Feeding an infant. All about breastfeeding. Rules of breastfeeding, the mechanism of milk formation, expressing milk, cracked nipples, diet and hygiene of a nursing mother

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 on proper breastfeeding

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, the lips extended into a tube, and the tongue to be in the back of the mouth.
Make sure that the baby grasps the nipple and areola of the nipple in his mouth. The baby's lower lip should be below the nipple and the chin should touch the breast.

What to do if breastfeeding is not possible? 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. Closer to the composition of human milk are adapted mixtures based on goat milk with the protein beta-casein, for example, the gold standard of baby food - MD mil SP “Kozochka”. Thanks to this mixture, the baby receives all the necessary substances that help the child’s body 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. At the 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 of 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 newborns at the initial stage of breastfeeding sedatives that imitate the female breast, such as a nipple.
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 proper 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 necessarily contain folic acid and iron. But not everyone has a large amount of 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.

The need to breastfeed may arise immediately after birth or some time after birth. In the first days, colostrum forms in a woman’s breasts. After three days, the colostrum in the breasts of the woman who has given birth is replaced by milk. It rushes to the mammary glands, the woman’s breasts begin to “burst” from the arriving milk.

If you don’t pump, then after a few feedings the amount will return to normal and will meet the baby’s needs.

During the period of milk flow, a woman experiences painful sensations, so she wants to give her baby the breast more often in order to free up the engorged breasts. Since a newborn sleeps a lot, the question arises how to wake up a newborn for feeding.

Here are some tips on how you can do this:

Give the breast to a sleeping baby. If an hour or an hour and a half has passed after feeding, the baby can begin to suck without waking up.
You can massage your baby's palms and feet. Massaging touches stimulate brain activity, increase blood flow and lead to awakening.
Turn on the music— at first quietly and then begin to amplify its sounds. You cannot turn on the background music suddenly. This will frighten the baby and cause sharp crying. The volume of sounds should increase gradually.
Unwaddle the baby contact with cool air will cause it to awaken.

How much milk does a baby eat at one time?

How much a newborn should eat at one feeding is determined by his age (1 or 4 weeks). Its amount can be measured by weighing the baby before and after feeding. From the difference in the results obtained, the increase that the baby ate is obtained.

In medicine, the following standards are used to determine how much a newborn eats at one feeding:

1st day- 10 g per feeding, for a total of 10-12 feedings 100-120 ml per day.
2nd day- single dose - 20 g, daily dose - 200-240 ml.
3rd day- per feeding - 30 g, per day - 300-320 ml.

So, by the 10th day of life, the feeding dose increases to 100 g at a time and up to 600 ml of milk per day. Such norms are maintained for up to 1.5 months. The total amount of milk consumed is 1/5 of the baby's weight. At 2 months, the baby eats 120-150 g at a time and up to 800 ml per day (1/6 of its weight).

Frequent feedings are normal

Free feeding of the baby presupposes that he can choose the time intervals between feedings, their duration and the amount of milk consumed. The listed factors depend on the character and characteristics of the child himself.

There are children who eat quickly and a lot, but are in a hurry, often choke on milk, and burp after feeding. There are other babies who suckle slowly, often looking up from the breast and looking thoughtfully at their surroundings. All people are different, and children and their eating habits are also different.

How often to feed your newborn breast milk

Recommendations from pediatricians twenty years ago on how to feed a newborn spoke of mandatory adherence to the regimen - feeding the baby no more than every 3-4 hours. Do not hold it near the breast for more than 10-15 minutes and be sure to express the remaining milk. It’s good that these recommendations are history. They caused too many eating disorders in children and mastitis in mothers.

Modern pediatricians do not set strict limits on how much time should pass between feedings. The frequency of feedings is determined by the child’s needs and cannot be standard for all occasions.

If the baby was active, moved his arms and legs a lot, swam in the bathroom, he spent a lot of energy. When feeding, he will suck more milk. If the time between feedings passed calmly, the baby slept or lay in the crib, and did not actively communicate with the outside world, most likely his appetite will be modest, since the need for food has not reached its maximum.

