Booby time – perfect guideline

BabyLove’s last issue had it that breastfeeding is very important. It helps in mother—baby bonding, it is always available, sterile and always at the correct temperature. It is easy to digest, provides wholesome nutrition, provides the baby with much needed immunity, keeps allergies at bay allergies and helps mum to lose weight among others.

This time we learn that breast fed babies have fewer nappy rashes, and their stools are softer and less offensive, and acts as a means of contraception—as it inhibits the hormones responsible for ovulation.

All the above only work when breastfeeding is exclusive. Exclusive breastfeeding is a full time job. Adequate preparation must be made to ensure all goes well. Some mothers have no problems getting started, whereas others have it quite rough. The advice below will encourage you to hang in there.

Feeding patterns

The newborn is generally fed on demand every 2-3 hours, with longer intervals at night. Thus as a rule of thumb, a new born baby nurses at least 8-10 times a day, and this stimulates a generous milk supply.

Other indicators of adequate nutrition are:

» 8-10 visibly wet nappies in 24 hours.
Diapers in this case can be deceiving.

» Frequent stools in the early weeks, often after every feed. Failure indicates poor intake and supply of breast milk. These decrease gradually by 4-6 weeks.

» Steady weight gain.

The hind milk is rich in fat and protein and so your baby gets all the nutritional needs in one feed. As well as regular feeding, therefore, wait until the baby empties the first breast at each feed before switching to the other breast.

Maternal nutrition is important for successful breast-feeding.
There are no special foods for breast-feeding mothers, but the diet should be balanced and rich in fresh fruit and vegetables. Intake of nutritious fluids is also vital. Taking care of an infant can be exhausting, so you should try and sleep when your baby is sleeping, and rest as much as possible.

When not to breastfeed

There are certain circumstances when breast-feeding is hazardous to the baby.

Babies with metabolic conditions like galactosemia—the body’s inability to properly metabolize the sugar galactose found in milk.

Babies with cleft palates as they may find it difficult to latch well on the breast.

Babies who only have a cleft lip can breast feed well. So in this case of a cleft palate, expressing milk and feeding under a lot of supervision is the thing to do.

Mothers using illicit drugs should not breastfeed. These can harm the baby’s brain.

Mothers on certain medications will be asked to desist from breastfeeding.

This may affect the child’s brain too.

Depending on the type of surgery performed, mothers who have had previous breast surgery may have problems

with milk production. If the milk is insufficient or none, formula can be considered.

Mothers with infectious tuberculosis (sputum positive) should not be close to their babies. They may express the milk and give someone else to feed their babies.

With babies getting the Hepatitis B vaccine, women who have Hepatitis B can breastfeed. Otherwise, it is safer for the mother with Hepatitis B not to breastfeed.

HIV positive mothers are advised against breastfeeding because it increases the risk of transmitting HIV to the infant. However, there are new medications that allow for that. Follow the doctor’s advice regarding breastfeeding.

Discuss all the mentioned cases at length with the doctor.
If the decision not to breastfeed is reached, breast milk can be replaced by good quality instant formula milk and other nutritious products in the market.

Guidelines

Rigid timings should not be set for feeding. As a general guideline, five minutes per breast per feed on the first day, 10 minutes on the second day and 15 minutes thereafter can be tried.

Early initiation of breastfeeding is important. The baby should be put to the breast as soon as possible.

In the hospital, request that the baby is close to you at all times. This is called ‘rooming in’. This will help ensure that you are able to feed the baby on demand.

Discourage the well-meaning nursery staff from feeding your baby, even at night. Doing it yourself will help master the baby’s feeding pattern.

Frequent breastfeeding does not deplete your milk resources. On the contrary, more milk is produced. Frequent feeding is therefore the most important factor in maintaining milk supply. When the baby starts feeding, the milk she drinks first is called the foremilk. It is thin watery and thirst.

END:BL30/14-15