How best to breastfeed your baby. The main thing is common sense. The benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby

Maria Sokolova

Reading time: 7 minutes

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Breastfeeding is the process of feeding a newborn baby with mother's milk. Continue until the child begins to fully feed on his own. Pediatricians recommend breastfeeding your baby for at least a year, because... Usually, after the first year, parents begin to feed the child little by little, usually as the child develops an interest in food.

How does the process of breastfeeding a baby occur?

On the first day after birth, the mother of the newborn usually feeds him while lying in bed.

Before feeding, the mother washes her hands with soap and treats the area of the nipple and areola with a sterile swab moistened with a solution of potassium permanganate or furatsilin. Then the baby is placed on a sterile napkin so that it is convenient for him to later grasp the nipple; the head should not be thrown back too much.

Brief instructions for proper feeding breasts

Mom supports the breast with her index and middle fingers, pulling it back a little so that nasal breathing is not greatly hampered by pressing the breast.
The nipple, which the mother holds with her fingers, must be placed in the child’s mouth in such a way that he can capture the areola of the nipple with his lips.
It is better to express the first drops of milk before feeding.
After feeding, the breasts should be washed with running water and soap.
Then lubricate the nipple with Vaseline and cover it with a piece of sterile gauze.

Correct position for mother during breastfeeding

During feeding Mom should be in a comfortable position. This position should allow her to hold the baby at the breast without any problems during feeding.

This can be absolutely any position of the mother’s choice: lying, sitting, reclining, half-sitting, standing.

Correct baby position

Before feeding your baby, he should be turned with his chest towards his chest. The baby himself should be close to the chest so that he does not need to reach for it. The child should be gently pressed to the body, the child's head and torso should be in one straight line.

During feeding It is worth holding the child himself, and not just the shoulders and head. The baby's nose should be kept level with the nipple, the baby's head should be turned slightly to the side.

After feeding You should hold the child in a horizontal position for 10-15 minutes. This will allow any air that may have entered the baby's stomach during feeding to escape. Then you should put the child on his side. This position will allow him to burp and prevent aspiration (milk entering the respiratory tract).

How to properly put your baby to the breast?

Grab your chest so that four fingers are on the bottom and your thumb is on top of the chest. It is advisable that your fingers are located as far from the nipple as possible.
In order for the child to open his mouth, you should touch his lips with the nipple. It is better for the child’s mouth to be wide open, his lips extended into a tube, and his tongue to be in the back of his mouth.
Make sure that the baby grasps the nipple and areola of the nipple in his mouth. Underlip The baby should be below the nipple and the chin should touch the breast.

What to do, if breastfeeding impossible? If, due to circumstances, your child still needs supplemental feeding, you should choose the right formula. In such cases, experts recommend a formula that is as close as possible to breast milk so that the child does not experience metabolic disorders, allergic reactions, skin or digestive problems. Adapted formulas are closer to the composition of human milk goat milk with beta-casein protein, such as the gold standard baby food— MD mil SP “Goat”. Thanks to this mixture, the baby gets everything necessary substances that help children's body to form and develop correctly.

If you latch your baby to the breast correctly, your baby's lips and gums will put pressure on the areola of the nipple rather than on the nipple itself. This makes feeding painless and enjoyable.

Video instructions: how to breastfeed correctly

To make breastfeeding a simple and easy process for your baby, follow these tips:

Before feeding, you should calm your baby if he is restless or crying. When a baby behaves this way, he will raise his tongue, which can make feeding difficult.
Remember that the baby should be brought closer to the breast, and not vice versa.

Place the baby lightly on the breast, without pressure, otherwise he will try to wriggle out and struggle in every possible way, which will make feeding very difficult;
During feeding, you should not move your breasts as when feeding from a bottle, this may prevent the baby from holding the breast;
If you feel pain during feeding, this indicates that the baby is not attached to the breast correctly. Touch your baby's lips with your finger to encourage him to open his mouth. And apply it to your chest again.
When feeding, the baby is placed on one breast, and the next time the breast is changed. If there is not enough milk from one breast, then you should supplement the baby from the other. On next feeding it is applied to the breast that was fed last.

How often should you breastfeed your baby?

The baby should be fed according to his demand. But a nursing mother needs to learn to distinguish when the baby cries from the desire to eat, and when for some other reason.

In the first days of life, a child can eat 10-14 times per day. And after about two weeks, the child begins to develop his own individual feeding rhythm. On average, a child eats every 2-3 hours.