How to properly feed a newborn: mother and baby poses

When feeding a baby, you can sit, stand, lie, or position yourself in any position that is comfortable for mother and baby. The feeding position should be comfortable, since the time for this is quite long - from 20 to 50 minutes a day.

Lying on your side- mother and baby are facing each other. In this position it is convenient to feed from the breast that is located below. If necessary, the mother can lean forward a little and give the baby the breast that is higher.
Lying jack- mother and baby can sit on the sofa (bed) with their heads facing each other (with their feet in opposite directions). How to feed a newborn lying down - side by side or jack - depends on the time of day. At night it is more convenient to lie down next to the baby. During the day - you can use both poses.
Reclining in a chair- baby on top. It is recommended to feed in this position to those mothers who produce too much milk. Positioning the baby slightly on top reduces the flow of milk and allows the baby to suck as much as necessary.
Sitting- the mother sits, the baby lies on her lap and takes the breast as if “from below”. The mother holds the baby with her hand, bending it at the elbow. In order for the baby to be taller and reach the chest, a pillow is placed on the mother’s lap.
Sitting from under the arm— for such feeding you need a sofa and a large pillow. The baby is placed on a pillow so that he is at the level of his mother's chest. The mother sits on the sofa and takes the baby as if “from under her arm.”
standing- this feeding option is also possible, especially if you are walking outside in a sling.

It is important to know: When feeding, the lobule of the mammary gland towards which the baby's chin is directed is most emptied. Therefore, in order to fully suck milk from the gland, it is necessary to position the baby in different ways at each feeding.

How to properly position a newborn for feeding

The health of the mother's mammary gland depends on the correct attachment of the baby. To prevent injury to the nipple, it is necessary to place the entire areola into the mouth. How to properly breastfeed a newborn?

The baby's mouth should be wide open (as when yawning). The mouth opens wider if you lift your face up (do this experiment with yourself - lower your face and open your mouth, and then lift it and also open your mouth). Therefore, for proper feeding, position your baby so that he slightly raises his face towards your chest.
When latched correctly, the nipple should touch the baby's roof of mouth. This application is called asymmetrical. The nipple is directed not to the center of the mouth, but to the upper palate.
The asymmetrical application is visible from the outside - that part of the alveolus that is located under the lower lip is completely inside the mouth. The part of the alveoli that is located behind the upper lip may not be taken completely.
With proper sucking, the baby’s tongue “hugs” the nipple and alveolus from below. In this position, it does not compress the chest and does not create pain. The tongue protrudes from the mouth further than it is located at normal times (without feeding). The tongue does not stick out well with a shortened frenulum (skin membrane under the tongue). Therefore, if feeding your baby is painful for you, take your child to the doctor. If the frenulum is too short, a surgical incision is made.
It is necessary to take the breast away from the baby when he lets go of it himself. If he no longer sucks, but just lies there and holds the nipple in his mouth, give him the opportunity to rest. You should not pull out the nipple by force. If you really want to get up, you can easily press the baby’s chin with your finger or insert your little finger into the corner of the mouth. The baby will open his mouth and you will be able to latch on to the breast without pain.

When feeding, the baby's head should not be rigidly fixed. He should be able to tear himself away from the nipple and let his mother know that he is full.

Regurgitation after feeding: causes and concerns

Regurgitation accompanies almost every feeding of a baby under 3 months of age. Sometimes regurgitation is so strong that milk comes out of the stomach not only through the mouth, but also through the nose. Normally, a baby’s regurgitation should not exceed 10-15 ml (that’s 2-3 tablespoons).

Why does a newborn spit up after feeding? The reason is the swallowing of air and its subsequent exit from the child’s esophagus. In order for the baby to burp immediately after feeding, you need to hold him upright. Otherwise, the belching will take place in a lying position, and milk will be expelled from the child’s stomach along with the air.

