Strength for Her

 Doctors are considering changing the recommendations for healthy weight gain during pregnancy. The changes come after many doctors feel that too many women are gaining too much weight during their pregnancies. The current guidelines suggest gaining 25-35 pounds, 15 pounds for the most obese women and 40 pounds for women with below normal BMIs. Doctors complain that these guidelines don’t take the nation’s obesity epidemic into consideration.

Carrying too much weight while pregnant increases the risk of complications for mother and baby, including birth defects, labor and delivery problems, fetal death and delivery of large babies, according to the March of Dimes.

A revision is long overdue, said Dr. Raul Artal of the Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

“The reality is for too long we are telling pregnant women to take it easy during pregnancy, be confined and to eat for two,” he said. “This has been one factor in causing the epidemic of overweight and obesity that we see in our country.” 

What do you think? Are the guidelines too lax? Do women these days let pregnancy eliminate healthy eating habits and exercise? Do the guidelines have a big effect on women’s weight gain, or does the body do what it feels best? How hard is it to control weight gain while pregnant?

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A recent article at CNN details 5 breast-feeding mistakes new moms make, and how to fix them. The article follows a recent study that finds that although 75% of women begin breast-feeding their infants, by three months only 30% are still nursing exclusively. That number drops to only 11% at six months. This is troublesome to some health experts, since it is recommended that new moms breast-feed for at least six months to get all the benefits of breast milk.

 The article makes some suggestions for new moms struggling to master breast feeding. Some women can be surprised to find that breast feeding is much harder than they had anticipated, and not automatic. Some of the suggestions include getting support from experienced friends, not assuming you don’t have enough milk, and not panicking in the beginning when milk doesn’t rush out.

…many women have a hard time nursing and don’t know where to turn for help. She says one common reason for quitting is that women mistakenly think they don’t have enough milk and decide to give the baby formula. Other women quit nursing when they go back to work, and others stop because family members encourage them to give bottles instead of breast milk.

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 An article on CNN talks about how doulas are becoming more popular for childbirth. Doulas are there to offer support during the labor and delivery process. With their advanced experience, they can create a relaxing environment for the mom-to-be and offer advice and support for the husband as well. Often times doulas will use candles and music to help create a peaceful environment, and they can also help communicate a woman’s wishes with medical staff while the woman may be too uncomfortable to do so effectively. Many times a doula will follow-up after the birth with tips on infant care and breastfeeding.

Doula is a Greek word meaning “woman’s servant.” Part birthing coach, part mother’s assistant, doulas are showing up in more delivery rooms than ever before.

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A new study by the CDC released shows that almost 75% of new moms are breast feeding their infants. However, after 3 months only 30% are still feeding their babies breast milk exclusively. At six months, that number drops to a mere 11%. This concerns government health officials, who fear that women are stopping nursing too soon and introducing formula too often.

Formula isn’t as good at protecting babies against diseases, eczema and childhood obesity. Ideally, nearly all mothers should breast-feed their babies for six months or more, said Dr. David Paige, a Johns Hopkins University reproductive health expert.

But many do not because of their jobs, the inconvenience, and perhaps because of convincing advertising for baby formula.

My thoughts: Although almost everyone can agree that breast milk is ideal, this is a very hot button topic. Women have enough stress on their plates as they try to juggle motherhood and working, and they don’t need any more guilt. There are plenty of women who simply can’t breast feed, for one reason or another, and they shouldn’t be made to feel like less of a mother because of it.

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