Breastfeeding
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Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and wonderful
things you can do for your baby and for you. It offers alot of health benefits
for both of you and tailor made to suit YOUR baby’s needs. However, it’s not
easy, it come with a fair few pitfalls and hardships along the way and sometime
you may want to just give up. BUT there is hope, there is a light at the end of
tunnel and the first couple of weeks are the hardest. There is very little in
breastfeeding that cannot be overcome, if you want to.
Some health benefits (for baby):-
- Children receive the most
complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies
- The varying composition of
breastmilk keeps pace with the infant's individual growth and changing
nutritional needs
- Protection against
gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis
- Reduced risk of chronic
constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets
- Protection against ear
infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicaemia
(blood poisoning),
- Protection against allergies,
asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic disease
- Reduced risks of SIDS (sudden
infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS,
only 3 are breastfed.
- Protection against meningitis,
botulism, childhood lymphoma, Cohn’s disease and ulcerative entercolits
- Decreased risk of tooth decay
(cavities)
- Nursing promotes facial
structure development, enhanced speech, straighter teeth and enhances
vision.
- Breastfed infants develop higher IQ's,
and have improved brain and nervous system development; IQ advantage of 10-12
points studied at ages 8, 12, and 18. (Breastfeeding is considered the
4th trimester in brain growth and development...there are specific proteins in
human milk that promote brain development)
- The colostrum (first milk) coats
the GI tract, preventing harmful bacteria and allergy -triggering protein
molecules from crossing into baby's blood
- There are factors in human milk
that destroy E-coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus.... and
many others
- Less risk of childhood obesity
For Mum
- Reduced
risk of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers
- Reduced
risk of anaemia
- Protection
against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life
- Reduced
risk of mortality for women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated
with total time of lactation
- Helps
the mother's body return to its pre-pregnancy state faster - promotes weight
loss...1/2 of calories needed to manufacture milk is pulled from fat stores...
can burn from 500 - 1,500 calories per day.
- Helps
delay return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies
- Develops
a special emotional relationship and bonding with her child
- Breastmilk
is free- reducing or eliminating the cost of formula (in the thousands of
pounds per year)
- Helps
the uterus contract after birth to control postpartum bleeding
Frequently
asked questions
Q1)
How can I tell if my baby is latched on correctly?
A)This
is often the No. 1 reason that new mothers have a hard time with breastfeeding
— their babies aren't latched on to their breasts properly, which can be
frustrating for the babies and downright painful for their mothers.
Here's
how you can make sure your little one is latched on correctly every time:
Make
sure your baby's mouth is opened
wide and his or her tongue is down when latching on. Support your breast with
your hand, positioning your thumb on top and your fingers at the bottom,
keeping your thumb and fingers back far enough so that your baby has enough of
the nipple and areola (the circle of skin around the nipple) to latch onto.
Gently glide your nipple from the middle of your baby's bottom lip down to his
or her chin to help prompt your baby to open his or her mouth. When your baby
opens his or her mouth wide and the tongue comes down, quickly bring your baby
to your breast (not your breast to your baby). Your baby should take as much of
your areola into his or her mouth as possible. Make sure your baby's nose is
almost touching your breast (not pressed against it), his or her lips are
turned out (or flanged), and you see and hear your baby swallowing. (You should
be able to tell by seeing movement along your baby's lower jaw and even in your
baby's ear and temple.)Have a nursing session observed by someone knowledgeable
about breastfeeding.
When
properly latched on, you may have 30 to 60 seconds of latch-on pain (this is
caused by the nipple and areola being pulled into your baby's mouth) then the
pain should subside. It will then feel like a tug when your baby is sucking. If
you continue to feel pain, stop feeding momentarily and reposition your baby on
your breast. If you still feel pain during feeds even after repositioning, talk
to your doctor or lactation consultant to make sure something else isn't going
on, such as an infection.
Your
baby will often give four to five sucks, followed by a 5- to 10-second pause.
Your baby's sucks will increase in number as the quantity of your milk
increases. As the milk flow slows, your baby's pattern will probably change to
three or four sucks and pauses that last longer than 10 seconds.
Most
babies will release the breast on their own. If your baby doesn't release your
breast but the sucks now seem limited to the front of his or her mouth, you can
slip your finger in the side of your baby's mouth (between the gums) and then
turn your finger a quarter turn to break the suction. Then, try to burp your
baby and switch him or her to the other breast.
