Having a baby is a very serious task. And if a woman has her first child, of course, a lot of questions arise about how to start this process correctly and make it comfortable for the mother and useful for the baby. We have selected answers to the most popular questions young mothers, and we hope that they will help you too.
What to do if the mother does not have milk in the first days after giving birth?
What to do if your breasts become engorged, hot and sore?
Painful breast engorgement, bursting pain and fever - perhaps it develops in the body of a young mother initial stage lactostasis, milk stagnation has formed in the breast.
How long should a baby be at the breast during one feeding?
If we are talking only about organizing breastfeeding, then mother and baby are just getting used to each other, and the lactation process itself is in the process of being adjusted. Initially, you shouldn’t talk about any kind of consistency: the baby can ask for the breast every 20-30 minutes and suck a little and very quickly, and sometimes the break can reach 2-3 hours, and the baby will eat for more than half an hour.
Don’t compare your child with other babies and don’t be upset if you read information that tells you how a baby should eat, but for you everything is not quite right. It is possible to talk about the regime only if the child is on artificial feeding if the baby eats breast milk mother's milk, remember - all babies are different and in the first months after birth, it is absolutely normal for them to breastfeed often or randomly.
Don’t forget that staying at the mother’s breast is not just a simple meal for the baby - this is how the baby calms down and communicates with the mother, he likes to be in her arms as often as possible, hearing the familiar heartbeat and feeling the familiar smell. After a few weeks, the baby will develop a routine, breastfeeding will be more orderly, feedings will be more intense, and the intervals between them will be predictable.
Our mother - Dajan tells : “In the first months after giving birth, we didn’t have such a thing as a regimen at all. My son could sleep for 3 hours, then eat for an hour, falling asleep and waking up at the breast. I was nervous, because at that time I was completely subordinate to him and could not do anything around the house, I did not have time to do anything. But time has passed - we are almost four months old, and everything has more or less improved. He withstands a period of 2.5 hours on his own, and does not even scream when he is hungry, but simply grunts. The man has grown up."
They are very important, because the health and well-being of the baby and the peace of mind of his mother depend on how correctly this process is organized. It is worth recognizing that in Lately humanity has achieved a lot in technical terms, while the issue of feeding infants has also been radically changed by science. There were many prohibitions and fashion trends, which has led to the fact that many mothers are increasingly putting their babies to their breasts by the hour, pumping in a strict order, and looking for alternatives to breastfeeding.
How much should you feed?
Advice to a nursing mother when breastfeeding has resulted in the fact that recently the feeding period has been reduced to several months. It was not until the 2000s that the United Nations Children's Fund stated that only breast milk for a child of the first two years of life - the only safe look nutrition. This is the only way to reduce the risk of death from intestinal infections, only it fully meets the needs child's body. At the same time, the development of breastfeeding is important not only for developing countries, but also for prosperous countries, where medical service and sanitary conditions are at high level. This statement was simply stunning for many.
In addition, the results of numerous studies have become known, according to which only breast milk is able to fully form children's immunity due to the five hundred components that make up its composition. In addition, it promotes brain development, nervous system. None artificial mixture cannot fully replace breast milk.
WHO Basic Principles
When breastfeeding, advice to a nursing mother should be given based on the feeding principles formulated by the World Health Organization. They form a unified approach to this problem for all children from birth to two years of age.
These standards are based on the fact that breastfeeding techniques must be taught to medical staff in maternity hospitals, who must pass this information on to young mothers. Pregnant women need to be informed about the benefits of breastfeeding, and the first breastfeeding should be done within the first half hour after the birth of the baby.
Employees medical institutions should help mothers maintain milk production and advise how to improve lactation. In WHO recommendations you can find the answer to the question that worries many young parents today: when breastfeeding?
It is assumed that the baby should not have additional drinks and complementary foods, unless this is provided medical indications. In the first months of life, a baby can and should do without water and formula if he receives breast milk. The amount of colostrum he receives from mother's breast, that's enough for him. In addition, this is his first vaccination against all kinds of infections, the basis for the formation of passive immunity. So mothers should not have a question about whether to give water to their newborns while breastfeeding.
