With Rebecca Buffum Taylor and Katie
Cameron
There was a time when exclusive breastfeeding
was thought to benefit only the baby what with all the rich natural nutrients
that breast milk is endowed with. But studies have since shown that exclusive
breastfeeding, especially for the first six months, has a lot of benefits for
the mother as well. Many medical experts, including the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
strongly recommend breastfeeding exclusively
(no formula, juice, or water) for the first 6 months. After the introduction of
other foods, it recommends continuing to breastfeed through the baby’s first
year of life.
Benefits Of Breastfeeding For The Mother
The physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact all help your baby
bond with you and feel secure.
Breastfeeding burns extra calories, so it can
help you lose pregnancy weight faster
and regain
your normal figure. It releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps your
uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size
and may reduce uterine bleeding after birth. There are continued
benefits from breastfeeding beyond 1 year, and up to 2 years, especially in
the parent. Breastfeeding also lowers your risk of breast and ovarian cancer. It may lower your risk
of osteoporosis, too.
As you don't have to buy and measure formula,
sterilize nipples, or warm bottles, it saves you time and money. It also gives
you regular time to relax quietly with your newborn as you bond.
Benefits Of Breastfeeding For The Baby
Breast milk provides the
ideal nutrition for
infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat - everything your baby needs to grow.
And it's all provided in a form that's more easily digested than infant formula. Breast milk contains antibodies
that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers your
baby's risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are
breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have
fewer ear infections,
respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the
doctor.
Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ
scores in later childhood in some studies. Breastfed infants are more likely to
gain the right amount of weight as
they grow, rather than becoming overweight
in childhood. The AAP says breastfeeding also plays a role in the
prevention of sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS).
How Often Should You Breastfeed Your Baby?
How often you should breastfeed your baby
depends on whether your baby prefers small, frequent meals or longer feedings.
This will change as your baby grows. Newborns often want to feed every 2-3
hours. By 2 months, feeding every 3-4 hours is common, and by 6 months, most
babies feed every 4-5 hours.
You
and your baby are unique, and the decision to breastfeed is up to you.
Signs That Show Your Baby Is Hungry
One of the most common ways your baby will let
you know they're hungry is to cry. Other signs that indicate your baby is ready
to be fed include:
- Licking their lips or sticking out their
tongue
- Rooting, which is moving their jaw, mouth,
or head to look for your breast
- Putting their hand in their mouth
- Opening their mouth
- Fussiness
- Sucking on things
How Do I Start Breastfeeding?
You
can begin nursing your baby within an hour of birth. Hold your breast in
your hand and with your baby's head slightly tipped back and, with their mouth
open wide, squeeze your nipple and guide your baby to your breast. If your baby
is properly latched, you'll feel a tug when they begin nursing.
Things To Consider Before Breastfeeding
It may take time to establish a nursing routine
with your baby. Some parents struggle to achieve a good latch with their
newborn. Latch quality can affect things such as pain levels, milk supply,
and even how long you breastfeed. Not getting a proper latch can lead to
discomfort and sometimes force new parents to stop breastfeeding before
they’re ready. Even if your baby isn’t properly latching at first, you can
develop a good latch with time and practice.
Additionally, there
are certain foods you should avoid while breastfeeding, which include:
- Alcohol. If you drink, you'll need to wait to
nurse until the alcohol levels have cleared from your breast milk.
Typically, this takes 2-3 hours per drink that you've had. If you're
planning to have a few drinks, it might be a good idea to store some milk
beforehand.
- Caffeine. Try not to drink more than two cups of
caffeinated beverages a day while breastfeeding. The excess caffeine in
your breast milk could disrupt your baby's sleep schedule.
- Fish. Seafoods such as swordfish and king
mackerel contain high amounts of mercury that could be transferred to your
baby through your milk.
What Should I Expect When I Start Breastfeeding?
At first, your breasts will make a thick,
yellowish substance called colostrum that is packed
with important nutrients that your baby's immune system needs early on.
After about 3 days, your milk will start to come in, though this may take
longer for first-time parents. You may notice your
breasts becoming firmer as this happens, and they might leak sometimes. If
your breasts become too full with milk, you may experience some discomfort.
Your nipples can become sore or cracked early on.
As you and your baby figure out your routine
for nursing, breastfeeding shouldn't be painful. But don't hesitate to reach
out to your health care provider if you are struggling to get
a good latch or having a lot of pain. They can help you figure out the
issue or connect you with a lactation consultant, a specialist in breastfeeding
education.
Will You Make Enough Milk To Breastfeed?
The first few days after birth, your breasts
make an ideal “first milk” called colostrum. There’s not a lot of it, but
there's plenty to meet your baby's nutritional needs. Colostrum helps a
newborn's digestive tract develop and prepare itself to digest breast milk.
Colostrum is the first phase of breast milk,
which changes over time to give your baby the nutrition they need as they grow.
The second phase is called transitional milk. You make this as your
colostrum is gradually replaced with the third phase of breast milk, called
mature milk.
