Tips for breastfeeding moms. How to breastfeed correctly? The most comfortable positions for feeding

11.09.2019

The benefits of breastfeeding have been proven for a long time, and there is no point in repeating. Today we will talk about proper nutrition. Oddly enough, this also needs to be learned. Moreover, both you and the baby. How to avoid the difficulties that arise in the early stages of breastfeeding?

The process of feeding should be comfortable for mother and child. To do this, you need to choose a position that tires you the most and does not cause discomfort.

When feeding, the baby's body should be located in one straight line, the neck should also be even. The face and belly of the baby should cling to the mother. Don't hesitate to use force. Your task is to tell the baby the right direction, and nothing more.

During feeding, the baby should completely capture the nipple and areola. So the possibility of injury to the chest will be negligible. The baby will suck out milk efficiently. The breast receives the right stimulation, thereby increasing milk production (lactation). Be sure to pay attention to how you feel while feeding. If you feel pain or discomfort, gently remove the breast from the baby and repeat the application.

(photo 1. Clickable)

1) The head and body of the child should be on the same line.
2) Press the child's body against yours at a right angle to your body.
3) The baby should be facing the breast and nose to the nipple.
4) The position should be comfortable for you and for the child.
5) The child's head is thrown back, and the mouth is wide open.
6) Bring the baby to the chest, and not vice versa.
7) The child should take the nipple, areoluk and some part of the surrounding breast tissue with his mouth.
8) The baby should start with a few quick sucking movements and then slow them down as the milk is released from the breast.

Some babies are so weak that they manage to fall asleep during feeding. In this case, draw his attention to the process with gentle strokes of sweet cheeks.

The correctness of the capture also depends on whether you know how to properly “feed” the breast to the baby. It is important to place your fingers outside the boundaries of the areola. To make the child open his mouth wider, you can slightly move the nipple at the mouth of the crumbs. When the mouth is open, insert the nipple so that it touches the child's palate. Note that after the start of feeding, you can not move the breast and correct it, it is better to repeat the attachment.

(Photo illustrations 2,3,4,5,6 show how to properly breastfeed a baby. All pictures are clickable)

Video: about the application technique

Are we eating right?

We have already talked about the correct grip on the chest a little higher. It can be added that the correct grip on the breast allows the baby to do without swallowing air. Accordingly, there is less colic, and the baby does not spit up so much, and eats better.
With a correctly taken breast, the nipple and areola are in the crumbs' mouth, and his chin and nose are tightly pressed against his mother's breast. The baby's cheeks should be inflated, and the lips turned outward. You should also pay attention to sounds. You should be able to hear the baby swallowing, but any whistling sounds will indicate that the baby is catching air. This should not be.

breastfeeding

It is recommended to breastfeed according to the principle "one breast per feed". This alternation allows you to provide the baby with a sufficient amount of milk. After all, its filling is directly proportional to the previous emptying. In addition, the child must first receive "front milk"(with which he quenches his thirst), and at the end "hind milk" with which the child satisfies hunger. ( see material).

But everyone is well aware that situations are different, and not all rules apply to all children. It happens that in the first days of your baby's life, milk production has not yet been debugged, and the baby really does not get enough. In this case, you can supplement it with a second breast. Only the next feeding should be started from the breast that was the “additive” in the previous feeding.

If you are lucky enough to become a mother of twins, you should not worry about the sufficiency of milk at all. Don't forget that the milk arrives according to the "request". If your babies empty both breasts in one feeding, then they will both fill up at the same time.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the issue of feeding during those periods when the baby cries a lot. Many breastfeeding mothers try to soothe the baby with their breasts at this moment. On the one hand, they are right. But don't forget about yourself. During moments of intense crying, the baby may not properly latch on to the breast. The baby is emotional. Incorrect grip is fraught with nipple cracks and pain. These are the most insignificant consequences. Therefore, before offering the baby a breast, try to calm him down a little in another way. For example, wiggle on the handles or just hold the nipple on the cheek.

Number of feedings and their duration

Old school people advise breastfeeding mothers to feed their babies on a schedule. This approach has long been outdated and causes nothing but indignation. You don't have to force your baby. Do you yourself when you eat? When you want or when forced?

The modern approach is feeding on demand. But a nursing mother needs to learn to distinguish between the causes of her baby's crying. The whims of the baby do not always mean a desire to eat; in another way, he cannot yet express his dissatisfaction. To get started, remember that newborn babies eat up to 14 times a day and only then develop their own nutrition schedule. With age, the number of feedings per day will slightly decrease.

Eliminate long breaks between meals. Night feedings should be the rule, not the exception.

The duration of feeding is also left to the discretion of the crumbs. The kid himself knows how much time he needs to get enough. Babies are different, in the weak, the duration of feeding is higher than in their peers who are more well developed. Premature babies can generally suck for an hour at intervals of an hour. And for them it's okay.

Related post: how many times does a newborn baby eat during the day and how many minutes does he suckle his breast -

Try also to get special clothes for feeding. So you can breastfeed your baby when you need it, and without unnecessary obstacles.

How to determine if the baby is full? Can he overeat?

Getting milk from a mother's breast is much more difficult than from a bottle. Therefore, a baby eats less per feeding than artificial babies of the same age. Don't be surprised if your little one often asks to be breastfed. This does not mean that there is not enough milk. Just last time he got tired of eating and continued this activity a little later.

The first sign that the child is full is his good mood. With insufficient milk, the baby will not tolerate, but will immediately show you his displeasure. You can also judge the sufficiency of milk by the following signs:

the breast became soft after feeding;
the baby has a good weight gain;
the child regularly soils diapers.

Some babies immediately start playing with mom and smiling at her. There are also those who simply fall asleep and continue to "procrastinate" their breasts like a dummy. In this case, gently pull the nipple towards the corner of the baby's mouth.

Remember! Baby can't overeat! After all, it depends not so much on the desire of the crumbs, but on the self-regulation of the body. Even if the child sucked out a little too much, all this will definitely burp.