Q2)
When will my milk come in?
A)
During the first few days after the birth of your baby, your body will produce
colostrum, a sort of "pre-milk" or "practice milk." For
some women, colostrum is thick and yellowish. For others it is thin and watery.
Colostrum
contains many protective properties, including antibacterial and
immune-system-boosting substances that are so important to your baby and a
ren't
found in infant formula. The flow of colostrum is very slow, which allows your
baby to learn how to nurse and also how to coordinate sucking, breathing, and
swallowing.
After
about 3 to 4 days of nursing, your breasts will start to feel less soft and
more firm as your milk changes from colostrum to milk that looks kind of like
skimed milk. Your milk will be transitional for the first 10 to 14 days, after
which it's considered to be mature milk.
During
this time, the amount of milk your body produces will increase, responding to
your baby's nursing. Your milk supply is determined by the stimulation your
body receives. In other words, the more you breastfeed, the more milk your body
produces.
Mothers
who deliver by Caesarean section (C-section) may find it takes longer for their
milk supply to increase. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, a mother's milk may
take longer than a few days to come in. This is perfectly normal and is usually
no cause for concern, but make sure to let your doctor know. While babies don't
need much more than some colostrum for the first couple days, the doctor may
need to make sure the baby is getting enough to eat. It can help to breastfeed
more frequently, putting the baby to the breast every 2 to 3 hours.
If
your milk still hasn't come in within 72 hours after the birth of your baby,
you should talk to your doctor.
Don't
be alarmed if your baby drops a little weight at first. Babies should not lose
more than 7% of their birth weight, stop losing by the fourth day, begin
gaining by the fifth day, and be back to birth weight by no later than the
fourteenth day
Q3)
Does breastfeeding hurt?
A) The
first 2 weeks are the hardest. Getting the position correct and training your
nipples can be painful. You can sometimes crack and bleed. A good cream or gel
can really help. Personally recommend Lansinoh. If you can make it through your
first couple of weeks then you are golden and you will start to really enjoy it.
If your baby is latched on properly, you may have 30 to 60 seconds of pain
(from the nipple and areola being pulled into your baby's mouth), then the pain
should subside. But if you continue to feel pain, stop feeding momentarily and
reposition your baby on your breast. If the pain persists, something else might
be going on.
If
your baby consistently latches on wrong, sucking on your nipple without getting
much of your areola in the mouth, you'll probably feel discomfort throughout
each feeding. Some moms say it's painful or feels like a pinch as their babies
nurse. And you'll probably have sore, cracked nipples in no time.
Consulting
with a board-certified lactation consultant can help with these situations.
Q4)
How do I store breast milk?
A) You
can freeze and/or refrigerate your pumped (or expressed) breast milk. You
should store it in clean bottles with screw caps, hard plastic cups that have
tight caps, or nursing bags (pre-sterilized bags meant for breast milk). It's
helpful to put a label on each with your baby's name and the date indicating
when the milk was pumped. You can add fresh cooled m
ilk to
milk that is already frozen, but add no more than is already in the container.
For example, if you have 2 ounces of frozen milk, then you can add up to 2 more
ounces of cooled milk.
For
healthy full-term infants:
- You
can store it at room temperature:
- for 4
to 10 hours (at no warmer than 77°F, or 25°C)You can store it in the
refrigerator:
- for up
to 8 days at 32°-39°F (0°-3.9°C)You can store it in the freezer (be sure to
leave about an inch of space at the top of the container or bottle to allow for
expansion of the milk when it freezes):
- for up
to 2 weeks in a freezer compartment located inside the refrigerator
- for 6
to 12 months in a freezer that's self-contained and connected on top of or on
the side of the refrigerator and is kept at 0°F (-18°C). Store the milk in the
back of the freezer, not in the door) or in a deep freezer that's always 4°F
(-20°C)
To
thaw frozen milk, you can move it to the refrigerator (it takes 24 hours to
thaw), then warm by running warm water over the bag or bottle of milk and use
it within the next 24 hours. If you need it immediately, then remove it from the
freezer and run warm water over it until it's at room temperature. Do not
refreeze it.
Once
your baby has started to drink from the bottle, you should use it within 1
hour. If the baby doesn't finish the bottle, you can put it back in the
refrigerator, then warm it and use it at the next feeding.
You
may find that different resources provide different variations on the amount of
time you can store breast milk at room temperature, in the refrigerator, and in
the freezer. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or questions.
