Breastfeeding your baby. Proper feeding of a baby: tips for a nursing mother. Shortened frenum of the tongue

Long and successful breastfeeding is real!

In recent decades, the opinion has spread in our society that breastfeeding is a difficult task that not everyone can control. There is an opinion that there are dairy mothers, and some mothers only have enough milk for 3-4 months, or even less.

We hasten to inform you that this is far from the case! Most often this is due to the fact that young mothers simply do not have the necessary information about breastfeeding, and, unfortunately, this is rarely taught specifically. Therefore, women feed as well as they can, sometimes without knowing the main points that are critical for successful lactation. We will list them in this article.

1. It is important for a successful start of breastfeeding to apply the baby to the breast early within 1 hour after birth. It is this that is important for further breastfeeding. Because with early contact between mother and child, an invisible bond is formed, which they will carry through their entire life. In addition, the first drops of colostrum contain a large amount of substances that protect the child from infections, thus, the child is "vaccinated", and the intestines are colonized by the mother's microflora, not the maternity hospital. Colostrum is sterile, and no one can guarantee the sterility of the preparation of the mixture and the purity of the nipple.

2. Before the baby is first applied to the mother's breast, he should not receive anything from the bottle or in any other way. Since it is important that the child's body gets exactly those nutrients that are intended for the child's body by nature, thus, they do not disrupt the natural development of the digestive system of the child's body. In addition, when receiving a breast for the first time, the baby captures these moments and then, he will breastfeed without problems, relying on the first sucking experience. If, instead of the mother's breast, the child was given a bottle with a nipple, then he captures that he will feed from a rubber "breast" and the transition to the mother's breast may not be easy.

If a newborn child was taken from the mother, and for the first time instead of the mother's breast he will receive a nipple, then it is dangerous for the child for the following reasons:

  • the child does not receive colostrum (which plays an important role in the development of immunity, is the main point of stimulation and establishment of lactation);
  • he may have nipple-nipple confusion and may refuse to breastfeed his mother.

For a young mother, this is dangerous for the following reasons:

  • due to the confusion of the mother's nipples - bottle nipples, the baby is reluctant to breastfeed, which can lead to improper breast latching, cracks and milk stagnation.
  • it takes longer for milk to come because the baby is not stimulating enough to the breast.
  • The likelihood of hypogalactia, reduction and termination of breastfeeding increases.

Thanks to WHO research, it has been established that even one or two pre-lactation nipple feedings are enough to prevent breastfeeding from taking place.

3. After the birth of the child, the mother and the baby should be in a joint ward. It is important that the mother and child begin to adapt to each other from the first hours. Mom will learn to understand her baby's signals and respond to them in time. The baby will be able to freely receive breast when it is necessary for him.

4. In the first days of a child's life, he should receive exclusively colostrum and later - breast milk. The baby does not need water and other non-nutritive substances; it is dangerous for a child to eat breast milk substitutes.

Very often, expectant mothers ask: "What to do while there is no milk ?!" The first 2 days (sometimes 1-7 days) there really is no milk. So far, there is only colostrum - very high in calories and easily digestible, saturated with a huge amount of immunoglobulins and beneficial flora, which promotes the release of meconium (original feces), the formation of the intestinal environment and cleansing the body of bilirubin.

Little colostrum. Very little. And it is right!

Imagine the internal organs of a baby - it has only been a few months since they formed. In utero, they have already worked, digesting light suspended particles in the amniotic fluid. But this is idle work, training. Now they have to earn full money. After all, there will be no food from mom directly into the blood. You need to get absolutely all the nutrients from milk yourself. In order for the transition to a fundamentally different method of nutrition to take place smoothly and successfully, nature has provided an intermediate stage - the colostrum period.

It is a small amount of colostrum that allows the digestive tract and kidneys of the crumbs to try themselves in a new role, train, get used to new loads and gradually move on to full-fledged work. Even a large amount of mother's milk (let alone the mixture!) During this period creates an unbearable and unnecessary load on the adapting human systems.

Will he be hungry? Not. The fact is that in the first days of life, very serious and important processes take place - adaptation to dramatically and radically changed conditions of existence. The child's body is entirely occupied with this adaptation and does not want to waste energy on digestion.

In addition, brown fats are burned in the newborn's body, due to which almost the entire daily need for energy is provided. Plus the high energy value of each drop of colostrum. The kid gets everything he needs.

Here are a few simple rules to help you make your first milk-free days comfortable:

1. Remember that now the baby only needs colostrum and in just such an amount in order for him to be healthy. And he doesn't need anything else.

2. Be calm, because the baby really feels mom's mood and starts crying if mom is anxious or turned on.

3. Do not wait for a cry to give breast and try not to take it away from the baby yourself.

4. Be together all the time. An insignificant percentage of problematic births involves the separation of mother and child.

5. Make feedings comfortable. There are no household chores in the maternity hospital yet, there is only you and the baby. Feed him lying down and rest yourself at the same time.

6. Get the correct attachment. By capturing the breast deeply, the baby will be able to suck it more efficiently and less tired.

7. Offer him a second breast if, after sucking on one for a long time, he shows dissatisfaction. This will help the correct formation of lactation, help to avoid excess milk supply, and the baby will receive his priceless drops of colostrum from both breasts. Then you can offer him the first one again.

5. In the maternity hospital, the mother should learn how to properly hold the baby at the breast. The correct attachment of the baby to the mother's breast depends on this. It would be nice to feed the baby in different positions, this will facilitate the removal of milk from different lobes and will not provoke stagnation. There are three main poses: "cradle" - a traditional, well-known pose, "from the armpit" and feeding while lying down, but you can think of your own, the main thing is to keep a good attachment. Make sure that in all these poses you feel comfortable, and the baby's body is located in the same plane and does not bend. The newborn should lie on its side and the mouth should be at the level of the nipple. In the "cradle" position, the baby is pressed against the mother's belly by the legs and tummy.

6. The mother needs to learn how to properly attach the baby to the breast. Breastfeeding counselors or nurses at the hospital can help mothers with this. When applied correctly, the entire areola or most of it plus the nipple is in the baby's mouth. Thus, the entire mouth of the baby is filled with the breast and when sucking the air almost does not enter there, therefore, the child almost does not swallow air. When sucking, no extraneous sounds (clicks and smacking) are heard. The chin of the child, often the nose rests against the chest, the lower lip is turned out. It doesn't hurt to feed mom!

7. The baby should be breastfed on demand. This means that the mother reacts to the crying of the baby by applying it to her breast. In addition, the requirement for a crumb is his behavior in which his mother sees that he wants to get breasts (search behavior). For example, a child in a dream began to toss and turn and open his mouth. The baby is not crying yet, but makes movements with her tongue, as if looking for a breast.

A newborn baby has many reasons to want to kiss the breast, because in addition to satisfying nutritional needs, the baby satisfies the need for psycho-emotional comfort. The baby became scared - he needs to be lodged on the breast, he wanted to put on his arms, uncomfortable under new clothes, the heel was combed, he wanted to pee - to everything, to this, he can react with crying, and his mother saves him by letting him kiss his breast. You should not worry that the baby will overeat, it is practically impossible with exclusive breastfeeding, because his body is genetically tuned to very frequent feedings. It is normal for a baby of the first month to apply every 1 to 1.5 hours. Be careful not to overfeed your breasts again. If the crumb eats excess norms, he will spit out the excess, thus, his self-regulating system will debug everything.

8. The time that the child is at the breast is regulated by the child. Do not rush, he must eat exactly as much milk as he needs, unfortunately, we cannot know this, so we will focus on the baby. The mother can only pick up the breast if the baby has mishandled the breast and it hurts you. To do this, use a finger, unclench the gums with it, and take out the chest. We serve it again, but we take into account the correctness of the grip of the breast.

9.Do not transfer the baby to the second breast before he has sucked the first. Do not forget that frequent breast changes can lead to the fact that the baby does not have time to suck out the back, more fatty milk, thus, the baby may have digestive problems, and as a result, lactase deficiency and frothy stools may occur. It is better to act like this: we give one breast at one feeding. If the baby falls asleep very quickly under the breast (5-10 minutes), then you can give the same breast a second time when he wakes up.

10. It is very important that the baby has free access to the breast at night. It will be very good if you organize a joint night's sleep. It is known that it is at night that the hormone prolactin is produced, which is responsible for milk production the next day. In addition, this is a good opportunity for the mother to sleep at night, as she does not have to get up all the time to calm the baby and breastfeed. The child, feeling the scent of his mother next to him, also sleeps better and longer.

11.A baby who is breastfed should never receive pacifiers, pacifiers or bottle feeding. It is known that when sucking on the nipple, the baby uses different muscles than he uses when sucking on the breast. Thus, he can learn to suck incorrectly and damage the mother's nipples. For some babies, one bottle feed is enough and the baby is already beginning to refuse to take the mother's breast or worry under the breast. If the baby needs additional feeding, it should be given from a cup or spoon.

Artificial children need pacifiers and nipples, so that they can satisfy their sucking need, babies do not need them, they are even useless. They have a mom and a breast, which they kiss on demand.

12. Exclusively breastfed babies do not need additional water and early introduction of complementary foods until 6 months. Firstly, milk contains up to 90% water; they satisfy their need for liquid through milk even in summer. Secondly, he also does not need supplements and additional vitamins, since milk contains all the vitamins necessary for the crumb, and they are absorbed by the child's body completely without a trace, unlike vitamins synthesized artificially. It should be remembered that early introduction of complementary foods can have negative consequences. It is known that, receiving additional food up to 6 months, the baby begins to poorly assimilate vitamins and minerals from breast milk. And, unfortunately, he still does not know how to assimilate them from new food.

13. It must be remembered that a mother should not get involved in washing her breasts with soap before and after each feeding, and also in any way to process it. The Montgomery glands are located around the nipple, which produce a protective grease that protects the nipples from dryness and injury. In addition, this lubricant smells like amniotic fluid, so the baby is soothed at the breast by smelling the familiar scent. This smell helps the baby to determine where the breast is to be applied to. By this smell, the child recognizes his mother. If the breasts are washed very often, the protective layer is washed off and the nipple can be easily injured. It is enough if you take a shower every 1-2 days.

14. Mom should not additionally express milk after each feed. The task of the young mother is to establish breastfeeding in such a way that only as much milk is supplied as the baby needs. Additional pumping tune the breast to produce excess milk, unfortunately, it takes a lot of time and effort. Some mothers who pump after breastfeeding complain, “If it weren't for constant pumping, I would love to breastfeed! And so I get very tired. " Expressions may only be necessary in certain cases.

15. No need to weigh the baby before and after each feed. These procedures do not give accurate results on the amount of milk eaten. In addition, they make both the baby and the mother nervous, who begins to worry about how much the baby ate in one feeding. It would be more correct to weigh the baby once a week at the same time, in the same clothes. The weekly weight gain should be about 125 g. And for more peace of mind, do a wet diaper test. If a child has good weight gain and 12 or more wet diapers per day, he is in a good mood, which means that he has enough milk and the child is full.

16. If the mother has a cold, do not wean the baby for the duration of the illness. On the contrary, it is very important to attach the baby to the breast at this time. Since during an illness, the antibodies of the illness that she is suffering from enter the mother's milk. The baby, receiving this milk, is vaccinated and, thus, most often does not get sick. If he does get sick, then the disease is not so difficult and the child recovers quickly. If there is a need to take medications, you can call the consultants of "Affectionate Mom", we will find out from reference books how this medication is compatible with breastfeeding.

17. It is important for young, lactating mothers to find communication with those mothers who have had a positive, long-term (1-2 years) experience of breastfeeding their children. It is this kind of communication that will contribute to successful and long-term feeding, because they can receive support and practical advice, which, in turn, will help to establish breastfeeding.