In the first month, the number of feedings balances around 8-12 times a day.
And already in the second and third months somewhere around 6-8 times.
From four months, the number of feedings decreases to 6-8 times a day.

There should be no night breaks. Feeding at night is very important and necessary for the baby.

10 principles for successful breastfeeding

Formed by WHO and UNICEF in Geneva and 1989.

Strictly adhere to the basic principles breastfeeding and regularly communicate these rules to medical personnel and women in labor.
Train medical personnel in the necessary breastfeeding skills.
Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and techniques of breastfeeding.
Help mothers during the first time after childbirth.
Show mothers how to breastfeed properly and how to maintain lactation even when mothers are temporarily separated from their babies.
Do not give newborns any food other than milk. The exception is cases due to medical reasons.
Practice keeping mother and newborn in the same room 24/7.
Encourage breastfeeding on the newborn's request rather than on a schedule.
Do not give to newborns initial stage breastfeeding sedatives that mimic female breast like a pacifier.
Encourage and refer mothers to breastfeeding groups.

For greater convenience, use special clothing for feeding. It is made specifically to make it easy to put the baby to the breast as the need arises.
Frequent feeding, drinking plenty of fluids and good rest help milk production.
Leakage of breast milk happens quite often, so use special breast pads.
To avoid getting too exhausted during the day, try to sleep yourself while your baby sleeps.

Be sure to take modern vitamin and mineral complexes. Just choose proven and high-quality ones - the emphasis should be on a balanced and rich composition, as well as on the reputation of the manufacturer.

As a rule, such preparations must contain folic acid, iron. And here a large number of Not everyone has magnesium and iodine. But in Finnish "Minisan Mama" , which can be purchased in pharmacies in the Russian Federation, there is.

In addition, taking “Mama” will not take much time - the small tablet is easy to swallow, and Just one tablet a day is enough.

How to help your baby get used to this difficult and responsible work? How can we make this work joyful and enjoyable for both the baby and his mother? The answer to this question is surprisingly simple: the position of mother and child should be as comfortable as possible.

For successful breastfeeding It is extremely important that the milk ducts in the gland have a wide lumen: this ensures free flow of milk, good emptying of the breast and easy sucking for the baby. If the mother’s body is tense, if she experiences discomfort, then this distracts her and prevents her from concentrating on feeding. In addition, tension in the body muscles causes a reflex spasm of the milk ducts. As a result, milk from the gland begins to be secreted sparingly, and breast not completely emptied. The baby is nervous, not receiving food in required quantity, A breast, without emptying completely, there is a risk of lactostasis (milk stagnation).

That's why, when starting to feed your baby breasts, it is so important to know about the correct positions to help feed.

Feeding positions for baby

If the baby's mouth is closed, you can touch nipple to the corner of the mouth or gently “tickle” the upper lip near the corner of the mouth with your finger. Usually, in response to such irritation, the newborn’s mouth reflexively opens, and the child begins to search with his mouth. breast. This is the so-called “search reflex” of a newborn, which facilitates the baby’s first feeding.

When the baby opens his mouth wide, you should direct nipple in the center of the mouth and with a quick movement of the hand, press the baby towards you. This is an important point: no need to lean towards the child, stick out breast, otherwise you will get tired quickly during feeding. The child must grab nipple and the areola into the areola.

If the areola is large, then the grip radius should be approximately 2-2.5 cm. The baby's lips should not be tucked inward - they should clasp breast so that their red border is visible. The baby's chin should be in contact with breasts, but not too tight, but just enough so that it does not interfere with breathing.

If you still find it difficult for your baby to breathe, pull his buttocks towards you, slightly changing the angle of his body, or lightly press thumb on breast to release the spout. If the child took breast wrong or you need to release breast for another reason, you should gently open the child's gums by gently inserting a finger into the corner of the mouth.

Don't stop trying until your child takes it. breast Right. At correct posture it is noticeable that the child is relaxed and makes slow and deep sucking movements, and you hear him swallow the milk. You do not experience pain in the area nipples.

Feeding lying and sitting

There are two main breastfeeding positions- sitting and lying down. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

The supine position is usually applied to the breast of newborns in the first days after birth, when the mother finds it difficult or impossible to sit. It is also suitable for night feedings. With this method of breastfeeding, the mother should lie on her side, corresponding to the breast to which the baby will be attached. Under your head you need to place a pillow of such a height that your head is not raised too high. The pillow should be moderately firm to provide good support for the head, neck and upper shoulder girdle.

