Women Health Talk

Welcome back!

This article deals with severe mastitis requiring medical treatment. In my work as a maternity expert and Naturopath I recently had an alarming consultation with a young mother.

The consultation with this Mamma went a little like this: “Can you tell me how to wean my 4 month old baby?” I kind of got the feeling that she didn’t really want to talk about it, just wanted the info. I got half way through the sentence “It depends on the reason you need to wean” and was cut off by her hurriedly asking “Should I go cold turkey or do it slowly”? I answer the question telling her that it needs to be done as slowly as possible since sudden weaning will cause blocked ducts and mastitis. She then tells me that is the very reason she needs to wean. She became teary and said that she keeps getting mastitis and has made the decision to wean so that she is doing her best for her baby. She feels she can’t look after him properly if she is sick.

I ask how many times she has had mastitis and she tells me twice in the last month. She then said it was her Doctor who told her that weaning is the best way to prevent her from getting mastitis again. Hmmm…… I get the feeling this Doctor does not know much about breastfeeding management.

We continue…

Me: “Do you remember how long you had the antibiotics for when you got mastitis the first time”?
Her: “Not long, I think it was 5 days”.
Me: “Do you know what antibiotic you were given?”
Her: ”I’m not sure, he said it was a low dose of penicillin, he said we should try that first and if it doesn’t work to try something stronger”.

I suggested as delicately as possible that she find a Doctor who has some training in breastfeeding management. She tells me she has been seeing this Doctor for a long time and trusts him.

Even as a naturopath I recognise that if the infection is so severe that Mum has fevers and is vomiting as this Mamma was, she will probably need antibiotic treatment. You’ve got to get rid of the infection as quickly as possible and deal with it thoroughly. There are certainly natural therapies that we can use to treat mastitis, but once I see a vomiting, feverish mother, I would never wait to see if the infection will respond to herbs, nutritional therapies or homeopathics.

However I have several major problems with the way this Mum was treated by this Doctor. In the full length version of this article at my blog http://www.naturaltransition.com/blog/ I go into more detail about what the issues are that I have. In the interests of expediency I have edited this article for easier reading.

So here’s my advice for a feverish, vomiting Mamma with severe mastitis.

1. Never, ever stop breastfeeding while you have mastitis or blocked ducts. Never… ever… ever. You are just giving the bacteria time to breed as well as providing the little suckers with the perfect medium for growth. Even while you have a really bad active infection and are expressing lumpy discoloured milk, it is still absolutely 100% safe to breastfeed your baby.

If you have blocked ducts that have turned into mastitis: Continue to follow these management guidelines until they are gone. This will help resolve the infection more quickly.

• Apply heat to the affected area of the breast – you can use a heat pack or soak a hand towel in hot water (but not hot enough to burn) then wrap the breast in it. Do this before every feed.
• Gently massage any breast lumps – start on the outside of the breast and use the heel of the hand to massage towards the nipple.
• Breastfeed or express the breast until the area is softened and feels more comfortable. Feed with your baby’s chin pointing towards the reddened area. Often this is hard due the position of the sore spot, you may need to get creative – where there’s a will there’s a way.
• You may need to repeat this process a number of times before the blockage resolves.
• Keep the breast as empty as possible. Feed your baby as frequently as they will feed and express after a feed to ensure the breast is completely emptied.

2. Between feeds use a cold pack to relieve swelling and pain. You can fill a zip lock bag with rice or lentils and put it in the freezer for a quick homemade cold pack. Don’t use it directly against the skin. If engorgement is a problem you can use cold cabbage leaves, but don’t use them for too long as they are really effective at reducing supply.

3. Go and see your doctor – If you have a favourite and trust them; great but don’t be afraid to question the wisdom of their prescription. If possible, find a GP who keeps up to date with breastfeeding management. If you can’t access a Doctor who specialises in women’s health, I recommend asking for a women who has children of her own. They are more likely to know about breastfeeding than a 60 year old man.

4. To help maintain balance in your digestive system while taking antibiotics you can take a supplement of Saccharomyces boulardii (SB). This is a probiotic which is related to brewer’s yeast and is naturally resistant to antibiotics. Other probiotics such as acidophilus will be killed off by the antibiotic you are taking. In USA and Europe SB is sold over the counter in health food stores to prevent traveller’s diarrhoea. In Australia, there are several companies that sell it as a practitioner only product, so you will need to get it from a naturopath or GP. Many health food stores and pharmacies have a naturopath on site who will be able to supply it for you.

5. Rest, drink plenty of fluids and take care of yourself!

6. See an IBLC lactation consultant if you get more than one bout of mastitis. She will be able to work with you to resolve any issues causing the infection.

Julie Cottle is a natural parenting expert from Australia. Her professional qualifications include: Bachelor of health science, Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy, Diploma of Botanical Medicine, Diploma of Nutritional Medicine, Diploma of Homoeopathy, Diploma of Remedial Massage. Certifcate IV in Breastfeeding Counselling, Certificates in Natural Family Planning. Professional Memberships: Australian Traditional Medicine Society, Australian Breastfeeding Association. You can find out more at her site naturaltransition.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/medical-mismangement-of-mastitis-1100202.html

A woman usually gets a rancid smell to her vagina when she catches an infection. Some women think that the fishy smell is normal from time to time but it isn’t. It is a sign that something is wrong with your body and it needs help to get better.