Some children swallow too much air, then belching occurs right during feeding. Such babies must be torn away from food in the middle of sucking and held vertically for several minutes.

We list the reasons for regurgitation in newborns after feeding:

While sucking, the baby rested his nose on his chest, breathed through his mouth and therefore swallowed air.
For bottle-fed babies, the hole in the nipple is too large.
Too much milk volume or insufficient small stomach volume. The baby overeats and returns some of the milk back (the part that he cannot absorb).
Digestive problems: lack of bacteria in the stomach and intestines, colic, which results in increased gas formation.
Lactose intolerance.
Central nervous system disorders, birth injuries.

In order not to stimulate regurgitation, there is no need to stir the baby after feeding. You need to put it on its side or back and let it lie quietly for 15-20 minutes. The best option is to feed the baby before falling asleep.

Regurgitation in newborns after feeding should not cause concern if:

The child is gaining weight steadily.
The baby is not moody, irritable or lethargic.
After burping, the baby does not cry.
Milk from regurgitation is white in color without a strong unpleasant odor.

If a baby spits up yellow milk with an unpleasant odor, this requires medical consultation and treatment.

Hiccups after feeding: why they occur and what to do

Hiccups after feeding in newborns are not a pathology. It occurs as a result of contractions of the diaphragm, a muscle located between the digestive organs and the lungs. Why does a newborn hiccup after feeding?

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Muscle contractions occur due to pressure from the stomach walls. When gas is formed or air is swallowed, the stomach bursts.

Therefore, hiccups often occur before regurgitation. If the baby burps, the hiccups go away.

Here are the factors that contribute to hiccups:

A newborn hiccups after feeding if he ate too quickly and swallowed a lot of air.
Newborns hiccup when overfed. If too much food is eaten, the stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm and causes it to contract.
The baby hiccups if he has frequent intestinal colic. They are accompanied by the formation of gases that accumulate in the intestines and stomach. When feeding, gases stretch the walls of the stomach and put pressure on the diaphragm.

What to do if your newborn has hiccups after feeding:

Do not worry. Hiccups are almost never a sign of illness or other pathology. As a rule, it goes away with age, when the baby’s stomach becomes more spacious.
Next time- do not feed so forcefully, feed calmly and let him lie on his stomach before feeding (prevent flatulence).

Artificial feeding: what mixtures to feed

Artificial feeding of infants should be avoided. Breast milk is incomparably healthier, more nutritious, it is better absorbed and rarely causes allergies. The best choice is to feed a newborn baby with breast milk.

The transition to artificial formula is justified only if the mother is ill, which does not allow her to breastfeed her child. The question of which formula is best to feed a newborn is decided after analyzing its composition (it is written on the packaging).

The basis of the mixture is whey, which has undergone hydrolysis (decomposition), demineralization and is easily absorbed in the baby’s esophagus. This mixture is called adapted, it is hypoallergenic.

Worse for a newborn is a casein-based formula. This component is absorbed more slowly in the child's body. Casein-based formulas are more suitable for artificial nutrition of children after six months. They are classified as partially adapted.

It is also good if the mixture contains bifidobacteria. Such mixtures include Similak, Nestozhen, Impress, Enfamil.

For children with lactose intolerance, formulas based on soy milk (Nutria-soy, Bona-soy) are used.

What should a feeding bottle be like?

Are there any requirements for feeding bottles for newborns? Which bottles are best for feeding newborns?

Here's what to look for when choosing a bottle:

The hole in the nipple should be small, the baby must “work hard” to pull the milk out of the bottle.
When feeding, the nipple should always be filled with milk.
A glass bottle is better for feeding than a plastic one. Glass is an inert material, while plastic is made from food-grade polycarbonate. It may contain a number of components that are not entirely beneficial for the baby.
It is necessary to change nipples every 2-3 weeks. The hole in them stretches and becomes too large. A nipple shape with an anti-vacuum skirt is preferable. The latex nipple is softer and cannot be boiled. Silicone is tougher, better imitates breasts and can easily withstand boiling.
The simple shape of the bottle makes it easy to clean.
The special anti-colic shape of the bottle is curved and prevents the swallowing of air (special valves). They do not allow air bubbles from the bottle into the stomach.