You’ll start to make transitional milk a few
days after giving birth. By 10-15 days after birth, you’ll
make mature milk, which gives your baby all the nutrition they need.
Most babies lose a small amount of weight in
the first 3-5 days after birth. This is unrelated to breastfeeding.
Even if you breastfeed less than the
recommended 6 months, it's better to breastfeed for a short time than no time
at all. You can add solid food at 6 months but also continue to breastfeed if
you want to keep
producing milk.
Is Your Baby Getting Enough Milk?
Many breastfeeding moms wonder whether their
babies get enough milk for good nutrition. If your baby is getting enough
breastmilk, they should:
- Not lose more than 7% of their
birth weight in the first few days after delivery
- Seem content for about 1-3 hours between
feedings
- Have at least 6 diapers a day wet with
very pale or clear pee by the time they are 7-10 days old
How To Increase Milk Supply
As your baby needs more milk and nurses more,
your breasts usually respond by making more milk. Experts recommend trying to
breastfeed exclusively (no formula, juice, or water) for 6 months. If you
supplement with formula, your breasts might make less milk.
But some new parents struggle to make enough
milk early on. This could happen if your baby was born prematurely or if you
were separated from your baby soon after their birth.
One way to increase your milk supply may be to
pump more often, not longer. Try pumping for 10 minutes, then take a 10-minute
break for about an hour, in addition to your normal pumping schedule. This
could help increase your milk supply within 3-4 days.
Be sure to stay hydrated when nursing,
especially if you're also drinking any caffeinated beverages.
If you're not seeing an increase in your milk
supply despite pumping often, talk with your health care provider or a lactation
consultant.
What To Do If Your Breast Milk Supply Is Low
Before taking steps to try to increase your
breast milk supply, talk with your doctor. Low milk supply can be difficult to
self-diagnose, and your doctor can let you know if you should take steps to
increase it. Some common approaches include:
- Relaxation
techniques. Massage and meditation can help, and
so can skin-to-skin contact and warm compresses.
- Drinking more
water. Nursing parents need to increase
their water intake, both due to their child’s fluid consumption and
increased caloric intake.
- Changing your
contraception. Top contraceptive
options for maintaining breast milk production include nonhormonal
IUDs or barrier methods.
- Feeding and
pumping often. With new babies,
feed very frequently, as many as 8-12 times a day for the first few weeks.
If you miss a session, pump to ensure your production keeps up.
- Getting support. Reduce your stress and ease other
factors impacting milk production. This may mean obtaining extra help
around the house from family members or therapy for parents struggling
with postpartum depression.
What’s The Best Position For Breastfeeding?
The best position for you is the one where you
and your baby are both comfortable and relaxed, and you don't have to strain to
hold the position or keep nursing. Here are some common positions for
breastfeeding your baby:
- Cradle position. Rest the side of your baby's head in
the crook of your elbow with their whole body facing you. Position
your baby's belly against your body so they feel fully supported. Your
other “free” arm can wrap around to support your baby's head and neck or
reach through your baby's legs to support the lower back. This
position can be convenient for older infants but is often hard for
newborns, as it offers limited support. Still, it might be worth trying if
you haven’t had much success with other positions.
- Football
position.If you’re recovering from a C-section,
this position will help you find an ideal latch while avoiding pressure on
your belly. It also works well for twins and premature babies. Line your
baby's back along your forearm to hold your baby like a football,
supporting their head and neck in your palm.
- Side-lying
position. This position is great for night
feedings in bed. Side-lying also works well if you're recovering from an
episiotomy, an incision to widen the vaginal opening during delivery. Use
pillows under your head to get comfortable. Then, snuggle close to your
baby and use your free hand to lift your breast and nipple into your
baby's mouth. Once
your baby is correctly “latched on,” support the head and neck with your
free hand so there's no twisting or straining to keep nursing. The
side-lying position is often recommended if you're dealing with fast milk
flow. Like the football position, this method may also promote greater
comfort after a C-section.
- Cross-cradle
hold. A go-to for many new parents, this
approach works best in a glider or comfortable chair. Sit straight in
a chair that has armrests. Hold your baby in the crook of your arm that's
opposite the breast you will use to feed them. Support their head with
your hand. Bring your baby across your body so your tummies face each
other. Use your other hand to cup your breast in a U-shaped hold. Bring
your baby's mouth to your breast and cradle them close, and don't
lean forward.
- Laid-back
position. Try this position if you
have an oversupply or milk that comes quickly, as it will limit the flow
of the milk and, in turn, reduce the chances of your baby pulling off or
becoming fussy. It's meant to tap into the natural breastfeeding
instincts you and your baby have. Lean back, but not flat, on a couch or
bed. Have good support for your head and shoulders. Hold your baby so that
your entire fronts touch. Let your baby take any position they're
comfortable in as long as their cheek rests near your breast. Help your
baby latch on if they need it…
(To
be continued in our next article. See Next Post)
Rebecca Buffum Taylor and Katie Cameron
work with WebMD
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