Q5)
How can I increase my milk supply?
A)
Your milk supply is determined by the stimulation that your baby provides while
nursing. In other words, the more you breastfeed, the more milk your body
produces. So, if you seem to be producing less milk than usual, you should try
to feed your baby more often. You also can pump after nursing to help stimulate
more milk production.
Stress,
illness, and some medications can temporarily decrease your supply.
Drinking water to satisfy your thirst and eating good, nutritious food can
help. But also try to take some time for yourself each day, even if it's only
for 15-30 minutes.
If
your baby is less than 6 months old and you're away from your little one for
long stretches during the day (for instance, at work), you should pump or hand
express every 3 hours to maintain your supply. Your freshly pumped breast milk
can stay at room temperature for 6-10 hours, or in the refrigerator for up to 8
days. When keeping it in the refrigerator, never store it on the shelves in the
door as this is the warmest part, store it at the back.
If
your milk supply still seems low and you're concerned, you may want to talk to
your doctor, your pediatrician, or a lactation consultant.
It can
be frustrating but try to nurse as often as possible to up your supply. Also
try simple things like rest, a mars bar and a mily cup of tea. all seem to work
wonders for a quick boost
If I
wait to nurse, will my milk supply increase?
Actually,
no — it's the opposite. Waiting too long to nurse or pump can slowly reduce
your milk supply. The more you delay nursing or pumping, the less milk your
body will produce because the overfilled breast sends the signal that you must
need less milk.
Once
babies are back to their birth weight, they can sleep for longer stretches at
night and will gradually lengthen the time between nighttime feedings. Letting
your baby sleep for longer periods during the night won't hurt your
breastfeeding efforts. Your baby is able to take more during feedings and that,
in turn, will have him or her sleeping longer between nighttime feedings. Your
body will adjust to the longer spacing.
Some
moms wake during the night with full breasts and a sleeping baby. If that
happens to you, pump for comfort and to help your body adjust to your little
one's new schedule at night.
The
interval for daytime feedings usually stays between 1 and 3 hours for the first
few months and then may lengthen to 4 hours or so. Cutting back on feedings
during the day can lead to a decreased milk supply over time.
If you
follow your baby's cues and spread out the feedings as he or she wishes, your
milk supply should remain at what your baby needs.
Mastitis
and Blocked ducts :-
Mastitis
needs to be differentiated from a plugged or blocked duct, because a plugged or
blocked duct does not need treatment with antibiotics, whereas mastitis often,
but not always, requires treatment with antibiotics. A blocked duct presents as
a painful, swollen, firm mass in the breast. The skin overlying the blocked
duct is often quite red, similar to what happens
during mastitis, but less intense. Mastitis is usually also associated with
fever and more intense pain as well. However, it is not always easy to
distinguish between a mild mastitis and a severe blocked duct. Both are
associated with a painful lump in the breast. Without a lump in the breast, one
cannot make a diagnosis of mastitis or a blocked duct. A blocked duct can,
apparently, go on to become mastitis.
As
with almost all breastfeeding problems, a poor latch, and thus, poor draining
of the breast sets up the situation where mastitis is more likely to
occur.Blocked ducts
Blocked
ducts will almost always resolve spontaneously within 24 to 48 hours after
onset, even without any treatment at all. During the time the block is present,
the baby may be fussy when nursing on that side, as milk flow may be slower
than usual, probably due to pressure causing collapse of other ducts. Blocked
ducts can be made to resolve more quickly by:
Continuing
breastfeeding on the affected side. Draining the affected area better.
Remember:
Continue
breastfeeding, unless it is just too painful to do so. If you cannot, at least
express your milk as best you can in the meantime. Restart breastfeeding as
soon as you are up to it, the sooner the better. Continuing breastfeeding helps
mastitis to resolve more quickly. There is no danger for the baby.
Heat
(hot water bottle or heating pad) applied to the affected area helps healing.
Rest helps fight off infection.
Fever
helps fight off infection. Treat fever if it makes you feel terrible, not just
because it is there.
A lump which isn't going away: If you
have a lump that is not going away or getting smaller over more than a couple
of weeks, you should be seen by a breastfeeding friendly physician or surgeon.
You don't have to stop breastfeeding to get a breast lump investigated
(Ultrasound, mammogram, and even biopsy do not require you to stop
breastfeeding even on the affected side). A breastfeeding friendly surgeon will
not tell you that you must stop breastfeeding before s/he can do tests for a
breast lump.
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