Luke 19:26 (New Living Translation)
26 “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
Taking risk is a step of faith. Taking risk, I mean, by following God and His will. Taking risk and following God, you move out of working from your own independence and control (self-direction) to a place of Godly direction. It's hard to take the next steps when the future is undecided or "not guaranteed". But taking these risks allows you to live by faith and not by sight. What seems to be no guarantee, is actually the greatest guarantee, if we believe what we say we believe. God is on the other side working for all good. It's a God-guarantee. No matter what we don't see on the other side, the reality is that God is there. Rick Warren says "If what you are doing doesn't require faith you are living faithlessly." I love it when the Heavenly man said "When we arrive at the end of our strength, it is not defeat, but the start of tapping into God's boundless resources. It is when we are weak that we are strong in God." "When the Lord tells us to do something there is no time for discussion or rationale, regardless of the situation we face. When we are sure God has told us to act, as I was on this occasion, blind obedience is called for. "
I'll be honest. It's hard for me. I'm the type that likes to know what's gonna happen and then plan ahead for it. Lately, God has been changing a lot of things around in my life, maybe something bigger than I thought. It's taking a lot for me to comprehend this. I finally realized I won't be able to. Not with my own mind. I have to tap into God's boundless resource. And you know what, I probably won't figure it out unless I do take a step of faith and obey. We all have come to a point in time or will come to a point in our lives that will require of this. I say this, pray... pray and fast. First, ask God where are areas in your life you are living faithlessly and depending on yourself. Ask Him to guide you to that area and see what He shows you. Tap into God. Use the resources He is giving you. He will bring you to a place of risky obedience.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
pregnancy post #2
today's topic.... breastfeeding!
i think this is such a huge topic and really important for new mom's to read and know. no matter who says what about breastfeeding or what your professors teach you about "baby instincts", breastfeeding will probably be one of the more difficult things with your new baby. all babies need to learn how to suck. yes, it is in their instinct to suck, but they need to learn how to suck on an actual object. in this case, mom's breast. i will also warn you, you probaby won't get a firm grip on breastfeeding until about one to two weeks after birth, maybe even longer! i get a lot of mom's who cry and get frustrated because their baby won't suck or latch properly. it is very very frustrating and be prepared to get frustrated and cry. it is all normal. and no, we nurses dont get upset with you. :) we all understand that it is hard and need lots of practice. it helps us too, though, if you understand that as well. it is very rare to have a newborn that can latch on correctly and have a "perfect" breastfeed right after birth. this is probably the most misunderstood concept to breastfeeding. you are new at it, baby is new at it. it takes time to find the right position that works for both you and your baby. also, does your baby have a short tongue? tight frenulum? is the baby under 37 weeks (37 weeks is when the baby learns how to suck in the womb)? what are the shape of your nipples? did you use drugs while pregnant? did you get an epidural? did you have breast augementation or reduction? all these and more play a factor in breastfeeding. but remember, you can do it! it is possible and you will have a wonderful experience breastfeeding. dont give up. and we nurses are here to help you. :) it will be one of the greatest experiences in your life.
in this post, i will go over the three most common positions to breastfeeding and what to look out for. be prepared for a loooong post.
it is very important that a newborn feeds every 2-3hrs for breastfeeding. (3-4 hours with formula). the first three days after birth, the mom makes what is called colostrum. this isnt your actual "milk" yet has many many important nutrients that help nourish your baby. BUT, if you plan on breastfeeding for a week or two to get this colostrum and then formula feed, i would recommend you do not breastfeed altogether. this is extremely important and i will get to it in a later post.
to have a proper latch in any position, the baby needs to open its mouth as wide as it can. latching is what we call when the baby has a firm suction onto the breast. it is best to have as much of the BREAST, not the nipple, in the baby's mouth. the second common misunderstanding is having the baby suckle only on the nipple. you can do this if you want, but 1. the baby will not get enough food. 2. you will be in serious pain. prepare for bleeding and cracked nipples. ouch! you want as much of the areola, "the dark part", of your breast in the baby's mouth. this also helps bring down the colostrum/milk.
the three most common positions:
1. football hold/clutch: this position i recommend the most. you have the most freedom with your hand to either move baby or massage your breasts. you hold the baby like you would a football, under your arm. you sit far upright as you can and have the baby resting on pillows, i want to stress the importance of having the baby's head level with your breast. you hold the baby from ear to ear with your thumb and forefinger. use the rest of your three fingers to support the baby's head. bring the baby up to your breast, never the breast to the baby. keep the baby close to your body as possible and NEVER push the baby's head toward your breast. always bring the baby to you by the using the palm of your hand from the baby's shoulders.
