Sr Vanessa's mother and baby clinic

25/05/2022

Pregnant women are extremely susceptible and at high risk.
Monkey Pox has been historically seen in Central and Western Africa. In 2017, a study was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo where 4 pregnant women contracted the virus. This resulted in 2 miscarriages and 1 stillborn.
Should you or your family members develop symptoms, please contact your Healthcare provider immediately.

Please be vigilant! Please take care!

07/01/2021

19/09/2020

Can’t breastfeed because you have an infection? For a fuller discussion, see: http://ibconline.ca/maternal-illness2/

Infectious illnesses, even COVID-19 and influenza, are not reasons to interrupt breastfeeding. On the contrary, breastfeeding helps protect the baby from becoming sick since breastmilk is full of anti-infective agents. Not just antibodies, but also a whole host of other anti-infectious agents that help to protect the baby.

Most infectious diseases, whether they are due to a bacterium or a virus, are most infectious before the person with the infection feels sick. Thus, the breastfeeding baby or toddler is exposed to the bacterium or the virus for days, even weeks in the case of some infections, before the mother has any symptoms such as fever or rash. Even if it were a good idea to interrupt breastfeeding (IT IS NOT!), by the time the mother has symptoms, the infection has already been passed to her baby and continued breastfeeding is best for both mother and baby.

Even human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), once considered a contraindication to breastfeeding in affluent societies, is now considered compatible with breastfeeding. Mothers with HIV should take anti-retroviral drugs during the pregnancy and after the birth and breastfeed normally, exclusively. See the World Health Organization website regarding HIV and breastfeeding.

Antibiotics do not require a mother to interrupt breastfeeding. Even doxycycline, for years considered contraindicated because it was wrongly thought to stain the child's teeth has always been safe because of the way it is bound to the calcium and other elements in breastmilk and thus not absorbed by the baby. But now parents can feel even more reassured because it has been shown that doxycycline given to children directly, usually to treat malaria, does not have the effects on teeth previously ascribed to it. So now there are additional reasons for doxycycline to be considered compatible with breastfeeding.

The mother feels really unwell? We recommend taking the baby to bed with her and continued breastfeeding.

Want more information on breastfeeding and inducing lactation? See my eBook https://ibconline.ca/ebook/.
New! An audiobook of my book Dr Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding. https://www.audible.ca/…/Dr-Jack-Newmans-Guide-…/1515933490…https://www.audible.ca/pd/Dr-Jack-Newmans-Guide-to-Breastfeeding-Audiobook/1515933490?fbclid=IwAR3HkPHYErZLTdt4fj3o2WikZSkWsQyuZzwULGrovSdnBFg1WZ7DX0Lzjr0

19/09/2020

19/09/2020

"When you give birth, prepare to leave your dignity at the door"

NO! Just no.

Birth can be dignified. Birth doesn't have to be awful, traumatic and dehumanising. It's most certainly not shameful.

I've seen plenty of birthing women vomit, poo, sob, scream, groan and roar their way through labour. I have seen plenty of nudity, I've seen tousled hair and messy makeup, I've seen blood and sweat and tears. I have seen doctors and midwives perform examinations and stitch women up.

Never have I thought these things make birth "undignified" - they are simply RAW and POWERFUL in the most vulnerable way.

No, what makes a difference to how "dignified" or "undignified" birth is, is not the woman or the act of birth itself.

What makes a difference is how that woman is treated.

I see dignity when I see a midwife gently hold a mother's hair back as she vomits with each contraction, or places a cool wash cloth on her forehead.

I see dignity in the way a partner lovingly caresses their partner's back, or holds her face in their hands, or kisses her tenderly on her forehead.

I see dignity in the way a care provider quietly introduces themselves, and gently speaks to a woman between contractions, asking her permission for any checks/monitoring to be carried out and respecting her wishes.

I see dignity in the knowing glances and brief smiles between birth attendants as a mama powerfully roars and grunts her way through those final contractions, knowing baby is near.