It is also recommended that mother and child stay in the same room around the clock from the first day of the baby’s life. The ability to attach to the breast when needed should become his basic skill, then milk will be produced in the required volume. That's why healthy child no need to share with your mother.
So-called demand feeding should be encouraged. There should be no schedule here; the baby should latch on to the breast as soon as he feels hungry. And this can occur much more often than once every three hours.
According to WHO experts, one of the the most important rules is the absence of pacifiers and nipples when breastfeeding. The advice to a nursing mother is to limit the baby’s access to these objects so that he does not develop a different sucking technique. The choice is usually not made in favor of the mother's nipple, which the newborn may begin to bite and chew with his gums. It leads to severe pain with breastfeeding and the formation of cracks. To avoid this, you need to remember that a baby does not need a pacifier when breastfeeding.
Feeding mode
The breastfeeding regime must be carefully observed so that the child grows healthy and fully develops. The most important thing is that strict regime there shouldn't be. The baby should have the opportunity to receive mother's milk at any time of the day when he wishes.
It must be remembered that crying is not always a sign that the baby needs additional food. More often than not, he asks to be picked up and caressed. Some babies need sucking purely to help them calm down, and it also helps produce extra milk.
At the beginning of breastfeeding, it is important not to give the newborn fluids and complementary foods. Because of this, the baby takes the breast less often and the flow of milk decreases. We must always remember that breastfeeding is a great opportunity rest for the mother. The father and everyone around him during this period must create a favorable atmosphere and help the woman in running the household.
Special pads
Many people use special pads for breastfeeding. You need to know that this method has its advantages and disadvantages. Nipple shields are special silicone or latex products that should make the process of breastfeeding easier. It is important to use them only when they are truly needed.
Breastfeeding pads are recommended for use by women who have stopped lactation, have cracked nipples, or after severe birth injuries. Also, when a child is teething, the woman has an abnormal nipple structure or there are some peculiarities in the structure of the child’s oral cavity. Breastplates can help when a baby refuses the mother's breast. This usually happens when mom for a long time I expressed milk and gave it to the baby from a bottle. After this, the baby may not want to return to the breast, since it is much easier to get nutrition from a bottle. The shields are shaped like a bottle nipple, so when transitioning from a bottle to the breast, their use is considered appropriate.
At the same time, it is worth knowing that pads sometimes lead to a decrease in milk production, can interfere with sucking, and the feeding process itself becomes much longer. In addition, the baby swallows more air, which leads to the formation of flatulence.
They need to be carefully sterilized, otherwise they can become a source of infection for the mother's breast, and with prolonged use they become addictive.
What should a nursing mother eat?
There are many ways to increase the amount of milk your body produces. You will find recipes for nursing mothers in this article. The diet must be varied; a woman must receive the necessary proportion of vitamins and beneficial elements.
When breastfeeding, you need to drink more fluid, it has a positive effect on lactation, promoting the production of more milk. It is best to opt for compotes, natural juices and tea.
The body must receive sufficient amounts of vitamins during breastfeeding. Therefore, women are recommended to include lean veal and beef, turkey or rabbit meat, meatballs and meatballs in their diet. From fish - pike perch, carp, cod, boiled a couple of times a week.
Cheese and cottage cheese should only be consumed after heat treatment (for example, when cooking cottage cheese casserole), cow's milk drink in small quantities, dairy products only low fat content. Vegetables can be eaten fresh and stewed, more berries and fruits (at least 300 grams per day).
Among the porridges recommended are buckwheat, wheat, corn rice and oatmeal. But semolina should be abandoned in the first months of a child’s life. You can eat Rye bread, dried fruits, butter(about 25 grams per day), vegetable oil(15 grams).
It is necessary to limit the amount of flour and sweets, but some sweets are even beneficial for a young mother. These are marshmallows, marshmallows, low-fat cakes, homemade pastries. Only in small quantities.
Healthy recipes
A woman can get vitamins during breastfeeding from first courses. For example, they recommend soup made from zucchini and fennel. For this recipe use:
- two fresh fennel roots;
- one medium zucchini;
- liter of chicken broth;
- dill and parsley;
- salt and pepper - to taste;
- one tablespoon of butter.
