There is a common misconception that women who breastfeed their babies will have adverse changes to the appearance of their breasts once they wean breastfeeding. It can actually be a common reason why women choose not to breastfeed their infants. Surprisingly, it isn’t the act of breastfeeding at all that changes the appearance of your breasts. It is actually the changes in
Our daughter Madi has been the center of my husband’s and my life since the day she was born. Our family, friends and nanny have commented about the significant adjustment that Madi will have once our baby boy arrives. I asked a friend and colleague Dr. Sarah Nunes, who is a mother of 4 and
Mastitis is a painful complication of breastfeeding. It is defined as inflammation of the mammary gland, which causes the breast to become painful, swollen, and red. It is most common in the first three months of breastfeeding, but it can occur at any time. What Causes Mastitis? Mastitis is usually caused by poor milk drainage, like
The stretching out and thinning of the abdominal muscles and connective tissue allows a woman’s belly to grow into the beautiful, round shape of pregnancy. An understandable concern for a woman is how pregnancy will change the function and appearance of her abdomen postpartum. Pregnancy affects the abdominal wall muscles, often causing them to weaken
There comes a time when a mother and child’s breastfeeding relationship will come to an end. This is a very personal decision that a mother must make for her and her child. This decision can come with a lot of mixed emotions – but rest assured, this is completely normal! When to Wean There is no right
As a child, I remember hating wearing sunscreen. My mom would put it on me and it would always end up getting into my eyes and stinging. There were a few times on family vacations as a child when I told my parents I put on sunscreen when I actually didn’t, and I would end
During my first pregnancy with Madi, I did not need to get the pertussis vaccine. However, immunization guidelines during pregnancy were updated after I had Madi. During my pregnancy with George, it was recommended that I receive a pertussis booster vaccine. Because of this change, I wanted to review the guidelines and evidence for why the pertussis
The past three months have been stressful since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. As a result, many people have been struggling with sleep. One for the first things I discuss with people who struggle with sleep is their sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene is a set of actions prior to bedtime that tend to improve and maintain
It is standard of care that all pregnant women get screened for Group B Streptococcus (GBS). The recommended time to get screened by your primary care provider is between 36 weeks and 37 weeks 6 days of gestation. Even women who are having a planned Caesarian section will likely be screened. How is Screening Done? Screening for GBS is completed by the
Sleep Myth #1: My anxiety will get better if I just get more sleep. Fact: Anxiety and sleep deprivation can go hand-in-hand. Generally speaking, anxiety is worsened by poor sleep, and sleep problems are worsened by anxiety. The two are not mutually exclusive. If you suffer from anxiety, seeing your doctor and a psychologist to