18. No need to strive to wean a baby after he is 1 year old. It is most physiological to feed children up to 2-3 years old, when the child is fully mature (both mentally and physically) in order to part with the breast.

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All About Breastfeeding

Throughout the entire existence of mankind, the process of breastfeeding newborns is common to all peoples, regardless of race and cultural affiliation, as it ensures the child's survival and normal physical and neuropsychic development.

KEY BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

Breast milk is the best, nature-adapted food for a baby, as it provides his body with all the nutrients he needs for the first six months (26 weeks) of life. In addition to nutrients, breast milk contains substances that meet the unique needs of an infant - essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, some proteins, and easily digestible iron. However, the main difference between breast milk and artificial mixtures is that it contains immunoglobulins and biologically active substances that protect the child from a variety of infections and contribute to the adequate adaptation of the newborn's intestines. It has been reliably proven that the composition of breast milk changes during the day, as well as during lactation and corresponds to the age of the child.

HOW BREAST MILK IS PRODUCED

Lactation is determined by prolactin, the main hormone that ensures the secretion of milk in lactating women. The hormone is produced by the adenohypophysis, its synthesis occurs around the clock. The level of prolactin in the blood reaches its highest value on the 3-4th day of the postpartum period. The milk flow process is established by the 3rd and stabilized by the 7th day of the postpartum period. By this time, the formation of the capacitive function of the mammary gland is also completed. The prolactin level depends on the sucking activity of the baby. If its level is high, but milk is not removed from the breast, then lactation decreases. Prolactin has a sedative effect. The excretion or ejection reflex of milk is determined by the level of oxytocin. Oxytocin causes contraction of myoepithelial cells and other structures of the alveolar region and promotes the release of milk into the large ducts and cistern of the mammary gland. The degree of activation of oxytocin-producing cells depends on the intensity of sucking. Recent studies indicate the participation of oxytocin in the hypothalamic regulation of prolactin secretion. An increase in blood oxytocin levels precedes an increase in prolactin levels induced by breastfeeding. If the breast does not empty, milk secretion ceases. The concentration of prolactin and oxytocin in the blood of women in childbirth essentially depends on adequate mechanical stimulation (compression, stretching, vacuum) of the mammary gland by the baby's mouth during feeding. With such a complex stimulation in the afferent fibers that form receptors of the nipple and areola of the mammary gland (mechanoreceptors), a characteristic pattern of impulses arises, which along the pathways of the spinal cord enter the hypothalamus, then into the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, where they cause the release of these hormones, lactogenesis and release milk.

COLOSTRUM

In the first days after the birth of the child, the mammary glands of the woman in labor produce colostrum - thick yellowish or transparent milk. Colostrum contains more protein, antibodies and other protective factors than mature milk. Colostrum has a mild laxative effect and promotes the timely cleansing of the newborn's intestines from meconium (original feces), which reduces the duration of the physiological and prevents the development of pathological jaundice in the baby. Colostrum also contributes to the development and normal formation of the functions of the intestines of the child after his birth, prevents the development of allergies and intolerance to other foods. In terms of its vitamin composition, colostrum differs from mature milk, it contains especially a lot of vitamin A. Considering the specific composition of colostrum, it is very important that the child receives it from the first hours of life. It contains all the necessary components and fully meets the nutritional needs of the baby until the mother has mature milk.

RIPE MILK

Mature milk is milk that appears a few days after the birth of a baby in much larger quantities than colostrum. Distinguish between "front" and "back" milk.

"Front" milk - milk that a baby receives at the beginning of feeding, it has a bluish color. "Front" milk is produced in large quantities and contains a lot of sugar (lactose) and protein. Sometimes the mother thinks that her milk is inadequate, "skinny".

Back milk is delivered to the baby at the end of the feed, the milk has a rich white color. The "hind" milk contains more fat than the "front" milk, which gives the "hind" milk a rich white, sometimes yellowish color. The large amount of fat makes the hind milk high-energy, so the baby must not be taken off the breast prematurely, but must be allowed to suck out all the hind milk or he will be hungry.

Many young parents, grandmothers and other relatives of the newborn believe that breastfeeding can be successfully replaced by bottle feeding with cow's milk. The following is compelling evidence that this should not be done: Differences Between Human Milk and Cow's Milk Breast milk contains anti-infective and growth factors that are not found in animal milk or infant formula. Recall that the immunity of a child in the first months of life is provided exclusively by antibodies and nonspecific protective factors contained in mother's milk. In cow's milk, protein is mainly represented by casein, which curdles into a dense, poorly digestible clot. Breast milk proteins contain all essential amino acids, including the essential cystine and taurine. Breast milk fat contains a large amount of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids. In addition, breast milk contains an enzyme called lipase. Cow's milk and formula do not contain the enzymes found in breast milk. In terms of iron content, cow's and breast milk do not differ from each other. However, in terms of bioavailability, breast milk iron is undoubtedly more readily available than cow's milk iron. So, from breast milk, the child absorbs 50% of the iron contained in it, while from cow's only 10%. Breast milk contains the optimal amount of minerals. Animal milk contains too much calcium and sodium.

Breast milk contains enough vitamins, unless the mother is deficient in them. Animal milk may not contain the required amount of vitamins A and C.

Today, the benefits of breastfeeding for babies under one year of age have been reaffirmed. It is proved that in children who are exclusively breastfed: there is a significant decrease in the cases of sudden death syndrome; there was a decrease in the incidence of enterocolitis, sepsis, otitis media, diarrhea, atopic dermatitis, food allergies, bronchial asthma, diabetes, cancer in children; there are no pathological reactions during preventive vaccinations; the best parameters of the psychomotor and emotional development of children and their greater sociability are noted; there is a decrease in the incidence of dental problems in early childhood - a decrease in the incidence of caries.

In addition to the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby, there are certain benefits of breastfeeding for the mother as well.

Oxytocin, which is released from a woman when breastfeeding a baby, contributes to the contraction of the uterus and the timely stop of bleeding, thereby predetermining breastfeeding as an affordable and effective means of preventing bleeding in women in the postpartum period. Therefore, it is very important to put the baby to the breast immediately after birth and feed him as often as possible. Breastfeeding women have a certain amount of energy, they produce milk even with a limited calorie intake. It has been proven that women who are breastfeeding are less likely to get ovarian and breast cancer. Breastfeeding prevents the onset of ovulation and menstruation and is a physiological method of preventing pregnancy (lactational amenorrhea method). The effectiveness of the method is high, and feeds the child exclusively with milk at his request, day and night, at least 8-10 times or more within 24 hours with an interval of no more than 5 hours between feedings. However, the risk of a new pregnancy remains at about 2%. It should be emphasized that the cost of feeding a lactating woman than the cost of artificial feeding for a child's dm is much more beneficial for the mother herself.

Breastfeeding has an important psychological benefit for both the mother and the baby. It promotes the formation of a close, tender relationship between mother and child, an attachment from which both receive deep emotional satisfaction and which lasts for life.

Breastfeeding promotes: close emotional relationship between mother and child; emotional satisfaction of the mother; a more affectionate attitude of the mother towards her child and reduces the likelihood of abandoning him if the pregnancy was unwanted; breastfed babies are calmer, cry less, and feel more protected.

PREPARATION FOR BREASTFEEDING AND BASIC FEEDING RULES Sit comfortably, relax. Get into a comfortable position, lying or sitting, to be able to hold the baby close to your chest for a relatively long time. There are many ways of feeding: sitting, lying down, squatting. The most important thing is that during the feeding process the mother is relaxed and the baby is comfortably located. Keep your baby in such a position that he does not have to pull the head out. This means that the baby should be turned towards your breast, that is, turn his tummy towards your belly. Check if your child is comfortable. Place your baby close to your breast so that he doesn’t have to make an effort to reach for the breast while feeding. Your nipple can be damaged if the baby tries hard to keep the nipple in his mouth. Support the baby's back, do not hold the head. If the child's head is firmly clamped, he can instinctively try to twist, "fight" at the breast. The baby's nose should be flush with the nipple during feeding. This means that the child will have to turn the head slightly to reach the nipple, help him by supporting the lower part of the back. Do not use your fingers to adjust the distance between the baby's nose and chest. By squeezing your breasts with your fingers, you break the shape of the breasts, thereby making it difficult for the baby to grip the nipple. When positioned correctly, the baby breathes through the edges of the nasal passages. Do not hold or move your chest like a bottle. Your movements will prevent the baby from grabbing the breast. The baby must fully latch onto the breast to reach the place where the milk is accumulating. If there is a need for breast support, support from below, preferably with the entire palm of the hand, with the edge pressed against the chest wall. Keep your fingers about 10 cm from the nipple. If the baby is sleepy or restless, draw attention to feeding by gently touching or touching the cheek or mouth, or nipple. Squeeze a drop of milk onto the surface of the nipple to stimulate the baby's further appetite. Children usually open their mouths in this position and make “milking” movements with their tongue. When you see that the child's mouth is wide open, the tongue is deep at the bottom of the mouth, you need to bring the child closer to you and give him a chance to "grab". It will take the experience of several feedings to learn, not everything is given right away on the first try. In the event that the child is dissatisfied with something, is very hungry or cries at the moment of latching on to the breast, he raises his tongue, making feeding impossible. Try to calm the baby down before feeding. Some babies have periods of protest before each feed. Take every opportunity to feed your baby when it comes up. You can help him take the breast at this moment, and he will not even notice it. If the baby prefers one breast, give him that one.

Remember that you need to pull the baby to the breast, not you to reach for him with the breast.

HOW TO ESTIMATE WHETHER A CHILD IS ENOUGHLY RECEIVING MILK Any child is an individual, in nature there is no second, exactly the same. Children's nutritional needs are also individual. Just as the composition of milk changes throughout the day and months, so does the needs of the baby. Fortunately, most babies are able to adjust the amount of breast milk they consume according to their needs.

It is recommended to breastfeed the baby as soon as he shows signs of hunger or anxiety, day and night, starting from the first day, it is necessary to adhere to this routine until the end of the feeding period. Sometimes you will have to feed 10-12 times a day, sometimes 6-8 times. Do not wait for the baby to cry for feeding.

If a baby is given a pacifier or is swaddled tightly, it is very difficult to recognize the signs that babies usually show when they are hungry. Hungry children move their heads, their hands, bring them to their mouths, they saliva, they smack their tongues, making sucking movements with their mouth and tongue. Children have many ways to show their hunger. Screaming and crying is the last, most desperate method. Breast milk is easily and quickly digested compared to artificial baby food, therefore, the baby should be fed more often than with artificial feeding. Most babies need to be fed at night. For convenience, place your baby's crib next to yours or place it nearby so that it is easy to feed at night. This is not dangerous, the maternal instinct will help you feed the baby in a drowsy state, just do not swaddle him tightly, this will not make him calmer. Feeding is relaxing, so you can rest yourself, even if you can't sleep. Allow your child to eat their fill. Ignore the watch while feeding. Sometimes children gorge themselves quickly, sometimes slowly. The baby may require feeding intermittently, resting between feedings, sometimes he requires more constant feeding. You will learn to understand from the sounds whether the baby continues to suck or he is just napping at the breast. As long as your baby is comfortable, feeding will not hurt your nipples, even with frequent and prolonged feedings. If the baby spontaneously throws the breast, take a break (pause). Then try offering the same breast to make sure the baby is getting fat-rich hind milk. If he refuses, offer a second breast, if he refuses the second breast, then the baby is full. At each feed, offer the breast that "rested" from the previous feed. If the baby has a noticeable tendency towards the "favorite" breast, this is not a problem. Almost milk from one breast is enough to feed a baby. Do not forget that there are women who have successfully breastfed twins and even triplets with success.

Milk fully meets the baby's food and water needs in the first six months of life. Even in hot weather or if the child has fever, there is no need to give him extra water or tea, you just need to feed the child often and at his will. From six months, breast milk alone can no longer fully meet the needs of a child for nutrients, vitamins, and trace elements. It is necessary to introduce complementary foods, but the feeding should be from a cup and spoon, but not from a bottle.

