As you get closer to delivery, you may be wondering about the benefits of breast milk for your baby.

Production of Breast Milk

Even during pregnancy, your body is preparing to produce breast milk. You may notice in the third trimester that you’re leaking colostrum, or early milk. After your baby is born, his/her suckling at your breast signals your body to start producing nutrient-rich milk. Your baby’s cry actually signals your body’s let-down-reflex. This is why your breasts may leak when you hear a baby cry, even if he/she is not your own child. Staring at or talking to your baby while you breastfeed can also signal your body to release more milk.

The let-down-reflex is when your body releases milk. When your let-down-reflex kicks in, you may feel tingling, stinging, burning, or prickling in your breasts. Though this sounds uncomfortable, it usually only lasts for a few seconds.

Breast milk contains the perfect blend of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates for your baby. It also contains important vitamins, minerals, and hormones that your baby needs for proper growth and development. In addition, human milk also contains antibodies that help your baby fight infection. For example, if you get a cold, your baby will get the antibodies you produce. When your baby is exposed to a cold, his/her immune system will be better prepared.

Nutrition Needed

If you are breastfeeding, you need to be taking in 2,700 calories a day. This is an increase over what you should have been consuming during pregnancy. You also need to be drinking at least eight glasses of fluid (mostly water) a day. If you are having difficulty drinking enough water, try to drink a glass every time you sit down to breastfeed your baby.

Additionally, you need to make sure you are taking in enough calcium, protein, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. While you are breastfeeding, you do not need as much folic acid and iron as you did when you were pregnant, though you will need more of these vitamins and minerals than before you were pregnant. If you were taking a prenatal vitamin, you should continue to take it until you wean your baby.

Benefits for Your Baby

Your body will produce the exact amount of breast milk that your baby needs. If you are eating a well-balanced diet, your body is producing exactly what your baby needs nutritionally. Babies that are breastfed develop faster, are healthier, and have higher IQs than formula fed babies. In addition, sucking on the breast will help your baby’s jaw develop appropriately and help his/her teeth grow in straight.

How does Breast Milk Compare to Formula?

The exact chemical composition of breast milk is unknown, but it contains at least 100 additional ingredients not found in formula. Experts know formula does not contain the same nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antibodies, or hormones. No babies are allergic to their mother’s milk, though your baby may be allergic to something you ate. In addition, breast milk is more easily digested than formula.

Every year, thousands of women are shocked and devastated by unplanned pregnancies. Age, finances, lifestyle, and feelings of shame or inadequacy may all be reasons these women contemplate getting an abortion. Within only a few hours, an abortion can rid you of an unborn child, allowing you to get back to your life as you knew it. Right?

Aside from the obvious moral controversy the abortion versus adoption debate has sparked, there are actually physical and medical reasons women should think twice about before having an abortion performed.

Generally, there are side effects with induced abortion (whether surgical abortion or by a pill). These may include abdominal pain and cramping, vomiting, or diarrhea and often vary from woman to woman. However, abortion can carry far more serious and harmful risks like heavy bleeding and infection, or even worse. These complications typically occur in about 1 out of every 100 early abortions, and in about 1 out of 50 later term abortions. Such complications can include:

Heavy Hemorrhaging – though some bleeding is normal after an abortion, if hemorrhaging occurs, often a blood transfusion to be performed, or even surgery to stop the bleeding.

Severe Infection – Damaging infections can begin due to the injecting of medical instruments into the uterus or even from parts of the fetus being accidentally left inside (this is commonly known as an incomplete abortion). Such infections usually require hospitalization and can cause severe scarring of the pelvic organs.

Damage to the cervix and certain internal organs can also occur. The cervix can be damaged (cut or torn) by the medical instruments and organs near the uterus can be torn or punctured. Aside from the physical inflictions abortions can cause, studies have shown there is just as much risk for psychological damage. Severe negative emotions have been known to emerge in women within days of an abortion or after several years. Such a response is a form of post traumatic stress disorder and can manifest itself through a number of physical ailments such as eating disorders, depression, guilt, or even suicidal thoughts.

