepted clinical features include persistent vomiting, dehydration, ketosis, electrolyte disturbances, and weight loss of more than 5% of body weight.

Causes of Morning Sickness & Vomiting in Pregnancy

The causes of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy remains unknown, but a number of possible causes have been investigated. Gastrointestinal tract dysfunction, elevated levels of some hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) & estrogen- and chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori may play a role.

Treating Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

There are both non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches to treat morning sickness.

Non-Pharmacological Interventions:

Avoid triggers such as:

• Stuffy rooms
• Odours (eg. perfume, chemicals, coffee, food, smoke)
• Heat and humidity
• Noise o Visual or physical motion (eg. flickering lights, driving)
• Excessive exercise
• Being tired
• Consuming large amounts of high-sugar foods/snacks o Consuming spicy foods and high-fat foods o Stress
• Brushing teeth after eating
• Avoid lying down immediately after eating
• Avoid quickly changing positions
• Take prenatal vitamins before bed with a snack
• Dietary changes: Avoiding food or not eating may actually make nausea worse. Clinicians commonly recommend eating frequent, small, carbohydrate meals, such as crackers or dry toast. Dietary changes that help some women include eliminating coffee and spicy, odorous, high fat, acidic, and very sweet foods, and instead substituting snacks/meals that are high in protein, salty, low fat, bland, and/or dry (such as nuts, pretzels, crackers, cereal, toast). Fluids may be better tolerated if cold, clear, and carbonated and/or sour (such as ginger ale, lemonade, popsicles). Drinking peppermint tea or sucking peppermint candies can reduce nausea. Try eating ginger containing foods (for example: ginger lollipops, ginger tea) or ginger supplements. The smell of fresh lemon, mint, or orange, or using an oil diffuser with these scents, may also help to alleviate the symptoms.
• Acupuncture and Acupressure
• Hypnosis

Pharmacologic Treatment:

• Intravenous Fluids Pregnant women who are unable to keep down liquids and are dehydrated, or have abnormal electrolyte levels, may require intravenous fluids.
• Vitamins and Minerals If the patient is experiencing persistent vomiting, it is important to replenish low levels of vitamins, electrolytes, and minerals.
• Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) Pyridoxine has a good safety profile with minimal side effects; improves mild to moderate nausea, but does not significantly reduce vomiting.
• Antacids Minor symptoms can be treated with antacids containing calcium carbonate.
• Doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine Doxylamine is an antihistamine, and pyriodoxine is Vitamin B6. The combination of these two has been studied and is recognized by Health Canada as safe and effective for pregnant women, with no harmful effects experienced by the infants. In Canada, this is available as a medication called Diclectin® **There are other medications that may be suitable. Speak to your midwife about these options.

When to seek help:

• If you are urinating infrequently, have dark coloured urine, and or dizziness with standing- these are symptoms of dehydration.
• If you are vomiting in pregnancy repeatedly throughout the day.
• If you see blood in your vomit.
• If you are experiencing abdominal or pelvic pain/cramping.
• If you are unable to keep down any food or drinks for more than 12 hours.
• If you lose more than 5 pounds (2.3 kg).

Alternative Causes of Nausea and Vomiting in pregnancy

Not all nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is necessarily related to morning sickness. It is important to rule out other causes if the case appears to be more severe,

Author: Mitra Latifiyan, RM

Group B strep is a bacteria that is commonly found in the human gut /genital and urinary tract (in up to 30% of people). It is related to, but not the same as Group B streptococcus (GBM), which occurs mainly in the throat. Many of us live with or carry GBS bacteria without knowing it.
This bacterium usually causes no symptoms in people with healthy immune systems.

Group B Streptococcus & Pregnancy

Approximately 20% of all pregnant women carry Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in their vaginas at the time of birth. GBS colonization in the vagina is asymptomatic and rarely causes any maternal complications but can cause a very serious infection acquired by newborns before or during birth.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections have been associated with early miscarriage, premature rupture of membranes, stillbirth & neonatal death.

GBS and the Newborn

Due to the immature immune systems of many newborn babies, Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease occurs in 0.5 per 1000 babies, and causes illnesses such as meningitis, pneumonia and/or sepsis. Two percent of infected babies will die.