In the first months of development, normal weight gain ranges from 500 to 800 g per month. If the weight gain is less than indicated, you should not immediately resort to artificial baby food. Try to feed your baby more often. Seek advice from your pediatrician, pediatric nurse, who will check if you are applying the baby correctly while breastfeeding, and whether breastfeeding is effective. Babies do not grow evenly, and the baby may suddenly require more frequent feeds over several days, which will increase the milk supply accordingly. Babies perfectly regulate their needs, thereby regulating the amount of milk produced by the mother's breast.

There is no need to wash your breasts and nipples before breastfeeding, as breast milk is disinfectant. Soaps, disinfectants, or alcohol remove the skin's natural grease and increase the risk of cracking. One daily hygiene procedure is enough (for example, a warm morning shower). However, before each feeding, the mother should wash her hands thoroughly with soap and water.

NUTRITION OF A NURSING MOTHER

It has been proven that a mother's weight does not affect successful lactation. The dietary requirements of a nursing mother vary over a fairly wide range. The woman's need for proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals increases during this period, but if these needs for additional energy and nutrients are not met, then the synthesis of breast milk will occur at the expense of the mother's own resources. A normally nourished woman has the necessary reserves of nutrients, which are used to compensate for the increased requirements in the first months of lactation. Below is an approximate diet for a nursing woman.

The widespread belief that a significant increase in fluid intake is necessary for normal lactation is not supported by scientific research. When the mother does not have enough fluid, the urine becomes concentrated, the woman becomes thirsty. Therefore, usually a woman herself regulates the flow of fluid so as not to feel thirsty.

The shape and size of the breast does not affect the amount of milk in it or the possibility of breastfeeding. Often the reason for the unsuccessful attachment of the baby to the breast is explained by the shape of the nipples. Small, flat or depressed nipples are often a cause of concern to the mother - whether the baby will be able to properly latch on to the breast, whether it will be difficult for him to suckle. In most cases, flat nipples are not an obstacle to breastfeeding, most often the reason for unsuccessful breastfeeding should be sought in a violation of the technique of attaching the baby to the breast. Help the mother to properly attach the baby to the breast as early as possible, ideally on the first day after birth, before the milk “arrives” and the breast is full. If for some reason the baby is unable to suckle, the mother should be advised to express milk and feed it from a cup. You should not bottle feed your baby as this will make it difficult for the baby to latch onto the breast later on.

Absolute contraindications for breastfeeding are:

First. On the part of the child - the inability to suckle the breast (difficult general condition of the child, low birth weight). Second. On the mother's side - a serious condition, taking certain medications, HIV infection.

Breastfeeding difficulties may be due to the following reasons.

The anatomical features of the structure of the breast and the woman's body as a whole, as a rule, very rarely are the direct cause of insufficient milk production. Psychological factors are another matter.

Psychological factors are more often than others the objective reason for the presence of difficulties in breastfeeding. Stress, family conflicts, lack of understanding between wife and husband, significant stress experienced by a woman after childbirth, especially if there are several children in the family, lack of care and assistance from the husband and other close people - these are the visible reasons that may be encountered any young family, and which can ultimately lead to insufficient milk production in the mother.

In order to activate the oxytocin reflex, it is necessary to help the mother both psychologically and practically - to eliminate any sources of pain or anxiety, to evoke only pleasant thoughts in relation to her child, and when expressing milk, the mother can hold the baby on her lap or just look at him.

The other most common cause of a mother's lack of milk is infrequent breastfeeding or hourly feeding. Failure to feed the baby at night can also lead to a decrease in milk supply, especially if the mother stops night feeds before the baby shows signs of satiety. Short breastfeeding leads to the fact that the baby does not get enough fatty "hindmilk", and therefore, and enough calories, poor breast emptying most often leads to a decrease in milk production.

Improper latching on to the breast leads to the fact that the baby suckles ineffectively, which in the future will lead to inadequate milk production.

A bottle-fed baby who sucks on a pacifier may have difficulty sucking because it will not properly latch on to the breast. The introduction of supplementary feeding earlier than 4-6 months leads to the fact that the baby suckles less at the breast, as a result of which milk production also decreases. Prepare a sterile pumping container. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately before expressing. Breast milk expressed in a sterile container can be stored at room temperature for 6-8 hours, at a temperature of + 4 ° C (in a refrigerator) it can be stored for 24-48 hours without pasteurization. If you need a longer storage of milk, then it must be frozen, while certain rules must be followed. It is recommended to express milk only in a sterile container, glass or special plastic, as milk fats can be absorbed on the walls. Do not fill the container completely, you must leave about 2.5 cm of free space, since when freezing milk expands and the glass container may burst. It is necessary to freeze milk in portions (designed for one feeding), since defrosting and re-freezing are unacceptable. The container with each portion of milk must be signed, indicating the time of expression (day, month, year and time). Milk should be frozen immediately after expressing.

Expressed breast milk at -20 ° C can be stored for up to three months.

Nipple cracks, breast enlargement, uninfected mastitis Breastfeeding problems during breastfeeding, as a rule, are associated with improper attachment of the baby to the breast, which leads to engorgement of the mammary glands, blockage of the milk ducts and the addition of inflammation with the possible development of an abscess. Breast filling with milk occurs on the second to fifth day after delivery. Inflammation and cracked nipples most often occur in the early days, when the skills of correct latching to the breast and the frequency of feedings have not yet been worked out. Improper latching of the baby to the breast is painful, causes cracking, which in turn limits breastfeeding and can lead to engorgement of the breasts. Washing the nipples too often (more than once a day) removes the protective film and causes cracks.

Restriction of breastfeeding, improper attachment of the baby to the breast, and other factors can cause blockage of the milk ducts - lead to the appearance of a hard, painful formation, reddening of the skin with a possible increase in body temperature and chills. This condition is sometimes called uninfected mastitis. The condition of a woman with uninfected mastitis can be improved by more frequent attachment of the baby to the breast and its complete emptying. In all cases, if you have doubts or suspicions of mastitis, you should consult with your family doctor (pediatrician, obstetrician-gynecologist) regarding the correct decision on whether to continue breastfeeding.

If your condition worsens, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics for you. Treatment with these antibacterial drugs is not a contraindication for continuing breastfeeding. Breastfeeding your baby should be continued as breast milk helps to restore the baby's normal intestinal flora.

MECHANISMS OF TRANSMISSION OF INFECTION FROM MOTHER TO CHILD DURING BREASTFEEDING

Despite the fact that breast milk contains immunoglobulins and nonspecific protective factors, it is with breast milk that the transmission of an infectious agent to a child can occur. Pathogens can enter milk when the mother has an infectious disease, and milk can also be contaminated when expressed. Infection can occur through direct direct contact with damaged breast skin, nipple, and contact with a breast pump and container. Dissemination of expressed milk can be due to normal maternal flora or pathogens. A localized infection - mastitis or inflammation of the nipple - can also be a source of pathogens in milk.

When HIV is transmitted from mother to fetus, it is always difficult to determine whether it happened after delivery through breast milk or the fetus became infected in utero. The risk of HIV transmission is higher with primary infection of the mother during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as well as with the progression of the disease, when there is a high level of viremia (an increase in the number of viruses in the blood). Many studies have shown the possibility of infection in newborns during breastfeeding in cases where it has been proven that the infection of the mother occurred after childbirth (parenteral). During this period, specific antibodies are likely to appear in breast milk, but their role in protecting against HIV transmission is limited. If the mother has HIV infection, breastfeeding is excluded!

Expressed breast milk can become infected with a variety of pathogenic bacteria when the milk is expressed and stored. Often expressed milk is contaminated with the flora of the mother's skin, for example, coagulase-negative staphylococcus. With a slight contamination of milk, these organisms do not pose a danger to the newborn. However, with a large number of them and in the case of deeply immature and premature or weakened children, these microorganisms can pose a serious danger to the health of the child. Dissemination of expressed milk in case of non-observance of the sanitary and anti-epidemic regime leads to the development of severe infectious and inflammatory diseases in children. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the rules of hygiene when expressing milk, its storage and subsequent use. In all cases of the disease, the doctor who monitors your baby decides whether to continue breastfeeding.

STOPPING BREASTFEEDING

There is no need to stop breastfeeding if the baby does not want to. Most children give up breast on their own in the second year of life. Breast milk continues to be a defense against infectious diseases for the baby.

If for some reason it is necessary to wean the baby from the breast, then the following should be done:

Increase the duration of the intervals between feedings, so that their number is reduced by one feeding per day every week or two, for two to three months; stop feeding your baby in the morning; stop night feeds (this should be done last);

Simultaneously increase attention, love and care for the child.

www.baby.ru

Feeding newborns with breast milk, the benefits of breastfeeding

In 2003, the World Health Organization and UNICEF issued an essential set of recommendations for humanity. For the first time, a document entitled “The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding” clearly defined the basic principles of infant feeding.

The only priority food for every baby, regardless of the region of birth, the social capabilities of the parents and other factors, is breast milk. The publication was preceded by many years of research by scientists around the world, who by the beginning of the 21st century were able to almost completely identify the composition of breast milk and the characteristics of its effect on the child's body.

Main advantages

It was found that human breast milk has nothing to do with cow's or goat's milk, but its composition is closer to blood. It turned out that this fluid is not static, but changes depending on the current needs of the child. Moreover, the mother's diet has practically no effect on the ratio of “ingredients” in her. It turned out that it is impossible to change the fat content of milk, and its rapid "burnout" during a woman's illness is nothing more than a myth.

Breastfeeding began to be perceived as a perfect, ideal physiological process that allows you to provide a child not only with food. It forms a stable psychological connection between the baby and the mother, gives a powerful start to the child's immunity, protects against allergic reactions and even cancer. That is why trends that were absolutely impossible 20 years ago began to appear in the world: adherents of breastfeeding after two years and women who practice feeding adopted children. Incredible? But all this has real scientific justification.

According to the recommendation of the World Health Organization, the child should receive exclusively breast milk until the age of six months. It provides 100% of his needs. It is not recommended to offer the baby water and "breast substitutes": bottles, pacifiers.

To fulfill this requirement, the infant should be attached to the breast immediately after birth. In the maternity hospital, the mother and child must stay together for 24 hours. The importance of tactile skin-to-skin contact for the correct formation of lactation and feeding exclusively “on demand” is indicated.

The advantages of breastfeeding lie not only in the elementary convenience for a woman - no mixtures are needed, healthy and valuable food for the baby is always “at hand”. This is just a small fraction of what breast milk actually brings to a baby.

WHO experts identify the following benefits of breastfeeding that directly affect the quality of life of the little man in the present and in the future.

  • Protection against gastrointestinal infections. This problem is not the most urgent for developed countries, like Russia, but extremely acute for developing countries. Child mortality from diarrhea and other intestinal infections is high in Africa and Asia. The best protection for the baby is breastfeeding and its early initiation - within an hour after birth. It eliminates the risk of infections and their severe course, including infant death.
  • Providing energy and nutrients. At the age of up to six months, breast milk provides all the needs of the child's body. However, its value does not diminish in the future. It serves as a source of essential nutrients for a baby, covering half of the energy needs under 12 months and one third up to 24 months. The nutritional value of breast milk is especially great during a child's illness. It is extremely easily absorbed by the child's body and helps to reduce mortality among malnourished toddlers.
  • Protection against obesity. It has been proven that breastfeeding of a newborn greatly reduces the risk of developing obesity in the future and related diseases: diabetes mellitus, hypertension.
  • High intellectual development. According to the observations of experts, breastfed babies are more successful in intellectual development than artificial crumbs. It is easier for them to learn new skills, they are more successful in training and career growth.
  • Stable psyche. Babies grow up calmer, more balanced and self-confident than artificial children. This determines the quality of their life in the future.