The zucchini needs to be cut into small pieces, just like the fennel roots. Melt the butter and fry the fennel for five minutes before adding the courgette. Then simmer for about ten minutes.
Chop the boiled chicken and add to the broth along with the stewed vegetables.
Among the main courses you can highlight beef in a pot. This is a tasty and light dish that requires only low-fat sour cream and beef fillet. The recipe for nursing mothers is as follows: the fillet needs to be cut crosswise thin layers along the fibers, water each piece olive oil. The meat should be left to marinate in its own juices for a quarter of an hour. Then fry the pieces in hot oil for a couple of minutes on each side. Place in layers in a pot and put in the oven for one hour. Before serving, garnish with fresh dill.
Menstruation while breastfeeding
The issue of the appearance of menstruation while breastfeeding worries many mothers. According to statistics, during breastfeeding they begin in the eighth to ninth month. At the same time, menstruation itself is significantly different from what it was before pregnancy. The pain can be either more severe or, conversely, lessened.
Delayed periods may occur during breastfeeding, especially if breastfeeding is done regularly. And the very first menstruation may be significantly delayed. When female body will finally recover, your periods will come regularly.
It is worth noting that breastfeeding during menstruation is not harmful to the baby. The quality of breast milk is still normal. You can increase the amount of milk natural ways- drink a lot of tea, use other methods for lactation.
Problems with feeding
Mothers often have problems while breastfeeding. It could be a health condition. As a rule, illnesses not related to the breast do not affect the feeding process; exceptions, of course, are tuberculosis and HIV.
Breast-feeding compatible with the use of many medicines, in particular, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, sedative. In most cases, treatment is possible while breastfeeding
You should be concerned if you feel weak or nauseous, depressed, unexplained anxiety or depressed while breastfeeding. This is a reason to immediately consult a doctor so as not to harm yourself and your child.
Problems may arise with your breasts while breastfeeding. These are cracks in the nipples, blockage of the duct, mastitis, thrush, painful feeding due to improper latching on the breast by the child, pain in the nipples that appears after feeding, the appearance of blood in the milk. None of these symptoms should be missed; as soon as they appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will tell you how to get rid of them and normalize the breastfeeding process.
First feeding
It is important to start complementary feeding on time. The scheme of the first complementary feeding during breastfeeding these days is determined by the recommendations of pediatricians and the World Health Organization.
The first complementary foods at four to five months are prescribed only on the recommendations of pediatricians; in most cases, it is not necessary to introduce additional nutrition for the baby before six months. At six months of age, this is due to the growing need for vitamins, protein and minerals. A universal sign by which you can determine whether a child is ready for complementary feeding is the appearance of teeth. But many experts do not advise focusing on this factor, since various diseases, as well as environmental factors can lead to teeth erupting too early or too late. Therefore, the scheme of the first complementary feeding during breastfeeding is often determined strictly individually, based on the doctor’s recommendations.
There are a large number of myths about breastfeeding, most of which are untrue. For example, many people think that breastfeeding is very inconvenient. In fact, it is not feeding itself that causes discomfort, but mistakes during lactation. As a rule, if you change your feeding technique and master proper attachment, the pain should go away.
Another factor that scares many people away is the need to express after each feeding. In fact, this is a stereotype. This should have been done in the past, when women fed once every 6-8 hours. To reduce the risk of mastitis, they pumped. If a woman feeds on demand, she does not need it.
Some people are afraid that breastfeeding may ruin the shape of their breasts. In fact, changes do occur, but at the very beginning of pregnancy, long before the lactation period. The mammary glands enlarge due to the growth of glandular tissue.
The mother’s body is able to independently adapt to the child’s nutritional needs approximately one and a half months after birth. Then he begins to produce as much milk as the baby needs. The feeling of “expanding” of the chest disappears, it becomes soft again.
Similar processes in the breasts and mammary glands occur even in cases where a woman had an abortion in the first months of pregnancy. True, they take a much shorter period of time.
It is also believed that cracks appear if the baby is held at the breast for a long time, so many young mothers try to limit feeding time to a few minutes. It is often important for a child not only to get the necessary amount of nutrients, but also to calm down, and in infancy this is easiest to do with the breast in the mouth. In reality, cracks are formed due to incorrect application, poor skin care of the mammary glands, when a woman begins to use too often disinfectants and soap. Cracks also appear due to frequent use nipples instead of mother's breasts.
None of these reasons have anything to do with how long the baby is fed. The baby should be kept at the breast exactly as long as he needs it.
Women during breastfeeding begin to drink a lot, often through force, this is also a mistake. You need to drink as soon as thirst arises. A nursing mother does not need an excess amount of water.
You cannot feed breast milk all the time; the baby’s stomach must rest from time to time. And this statement is not true. There is no stress on the stomach; the milk in the baby’s stomach only “curds”, after which it immediately enters the intestines. There it is completely absorbed. There is no point at all in artificial breaks during breastfeeding.
You definitely need to sleep at night. Of course, rest is extremely important both for the mother herself and for the rest of the family members, but it is during the period from three o’clock in the morning to eight in the morning that a woman’s body produces greatest number prolactin. This is a special hormone on which the level of lactation for the entire next day depends.
In this regard, doctors advise putting the baby to bed as late as possible, bathing him around 11 p.m., then feeding him and sending him to bed. So he will sleep for 7-8 hours, giving the whole family a rest. Early in the morning you can feed him, and then put him to bed again, and you can fall asleep with the baby.
It is important to remember that even after the introduction of complementary foods, it is mother’s milk that contains most of the substances necessary for the formation of the newborn’s immunity.
The happiest and most long-awaited day has come - the birth of a baby. Long months of waiting, worries and childbirth are behind us. Now the young mother has new responsibilities - caring for her newborn. And the first thing that worries her is the issue of breastfeeding. Therefore, in this article we will look at tips and recommendations for breastfeeding that will help a woman during this important period.
Comfortable feeding positions
It is very important to take a comfortable position when feeding your baby. The feeding process may take a long time, and an uncomfortable position will cause a lot of discomfort. Let's look at several common positions for feeding newborns:
- In a sitting position. Mom sits in a chair, pillows are placed under her elbows and back for comfort. The baby is in his arms, his stomach is pressed against his mother’s stomach, his head is located in the elbow bend, and his mouth is facing the nipple.
- In the side-lying position. The mother lies on her side next to the baby lying on his side. A pillow is placed under the head. The baby's head is located at the level of the nipple. This position is great for late-night snacking and after an episiotomy or cesarean section.
How to apply to the breast
Correct application the child will not allow cracks in the nipples, lactostasis (stagnation of milk in the ducts of the mammary glands), mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands) and other troubles. Therefore, it is very important to learn how to apply it to your breast correctly. To do this, you need to sit comfortably in a chair and position the baby so that his mouth is at nipple level. Then you should lift your breasts and touch the nipple to his lips, this will work for him sucking reflex and he will open his mouth. The breast must be placed in the baby's mouth so that it captures not only the nipple, but also part of the areola.
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There is a situation when the baby grasps the breast correctly, but while sucking he gradually descends to the nipple and bites it. As a result, the woman experiences unpleasant painful sensations. They cannot be tolerated. The child does not know that he is sucking incorrectly. Therefore, if this happens, the nipple should be carefully removed (putting your little finger in the corner of the baby’s mouth) and re-introduced.
Signs of a correct breast latch:
- the baby's mouth is wide open, lips are turned outward;
- a tongue is visible on the lower gum;
- the baby's chin and nose are pressed to the mother's breast, but do not drown in it;
- top part the areola is visible more than the lower one;
- when sucking, no extraneous sounds are heard, except for sips;
- Sucking does not cause unpleasant or painful sensations.
What to do if you can’t avoid cracked nipples
In this case, every effort should be made to heal the cracks as quickly as possible. If they are not deep, then you can continue to breastfeed using special silicone pads which will help reduce painful sensations. For healing, an ointment is used, for example, Traumeel or Bepanten. It is applied after each feeding.
If the cracks are deep and do not heal for a long time (more than 7 days), you should stop breastfeeding for several days and feed the baby with expressed milk.
