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
There has been a lot of talk about whether vitamin C will help prevent or treat COVID-19. To date, the safety and efficacy of vitamin C has not been established for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. However, there has been quality studies on the role of vitamin C and common colds. Vitamin C Supplementation
Amidst the chaos of COVID-19 news and propaganda of what you can do to prevent and treat the virus, there have been reports that ibuprofen should not be used if you test positive for COVID-19. What is ibuprofen? Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) is an over-the-counter medicine from a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen is