Expressing Breast Milk

You know breast milk is best for your baby, yet sometimes you need to use a bottle. Expressing milk from your breasts and storing it in baby bottles can be difficult for many mothers. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be. Following the preparations below may aid you in this process:

1. Choose the time of the day when your breasts are at their fullest to express your milk. Morning seems to be the best time for most women. Expect to collect milk about every 3 hours for about 30 minutes each time.

2. Thoroughly wash all of your breast-pumping equipment as per the manufacturer's instructions. Make it a habit to clean the equipment immediately after each use. This helps keep the items easier to wash each time.

3. If you are new to expressing breast milk, it may help to select a quiet and comfortable place that has few distractions. You will want privacy, so, if you are at work, be sure that you have a private room that you can use.

4. Drink a full glass of liquid before beginning each time. Milk, water, soup, tea -- all of them work fine. Warmer drinks may more beneficial in stimulating your milk to let-down. Although alcoholic drinks are not indicated for use before expressing, if you need help relaxing they may be an option for you. If this is the case, then be sure to consult your doctor.

5. Meditation or a relaxation technique of your choice can help relax your body. It is helpful if you do it immediately before extracting the milk. Even watching TV or listening to calming music is helpful.

6. If you are having trouble stimulating a let-down, then you may want to view something that puts you in mind of your of your baby. Look at a photo of your little baby, have your baby in the room with you, etc.

7. Some women have difficulty in getting pumping results. If this is the case for you, ask your doctor about an nasal spray containing oxytocin. This spray helps to induce a let-down.

Expressing your breastmilk does not have to be an ordeal. Just follow these simple steps. If you still have trouble expressing breastmilk after you've given these a try, consult your physician or a trained breastfeeding consultant.

Robert Miller contributes articles to several popular web sites, on wellness and health and health tips themes.

Bra Fitting Tips

The perfect bra does not only make you feel good on the inside, but also look great on the outside. What type of top your wearing doesn’t matter. Having the right bra that fits, and looks good underneath is what is important.

Sweaters and BrasIt is easy to lose your figure when you wear large sweaters. To create a distinguished bustline (your bra under your sweater look), when wearing loose or bulky sweaters, look for a bra style that lifts and projects rather than a look that flattens around your breasts.

Wearing a knits will tend to be more clingy and show every seam, line or wrinkle of your undergarment or bra. Seamless bras are a great option because they do not reveal any lines or seams when wearing knits. These bras are a wonderful innovation.

Low Cut Tops and BrasWhen wearing that low-cut/plunging necklines, you want to get a little extra lift and cleavage from your bra, while at the same time making sure your bra doesn’t show. One way to achieve this look is to select a demi-cup bra style. To get that little extra cleavage, you could try one of the original pushups bras.

Tight Tops and BrasMany lingerie fashions are now tending toward body clinging fabrics like microfiber, spandex and lycra. The answer for this lingerie fashion would be lined seamless bras to padded seamless bras. Both lined and padded seamless bras allow a round smooth look, which is perfect when wearing these tighter hugging fabrics.

Backless TopIt doesn’t matter if your wearing a formal backless gown or a casual open back top. To find a bra that doesn’t show while offering support can be a challenge. There are two options for going backless; you can either wear a longline strapless-backless bra or a convertible backless bra. This will depend whther you can wear shoulder straps. One more possibility would be an adhesive bra that has underwire support.

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List of Breast Enlargement Food, & Breast Enhancement Soup Recipe

Although there isn't proven studies relating consumption of certain kind of food and breast growth except though overall weight gain, there are certain food which are believe to help promote breast enlargement.

Such food includes, tomatos, green pepper, papaya (green unripe papaya gives the best results, must be cooked before consumption, papaya, red carrots, potatoes, celery, pumkin.

