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Disclaimer: The information in this post is for educational purposes only. I am not a doctor. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. None of the opinions are meant to diagnose or treat any disease or illness. You should always consult your healthcare provider.


Can Breastfeeding Cause Eczema?

Babies encounter all kinds of minor problems outside the womb:  diaper rash, stuffy noses, and cradle cap, just to name a few.  Their bodies take some time to adjust to "life on the outside", and that transition can be challenging.  One of the more common problems for newborns is eczema.  Can Breastfeeding Cause Eczema? Eczema is a red, itchy rash that is often seen in patches.  It can be scaly in appearance or even blister when it is severe.  Anyone can have eczema, not just babies, although it is common to see it in babies and young children. Eczema is not contagious or life threatening, but it can absolutely be a nuisance and can … [Read more...]

Medications and Breastfeeding: A Chat with a Lactation Pharmacist

Breastfeeding mamas are daily faced with the daunting task of figuring out how to care for their bodies without harming their nursing little ones.  This task makes most medications seemingly off-limits, which can be frustrating.  I had the chance to chat with Leslie Southard, a Lactation Pharmacist.  Leslie is working to support nursing mothers by providing accurate information about medications and breastfeeding.  She helps mamas find nursing-safe options to treat their illnesses. This information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to treat or diagnose any illness or disease. Please talk to your doctor about your … [Read more...]

Can I Take Medicine While Breastfeeding?

One of the most asked questions from new moms is, “Can I take medicine while breastfeeding?” It’s understandable. After all, if spicy foods can alter your breast milk, what on earth might an antidepressant or cold medication do? Let’s look at what happens when you take medicine during lactation. Can I Take Medicine While Breastfeeding? Well, it depends. Pretty much all medications are transferred into breast milk to some degree. But, not all medicines are found in clinically significant amounts in a mother’s milk. To put it another way, it's probable that your baby is hardly getting any of your medicine at all. Sometimes it … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding With the Flu

In this post, I’m going to share what I’ve learned about breastfeeding with the flu. We all dread it, don’t we? The aches, chills, nausea… everything about the flu is terrible. It's normal to wonder whether you should breastfeed while you're so sick. It’s a very serious thing for a baby to catch the flu. If you suspect your baby may have been exposed to influenza, call your doctor immediately. Keep Yourself Healthy The CDC recommends the following people in a baby's life be vaccinated against the flu: Both parents, siblings, other household members, grandparents, and caregivers. However, the flu shot isn't always as effective … [Read more...]

How to Apply Gentian Violet Without the Mess

Gentian violet is a plant-based dye. It stains anything it touches a lovely shade of purple. Before you use it to cure your child’s thrush, or anything else, keep reading. The information I’m going to share will explain how to apply gentian violet to save yourself a ton of trouble, and hopefully prevent a mess! If you haven’t read my story about using gentian violet to cure my baby’s thrush, you should. I found it to be incredibly effective when even antibiotics weren’t working. Before you make the decision to use gentian violet, talk to your doctor. Although GV is available over the counter, that doesn’t mean it’s completely without … [Read more...]

Vicodin and Breastfeeding: Will it Pass Through My Milk?

Having a baby is no easy task. Most women are very tired and some are sick afterwards (I actually threw up after a few of my births). And unless you are Super Woman, chances are you have some pain and discomfort after delivery - no matter how you gave birth. Depending on how much pain you experience, you may wonder, "Is taking Vicodin and breastfeeding safe?" I had three vaginal deliveries and three c-sections, and each of my recoveries has been different. At times I felt great, and sometimes I felt like I was dying! My pain tolerance is fairly high, but with some of my births I did require some pain medication to use as a last resort.  I … [Read more...]

Everything You Need to Know About Gentian Violet

If you’ve heard of gentian violet but aren’t sure exactly what it is or what it’s used for, this is for you. I’m going to tell you everything you need to know to decide if gentian violet is right for you or your kids. When the doctor prescribed my 13-month-old son an antifungal for thrush, I didn’t love the idea of putting a prescription medication in his mouth. I did it anyway in the hopes of eradicating the fungus. Cut to two months later and me continuing to battle thrush with no success. That’s when my lactation consultant suggested gentian violet. It worked like a dream. Read my story here. Now I want to share what I've … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding and Thrush: How to Beat the Yeast Beast

In our post, "Foods to Avoid While Breastfeeding," we discussed some common triggers for a colicky baby. If your baby is fussy or has a reaction after nursing please check out that post to learn more about common threats to a breastfeeding relationship and how to keep a food journal. Breastfeeding and thrush is its own kind of special situation. Thrush is essentially a yeast infection on and around your nipples and inside the baby's mouth. There is a yeast naturally found in your body called candida, but it can cause problems when the yeast grows out of control. Thrush can be a beast (I call it the "yeast beast") and hard to get rid … [Read more...]

When Mastitis Strikes: What it is and how to treat it

I had successfully breastfed three babies before I truly learned the wrath of mastitis. I can still remember my grandmother telling me about "milk fever" when I told her I planned to breastfeed. She told me how she had never been so sick in her life. Back in those days when a woman got mastitis she was encouraged to quit breastfeeding. Her mother bound her breasts with an Ace bandage and that was the end of her breastfeeding journey. Thankfully, there are other ways to manage mastitis now. Causes of Mastitis I was struck with mastitis when my baby was only four weeks old. Mastitis is most likely to occur within the first few weeks … [Read more...]

3 Tips for Breastfeeding with Postpartum Depression

After a new baby is born your hormones are out of whack. Thus it is normal for mom to feel sad and bluesy. About 85% of new moms get the baby blues. But if the sadness intensifies or lasts longer than a few weeks after delivery, that could mean postpartum depression has hit home for you. Depending on your ability to recognize the changes, having a healthy breastfeeding relationship is possible. Postpartum depression and anxiety disorders affect 20% of new moms. They can come on slow, hit suddenly, or anywhere in the first 6 months after the birth of your baby. The most important thing to know about postpartum depression is that it is … [Read more...]