Also, do not worry too much about the digestion of milk by the body of the child. Mom's milk is surprisingly balanced in composition and absorbed quickly. Moreover, in different periods of the day, milk of different fat content is produced. Accordingly, the load on the gastrointestinal tract of the child is also different, there are also periods of rest.

How to take a breast

We have already said that if the breast is not properly grasped, it must be gently taken away. How to do it correctly and without unnecessary whims on the part of the crumbs?

You can gently press on the chin or open the gums with your finger. If this "number" does not work, you can gently pinch the nose of the crumbs. In this case, in search of air, he will automatically open his mouth and release his chest.

Common GW Related Mistakes

In the process of establishing breastfeeding, no one is immune from mistakes. But it's better to learn from strangers than to replenish your stock. The most common mistakes breastfeeding moms make:

No need to hold your chest with your hands. The baby will not suffocate, do not be afraid. And the movement of milk is associated with the sucking manipulations of the crumbs, and not with the position of the breast.
Don't try to wash your breasts with soap before each feed. You are only washing away the natural defenses. A daily shower is enough.
Don't give the child a drink. All his needs, including drinking, are 100% satisfied with breast milk up to the age of six months. Even in extreme heat.
Do not refuse breast milk to your baby because of breast problems or illness of the nursing mother. For damaged nipples, there are now many silicone pads, use them. When the mother is ill, it is enough to use barrier methods of protection. With milk, only antibodies to your disease will get to the baby, and nothing more.
Pumping is a thing of the past. You don't have to do this after every feed. Milk will begin to be produced in an increased amount, and you risk "earning"

The birth of a child is one of the greatest miracles in the world. At first, the baby most of all needs the mother and her milk. The composition of women's milk is ideal for the normal development of the child, so pediatricians strongly recommend breastfeeding. However, many new mothers face problems: they are unable to maintain lactation, which reduces the period of breastfeeding to only a few months. Unfortunately, there are no analogues to breast milk, therefore, as a result, the child does not receive all the substances he needs. Pediatricians note that the most common cause of lactation disorders is the wrong behavior of a young inexperienced mother. Therefore, it is so important to know how to feed the baby and how to properly apply it to the breast.

In this article, you will find answers to many important questions: how to understand the needs of the baby, what are the most common mistakes mothers of infants make, and how to avoid the negative consequences of these mistakes. This information will help to establish feeding and will enable both mother and child to experience only joy and pleasure from this unique process.

Proper application is the basis for continued success

Proper attachment of a newborn to the breast is one of the main factors that determine the success of the feeding process. If you make a mistake at this stage, then you cannot avoid negative consequences for both the mother and the child. For example, due to frequent incorrect attachments, a child may refuse mother's milk.

Of course, in almost all maternity hospitals, medical staff assists mothers during the first feeding. However, unfortunately, this is not always the case. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with how to properly attach the baby to the breast, even before childbirth.

So, what is the right way to apply the baby to the breast? The process is carried out in several stages:

Feeding can last quite a long time, up to several hours. Therefore, at the first stage, it is important to take the most comfortable position: you should not get tired quickly. You can feed your baby in almost any position. The child should be turned to the mother with his stomach, and his face should be located near the chest. You can’t fix the baby’s head: he must choose his own position and be able to tell his mother that he has had enough.
The baby's nose should be close to the chest, but do not press it too hard. Women with large breasts should be especially careful: the baby will be forced to reach the nipple, which will cause it to be caught incorrectly.
It is important that the child must take the nipple into his mouth on his own. In no case should you put the nipple in the baby's mouth: this is fraught with an incorrect grip, which means a lot of unpleasant problems in the future. If the baby takes only the tip of the nipple into his mouth, the mother should gently release it by gently pressing on the newborn's chin.

It can be difficult for new mothers to know if the baby has been able to latch on properly. However, this is quite simple to do: just look at how the feeding process is carried out. If you managed to achieve the correct capture, then feeding will look like this:

In the mouth of the child will be not only the nipple, but also the areola, while the lips of the child turn slightly outwards.
The baby's nose is pressed quite tightly against the chest, but does not sink into it completely.
The child does not make any sounds except for sips.
The mother does not feel discomfort or pain.

Should I feed my baby on a schedule?

The question of whether to follow a feeding schedule is faced by almost all new mothers. Representatives of the older generation confidently declare that you need to feed the baby on a schedule. However, you should not listen to these tips: doctors assure that it is necessary to feed the child not according to a certain strict schedule, but when he requires it.

The fact is that the amount of milk produced directly depends on the volume drunk by the child. Therefore, the more often the baby is applied to the breast, the less likely it is that there will be any problems with lactation.

How long should the baby stay at the breast?

Many are concerned about the question of how long to feed a child. There are no clear limits here: the time depends on the needs of the baby. However, a healthy baby should actively breastfeed for at least half an hour. The maximum time is individual for each baby.

In general, there are three main points to consider:

The amount of time a baby spends at the breast varies from person to person. For example, there are children who breastfeed quite actively and are quickly satiated. Naturally, in this case, feeding does not take much time. Other babies suckle slowly and even fall asleep at the breast. To wake the baby, it is enough to touch his cheek or gently pull the nipple.
The total breastfeeding time is determined both by the desire of the mother herself and by the conditions of the family, for example, the need to start work and other factors.
As a rule, newborns are breastfed up to 10 times during the day. When the child begins to grow up, the number of feedings is gradually reduced.

How can you tell if your baby has received enough milk?

There is one indisputable truth: a well-fed child is always satisfied. Having eaten, the baby either lets go of the breast on its own, or falls asleep. To understand that the child no longer needs milk, you can by the following signs:

The baby releases the nipple on its own each time.
There is a uniform increase in both weight and height.
The baby is quite active and has no problems sleeping.

Should I give both breasts while breastfeeding?

In the process of feeding, you should give the baby only one breast. During the next feeding, you need to give another one and thus alternate them. Such a strategy will make it possible to establish proper lactation in both mammary glands. One breast provides the baby with both fore, light milk, which the baby gets drunk with, and hind milk, which is thicker and more nutritious, containing a large amount of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Of course, if the baby is not full on one breast, then you need to give him another.