If your baby chokes while feeding
The baby does not have time to swallow milk and begins to choke due to the strong flow of milk. In this case, the “lying on your back” feeding position will help - the mother lies on her back and places the baby on her stomach.
Do I need to supplement with formula?
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Many mothers, in anticipation of the arrival of milk, begin to supplement their newborn babies with formula, believing that they are not getting enough of colostrum (the secretion of the mammary glands, which is the first nutrition of babies). This should not be done, because colostrum completely satisfies the child’s nutritional needs. The mixture may have a negative effect on lactation. Having eaten the formula, he will not want to suckle and will not receive valuable colostrum. In addition, he may like the nipple on the bottle better, because it is much easier to suck milk out of it.
Supplemental feeding with formula is necessary if the baby does not have enough breast milk. Signs indicating this are: insufficient weight gain (less than 125 grams per week), infrequent urination(less than 6 times per knock), dark color And strong smell urine.
How to care for your breasts
You shouldn’t be too fanatical about washing your mammary glands with soap before each feeding. Soap dries delicate skin nipples and cracks form. And to prevent milk stagnation, it is recommended to perform a light breast massage daily.
Baby's feeding regimen
It is recommended to feed the baby on demand. This way he will always be well-fed and calm (the process of sucking and the closeness of his mother is soothing). The duration of feeding is regulated by the baby - you cannot take him off the breast before he releases the nipple.
Do I need a pacifier?
In most cases, many problems during breastfeeding are caused by the pacifier. The fact is that she and the breast suck differently. To properly grasp the nipple, the baby must open his mouth wide, because only in this way will most of the areola be captured. But to suck a pacifier you don’t need to open it wide. In addition, when sucking a pacifier, one group of facial muscles is involved, and when sucking a breast, a completely different one. The child very quickly remembers the principle of sucking the nipple, and then difficulties begin to arise with the correct grip of the nipple - it arches, is capricious - and these are the first signs of breast refusal.
Also, very often a pacifier causes a lack of breast milk. As you know, for sufficient milk production, the baby must be put to the breast as often as possible (i.e., on demand). If he is offered a pacifier instead of a breast more often, then milk production decreases. As a result, the child does not gain weight well; they begin to supplement him with formula milk, which gradually displaces breast milk.
Thus, the use of a pacifier during breastfeeding is not advisable, especially in the first months of a newborn’s life. He must get used to his mother's nipple, and lactation must also be established.
Should I give water to my baby?
A baby who is breastfed until six months of age (before the introduction of complementary foods) does not need additional fluid, since human milk contains about 80% water, the remaining 20% is carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and microelements. Breast foremilk serves him as drink, and thick hindmilk serves him as food.
Should I express milk after feeding?
If the child is healthy, active, eats with appetite and on demand, then there is no need to express milk after each feeding. However, there are situations when pumping cannot be avoided, for example, in the first days after childbirth, when milk comes in in large volumes and the baby is not able to completely empty the breast. The procedure is usually performed no more than 3 times a day. After some time, provided breastfeeding is properly organized, the woman’s body will begin to produce as much milk as the baby needs.
Should I feed at night?
Breastfeeding your baby at night is especially important. It is at night that what happens in increased quantity production of the hormone prolactin, responsible for lactation.
You should not offer your baby a second breast until he has sucked the first one.
If a woman rushes to give her baby another breast, he will not receive hindmilk, which is rich in nutrients. As a result, he may experience digestive problems - foamy stool, lactose deficiency. It should be changed every 2 hours.
When to introduce complementary foods
It is recommended to begin administering it no earlier than six months of age. Early introduction to complementary foods not only displaces breastfeeding, but can also cause indigestion and allergies in the baby.
Is it possible to breastfeed if mom is sick?
A cold is not a reason to wean a child from breastfeeding. After all, this is how he receives protective antibodies against infection. In addition, nowadays there are many drugs compatible with breastfeeding. Feeding is contraindicated if serious illness, for example, heart failure, serious diseases of the lungs, kidneys, as well as if it is necessary to use medications with high degree toxicity.
Until what age should you feed?
It is recommended to wean your baby from breastfeeding no earlier than 2-3 years. Some women think that one year old baby no longer needs it, because he already receives complete complementary foods from a variety of products. However, breasts are not only a source of food for a baby. At one year old, the baby is not yet psychologically ready to part with her. This could injure him.