Protein laden food such as fresh milk, fish, soy product, nuts and seafood also help in breast enlarging. Some food mentioned above aids production of estrogen hormones. This hormone is known for building the body curves that create a woman's hour glass shape and activating and overseeing the female organ system that produces offspring.Soy is a good source of phytoestrogens, estrogen-like compounds from plants. Phytoestrogens are not estrogen; in some ways and in some tissues of the body, they act like estrogen.

The best time to increase the intake of the above mentioned food is from day 10 to day 14 and also from day 18 to day 24. From day 10 to day 14, our body produces 8 to 10 times more estrogen then normal, and from day 18 to 24, another surge in production of estrogen occurs, but in lesser amount, about 4 to 6 times more.

However, You should not take any form of estrogen if you are pregnant or have or have had breast or ovarian cancer, abnormal uterine bleeding of an unknown cause (until the cause has been determined), a very high triglyceride level (in this case, some women can take ERT via a patch) , or active liver disease.

A Sample of Breast Enlargement Soup Recipes:

Herbal Pork Tendon Soup Huang qi which aids tissue regeneration and improve liver functions. Combine with pork tendon gives good results for breast growth. It can be found in medical stores in Chinatown.

For exact proportion of ingredients, get advice from chinese physician or pharmist behind counter.

Ingredients includes Pork Tendons, and Huang Qi (Astragalus root).

Instructions: 1. Clean and blanch tendons then boil for 30 min. 2. Add in huang qi. Boil under medium heat till tendon turns transparent and soft. 3. Add salt and pepper to season

The above information is contributed by Ms Yvonne Lee, author of the internationally acclaimed book "To All Women Who Want To Enhance Their Breasts Naturally, But Don't Know How To Start". It describes and details the most important breast enhancement techniques from every corner of the world. Author Yvonne Lee, provides an unbiased pro-and-con analysis of each technique, in addition to practical information such as how and where to get it, cost, and potential impact on insurance coverage. The ebook version of the book is now available at: www.breastenhancementbook.com

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Victoria's Secret, A Brief History

Victoria's Secret is the leading specialty retailer of lingerie operating more than 1,000 stores across the United States.
Victoria's Secret has helped, perhaps more than any other brand, attract attention to the lingerie industry. Their advertising campaigns, including the Victoria's Secret Catalog and Victoria's Secret Fashion Show are visually appealling and controversial. The attention received by Victoria's Secret for their aggressive advertising campaigns has generated priceless word-of-mouth and media bytes to further enhance the Victoria's Secret brand.
Victoria's Secret sales in 2003 were a reported $2,822 million across 1,009 stores. Selling square feet were 4,735,000, equivalent to an average sales per square foot of approximately $600, up almost 3% from prior year. Overall, same store sales were up almost 4% from prior year.


A Brief History of Victoria's SecretVictoria's Secret was established in San Francisco during the early 1970's by Roy Raymond. The concept was to establish a cozy, inviting atmosphere similar to that of a victorian boudouir.

Roy's Victoria's Secret, consisting of three stores and a catalog business, was acquired by Limited Brands, among some controversy, in 1982. Many incorrectly believe that Victoria's Secret was of British heritage. An image which some say was perpetuated by its parent company.

Today, Victoria's Secret lingerie is the top performer for the congolomerate. Victoria's Secret, under Limited Brands, has a history of being sexy, youthful and romantic. Men and women have come to recognize Victoria's Secret as the place to buy a lingerie gift.

Victoria's Secret collections include:
Angels by Victoria Secret Body by Victoria Glamour by Victoria's Secret The Miracle Bra Victoria's Secret Pink Such a Flirt Signature Cotton, Very Sexy Second Skin Satin
Victoria's Secret operates three distinct units, or vehicles to reach its market:
Victoria's Secret Stores Victoria's Secret Catalog Victoria's Secret Beauty Products
Together, these three vehicles to market combined with Victoria's Secret aggressive marketing has made Victoria Secret the best known lingerie brand and brought greater attention to the lingerie industry.


