Choose MyPlate for pregnant, breastfeeding & postpartum

This brochure discusses food safety during pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, ways to control weight during or after pregnancy, daily amounts from the basic food groups during and after pregnancy and extra needs for mother and baby.

Engorgement

The first milk that your body starts making in late pregnancy is called “colostrum.” When your baby is 1–5 days old (normally, about 3½ days old), your milk supply will increase. This is when your milk “comes in.” As your breasts get full with milk they may get hard, swollen and painful. This is called engorgement. It is best to avoid getting engorged, if possible.

Nipple confusion

Nipple confusion may happen when bottles or pacifiers are given too early to the nursing baby. The tongue, jaw, and mouth don’t move the same way when sucking from the bottle as from the breast. This sheet tells in Spanish and English how to prevent and how to treat the problem.

Thrush

Thrush is a yeast infection that can appear in the mother and the baby. Thrush thrives in warm, dark, moist places. Moms or babies who have taken medicine for an infection may get thrush. Moms who take estrogen-containing birth control pills may get thrush. There are many causes of thrush, but you can get rid of it. You don’t have to stop breastfeeding.

Weaning

There is no RIGHT time to wean your baby from the breast. Family, friends, health professionals and even strangers might try to give you many reasons to stop nursing your baby, but the decision should depend on what you and your baby need and want. Get thoughts from people who know about breastfeeding and decide what is best for YOU and YOUR baby.

5 steps to a good latch

This brochure translated into Spanish gives steps to comfortable breastfeeding.

How to Increase Milk Supply

This sheet printed in English and Spanish gives tips on increasing milk supply during breastfeeding. It includes a daily log.

Plugged ducts

This sheet printed in both English and Spanish discusses plugged or clogged ducts during breastfeeding, their prevention and treatment.

2016 West Nile Virus Cases

Most people get infected with West Nile virus by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to humans and other animals. In a very small number of cases, West Nile virus has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, and from mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. Recovery from severe disease may take several weeks or months. Some of the neurologic effects may be permanent. About 10 percent of people who develop neurologic infection due to West Nile virus will die.