Understanding the importance of breastfeeding allows a woman to correctly prioritize, give preference to artificial feeding, and work on the development of lactation and its maintenance in difficult situations.

Breastfeeding consultants recommend that you always maintain lactation during the period of a woman's illness, including in the case of the development of infectious mastitis. This will allow, after recovery, to return to natural feeding, an identical alternative to which none, even the most high-quality and expensive formula, can serve.

The basic benefits of breastfeeding babies are complemented by practical benefits. A woman does not need to worry about the quality of her “product”, since milk itself adapts to the needs of the child. There is no need to additionally purchase vitamins or nutritional supplements, add water to the crumbs. His food will be as varied and balanced as he needs at a particular point in time. After all, the valuable liquid in the mammary glands contains more than 500 different substances, while in no artificial mixture the number of ingredients exceeds fifty.

The practical benefits of breast milk also lie in other aspects.

  • Helps the baby fall asleep. It is at the time of sucking that babies fall asleep and calmly doze until the next feeding. This reflex is especially pronounced in newborns.
  • Helps not to wake up. It is convenient to take advantage of this advantage at night. If the baby cries, it is enough to give him a breast, and the whole family will sleep peacefully until morning.
  • Helps empty the intestines. During feeding, the baby empties the bowels and bladder painlessly and comfortably. This relieves him of anxiety about tummy soreness.
  • It is assimilated always and everywhere. Breast milk is the only food that the baby's body digests without the slightest effort. It is absorbed not in the stomach, but in the intestines, so you can feed your baby with it as much as he wants! It does not create a load on the digestive system, does not create a risk of overweight. It is absorbed equally quickly during sleep and wakefulness, bathing and play. You can continue to feed them after switching to the "adult diet" without controlling the amount eaten. And it is especially important to support feeding during a child's illness, since it is from it that the baby will receive not only energy in an easily accessible form and nutrients, but also antibodies to the disease and natural antimicrobial compounds, in particular, the natural antibiotic lysozyme.
  • Helps not to get sick. Breast milk forms the full immunity of the baby up to two months. In the future, the immune defense decreases, as the system begins to form on its own. However, it has been proven that long-term breastfeeding maintains immunity at a higher level than feeding for up to a year.
  • Protects against colic and dysbiosis. The most common problem among babies is colic. They are formed by gases that stretch the walls of the intestines and cause pain. Immunoglobulins, which are part of mother's milk, cover the intestines with a "film" that excludes the aggressive effects of gases and protects against the penetration of dangerous microorganisms into the blood from the digestive tract. Bifidus factor is another active ingredient from the mammary glands. It inhibits the reproduction of pathogenic intestinal microflora, populates it with beneficial bacteria.
  • Eliminates stress. The baby regularly experiences discomfort and pain. He is in pain during birth, swaddling and other "strange" procedures. He is scared from loud sounds, bright light. He is cold, unusual. All these sensations cause crying. Mom's milk helps to eliminate them. The baby not only feels the warmth from contact with the mother's skin. He receives from his food anti-stress factors, analgesic hormones, sedatives - a whole range of useful elements that help him adapt to the new world.

Breastfeeding allows a woman to discard stereotypes about the overworking of the mother of the newborn, about sleepless nights at the crib, about incessant crying until the age of three months. If you are breastfeeding, these stories are not about you. Your child will be healthy and calm.

5 popular questions about the benefits of breastfeeding

How often and for how long should you feed? How to replace breast milk at night? Why does it stand out a little or, conversely, a lot? There are an incredible array of questions about breastfeeding. We will answer the most common ones.

  1. Why is there no milk after childbirth? During childbirth, the placenta is separated, which triggers the mechanism for the production of the hormone prolactin. It, in turn, stimulates the alveoli in the mammary glands, which begin to produce nutrient fluid. In the first days after the crumbs are born, they produce colostrum - a super-nutritious substance in which there is practically no water, but an incredible amount of protein and immune factors - a real inoculation of the baby's health. Milk comes in 3-5 days, which is marked by "bursting" of the breast, often soreness. At this point, it is extremely important to learn how to properly apply the baby to the mammary glands so as not to damage the nipples. There is no need to "stretch" your chest with your hands! This is an absolutely useless and very painful procedure. To get enough milk, you should often and correctly apply the baby to the breast, feed him as long as he wants.
  2. How often should you feed? It is not permissible to use the "regimen" feeding technique. Firstly, a child of the first month of life simply will not be able to comply with this regime without harm to health. Its stomach is extremely small to hold a large amount of food at a time. Plus, breast milk is digested very quickly. Feeding "often and little by little" is natural and correct from a physiological point of view. This is what on-demand feeding looks like. Apply the baby to your chest as often as possible. So you will not only provide him with the correct diet, but also allow lactation to establish at the required level. It has been proven that nutrition "according to the regime" inhibits lactation in the first six months of a baby's life.
  3. How to replace milk at night? The hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the amount of milk in the mammary glands, reaches its peak between three and eight in the morning. If you plan to maintain lactation, talking about milk replacement with something else at night is unacceptable.
  4. How much breast milk is fed? There is a uniform recommendation by the World Health Organization for feeding children. Breastfeeding is vital for up to six months. It is extremely important to do this before 12 months. Feeding up to 18 months is desirable. Up to 24 months, you can continue to feed at the request of the mother. According to HV consultants, the question of how much to breastfeed is deeper. So the breastfeeding consultant Natalya Razakhatskaya argues that the natural period for completing lactation is the baby's age of more than two years. In addition, his readiness must be formed from a psychological and physiological point of view to abandon his mother's breast. It is unacceptable to carry out weaning when the baby is sick. Or if the intervals between feedings are less than 12 hours.
  5. How to replace breast milk after a year? Nothing. There are no artificial mixtures with the same content of valuable substances. If you are planning to wean a baby, the diet should be exclusively "adult" food or an adapted formula (up to six months).

Research in recent years has highlighted the benefits of continued feeding of children after two years of age. At this age, the composition of milk adapts to the new needs of the child and is saturated with protective factors: antimicrobial, antiallergenic. It increases the content of vitamins A and K, which are important for the development of eyes, skin condition, increases the level of iron, excluding the appearance of anemia. Finally, breastfeeding stimulates the development of the baby's speech apparatus.

Breastfeeding of newborns has tremendous benefits. It creates the basis for the correct, harmonious development of a person, lays the foundation for his health. But no less important is the close emotional connection of the child with the mother, which is formed precisely at the moments when the baby is applied to the breast, creates conditions for close confidential communication in the future and is maintained throughout life.

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Breast-feeding

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Correct breastfeeding of newborns for months from birth to weaning with the first complementary foods. Helpful advice for breastfeeding mothers and solutions to problems that a woman will face for the first time after childbirth.

Breastfeeding from A to Z

GV is a gift that nature has endowed every woman. There is no special training required to prepare for breastfeeding, so there is no reason to worry.

But there are still some things to think about before a baby arrives. If a newborn baby does not take the mother's breast well, there is no advice, except for the following - this must be experienced. Usually, women continue feeding for a year or two, and at the end of this process a feeling of great victory comes: they became a hero in the eyes of the baby, gave him a part of their soul, heart and a little breast milk.

Starting breastfeeding

There are not many ways to prepare for the beginning of the Guards. The most important thing is to prepare yourself emotionally. A woman's body prepares to feed her baby even during pregnancy. Little by little, step by step, hormonal and physiological changes ensure the supply of milk to the breast. During this time, the shape of the bust is likely to begin to change. The very same milk production begins in the third trimester, so you may notice a small discharge from the nipples ...

How to breastfeed properly

After studying the issue of feeding, young mothers are still confused, disappointed, and sometimes it comes to depression. Do your best to think clearly. At this point, you know everything you really need to know about breastfeeding. A woman is born with an inner understanding and intuition of how to be a mother and will soon become a specialist. Consider the issue from a sober point of view ...

Essential things for full breastfeeding

First of all, the right thinking will help you make the right choice in relation to you and your child. Here are a couple of things that you can do that will really save you a lot of energy and nerves. A woman's body changes a lot during gestation and after childbirth, so sometimes chronic health problems are exacerbated. While new sores appear, which superimposes all the troubles one on top of the other, and this all sucks out all the energy, and there is not so much of it ...

GW for beginner moms

If you are just starting to breastfeed, rest assured that this is the right way, but if breastfeeding does not occur naturally, do not worry, the woman can stimulate milk production on her own. Yes, there is no better option for a baby than a novice mother will start breastfeeding. This is the best way to feed your baby, and provide all the necessary elements for full growth. Breast milk contains all the necessary food ...

Reasons for transferring to artificial feeding and basic rules

The correct willow will give the baby everything necessary for the full growth and development of the child's body. Modern formulas are better than donated breast milk - at least for reasons of sterility and hygiene. And it is more convenient - they are well stored, and their composition is stable, which cannot be said about human milk.

IMPORTANT VITAMINS AND MINERALS DURING BREASTFEEDING

Continue taking the same vitamins as during pregnancy for at least the first month of HB. After that, you should switch to multivitamins and mineral supplements, or not change anything, it all depends on individual needs (discuss this with your doctor at the first postpartum visit). A balanced diet can also help your baby develop properly, especially if you make the decision to eat healthy foods consciously. You can also add to the complex of vitamins ...

Nutrition for a nursing mother while breastfeeding

The daily menu of a nursing mother should mainly contain wholesome and nutritious food. You can eat non-allergenic fruits and vegetables. The diet needs white meat, eggs, porridge. You should also, at least once a week, eat dietary fish, including the record holder for the composition of beneficial fatty amino acids - red fish.

What eggs can you eat while breastfeeding?

Boiled or fried chicken eggs should not be eaten in the first month due to the high risk of allergies in the newborn. And also raw eggs carry a threat of salmonella contamination. But every nursing mother should know that eggs (chicken, quail) contain invaluable vitamins and minerals. Let's take a look at all the pros and cons of eating eggs with you.

Watermelon breastfeeding

Watermelon can be eaten while breastfeeding if the nursing mother is sure where and how it was grown. Watermelon should be eaten with caution with gv because of the nitrates, which it absorbs like a sponge. If possible, the mother should ask the pediatrician for advice. During breastfeeding, a woman does not have enough sweets, and watermelon is a well-known delicacy.

What not to eat while breastfeeding

Foods prohibited during breastfeeding directly affect the health of newborn babies. Before starting the guards, you need to arm yourself with basic knowledge about the nutrition process and the features of prohibited foods. You should definitely study the history of diseases in the family dynasty, pay attention to the body's sensitivity to certain foods ...

Breastfeeding tea

If a woman drinks a lot of tea during GW, it must be remembered that most types of drink contain caffeine. Caffeine is not recommended in large quantities, and we advise you to drink no more than two to three cups a day. It is better to drink after the feeding procedure so that the substance does not pass into breast milk. Excess caffeine will make the newborn fidgety and have trouble sleeping ...

Weaning your baby from breastfeeding

Weaning from gv should not be painful for the baby. Learn how to choose the right time, and what you can do in turn to get your baby on the bottle without the hassle. Breastfeeding should be completed gradually. An abrupt end will provoke lactostasis or mastitis. A nursing mother should be prepared for the slow process of weaning her baby.

Lactostasis - stagnant breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, mothers often face a problem such as lactostasis. The main signs of ache is when the breast increases in size, becomes dense, chills appear, redness on the surface of the breast and the venous network expands ...

Mastitis while breastfeeding

Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast during breastfeeding in women and girls (rarely in men), usually caused by a breast infection, but not always. Any mother can get mastitis, although it is most common during the first 6 months after birth. The main thing is not to panic, but to come to the treatment of mastitis with a cool head.

Starting complementary foods for the baby

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Public Health Association (APHA), breast milk is the only food that newborns need in the first 6 months of life ... Complementary foods should be introduced with vegetables or baby cereals.