The baby should be placed next to you on the bed, having first placed a baby diaper on the sheet. Place the baby's head on your shoulder at chest level, holding his body with a half-bent arm. You can also place the child on the bed and put your hand under the head. With the other hand, opposite the breast to which the baby is attached, you need to lift the mammary gland, placing it in the palm of your hand, like in a bowl. Use the thumb and middle fingers of this hand to grab nipple at the border of the areola with the skin of the breast and lightly press it, giving it a flattened shape parallel to the baby’s lips. After the baby has grabbed nipple and began to actively suck, you need to carefully listen to your feelings. Pay attention to the condition of the muscles of the back, neck, arms - try to keep all these muscle groups relaxed. If you experience any discomfort, ask someone nearby to place a pillow near the part of your body where you feel tension. For example, you can place another pillow under the back or under the arm that holds the baby.

The sitting position is more comfortable for the vast majority of mothers and their babies. After the mother is strong enough after childbirth, when she can already sit, it is better to feed the baby while sitting in a chair or rocking chair.

Option 1. Sit in a chair with a small pillow on the armrest on the side of the breast with which you will feed the baby. You can place a small bench under your foot on the same side. Take a position that is as comfortable as possible for your entire body. With your elbow on the pillow lying on the armrest of the chair, place the baby on your forearm so that his head is in the crook of your elbow at chest level. You can turn the baby slightly to face you. With your free hand, take breast into your palm in the manner described above and, holding it lightly, give it to the child nipple.

Option 2. Let's say you want to feed your baby with your right breasts. Place the baby on your bent left arm so that his head lies in your palm. Right hand take the right one breast and put it in the baby's mouth. If you put your hand with a child on your lap, your back will be bent quite strongly, and this is uncomfortable. If you put a pillow on your knees (under your arm), it becomes easier. In this position, the hand of one hand subtly “controls” breasts, and the other guides the baby’s head and prevents it from sliding off the areola onto nipple.

Option 3. The position with the baby under the arm is especially important for women who have had a caesarean section, since the baby is away from the suture. It is also ideal for active babies who move their legs while feeding, as well as for premature babies or those who have difficulty latching onto the areola.

You should sit sitting on a bed or a wide chair with a large armrest. Place a pillow next to you on the side where you are going to place your baby or place a small pillow on a wide armrest. Place the baby on the pillow - it will turn out that he is lying under your arm. The baby's head is located in your palm, the back is on your forearm, the legs are behind your back, and with the hand you are holding the baby, you press his hips to you. With one hand you hold the baby, and with the other you give him breast.

Whatever position you use, make sure that there is no pronounced curvature of the child’s spine - he should lie straight. This can be ensured with the help of the hand that holds the child’s body. Watch this moment. This is important because the bone canals located on both sides of the spinal column contain large arteries that supply both the spinal cord and the brain. Due to the imperfection of the ligamentous apparatus of the spinal column of a newborn, these arteries are very vulnerable. Excessive or prolonged flexion of the spinal column causes a reflex spasm of the arteries, which impairs blood circulation in the baby’s brain and spinal cord.

How to feed a child in public places?

If the baby cries and probable cause His dissatisfaction is hunger, then you can and should feed the child in the place where you are. Before feeding, wipe your hands with a damp cloth, which the young mother should always have at hand. In addition, for such feedings you will need breast pads and dry wipes - these items should also be carried with you. You need to find a relatively deserted place where you can sit; if such a place is difficult to find, then you can simply turn away from those around you. Special clothing for nursing mothers will come in handy, which makes it easy to expose breast. Usually people have enough tact not to disturb you with their approach. If not, let it remain theirs. own problem. Have a healthy indifference, and - Bon appetit to your baby!

Feeding baby breasts, look at him, be in contact with him - bodily and visual. These moments of closeness between mother and baby become the first precious minutes and hours of communication that shape the child’s psyche. Use them fully and with joy!

During breastfeeding, not only the baby’s hunger is satisfied, but the first important contact between him and mom. This process helps the baby to properly adapt to new living conditions.

Breastfeeding newborns – necessary condition healthy growth and development of children. Every mother should know the rules according to which she should feed her baby.

First breastfeeding

It is bad if the mother does not have the opportunity to feed the baby within an hour after birth. At this time, the baby should receive valuable drops of colostrum - a harbinger of milk. This substance is produced in small quantities, but it gives the child the necessary immunity, and also provides good nutrition. In this case, you need to help the baby latch onto the breast correctly. Even if the baby eats little the first time, this will be a successful start to his life.