Much of Victoria Secret's success is attributed to Grace Nichols. Nichols joined Victoria's Secret in 1986 as vice president, general merchandise manager. In 1988 she was promoted to executive vice president. In 1991, Ms. Nichols was named President and CEO of Victoria's Secret. Under Nichol's leadership, Victoria's Secret has become one of the top 10 recognized brands in the world and the leading specialty retailer of lingerie.


Victoria's Secret TodayVictoria's Secret's phenomenal success has brought much revenue growth and controversy. Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows, Victoria Secret Catalogs and Victoria Secret models have become more revealing, more voluptous and more controversial.


Victoria's Secret announced last month that it is dropping its nationally televised fashion show this year, at least partly because of criticism following Janet Jackson's breast-baring faux pas at the Super Bowl. The televised fashion show has generated criticism in the past from groups complaining about supermodels strutting down the runway in skimpy underwear. Recent confusion surrounds the inclusion of Bob Dylan in Victoria's Secret ads.

Breast-Cancer Survival Predicted By Protein-Based Tumor Biomarker10 Dec 2006

The first and largest clinical trial of its kind confirms that a protein called p27 may be a valuable tool for predicting survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer. The findings, by lead author Peggy Porter, M.D., of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in collaboration with colleagues from nine other institutions, appear in the Dec. 6 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. More than a decade ago, Porter and colleagues at the Hutchinson Center identified p27, a protein that prevents cells from dividing. Since then, several population-based and clinical studies at the Hutchinson Center and elsewhere have indicated that abnormally low levels of this protein in tumor cells are associated with poor prognosis for breast and other cancers. This link suggests that p27 may be a useful clinical biomarker, or predictor, of breast-cancer survival. However, such attempts to determine the prognostic value of p27 have been limited by the fact that the women studied have not received uniform treatment, so it has been unclear whether certain treatments may impact the strength of p27 as a predictor of outcome. Now, for the first time, researchers have confirmed the link between low p27 expression and decreased breast-cancer survival in a large randomized, controlled clinical trial of two standard chemotherapy drugs. "Being able to look at the impact of p27 on breast-cancer outcome in a clinical setting in which all the women were treated similarly allows us to tease out the relationship between the expression of this protein and breast-cancer mortality. Until now, we haven't been able to look at this," said Porter, a member of the Hutchinson Center's Human Biology and Public Health Sciences divisions.

The researchers found that low p27 expression is associated with poor breast-cancer prognosis, particularly among women with hormone-receptor-positive tumors, which depend on the hormones estrogen and progesterone to grow. Specifically, they found the five-year survival was 91 percent in women whose tumors had high p27 expression, as compared to a survival rate of 85 percent in women whose tumors exhibited low p27 expression. The researchers found no association between p27 expression and decreased survival among women with hormone-receptor-negative tumors.

The multicenter study involved more than 3,000 women nationwide (median age 47) with newly diagnosed moderate-risk, primary breast cancer who underwent treatment with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. The trial was designed to assess the effectiveness of giving the drugs together (concurrently) or one after the other (sequentially). The study was conducted through the Southwest Oncology Group, one of the largest cancer clinical trials cooperative research efforts in the United States. Tissue samples for the study were provided by several SWOG clinical-trial groups (the Eastern Cooperative Group, North Central Cancer Treatment Group, and Cancer and Leukemia Group B). "The collaboration among these groups enabled us to gather enough data to produce statistically significant results," said Porter, whose Hutchinson Center team analyzed more than 2,000 breast-tumor samples for p27 expression. The specimens were analyzed via tissue microarray, a relatively new technique that mimics high-throughput methods originally developed for large-scale genetic analysis.

Using this method, many tumor samples can be analyzed for protein expression at once. While the findings suggest that p27 may be a useful clinical tool for predicting breast-cancer mortality, more work needs to be done before it sees widespread use, Porter said. "I think p27 has clinical potential, but we still need to define which patient populations are going to benefit most. Right now it looks like it may be most useful for predicting outcome and tailoring treatment in women whose tumors are hormone-receptor positive," Porter said. ### The National Cancer Institute, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Expedition Inspiration Fund for Breast Cancer

Research funded the research. At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers, including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for health, knowledge and hope to their work and to the world.