Menstruation with breastfeeding

Headache in a nursing mother

In this article, you will learn: what causes a headache, as well as female hormones associated with pain. What medications can be taken, and we will dwell on medications in more detail: citramone and analgin, can they be taken during breastfeeding. Let's describe the effective ways to get rid of headaches ...

Paracetamol while breastfeeding

Some medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Certain types of drugs are safe for health. In cases where the need for admission outweighs the risk to the unborn child. Always tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a birth ...

IS IT POSSIBLE TO DYE HAIR WHILE FEEDING

We decided to dye our hair or keep it natural during pregnancy. Reconsider your decision as soon as the baby is born. Although dyeing while breastfeeding with chemical dye is not recommended. The direct effect of staining on development has not been proven. Most breastfeeding moms still worry about whether and how their habits affect their babies?

Breast milk

Storage of breast milk at room temperature (no more than 25 degrees C), for six hours,

in a cool window, with ice packs, for up to 24 hours ...

How to feed a child after a year

Quite simply, breast milk is of much better quality. Many people are mistaken that special baby food can be compared to breastfeeding ...

Sore throat in a nursing mother

Throat treatment for sore throats using natural remedies at home often gives good results without the unwanted side effects of breastfeeding ...

What to do with constipation while breastfeeding mom and newborn

Problems with constipation during GV can arise right now. Give yourself a few days after the baby is born before you start worrying. For a long time without food, during childbirth, to live a day or two without defecation, because there is simply nothing in the stomach….

The benefits of goat milk

Goat's milk is the best food for a baby. It is compared in chemical balance with mother's milk. Nature has built mother's milk in such a way as to cherish, grow, not harm ...

PROPERTIES OF OAT GRAIN DURING BREASTFEEDING

Regular consumption of oatmeal while breastfeeding stimulates milk production. While there is no scientific evidence for a link between oatmeal and breast milk, some have already noticed the effect. Most working mothers have noticed that when they eat cereal, their milk supply increases, and on days when they eat other foods, it decreases. In some countries, oatmeal has long been recognized for its miracle properties, so many doctors often recommend that patients take a closer look at this product ...

When mom smokes while breastfeeding

First of all, a mother who cannot quit smoking should breastfeed. Breastfeeding provides many of the benefits over bottle feeding in helping a baby fight disease ...

Can bananas be eaten?

But what if the child is constantly reaching for the fruit basket for the bananas and eats them unpeeled !? When my baby began to speak and for the first time called his grandmother's name, I immediately decided to tell her about it by phone, and he even repeated his feat to her, which my mother was very happy about ...

Feeding after a cesarean section

Almost every third newborn is born by cesarean section. Many of these caesarean sections are unexpected, so the expectant mother should be informed about this procedure before her baby is born ...

Cracked nipples and other problems

In the first few days of breastfeeding, it is most common for mums to experience breast discomfort, but you should not tolerate severe pain and discomfort. Breastfeeding should be enjoyable for both you and your newborn. If this is not the case, you should make changes, and for this it is worth talking to a specialist ...

Risks of Depression While Breastfeeding

“Women should breastfeed their babies,” researchers keep repeating. Moreover, it is women who are willing to breastfeed who will be less prone to melancholy ...

Breastfeeding colds

How safe are cold medications for breastfeeding? Yes, there are cough medicines that are safe for mom when breastfeeding ...

Swollen breasts while breastfeeding

During the first week after giving birth, the breasts are full and may be swollen, tender, hot, throbbing with lumps. Breast swelling can spread to the armpits. Temperature is not excluded either ...

How to lose weight during guards

What are the most effective ways to lose weight while breastfeeding? All pregnant women are generally advised to maintain a healthy proportional weight for proper newborn development. At the same time, it is not recommended for pregnant women to gain excess weight. However, shortly after giving birth, almost all women are too eager to lose more weight than they have gained as a result of pregnancy ...

enkid.ru

Breastfeeding questions: 10 facts a young mom needs to know

Breastfeeding strengthens the emotional bond between mother and baby, provides the newborn with the necessary substances, and forms immunity. Therefore, many women are determined to breastfeed their baby for as long as possible. But often, when lactation is developing, young mothers have many questions:

1. Will I be able to breastfeed my baby? The answer is unequivocal: it will work! Every healthy woman is able to naturally feed her baby, regardless of breast size, physique, age. This requires the desire of the mother herself. If you doubt your abilities, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic rules of breastfeeding, the technique of latching to the breast, and the formation of lactation will be successful.

2. If milk does not come in the first days, is it necessary to supplement with a mixture? There is no need to feed a newborn. In the first days, the mother excretes colostrum, it has a high nutritional value. Therefore, even a few drops of it are enough for a newborn to saturate. In addition, during supplementation, the number of attachments to the breast decreases, which delays the arrival of milk from the mother. Apply the baby to the breast and as often as possible on demand and the milk will arrive soon.

3. The kid is losing weight - does it mean he is not eating enough? When discharged from the hospital, all babies weigh less than at birth. This does not depend on the amount of milk that the newborn consumes. Weight loss is associated with the following reasons:

  • Excretion of fluid through the skin;
  • Passing urine;
  • Discharge of original feces (meconium);
  • The stress of a newborn: from a warm, cozy tummy, he fell into a huge unknown world.

Weight loss of up to 10% of body weight at birth is considered normal; usually, after returning home, the baby will quickly gain what was lost.

4. How often to breastfeed a newborn? Feed your baby on demand: Offer breast when he is anxious. In the early days, the baby may need a breast every 30 minutes. When milk arrives, the intervals between feedings become longer, but not immediately regular, or equal to 3 hours (as some say). Feeding on demand will ensure that the baby is producing the amount of milk the baby needs.

5. Do I need to express milk between feedings? When feeding on demand, no additional pumping is required. At first, there may be more milk than the child needs, but over time this will normalize. It is necessary to express milk in the following cases:

  • When the baby does not take the breast, or for health reasons is separated from the mother;
  • When there is too much milk and engorgement of the mammary glands occurs, lactostasis or mastitis begins;
  • When there are deep painful cracks in the nipples;
  • When the mother is taking medications that are contraindicated in breastfeeding.

6. How long should the baby breastfeed? The baby will suckle as long as it needs to. Sucking time can range from 5 minutes to 2 hours. In one case, the baby wants to eat, in the other - to drink, in the third he just needs his mother's warmth.

7. Do I need to wash my breasts before feeding? This is not necessary. It is enough to take a daily shower with regular baby soap. Do not use deodorized and antibacterial products: they often cause allergies in babies and neutralize beneficial bacteria. In case of sweating or excessive milk leakage, you can simply rinse your breast with warm water just before feeding.

8. Should I give my baby a pacifier? No, this should not be done. By satisfying the sucking reflex with the nipple, the baby will breastfeed less often. Accordingly, the amount of breast milk in the mother will decrease. Using a pacifier can also lead to improper grip and even breastfeeding. We also read: how to wean a child from a dummy

9. Is it necessary to add water to the newborn? No, a newborn does not need water, because breast milk is 90% water. Even colostrum can fully satisfy a baby's thirst. Water has no calories, so it can cause additional weight loss or underweight.

10. Does the baby have enough milk? You can find out about this in two simple ways:

  1. The amount of urination. An infant should have 12 or more of them per day. The urine is colorless or pale yellow, odorless. This criterion is true if the child is not given water or medication.
  2. Weight gain. A healthy baby gains at least 120 g per week (excluding the time spent in the hospital), the monthly weight gain can range from 0.5 to 2 kg (We also read: normal weight gain).

The mother's breast is not only a means of saturating a baby, but also a way of communicating with the world, satisfying the need for love, affection and tenderness. Breastfeed your baby and have fun!

Read also: Fundamental advice on breastfeeding mothers about hepatitis B

razvitie-krohi.ru

Neonatologists consider breastfeeding of newborns an important stage, because at birth the type and source of nutrition of a little man changes, as well as his regime. Breastfeeding of newborns is an important aspect of adapting to life outside the womb. This process raises many questions for young mothers. We will try to give answers to them in this article.

Feeding technique

Many expectant mothers, while carrying a child, decide for themselves that they will certainly breastfeed the child. And this is the right decision, because breast milk is the ideal first food for an infant. Breastfeeding of newborns is a natural process that sometimes causes some difficulties. In order to establish favorable feeding, the young mother must know the technique of correct breastfeeding.

Highlights:

1. Capturing the nipple by the baby.
The newborn reflexively finds the nipple for the first time, grabs it with his mouth, sucks at the breast and swallows. The newborn cannot independently support the breast and correctly grip the nipple, so he needs the help of the mother.
Correct attachment to the breast, when the baby sucks in the nipple and the area around it, keeping the face close to the breast.
With the correct body position, the baby will be able to fully saturate, completely emptying the mother's breast.

2. Breast selection.
What kind of breast to offer to the baby? Is it possible to give a baby the same breast? These questions are often of interest to new mothers.
Breast milk is divided into front and back milk, differing in density and filling with useful nutrients. Front milk is more liquid, it enters the baby's mouth from the moment sucking begins. Hind milk begins to be produced a little later, it is more saturated with nutrients and fats.
The baby should receive both types of milk, in this regard, the breast should be alternated. Remember, however, that the composition of breast milk changes every three hours. If you give a new breast at the request of the baby each time, only the front milk will get to him.

3. Position in the hands of the mother.
Favorable breastfeeding of newborns depends on how comfortably the baby is in the mother's arms.

The position of the child is considered correct if the following rules are followed:

  • His little body with his tummy turned towards his mother,
  • The face is close to the chest,
  • The mouth is open and "aimed" at the nipple.
If the baby's body is not positioned correctly, due to the inconvenience of the posture, he will begin to be capricious and will not be able to focus on food.

4. Frequency of feeding.
Many young mothers have heard that feeding is important. This statement is true, but not for newborns, but for babies over six months.

A newborn is given a breast at his first request. Each child is different with his own personality, therefore, he will have his own feeding regime. And frequent latching to the breast during this period will help establish full lactation.

Breastfeeding difficulties

During the breastfeeding process, a young mother can encounter many problems on her way, ranging from the baby's rejection of the breast, the formation of cracks in the nipples and ending with lactostasis.

Let's consider these problems in more detail.

Sometimes the baby refuses to breastfeed. Improper grip on the nipple may be one reason. The mother's task is to help the child by placing him more comfortably on the arms, taking a warm shower and drinking lactation tea to expand the milk ducts. This will make it easier for your baby to suck, and he will stop being naughty.

Babies 2-4 months of age can sometimes refuse to breastfeed due to difficulty in sucking. The baby is making great efforts to start flowing milk. In this regard, the baby begins to get angry, cry and may refuse to breast. If at such a moment the mother shows weakness and gives him a bottle, then she runs the risk of ending lactation completely because of this. The solution to the problem is to latch on the baby to the breast as often as possible.

Sometimes breastfeeding can be due to the baby's poor health. A young mother will not always be able to immediately understand what is tormenting the baby, because the symptoms may not be obvious: gas, stomatitis, a slight cold lead to difficulties in sucking. When giving up breast, it is better to visit a pediatrician in order to establish the cause with him.

Nipple cracks are painful and complicate the feeding process. The solution to the problem will be to lubricate the nipples with ointment, which will heal cracks, relieve inflammation and pain.

Lactostasis, a blockage of the milk duct, is quite common in nursing mothers. There is chest pain, induration, body temperature rises along with general poor health. These symptoms should be reported to the doctor, who will advise how to get rid of the problem.

  1. In the first hours of a child's life, apply it to the mother's breast,
  2. For up to six months, give the baby only breast, without using complementary foods and water,
  3. Feed the baby on demand,
  4. Beginning at 6-8 months, try complementary foods without restricting access to the breast.
Breast milk is a unique product that contains the nutrients and antibodies most adapted for assimilation by a child's body, which are necessary for it in the first days and months of life.

