Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a skill that takes time to get the hang of. Lots of mums wonder if their baby’s feeding well and getting enough – especially in the first few days. But once you’ve mastered it, you’ll probably find it’s the easiest and most satisfying way to feed your baby.
What Protection breastfeed gives to the Infants?
Breast milk provides abundant and easily absorbed nutritional components, antioxidants, enzymes, immune properties, and live antibodies from mother. Mother’s more mature immune system makes antibodies to the germs to which she and her baby have been exposed. These antibodies enter her milk to help protect her baby from illness. Immunoglobulin A coats the lining of the baby’s immature intestines helping germs and allergens from leaking through. Breast milk also contains substances that naturally soothe infants.
How to breastfeed?
Latching on is how your baby attaches to your breast to feed. Lots of people assume that this comes naturally, but in reality it’s more of a skill that you and your baby need to learn together. Good attachment also helps prevent sore and cracked nipples so it’s important to get it right.
• Hold your baby’s whole body close with their nose level with your nipple.
• Let your baby’s head tip back a little so that their top lip can brush against your nipple. This should help your baby to make a wide, open mouth.
• When your baby’s mouth opens wide, their chin should be able to touch your breast first, with their head tipped back so that their tongue can reach as much breast as possible.
• With your baby’s chin firmly touching your breast and their nose clear, their mouth should be wide open. You should see much more of the darker nipple skin above your baby’s top lip than below their bottom lip. Your baby’s cheeks will look full and rounded as they feed.
Newborns tend to breastfeed at least 8 times a day (24 hours) for the first few weeks. And your baby may want to feed more and for longer at night – that’s because this is when you produce more prolactin (the hormone that produces milk).
Burping your baby
Winding, or burping your baby, is an important part of feeding. When your baby swallows, air bubbles can become trapped in their tummy and cause a lot of discomfort. Some babies find it easy to burp, while others need a helping hand.
Support your baby’s head and neck, make sure their tummy and back is nice and straight (not curled up), and rub or pat their back gently. You don’t need to spend ages burping your baby, a couple of minutes should be enough.
There are a few ways to burp your baby. Try them all out and see which works best – or use a combination:
• Over your shoulder
With your baby’s chin resting on your shoulder, support the head and shoulder area with one hand, and gently rub and pat your baby’s back. It might help to walk around as you are doing this.
• Sitting on your lap
Sit your baby on your lap facing away from you. Place the palm of your hand flat against their chest and support their chin and jaw (don’t put any pressure on the throat area). Lean your baby forwards slightly and with your free hand, gently rub or pat your baby’s back.
• Lying across your lap
Lie your baby across your lap face down. Supporting their chin (don’t put any pressure on the throat area), use your free hand to gently rub or pat your baby’s back.
Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby
• Stronger immune systems
• Less illness overall and less hospitalization
• Less diarrhea, constipation, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux, and preterm necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
• Better vision and less retinopathy of prematurity
• Fewer colds and respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and whooping cough
• Fewer case of bacterial meningitis
• Fewer ear infections, especially those that damage hearing
• Lower rates of infant mortality
• Lower rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Parents have up to six times less absenteeism from work
Benefits of breastfeeding for mom physically
• Promotes faster weight loss after birth, burning about 500 extra calories a day to build and maintain a milk supply.
• Less risk of postpartum depression and more positive mood
• Stimulates the uterus to contract and return to normal size.
• Less postpartum bleeding
• Fewer urinary tract infections
• Less chance of anemia
Benefits of breastfeeding for both mom & baby emotionally
• Breastfeeding produces the naturally soothing hormones oxytocin and prolactin that promote stress reduction and positive feelings in the nursing mother.
• Increased confidence and self-esteem
• Breastfeeding mothers learn to read their infant’s cues and babies learn to trust caregivers. This helps shape the infant’s early behavior.
• Physical/emotional bonding between mother and child is increased. Breastfeeding promotes more skin-to-skin contact, more holding and stroking. Many feel that affectionate bonding during the first years of life help reduce social and behavioral problems in both children and adults.
• Increased calmness. Breastfed babies cry less overall, and have fewer incidences of childhood illness. Breastfeeding can support the wellness of body, mind, and spirit for the whole family.
• Breastfeeding makes travel easier. Breast milk is always clean and the right temperature.
Benefits towards life for moms
• Lower risk of breast cancer
• Lower risk of ovarian cancer
• Less endometriosis
• Less osteoporosis with age
• Lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
• Less cardiovascular disease
• Less hypertension decreases blood pressure
• Less diabetes
For informative articles on women’s health and other health issues, please visit our website www.santripty.com and also feel free to consult.