 Probably, but be careful. Many women avoid all drugs during pregnancy, including caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and prescription and over-the-counter medicines, but then think nothing of drinking cup after cup of herbal tea.

Certain herbal teas can be very beneficial in pregnancy and may help to alleviate some of the symptoms of pregnancy. Many women find that small amounts of ginger tea can help with morning sickness, while peppermint tea can ease heartburn and indigestion. Slippery elm or meadowsweet tea may also aid digestion. However, it is always a good idea to drink herbal teas in moderation.

 Generally speaking, any herb which is considered fine for food use is presumed to be safe for teas as well.  All herbal preparations which are bought as tea bags from the supermarket are thought to be safe for use in pregnancy. You can also buy herbal tea blends specifically made for drinking when you are pregnant.

 It is important to steer clear of unfamiliar ingredients (such as black cohosh, pennyroyal, and mugwort, all best avoided during pregnancy). Other herbs to avoid in pregnancy include celery, parsley and sage (the latter should also be avoided if you are breastfeeding, as it may reduce milk supply). Never make a tea from any plant in your own garden, unless you’re 100 per cent sure what it is and that you can safely take it while you’re pregnant

Is it dangerous to drink more than the moderate amount of caffeine during pregnancy?

No one really knows for sure, but research suggests that consistently having more that 300mg of caffeine per day could be related to a higher risk of low birthweight, miscarriage and birth defects, such as cleft palate.

Some research has failed to take into account other risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol intake, which can also lead to complications in pregnancy, labour, and delivery. However, it still seems sensible to stick to moderate amounts of caffeine while pregnant.

What exactly does caffeine do to my body?

Caffeine is a stimulant; it increases your heart rate and metabolism, which in turn affects your developing baby. But while unremitting stress isn’t healthy, brief bouts of fetal stress, such as that your baby would feel after you drink a cup of coffee, won’t cause him any harm. It’s akin to your dashing to the bus, another situation that briefly boosts your heart rate and metabolism.

Anyone who drinks coffee regularly knows that it can be addictive and that large amounts can also cause insomnia, nervousness, and headaches. And it’s a diuretic, which causes your body to lose water and other fluids and calcium, all of which you need to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Tea hampers your body’s ability to absorb iron if you drink it within one hour before or after a meal.

Which foods and beverages contain caffeine?

Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate. Some over-the-counter drugs, including headache and cold tablets, stay-awake medications, and allergy remedies also contain caffeine. Always seek your pharmacist’s advice before you buy over-the counter remedies, and don’t forget to mention that you are pregnant.

The emergency contraceptive pill, Levonorgestrel, can help in preventing an unwanted pregnancy even five days after unprotected sexual exposure.

Professor and head of department of obstetrics and gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Sunita Mittal, says the pill, available as a pack of two, could be used as a single dose for five days to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

The emergency contraceptive offers women another method to avoid an unwanted pregnancy even after sexual exposure, says Mittal. None of the currently available contraceptives are 100 per cent effective. In addition, there could also be a problem if the condom breaks. In situations where women have been forced into sex, the pill could be of great help, says Mittal.

The pill that came into the market was initially effective only upto three days. The improved one now works uptil five days. Although, says Mittal, the earlier it is taken, the more effective it is.

The side-effects of the pill are minimal, she says. Some women could experience nausea. It can help avoid a pregnancy in 90 per cent of the users.

In a country where the ratio of abortions is 452 per 1,000 live births and a high rate of deaths due to abortions (20,000 women die annually), the emergency contraceptive pill could be a life saver, says Mittal.

Every 1.25 seconds, a baby is added to the billion-strong India. However, the National Family Health Survey had revealed that 78 per cent of the pregnancies are unplanned and about 25 per cent children are unwanted.

Birth-control pills have been used by over 150 million women world-wide. Much attention has been focused on comparing benefits and risks of birth-control pills.

The benefits of taking the birth-control pill, aside from its almost l00% effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, are: less menstrual flow and cramping, lower risk of infection of the uterus and ovaries, a decreased chance of developing ovarian cysts and non-cancerous breast cysts and tumors, less ovarian cancer and uterine cancer, less rheumatoid arthritis, and it may improve acne.