Milk contains vitamins, trace elements and other valuable substances. Therefore, it is recommended to continue feeding for up to two years or more.

There are also contraindications to breastfeeding:

  1. Oncological diseases, accompanied by the intake of heavy drugs that can penetrate into breast milk,
  2. Infectious diseases
  3. Open tuberculosis,
  4. Mother's HIV-positive status,
  5. Mental illnesses that require drugs that are harmful to the baby in the course of treatment are also likely to be harmed by the mother.
  6. Complications during childbirth associated with severe blood loss.
Contraindications for breastfeeding may also be on the part of the child:
  • If the baby has serious genetic pathologies,
  • Prematurity with low weight, respiratory failure.
By following these rules and carefully observing the needs of the baby, you can establish successful breastfeeding of newborns and raise a healthy and strong baby.


For some mysterious reason, to this day, various myths and superstitions continue to flourish around breastfeeding (as well as during pregnancy). All these false beliefs are passed down from generation to generation, despite the fact that they are devoid of any scientific basis or evidence. But nevertheless, myths of this kind often cause panic in the ranks of young mothers and create confusion among not quite young mothers, it should also be mentioned about the doubts created among already nursing mothers.

Mamulichkam.ru decided to compile a list of the main myths about breastfeeding and milk, and explain why they are not worthy of your attention.

Major Breastfeeding Myths

When breastfeeding, the woman does not experience pain or you are not properly latching on the baby... While breastfeeding, the woman may experience pain, although the technique for latching on to the breast is correct, you just need to get used to it. The technique of attachment to the chest, of course, can affect the pain, but it is not the only one and cannot be attributed to this reason. When the breast is full - there is enough milk, when soft - there is no milk... In the postpartum time, the breasts are fuller due to the higher amount of postpartum hormones that promote lactation. Later, lactation adapts to the needs of the baby, the breast is either not poured at all, or poured less, milk is mainly formed in the process of sucking by the baby. An empty breast after feeding is a sign of good release and a signal to the brain for the next serving. The owners of a small breast size will have little milk, with a large breast size - the lucky ones will have a large amount of milk. Breast size has nothing to do with future milk production capacity. Women who have zero or first breast size are able to fully satisfy even twins. While women with large breasts cannot guarantee that they will have enough milk. Control expression shows how much milk the baby is drinking... The baby drinks a different amount of milk during each breastfeeding, just as we, adults, on different days prefer different portions of food. The baby may also have different appetites on different days and be influenced by the environment, for example, may drink less milk in bad weather. If it is necessary to determine how much milk is drunk by the baby, then it is necessary to weigh it before and after each breastfeeding in the interval of 24-48 hours. And only the sum of the values ​​during this time will show the objective amount of milk consumed. The breastfeeding diet should be free of garlic, onions, cabbage, spices and other foods.... When a baby is less enthusiastic about feeding than usual, then some doctors or breastfeeding counselors will blame food for it. Supposedly "bad" food disturbs the taste of breast milk. The list of such products is quite impressive. In fact, there is no reason to refuse any food, since already during pregnancy, the baby gets used to all the foods that the mother consumes. The only thing that really needs to be avoided is alcohol. How much milk is expressed immediately after childbirth, so much milk will be the entire period of breastfeeding... After expression, up to 70% of the milk may remain. It depends on how soon the woman after giving birth (the shorter this period, the better the milk due to the influence of postpartum hormones and the duration of lactation, taking into account the needs of the baby and will take a much longer time, maybe a week before she receives the same the amount of milk, as with the first breastfeeding), put the baby to the breast or made expression. The amount of milk after expression is not any indication of the actual amount of milk. The baby is crying after feeding, it means he is still hungry.... Very few babies cry relentlessly because of hunger; most babies suffer from tummy pain, flatulence, bloating, fear, discomfort, fatigue, or other causes. Crying is the only verbal means by which the child speaks about all his problems. Of course, the child also cries from hunger, but not always. After 6 months, the baby does not have enough breast milk, he does not eat up... Breast milk is always a perfect product for a small child and does not lose its properties. It is important to know that changes in breast milk as the baby grows occur during each feed. Of course, its composition retains some basic constants and nutritional value. Studies have shown that when a newborn is breastfed, breast milk is made up of high amounts of water and other components like lactose, proteins, antibodies, etc. And after a while, additional fats appear, which give a feeling of fullness. However, milk is enriched with other substances (for example, antibacterial agents) that are beneficial for growth, even if weight gain is no longer as obvious as in the first months of life. Green chair - hungry child... It does not mean at all that the green stool of the child means hunger, but the altered (brown, very smelly), can indicate a spurt of the child's growth, or he drinks a lot of front milk rich in lactose, or reports intolerance to lactose or to cow's milk protein (from the mother's diet), possibly indicates an intestinal infection. Frequent breastfeeding lowers milk production because the baby drinks all the milk before it can get enough milk. The opposite is true - the more milk a child drinks, the more it leaves and the more is created again. Milk lactation is based on a simple supply and demand system. During growth periods, or when necessary to increase the amount of breast milk, increase the frequency of breastfeeding. You will need patience, as in the first couple of days it may really seem to you that there is less milk, but the brain needs time to react - at least 3-4 days, milk will begin to appear in sufficient quantities for the baby. The break between breastfeeding should be 3 hours, otherwise digestion cannot cope... Breast milk is absorbed much better than artificial formula, therefore, the baby may require breast more often, for example, after 1.5-2 hours. A breastfed baby should be in accordance with his personal needs, so newborns may need 12-18 attachments to the breast, in children after 6-8 weeks, the regimen begins to be determined, and the baby will be less likely to ask for breast. The baby can suckle for more than two hours... Such long-term breastfeeding is unnecessary, since the baby does not eat for so long, he just sleeps at the breast. Such a process can, on the contrary, worsen the effectiveness and the amount of milk consumed by the child. The maximum duration of breastfeeding for a newborn can take about 45 minutes, later the time is reduced by 2-5 minutes. A little older child will need 10-15 minutes - the child will learn to suck faster and more efficiently. A child who sleeps for a long time shows a sign of comfort and satisfaction.... If the child feels good at the same time and all indicators are normal, then the answer is yes. But if the baby is gaining weight slowly or it is a premature baby or a baby with jaundice, then it is necessary to wake him up so that the amount of breastfeeding is at least 7-8 times a day. Excessive sleepiness may indicate that the child is too weak to understand his needs. During each breastfeeding, you need to feed the baby with only one breast, or vice versa, both... If the baby is doing well, then each breast can be fed in turn. You can also offer the child a second breast right away, and he will decide for himself whether he wants to or not. For babies who are sleeping or lagging behind in weight, then changing breasts during feeding can mobilize the baby to suckle better and drink more milk. There will be no milk after a caesarean section... During a natural birth, the placenta signals the body that it is time to produce breast milk. Therefore, the first few hours are critical for an optimal start to breastfeeding. So the hospital staff should help the mother and be sure to attach the baby to the breast immediately and after the caesarean section. The child is not gaining weight, so I have no fat content in milk.... We are in a hurry to dispel one of the most common myths - in principle, skim milk does not exist in women (this is a very rare phenomenon when the fat content of milk is really so small that it does not cover the nutritional needs of the child), in the vast majority of cases the wrong breastfeeding technique or sucking by the baby is to blame that do not allow you to eat effectively. Another possible cause may be an insufficient breastfeeding regimen (insufficient frequency of breastfeeding, limiting the duration of breastfeeding). If you breastfeed for more than 1 year, it leads to the child's dependence on the mother throughout his life.... In the past, it was quite normal to breastfeed a child until 3-4 years of age or longer, only for the past 100 years it has been considered that it is necessary to limit. It has been proven that babies who are breastfed for a long time feel safe and therefore independent in life. A mother who does not allow the child to cry will bring up a limited and infantile, soft-bodied and aimless person. Scientists from different countries have proven the irrefutable fact that children who cried 10 times less than others in infancy, in adulthood feel more protected, knowing that their needs will be heard. The bottle can harm breastfeeding because it there is no need to work there, so the baby will refuse to breastfeed. Although there are bottles from which it is quite difficult to suck, the child needs to make some effort, but this is not the reason at all. The difference is in the sucking technique, the baby uses completely different muscles. When breastfeeding, the tongue and chin work intensively. Consequently, when bottle feeding, the sucking technique will deteriorate, so it will damage breastfeeding. When breastfeeding, the nipple should not be given... If the baby grows well, suckles well and the breastfeeding technique does not have a negative effect, then the use of the nipple is possible after 3-6 weeks. If, immediately after birth, you give a baby a pacifier, which has not yet learned to suck correctly, then there is a risk that the baby will not learn the correct technique at all, and there will also be problems with determining appetite and saturation. I don't have enough milk, because I eat and drink little, and everyone says that I have to eat for two... The mother's diet does not affect lactation at all; it is known that many women who do not finish eating, nevertheless, have good quality milk. The liquid needs about 2-3 liters per day. Breastfeeding women do not have to "eat for two" at all, they just need to increase their calorie intake to more than 1400 KJ. For example, 2 slices of bread a day as a dietary supplement will be sufficient for these purposes. The child should gain 250g every week... When breastfed, babies gain unevenly, sometimes it can be 50g, and sometimes all 300g. On average, it is considered a good indicator per week in the region of 150-250g. After that, this figure drops to 100-200 g per week. If I drink a lot of milk, then I will have a lot of milk.... Eating milk does not affect lactation at all. The period and amount of lactation is a hormonal issue, and the milk consumption of the baby has a particular effect. Excess milk in the mother's diet can, on the contrary, cause problems with the baby's tummy. Breastfeeding during pregnancy or breastfeeding of two children of different ages is not possible... No woman is immune from pregnancy during breastfeeding, so breastfeeding during pregnancy does not threaten either mother, fetus or baby. The tandem of breastfeeding for children of different ages is also possible without risks, the only thing is that a nursing mother should always give priority to feeding a young child. During illness, a nursing mother should not feed her baby or take any medication... On the contrary, in case of common diseases of the mother, it is even beneficial to feed, because it provides the child with breast milk with very important antibodies that will protect him from diseases or facilitate the course of the disease. And the drugs prescribed by the doctor are usually compatible with breastfeeding. If the baby has diarrhea, stop breastfeeding... On the contrary, breast milk is the best medicine for diarrhea due to immune factors, probiotics and prebiotics. Breastfeeding twins or triplets is not possible... And again, this is a myth. Difficult - yes, but not impossible. Lactation is able to adapt to the needs of two and three children. First of all, good organization and support from the family is important. Breastfeeding in public is indecent... It's as indecent as eating on a park bench. Breastfeeding women only need to remember that breastfeeding is an intimate moment between her and the baby, and therefore does not need to be overly demonstrated. Breastfeeding is a reliable contraception... Breastfeeding is an unreliable contraceptive, even when the baby is often and completely breastfed. Contraceptive effects are indeed present during high lactation, but cannot be relied upon. There is enough breast milk for the baby, the need for other fluids has disappeared... With sufficient breast milk, the baby really doesn't need any other fluid. Breast milk is more than 80% water. But on the recommendation of a pediatrician, in case of jaundice or in hot weather, you may need to give the child some water. Breastfeeding women should not exercise... This is not at all a reason to cancel sports for nursing women, on the contrary, it is a form of active recreation for them. The only nuance that must be remembered is that if the exercises are performed too intensively, then lactic acid can be released into the milk, which changes the taste of milk, so the child can reject it immediately after training. Breast milk contains many pollutants... Breast milk does contain some of the pollutants that are all around us. However, studies show that their numbers are not so great, and the benefits of breast milk significantly exceed them. In our family, no one breastfeed - this is a hereditary problem... Nothing of the kind, breastfeeding, or rather the rejection of previous generations, is not at all a hereditary cause. Most likely there was not enough knowledge and support. A very small number of women cannot breastfeed for physiological or medical reasons.