Some women do not produce enough milk and the baby does not eat enough from one breast. Often this happens at those moments when the child has a jump in weight or height, for example, after reaching two months of age. During such periods, both breasts should be given to the child.

Do not believe the opinion that there is no milk in the soft breast or it is not enough. If the child is full by all indications, you should not try to give him a second breast.

How often should you breastfeed your baby?

How many times do you need to feed a child so that he does not overeat? It is necessary to be guided by the desires of the child himself. If the baby has received enough milk, then he will begin to experience hunger in two or three hours. If the child asks for breasts more often, he should not be denied, because he might not have received the required amount of milk during the last feeding. Feeding on demand is the key to success: you should forever forget the feeding strictly on schedule imposed by the older generation.

What to do if the child is overfed?

Many young mothers are afraid that the child will be fed. However, this should not be feared. Of course, the baby can drink too much milk, but he will simply vomit all that is superfluous, so his health will in no way be at risk.

Will the milk have time to be digested before the next feeding?

Many mothers worry that if the baby eats too often, then the milk will not have time to be digested before the next feeding. However, do not be afraid, because mother's milk has an ideal composition for the baby, so it is digested easily and quickly.

Feeding and crying

What to do if the baby is crying and needs to be breastfed? First of all, there is no need to panic: hold the child close to you, shake him a little, talk to him. If the crying is caused by the fact that the baby is unable to capture the breast, you need to squeeze some milk into his mouth or touch the nipple to the cheek or lips. Breasts are great at soothing babies, so you don't usually have to "persuade" your baby to take them for a long time.

How to properly breastfeed?

It is important to learn not only to give the breast correctly, but also to take it away correctly. If this is done incorrectly, then the mother may experience rather unpleasant sensations, and much more serious problems are possible, for example, nipple cracks. To avoid these troubles, you should wait until the baby himself releases the nipple from his mouth. If he does not, gently press your finger on the child's chin. There is another way: you should insert the little finger into the corner of the baby's mouth and gently pull. This technique will force the baby to open his mouth, after which the chest can be removed.

What to do in case of milk stagnation?

It is difficult to find young mothers who do not face certain problems in the process of breastfeeding. For example, if a child does not drink all the milk, it begins to stagnate. The chest becomes firm to the touch. Often, stagnation is accompanied by an increase in body temperature and pain. If you ignore this symptom, mastitis cannot be avoided, which, in turn, is fraught with the need for a surgical operation.

What to do if you notice stagnation of milk? You need to act immediately. At the initial stage, breast massage in the shower, gentle expression of milk or the attachment of the baby to the breast will be effective. A compress of cabbage leaf and honey will also help. Massage the chest should be very careful: massage should not cause pain and discomfort. The compress should be done every time after the child has eaten. If within a few days all these actions do not alleviate the condition of the mother, it is necessary to go to the hospital.

New moms are faced with a plethora of information about how to breastfeed their baby. Often, an uncritical attitude to the advice received leads to making mistakes, the most common of which will be described below:

Washing the breast on the eve of attaching a child to it. You should not do this: it is quite enough to take a shower in the morning and in the evening. Too much enthusiasm for hygiene procedures leads to the fact that a special lubricant is washed off the nipples, which protects them from injury.
The chest must be supported by the hand. In this case, milk stagnation may occur in places that are in contact with the hand.
The child should be given water or weak tea. Mother's milk contains all the necessary substances: the baby not only eats up, but also drinks plenty of it.
With colds or cracks on the nipples, you need to switch to mixtures. If the mother has a cold, then to protect the baby during feedings, it is worth wearing a medical mask: this is quite enough, since pathogenic bacteria do not penetrate the milk. Special silicone pads on the chest will protect against cracks.

This is not a complete list of mistakes that a young mother can make. If you have any other problems, you should consult your doctor.

Establishment of lactation

Immediately after the baby has eaten, the remaining milk should be expressed. A clean container is used for pumping, before the procedure you need to wash your hands thoroughly. To date, in pharmacies you can see a wide range of breast pumps, but you should resort to them only as a last resort, since breast pumps injure the thin skin of the nipples.

There are general rules for breastfeeding a baby:

It is necessary to give the breast a few hours after the baby was born, as this stimulates lactation.
If the baby is hungry, he will try to find the nipple by opening his mouth and smacking his lips. If the baby is not trying to find the breast, it is necessary to attach the nipple to his lips.
The baby should capture not only the nipple, but also the areola.
The cheeks and nose of the baby should be pressed tightly enough to the chest.
It is not necessary to give both breasts at one feeding: it is enough for the child to completely drink all the milk from one breast.

The newborn should be breastfed as early as possible. In modern maternity hospitals, the first feeding occurs a couple of hours after birth. The first feeding is of utmost importance, because it is at this time that the correct nipple grip reflex will form, which will be the key to successful breastfeeding in the future.

How should a breastfeeding mother behave?

There are rules that a nursing mother should follow:

In the first days after childbirth, you need to eat foods that contain a lot of fiber. But a large amount of sugar is best avoided. Give up tobacco and alcohol, as well as limit the use of foods that can cause allergies (citrus fruits, eggs, etc.).
Do not be distracted by the TV or computer during feeding: in the first months of life, it is at this moment that mother and baby communicate, so you should focus all your attention on the child.
It is necessary to give the baby the opportunity to burp, and after feeding, keep him in a column, which is the prevention of abdominal pain.
It is worth giving up breastfeeding if the mother suffers from a serious illness (AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, etc.).

With the advent of the child into the world, every mother is faced with the question of the proper feeding of her baby. Proper feeding implies providing the body of the newborn with all the necessary nutrients for normal physical and neuropsychic development. Therefore, every mother should think about what kind of food she chooses for her child.

Why should you breastfeed?

The most useful and ideal nutrition for a newborn is breast milk, which ensures the best development of the baby. Nature has provided for the composition of breast milk, which is ideal for newborns, it contains proteins, they include essential amino acids, fats, carbohydrates, trace elements, vitamins contained in the right amount and easily absorbed by the baby's body. It also includes immune proteins and leukocytes, with the help of which the body's resistance to diseases increases, since infants have underdeveloped immunity.

