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I like Sinupret because it looks clean, is well-tested and I think it works.
I recommend Erbaorganics because they're very clear about the percentage of organic ingredients in each of their products. At one time, I received some free samples from these two companies. I no longer do.
If you buy my DVD, I think I get about fifty cents. Unless you choose to buy thousands and thousands of my books, I'll never see one penny in royalties.
Jay
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By Cheryl Taylor, CBE
Infections of the
breast present themselves typically in two manners. Mastitis is
a bacterial infection in the breast, typically involving a considerable
quantity of mammary tissue. A plugged duct is an individual duct
that is blocked, swollen and often presents as a hard knot in the
breast. A plugged duct can lead to mastitis, but the two are not
always presented together. The treatment for both includes many
of the same measures. The differentiation is often seen in the level
of a fever and length it sustains. If a woman is familiar with the
symptoms of either, and begins treatment immediately upon noticing
the first symptoms, it can almost always be resolved before antibiotics
are necessary. I encourage all breastfeeding moms to become familiar
with the symptoms, so as to be in a position to catch the first
signs and avert a long and painful battle. Symptoms
- Tender, aching
breast
- Hard knot in
breast
- Skin hot and
red, often in a spot right above a knot
- Flu-like body
aches
- Fever
- Red line visible
on breast
- A blister on
the nipple is often associated with a plugged duct
Treatment
- Increase nursings
on the affected breast.
- Point baby's
chin at any red, hot spot you may have.
- Prior to nursing,
immerse breast in very hot water and massage toward the nipple.
As often as possible, do this in a bathtub to get excellent
immersion. If needed, a sink can be used with washcloths to
assist.
- After nursing,
ice the breast. You can use a bag of frozen peas set aside for
this purpose and wrap it in a thin dishcloth.
- Massage toward
the nipple while nursing.
- Go to bed with
baby and rest and nurse if at all possible.
- If your entire
breast is sore, alternate nursing positions to rotate baby's
chin around the breast.
- Take ibuprofen
to assist with pain and reduce inflammation.
- While nursing,
use a hot rice pack on your breast. A simple rice pack is to
take a tube sock, place rice in it and tie a knot at the end.
This can be heated in the microwave.
- Stop wearing
a bra while fighting mastitis.
- Keep track of
your temperature and watch for a red streak on your breast.
If your fever goes up considerably or if you feel very weak,
you may need to consider antibiotics.
- Make sure you
are drinking 64 oz. water a day!
- If you have
a blister on your nipple, it can be opened with a sterile needle.
Be gentle and don't tear the skin, merely open it. Then massage
toward the nipple and the "plug" is often discharged
in the form of a thickened milk that has been backed up in that
duct.
Prevention
- Take Lecithin
1200mg three or four times a day.
- Wear a comfortable,
loose nursing bra. Avoid underwire styles. Make sure you have
plenty of room in your nursing bra to expand as various times
of the day according to how long it's been since nursing.
- Eat a diet low
in saturated fats.
- Rest with baby
every day. Resting is vital to keeping your body healthy and
producing milk easily.
- Limit the length
of time spent doing errands in a day. Resist heading out the
door with a detailed map of how you're going to accomplish a
dozen tasks in speedy fashion. You will inevitably come home
exhausted and that state of exhaustion has the potential for
setting you up to have a breast infection.
-
Drink 64 oz.
of water daily.
-
Be careful
regarding sleeping positions. A sleeping position that
puts pressure on your breasts is likely to contribute to plugged
ducts. If you are a tummy sleeper, try sleeping on your side
and put a bed pillow between your knees -- it helps to keep
you from flipping over onto your stomach.
-
Be aware of
how your seatbelt fits across your chest and adjust it as
needed to alleviate pressure on the breast itself. Many
vehicles have adjustable heights, but if yours does not you
may want to use a folded washcloth or cloth diaper to place
underneath where a belt presses against your breast to redistribute
the pressure. Another obvious solution is to limit how
long you are out in the car, whenever possible, and nurse
well while massaging that area when you are through driving.
Recommended
Reading:
07/2002 |
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