For more information, please visit fhcrc.org. Contact: Kristen Lidke Woodward Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Are You Wearing Your Bra The Right Way? Be Surprised

Wearing your bra the right way is very important. The following technique may sound confusing and complicated, but it isn't as it is simply a break down of the steps. After a few tries, the process will eventually become a habit when you wear your bra.

Step 1: You start by slipping your hands through the shoulder straps

Step 2: While holding the under-bust bands of your bra, lean your upper body forward and bend downwards allowing your breasts to fall into the cups of the bra.

Step 3: Return to normal standing position and fasten the hooks of the under-bust band.

Step 4: Now, adjust the shoulder straps to comfortable length, so that they do not cut into the flesh or keep falling off.

Step 5: The next step is what I call the 'scooping' action. With one hand holding the side of the bra, insert the other hand in between the breast and the bra cup and gently pull the excess flesh from the underarm area into the breast cup.

Step 6: Repeat for the other side.

Step 7: Make sure the breasts fit snugly into the bra cups. Adjust bra to ensure that the nipples are in the centre seams of the bra cups.

Step 8: Stand up straight to see if the front under bust band and the back band is at the same level. Lift your arms up and a well-fitted bra should not move up.

When you wear the right bra, you should feel comfortable. An ill-fitting bra can cause

1. red imprints on your skin,

2. ride up the back,

3. dig into the back, result in flesh bulging from the sides and back and

4. also cause pain.

A cup size that is too small can pinch and be uncomfortable. Well-endowed women should wear bras with full cups and the breasts should not be "overflowing" from their bra cups.

Sore Nipples - Weaning Baby Off The Milk Nipple Tipple

Sore nipples are a condition that is the cause behind discomfort and stress for most women and especially more so for the mother who has a baby that enjoys a tipple from mummy's nipple. Babies love their mums to nestle - and not wrestle with them at feeding times.In the early days of breastfeeding sore nipples is sometimes unavoidable. What you need to remember at this stage is the difference between the meaning of sore and painful. Pain at feed times could be a sign that you need to make changes so that feeding sessions is more comfortable for both you and your new born baby.Babies have an unbelievable strong suction - which therefore can result in the nipple area becoming tender. When baby comes in contact with the nipple it stretches the breast tissue.

Experience from this may feel like a pulling sensation which evidently points to why the discomfort. When the infant sucks and the milk begins to flow, breastfeeding becomes more bearable i.e. easing the sore nipples. You may notice after time (2-4 days) breast soreness will ease. If the baby is not positioned right during his or her feed then this can be the cause of the discomfort. Help and advice is available for those unsure as what is the correct way for breastfeeding.Pain felt at feed time that persists longer than seven days or more can indicate another problem other than what would be expected from the way the infant is latching-on or sucking.

Do not ignore this condition because nipple soreness can worsen where the nipple develops painful cracks. Breastfeeding is an experience you should look forward to - not one you dread.Do not suffer in silence talk to your midwife or doctor about your concerns. Thinking about weaning your baby off the breast, if so, then it is good idea to test baby formulas to see which one your baby is satisfied and content with. If you are counting the pennies why not collect free baby samples of baby formula from the free baby products being offered online. Find out what baby freebies are up for grabs below.Success in breast feeding results in more content babies. Sore nipples do not normally have to relate to breastfeeding. Persisting symptoms that continue to go beyond the early weeks or develop after months of pain-free breastfeeding can be the result of something other than that of the baby not positioned comfortably.