Breast milk has an optimal temperature, sterility and is ready for use at any time, anywhere. Breastfeeding provides emotional contact between mother and child, the development of maternal instinct. When sucking on the breast, which has elasticity and softness, the child's bite is correctly formed. With problems that develop during the eruption of milk teeth, breast milk helps to relieve symptoms. It is also known that children who were breastfed at an older age are less prone to various diseases, compared with children who were fed artificially (infant formulas). Therefore, in order to achieve the best result in the development of the child, the development of immunity, it is necessary to use breastfeeding and for as long as possible, at least one year.

How to prepare breasts and nipples for breastfeeding?

Even during pregnancy, you should pay attention to the shape of the nipples, it depends on them how the baby will take the breast. Nipples are pronounced, flat or inverted. Pronounced nipples are the most comfortable for the baby at the moment of capturing the breast with the mouth, and flat and inverted are less comfortable. Recall that the child sucks the breast, not the nipple, but still with a comfortable nipple shape, the child takes the breast easier and with pleasure. Women with flat or inverted nipples should not be discouraged as all that is needed is a little nipple preparation before delivery.

Applying special silicone caps to the area of the areola (peripapillary circle), which have a hole, the nipple is pulled into it. It is recommended to wear such caps 3-4 weeks before childbirth, and half an hour before each feeding in the first weeks of breastfeeding. If you still didn’t have time to prepare the nipples, it’s okay, using a breast pump after childbirth will solve this problem for you in a couple of weeks. For all breastfeeding mothers, it is recommended to wear special bras, they do not squeeze or press the enlarged breasts filled with milk, and also prevent harmful substances from clothing or the environment from entering the skin of the breast and nipples. In such bras, you can put special pads that collect leaking milk, preventing clothes from getting dirty.

It is also recommended to wear clothes for nursing mothers, they provide easy access to the breast. Be sure to wash your hands with soap before each feeding. The breast should be washed once a day, frequent washing of the breast a day leads to a violation of the natural microflora of the peripapillary region, and possible inflammatory processes. The chest is washed with warm water, without using soap products (if you take a shower, then rinse with clean water), they are harmful to the health of your child.

What is the mechanism of milk formation, the composition of breast milk?

Breast milk is produced by the mammary gland, under the influence of oxytocin (a hormone that causes labor pains) and prolactin (a hormone whose concentration increases when a woman who has given birth sucks). Both hormones are produced by the pituitary gland (a gland located on the underside of the brain), and they affect the process of milk production. With an increase in the concentration of prolactin, milk production is stimulated by the cells of the mammary gland. Oxytocin promotes its expulsion by contracting the muscles that are around the milk-forming cells, further along the milky canals (ducts), the milk comes to the nipple, the woman feels this process as breast engorgement (milk rush). The rate of milk production depends on the degree of breast emptying. When the breast is filled with milk, its production decreases, and when it is empty, its production increases accordingly. Also, the increased formation of milk contributes to the frequent application of the child to the breast. Enhanced milk production is noted only in the first 3-4 months of breastfeeding, in subsequent months it decreases.

The composition of milk changes over time. At the birth of a child, “colostrum” is released for several days, it is thick and sticky, yellow in color, contains a large amount of immune proteins, they provide the development of immunity, for adaptation, the sterile body of a born baby, to the environment. Colostrum is secreted in drops, and compared to milk, it is fatty, so even a very small amount is enough to saturate the baby.
"Transitional milk" appears on the 4th day after birth, it becomes more liquid, but its value remains the same as that of colostrum.

Mature milk appears on the 3rd week after childbirth, when breastfeeding the baby, it is white, liquid in consistency, less fatty than colostrum, but fully meets the requirements of the baby's body. Almost 90% consists of water, so you should not give water to children, this only applies to children who are purely breastfed. The fat content of breast milk is approximately 3-4%, but this figure often changes.

At the beginning of feeding, the so-called foremilk (the first portion) is released, there are fewer of them in it, therefore it is less high-calorie. In hindmilk (subsequent portions), the amount of fat increases, such milk is more high-calorie, and the child is saturated faster. In the first months of breastfeeding, milk is richer in fats than in the following months (starting from 5-6 months). Protein in breast milk is approximately 1%. The composition of proteins includes essential amino acids, which are easily absorbed by the baby's body. Among the usual beks that are necessary for the development of the child, there are also immune proteins that contribute to the development of immunity. Carbohydrates contain approximately 7%, the main representative is lactose. Lactose regulates the intestinal microflora, the absorption of calcium by the body. Also in the composition of milk, leukocytes (white blood cells) are included, when they enter the intestines of a child with milk, they destroy harmful bacteria. Milk also contains vitamins, various microelements involved in the complete satisfaction of the child's body.

How can you tell if your baby is getting enough milk?

A breastfed baby should be breastfed at will during the day and at least 3 times at night, averaging 10-12 times a day. Feeding on demand - this means that at the first sign of restlessness of the baby, it must be applied to the breast. In order for the child to be satiated, it must be properly attached to the breast, it must suck rhythmically for about 5-20 minutes, swallowing movements should be heard during sucking (swallowing milk), a well-fed child may fall asleep under the breast, after feeding the breast should become soft. Signs of hunger an infant: opens its mouth wide, turns its head in different directions (looking for a nipple), whimpers, sucks a fist.

A child suckles at the breast not only to quench thirst or hunger, but also to calm down, comfort, it is easier to fall asleep, recover, and get gassies out. Newborns are not able to regulate their bowels, so in order to push out gassies, they need a new portion of milk. Therefore, the younger the children, the more often they need to be applied to the chest. If the child is not naughty, gains weight well, neuropsychic development corresponds to age, this indicates that the body develops normally, it has enough food and enough milk, but this only applies to children under 6 months old. A child who is breastfed (up to 6 months), gain weight, must be at least 500 g per month, the upper limit of the increase for each child is individual. But if the process of eruption of milk teeth began earlier, then weight gain is possible and less than 500 g.