How to bottle feed a newborn:

Hold the baby in your arms so that skin-to-skin contact occurs.
Hold the bottle with your hands rather than propping it up with pillows (to prevent your baby from choking).
The pacifier should be aimed at the baby's palate.

Sucking from a bottle is easier than pulling milk out of the mother's breast (the mouth does not open so wide, you do not need to pull or suck hard). When artificial feeding, it is necessary to imitate the mother's breast: pick up a hard nipple, make a small hole in it.

Breastfeeding is the best feeding option for newborns. With breast milk, the baby receives all the microelements and vitamins necessary for its further development and growth. This method of feeding is the safest, most convenient and economical.

Breastfeeding is an inherently natural process, which in most cases should proceed without problems and bring joy to mother and baby. It has long been noted that breastfeeding calms the baby, gives him a feeling of security and a feeling of closeness with the most important person - his mother. But not all mothers manage to easily and quickly establish proper breastfeeding. We hope that the tips and recommendations below will help women in this important matter.

No. 1: Early breastfeeding: establishing contact with the baby

Experts have found that the sooner a baby is put to the breast, the faster breastfeeding will be established. It is recommended to put the newborn to the mother’s breast for the first time no later than 1 hour after birth., therefore, in many maternity hospitals they practice latching a baby in the first minutes after birth. It is very important for the baby to receive colostrum, which appears in the mother immediately after birth and is beneficial in its properties.

Early attachment contributes not only to successful lactation, but also to the establishment of the first contact between mother and child "skin to skin". This is their first meeting, direct contact, touch. It is especially important for a newborn to feel the closeness of the mother and hear her heartbeat. Plus, the first application promotes faster passage of the placenta in women in labor, and contributes to the formation of intestinal microflora and immunity in the newborn baby.

Pediatrician, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor Alla Pavlovna Surovtseva talks about the first application:

No. 2: Correct attachment is the basis for successful feeding

During the first feeding, it is important that the baby latch onto the breast correctly. Doctors should help the new mother and check the baby’s sucking reflex.

If the newborn was not attached to the breast correctly, the mother will have to face a number of troubles:

cracked nipples;
mastitis and lactostasis;
poor milk flow;
child's refusal to breastfeed.

To avoid such problems, a woman in labor should consult with doctors and during each feeding, monitor the correct attachment of the baby to the breast.

Firstly, a woman should choose a position that is comfortable for herself and her newborn. Feeding in a sitting position or lying on your side is considered optimal. These positions help create a comfortable feeding environment and ensure good milk flow. (See article about everyone).
Secondly, you need to watch how the baby grabs the breast. It is considered correct to capture not only the nipple, but also the area around it.
Third, the mother should hold the breast and slightly direct it towards the baby’s mouth.

Initially, correct application will protect the woman from cracks and abrasions of the nipples, and lactostasis. When applied correctly, the baby will actively suck and eat. If the attachment is incorrect, the mother will experience inconvenience and even pain during feeding, and the baby will also find it uncomfortable and difficult to suck, and he may completely refuse breastfeeding.

If the newborn does not latch onto the breast correctly, you need to interrupt feeding and offer him the breast again, substituting it for the correct latch. Don't be afraid or insecure. The baby will calmly accept this situation and will soon understand how to breastfeed.

But the mother’s uncertainty, in addition to various kinds of troubles, can also result in retraining the child to grasp correctly, which will take about 7-10 days. In some cases, it is improper attachment to the breast that is the primary reason for a newborn’s refusal to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding and child care specialist Natalya Kudryashova tells and shows how to properly put a baby to the breast:

No. 3: Feeding on demand is an important condition for breastfeeding

Just a few years ago, feeding by the hour was considered correct. In accordance with this, the child should be fed at certain intervals (usually every 3 hours).