Another known cause for sore breast nipples is the Candida infection. A good way to help prevent sore nipples is to pay more attention to how your new born baby takes to the breast. Babies can develop poor nursing habits if this matter is not corrected. When you nestle (position) you're baby onto the nipple - double check on how the infant is latching on. If this is correctly done then you will feel the sucking pressure of his or her tongue/gums is on the areola (the pigmented area around the nipple), rather than on the sensitive nipple itself. There is also a possibility that your baby is not getting enough breast tissue into his or her mouth if not comfortable. Certain signs that show the nipples are not far enough back in the baby's mouth during sucking is that of a horizontal red stripe across the tip of the nipple or a temporary indentation at the base.

Babies are too young to let you know if their bellies are filled. What you do not want is the baby's gums chomping at the base of the nipple instead of on the areola over the milk sinuses because they may have difficulty in getting enough milk. Try feeding baby on the side that is least tender. If you need to release the breast that is painful then switch the infant over to that nipple after you have had a milk-ejection reflex. Women say the pain eases after the milk is flowing. Sore nipples do not last forever. Remember by varying the positions from one feeding to the next - changes the distribution of pressure on the areola and nipple during sucking - therefore leaving you bonding with a well fed content baby.

Breast Cancer Causes

Many women who develop breast cancer have no risk factors other than age and sex.
Gender is the biggest risk because breast cancer occurs mostly in women.
Age is another critical factor. Breast cancer may occur at any age, though the risk of breast cancer increases with age. The average woman at age 30 years has 1 chance in 280 of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years. This chance increases to 1 in 70 for a woman aged 40 years, and to 1 in 40 at age 50 years. A 60-year-old woman has a 1 in 30 chance of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years.


White women are at the highest risk for breast cancer in the U.S. In descending order of risk, women affected are African American, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American. Genetic causes
Family history has long been known to be a risk factor for breast cancer. Both maternal and paternal relatives are important. The risk is highest if the affected relative developed breast cancer at a young age, had cancer in both breasts, or if she is a close relative. First-degree relatives (mother, sister, daughter) are most important in estimating risk. Several second-degree relatives (grandmother, aunt) with breast cancer may also increase risk. Breast cancer in a male increases the risk for all his close female relatives.


There is great interest in genes linked to breast cancer.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are abnormal genes that, when inherited, markedly increase the risk of breast cancer to a lifetime risk estimated between 40 and 85%. Women with these abnormal genes also have an increased likelihood of developing ovarian cancer. Women who have the BRCA1 gene tend to develop breast cancer at an early age.


Testing for these genes is expensive and may not be covered by insurance.
The issues around testing are complicated, and women who are interested in testing should discuss this with their health-care providers. Hormonal causes
Hormonal influences play a role in the development of breast cancer.


Women who start their periods at an early age (11 or younger) or experience a late menopause (55 or older) have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Conversely, being older at the time of their first menstrual period and early menopause tend to protect one from breast cancer.
Having a child before age 30 may provide some protection, and having no children may increase the risk for developing breast cancer.


Oral contraceptives have not been shown to increase or decrease a woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer.


A large study conducted by the Women's Health Initiative showed an increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who were on a combination of estrogen and progesterone for several years. Therefore, women who are considering hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms need to discuss the risk versus the benefit with their health-care providers. Dietary causes


Breast cancer seems to occur more frequently in countries with high dietary intake of fat.
This link is thought to be an environmental influence rather than genetic. For example, Japanese women, at low risk for breast cancer while in Japan, increase their risk of developing breast cancer after coming to the United States.


Several studies comparing groups of women with high- and low-fat diets, however, have failed to show a difference in breast cancer rates. Benign breast disease
Fibrocystic breast changes are very common. Fibrocystic breasts are lumpy with some thickened tissue and are frequently associated with breast discomfort, especially right before the menstrual period. This condition does not lead to breast cancer.


However, certain types of benign breast changes, such as those diagnosed on biopsy as proliferative or hyperplastic, do predispose women to the later development of breast cancer.

Environmental causes
Radiation treatment seems to increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer but only after a long delay. For example, women who received radiation therapy to the upper body for treatment of Hodgkin disease before age 30 have a significantly higher rate of breast cancer than the general population.