Risk Factors for Neonatal Group B Streptococcus Disease

• Preterm labour (less than 37 weeks)
• Rupture of membranes for greater than 18 hours
• Maternal fever in labour
• GBS bacteria found in urine anytime in this pregnancy
• History of a previous baby that developed GBS disease

Group B Streptococcus Screening and Treatment The current recommendation for the prevention of GBS disease is that all pregnant women are offered a vaginal-rectal swab between 35-37 weeks. Since GBS colonization can come and go, testing within five weeks of the due date is shown to be predictive of GBS status at the time of birth.

If the mother is GBS colonized Penicillin Is offered in labour or with the onset of her water breaking (whichever is sooner).

Give me the stats!
About 50% of babies born through untreated GBS will become colonized (not infected)
About 1-2% of babies born through untreated GBS will become seriously ill. (Infected)
If the mother is treated for GBS in labour with antibiotics the risk of newborn GBS illness decreases by 80%. (It’s effective)
2-3% of term babies who develop GBS infection will die.
20-30% of preterm babies who develop GBS infection will die.

Having a baby is an exciting time in your life. An event that will change your life forever, in a beautiful way of course! Although, you’ve probably noticed it can be a stress-filled time as well. In order to lower your stress and prepare for delivery, we’ve provided a hospital checklist of some essential or beneficial items to ensure your stay goes as smoothly as possible. Hope this helps!

Proper Documents

First of all, and perhaps most important, you’ll want to ensure you have the proper documents in your hospital checklist when you’re having a baby. For starters, this should include the legal identification (ID) for both parents of the child. Additionally, a copy of your birth plan should also be on your list. Your birth plan will make the entire process a lot less stressful for you and anyone with you during this special moment. It’s basically an outline of how you desire your birth process to look like. 

Snacks

Who doesn’t like snacks! I’m sure most of us like to indulge in a sweet or salty snack once in a while. When you’re on your way to the hospital, you’ll want to ensure you include a small or sufficient number of snacks for you and however else is present during this time. In reality, you don’t know how long you’ll be in the hospital for but packing for a minimum of three or four days is usually good. You can always re-load! As long as it’s enough to satisfy you because let’s face it, we all get tired of hospital food after a while. 

Some snack ideas for your hospital checklist could include things like protein bars, honey sticks, dried fruit, or nuts. These are just a few examples. It’s best to stick with snacks that are relatively healthy and will help to re-energize you. Even adding some drinks like coconut water or electrolytes can help you feel a bit better during your stay. 

Health-Related

Your body will also be experiencing a situation that it likely never has before, or doesn’t experience often. Adding in some Emergen-C can help you keep up with your vitamin intake and some magnesium for dealing with possible constipation during your post-birth. Additionally, Arnica 30C or Bio Freeze will help to deal with potential pains you might experience after labor. You can even apply the cream directly to the muscles that are bothering you. You might also want to add some essential oils to your hospital checklist and a diffuser for peaceful and relaxing feelings. 

Toiletries for Your Hospital Checklist

You’ll want to make sure your hospital checklist has some basic toiletries on it. You’ll likely appreciate these after day one! Some things to include here are your toothbrush and toothpaste, maybe even some dental floss as well. We also recommend deodorant, lip balm and even a small bottle of lotion can be nice.

Personal Items

A few personal things to add to your hospital checklist for additional comfort during your stay could be things like a cotton laboring gown, warm socks, slippers or other comfortable shoes for walking around, nursing bras, sports bras, or swimsuit tops for during labor if you desire and a clean outfit for when it’s time to go home. 

You might also want to add a few other things to your hospital checklist like a camera to capture the special moments, chargers for your phone and other electronics, and maybe even a speaker for some relaxing and mood-enhancing music. Oh, and perhaps most importantly, don’t forget the car seat!

Is Your Hospital Checklist Complete?

If you’re getting ready to have a baby, it’s a good idea to get together all the items on your hospital checklist sooner rather than labor. You never completely know exactly when you’ll have to head into the hospital, so having all your essential items ready to go can reduce the last-minute stress of gathering your items. It also reduces the possibility of forgetting things and having to compromise or asking others to get you the items you need once you’re already in the hospital.