These days, the rules of breastfeeding have changed somewhat. Modern experts believe that for successful lactation and the absence of problems, it is necessary to feed the child on demand.

Each newborn needs an individual feeding schedule. In this regard, it is important to listen to the needs of the child and satisfy them upon request. Offer your breast whenever your baby is fussy, whimpers, or opens his mouth in search of a source of milk. Even if the previous feeding was an hour ago. In addition, frequent feeding helps increase milk supply and better lactation.

There is no need to worry that your baby will overeat when feeding on demand. Firstly, the baby will not eat more than he needs. Secondly, his stomach is adapted to the rapid absorption of breast milk. After some time, the child will form his own schedule, which will optimally suit his needs.

Feeding on demand contributes to the creation of psycho-emotional comfort for the newborn. The baby feels that his needs are met in a timely manner, which means he is important and needed, he is loved. Such children grow up more balanced, calm and confident compared to those who were fed over time.

No. 4: Duration of feeding: how long should the baby breastfeed?

The duration of feeding depends on several factors:

the baby's sucking reflex and the efforts he makes;
correct attachment to the breast;
satiation of the child.

On average, the feeding process lasts 20-30 minutes. However, there is no need to limit feeding to a strict time frame. The baby will remove himself from the breast when he is satisfied. The duration of feeding is due to the fact that at the beginning of feeding the baby receives early milk, rich in water, minerals and carbohydrates (i.e. the baby drinks), and after 3-6 minutes of sucking it reaches hind milk, which is rich in fats and proteins. those. begins to eat fully.

In some cases, a baby may suckle at the breast not only because of a feeling of hunger, but also in order to calm down and feel safe being close to his mother. Do not deprive your child of this opportunity. In this way he seeks contact with his mother and maintains contact with her. This explains the peaceful sleep of newborns after breastfeeding: having calmed down and having eaten, babies fall asleep sweetly, feeling completely safe.

As the baby grows, he will learn to quickly satisfy his need for satiation and will find other ways to establish contact with his mother. This means that feeding time will be significantly reduced. But in the first months, be sure to give the newborn the opportunity to stay at the breast as much as he wants.

See how long to breastfeed by time:

No. 5: Alternate application

Correct breastfeeding largely depends on placing the baby one at a time to the breast. During one feeding, the mother should offer the baby only one breast, and during the next feeding, the other. This is due not only to the gradual accumulation of milk in the mammary glands, but also to its composition.

So, over the course of several minutes of sucking, the baby absorbs early milk, which satisfies its need for fluid. This is liquid milk containing water, carbohydrates, and minerals. Only after 3-6 minutes does late milk begin to be released. It is thicker and rich in healthy fats and nutrients. If a woman changes breasts during one feeding, the baby may not receive late milk, which is valuable in its composition. As a result, the newborn may remain hungry and may not receive the necessary microelements.

In addition, alternate feeding is also useful for the mother: excess milk will not be retained in her breasts, and the mammary glands quickly adapt to the established regime.

When the baby grows up (5-6 months), he may not have enough milk from one breast. Only in this case can you supplement him with the second breast.

No. 6: Feed at night

At night it is also necessary to feed the newborn according to his demand. This will provide peace of mind to both the child and the parents. Night feedings help maintain lactation and produce sufficient milk. At first, the baby may need 2-3 attachments at night.

To make it easier to feed their baby at night, mothers often resort to co-sleeping. This allows you to feel the baby, quickly respond to his needs, and offer him the breast without getting out of bed.

But if a mother decides to sleep with her baby, she should be especially careful and careful not to crush him during sleep. You also need to wake up for night feeding, and not feed the baby “through sleep”.

Young parents consider the optimal option when the baby’s crib is moved close to their bed, and one side of it is open. This allows the baby to occupy a separate place, but be in close proximity to the parents. And the mother can at any time bring the newborn closer to her and feed him.