According to the WHO, the issue of breastfeeding in our country is quite acute. Up to 6 months, no more than 45% of babies receive breast milk, by the year this figure drops to 39%, up to one and a half years only units receive breast milk. For comparison, in the West, up to 98% of children are breastfed.

Scientifically proven : lack of milk associated with a genetic predisposition occurs in only 3% of women. All other mothers can feed the newborn with mother's milk, useful for the development and health of the baby.

Despite the presence of a dairy kitchen and a wide range of infant formula within walking distance, expectant mothers should know that none, even the most balanced baby food, can replace mother's milk.

What makes breast milk unique

There are substances in breast milk that are not present in any baby food. The percentage of nutrients in infant formula can be approximated to the composition of breast milk.

However, there are components that are vital for a child that are not found anywhere except breast milk:

Lactose Carbohydrate found exclusively in breastfeeding mom's milk Needed for the development of the child's brain.

Forms microflora for bifidobacteria, helps to absorb iron and calcium.

Lactoferrin Multifunctional protein Answers for the immune system and the baby's brain, destroys harmful bacteria, microbes, viruses, defeats various infections and even cancer cells.
Lysozyme Normalizes microflora of the oral cavity and intestines of the child. Lysozyme in human milk is 100 times more active than in cow's milk.
Alpha lactalbumin Under influence substances cancer cells self-destruct.
Taurine Free amino acid Develops the brain and contributes to the development of the baby's intelligence.
Immunoglobulins Antibodies for microbes Saliva a baby who, when breastfeeding, enters the mother's body, signals the baby's problems. In this regard, the composition of milk changes. It receives the necessary immunoglobulin.

Infant formula will never replace the ability of the female body to produce substances that protect the health of the newborn.

Mother's milk not only protects the baby from adverse factors, but also stimulates the formation of the baby's own immune system. The mother develops protective antibodies, which, when entering the child's body, protect him, improving the immunity of the baby.

There are about 20 hormones in breast milk that are responsible for the physical and mental health of the baby.

The more important ones are:

  1. Oxytocin responsible for the psychoemotional state of the newborn.
  2. Prolactin controls the development of reproductive function and the pituitary gland.
  3. Insulin controls sugar levels.
  4. Sex hormones.
  5. Growth factors.
  6. Hormones responsible for the thyroid gland.

For reference: Research by the international association UNICEF has shown that the IQ of a child who is breastfed up to six months increases by 6-8 points.

What a woman should know about breastfeeding

How to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding Not so long ago, doctors advised to prepare the breasts in advance. During pregnancy, the breasts were regularly massaged and rubbed. Today, doctors say that irritation of the glands in a pregnant woman provokes an increased tone of the uterus, the threat of miscarriage and detachment of the placenta. ... Breast health primarily depends on the correct and timely newborn baby.

You can do a light breast massage when no more than 2 weeks are left before delivery.

What to do if your breasts are very small

A common misconception among mothers with a small bust. In fact, the amount of milk does not depend on the size of the breast. ... A woman with a # 4 bra may have less milk than a mom with small breasts. Small breasts need to be emptied more often to get enough milk.

Is the lack of milk from a grandmother or mother inherited?

The amount of milk with HS is not inherited ... This is noted by many mothers in various forums. For example: “My mother fed me and my brother for a long time. There was a lot of milk, but I don't have enough. " Or: “I grew up on formula, my mother had no milk. I myself am breastfeeding my son, and at least fill up with milk! "

When to apply

baby to breast for the first time

Breastfeeding counselors recommend putting your baby to the breast immediately after birth ... This stimulates milk production and increases lactation. If for some reason it was not possible to do this, you need to attach the baby to the chest at the first opportunity
When milk appears after childbirth For women giving birth for the first time, real milk appears on days 3-7 ... This should not be a cause for concern. The amount of colostrum released during the first time after childbirth is enough for your baby.

When milk appears, the mammary glands enlarge and harden. This process can be quite painful.

How to tell milk from colostrum Colostrum has a thick, viscous consistency and a yellowish tinge ... The presence of sodium chloride in it gives a salty taste.

Milk is white or bluish in color, liquid structure and sweet taste due to the presence of lactose.

What is front and back milk
  • Front (less fatty) milk enters the baby's body at the beginning of feeding.
  • Rear milk is more nutritious. The less milk remains in the breast, the fatter it is.
How to relieve milk flow pain
  • During feeding you need to learn to relax.
  • You can before feeding express some milk.
  • Apply correctly baby to the chest.

If pain persists within a few days, see your doctor.

How often do you need to breastfeed your baby? Feeding on demand

This refers to the baby's need for breastmilk and the mother's need to empty the breast.

The frequency of milk intake is set by the baby itself ... He is crying, showing anxiety, or looking for his mother's breast. In the first few months, the baby is fed on demand. The baby should suckle as much as he can and when he wants. This ensures a psychologically comfortable state of the baby. A baby can do this 12 to 20 times per day.

Do not be afraid that the baby will overstep ... His body is adapted to continuous feeding! Mother's milk contains an enzyme that promotes the complete assimilation of food.

The mother needs to attach the baby to the breast every 1.5-2 hours, she also needs to be satisfied, even if the baby is sleeping at this time ... To do this, gently bend the baby's bottom sponge with the nipple. The sucking reflex of the baby will work even during sleep.

If the baby is milked from one breast, should the other be given in one feeding? The mammary gland produces the amount of milk that the baby needs ... When alternating breasts in one feeding, there is an imbalance in fore and hind milk.
What position is best to feed a baby So that the process of feeding the baby does not cause unpleasant sensations, you need to correctly attach it to the breast:
  1. You need to feed the baby in a comfortable position. ... Feeding while sitting or lying on your side is considered optimal. This promotes good milk flow.
  2. The baby must grasp the nipple correctly. ... He needs to put both the nipple itself and the halo in his mouth.
  3. When feeding, the mother must support the breast. directing it into the child's mouth.

Correct gripping of the breast by the baby will protect the mother from cracked nipples, lactostasis and mastitis.

(See Problems with breastfeeding).

How to properly latch a baby to the breast The hips, shoulders and ears of the newborn are in line ... He should be turned towards the chest with his whole body, and not just his head. With one hand, the mother holds the baby, laying it on her forearm. With your free hand, you need to hold the skin on the chest to make it easier for the baby to breathe.

If the baby does not latch on correctly, the feeding process is interrupted. and substitute the baby's breast so that he can grab it as expected. The kid will soon understand what is required of him.

Mom needs to know! Correct latching of the newborn to the breast is the most important thing in the feeding process.

How the baby takes the breast into his mouth depends on:

  • Effective suction allowing the baby to suck out the required amount of milk.
  • Breast stimulation ... The more milk the baby can suck, respectively, the more it will appear in the mother.
  • Complete breast emptying , which, according to the WHO, is the leader among other methods for the prevention of mastitis and milk stagnation.

Duration of one feeding

The duration of one feeding depends on factors such as:

  1. Force , from which the baby sucks milk.
  2. Is the baby attached correctly? to the chest.
  3. How quickly will the baby get enough .

The average duration is from 20 minutes to half an hour. In this case, you do not need to force the baby to force if he stopped sucking a little earlier. As a rule, this means that the baby is full.

For the first 2-3 minutes, the baby's body receives early milk, which includes water, minerals and carbohydrates. It turns out that at the beginning of the process, the baby drinks, and only after a few minutes he sucks out the back milk, which is rich in fats and protein.

At first, the baby sucks on the breast, not only when he is hungry. When he is at, he feels protected and behaves calmly.

It would seem that there is nothing easier than latching a newborn to the breast. However, unfortunately, not always everything is as simple and smooth as we would like it to be. Some mothers experience breastfeeding problems not only in the first month, but throughout the entire lactation period. How do you breastfeed and express milk without being overshadowed by anything?

How and when to attach a newborn baby to the breast

The first question that worries all young mothers is "how and when to attach the baby to the breast"? It is very important to do this as early as possible - already in the delivery room, in the first 30 minutes after birth. It is now practiced in many maternity hospitals.

It is noted that the correct early attachment of the child to the breast with the mother promotes the production of breast milk in a larger volume and for a longer time. If it is difficult to attach the baby to the breast immediately after birth (caesarean section, illness of the mother or child), this should be done as soon as possible. Before that, milk must be regularly expressed and given to the child.

It is very important that the mother and baby are accommodated in the same room immediately after delivery. When staying together in the postpartum ward, the mother has unlimited access to the baby at any time of the day, she can attach the newborn to the breast whenever he wants, at his first request, which contributes to the better condition of both the mother and the child.

When not to breastfeed

Breastfeeding rules do not allow breastfeeding only in exceptional cases when the mother is seriously ill. It can be an open form of tuberculosis, cancer, heart disease in the stage of decompensation, severe renal or hepatic pathology, AIDS, etc.

In some acute infectious diseases of the mother (flu, tonsillitis, acute respiratory disease, etc.), breastfeeding is not canceled. But mom should be careful: put on a mask made of several layers of gauze, wash her hands thoroughly. At this time, it is better to entrust the child's care to dad or grandmother.

With such severe infectious diseases as typhoid, erysipelas, the baby must be isolated from the mother and fed with expressed milk. And only after her recovery can she resume breastfeeding.

How to properly hold your baby while breastfeeding

According to the rules of feeding, the baby should be applied to the breast only in a calm environment! This contributes to a fuller flask of milk and good assimilation. It is best if the mother and baby can retire and fully concentrate on feeding, without being distracted by extraneous conversations, watching TV, reading, etc. In these conditions, she can observe the baby's behavior during feeding.

For yourself and for the child, you need to choose a comfortable position. The feeding process often lasts up to 15-20 minutes or more, and if a woman is in an uncomfortable position all this time, she may experience pulling pains in the muscles of the back and lower back, fatigue and even irritation. All of these can adversely affect milk production.

How to properly hold your baby while breastfeeding in the first days after childbirth? During this period, the mother should feed the baby lying on her side, with pillows under her head and back! The child, while he is still small, should also be placed on a pillow so that he feels the warmth of the mother's body, hears the familiar sounds of her heartbeat, meets his eyes with his mother's. Many women find this to be the most comfortable position, allowing them to relax easily, which is very important for good milk flow.

If the mother feeds the baby while sitting, then it is best to adapt a low chair or armchair, put a pillow under the back! For proper feeding of the baby under the leg (from the side of the breast from which the baby is feeding), you need to substitute a small bench. At the same time, the child is comfortably located on the lap of the mother, who, resting her hand on a bent knee or the arm of a chair, supports the baby under the head and back, which should be in one straight line. You should not press on the child's head, otherwise he will reflexively throw it back.

The “behind the back” position is more convenient when feeding twins. And how to breastfeed your baby if he suffers from frequent regurgitation? In this case, a vertical position is recommended.

Correct latching of your baby to the breast: helpful tips for breastfeeding

It is very important to learn how to properly organize breastfeeding, as advised by pediatricians. In order to properly breastfeed a baby, as practice shows, he must be turned with his whole body towards the mother and pressed against her. His face is close to the chest, the chin touches the chest, the mouth is wide open, the lower lip is turned out, the baby captures both the nipple and the areola, a larger area of ​​the areola is visible above the upper lip than under the lower one. With proper sucking, the baby makes slow, deep sucking movements and swallows milk. The mother does not feel pain in the nipple area.

It is better to give your baby only one breast at each feeding! In this case, he receives the so-called "hind" milk, rich in fat. Front milk contains a lot of lactose and water. However, if the baby, having completely emptied one breast, is not full, he can be given the second. In this case, the next feeding should be started from the breast that ended the previous one.