Views: 6666 .Improperly organized breastfeeding can lead to health problems for the nursing mother herself and to a decrease, and in the worst case, to cessation of lactation, which, in turn, will negatively affect the health of the baby. Let's figure out what errors occur most often.
The first mistake. Scheduled feeding
Pediatricians and breastfeeding specialists recommend adhering to a free daily routine, in which the child himself sets the optimal routine for himself, based on his needs. Breast milk is fully adapted to gastrointestinal tract baby and is quickly absorbed, so the baby can and should be applied to the breast as often as he wants. This is the so-called feeding on demand, in which the intervals between feedings and the duration of sucking are set by the child himself. The baby's stomach has a small volume and is designed to receive milk in small portions. If the intervals between feedings increase to 3 hours, the baby needs a much larger portion of milk to be full than he can absorb, which leads to overstretching of the stomach walls and regurgitation.
In addition, breastfeeding is hard work for a newborn baby. He may simply be tired and not suck enough milk at one feeding. That is, in one feeding the baby can suck out very little milk, but after 20–30 minutes he asks the breast again to finish eating.
It is important to remember that the more often the mother puts the baby to the breast, the more it will be produced in the following days. Yes, to maintain full lactation At first, at least 10–12 applications per day are necessary. With rare feedings of the baby, insufficient stimulation of the breast occurs and, as a result, a decrease in the amount of milk.
It is recommended to maintain a three-hour interval between feedings only for children who are bottle-fed, since infant formula differs in composition from breast milk and digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates requires a certain time.
Error two. Canceling night feedings
At a time when our mothers and grandmothers were raising children, it was believed that the baby should not bother mom and dad at night. Everyone possible methods(rocking in the arms or in a crib, supplementing with water, sucking a pacifier) parents tried to ensure that the child slept all night without waking up. Night feedings were also “forbidden” because it was believed that at night the child’s stomach should rest from food.
Currently, there is a completely different point of view - children can and should be fed at night. Moreover, the baby should be applied to the breast as many times a night as he wants. The baby's body is designed so that its stomach can digest breast milk without interruption. In addition, after continuous intrauterine nutrition, the baby is not able to withstand long breaks between meals, and it is natural for him to wake up and eat at night.
Night feedings contribute to the production of sufficient milk and the establishment of good lactation. Maximum amount Prolactin (the hormone on which the volume of lactation depends) is formed at night: from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. If the baby is not put to the breast at night, prolactin is produced in small quantities and, consequently, milk production decreases.
Error three. Limit feedings to 10–15 minutes
Properly organized breastfeeding implies that the duration of feeding is set by the child himself. One of the rules for successful lactation is this: the baby should be kept at the breast as long as he needs, i.e. Feeding should end when he releases the breast on his own.
The breastfeeding process takes a different amount of time for each child: some need 5 minutes, others 30 minutes. Some babies suckle quickly and come off the breast on their own, others fall asleep while doing so, while others suckle for a long time and with pleasure. To a large extent, this depends on the child’s temperament, adaptation processes, the state of his nervous system and age. As a rule, babies suckle for a long time in the first weeks of life, when falling asleep, when they are sick, or in the presence of psychological discomfort. Short feedings are most often associated with the need to quench thirst or calm down at the mother’s breast when stressful situation, fear, pain.
Limiting the amount of time your baby can breastfeed can have unpleasant consequences. If the mother interrupts feeding ahead of time, the baby does not receive the “back” portion of milk, rich in nutrients and enzymes. Undigested substances (lactose) from the “front” portion of milk enter the large intestine, where they cause digestive disorders in the form of fermentation, increased gas formation, stool disorders, abdominal colic. All this, in turn, leads to poor weight gain in the baby, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
In addition, poor emptying of the breast due to insufficient sucking leads to a decrease in the production of a new portion of milk, and can also contribute to the development of milk stagnation (lactostasis).
Error four. Supplementary feeding with formula
Many nursing mothers think that if the baby is often put to the breast, this means that he is not getting enough to eat and needs additional formula feeding. Actually this is not true.