2. cross-clutch: in this position, the baby is across your chest. you are holding the baby's head with one hand feeding the baby on the opposite breast. i.e. baby's in your left hand, feeding on the right breast. same positioning with the baby's head and your hand as the football hold. important to have pillows supporting you and the baby. remember to have baby's chest against your chest, not on its side. again, have as much of your breast in the baby's mouth. baby should be level with your breast.
3. cradle hold: my least favorite. a lot of mom's use this because its a common way to hold baby, and grandmothers usually tell them its the proper way. it is the hardest to breastfeed in this position. i say this because the baby is lying in your arms with its head lying on your antecubital/elbow. its hard to position baby's head correctly in this way and baby usually will end up on the tip of your nipple. again, have baby chest to chest with you and as close to you as possible.
things to remember while breastfeeding:
1. babies can breathe.. they cannot suck if they cannot breathe. from mom's perspective, it looks like baby doesnt have enough room to breathe. but they infact have plenty of room to breathe, if they are sucking, they are breathing. there is usually a small slit inbetween the nares and your breast. that is enough for the baby to breathe. unless, of course, you have huge breasts. :) a common mistake is mom's will retract their breast because they fear baby is not breathing. this is not a good thing to do because iit pulls the breast out of the baby's mouth resulting in either loss of suction or sucking at the tip of the nipples. if ever in doubt, push down and into the baby's mouth. down and in, never away. also, DO NOT, i repeat, DO NOT pull away from baby when you have suction. break the suction first with your finger. i promise you the moms who just pull away have serious nipple pain. you dont want that. imagine a tight clothes pin on the end of your nipple. yea, you dont want that.
2. massage your breasts. this helps stimulate the milk and bring it down. think of your breast as a clock. massage 12,3, 6, and 9 o'clock. if you watch closely, your baby will do this too! its amazing. they will caress your breast and massage it! how cool is that! :)
3. mom's usually fear that baby isn't getting enough food because they cannot hand express colostrum. this is not true. your baby sucking is the best in bringing out your milk. dont worry that you cannot hand express colostrum or you cannot get much while pumping. pumping can only simulate. baby is best! also, about 5 millileters of colostrum equals 10-15 millileters of formula! colostrum is very very rich. if you doubt baby isnt getting enough, look at baby's weight. they loose some after birth, but if they loose more than 10%, they arent getting enough. also, does baby look satisfied? or is it continually rooting, sticking its tongue out, or sucking on its hand. these are signs baby isnt getting enough. and you can always supplement with formula.
4. breastfeed at least 15-20 mins. babies usually suck, rest, suck, rest. but resting shouldnt be more than 5- 10 seconds. they need to actively feed for 15 mins.
5. the more you take away, the more you will make. i said earlier that if you plan to breastfeed for a week, then dont breast at all. it is because you will continue to make milk. you dont want that if you are going to formula feed. also, it will increase the chances of engourgement. way to prevent milk from producing is to not feed, wear a tight bra, put something cold over your breast. DO NOT shower in warm water. warm water produces milk. if your breasts are full, its not a good idea to "release the milk" by pumping or feeding. put something cold over your breast.
6. contractions/cramping: breastfeeding signals your brain to produce oxytocin (mentioned in earlier post). you will feel contractions and have cramping. bring on the ibuprofen! :)
what ive covered here is usually what happens the first 1- 3 days after birth. its a lot, i know. after you leave the hospital is a whole other story. i will cover let down, engourgement, and second milk in a later post. :)
i think this is such a huge topic and really important for new mom's to read and know. no matter who says what about breastfeeding or what your professors teach you about "baby instincts", breastfeeding will probably be one of the more difficult things with your new baby. all babies need to learn how to suck. yes, it is in their instinct to suck, but they need to learn how to suck on an actual object. in this case, mom's breast. i will also warn you, you probaby won't get a firm grip on breastfeeding until about one to two weeks after birth, maybe even longer! i get a lot of mom's who cry and get frustrated because their baby won't suck or latch properly. it is very very frustrating and be prepared to get frustrated and cry. it is all normal. and no, we nurses dont get upset with you. :) we all understand that it is hard and need lots of practice. it helps us too, though, if you understand that as well. it is very rare to have a newborn that can latch on correctly and have a "perfect" breastfeed right after birth. this is probably the most misunderstood concept to breastfeeding. you are new at it, baby is new at it. it takes time to find the right position that works for both you and your baby. also, does your baby have a short tongue? tight frenulum? is the baby under 37 weeks (37 weeks is when the baby learns how to suck in the womb)? what are the shape of your nipples? did you use drugs while pregnant? did you get an epidural? did you have breast augementation or reduction? all these and more play a factor in breastfeeding. but remember, you can do it! it is possible and you will have a wonderful experience breastfeeding. dont give up. and we nurses are here to help you. :) it will be one of the greatest experiences in your life.