How to stimulate milk production?

As mentioned above, the formation of milk occurs under the influence of two hormones, prolactin and oxytocin, which are produced in response to the suckling of the breast of a woman who has given birth. Therefore, in order to stimulate the production of milk, frequent stimulation of these two hormones is necessary, this implies frequent attachment of the child to the breast (necessarily night attachments), proper breast latch.
Elimination of stress, tension, increased mental and physical tension, fatigue, these factors contribute to a decrease in the production of oxytocin and prolactin, and if they are not enough, the muscle cells will not be able to form and secrete milk, as a result of which the child will not be able to get the amount of milk he needs. Thus, all nursing mothers need: calmness, rest, calm environment, they should try to sleep well (daytime sleep is required, next to the child).
Constant contact with the child (affects the production of hormones).
A warm shower promotes better milk flow.
Special lactogenic (better milk excretion) teas (sold in pharmacies) for nursing mothers.
Lactic preparations, for example: Apilak.
Walnut with honey also has a lactogenic effect, use honey with caution for mothers with children suffering from allergies.
A nursing mother should follow a diet: eat on time, high-calorie foods and rich in vitamins (it doesn’t matter if your weight changes or not), drink more fluids, forget about any diets.
Under no circumstances should you smoke or drink alcohol.

If there is insufficient milk production, it is urgent to seek help from a breastfeeding consultant.

How to apply the baby to the breast?

Proper attachment to the breast contributes to the sufficient supply of milk to the child, gaining weight, preventing the appearance of pain in the nipples and their cracks.

You can breastfeed while sitting or lying down, whichever is more comfortable for you. The baby should be turned with the whole body, and pressed against the mother. The baby's face should be close to the mother's chest. The baby's nose should be at the level of the nipple, tilting his head back a little, for free breathing through the nose, for convenience, a woman can hold her breasts at the base. The chin of the baby should touch the chest. The contact of the nipple with his lips will cause a search reflex and an opening of the mouth. The mouth should be wide open in order to capture the mother's breast with a full mouth, the lower lip should be turned outward, so the baby should capture almost the entire areola with his mouth. During attachment to the breast, he makes rhythmic deep sucking movements, while swallowing milk is heard.

Expression of milk - indications and methods

Indications for expressing milk:

feeding a premature or sick baby (in the case when the baby cannot suckle);
leave milk if the mother needs to leave the baby;
in case of lactostasis (stagnation of milk), to prevent mastitis (inflammation of the breast);
increased milk production (when the child has already eaten, and the breast is still full of milk).
With mother's inverted nipples (temporary pumping).

Breast milk can be expressed in 3 ways:
Expressed milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours or in the freezer for up to 3 days.

Cracked nipples, what to do?

Cracked nipples are formed as a result of improper attachment of the child to the breast, or improper expression of milk, frequent washing of the breast and the use of soap (when taking a shower, it is recommended to rinse the breast with clean water). If an infection penetrates through a damaged nipple, then mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland) may develop, therefore, if there are cracks, their timely treatment is necessary.

With small cracks, breastfeeding is continued through special silicone pads; with pronounced and painful cracks, it is recommended to stop feeding the diseased breast, and the breast must be carefully expressed. For treatment, use: washing with a solution of furacilin, Bepanten ointment, Panthenol spray, 5% Synthomycin ointment, washing with 2% Chlorphyllipt solution, celandine juice and others. After each feeding, it is necessary to dry the nipple, treat it with one of the above means, cover the nipple with a sterile gauze pad.

Diet and hygiene of a nursing mother

A nursing mother should observe body hygiene (take a shower every day, rinsing her breasts with clean water), wear clean underwear, wash hands with soap before each feeding. Before each feeding, it is necessary to express a few drops of milk, to remove germs that could get from clothes.

A woman who is breastfeeding should not smoke, drink alcohol, drugs, strong tea, coffee, and, if possible, medicines.

Nursing mothers are recommended to take frequent walks with the baby in the fresh air, frequent rest and daytime sleep.
Observe the diet, exclude all diets, drink plenty of water. The diet should include foods rich in vitamins (vegetables and fruits), iron (found in meat, it is better to eat veal), foods rich in calcium (dairy products), rich in phosphorus (fish). With caution, use red vegetables and fruits (tomatoes, strawberries and others), eggs, as they can cause allergies in a child. Exclude citrus fruits from the diet, they also cause allergies. Products containing vegetable fiber (peas, beans) should also be excluded, as they lead to bloating in the baby. Garlic, onions, spices can spoil the taste of milk.

Maria Sokolova

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

How is the process of breastfeeding a baby?

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 nipple and areola area with a sterile swab moistened with a solution of potassium permanganate or furacilin. Then the child is placed on a sterile napkin so that it is then convenient for him to grab the nipple, the head should not be thrown back too much.

Brief instructions for proper breastfeeding

Mom supports her breasts with her index and middle fingers, pulling her a little so that nasal breathing is not greatly hindered by pressing the mammary gland.
The nipple, which the mother holds with her fingers, must be put into the child's mouth so 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 breast should be washed with running water and soap.
Then lubricate the nipple with Vaseline and cover it with a piece of sterile gauze.

The correct position of the mother during breastfeeding

During feeding mother should take a comfortable position. This position should allow her to keep the baby at the breast without problems during feeding.

It can be absolutely any, at the choice of the mother, position: lying, sitting, reclining, half-sitting, standing.

The correct position of the child

Before you feed your baby, it should be turned chest to your chest. The child himself should be located close to the chest so that he does not have to reach for it. The child should be gently pressed against the body, the head and torso of the child should be located 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 turned slightly to the side.

After feeding you should hold the child for 10-15 minutes in a horizontal position. This will allow air that has entered the baby's stomach during feeding to escape. Then you should put the child on its side. This position will allow him to spit up and avoid aspiration (milk entering the respiratory tract).

How to apply the baby to the breast?

