Breastfeeding: Best for baby, best for you
Breastfeeding is a challenge encountered by all mothers. They have many anxieties, which is understandable. Breastfeeding has numerous advantages, including:
o Ample opportunity for mother and baby to bond,
o It is always available, sterile and always at the correct temperature.
o It is easy to digest, and provides wholesome nutrition, because it has a perfect balance of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals
o It is 100 per cent bio available. This means that it is all digested and absorbed into the baby’s body,
o It provides the baby with much needed immunity in the initial days, and protects the baby against allergies.
o Breastfed babies have fewer nappy rashes, and their stools are softer and less offensive,
o It helps burn off fat laid down in a mothers’ body during pregnancy.
o It acts as a means of contraception, as the hormones responsible for ovulation are inhibited. It only works however if the feeding 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.
Management of breastfeeding
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. Some infants are too sleepy to do well on a demand regime, and require to be woken up, especially at night.
Other indicators of adequate nutrition are:
o 8-10 visibly wet nappies in 24 hours. Diapers in this case can be deceiving.
o 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,
o Steady weight gain.
Breast engorgement rapidly reduces milk supply and is caused by:
o Long intervals between feeds,
o Improper feeding technique,
o A non-demanding infant.
o Sore nipples, cracked nipples or infected breasts,
o Maternal or infant illness,
o Nursing from only one breast.
Breast engorgement can be relieved by expressing the milk manually or by pump. This stimulates more production and eases the discomfort. Rigid timings should not be imposed when 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’, and will ensure that you are able to feed the baby on demand.
Discourage the well-meaning nursery staff from feeding your baby, even at night. A baby can digest a full feed of breast milk in about one and a half to two hours. This is half the time taken to digest a full feed of infant formula. Breastfeeding on demand therefore entails frequent feeds, but this 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 he drinks first is called the foremilk. It is thin, watery and thirst quenching. 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 breastfeeding. There are no special foods for breastfeeding mothers, but the diet should be balanced, and should include 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 breastfeeding is hazardous to the baby. Explaining your medical condition to your doctor in detail will facilitate the right advice.
END: BL24/17