The number one cause of a smelly vagina is bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common infection in women of all ages. It is most commonly caught by bacteria getting inside of the body whether that be wiping in the wrong direction and fecal particles getting inside or having unprotected sex with a partner who has bacteria on them. Once bacteria are inside of you, it is too late to do take any preventable measures. Now all you need to do is get rid of that smelly vagina scent.

The best way to get rid of a smelly vagina is to take a steaming hot bath in Epsom salt. The hot water will soothe away any irritation that you have been experiencing and it will also help to take away the scent. Having a nice hot bath will make you feel refreshed and restore some of your confidence that you have been missing out on. The Epson salt that you have added to your bath will work to kill the bacteria that are causing this infection to happen. In order to ensure that the infection heals, don’t use any harsh soap with perfumes because this will just make matters worse. Keep up with your hygiene but don’t take it overboard because it can make the infection worsen.

Unpleasant vaginal discharge and smell is a problem that plagues countless women and can reoccur every few months. There are effective treatments for the condition that don’t just mask the odor, they actually treat the problem and eliminate it. If you are tired of feeling self conscious and if you shy away from others because of your bad vaginal odor learn more about what you can do to fix the problem, from this informative site!

You don’t have to be self conscious of your vaginal odor anymore. If it’s interfering in your life and making it difficult for you to feel comfortable in intimate situations, there is help! You can rid yourself of unpleasant vaginal odor today.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/how-to-get-rid-of-a-smelly-vagina-1100755.html

Why would a woman want to enlarge the size of her breasts? There are many reasons why women wish to have larger breasts. For countless of women throughout the world longing for bigger, fuller and more beautiful breasts without having to undergo invasive cosmetic surgical procedures, there is good news as a result of scientific advancements.

You do want the perfect size breasts, right? You want that chest that makes you feel alive and noticed. This is how to make your breasts bigger, sexier and beautiful so you can become the perfect woman, you know… Indeed bust enlargement at home is now possible with herbal pills, creams and exercise.

Breast Enlargement Pills And Cream

The herbal components of breast enhancement pills start a reaction similar to those that occur during puberty, when women’s breast tissue starts to grow. These herbs deliver plant estrogen, which stimulates the growth of the delicate breast tissue from inside by causing hormonal changes. Breast enlargement pills contain phytoestrogens, a naturally occurring non-hormonal plant estrogen that promotes the growth of new breast tissue. Commonly used herbs included in these natural formulations include :

fenugreek extract,
cayenne fruit,
saw palmette,
foti root,
guarana seed,
Siberian red ginseng root,
and many others.

These herbs are believed to contain estrogen-like properties which are essential in the development of the breast tissue.

It is argued that breast enlargement cream is not so effective when used in isolation. Its effectiveness can be substantial if it is used in combination with breast enlargement pills and regular breast enhancing exercises.

Breast Enhancing Exercises

Breast enhancement exercises are perhaps the cheapest and most natural method for promoting breast growth although they require a dedicated approach to make them work. Breast enhancing exercises lift the breast tissue by increasing the bulk of the muscles that lies under the breasts. Exercising does not increase the size of the breast but gives a firmer look and feel by developing the chest muscles underneath the breast. Pushups, palm pushes, finger locks, and forearm grips are some of the exercises suggested to produce the desired result.

One of the main reasons for natural breast enhancers getting popular is the lack of confidence in surgical methods. Silicon and other implants have caused complications for a large number of women. This includes other health complications and the rupture of implants.

As more research is conducted, more natural breast enhancers will emerge giving women a large variety of options. Lot of research is already happening to confirm the results obtained from herbal supplements, especially the impact of these herbs on the mammary tissues.

Make sure you stay away from any type of addictions like nicotine or alcohol when you are taking these natural breast enlargement pills because they tend to interfere with the working of the medicine and desired results may not be achieved.

Finally, do your due diligence before deciding whether or not to go ahead with your quest for larger breasts via natural breast enlargement. There are lots of free information on the Internet to help you out. Most of the information is well written and well researched.

You do want the perfect size breasts, right ? You want that chest that makes you feel alive and noticed. This is how to make your breasts bigger, sexier and beautiful… Find out more about Natural Breast Enlargement

Paul Rodgers specializes in marketing natural health and beauty products

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/breast-enlargement-at-home-is-now-possible-1101024.html

Trying to cure bacterial vaginosis can sometimes seem like a difficult thing to do. Especially when you keep having recurrences of it. So, what I’m going to do is share with you some tips on how to cure bacterial vaginosis.

That way, you will know what you can do to cure your BV.

The tips on curing bacterial vaginosis are:

1. The first way you can get rid of your BV is to use apple cider vinegar. To use it, put a cup or two of the vinegar into your bath water right before you take a bath. Make sure the water is warm. Soak in it for at least twenty minutes.

2. Another tip on how to cure bacterial vaginosis is to use garlic paste. Garlic paste will help you get rid of the bacteria that cause BV. To use it, rub some of the paste around your vaginal area and allow it to site for twenty minutes. Wash it off afterwards.

3. The third cure that will help you get rid of bacterial vaginosis is tea tree oil. You can use the oil in a few ways. The first way is to put a few drops of it on a tampon and insert it inside your vagina. The second way to use it is to put some of it around your vaginal area.

Another way you can use the oil to get rid of BV is to put some of it into your bath water and soak in it. The tea tree oil will fight off the infection that’s causing you to have bacterial vaginosis.

These are some tips on how to cure bacterial vaginosis. If you want to permanently cure BV from home within 3 days, click here.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/how-to-cure-bacterial-vaginosis-simple-tips-on-curing-bv-1101430.html