Take the chest so that four fingers are located below and the thumb is on top of the chest. It is desirable that the fingers are located as far as possible from the nipple.
In order for the child to open his mouth, the nipple should touch his lips. It is better that the child's mouth is wide open, the lips are extended into a tube, and the tongue is deep in the mouth.
Make sure that the child captures 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 supplementary feeding, you should approach the choice of formula correctly. In such cases, experts recommend a formula that is as close as possible to breast milk so that the baby does not experience metabolic disorders, an allergic reaction, skin problems and digestion. Closer to the composition of human milk are adapted mixtures based on goat's milk with beta-casein protein, 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 to form and develop properly.

If the baby is properly attached to the breast, his lips and gums will put pressure on the areola of the nipple, and not on the nipple itself. This makes feeding painless and enjoyable.

Video instruction: how to breastfeed

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

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

Attach the baby to the chest easily, without pressure, otherwise he will try to wriggle out and fight in every possible way, which will make feeding very difficult;
Do not move the breast during feeding as when feeding from a bottle, this can prevent the baby from holding the breast;
If during feeding you feel pain, this indicates that the baby is not properly attached to the breast. Touch your child's lips with your finger to open their mouth. And put it on your chest again.
When feeding a child, they are applied to one breast, and the next time the breast is changed. If there is not enough milk from one breast, then the baby should be supplemented from the other. At the next feeding, it is applied to the breast that was fed last.

How often should a baby be breastfed?

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

In the first days of life, a child can eat 10-14 times a day. And after about two weeks, the child begins to develop his own individual rhythm of nutrition. 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.

No overnight breaks should be taken. At night, feeding for a child is very important and necessary.

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 staff and women in labor.
Train medical staff 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 keep lactating 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 indications.
To practice round-the-clock finding of mother with the newborn in one chamber.
Encourage breastfeeding on demand rather than on a schedule.
Do not give newborns at the initial stage of breastfeeding sedatives that mimic the female breast, such as a pacifier.
Encourage and refer mothers to breastfeeding groups.

For greater comfort, use special clothing for feeding. It is made specifically to make it easy for the baby to breastfeed as the need arises.
Frequent feedings, plenty of fluids, and proper rest help milk production.
Leakage of breast milk happens quite often, so use special breast pads.
In order not to be very exhausted during the day, try to sleep yourself while the baby sleeps.

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

As a rule, such preparations necessarily contain folic acid, iron. But not everyone has a large amount of magnesium and iodine. But in Finnish "Minisan Mama" , which can be purchased in pharmacies of the Russian Federation, is.

In addition, taking "Mom" does not take much time - a small tablet is easy to swallow, and just one tablet a day is enough.

Update date: October 29, 2017 0

The birth of a child is the beginning of a wonderful, but also the most difficult period of life for a family. We have to solve a lot of issues, some of them appear even before birth. But perhaps the most important is nutrition. What to feed - breast or formula? Modern doctors recommend breastfeeding. But how to breastfeed a newborn and until what age to do it? Should we rely on mother nature, who, as they believe, will not make a mistake, or is it better to learn from those who understand the problem?

According to WHO experts, the ideal time to start breastfeeding is immediately after birth. Attaching to the breast of a child in the first hour of his life helps both the baby to adapt to a sudden change in the environment of "habitat", and the mother - it is easier to endure the process of childbirth. The production of oxytocin at the time of sucking helps the uterus contract faster, as a result of which atonic bleeding (the worst complication of the early postpartum period) is prevented. There is a wealth of research showing the benefits of breastfeeding for the infant as well, from reducing the risk of childhood infections to preventing obesity and even increasing IQ.

Should I wash my breasts before feeding?

In the recent past, washing the mammary glands with soap before feeding was considered absolutely necessary. It was even recommended to treat them with antiseptics, which was supposed to prevent gastrointestinal infections in the baby, which he could supposedly get from the dirty skin of the chest.

In the WHO recommendations of recent years, it is clearly stated that frequent washing of the mammary glands leads to the destruction of the protective water-fat layer of the skin. The result is a decrease in local immunity and an increase in the risk of skin infections. It is enough to take water procedures only once or twice a day, without being attached to feeding. You do not fidget on the ground with your bare chest, so why wash it all the time?

As part of food hygiene, hand washing should not be forgotten. Here everything is different - every time after visiting the toilet, changing the diaper and washing the baby, hands should be thoroughly washed with some kind of detergent (even for dishes, although ordinary toilet soap is best). Here, too, one should not fanatically strive for absolute sterility - you are not going to do an operation. Just wash your hands and just let the baby breast.

I have a small papilloma on the nipple, can I breastfeed my baby?

It all depends on the size, position and condition of the papilloma. If feeding causes pain or bleeding occurs during suction, the growth should be removed using one of the safest methods (laser, electrocoagulation, cryocoagulation). It is unlikely that a child will become infected with the papilloma virus, but if this tumor bothers you, consult a doctor and think over treatment tactics with him. It is impossible to give a single advice here, it all depends on the specific situation.

What are the postures for breastfeeding

An important issue about breastfeeding positions is sometimes overlooked even by doctors, getting off with the on-duty “the main thing is that you feel comfortable.” This is not exactly the right approach, although there are no clear recommendations, as in sports, such as "heels together, toes apart."

Of course, for the first time, a woman exhausted by childbirth may attach the child incorrectly, but later she must be explained how to breastfeed correctly. So the rules are:

The head of the baby and his body, regardless of your posture, should be on the same line. He will not be able to suck if his head is twisted, bent or dangling left and right. Don't believe? Turn your head to the side and try to drink from a cup.
The baby is turned to face the breast so that its nose is flush with the nipple. So he will be able to capture mainly the lower part of the areola.
Bring the child as close to the body as possible. The breast should not be put into the child's mouth, it is better to bring him to the chest, otherwise the nipple will periodically fall out. This is fraught with excessive swallowing of air, belching, colic, and simply unpleasant for the baby.
Do not bend over while feeding - your back should be completely relaxed.
In newborns, the whole body needs to be supported, not just the head.
If you need to hold the chest, do it from below, forming a semblance of the letter C from the fingers of the hand. Do not grab the nipple with “scissors” “made” from the index and middle fingers - there is a high risk of pulling out the nipple.