For babies in the first months of life, frequent breastfeeding is a normal and natural process. The fact is that at the age of up to 3 months, the baby needs the breast not only for food. With the help of sucking, he satisfies his many needs: for physical and emotional contact with his mother, for warmth, security, for constant care and love. When experiencing any discomfort, the baby calls his mother. We should not forget that young children have a well-developed sucking reflex and the baby needs to satisfy his need for sucking.
Particularly frequent breastfeeding is typical for children in the first month of life. A newborn baby can ask for the breast up to 12–16 times a day. But from about 2 months he begins to do this less often, and by 3 months the baby develops its own feeding schedule with breaks of 2-3 hours.
Error five. Adding water to the baby.
The question of whether it is necessary to supplement the baby with water is one of the most frequently asked questions to specialists. The thing is that in Soviet times it was customary to give the baby water between feedings. Today, one of the rules for successful breastfeeding, set out by the World Health Organization, is: “No supplementation or introduction of other foreign liquids and products for up to 6 months.” Thus, a breastfed baby should not be given any additional fluids until 6 months of age.
There is a simple explanation for this rule. Breast milk contains a sufficient amount of water, approximately 85–90%, and is able to fully satisfy the baby's fluid needs. In addition, supplementing with water negatively affects lactation. Even a small amount of water fills the child's stomach and creates a feeling of false satiety. He is less likely to want to latch on to the breast, and the amount of milk produced decreases.
Error six. Pumping after every feeding
If the mother feeds the baby on demand, then there is no need to regularly pump the breast. In this case, sufficient stimulation of the mammary glands occurs and the woman’s body itself “calculates” how much milk to produce. A nursing mother who puts her baby to the breast on demand and expresses her breasts after each feeding provokes an increase in milk production. Thus, the breast receives “false” information about how much milk has been used. TO next feeding The milk will arrive in quantity: sucked by the baby plus expressed. The baby cannot eat the large volume of milk produced; it stagnates in the breast and, as a result, the likelihood of developing lactostasis and mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands) increases.
Pumping the breast may be necessary in case of problems such as breast engorgement, in the treatment of lactostasis, mastitis, cracked nipples, in case of insufficient milk to increase its production, in case of forced separation of mother and baby.
Error seventh. Drinking large amounts of liquid
The most common mistake breastfeeding mothers make is eating large quantity liquids. Many people think that more woman drinks fluids, the more milk she produces. In fact, the process of milk production is regulated not by the amount of fluid entering the mother’s body, but by pituitary hormones (prolactin and oxytocin).
In addition, breastfeeding experts say that excess fluid not only does not stimulate lactation, but can also reduce it. Excess fluid intake often leads to the formation of more milk than the baby needs, which, in turn, often causes lactostasis. For stable lactation, a nursing mother needs to drink 1.5–2 liters per day.
Error eight. Following a strict diet
Many women associate breastfeeding with strict, which until recently doctors recommended that mothers observe during natural feeding. The purpose of the diet was to exclude from the nursing woman’s menu all foods that could cause allergic reactions or digestive disorders in the baby. A competent approach to the issue of nutrition for a nursing mother at present is to monitor the baby’s reaction to a particular product eaten by the mother, and not refuse them. That is, products that cause disturbances in the baby are excluded after the fact, and not in advance.
In addition, a nursing mother should not eat twice as much as usual. This is nothing more than a myth. The volume of foods eaten does not affect the quantity and quality of milk produced. Every day, a nursing mother should receive nutritious and balanced diet. Its calorie content should be 400–600 kcal per day more than usual, since approximately the same number of calories are spent per day on the production of breast milk.
To avoid mistakes when establishing lactation, if various questions and difficulties arise, a nursing mother can seek help from a pediatrician or a breastfeeding specialist.
Neonatologists consider breastfeeding newborns important stage, because at birth little man The type and source of power changes, as well as its mode. Breastfeeding newborns - important aspect adaptation to life outside the womb. This process raises many questions for young mothers. We will try to answer them in this article.