I see dignity in the way a midwife or doula discreetly removes any poo (totally normal, people!!) as the baby makes room to be born, much of the time with the mama not even realising.

I see dignity when an anaesthetist whispers in a mama's ear, reassuring her that she hasn't failed.

I see dignity in the way the theatre room is quiet as baby is born, so that the first voices the baby hears are that of their parents.

I see dignity, when the woman is treated with respect, when she is treated as a human and not merely a "vessel".

So, do not expect us to lay down our dignity at the door. Instead, TREAT us with dignity and respect - blood, sweat, tears, poo, nudity and all. No matter how or where we birth. Allow us to be simultaneously vulnerable and powerful, and DIGNIFIED.

19/09/2020

Nuwe kindersiekte nou aanmeldbaar in SA ( Nw 24 )

Pediatriese inflammatoriese multistelsel-sindroom (PIMS-TS), ’n nuwe kindersiekte wat erge koors, ontsteking en hartkomplikasies veroorsaak, is nou een van die aanmeldbare mediese toestande (NMC’s) in Suid-Afrika.

Volgens die Nasionale Instituut vir Oordraagbare Siektes (Nios) is PIMS-TS ’n seldsame siekte wat by kinders gediagnoseer word. Daar is verslae wêreldwyd wat

daarop dui dat dit met Covid-19 verband hou – meer onlangs ook in Suid-Afrika.

NMC’s is siektes wat van openbare belang is, want dit hou beduidende gesondheidsrisiko’s in wat tot uitbrekings of epidemies plaaslik en internasionaal kan lei.

Nios sê hy weet nog nie wat PIMS-TS veroorsaak nie, maar dat kinders wat die siekte opgedoen het, blootgestel was aan Covid-19 of in aanraking was met iemand wat die virussiekte opgedoen het.

“PIMS-TS kan ernstig wees, selfs dodelik, maar die meeste kinders by wie dit gediagnoseer is se toestand het met mediese sorg verbeter,” sê Nios in ’n verklaring.

Netwerk24 het vroeër berig dat die siekte se simptome met dié van Kawasaki se sindroom in kinders jonger as vyf jaar ooreenstem.

Volgens die Amerikaanse sentrums vir siektebeheer-en-voorkoming (CDC) is Kawasaki se sindroom ’n koorssiekte waarvan die simptome ’n veluitslag, geswolle hande, voete en limfkliere in die nek, rooi oë en irritasie en ontsteking in die keel en mond en van die lippe insluit.

Weens die koronaviruspandemie verwag Nios dat Suid-Afrika die volgende paar maande meer PIMS-TS-gevalle sal aanmeld.

Vroeë opsporing is van kardinale belang, lui die verklaring.

“Die gesondheidsorgwerker wat verantwoordelik is vir die pasiënt moet die owerhede onmiddellik in kennis stel van ’n waarskynlike of bevestigde geval deur middel van die kennisgewingstelsel vir mediese toestande (NMCSS).

“ ’n Groep pediaters en ander kundiges is ook byeengeroep om data oor PIMS-TS-gevalle wat deur middel van dié stelsel aangemeld is te versamel en te

ontleed.

“Die data sal lig werp op die getal gevalle in die land sodat besluite oor die kliniese en epidemiologiese hantering daarvan geneem kan word. Ons moedig alle klinici aan om hierdie gevalle by die NMCSS aan te meld.”

05/07/2020

Leg cramps waking you up?

They may be caused by circulation changes.

* Try some ankle exercises before bedtime -
improves circulation, reduce swelling and
prevent cramps
* bend your ankle quickly up and down 20 -
30 times, then rotate your foot 10 times,
changing to the other foot

* Avoid pointing your toes downwards in the
bed

* Keep your bedclothes loose

* If you feel a cramp coming on, flex your foot
(pull it upwards) while keeping your leg
straight

* Ensure adequate intake of calcium and
magnesium, as low levels can cause cramps

05/07/2020

Prebiotics

Non-digestable food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of intestinal bacteria associated with health and wellbeing .

