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Breast-feeding is a naturally process of feeding an infant with milk created by the mother's breast. This has a lot of advantages for the baby because breast milk is healthier. In the same vein, the feeding process of an infant, connote an instant of love during which the infant learns to connect, smell, and caress with her mother as she supply sustenance and warmth. Generally several changes occur in breasts on a regular basis. As a woman, you can notice the changes in your breasts during different stages of life, like the beginning of a menstrual cycle, menopause, pregnancy, breast feeding etc. Regrettably, some of these changes could have an undesirable effect on your breasts. In order to mitigate the risks of any such problems, it is essential for women to stick to an appropriate breast care routine right from the start. Records show that there is a monumental increase in the number of breast cancer cases discovered every year. Reports equally show that about 1 out of 8 women in the U.S., Europe and other parts of the world develops insidious breast cancer at certain stage in her life time. This indicates that this disease is common in almost 12% of all the women in the countries of the world. The disturbing part of it all is that about 70% to 80% of all the breast cancer cases occur in those women who have no family link with this disease. Though, breast cancer is not the only disease that women that affect women, however it is perhaps the most grave. A number of other breast-related conditions are somewhat dangerous too and should be given immediate attention. Consult your health care provider as soon as you detect any abnormal changes in your breasts such as the appearance of cysts and lumps, discharge or bleeding from the nipples, thickening or hardening of the skin and ‘drawing in’ of the nipple and so on.
It is advisable for women to go in for mammograms and physical examinations of their breasts on a frequent basis, once they reach threshold age of 35. If your results are perfect, you can be repeating the test once in two years. But, if the test reports show that you are certainly at a high risk for breast cancer or other breast-related diseases, you should to take these tests more seriously. It is crystal clear that breast milk is the most excellent food for a newborn; there no equal that can give all the nutrients that the baby will require later on in life. Breast milk is easier to digest than any ‘formula’ in the market place. It provides fortification against infections, averts future food allergies, helps the development of healthy teeth, and most essentially it enhances the development of brain. Scientific studies had brought it to light that breast-fed babies are much more intelligent than ‘formula fed babies’.
Low quality or quantity of milk
Low quality or quantity of milk can be caused by drugs or a poor diet. Several antibiotics pollute the milk and a diet rich in caffeine may cause colics and sleeping disorders. As for the baby it is very vital that the mother continue eating a well balance diet after putting to bed, and to be on the safer side, foods without traces of pesticides; because these poisons become highly accumulated in the milk. The usage of a breast pump may hinder the secretion of milk, reducing the quantity available to the infant, this gives the false alibi that the infant should be weaned on formula in order that the infant to be pleased, and when in reality the problem is the amount of milk that the mother is secreting. Herbal remedies will excellently take care of these common problems without any hassle.
Herbal Remedies
1. Eat alfalfa. It stimulates lactation, enhances quality and amount of milk.
2. Chaste tree increases flow of milk, by affecting the secretion of prolactin by the pituitary gland.
3. The Chinese use an herb known as codonopsis to enhance lactation and strengthen the blood.
4. Goat's rue. This herb has been used by midwives for countless years to promote production of breast milk by as high as 50%.
5. Vervain promotes secretion and flow of milk. It also improves assimilation of nutrients from food and takes care of postpartum depression.
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Engorgement
Breast engorgement is a very general problem that usually affects the mother in the first two or three weeks after child birth and is more irritating to women with poor elasticity of skin. Engorgement is as a result of milk extremely accumulating in the breast in conjunction with blood and fluid retention in the same region.
Normally the breast appears full, solid, tight, tender, painful, and hot to the touch and a fever may also occur, the baby may experience difficulty in trying to latch on and suck.
Herbal Remedies
1. Get a handful of Confrey leaves and steam them for some minutes wrapped in gauze and placed on the breast. It is very helpful in relieving breast engorgement.
2. Poke roots is known to reduce swollen breast and pain. It is to be used under the supervision of a physician.
5. Elder is an herb renowned for reducing swelling of engorged breast.
6. Chamomile provides immediate relieve for inflamed breast.
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Blocked duct
This is a condition that develops when the baby does not completely empty the breast during each feeding; the milk left in the duct thickens and blocks the duct ultimately plugging it. Tight bras can cause blocked ducts also.
If there is sore on the breast it might be a symptom of blocked ducts. A blocked duct should be given immediate medical without any further delay; if not so it can turn into mastitis.
Herbal Remedies
1. Castor oil is good for taking care of inflammation and pain. Massage castor oil on the affected parts.
2. Elder is helpful for reducing swelling of blocked ducts of breast.
3. Queen's delight eliminates clogging of lymphatic vessels and stimulates white blood cells to fight off infection.
Mastitis
Mastitis occurs when a plugged duct becomes infected and the breast enlarges because of the entry of bacteria through tiny cracks on the nipples. The breast that is affected by mastitis usually becomes red and painful and secretion of pus. Other symptoms of mastitis are fever, fatigue, vomiting and nausea.
Herbal Remedies
1. Poke roots is known to reduce swollen breast and pain. It is to be used under the supervision of a physician.
2. Queen's delight eliminates clogging of lymphatic vessels and stimulates white blood cells to fight off infection.
3. Place cold cabbage leaves on the affected breast. The raw leaves are known to take out the infection and equally effective in lowering inflammation and pain. And as soon the leaves reach room temperature, they should be removed and replaced with more cold leaves.
4. Prepare a paste by grinding calendula flowers and comfrey leaves together. Warm the paste slightly before applied to the inflamed breast three to four times in a day. This herbal remedy is immensely beneficial.
5. Tincture of Echinacea root is equally an effective herbal remedy for mastitis. Apply the tincture to the infected place 4 to 5 times per day.
7. Belladonna is an herb that reduces agonizing pain and temperature in the nipples.
8. Cleavers is highly good for decreasing swelling.
9. Prickly ash is an excellent herb for boosting the immune system.
10. Bryonia is a beneficial herb for heavy swollen breasts
11. Pulsatilla reduces soreness of the nipples.
Cracked nipples
Cracked nipples occurs when the baby is wrongly position or by making use of damp breast pads. The nipple get irritated, red, and painful; in certain cases bleeding may also happen.
Herbal remedies
1. Chamomilla heals cracked nipples.
3. Pulsatilla also heals cracked nipples.
Note: One essential thing an individual should take note of is the role of water in the treatment of breast- related disorder. Ensure you drink large amount of water in order to flush out toxins from the body. Water also helps to keep the flow of milk stable. At least 10 to 12 glasses of water should be taken each day. Adequate rest is also essential so that the body is able to recover and heal. It is advisable that the nursing mother should continue to breast feed the baby in respective of occurrence of disease, because continuous breast feeding assists greatly in emptying the affected breast.