Duration

Parents, especially inexperienced ones, are interested in how long it is necessary to feed their baby breast milk? How can you tell if he's full? According to WHO recommendations, a newborn should not be weaned before he releases the nipple on his own. There is no need to set a schedule and feed your baby at a specific time.

The baby should spend as much time at the breast as he wishes, but not less than 25 minutes. During this period, he manages to receive watery foremilk and later - fatter milk.

There is no need to remove the nipple from the baby's mouth; if he falls asleep, you should continue to feed, making sure that the baby does not choke. By sucking in his sleep, the newborn eats the milk that is richest in fats and proteins. You need to worry if a baby who is one month old eats little (within 10 minutes) and then refuses to breastfeed.

The duration of feeding depends on the age of the baby. The older he is, the faster and less often he eats. At 3 months, the baby is strong enough to suck a large volume of milk. In addition, at this age he experiences psycho-emotional discomfort and the need for reassurance less acutely.

Milk volume

In order for a child to gain weight correctly, it is necessary to provide him with sufficient nutrition. No need to worry that your baby is overeating: breast milk It is perfectly absorbed by the child’s body, no matter how much he eats. It is more likely that he will not have enough food. How to find out how much breast milk a baby needs? This can be done in 3 ways:

Estimate wet diapers. To do this, you need to give up diapers for a day and count how many urinations you have had. infant. If the number of pants and sheets he wets is less than 8, he eats little;
The newborn's weight gain per month should be correctly assessed. There is no need to weigh him every day after feeding: this will not help much to understand, but will make the mother very nervous. It is enough to do this once a month, and then compare the weight with the standards established by WHO;
Troublesome, but more exact way will help you understand how much milk your baby eats, accurate to the milliliter. It is necessary to completely express one breast and measure the volume of milk with a baby bottle. By feeding your child with a spoon, you can understand how much he has eaten and compare it with the average recommended norms.

Eating at night

To save full lactation, there are few daily feedings. At 3 o'clock in the morning there is a strong production of milk, so the baby's breastfeeding at this time is very important. A schedule should be made so that the newborn can eat at will throughout the day and night.

To provide for yourself and the baby restful sleep, a woman needs to sleep with her child. If the baby is full, he calmly falls asleep, and the mother does not have to get up to feed him and then rock him to sleep. A baby can feed breast milk up to 6 times a night - and this is correct. If a newborn bites a woman's nipple when he falls asleep, you need to gently release the breast from his mouth.

Possible problems

A nursing mother may face unusual behavior baby when feeding. What should you do if your baby falls asleep, bites, chokes or choke while breastfeeding?

In the first month of life, a newborn easily gets tired when feeding, so he often falls asleep at the breast. A baby, especially one born weakened or ahead of schedule, you need help to continue sucking milk. If your baby falls asleep while feeding, you should trigger his swallowing reflex by squeezing a drop of milk into his mouth. You can easily pull the baby by the heel or cheek and continue feeding.

A teething baby often bites his mother painfully during breastfeeding. You need to wean him off this gently, but do it persistently: you need to strictly say “no” and remove the breast so that the baby associates his behavior with the completion of feeding. The baby sometimes bites the nipple hard if he falls asleep at the end of a meal. To prevent this from happening, you should move your baby away from the breast as soon as his mouth movements weaken.

If your baby is choking or choking during feeding at one month of age, this may mean that he cannot cope with a strong flow of milk. In this case, it would be correct to pump your breasts a little. To prevent your baby from choking, changing your position will help. The newborn, who usually chokes on breast milk when he eats, should be placed face down on his mother's stomach.

You should not wash your breasts before or after feeding. During this procedure, the protective fat layer is washed off from the nipples, which leads to the appearance of cracks. A daily hygienic shower is enough. Just a few times a month, you can wash your breasts using cosmetics;
Up to 6 months (by medical indications up to 5) the newborn must be fed only breast milk. If your baby is hot, you should put him to the breast more often. Numerous studies have made it clear that a child can be exclusively breastfed for up to 12 months without compromising his health;
It is necessary to completely abandon bottles and pacifiers. It is correct to give supplementary food, water, and necessary medications only from a spoon. Children easily get used to the pacifier, which has a bad effect on the duration and quality of breastfeeding;
It is important to avoid pumping after each feeding. A month after giving birth, a woman begins to produce exactly enough breast milk to feed her newborn. It is necessary to express in exceptional cases: in case of forced separation from the child, during treatment of mastitis, to establish lactation in the first month, if little milk is produced;
If a child falls asleep only with the breast, there is no need to deprive him of such pleasure. Prolonged sucking will help maintain lactation, and will also give the mother the opportunity to rest with the baby if it is difficult to do this at other times.