in this post, i will go over the three most common positions to breastfeeding and what to look out for. be prepared for a loooong post.
it is very important that a newborn feeds every 2-3hrs for breastfeeding. (3-4 hours with formula). the first three days after birth, the mom makes what is called colostrum. this isnt your actual "milk" yet has many many important nutrients that help nourish your baby. BUT, if you plan on breastfeeding for a week or two to get this colostrum and then formula feed, i would recommend you do not breastfeed altogether. this is extremely important and i will get to it in a later post.
to have a proper latch in any position, the baby needs to open its mouth as wide as it can. latching is what we call when the baby has a firm suction onto the breast. it is best to have as much of the BREAST, not the nipple, in the baby's mouth. the second common misunderstanding is having the baby suckle only on the nipple. you can do this if you want, but 1. the baby will not get enough food. 2. you will be in serious pain. prepare for bleeding and cracked nipples. ouch! you want as much of the areola, "the dark part", of your breast in the baby's mouth. this also helps bring down the colostrum/milk.
the three most common positions:
1. football hold/clutch: this position i recommend the most. you have the most freedom with your hand to either move baby or massage your breasts. you hold the baby like you would a football, under your arm. you sit far upright as you can and have the baby resting on pillows, i want to stress the importance of having the baby's head level with your breast. you hold the baby from ear to ear with your thumb and forefinger. use the rest of your three fingers to support the baby's head. bring the baby up to your breast, never the breast to the baby. keep the baby close to your body as possible and NEVER push the baby's head toward your breast. always bring the baby to you by the using the palm of your hand from the baby's shoulders.
2. cross-clutch: in this position, the baby is across your chest. you are holding the baby's head with one hand feeding the baby on the opposite breast. i.e. baby's in your left hand, feeding on the right breast. same positioning with the baby's head and your hand as the football hold. important to have pillows supporting you and the baby. remember to have baby's chest against your chest, not on its side. again, have as much of your breast in the baby's mouth. baby should be level with your breast.
3. cradle hold: my least favorite. a lot of mom's use this because its a common way to hold baby, and grandmothers usually tell them its the proper way. it is the hardest to breastfeed in this position. i say this because the baby is lying in your arms with its head lying on your antecubital/elbow. its hard to position baby's head correctly in this way and baby usually will end up on the tip of your nipple. again, have baby chest to chest with you and as close to you as possible.
things to remember while breastfeeding:
1. babies can breathe.. they cannot suck if they cannot breathe. from mom's perspective, it looks like baby doesnt have enough room to breathe. but they infact have plenty of room to breathe, if they are sucking, they are breathing. there is usually a small slit inbetween the nares and your breast. that is enough for the baby to breathe. unless, of course, you have huge breasts. :) a common mistake is mom's will retract their breast because they fear baby is not breathing. this is not a good thing to do because iit pulls the breast out of the baby's mouth resulting in either loss of suction or sucking at the tip of the nipples. if ever in doubt, push down and into the baby's mouth. down and in, never away. also, DO NOT, i repeat, DO NOT pull away from baby when you have suction. break the suction first with your finger. i promise you the moms who just pull away have serious nipple pain. you dont want that. imagine a tight clothes pin on the end of your nipple. yea, you dont want that.
2. massage your breasts. this helps stimulate the milk and bring it down. think of your breast as a clock. massage 12,3, 6, and 9 o'clock. if you watch closely, your baby will do this too! its amazing. they will caress your breast and massage it! how cool is that! :)
3. mom's usually fear that baby isn't getting enough food because they cannot hand express colostrum. this is not true. your baby sucking is the best in bringing out your milk. dont worry that you cannot hand express colostrum or you cannot get much while pumping. pumping can only simulate. baby is best! also, about 5 millileters of colostrum equals 10-15 millileters of formula! colostrum is very very rich. if you doubt baby isnt getting enough, look at baby's weight. they loose some after birth, but if they loose more than 10%, they arent getting enough. also, does baby look satisfied? or is it continually rooting, sticking its tongue out, or sucking on its hand. these are signs baby isnt getting enough. and you can always supplement with formula.
