Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes

Breast-feeding has many benefits says, UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

One of these effects appears to be a reduction in the risk for the development of type 2 diabetes. Breast-feeding reduces this risk primarily by reducing children's weight, but the precise means by which this occurs is unclear, says, UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

Breast-feeding may set a lower and enduring satiety limit (feeling of fullness and satisfaction) for infants, whereas overfeeding among bottle-fed infants can increase peak insulin levels and prolong the insulin response.

Certain exposures associated with bottle-feeding, particularly to chemicals used to make plastic bottles and nitrates in tap water, can also reduce pancreatic beta-cell function, another reason why breast is best.

To find out more about how nutrition can help with breastfeeding, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have co-authorised a free e-book which can be obtained by clicking on the following link: http://www.urbod.co.uk/Nutritionist/BreastfeedingCityoflondon.htmv

Top 10 Tips for Successful Breastfeeding

Welcome to National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

The following are 10 great tips for sucessful breastfeeding, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

1. Breast feed within the first thirty minutes of birth in order to begin establishing feeding while your baby’s suckling reflexes are strong.
2. Avoid over stimulation of baby before the first feed. This means that bathing, dressing weighing and measuring all take second place to breast feeding.
3. When at home, make sure you are comfortable before you begin to breast feed. Have a large glass of water and some snacks close to hand (as breastfeeding can make you very hungry!). Have plenty of pillows to support your baby and your back or buy a breastfeeding pillow (from experience I found the Widgey Nursing Support Pillow invaluable).
4. Don’t worry that your milk supply is little within the first 3-4 days of birth. This initial colostrum plays a valuable role in preventing infection and is designed to coat your baby’s intestine with valuable antibodies. Babies often don’t feed much within the first 24-48 hours in any event.
5. Breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful. If it is, your baby is probable not attached correctly. Ask the hospital breastfeeding nurse, midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding counsellor (also known as lactation consultant) to check that your baby is correctly positioned and attached.
6. Dark green cabbage leaves (organic) are very effective in relieving engorged breasts. Lightly steam them and let them cool before putting them on your breasts.

Don’t start a feeding routine until your baby is at least six weeks old. Breast milk is digested much faster than formula milk so your baby should feed on demand. This may be anywhere between 1- 5 hourly. Starting a routine too early may reduce your milk flow and create problems.


What should I do if I have problems?

7. Speak to your midwife, health visitor or see your doctor: you or your baby may have thrush (or another condition) which is causing the problem and can be treated medically.
8. See a cranial osteopath for your baby.
9. See a breast feeding counsellor (also called lactation counsellor). They will come to your home (not cheap, but worth every penny). Do not rely on telephone support as you need to be shown how to hold your baby correctly when breastfeeding.
10. See a Nutritionist who can help you improve your diet which may help with milk flow.

If you wish to find out more about how nutrition can help with breastfeeding, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have co-authored a free e-book which can be obtained by clicking on the following link:

Dealing With the Stress of Fertility Treatment

New research indicates that fertility patients who feel less stressed get pregnant more quickly, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

Below are some suggestions that may help you get pregnant and makes treatment more bearable.

- Think of your fertility treatment as a project. Map out a strategy with your partner and your fertility doctor, and stick to it. Decide in advance how many and what kind of procedures will be emotionally and financially acceptable, and attempt to determine a final limit. Try to get in a long-term mindset-hope to be pregnant within a year, rather than obsessing each day.

- Write down questions to bring to your doctor, so you don't forget to ask.

- Consider what you will do if you don't conceive. Having an alternative plan, such as adoption, not having children, or using donor eggs can minimize stress and anxiety.

- Consider taking a break every few months.

- Communicate with your partner, and expect your partner to have difficulties too. Don't expect him to always feel the same way that you do, though-different people respond differently to the strains of infertility.

- Fertility treatment can be hard on every aspect of a relationship. Try to do things together that are fun and unrelated to getting pregnant.

- Don't be surprised at your negative reaction when someone else becomes pregnant-even someone you love. It is hard to be happy for others while you are struggling to become a parent yourself.

- Expect to feel emotional during this process -- often a roller coaster of anxiety, excitement and frustration. Many modern women have never experienced this sort of loss of control over their lives-you have always been able to get what you wanted if you worked hard enough.

- Studies indicate that fertility treatment can be more stressful than cancer therapy-with similar feelings of anger, frustration, anxiety, grief, shame, damaged self-esteem, jealousy, isolation, and loss of control.

