• Obstructive Sleep Apnea is when a person stops breathing repeatedly during sleep.
• Breathing stops because the airway collapses and prevents air from getting into the lungs.
• Sleep patterns are disrupted, resulting in excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the day.

What causes the airway to collapse during sleep?

• Extra tissue in the back of the airway such as large tonsils
• Decrease in the tone of the muscles holding the airway open
• The tongue falling back and closing off the airway

How many people have Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

• 4 in 100 middle-aged men and 2 in 100 middle aged women have Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Most OSA sufferers remain undiagnosed and untreated
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea is as common as adult asthma

What happens if Obstructive Sleep Apnea is not treated?
Possible increased risk of:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease and heart attack
• Stroke
• Fatigue-related motor vehicle and work accidents
• Decreased quality of life

What should you do if you suspect you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

• See your doctor. Evaluation by a doctor specializing in sleep disorders is recommended.
• Have a sleep study done. A sleep study can provide the doctor with information about how you sleep and breathe. This information will help the doctor to determine your diagnosis and treatment options.

What is the treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
The most common treatment is:

• CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), pronounced "see-PAP." Other less common treatments include surgery and oral appliances, which may be effective in certain individuals.
• Any treatments should include weight loss if needed, exercise, and avoidance of alcohol, sedatives, and hypnotics.

How does CPAP therapy work?
CPAP treats obstructive Sleep Apnea by providing a gentle flow of positive-pressure air through a mask to splint the airway open during sleep.

• Breathing becomes regular
• Snoring stops
• Restful sleep is restored
• Quality of life is improved
• Risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and motor vehicle and work accidents are reduced.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious, potentially life-altering and life-threatening condition that is:

• Easily identified
• Effectively treated

When to Use

Most people use their SunBox light boxes as sources of bright light during the fall and winter months. Some people use them on overcast days at any time of year, or when their schedule or surroundings do not allow much exposure to natural sunlight. SunBox's are also used by people working night shifts. Most people use light in the morning. If you use light too late in the day, it may disturb sleep.

How to Use

To use a SunBox, the light should be in front of you, and your eyes should be open. It is not necessary to look directly into the light; most people read, eat, or watch T.V. while using their SunBox. Eyeglasses or contact lenses may be worn, but heavily tinted sunglasses will reduce the amount of light received.

How Long to Use

Average use at the 10,000 lux distance is roughly 15-30 minutes per day. At 5,000 lux, that would be the equivalent of 40 minutes to 1 hour, at 2,500 lux, the light might be used for two or three hours. Actual time for a particular individual will vary. It usually takes some experimentation to find a routine that is right for you.

Congratulations on your choice to breastfeed!

You have made a smart choice to supply breastmilk to your baby.  Did you know numerous government and private industry associations today recognize and promote the importance of exclusively providing breastmilk to babies in the first twelve months of life?

Following are compelling, research-based facts about the importance of breastmilk for you and your baby:

Best for Baby:

• Research shows that breastfed infants have fewer and shorter episodes of illness.
• Breastfeeding is the most natural and nutritious way to encourage your baby’s optimal development.
• Colostrum (the first milk) is a gentle, natural laxative that helps clear baby’s intestine, decreasing the chance for jaundice to occur.
• The superior nutrition provided by breastmilk benefits your baby’s IQ.
• Breastfeeding is a gentle way for newborns to transition to the world outside the womb.
• The skin-to-skin contact encouraged by breastfeeding offers babies greater emotional security and enhances bonding.
• The activity of sucking at the breast enhances development of baby’s oral muscles, facial bones, and aids in optimal dental development.
• Breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of obesity and hypertension.
• Breastfeeding delays the onset of hereditary allergic disease, and lowers the risk of developing allergic disease.
• Breastfeeding helps the baby’s immune system mature, protecting the baby in the meantime from viral, bacteria, and parasitic infections.
• Breastfeeding increases the effectiveness of immunizations, increasing the protection against polio, tetanus, and diptheria vaccines.
• Breastfeeding protects against developing chronic diseases such as: celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and childhood cancers.
• The benefits of breastfeeding appear to last even after the baby has been weaned.