About 40% of women who take birth-control pills will have side effects of one kind or another during the first three months of use. The vast majority of women have only minor, transient side effects. Some of these side effects are: light bleeding between menstrual periods, skipped periods, nausea, weight change, bloating, increase in vaginal infections. Although it is difficult to predict whether a woman will develop one of these minor problems, a problem can often be eliminated by changing to a different birth-control pill. A spotty darkening of the skin on the face may appear and may be permanent.

The most serious side effect associated with the birth-control pill is a greater chance of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. These problems occur in only a small number of women who take the pill. Women who have the most risk of developing these problems are women who smoke, are over thirty-five and women with other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or vascular disease or blood cholesterol and triglyceride abnormalities. Other serious side effects are worsening of migraine headaches, gall bladder disease, increase in blood pressure and an extremely rare liver tumor. Some birth-control pills may cause changes in the levels of fatty substances in the blood. The long-term consequences of these changes are not known. Regular check-ups are important for early detection of these problems.

 Both clomiphene citrate and letrozole are medications used to treat infertile women who have an ovulation problem. These medications work by helping your pituitary gland (located at the base of the brain) improve the stimulation of developing follicles (eggs) in the ovaries. Neither clomiphene citrate nor letrozole may help a woman become more fertile if she is already ovulating normally. For that reason, these medications are most often prescribed to those patients who have been found to have an abnormality with their cycle.

Clomiphene is often referred to as the “fertility pill”. Letrozole is very similar to clomiphene in the way it works. However, letrozole is quickly cleared from the body. It only works for the cycle in which it is taken and is less likely to adversely affect the uterine lining and cervical mucous. With clomiphene, one may experience effects 6-8 weeks after stopping the medication. Both medications are prescribed for five days each cycle, usually beginning on day three and continuing through day seven. The usual initial dose for clomiphene is 50 mg, one tablet daily. The number of tablets can be increased to as many as four daily, if a lesser dosage does not result in ovulation. Rarely are more than two tablets required. Clomiphene should be repeated each cycle until pregnancy occurs, or your doctor discontinues it. The usual dosage of letrozole is 2.5 mg., one tablet each day.

Of all women treated with clomiphene, or letrozole, 60% to 80% will ovulate normally. However, only half of those patients who ovulate will become pregnant. It is not known why only half of the women who apparently ovulate with clomiphene or letrozole therapy become pregnant. It is suspected that factors other than inadequate ovulation may be contributing to the fertility problem. Therefore, if you are not pregnant after three or four cycles, additional testing such as hysterosalpingogram or laparoscopy may be necessary. If you have polycystic ovary syndrome, a trial of metformin (Glucophage) therapy may be advised.

Some 10% to 20% of women taking clomiphene or letrozole will experience side effects. By far, most of these are minor and temporary in nature. They include such things as hot flashes, blurred vision, nausea, bloating sensation, and headache. Serious side effects are rarely seen with either medication. There are two side effects associated with clomiphene or letrozole therapy that warrant specific discussion. The first is the possibility of multiple pregnancy. The frequency of twins occurring in women who conceive while taking clomiphene or letrozole has been reported to be as high as 10%. Triplets may occur as frequently as 1 in 400 births, and quadruplets in 1 in 800 births. Neither clomiphene nor letrozole is the “fertility drug” you may have heard in the news bulletins often associated with large numbers of infants, such as quintuplets. Newer studies suggest that long-term use of either clomiphene or letrozole for more than 12 cycles may place you at an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Secondly, clomiphene and letrozole have also been associated with the occasional development of ovarian cysts. These cysts are not true growths of the ovary and within a few weeks will resolve without treatment. However, on an extremely rare occasion, these cysts have been known to cause internal bleeding or twist, requiring surgery and removal of the involved ovary. However, I must again emphasize that such a complication is extremely rare.