How to breastfeed while lying down

It is better to breastfeed while lying down only during the day. Yes, I want to sleep at night! Yes, there are no forces, we agree! But a moment of convenience for you can turn into a tragedy if you fall asleep and "sleep" the child. So there is only one rule - feed, then lie down and sleep on. Let the baby sleep in his own bed.

When feeding lying down, all the rules described above work, there are no special features. If it’s comfortable for you, it doesn’t hurt, if the baby sucks well and falls asleep happily - you are doing everything right.

How to breastfeed twins

If you are lucky (or unlucky, by the way) and have twins, the feeding problem becomes a little more difficult. It may take more time, such a life also takes a lot of energy. But they also feed twins, and even triplets, some feed both their own and someone else's child, which means you can handle it. Milk should be enough, because the child himself stimulates its production, and the more children, the more stimulation. Help is more likely to be needed in other household issues not related to feeding (washing, ironing, cooking, etc.), but this is the second question.

Technically, there is no difference between feeding one or two children: babies should grab the entire areola with their mouths and suck so as not to choke or choke. You can feed them one at a time or at the same time - it's up to you. Most moms prefer the simultaneous option - it takes a little less time. The main rule is not to “tie” Vasya to the right breast, and Petya to the left: each child suckles differently and may require a different amount of milk. If Vasya always sucks more from one mammary gland than Petya from the other, the breasts will become asymmetrical and this will be aesthetically unpleasant even for the mother herself. Therefore, the breasts must be alternated.

There are several positions in which feeding two babies does not turn into torture:

"From under the hand." Toddlers lay their armpits on rolled-up blankets or special pillows. The legs of the children are located behind the mother. Each child is given a breast: the right one - the right one, the left one - the left one.
"Across". First, one child is laid, pressing him to himself, then the second, pressing him to the first.
"Parallel". The first child lies on the arm, the second - under the armpit, the bodies are located in the same direction.

Ideal if you will feed the children at the same time. However, you should not fanatically follow this advice: one of the two wants to sleep, so let him sleep. Do not forget that the main rule is that the child is in charge of feeding, not his mother.

When I breastfeed, one breast is larger than the other. Could this be due to the fact that I breastfeed more on my right breast than on my left? Olga, 27 years old

Yes, Olga, if your mammary glands were the same before giving birth, then this is the reason for the difference. In a more "active" breast, more milk is produced, and accordingly it increases. Try to alternate, apply the baby with one feeding to the right breast, with the second - to the left, and everything will return to normal. And do not worry, usually after the cessation of lactation, both mammary glands become the same.

What is the best way to feed: with one breast or both?

Among breastfeeding mothers, especially inexperienced ones, the myth is being strongly exaggerated that if you feed a child with only one breast, then it will become larger than the other and everything will remain so. In reality, however, after the end of feeding, both mammary glands return to normal, and their size becomes exactly the same.

There is no biological difference between feeding one or both breasts - milk will be produced as much as the baby needs. Moreover, if the child prefers to eat only from one "plate" - do not interfere with him. This is the essence of feeding "on demand" - to give the baby to eat how, when and how much he wants. He, not you, controls his diet. Just don't pump unclaimed breasts: there's no point in that.

Of course, more radical situations are possible - for example, one breast was completely removed and replaced with an implant. Of course, it will no longer be possible to feed it, but the second one remains! It may well give the amount of milk necessary for the child.

Why does a baby freak out and arch when breastfeeding?

There can be many reasons: uncomfortable position, lack of milk, sucking difficulties, improper attachment, colic. Together with the doctor, medical reasons should be excluded, and attention should also be paid to violations in the feeding technique. In extreme cases (for example, with hypogalactia), supplementary feeding should be given.

Should I breastfeed after a year?

In the old days, it was believed that the child should be weaned at the age of one or a little later. Even many modern experts argue that milk after a year is no longer the same, it does not contain the necessary substances, the child is missing something, his digestive system is formed in such a way that mother's milk no longer absorbs properly. It is a myth!

The World Health Organization explains that breastfeeding after one year and up to two years is an important factor in the psycho-emotional development of the baby. Moreover, three studies conducted in Brazil and Bangladesh (1987, 1989, 1995) showed that in countries where there is a risk of foodborne and respiratory infections, where access to medical care is low, breastfeeding children in the second year of life significantly reduces the frequency of their diseases and facilitates the course of diseases in already sick babies. WHO insists on natural nutrition of children up to 6 months, strongly recommends - up to a year, and strongly advises breastfeeding and after a year - up to two years.

I have been breastfeeding for 6 months, but my period has started. Whether to wean the child from the breast in connection with this? Alena, 30 years old

No, Alena, weaning is not necessary. Usually, lactation prevents the onset of menstruation, and this reduces the chance of getting pregnant by 98%. But it happens that menstruation begins earlier. This is not a reason to refuse breastfeeding, since the taste of milk does not change, its composition also remains the same. Continue to breastfeed and use contraception if a new pregnancy is not desired.

Can I breastfeed and formula feed?

Sometimes situations arise when the baby begins to lack milk. There is even a special term for this - hypogalactia, which is primary (usually with violations of the nervous and endocrine regulation of lactation) and secondary, arising from many external factors:

complications of pregnancy and childbirth;
pathology of the mammary glands;
serious violations of feeding technique;
improper breast care;
severe course of various diseases;
malnutrition or (more often) malnutrition;
overwork, stress, lack of mood for feeding;
late start of breastfeeding;
violation of the process of sucking by an infant;
taking medicines or products that change the taste of milk.

It is clear that with secondary hypogalactia there is an opportunity to correct the situation, and by eliminating the cause of the decrease in lactation, it is possible to restore normal milk production. Conditionally, lactation crises can also be attributed here, when for a short period of time the child begins to lack nutrition due to a jump in his growth.

Can I play sports while breastfeeding?

Yes, you can. However, you should plan your workouts in such a way that the baby's food intake does not coincide with the classes. Remember that sports can cause chronic overwork, which will affect the amount of milk produced. And certainly do not take any sports drugs during feeding, because some of them can be dangerous for the child.