General breastfeeding rules will help maintain lactation for a long time. If a child eats mother's milk even after one year, he should not be weaned. Stopping breastfeeding against the will of a newborn has a bad effect on both his condition and the well-being of the mother.

The birth of a child is always a joyful and exciting event in the family. Immediately, a caring mother has many questions, the answers to which have to be learned from doctors, nannies, and grandmothers. How to care for a baby, should I give him a pacifier, should he pump, why does the baby eat poorly? How to breastfeed your baby correctly - the most main question. After all, from mother's milk depends on the health, development and mental balance of the baby.

The very first attachment of a newborn

Back in the delivery room, as soon as the midwife cuts the umbilical cord, the baby is laid on the mother’s stomach. The tiny face is turned towards the nipple, helping to latch onto it. It does not matter how many drops of colostrum the newborn sucks. The main thing is that it will be the first thing that gets into his stomach. Colostrum contains immunoglobulins that can protect the body from negative influences.

One more important point is psychological aspect. Skin-to-skin contact, proximity and the baby's heartbeat contribute to the rapid rejection of the placenta in the woman in labor. A newborn, being at the breast, feels safe and gets rid of birth stress. An invisible close connection is established between mother and baby. To prevent hypothermia, the baby is left at the breast for a short time. After this, doctors wash the baby from amniotic fluid and swaddled. The first full breastfeeding occurs after the woman in labor has been examined by a doctor and has had a short rest.

Women who have had a caesarean section still have their newborn brought to the breast. This is done even when she is under general anesthesia. If the birth took place under local anesthesia, the mother herself can observe the first application.

Basic rules for proper feeding

The key to the success of natural feeding is proper latching of the nipple. This way the baby will suck effectively, be fully satisfied, without damaging mother's breast. Obstetricians and doctors always tell and show how to breastfeed correctly. They monitor the first feedings and explain all the nuances.

General rules for attaching a baby to the breast:

Mommy should make herself comfortable so that she can spend at least 10 minutes in this position. You can feed lying down, sitting, standing, the main thing is to provide the baby with free access to the breast and comfort for yourself.
The child is placed in a position with his stomach towards his mother, his face towards the mammary gland. The head should not be fixed rigidly so that the baby can regulate the nipple pinched with the tongue and lips, clear his throat if he chokes, or inform the mother that feeding is over.
When offering the breast, you need to make sure that the baby is lying correctly and does not have to pull the nipple down. If this happens, it means it is lying too low.
It is necessary to monitor the access of oxygen to the child. If the mammary gland puts pressure on the face, the baby will not be able to breathe normally. We must be extremely careful here owners of full breasts.
Do not push the nipple into the baby's mouth. The child must take it independently, otherwise an incorrect grasp cannot be avoided.
If the baby has not covered the entire areola with his mouth, it is necessary to immediately release it by lightly pressing the chin with the pad of a finger or touching the corner of the mouth. Incorrectly taken breasts threaten a nursing mother with injury to the glands and painful cracks. Sucking in this way will be incomplete; air will enter the cavity of the baby’s stomach, which provokes gases and.

When latched correctly, most of the areola is in the baby's mouth, the lips are clearly turned outward, and the chin is pressed closely to the breast. The sucking process is accompanied by swallowing sounds and snoring, and the mother does not feel any discomfort.

Once you are sure that your baby has latched on correctly, you can relax and feed calmly.

Scheme - How to breastfeed a breastfeeding baby

How to place the breast in the baby’s mouth during latching (click on the picture to enlarge)

Current issues

Not everyone during pregnancy has the opportunity to attend breastfeeding courses, and not all maternity homes have doctors ready to talk about how to breastfeed a newborn correctly and without complications. Therefore, many mothers, listening to the advice of their grandmothers, make many mistakes. As a result, the milk burns out and formations appear on the nipples. deep cracks, And natural feeding it is almost impossible to return.

