Engorged Breasts

Within the first two to three days after you have given birth, you may discover that your breasts feel swollen, tender, throbbing, lumpy, and overly full. Sometimes, the swelling will extend all the way to your armpit, and you may run a low fever as well. The causes Within 72 hours of giving birth, an abundance of milk will come in or become available to your baby. As this happens, more blood will flow to your breasts and some of the surrounding tissue will swell. The result is full, swollen, engorged breasts. Not every postpartum mom experienced true engorgement. Some women's breasts become only slightly full, while others find their breasts have become amazingly hard. Some women will hardly notice the pain, as they are involved in other things during the first few days. Treating it Keep in mind, engorgement is a positive sign that you are producing milk to feed to your baby. Until you produce the right amount: 1. Wear a supportive nursing bra, even at night - making sure it isn't too tight. 2. Breast feed often, every 2 - 3 hours if you can. Try to get the first side of your breasts as soft as possible. If your baby seems satisfied with just one breast, you can offer the other at the next feeding. 3. Avoid letting your baby latch on and suck when the areola is very firm. To reduce the possibility of nipple damage, you can use a pump until your areola softens up. 4. Avoid pumping milk except when you need to soften the areola or when your baby is unable to latch on. Excessive pumping can lead to the over production of milk and prolonged engorgement. 5. To help soothe the pain and relieve swelling, apply cold packs to your breasts for a short amount of time after you nurse. Crushed ice in a plastic bag will also work. 6. Look ahead. You'll get past this engorgement in no time and soon be able to enjoy your breast feeding relationship with your new baby. Engorgement will pass very quickly. You can expect it to diminish within 24 - 48 hours, as nursing your baby will only help the problem. If you aren't breast feeding, it will normally get worse before it gets better. Once the engorgement has passed, your breasts will be softer and still full of milk. During this time, you can and should continue to nurse. Unrelieved engorgement can cause a drop in your production of milk, so it's important to breast feed right from the start. Keep an eye for signs of hunger and feed him when he needs to be fed. (word count 444) PPPPP

Should sleeping pills be advertised so openly?

Every day you pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV, you cannot avoid seeing ads for a range of drugs including sleeping pills. It seems like the pharmaceutical industry still has money to burn even though we are going through a recession. What's going on? Well, it's all to do with building up and then maintaining the brand. Marketing has become increasingly scientific. Focus groups are brought together and polled on what features for a product are the most important, how much we would pay for it, what we think about this slogan for selling it, and so on. The intention is to design an advertising campaign that will tell us what we most want to know about a product, explain why it's great value for money, and so on, all in the most memorable of prose and, on TV, backed up by the latest music from a top singer or group. That way, when we do fall ill, we can walk in to see our physician and ask for the drug we want by name. Except, we are all likely to forget a product's name. So the marketers endlessly repeat it wherever we go to reinforce brand awareness. Like Pavlov's dog who was taught to react when a bell rang, we are taught to respond with the leading brand name whenever a product type is mentioned.

Is it like this everywhere? Well, no. In the majority of other countries around the world, manufacturers are not allowed to market drugs directly to consumers. All the promotional effort is focussed on the medical profession. The reason is simple. When there is a choice between several drugs as a treatment for a particular condition, only a doctor is able to say which is the best for a particular patient. There are always costs and benefits in every drug and people have different medical histories and needs. There is no one-size fits all treatment for every person. In the US, the FDA has a special division tasked to keep advertising reasonably fair and honest. That's why, when you have a forty second ad on TV, thirty seconds is a voice listing the adverse side effects. The FDA thinks you should know the problems with each drug so you can make an informed decision on which is the best. Except listing all these side effects is bad for business. People are put off. That's what makes the latest round of ads so interesting.

The manufacturers of ambien have been running a new series of ads talking about the problems of insomnia but not mentioning any drug by name. Because no drug is mentioned, there is no need to list side effects. Everything can remain very positive. At the end of the ads, you are referred to www.silenceyourrooster.com where you read all about the drug and are offered a free trial. The question we have to ask is simple. As a nation, we are increasingly dependent on ambien to get us to sleep and keep us sleeping through the night. Is this desirable? Should we rely on a drug to help us sleep or look for a better way of getting a good night's rest? The FDA is right. It's your choice.