See a lactation consultant talking about night feedings:

Thus, properly organizing breastfeeding is a process that does not require any effort or special skills. If a woman encounters any difficulties, she should consult with specialists. We should not forget that Breastfeeding takes time to organize. But loving mothers can easily endure all the troubles associated with the breastfeeding period, because the benefits of breast milk for a newborn are priceless. No expensive formula contains as many nutrients as breast milk. Only breast milk acts as a natural defense for the newborn against bacteria and contributes to the formation of immunity.

In addition, breastfeeding is not only a natural and necessary process, but also an important moment in establishing emotional contact between mother and child.

More on the topic (posts from this section)

Nature has made the female body ideal, capable of bearing and growing a new life without artificial formula and pumping. Breastfeeding is a natural process that does not cause discomfort to the baby or the mother herself. If cracks appear on the nipples, the baby is capricious, refusing to eat, it’s time to reconsider the technique and methods of “feeding” the mammary glands.

Perfect time

You can’t listen to the advice of newly minted grandmothers who know “what’s best” and put your baby to your bust only on a schedule. In the first 4–8 days after discharge, the baby will literally hang on the mother’s chest. This is necessary so that the baby develops his own feeding schedule, and the female body understands how much milk should be produced per day.

Having survived a week of a kind of slavery, the young mother will have the opportunity to relax and mind her own business. The baby will ask for the breast a maximum of 12 times a day, and will be full within 20 minutes, and then sleep soundly. Well-fed children are rarely capricious, gain weight faster than others, and get sick less. Mother's milk is a source of a stable immune system.

You need to offer food to your baby before bed, after waking up, and in situations when he is about to cry. You cannot refuse night feeding, otherwise lactation will worsen. And in order not to run to the baby’s crib twenty times in three hours, you can put the baby next to you.

Choosing a position

The success of feeding depends on the position in which both the woman and the baby are. It is important for the baby to feel safe, and not to balance in the air between the mother’s body and her hands. There are several things to consider that will make breastfeeding easier:

The baby should press against the woman not with his back or side, but with his stomach.
Hold the baby tightly so that he does not slip or fall. You can put it next to you on the bed and press it to your body with your hands.
You cannot firmly fix the child’s head in a certain position. He himself moves closer to his mother’s bust, and not vice versa. The lower part of the head should be supported so that the neck remains free and the baby does not rest his chin on his chest.
A woman should not be tense or feel discomfort. A comfortable position helps you relax and makes feeding easier.

Seated position
You can lean your back on the sofa or headboard, placing the baby in your arm, or lean over him. If he eats the right breast, you should clasp him with your left limb. The hand holds the head, and the child’s body lies on the forearm and rests against the bent elbow.

Option for women after cesarean section:

Turn the baby's butt towards the chest so that his legs are behind his mother's back.
Place him on a special or regular pillow, turning him on his side so that his stomach is in contact with the nursing woman's body. The baby's lips come into contact with the mammary gland.
Support the lower part of your head and neck with your palms. Use your elbow to press the baby towards you so that he does not slide off the pillow.

Almost a resort
Mom can relax by lying on her side and placing her baby next to her. When offering the lower breast, you should support the baby's head, but not restrict the movement of small arms and legs. If it is difficult for a baby to suck milk from the breast, or it stagnates, it is advised to give him the upper gland. Having placed a pillow under her head, the mother bends slightly over the baby and places her free palm on his back or butt.

Tired mothers can place their newborns on a pillow, remembering to hold them, and offer the breast. If the first signs of lactostasis appear, it is advised to try a position where a woman with a baby lies in a jack.

Anxious eaters
Little ones who like to wave their arms or choke on milk will love the supine position. Mom should place a pillow or several under herself, taking a semi-sitting position. Hold the baby close to you with your tummy and move him closer to the food source.