Controversial issues that arise for every breastfeeding mother:

To wash or not to wash the mammary glands before applying? Morning and evening showers are enough to ensure cleanliness. If you vigorously rub your nipples with soap every few hours, natural protective layer is washed away, opening the way for pathogenic bacteria.
Should I hold my breast for the baby's comfort? Supporting the breast during feeding provokes stagnation of milk in the ducts in contact with the arm. This must be avoided.
Should I give my baby water? Giving your child extra water or weak tea is unacceptable. Mother's milk is drink and food for the baby. The exceptions are days when you need to give medicine or when the room is very stuffy and hot. Some mothers' milk turns out to be too fatty. Then doctors advise giving the baby water to avoid tummy problems. Liquids should be given to a newborn not from a bottle, but from a spoon or syringe.
Should I stop feeding if the mother or child gets sick with ARVI? There is no need to refuse feeding if the mother is sick with the flu. The child receives antibodies along with milk, which becomes a healing elixir for him. He cannot become infected from a nursing mother, but he can infect her if he himself is sick. In such cases, it is better to wear a gauze bandage.
Cracks appear on the nipples - is it possible to breastfeed? There is no need to rush to switch artificial feeding if cracks occur. First you need to consult a doctor. He will recommend ointments, creams or... While the wounds heal, natural feeding will not be affected.

This is not the entire list of pressing questions that inexperienced mothers have. In each case, the problems are individual. It is necessary to consult with specialists, and not with girlfriends and neighbors.

Is application mode necessary?

Many people are concerned about breastfeeding. At first, until lactation is established and moves into the maturity phase, it is too early to think about the schedule. The older generation is firmly convinced that a baby needs a regimen from the first days. Modern breastfeeding specialists recommend putting a newborn to the breast 10-15 times a day, exclusively on demand (when he asks).

As the child develops, the routine will gradually become established. With a sufficient amount of milk, 7-8 feedings will be required with a break of 3-3.5 hours. The baby will get used to the chosen regime, and it will be easier for the mother to plan her day.

Many mothers worry whether the milk will have time to digest if the baby is offered the breast too often. There is no reason to worry. The baby does not need to expend energy to digest breast milk. As soon as the milk enters the intestines, it begins to be digested and soon the baby will become hungry again.

Is the baby full?

Mother's milk is the best food for a baby. But how can you tell if your baby is getting enough? Everything is defined here in an elementary way:

the baby released his nipple on his own;
after application he is calm, not capricious, and in a good mood;
the child is fast asleep;
his skin is velvety to the touch;
he pees 6-8 times a day;
upon contact with the mother, noticeable revival is observed;
gains weight well, according to.

When a baby sucks at the breast for a long time, cries during feeding and between meals, and shows anxiety, it can be assumed that he does not have enough milk. This can be accurately confirmed by weighing. If there is a problem, the pediatrician or breastfeeding specialist will advise what can be done to enhance lactation. If all else fails, the child will have to be given formula.

Sometimes young mothers face the opposite problem: more milk than the baby needs. With hyperlactation, there is a risk of overeating, since infants do not control their food needs.

Signs of overeating:

he burps profusely;
he suffers from colic and gas. The baby constantly cries and clenches his legs.
the child gains more weight than normal.

In such cases, you will need to control the time of each attachment and remove the baby's nipple before he sucks out excess milk. Trying to reduce lactation with pills, herbs and a strict diet is dangerous. Correct application Breastfeeding will help stabilize lactation volumes over time, and milk will begin to flow in accordance with the baby’s needs.

We take the breast after feeding

To do this, gently press the chin with a finger or press the little finger into the corner of the mouth. This will force the baby to open her mouth and release the nipple.

Breast alternation

If you attach a newborn correctly, milk will be produced according to his requests. Often one breast is enough for one feeding. First, the foremilk, which is thinner, will quench the thirst, and the hindmilk, which is fattier and thicker, will satiate the child. If a baby is offered one breast and then the other, the nutrition is unlikely to be balanced. This will harm both the baby and the mother, whose mammary glands will be overcrowded.

The breast is changed during feeding when the baby does not eat enough, having completely sucked out the first mammary gland. But before that, you should make sure that he is not really full in order to avoid overfeeding.

How to feed twins

Many are sure that if twins are born at the same time, the new mother will have to switch to artificial feeding immediately after leaving the hospital. After all, it is not easy to establish natural feeding with one child. But there are women who have fed twins and even triplets with their milk.

Of course, mom will need more effort, patience and diligence in adjusting to the regime. It would be good if her relatives helped her take care of the babies. You will need a lot more milk. And its production depends on rest, proper nutrition and a comfortable life. In the maternity hospital, the woman in labor will definitely be told how to feed twins and put babies to the breast.

Having survived the difficult moment of establishing lactation and entering her own routine, mommy will experience all the benefits of natural feeding:

children will be physically stronger due to strengthened immunity;
the family will be able to save on expensive bottles, nipples, sterilizers, and adapted formulas;
the mother will quickly return to her previous shape, since feeding two children takes twice as many calories.