- Consider getting counselling, learning some relaxation techniques, or joining a support group. You may find yoga, meditation, guided imagery, reiki, massage therapy and/or exercise helpful.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet prior to and during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on the following link www.urbod.co.uk/UrBump-Fertility-e-Book.htm

Breastfeeding Awareness Week 11-18 May

Did you know that if each year all babies worldwide were exclusively fed breast milk for the first 6 months, then the lives of an estimated 1.5million babies would be saved and the health and development of millions of others would be greatly improved. This sobering statistics come from the organisation Unicef, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

Only a third of babies in the UK are receiving any breastmilk at all at six weeks old which is way short of the World Health Organisation recommendation that babies should be exclusively breastfed for six months (fewer than 2% of British babies are breastfed up until 6 months!). The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative is working with the health service so mothers understand more about breastfeeding and are enabled to breastfeed if they wish to.

Next week I will be writing about the Ten Top Tips for Successful Breastfeeding.

In the meantime, if you wish to find out more about how nutrition can help with breastfeeding, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have co-authorised a free e-book which can be obtained by clicking on the following link: http://www.urbod.co.uk/Nutritionist/BreastfeedingCityoflondon.htm

Caesarean Delivery May Be an Independent Risk Factor for Stroke

According to a study reported in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, caesarean delivery is an independent risk factor for stroke, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy according to the results of a nationwide, population-based study in Taiwan. This is backed up by the World Health Organization, who state that the risk for postpartum death for caesarean deliveries can be up to 3.6 times higher compared conventional vaginal deliveries.

The researchers state that caesarean section delivery has been associated with a significant increase in maternal death from cardiac arrest, complications from anesthesia, puerperal infection (a bacterial infection following childbirth) and venous thromboembolism. Indeed, stroke has been singled out as a crucial cause of maternal morbidity and death during pregnancy and the first six weeks following birth.

While emergency caesarean sections are necessary when the health of the mother or baby is at risk, the results of this study indicate that mothers should think twice about having an elected caesarean, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

One of the biggest risk factors for having a caesarean is being overweight prior to or during your pregnancy, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. Addressing your weight prior to becoming pregnant and not putting on too much weight during your pregnancy will therefore reduce the likelihood of having a caesarean section. Exercise and keeping fit may also reduce the risk of a caesarean section.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet prior to and during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Low levels of progesterone may lead to miscarriage

Progesterone, a steroid hormone, is an important female hormone says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

Progesterone is made by the ovary during ovulation. It is also produced by the adrenal glands in small amounts. It is manufactured in the body with the help of the steroid hormone pregnenolone and it in turn helps in the production of most of the other steroid hormones like cortisol, oestrogen and testosterone. In the female body, the most important role of the progesterone hormone is to counter the effects of oestrogen and help provide an environment for a successful pregnancy and a healthy pregnancy.

Progesterone and Fertility
Progesterone helps in reproduction by stimulating changes in the uterus and also supports pregnancy by increasing blood vessel and tissue development in the layer where the embryo attaches itself. The egg attaches itself to the uterus after been released from the ovary. On conception, the egg along with the sperm forms the embryo. Progesterone is the hormone that delays the shedding of the endometrium layer where the embryo implantation occurs.

If there is a significant drop in the progesterone levels during the first few weeks of pregnancy, then it may lead to a miscarriage.

Causes of Low Progesterone
There can be many factors that could cause the progesterone levels to fall, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. Some prominent factors are:
- Dominance of oestrogen. This condition could occur if the individual is exposed to any environmental hormone that behaves like oestrogen or in cases of liver dysfunction.
- Resistance to insulin present in the body
- Chronic stress
- Diet that is rich in sugar or does not contain sufficient nutrients
- Insufficient exercise
- Certain medications

Consequently, dietary and lifestyle changes can help to address the issue of low progesterone and to help increase it to levels that support a pregnancy, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

B Vitamins Ease Painful Pregnancy Leg Cramps

Almost half of all pregnant women get painful muscle cramps in their legs, usually during the second half of their pregnancies and usually at night says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

A study carried out at Tehran University of Medical Sciences found some interesting results in a study of 84 pregnant women. Calcium supplementation at a dose of 500mg per day proved to be extremely successful in just over half of participants, whilst magnesium supplementation at 182mg twice per day was to some extent successful in all of the participants.
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Meanwhile, the group taking B vitamins had the most positive results: the symptoms of 72% of those taking vitamin B1 and B6 combination were completely resolved; another 19% reported relative improvement, and only 9% experienced no change.

The researchers concluded that supplementation with thiamine plus pyridoxine was significantly effective in improving muscle spasms during pregnancy.

With the urpregnancy nutritional and lifestyle programme we will look at your nutritional requirements and provide you with advice that can help reduce or alleviate painful muscle cramps.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.