Those beneficial bacteria are mostly bifidobacterium and lactobacilli.

The beneficial prebiotic effect proposed can be seen via improved gut barrier function and host imunity, reduction in potentially pathogenic bacteria numbers.

The most important prebiotics for infants are human milk oligosaccharides (HMO's).

05/07/2020

Infants: 7 - 12 months

During the second 6 months of life, solid foods become a more important part of the diet of infants and add a significant amount of protein to the diet.

Continue breastfeeding with the appropriate introduction of solids, offering the breast first.

05/07/2020

You know baby is getting enough milk when

* baby is drinking often - 8 - 12 in a 24 hour period
* baby is content after a feeding "milk drunk"
* there are audible swallowing sounds
* there are rhythmic jaw movement from the chin to the ear
* baby is gaining weight
* baby is passing at least 6 good wet nappies in a 24 hour period after day 6
* your breasts feel softer after a feed than before a feed

25/06/2020

https://www.facebook.com/holistichealthphysio/videos/264420798160394/

22/06/2020

https://www.facebook.com/100571530050220/posts/3015376475236363/

"Why is your baby drinking so often? Are you sure your breastmilk isn't too weak?"

There may be many comments and questions from well meaning family and friends. Often they make us doubt ourselves. We start to question our choices, our baby's behaviour and our milk.

Newborns need to nurse a minimum of 10 to 12 times in 24h. That is roughly every 1h30min to 2h during the day and every 3h at night. But many babies want to nurse even more frequently than this, which is to be expected since breastmilk digests within 90min.

Babies go through many growth spurts and wonder weeks that has them nursing almost 24/7. You may be stuck under a cluster feeding baby for days.

A breastfeeding session can be for any duration of time. It can even be spaced close together, what we call cluster feeding.

Babies cluster feed for many reasons, the most common being growth spurts, wonder weeks and late afternoon / early evening when the fat content in mom's milk is highest for bed time.

Your milk is tailor made for your baby's specific needs. At each breastfeeding session, baby's saliva enters the Montgomery Glands around your ar**la and your body analyzes baby's needs to make the perfect milk for the next feed.

This doesn't mean that milk removed and given at a later stage won't be perfect, it just means it may contain some antibodies to an illness baby was fighting at an earlier stage or the fat ratio may differ. It's still perfect milk, made by you for your baby.

Mothers that exclusively pump sometimes prefer to rub baby's saliva on their ni***es to help the feedback process. But all the kisses and snuggles we give our little ones are also mini wellness checks.

There's a reason we can't resist kissing and cuddling our babies. It's as nature intended.

Your body also responds to threats in your environment. For example, if someone sneezes next to you in the supermarket, within 30min your milk already contains antibodies and illness fighting properties to pass to your baby.

When you remove your milk by expressing you will also see the changes. Your milk changes constantly throughout the day to adapt to your baby's needs.

It can look watery, it can look white, it can look yellow, even all the other colors of the rainbow. It's all normal, it's all perfect for your baby.

"But my baby isn't satisfied after breastfeeding sessions? Or my baby isn't gaining sufficient weight?"

These are not caused by poor milk quality.

It could be fussing due to the growth spurts and wonder weeks.

It could be a very forceful milk let-down or one that's too slow. It can be ni**le confusion due to a dummy or bottle.

Then there's lactose overload, food sensitivities so mom needs to eliminate the items from her diet, an improper latch letting in air and causing winds.

A tongue tie or underdeveloped suck reflex. Problems with latching causing insufficient milk transfer and a decrease in breast stimulation and milk supply.

It could be timed feeds and feeding schedules. It can also be missed hunger cues due to dummy usage.

There are many things to consider, weak milk isn't one of them.

Believe in yourself, trust your milk, reach out for help if you need it.

- Leader Letitia
La Leche League South Africa

(La Leche League offers free breastfeeding support to families on their journeys. Contact your local Leader or submit your question via our Facebook Group for support)