There are two ways to breastfeed twins:

Simultaneous.
One at a time.

The simultaneous method is often used, as it significantly saves precious time. This is where you have to adapt. This is much easier than feeding one child and taking out a loan for the second. At the same time, a hungry baby, waiting for his turn, will cry piercingly, demanding food. He will prevent his brother or sister from eating and sleeping.

When feeding at the same time you should:

Take a comfortable position. Finding one is much more difficult than with one baby. Various devices come to the rescue here, for example, a silicone pillow for double feeding.
Before applying the gland, you need to massage it in order to increase the flow of milk. You can drink tea, take a shower, directing the jets to the mammary glands.
If one of the babies weighs less, he will need to be offered the breast more often.
You cannot always offer a certain breast to your baby. Breastfeeding varies differently. By systematically alternating the glands during feeding, the mother will ensure a better outflow of milk and release of the lobes.

If little milk is produced, you should consult your pediatrician. He will help you choose adapted mixture for supplementary feeding. Bottle feeding is best done by dad or grandma so that the baby does not associate the mother with formula and a pacifier. This way, natural feeding can continue.

What can result from incorrect application?

In conditions incorrect application, the baby hurts the mother by diligently sucking in and pulling out the nipple. Prolonged sucking thus damages delicate skin. It rubs, cracks, and the nipple becomes deformed. At the same time, the baby ineffectively releases the overfilled breast, remains hungry and unsatisfied.

Cracks, damaged nipples, and unproductive sucking cause. The mammary glands instantly react to weak sucking, and milk will stop flowing into the the right quantity. Constant irritation and lack of milk can lead to the baby completely refusing to breastfeed. Weight gain by control weighing will not meet the standards.

Signs of improper attachment:

the baby smacks loudly and frequently while trying to suck;
the areolas are not grasped, and the lips turn inward when sucking;
the mother feels fullness at the end of feeding.

Detailed video about attachment and feeding

“Over time, breastfeeding stops

be a way to feed a child

and becomes a universal remedy

taking care of the child"

Nowadays, not all mothers want to breastfeed, while absolutely not understanding what they are depriving themselves and their child. Breastfeeding is a must!

If you are reading this article, it means that you are already consciously approaching the birth and raising of a child, and we want to help you establish the process of breastfeeding and not make mistakes due to inexperience. After all, there are still many misconceptions about how to breastfeed a newborn, even among maternity hospital workers.

1. Natural childbirth promotes successful breastfeeding

In order for the breastfeeding process to start and proceed without problems, childbirth should be as natural as possible, ideally without any medical intervention. Even a stimulant drug labor activity(oxytocin) or pain relief during labor leads to disruptions in the process of childbirth and the child’s adaptation to extrauterine life.

Labor is a very delicate process, during which a certain cascade of hormonal reactions occurs, and interference with this mechanism can lead to the most various disorders. Including to birth injuries– even the slightest displacements of the skull bones, invisible to the eye, can lead to the fact that the child will not be able to properly grasp and suck the breast (therefore, sometimes the child “refuses the breast from birth”).

2. First breastfeeding

They put the newborn to the chest almost immediately after birth, but before that they allow him to rest on his mother’s stomach. Early application helps the uterus to reflexively contract, expel the placenta and prevent bleeding. It also gives a signal to the mother’s body that the baby has been born, is alive, is suckling and wants to eat, so it’s time to produce milk.

It is interesting that in the very first minutes and hours after birth, the need to suck on the mother’s breast is so great that the baby not only looks for the breast and stretches out his lips, he is even able to crawl some distance to find the breast (nature took care of this in case the mother, to Unfortunately, I am not able to breastfeed on my own.)

Often, a caesarean section, as well as various complications during childbirth, do not allow you to put the baby to the breast immediately, which can be fraught with problems in the future.

3. The first days of breastfeeding

In the first 2-3 days, colostrum is formed in the breasts instead of milk. There is little of it produced, but the child only needs a few drops - firstly, his stomach is still too small, and gastrointestinal tract cannot digest large volumes. Secondly, colostrum is so nutritious and contains everything a baby needs that he doesn’t need anything else.

By the way, healthy child is born with some reserve nutrients and fluids in the body, which allows him to live the first day without food at all.

Therefore, during this period, you should not worry that “I don’t have milk, the baby is starving, I need to give formula.” Usually the milk comes on the third day, and there is so much that the child is not able to eat as much. But colostrum completely satisfies his needs in the first days of life.