If milk stagnates in the bust, it is recommended to feed the baby while standing on all fours. You can turn to the baby at different angles, choosing the most comfortable one. There is nothing funny or ugly about this position, because it helps a woman avoid mastitis.

Activating reflexes

Breast for a child is like a huge sandwich with ten layers of sausage for an adult. Delicious, but how to put it in your mouth? Nature has prudently placed the necessary reactions in the baby’s head, but they must be triggered.

Place the mammary gland opposite the nose, and not the baby’s lips or chin. Otherwise, he will not be able to open his mouth as wide as required.
Touch the tip of the baby's nose and lower lip with your nipple or finger. This is a kind of signal for the brain that awakens appetite and forces you to look for a source of food.
If the baby can’t figure out what to do with his mother’s breasts, it is advised to express some milk and wet the baby’s lips with it, or drink it from a spoon. Having remembered the native taste, he will definitely want to continue the meal.

Responsible moment

When the baby realizes that it’s time for a good snack and opens his mouth wide, you need to slightly flatten the mammary gland.

Wrap your fingers around the sides, a few centimeters above the areola.
Squeeze so that the nipple comes forward.

The mammary gland should fit compactly into the baby's open mouth so that he captures as much as possible.

Correct if:

The nipple rests on the baby's palate, as if inviting “come to me.” This gesture forces the child to actively work with the lower jaw, drinking all the milk to the last drop.
Almost the entire areola disappears in the baby's mouth. If a child “terrorizes” only the nipple, cracks appear on the chest, and the baby himself has to work a lot with his jaw to get food. The baby begins to get nervous and eventually refuses breastfeeding.
Mom doesn't feel pain. Discomfort is the first signal that the process is going wrong and something needs to be changed.
The baby's lower lip protrudes forward, and a tongue may rest on it. His cheeks are rounded rather than sunken in, and his jaw muscles are not visible. This means that the milk flows well, and the baby does not have to try his best.
After feeding, the mammary gland is completely emptied, or baby food remains “at the bottom.”

You need to insert the breast when the baby opens his mouth wide, as if yawning. The lips at this moment resemble the wings of a butterfly. If you try to push the nipple into a half-open mouth, the baby will only grab part of the bust, and it will be uncomfortable for him to eat, he will quickly get tired and remain hungry.

Movements should be fast so that the baby does not have time to close his jaws. If the mother feels pain when the nipple is in the baby's mouth, she should tickle the baby or press on the chin. Did not help? It is advised to pinch your nostrils to block the air supply. When the baby spits out the breast, remove your fingers.

Important: Sometimes children become capricious, pushing away or spitting out the mammary glands. You can't give up. You should calmly continue to offer the baby a pacifier until he agrees to have breakfast or lunch.

Common mistakes

Infants from birth to six months do not need anything other than breast milk. The exception is for bottle-fed children. Quite often, new parents, under pressure from “experienced” relatives, make mistakes.

To prevent the child from giving up natural food ahead of time and not wanting to get food from the breast on his own, you should not give him a bottle. It's much easier to work with your jaw, squeezing milk out of a rubber thing, than from your mother's bust.
It is better to offer a breast rather than a pacifier to a crying baby. She is small, and the child may forget how to open his mouth wide enough to accommodate the nipple and areola. Pacifiers and bottles create an incorrect bite in the baby, which causes the mother's bust to suffer and cracks to appear.
The baby has enough milk. There is no need to top it up with boiled water, juices or vegetable purees. Extra food is a direct path to stomach upsets, colic and diseases of the digestive organs.
The baby is fed from one breast, rather than alternating. The first milk is liquid and replaces water. The leftovers are thicker, colostrum-like, and have a high concentration of nutrients. The baby should empty one mammary gland, and next time the second. This is how mom protects herself from stagnation and mastitis.
The baby not only needs to suck, but also to breathe. It’s correct when his chin is pressed against the woman’s bust, and there is a small gap between the chest and nose. The baby, who lacks oxygen, begins to choke, becomes nervous, and refuses to continue the banquet.
Do not suddenly pull the nipple out of the baby's mouth. A woman injures her own breasts and scares the child. You should loosen your grip by putting your little finger in the corner of your mouth and gently pry the mammary gland.
The baby should not slurp or smack loudly or chew nipples. This means that it is difficult for him to get milk, and he should take it out, and then properly insert the breast between the baby’s jaws.