4. breastfeed at least 15-20 mins. babies usually suck, rest, suck, rest. but resting shouldnt be more than 5- 10 seconds. they need to actively feed for 15 mins.
5. the more you take away, the more you will make. i said earlier that if you plan to breastfeed for a week, then dont breast at all. it is because you will continue to make milk. you dont want that if you are going to formula feed. also, it will increase the chances of engourgement. way to prevent milk from producing is to not feed, wear a tight bra, put something cold over your breast. DO NOT shower in warm water. warm water produces milk. if your breasts are full, its not a good idea to "release the milk" by pumping or feeding. put something cold over your breast.
6. contractions/cramping: breastfeeding signals your brain to produce oxytocin (mentioned in earlier post). you will feel contractions and have cramping. bring on the ibuprofen! :)
what ive covered here is usually what happens the first 1- 3 days after birth. its a lot, i know. after you leave the hospital is a whole other story. i will cover let down, engourgement, and second milk in a later post. :)
Monday, April 14, 2008
at work..
funny story, a mom was starting to breastfeed her newborn and she put the baby to the breast. as the baby was sucking, the older brother (about 3 years old) stands right next to the mom and baby staring at this situation. then the kid says "what's that baby doing?" and the mom goes "eating some milk so it can grow." then the kid, with the most serious face, says "there's no milk in there." LOL ahahahahha.. he was sooo serious. and he said it so slowly. anyways, that's my funny story of the night. :)
pregnancy post..
i've decided to write some blogs you future mom's and dad's about what happens to your body after you have a baby. if you had any questions or believed some urban myth, hopefully the next couple posts will help.
#1. cramping - a lot of new mom's, for some reason, do not associate cramping with after birth. they think cramping only happens during a period or labor. once you have your baby, your body with naturally contract the uterus to a firm ball. it feels like a small bowling ball. this helps prevent excessive bleeding. inside the uterus, your baby got nutrients and blood through the placenta. the placenta is attached to the wall of the uterus. once you give birth to the placenta, the uterus contracts to close off the blood vessels. if not, then you would be bleeding like crazy. to help keep the uterus nice and firm, your body will contract the uterus. thus, contractions and more thus, cramping! if you are breastfeeding, you will cramp even more. breastfeeding stimulates what is called oxytocin in your body. the oxytocin is specifically designed for contracting the uterus. so after you breastfeed, you will cramp. to induce labor, we use a synthetic version called Pitocin. you might hear mom's talking about how the nurses had to hang PIT to have the baby come out. pitocin, oxytocin, same thing. it contracts the uterus. sometimes it will feel like you are cramping during your period or it may even be as severe as feeling the same as having labor. but don't worry, we have medicines to help with the pain. usually, motrin will do the trick, if not we have something stronger. :) oh, and these meds are ok with breastfeeding. no detrimental effects on the baby or milk production.
pregnancy post..
i've decided to write some blogs you future mom's and dad's about what happens to your body after you have a baby. if you had any questions or believed some urban myth, hopefully the next couple posts will help.
#1. cramping - a lot of new mom's, for some reason, do not associate cramping with after birth. they think cramping only happens during a period or labor. once you have your baby, your body with naturally contract the uterus to a firm ball. it feels like a small bowling ball. this helps prevent excessive bleeding. inside the uterus, your baby got nutrients and blood through the placenta. the placenta is attached to the wall of the uterus. once you give birth to the placenta, the uterus contracts to close off the blood vessels. if not, then you would be bleeding like crazy. to help keep the uterus nice and firm, your body will contract the uterus. thus, contractions and more thus, cramping! if you are breastfeeding, you will cramp even more. breastfeeding stimulates what is called oxytocin in your body. the oxytocin is specifically designed for contracting the uterus. so after you breastfeed, you will cramp. to induce labor, we use a synthetic version called Pitocin. you might hear mom's talking about how the nurses had to hang PIT to have the baby come out. pitocin, oxytocin, same thing. it contracts the uterus. sometimes it will feel like you are cramping during your period or it may even be as severe as feeling the same as having labor. but don't worry, we have medicines to help with the pain. usually, motrin will do the trick, if not we have something stronger. :) oh, and these meds are ok with breastfeeding. no detrimental effects on the baby or milk production.
Friday, April 11, 2008
for roberto
this blog is dedicated to roberto m. #1 reason cuz he did an awesome job last night. you were great! #2 reason is he got on to me about not having blogger and using xanga instead. so here you go rob. :D just for you.
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