Feeding technique
Many expectant mothers, while still carrying a child, decide for themselves that they will certainly breastfeed the child. And this correct solution, because breast milk is the ideal first food for a baby. Breastfeeding newborns is a natural process that sometimes causes some difficulties. To establish favorable feeding, a young mother must know the technique of proper breastfeeding.Basic moments:
1. Baby's latching on the nipple.
For the first time, the newborn reflexively finds the nipple, grabs it with his mouth, sucks the breast and swallows. A newborn cannot independently hold the breast and grasp the nipple correctly, so he needs the help of his mother.
Correct attachment to the breast, when the baby takes the nipple and the area around it with his mouth, keeping his face close to the breast.
At correct position body, the baby will be able to be completely satisfied, completely emptying the mother’s breast.
2. Breast selection.
Which breast should I offer my baby? Is it possible to give a baby the same breast? These questions are often of interest to new mothers.
Breast milk is divided into fore and hind milk, differing in thickness and content of beneficial nutrients. Foremilk is more liquid and enters the baby's mouth from the moment sucking begins. Hindmilk begins to be produced a little later and is richer in nutrients and fats.
The baby should receive both types of milk; therefore, breasts should be alternated. However, remember that the composition of breast milk changes every three hours. If given at the baby's request every time new breasts, he will only receive foremilk.
3. Position in the mother's arms.
Successful breastfeeding for newborns depends on how comfortable the baby is in the mother's arms.
The child’s position is considered correct if the following rules are met:
- His little body is turned towards his mother,
- The face is located close to the chest,
- The mouth is open and “aimed” at the nipple.
4. Frequency of feedings.
Many young mothers have heard that the feeding regimen has great importance. This statement is true, but not for newborns, but for babies older than six months.
A newborn is given breastfeeding upon his first request. Each child has his own personality, so he will have his own feeding regime. And frequent breastfeeding during this period will help to establish full lactation.
Breastfeeding difficulties
During the process of breastfeeding, a young mother may encounter many problems along the way, ranging from the baby’s refusal to breastfeed, the formation of cracks in the nipples and ending with lactostasis.Let's look at these problems in more detail.
Sometimes the baby refuses to take the breast. One reason may be improper nipple latching. The mother’s task is to help the baby by placing him more comfortably in her arms, taking a warm shower and drinking lactation tea to expand the milk ducts. This way you will make the sucking process easier for your baby, and he will stop being capricious.
Children 2-4 months old may sometimes refuse to breastfeed due to difficulty sucking. The baby makes great efforts to get the milk to start flowing. In this regard, the baby begins to get angry, cry and may refuse to breastfeed. If at such a moment the mother shows weakness and gives him a bottle, she risks ending lactation completely because of this. The solution to the problem is to put the baby to the breast as often as possible.
Sometimes breast refusal may be due to the baby’s poor health. A young mother will not always be able to immediately understand what is tormenting her baby, because the symptoms may not be obvious: gas, stomatitis, a mild cold lead to difficulties in sucking. If you refuse breastfeeding, it is better to visit a pediatrician to establish the reason together.
Cracked nipples are quite painful and complicate the feeding process. The solution to the problem is to lubricate the nipples with ointment, which will heal the cracks and relieve inflammation and pain.
Enough a common occurrence Nursing mothers experience lactostasis - blockage of the milk duct. Chest pain, lumps appear, body temperature rises along with general poor health. These symptoms should be brought to the attention of a doctor, who will advise how to get rid of this problem.
- In the first hours of the baby's life, place him on the mother's breast,
- Until six months, give the child only breastfeeding, without using complementary foods and water,
- Feed the baby on demand,
- Starting from 6-8 months, try giving complementary foods without restricting access to the breast.
Milk contains vitamins, microelements and other valuable substances. Therefore, it is recommended to continue feeding until two years of age or more.
There are also contraindications to breastfeeding:
- Cancers accompanied by the use of heavy drugs that can pass into breast milk,
- Infectious diseases
- Tuberculosis in open form,
- HIV-positive status in the mother,
- Mental illnesses that require the use of drugs harmful to the baby during treatment, there is also a possibility of the mother causing harm to the child.
- Complications during childbirth associated with severe blood loss.
- If the baby is diagnosed serious pathologies genetic nature,
- Prematurity with low weight, respiratory failure.