Breast Feeding Toddlers

Because more and more women are choosing to breast feed their babies, more and more are also finding that they enjoy it enough to continue longer than the first few months they planned on. Breast feeding to 3 - 4 years of age is common in much of the world recently, and is still common in many societies for toddlers to be breast fed. Because mothers and babies often enjoy to breast feed, you shouldn't stop it. After six months, many think that breast milk loses it's value - which isn't true. Even after six months, it still contains protein, fat, and other important nutrients which babies and children need. The fact is, immune factors in breast milk will protect the baby against infections. Breast milk also contains factors that will help the immune system mature, and other organs to develop and mature as well. It's been shown and proven in the past that children in daycare who are still breast feeding have far less severe infections than the children that aren't breast feeding. The mother will lose less work time if she chooses to continue nursing her baby once she is back to work. If you have thought about breast feeding your baby once he gets passed 6 months of age, you have made a wise decision. Although many feel that it isn't necessary, breast milk will always help babies and toddlers. Breast milk is the best milk you can give to your baby. No matter what others may tell you, breast feeding only needs to be stopped when you and the baby agree on it. You don't have to stop when someone else wants you to - you should only stop when you feel that it's the right time. (word count 291) PPPPP

Breast Feeding In Public

Babies that are breast fed are very portable and easy to comfort no matter where your schedule has you going. Many women however, worry about breast feeding in public. The worry of nursing in a public place is normally worse than the actual experience and often times the only people who notice you feeding are the other mothers who are doing the same thing. Many women find ways to breast feed discreetly. You can ask your partner or even a friend to stand in front of you while you lift your shirt from the waist. When you breast feed, the baby's body will cover most of your upper body and you can pull your shirt down to her face to cover the tops of your breast. Some mothers prefer to put a light blanket over their shoulders as a type of cover. When you are visiting someone else's home, you may feel more comfortable either leaving the room or turning away from people when you first put the baby to your breast. If you would like more privacy, breast feed in an empty room, car, or public restroom. A lot of restrooms are becoming more baby friendly and they even have a seperate are with a changing table and a chair. Several shopping malls now offer special mother's rooms where the mom can breast feed her baby in privacy, which will help sensitive babies who are too distracted by feeding to nurse well in public. It won't take long at all though, before your baby will learn to breast feed without any fuss at all. An alternative way is expressing or pumping your milk at home and then offer it in a bottle while in public. Keep in mind, offering bottles with artificial nipples in the first few weeks can and probably will interfere with breast feeding. When breast feeding in public, you should always use what works best for you. During the first few weeks, it will take some getting used to, as it will be as new for you as it is for the baby. With some time, you'll have no problems at all. If you don't feel comfortable breast feeding in a certain location, then you shouldn't. You should feel a certain level of comfort when you feed, as the baby can tell when you aren't comfortable doing something. If you show your baby that you aren't nervous - you and your baby will be just fine. (word count 410) PPPPP

Breast Feeding Complications

Sore nipples A lot of mothers complain about tender nipples that make breast feeding painful and frustrating. There is good news though, as most mothers don't suffer that long. The nipples will toughen up quickly and render breast feeding virtually painless. Improperly positioned babies or babies that suck really hard can make the breasts extremely sore. Below, are some ways to ease your discomfort: 1. Make sure your baby is in the correct position, since a baby that isn't positioned correctly is the number one cause of sore nipples. 2. Once you have finished feeding, expose your breasts to the air and try to protect them from clothing and other irritations. 3. After breast feeding, apply some ultra purified, medical grade lanolin, making sure to avoid petroleum jelly and other products with oil. 4. Make sure to wash your nipples with water and not with soap. 5. Many women find teabags ran under cold water to provide some relief when placed on the nipples. 6. Make sure you vary your position each time with feeding to ensure that a different area of the nipple is being compressed each time. Clogged milk ducts Clogged milk ducts can be identified as small, red tender lumps on the tissue of the breast. Clogged ducts can cause the milk to back up and lead to infection. The best way to unclog these ducts is to ensure that you've emptied as completely as possible. You should offer the clogged breast first at feeding time, then let your baby empty it as much as possible. If milk remains after the feeding, the remaining amount should be removed by hand or with a pump. You should also keep pressure off the duct by making sure your bra is not too tight. Breast infection Also known as mastititis, breast infection is normally due to empty breasts completely out of milk, germs gaining entrance to the milk ducts through cracks or fissures in the nipple, and decreased immunity in the mother due to stress or inadequate nutrition. The symptoms of breast infection include severe pain or soreness, hardness of the breast, redness of the breast, heat coming from the area, swelling, or even chills. The treatment of breast infection includes bed rest, antibiotics, pain relievers, increased fluid intake, and applying heat. Many women will stop breast feeding during an infection, although it's actually the wrong thing to do. By emptying the breasts, you'll actually help to prevent clogged milk ducts. If the pain is so bad you can't feed, try using a pump while laying in a tub of warm water with your breasts floating comfortably in the water. You should also make sure that the pump isn't electric if you plan to use it in the bath tub. You should always make sure that breast infections are treated promptly and completely or you may risk the chance of abscess. An abscess is very painful, involving throbbing and swelling. You'll also experience swelling, tenderness, and heat in the area of the abscess. If the infection progresses this far, your doctor may prescribe medicine and even surgery. (word count 517) PPPPP

