4 Important Q & As for Breastfeeding Mother's to know now
4 Important Q&As for breastfeeding mother's to know now
These questions are on the minds of breastfeeding mothers just like you...
Should I get a flu shot if I am breastfeeding?
Yes, it's safe. Everyone in your household, including your caregivers should receive a flu vaccine unless medically contraindicated.
The injected flu shot contains an inactivated or dead virus that stimulates your body to produce antibodies to the flu. These antibodies will fight the virus if you're exposed to it later in the season. The virus in the flu shot is not live therefore it will NOT give your baby the flu. Your flu vaccine is your baby’s protection against the flu. The flu season can last into May, so it’s not too late to check with your health care provider about receiving one.
What type of hormonal birth control should I take?
Progesterone only pills (POP) are preferred as they are less likely to decrease milk supply. Some women are sensitive to progesterone only medications and notice a difference in breastmilk output within a month or two. Wait until after your 6th week postpartum before starting, take the lowest dose possible and try the progesterone pills first before a long lasting hormonal method is administered. An injection lasts for 3 months and cannot be reversed once administered. When it is determined that you tolerate the progesterone pills well you can consider a longer lasting alternative with a degree of confidence that your breastmilk production will not be adversely affected.
How do I know exactly how much breastmilk my newborn baby is getting?
You won’t and you don’t need to know an exact number of ounces. You can rely upon many indicators for a satisfied breastfeeding baby other than markings on a feeding bottle. You will quickly learn to judge “good”, pain-free feedings; feedings during which your baby sucks and swallows in a continuous, rhythmic fashion and detaches only when she is full or needs burping. Your baby is pooping soft stools in increasing amounts each day and a weight gain is seen after the first 5 to 7 days. I always recommend using one breast per feed in the early days to ensure that your baby gets into your fattier hindmilk as her feedings will be of short duration.
I thought we were on a schedule but now he wants to eat all the time. Is this a Growth Spurt?
You thought you had it figured out. You actually thought you had a schedule...Breastfeeding knows no schedules. You feed your baby when he is hungry, day or night. There is no schedule for when to expect growth spurts
but we know they occur frequently in the first few months and could last for as long as a week. When you respond to your baby’s signals to nurse during a growth spurt your body will quickly respond and increase supply,
typically within 24 to 48 hours.
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Paula Zindler
RN IBCLC