Advice: If the mammary glands are bursting with milk, it is recommended to express it a little so that the bust becomes softer and more pliable, and it is more convenient for the baby to eat.

Special shields will help mothers with inverted nipples adapt to breastfeeding. Although the child adapts to almost any shape and type of mammary glands, the main thing is to offer them to him correctly.

Milk is the baby’s first defense against disease and the guarantor of its normal development. Mothers who have mastered the subtleties and nuances of breastfeeding receive only pleasure and positive emotions from the process. They rarely experience inflammation of the mammary glands, mastitis and cracked nipples.

Video: how to put a baby to the breast

Breastfeeding is very beneficial for children. With milk, the mother transfers immunity to the baby for the first six months of life, important nutrients and vitamins. Being close to the mother and sucking on her breast is a special ritual for the baby, which gives peace and a sense of security. Unfortunately, today many mothers refuse to breastfeed their newborns, citing being busy, not wanting to “spoil their figure,” and often the reason for this incorrect phenomenon is the mother’s lack of milk and, as a result, poor weight gain in the baby.

How to properly attach a newborn baby to the breast

How to properly breastfeed a newborn baby? How to apply to the breast correctly

Few mothers today know how to properly breastfeed their baby. Modern maternity hospitals are set up to teach young women this art.

In order to properly start the milk production mechanism, it is necessary to put the newborn to the breast as early as possible. Today, the time interval from the moment of birth to the first meal of a newborn baby is about two hours. The first breastfeeding is very important for subsequent feedings, since it is at this moment that the baby’s habits and the correct grip of the nipple are formed, ensuring comfortable sucking.

Feeding positions video

If after giving birth the mother is allowed to sit, she needs to sit down, choosing a comfortable body position, you can put a pillow under her back, since the feeding process in some children can take twenty minutes or more. The leg on the side chosen for breastfeeding should be placed on some kind of elevation. This position will provide the greatest comfort for mother and baby.

Now it is necessary, carefully holding the newborn under the head and back, carefully place his head directly in the crook of the arm, and with the hand itself support him along the body. With her other hand, the mother helps the baby eat - she puts the nipple in his mouth, adjusts the head, and strokes his back.

How to properly attach a baby to the breast

Separately, it should be said about the process of inserting the nipple into the baby’s mouth - the amount of milk and the degree of breast filling will depend on the correctness of its capture. The fact is that the nipple should be captured together with the areola. It is in the areola that there are receptors, the stimulation of which sends the message to the nursing mother’s brain that the baby has started sucking and it is necessary to strengthen the process of milk production. If such stimulation is not performed, milk will not be produced and the baby will remain hungry.

Only one breast should be fed at a time. Subsequently - another and so alternate them. This tactic will allow the mammary glands to establish the correct supply of milk to the baby. However, if the child does not eat enough, then you can offer him the second breast. However, it should be remembered that long-term sucking on one breast provides the baby with both “front” liquid milk, which serves as drinking milk, and “back” thick milk, which contains most of the nutrients. Therefore, if the baby is capricious, do not rush to offer him the second breast.

Having completed the feeding process (its end means that the baby began to often let go of the nipple, turn his head, or even fell asleep), you need to express the remaining milk. It is recommended to express into a small, clean container with clean, dry hands. Today there are many different breast pumps, but you should use them carefully, as they can injure the delicate nipple.

Rules for breastfeeding video

After pumping, you should also wash your breasts with baby soap and apply a nourishing cream.

Tips for breastfeeding mothers:

Breastfeeding (BF) - advice for a nursing mother
Basic and main rules for breastfeeding an infant