In most of these cases, mothers usually transfer the baby partially or completely to artificial mixtures, making a big mistake. First of all, you need to see a doctor or a breastfeeding specialist and decide together with them whether it is enough to breastfeed the baby or whether you need to introduce supplementary feeding. Remember that it may only seem to you that the child does not have enough milk (especially if he has suspicious grandmothers), but in fact the baby may gain even more than the desired weight.

If there is a need for additional feeding, then some rules should be followed. Firstly, supplementary feeding is always given after the breast, otherwise the child will stop sucking it altogether. Secondly, only high-quality mixtures should be used, but in no case whole cow or goat milk. Thirdly, when preparing the mixture, follow the instructions supplied by the manufacturer with each jar exactly. An excessively thick mixture will overload the child's body with proteins and minerals (this is dangerous!), And a formula that is too thin will simply not be enough for the baby to eat. Pay attention to the composition - the daily dose of the mixture should contain all the necessary vitamins, micro- and macronutrients in the required amount.

Everyone says that the baby should be fed naturally. But I don't want to breastfeed, I'm afraid that her shape will change. What should I do? Irina, 24 years old

Irina, for starters, you should determine what is more important to you - a healthy child or beautiful breasts. If the first, then try to set yourself up to give up your “I want or don’t want” and take care of the baby. If the latter, then remember that sooner or later the beauty of your breasts will dry up, and in adulthood it will hurt you to look at how the child is moving away from you psychologically. Are you ready to be single in your old age?

Do I need to pump my breast after feeding?

Most mothers believe that if the baby has not sucked everything out of the breast, the milk must be expressed, otherwise it will become less. This is only half the truth. There is a substance in milk called an "inhibitor" that inhibits its production. The more milk in the breast, the more inhibitor it contains, the more its secretion is suppressed. Then everything is simple: the child sucked out a lot - there was little inhibitor left - a lot of milk was produced and vice versa. Thus, if the child has not sucked everything out, the body understands that so much milk should not be produced, and reduces its “production”. This is how the prevention of mastitis and breast engorgement occurs.

It has been noticed that mastitis develops more often in those women who express milk constantly: they always have too much milk, it stagnates, becomes infected and disease occurs. Let the baby and your breasts regulate the process themselves, this is biologically correct. Pumping is necessary only in a few cases, most often associated with the inability to attach the baby to the breast.

My hair falls out a lot and I breastfeed. Is this related and what to do so as not to lose the remnants of hair? Ira, 21 years old

Irina, hair loss is a sign of a certain trouble in the body. Most sin on hormonal disruptions, although only a few percent of such situations can be explained by this reason. Most often, hair falls out due to a lack of certain vitamins and minerals in the mother's diet, as well as due to overwork. In the second case, you can shift some household issues to other family members (husband, grandmothers, older children). In the first, you need to reconsider the mode and diet. It is better to do this with a doctor, and not with a local therapist, who for the most part do not have the necessary skills, but with a breastfeeding specialist or a nutritionist.

Diet while breastfeeding

A healthy mother of a healthy child does not have to follow any diet. A complete, balanced diet is the key to successful lactation. All stories about the dangers of certain products are just myths. If the child is not allergic to the tomatoes you ate, eat them. If he is not "embarrassed" by strawberries - bon appetit. Honey and nuts are strong allergens, and isn't it strange that they are often advised to reduce milk production? The main thing in the nutrition of a woman is its quantitative and qualitative usefulness. And if the child gives a reaction to something - well, cancel this product. And do not drink alcohol - it is dangerous in any quantity, even 10 grams. You can not eat and fast food - it is biologically defective, and often dangerous due to low-quality ingredients that make up its composition, food.

The same rule applies to drinks - drink something that does not affect health. Ideally, you should drink only clean water. It is not recommended to take tea, coffee, especially energy drinks, as this stimulates the child's nervous system, which is not prepared for such spurring.

We have a birthday coming up and I'm not sure I can go without a drop of alcohol. Tell me, how long can you breastfeed after alcohol, such as beer? Anna, 20 years old

Hello Anna. Alcohol is the strongest neurotoxin, it is extremely dangerous for the baby's nervous system, even in minimal doses. We advise you to completely abandon its use during the entire period of breastfeeding. However, if this could not be avoided, one rule should be remembered - 20 ml of pure alcohol is destroyed by the body in an average of 3 hours. This is 50 grams of vodka or cognac, 150-200 ml of wine or a glass of beer. We recommend multiplying this time by two and also multiplying it by the amount of alcohol you have drunk.

Is breastfeeding allowed in public places?

Often in the shops in the yards or squares you can see women putting the baby to their chest. Sometimes this causes serious controversy, on the topic of the admissibility of breastfeeding in public places. Leaving aside the moral side, we will consider exclusively the medical aspect.

Breastfeeding is an “on demand” process, which means that where and when the baby wants to eat - there and then he must be fed. Nobody bothers to cover the chest with a light handkerchief if the moral norms of society condemn such situations. The child should eat when he wants. Your task is to ensure the hygiene of the procedure. However, if you take a shower once or twice a day, this is quite enough to prevent infections. Do not forget to treat your hands with antiseptic wipes just before feeding.

I had a breast augmentation 2 years ago. Now I am pregnant, and I know that the best food for a baby is breast milk. But can you breastfeed with implants? Shouldn't they be removed first? Nastya, 28 years old

Good day, Nastya. The danger of silicone silicone for a child is a myth. If this substance were toxic, it would first kill the woman herself. Moreover, silicone is insoluble in water, which means that it cannot penetrate into milk, even if the implant is damaged. Another proof of its safety is that millions of nipples for children are made from it and not a single one has yet been poisoned.

However, after feeding, the shape of the breast may change and the implant will become noticeable. No one is immune from this, it may be necessary to re-plastic. Remember that the shape of the breast could change even without implants. And isn't the health of the child more important than the beauty of the breast, which, moreover, only one husband sees?

Gennady Bozbey, Emergency Medical Doctor

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