Lack of Breastfeeding Increases the Risk to the Infant of:

• Ear infections
• Childhood diabetes
• Obesity
• Gastrointestinal and diarrheal infections
• Childhood cancers
• SIDS
• Respiratory infections
• Allergies
• NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis)

Best for Mother:

• Research shows that breastfeeding benefits the health of mothers.
• Breastmilk is always fresh, perfectly clean, just the right temperature, and is the healthy choice at the least cost!
• Increased levels of oxytocin stimulate postpartum uterine contractions, minimizing blood loss and encouraging rapid uterine toning.
• From 3 months to 12 months postpartum, breastfeeding increases the rate of weight loss in most nursing mothers.
• Breastfeeding offers some protection against the early return of fertility.
• Because breastfed babies are healthier, their mothers miss less work and spend less time and money on pediatric care.
• Breastfeeding women report psychological benefits such as increased self-confidence and a stronger sense of connection with their babies.

 
Lack of Breastfeeding Increases the Risk to the Mother of:

• Urinary tract infection
• Pre-and post-menopausal breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Osteoporosis

Where are breast forms sold?

How are they worn?
Post-Mastectomy bras are made of fabrics that provide comfort, support and a secure fit. All bras include a built-in, soft pocket made from cotton tricot. This keeps the breast form securely inside the bra. The breast form can be worn inside the pocket or next to the skin; it is all a matter of preference. All bras are made in a variety of colors and sizes to accommodate your particular style or preference.

How are they fitted?
A professionally trained, certified fitter works with each woman during an individual fitting session to determine which breast form style is most suitable. There are over 500 different silicone breast forms to accommodate various body types, breast shapes, skin tones and surgeries. The fitter helps each woman choose a form that is as close to her own breast as possible, as well as explain how to care for it. Hackley Healthcare Equipment offers lingerie, swimwear and post-mastectomy bras, in addition to other specialty products.

Hackley Healthcare Equipment not only provides Post-Mastectomy services, they also provide home medical equipment such as oxygen equipment, respiratory related equipment, enteral & IV supplies, hospital beds, wheelchairs, diabetic & ostomy supplies, lift chairs, and scooters. Hackley Healthcare Equipment provides free delivery and has 24-hour emergency support.

*American Cancer Society

Every insurance coverage is different, call your insurance company and check on you coverage for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and give them this equipment procedure code E0603. Insurance companies usually require a prescription from your doctor. If you do have coverage for breast pumps turn your receipt along with your prescription into your insurance company for reimbursement. We cannot bill your insurance company for you.

Moms are searching for BPA-free products.  In addition to our Breastmilk Feeding and Storage Bottles, which have always been BPA-free, all Medela products that come into contact with breastmilk are BPA-free. 

Below are some common questions that will help you determine if a bottle is BPA-free and where you can find Medela BPA-free products. 

What is Bisphenol-A?
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics. Polycarbonate plastic is commonly used to make consumer products. This type of plastic is clear and shatter-proof.  It is commonly found in products such as water bottles, food storage containers, toys and many types of baby bottles not made by Medela.

Do Medela Breastmilk bottles or other products contain BPA?
No. Medela breastmilk bottles and all our products that come in contact with breastmilk are and always have been 100 percent BPA-Free. Medela breastmilk bottles, storage containers, feeding products and breast pump kits are made with polypropylene. All existing research maintains that polypropylene is safe. 

What about the recycling numbers?
The recycling number is associated with the type of plastic used.  Since most products are made using one of six resins, codes 1-6 describe a single specific type of plastic.  Polypropylene for example is identified by recycling code number 5, and may contain the letters “PP” underneath.  (See example of code to the right.)

Recycling code  number 7 is slightly different because it stands for “other” which can encompass other single resins or a combination of resins.  Polycarbonate, which contains BPA, carries recycling code number 7 as it is not one of the 6 as described above.  (See example of code to the right.)

The majority of Medela products that come in contact with breastmilk have a recycling code labeled with recycling code number 5.  The only components not made from polypropylene include one of our white 80 ml storage container caps and a handle on the Harmony breastpump.  These are made from PBT – a combination of safe plastics that is 100 percent BPA-free.  However, because it is a combination plastic, it also carries recycling code number 7.

As the industry leader in breastpumping and breastfeeding, Medela is committed to always doing what is best for moms and babies. Medela products that come into direct contact with breastmilk, including all breastpump kits and breastshields, all collection and storage bottles, as well as our feeding systems have always been made with BPA-free plastic.