At Carroll Hospital, we are fortunate to have three hospital-based peers and one community Overdose Survivors Outreach Program (OSOP) peer. Mike, Megan, Scott and I have our own unique story of how addiction and/or mental health took control of our lives and how we overcame those struggles.
Category: Health & Wellness
Eight Tips for Breastfeeding Success
While expecting a baby, you think about getting the room prepared, picking names, registering for gifts and maybe taking a childbirth class. But, after having a baby, many parents wish they would have learned more about breastfeeding and how to be successful.
In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, here are eight tips I wish someone had told me about breastfeeding when I was young (and not a lactation consultant!):
Take a breastfeeding class before delivery.
Carroll Hospital offers a virtual class once a month. Breastfeeding is natural, but there is a learning curve for all new mothers and their infants.
It’s all about the latch!
Breastfeeding should not hurt if the infant latches properly with a wide-open mouth. Have the lactation consultant work with you in the hospital during your stay.
Learn different ways to hold the baby as you nurse.
Lying down to nurse can be helpful when you are tired.
Feed throughout the night at first.
This will help bring in an excellent milk supply and assure that your baby will start gaining weight quickly.
Babies are fussy, irritable and eat a lot the second day and night.
Feeding frequently is called cluster feeding. It is normal newborn behavior. The baby needs to cluster feed to bring in your milk supply. It is exhausting, but it will not last too long.
Use it or lose it.
The best way to make more milk is to feed the baby. An “empty” breast makes more milk.
Don’t wait too long to introduce a bottle.
By 3 to 4 weeks of age introduce a bottle of your pumped breastmilk to your baby and learn how to pace bottle feed (which gives your baby more control of the feeding pace).
Attend a breastfeeding support group.
Mother-to-mother support is so helpful to continuing your journey and help you meet your goals! Carroll Hospital’s breastfeeding support group meets weekly.
Angela Baublitz, RN, IBCLC, is a lactation consultant in Carroll Hospital’s Family Birthplace.
Support After a Hospital Stay
If you have been a patient in the hospital, you likely have been given a couple options for support when you are discharged: home health care or subacute rehabilitation. But what does each of these options entail?
The Role of Your Primary Care Provider
As a health navigator, throughout the day I ask people the name of their primary care provider. Many share that they’ve seen their primary care provider for decades. But what happens if you do not have a provider or your provider retires?
Become ‘Stroke Smart’ and Save a Life
Did you know? Carroll County is one of the two Stroke Smart counties in Maryland. County leaders encourage everyone who lives and works in Carroll County to become Stroke Smart and learn how to Spot a Stroke, Stop a Stroke and Save a Life.
Spring Cleaning Out the Kitchen
Spring is here, with its cool dewy mornings and warm sunny afternoons, it’s the perfect time to start that deep cleaning. Perhaps you’re planning to clean out your closets, organize your desk or wipe down some baseboards, but the kitchen is one of the most important spaces to deep clean.
The kitchen is the heart of the home; it’s used by all family members, and many of us spend a great deal of our time there. Having a clean and well-organized kitchen not only feels good, but it’s also easier to work in and it’s safer when it comes to the foods we eat. Below you’ll find some tips for cleaning and organizing your kitchen spaces.
Take Care of Yourself
As we settle into the new year, it is a good time to begin to incorporate self-care into your daily routine.
February is Heart Health Month
The Tevis Center for Wellness has a number of programs planned in honor of Heart Health Month! Call 410-871-7000 for more information.
The Basics of COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a disease of the lungs that makes breathing difficult. Most cases are caused by smoking. Exposure to the toxins in cigarettes cause permanent damage to the lining of the lungs. Types of COPD include emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Mental Health and the Holiday Season
The winter holiday season can be a joyous time, but it can also be a time of heightened emotional stress and triggers for challenges related to mental health, substance use and grief. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults lives with a mental health condition, and 17 million U.S. adults with mental illness were also experiencing a substance use disorder, according to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.