Forget about gaining weight once and for all

One of the most difficult problems to solve when it comes to one's body is the problem of weight loss. Why does it have to be an issue? First of all, we want to say that it is not a problem unless you know when to stop. Just like with everything else, with food you have to be extremely careful. What do we mean by that? Food requires 100% of awareness and control of what you are doing. It is very easy to let yourself go and it is very difficult to bring yourself back in shape. With the amount of yummy food and fast-food that tastes absolutely delicious it is hard to stay indifferent. Calorie counting can be tiring and stressful that is one reason people don't control how much they eat. With a restaurant around every corner it is impossible to resist a nice meal. Some people try to fight their appetite but doctors say it is not healthy as your body requires it and you force yourself not to take a slice. That is very tough though. In order to stop yourself from getting into this psychologically disturbing hole one needs to start a program that would work for his body and be a positive key to his mind.

US market is full of medication that promises miracles. But miracles only work in mixture with will and determination. Without these two the medication fails. If you take advice from any specialist that dealt with the problem of obesity before he will surely tell you that nothing is every possible without the person actually realizing that he wants to lose weight and knowing why exactly he wants it. To maintain a carefree life, where you can take a bite without going crazy afterwards, without looking in the mirror and feeling sorry you have to stick to the golden rule - that is having limits.

When you think about diet pills you probably go like this: "Oh my God, it's another lie, I'm not buying it". But what would you say if somebody told you that there is a pill that will give your life a U-turn? Would you believe it or would you not? According to researches that were made in Minnesota people are more eager to believe that Santa exists than in diet pills. The respondents explained this lack of trust the following way: "To much lie is going on in the advertising. Manufacturers will tell you any story to get you to buy something. Reality is different though."

But... there is a drug that might be able to get your body back on the previous track - the drug is called Phentemine. Why is it so good? Let us start off by saying that these diet pills act on the central nervous system by affecting the hypothalamus gland that is in the brain. The heart beat rate increases by means of this pill and blood pressure results in decrease in one's appetite. Phentermine has its own story on the market. For a couple of decades it has been the number one diet pill in US giving a positive result to as many as millions of people. Incredible, isn't it?

You can order Phentermine online and save yourself some time. With the help of our site your body can become stronger and healthier. Isn't that what you always wanted?

Breast Feeding And Positioning

For some people, the process of breast feeding seems to come natural, although there's a level of skill required for successful feeding and a correct technique to use. Incorrect positioning is one of the biggest reasons for unsuccessful feeding and it can even injure the nipple or breast quite easily. By stroking the baby's cheek with the nipple, the baby will open its mouth towards the nipple, which should then be pushed in so that the baby will get a mouthful of nipple and areola. This position is known as latching on. A lot of women prefer to wear a nursing bra to allow easier access to the breast than other normal bras. The length of feeding time will vary. Regardless of the duration of feeding time, it's important for mothers to be comfortable. The following are positions you can use: 1. Upright - The sitting position where the back is straight. 2. Mobile - Mobile is where the mother carries her baby in a sling or carrier while breast feeding. Doing this allows the mother to breast feed in the work of everyday life. 3. Lying down - This is good for night feeds or for those who have had a caesarean section. 4. On her back - The mother is sitting slightly upright, also a useful position for tandem breast feeding. 5. On her side - The mother and baby both lie on their sides. 6. Hands and knees - In this feeding position the mother is on all fours with the baby underneath her. Keep in mind, this position isn't normally recommended. Anytime you don't feel comfortable with a feeding position, always stop and switch to a different position. Each position is different, while some mothers prefer one position, other's may like a totally different position. All you need to do is experiment and see which position is best for you. (word count 314) PPPPP