If you start supplementing your baby with formula during this period, you can not only disrupt the formation of digestion and immunity of the newborn baby, but also mark the beginning of the end of breastfeeding. You need to be very careful with this. If the baby suckles less, less milk will be produced.

However, a newborn baby sucks at the breast for more than just food. If he has enough strength, then he can suckle from the breast for half an hour or longer, and with age he can hang on his chest for hours. The fact is that this is how his psychological need to be close to his mother, to feel her warmth, is expressed. The desire to suckle can be insatiable, because sucking at the breast will ensure that the baby produces a sufficient amount of milk, and also promotes proper physical and mental development. It has been proven that breastfeeding is directly related to brain development and mental processes.

4. Arrival of milk

Finally, the child’s efforts finally lead to the fact that one night the young mother’s breasts suddenly become engorged and milk comes in. Sometimes there is so much milk that the breasts become hot and stone-like to the touch; pumping is necessary to relieve it.

However, expressing is not so easy, since at first the milk flows slowly, and you need the help of a breastfeeding specialist who will help you express your breasts, or a good electric breast pump (). Otherwise, there is a risk of developing such an unpleasant condition as lactostasis, or in other words, milk stagnation, which is dangerous for the development of mastitis.

To breastfeed, the mother must take comfortable position, in which she can relax - put a pillow under her back or use

There are different positions for feeding a baby - for example, in a cradle, under the arm or lying down. It is better to alternate positions, so the baby will more effectively suck milk from different segments of the mammary gland to prevent lactostasis.

Remember - where the baby’s chin is directed when sucking, it is from that part of the mammary gland that he sucks the milk. If you feel tightness and discomfort in any part of your chest, take a position so that your child's chin is directed towards it.

It is very important that the baby latch onto the nipple correctly. Improper latch leads to damaged and cracked nipples, as well as ineffective suction and decreased milk production. If your milk supply decreases, pay attention to the baby’s lack of latching on the breast.

How do you know if the grip is correct? When sucking, the baby captures most of the areola with his mouth, and the lips are slightly turned out.

At the same time, the sucking itself is painless. There should be no air coming in when sucking. After feeding, the nipple should not be flattened. If you have any problems or questions, it is better to contact a friend experienced mother who has successfully fed her baby, or call a lactation consultant to your home.

6. Scheduled or on demand?

“The feeding regime is like the kissing regime -

will complicate life for both you and the child.”

The Soviet Union began introducing breastfeeding every three hours to get women back to work as quickly as possible. Now there is no need for this, nor any physiological justification. It is not possible to overfeed a baby with breast milk!

A newborn baby does not know what a feeding regimen is and does not need it. Feeding should take place on demand - as often and for as long as the baby wants. If the child shows the slightest concern, give him the breast first. If you don't know if he's hungry, give him the breast. It is best that breaks do not exceed 2-3 hours, although sometimes the child sleeps soundly for longer.

It is imperative to feed your baby at night; it is these feedings that lead to the formation of a sufficient amount of milk, and it will not suddenly “disappear.”

Remember that feeding on demand, frequent feedings cannot lead to anything bad, or to any digestive problems, since it is absorbed very easily and quickly. With the exception of rare congenital diseases and lactase deficiency in a child.

7. Supplemental feeding with mixture

“Regular food fills a child’s stomach,

and breast milk is the soul”

Unfortunately, doctors and nurses continue to easily recommend formula supplementation for the slightest problems with breastfeeding. They don't teach mothers to fight for it. For questions about how to breastfeed a newborn, you should contact a lactation consultant.

Ideally, for the first 6 months, nothing should enter the baby’s mouth other than mother’s milk. If it seems to you that the baby does not have enough milk because he is crying and hanging on his chest, then first count how many times per day he wets his diapers. 10 times or more means there is enough milk.

Even if at some point the child does not gain weight (and some mothers weigh their children every day), this does not mean anything, since children grow and gain weight spasmodically. It makes no sense to weigh the child more often than once every 2 weeks.

Supplemental feeding with formula is dangerous because it helps reduce milk production, due to the fact that the baby suckles less. Firstly, it is easier to suck formula from a bottle, the baby likes it and he begins to be lazy at suckling. Secondly, having eaten the mixture, he needs milk less and suckles less. Especially because the formula is a heavy food, after which the child sleeps for a long time and soundly.

Do not allow your baby to be supplemented with formula in the hospital. After caesarean section when mother and child are separated, even if the baby is brought to you for feeding, this can be done without informing you.