# The effectiveness of birth control pills depends entirely on how they are used. While the stated effectiveness is 96-99% in reality this rate is much lower, around 87%. The reason for the difference is owed entirely to user habits. Taking the pill at different times of day, missing days or skipping pills all decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills.
# Some, but not all, birth control pills can help control acne.
# Certain herbal treatments (like St.# John’s Wort and Ephedra) and some prescription medications can decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills, always tell your doctor which medications, herbal remedies and over the counter products you are using.
# If you become very ill, with vomitting and/or diarrhea, the effectiveness of your birth control pills can be significantly reduced. If this happens you must continue taking your pills and use a second method of birth control until you have a period and start a new pack.
# The pill does not protect you against any STDs. It is only birth control not STD protection.
# Most people who use the pill experience lighter bleeding, significantly less cramping and shorter periods.
# The pill offers the following benefits; less chance of getting PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), protection against benign breast cysts, protection against ovarian cysts and cancers, uterin cancer and PMS.
# The most common side effects of the pill are headaches, spotting between periods and weight changes (loss or gain).
# Smokers should consider a different form of birth control, the pill is not recommended for smokers of any age.
# The most serious complication associated with birth control pills are blood clots. This is a rare complication.
# Taking the pill will not make you more sexually active or cause you to want sex more often than you do without the pill.
# You do not need your parents permission to get birth control pills, but you do need a prescription and you may need to tell your parents if you can not afford to pay for the pills by yourself. You can get pills for free or for a reduced cost at family planning clinics. You can also get a prescription from these clinics.
# You can become pregnant if you have sex during your period even if you are on birth control pills. It is highly unlikely but entirely possible. If you suspect you may have become pregnant during your period consult a doctor immediately before you start another package of birth control pills.

If you use the Pill, it has to be taken at the same time every day; in fact, if you forget to take just 1 birth control pill, you increase your chances of becoming pregnant. During a cycle, if 2 or more pills are missed, the chance of this method failing increases dramatically, especially if an alternative method of birth control (like a condom) is not used. Having a routine is a good way to reduce the likelihood of this happening. It has been show that having a set daily routine can affect birth control consistency. Women without a customary routine are more than 3 times as likely to miss 2 or more pills per cycle.

Tips:

1. A woman should make sure to use the Pill consistently and continually. She should take it at the same time, every day.

2. An individual who uses the pill should understand how to take the pill properly and what to do if she accidently misses a pill.

If a woman misses 2 or more pills during any cycle, she should use an alternate method of birth control as a back-up.
3. It is helpful to associate pill use with some other regular daily activity (such as taking it before a person brushes her teeth). This way, taking the pill becomes part of a routine.

4. A female should remember to bring an extra pack of pills when traveling if she will finish the old pack while away.

5. It is important to consult with a medical doctor about using a back-up contraceptive method if a woman is prescribed antibiotics or is taking certain herbal supplements or other medications.

Unintended pregnancy is a significant concern affecting thousands of people each year. According to a study published in Family Planning Perspectives, 50% of all the pregnancies in the United States were unintended; this includes those conceptions that resulted in abortions, miscarriages or live births. Surprisingly, half of the women faced with these unplanned pregnancies were using contraception during the month that they conceived. Because of these high numbers, it is vital that we know the main reasons for contraception failure as well as some of the risk factors associated with it.

Contraceptive Failure Varies by Method
Your contraceptive method of choice greatly impacts your ability to avoid an unintended pregnancy. Contraceptive failure can result from a natural malfunction of the birth control method itself. Research has shown that the use of longer acting methods, which require less for the individual to do, tend to help minimize the chances for user error. These methods (like injections, implants, IUD’s, and sterilization) result in the lowest “typical user” rate of contraceptive failure.

When comparing contraceptive effectiveness,

* Typical use refers to failure rates for women who do not consistently or always correctly use their birth control

* Perfect use refers to failure rates for those whose use is consistent and always correct
Demographics Play a Role in Contraceptive Failure

Marriage status:
* 17% of unmarried, cohabiting women experienced contraceptive failure during the first year of contraceptive use.
Age:
* 16% of adolescents (aged 19 or under) and 13% of women aged 20 - 24 experienced birth control failure during the first year of use.
Income:
* Contraception failure rates are higher for low-income women.
* Those with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level are almost two times more likely to experience birth control failure than their higher income counterparts.