Useful advice on breastfeeding - after feeding, you need to hold the baby in an upright position so that the air swallowed during sucking moves away! This is usually identified by loud belching. Sometimes the baby will spit up some milk, which should not be a cause for concern. After the end of feeding, the breast should be kept open for a while to allow the nipple to air dry. In this case, a so-called protective film is formed on it.

How to properly breastfeed after childbirth: feeding on demand

Many pediatricians, when recommending how to properly establish breastfeeding, advise the practice of feeding the baby on demand. A baby can breastfeed up to 8-12 times a day. This practice is especially necessary in the first days and weeks of a baby's life. At the same time, the mother needs to learn to distinguish the "hungry" cry of the child (the baby twists his head in search of the mother's breast, smacks his lips, loudly persistently cries) from his other demands.

Frequent feedings stimulate better milk production, ensure calm behavior and healthy development of the baby. In the future, usually by the end of the neonatal period, the baby develops its own feeding regime, most often from 6 to 8 times a day and, as a rule, without a night break.

If you are just learning the basics of how to properly establish breastfeeding after childbirth, keep in mind that, in accordance with modern concepts, a breastfed baby for at least the first 2-3 months does not need any nutritional supplements, as well as drinking in the form of boiled water, glucose solution, saline solution. He receives all the necessary amount of liquid with breast milk. Giving the baby water will reduce his appetite and ultimately the mother's milk production.

How to properly organize breastfeeding: duration of feeding

Another breastfeeding tip for a nursing mom is to breastfeed your baby according to the baby's needs. The duration of feeding depends on the amount of milk, the rate of its separation, and most importantly, on the activity of the child. In most cases, the baby is at the mother's breast for 15-20 minutes. However, there are very fast and active suckers who saturate within 5-7 minutes and give up breast themselves. Usually, a healthy baby sucks out as much milk as it needs during feeding, and the mother can easily determine when it is time to wean. To properly breastfeed a newborn, as a rule, the baby is held until he vigorously sucks and swallows, and then he releases the nipple.

It also happens that weakened children or the so-called "lazy suckers" are ready to suckle for a very long time, and sometimes even, not having time to fully get enough, quickly fall asleep without releasing the nipple. However, it is not recommended to keep the baby at the breast for a long time, as this can lead to irritation and injury to the nipple, the formation of painful cracks on it. If the child sucks sluggishly, falls asleep at the breast, he should be encouraged to be active - lightly pat on the cheek, make an attempt to take the breast away. Usually the baby wakes up immediately and continues to actively suckle. If the baby has not woken up and released the nipple, you can pour a few drops of milk into his mouth, which stimulates the appetite and causes the swallowing reflex, after which he begins to suck again.

Problems with breastfeeding a newborn in the first month

The first few weeks of breastfeeding a baby can be challenging, especially for an inexperienced mother. What are the reasons for the difficulties, and how to solve the problems with breastfeeding?

First of all, the development of lactostasis is possible, when there is a blockage of the milk ducts due to the accumulation of an excess amount of milk, which often happens in the first time after childbirth.

The breast tissue is divided into 10-20 segments, from which one duct emerges. If the duct is blocked, possibly due to tight clothing or poor suction of this part of the breast by the baby, painful swelling develops. Blockage of the duct must be carefully treated to prevent mastitis or breast abscess.

What can mom do?

  • Drink less fluids.
  • More often apply the baby to the breast with a hard, painful area.
  • Pay special attention to the correct position of the baby, ensuring the suction of milk from all segments of the breast.
  • It is necessary to do a light massage of the breast. This massage is done in the direction from the hardened area to the areola.
  • You can try expressing some milk. This will make the breast softer and it will be easier for the baby to suck.

Mother's Breast Problems While Breastfeeding

Tight breasts

One of the reasons that interferes with normal breastfeeding may be that the mother has a so-called tight breast, when milk is produced normally, but it is difficult to separate, and it is not easy for the baby to suck it in the right amount. This can cause the breasts to become hot, heavy and hard, and sometimes painful engorgement occurs.

In order for the breast to free itself of milk faster, the mother needs to feed the baby more often. If it is difficult for a baby to take such a breast, a little milk should be expressed before applying it, after which it will go easier. (You need to express milk in a sterile container, observing all the rules of hygiene.) Sometimes breast massage before feeding helps.

Incorrect nipple shape

Another breastfeeding problem with breastfeeding is the irregular shape of the nipples (flat, inverted). How to properly feed a breastfed baby in this case? With an irregular nipple shape in the mother, it is especially important to achieve the correct attachment of the baby to the breast, to ensure that it captures not only the nipple, but also a sufficient part of the breast.

When the baby begins to actively suckle, the nipples will not get longer, but they may be more stretchable. If a baby is unable to suckle such a breast, it must be fed through a pad, and sometimes even expressed milk.

Inflammation of the nipples

An improper breastfeeding position can lead to nipple inflammation and cracking, making breastfeeding difficult. Cracked nipples cause severe pain to the mother when latching on to the breast,

Inflammation and cracked nipples can be cured by correcting the position of the baby when feeding. There is usually no need to stop feeding, even for a short time. After each feeding, the nipples should be lubricated with expressed breast milk, which, as we have already said, dries in the air, forms a protective film. Between feedings, it is advisable to keep the breast open as much as possible, if possible, do sunbathing for the nipples.

Advice on breastfeeding a baby In some cases, if feeding is accompanied by severe pain, feed the baby through a pad or freshly expressed milk for some time. It is better to give expressed milk to the baby from a spoon or from a small cup, rather than from a bottle. Having got used to the bottle, the baby will then not be so actively sucking on the breast.

You should not apply cream or any medications to the nipples, wash them with soap, treat them with deodorant, as this can increase inflammation.

If the inflammation lasts more than a week or recurs after a certain period, you can suspect a fungal infection (thrush), which is accompanied by itching or sharp pain and the appearance of white pimples on the nipples. For the treatment of thrush, nystatin ointment is used, with which the mother's nipples and the baby's mouth are treated. You should consult your doctor for advice.

If the inflammation and cracks in the nipples are not repaired in time, an infection can enter the breast tissue. In this case, part of the breast becomes red, hot, swollen and painful when touched, the body temperature rises, inflammation of the gland develops - mastitis, which can be complicated by a breast abscess. Mastitis is not always a barrier to breastfeeding. If only a seal appears in the breast, it is allowed to feed the baby. With severe pain and the appearance of a purulent infection, the attachment of the child to the sore breast should be temporarily stopped. In this case, milk from the diseased breast must be expressed (so that it continues to be produced), but the child does not need to give it. You can start breastfeeding from this breast only with the permission of your doctor. Healthy breastfeeding should be continued.

Problems in a newborn baby when breastfeeding

Frequent constipation in a child

For frequent first months of life, it is recommended to use a gas tube or enema (as recommended by a doctor). With such a problem in a child during breastfeeding, an earlier introduction of juices (preferably with pulp), as well as fruit purees (apples with peaches, apples with prunes, etc.) is possible.

Baby refuses to breast

In cases of stomatitis or thrush, the child may refuse to breast. Then he has to be fed with expressed milk from a spoon or cup, but not through the nipple, as this can lead to a change in the sucking activity of the baby and difficulty in resuming breastfeeding.

Feeding with a cold

With a runny nose, the baby cannot breathe freely while feeding. What is the correct way to breastfeed a baby in this case? Before applying a baby with a runny nose to the chest, he needs to carefully treat his nose: clean each nasal passage with a cotton flag, removing all mucus, drip the drops prescribed by the doctor. Sometimes this treatment has to be repeated while feeding.

Facial malformations

An obstacle to breastfeeding may be some malformations of the child's face ("cleft lip", cleft palate) that require surgical intervention. "Cleft lip" is usually eliminated at the age of three months, cleft palate - at the age of one year. Therefore, it is especially important to maintain breastfeeding for such a child, which will help him gain strength before the operation.

If the baby only has a cleft lip and even a cleft gum, he can adapt himself to suckling. What is the best way to breastfeed the baby in this case? It is important to help him learn to suckle in the correct position, grabbing the breast well enough. With a cleft palate, the baby may choke while sucking on the breast, milk often flows out through the nose. To prevent this from happening, when breastfeeding newborns with facial problems, it is recommended to keep it in an upright position, then it will more easily adapt to sucking. You can use special plates (obturators) that close the palate defect. Nevertheless, with this pathology, it is often necessary to feed the child with expressed milk from a spoon, cup or through a tube, but at the same time, breast milk should be constantly offered to him directly from the breast. Over time, many children, even with such a pathology, still adapt to suckle their mother's breast.

Shortened frenum of the tongue

Some difficulty in sucking at the breast may occur in a baby with a shortened frenum of the tongue. With such a pathology, the baby is not able to stick out his tongue far, which interferes with effective sucking.

In this case, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will recommend treatment. Most often, cutting the bridle is required. But in many babies, the frenulum is only slightly shortened, and they do an excellent job of sucking on the breast.

Jaundice

Newborn babies with jaundice should be fed exclusively with breast milk. Jaundice usually develops in an infant 2-3 days of age. Most often it occurs in premature babies, but it also occurs in babies with normal birth weight. As a rule, jaundice occurs due to the fact that the child's liver is slightly underdeveloped. The onset of jaundice may in part be due to the late initiation of breastfeeding, and also to the fact that the baby is not getting enough breast milk. It should be remembered that colostrum helps the child to quickly get rid of the first feces and is a good prevention of jaundice.

Sometimes babies with neonatal jaundice are drowsy and do not suckle well enough. In this case, the mother needs to express milk and feed the baby from the cup. In all cases, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Breastfeeding: how to properly feed your baby

Quite often, especially in the first weeks of life, the baby may worry while sucking on the breast or after feeding due to pain in the intestines - the so-called colic.In this case, the baby first greedily grabs the breast, begins to suck vigorously, and then throws the nipple and cries loudly. then sucks again and cries again. Such crying during feeding can be caused by increased intestinal motility when the first portions of milk enter it. It is possible that colic occurs due to increased gas production in the intestines and its bloating, as well as when air is swallowed while sucking.

For the prevention of colic, it is necessary after each feeding, as mentioned earlier, to keep the baby in an upright position to drain the swallowed air

If colic occurs, proper breastfeeding of the baby can be interrupted: during feeding, you should take the baby away from the breast for a minute, also hold him upright to let the air out, do a light massage of the abdomen with a warm hand clockwise or apply a warm (not hot!) Heating pad ... If this does not help, you can install a gas outlet tube. Usually, everything ends with a bowel movement, the baby calms down, and feeding can continue.

Some mothers in these cases give the baby another breast, believing that he is crying due to lack of milk. This is not necessary, since the baby will again receive only "front" milk, which contains a large amount of lactose, which can only enhance the process of gas formation and intestinal motility.

In case of persistent colic, consult a doctor.

According to the rules for breastfeeding a newborn, it is very useful to lay the baby on his stomach between meals. It is good if from the first days the baby is taught to sleep on his stomach, which is practiced in many countries. In this case, the child is not swaddled, but dressed in a blouse and sliders - so he can take the most comfortable position.

How best to feed a baby: rules for latching to the breast

Young children often regurgitate after feeding.

This is due to the peculiarities of the structure of their digestive organs: the esophagus of a newborn child is relatively wide, the muscular layer of the stomach is still insufficiently developed, and after eating, the entrance to the stomach closes weakly, and sometimes even remains open.

Regurgitation should not be a cause for concern: when the baby gets a little older, they stop on their own.

The so-called active suckers often suffer from habitual regurgitation. During feeding, they swallow a lot of air together with milk, which then comes out of the stomach, taking some of the milk with them. To prevent regurgitation, immediately after weaning the baby from the breast, hold it in an upright position until the air swallowed during sucking leaves, which is determined by loud belching.

After feeding, the baby should be laid on its side or on its stomach, but in no case on its back, so that when spitting up, milk does not enter the respiratory tract.

Regurgitation should not be a cause for concern: when the baby gets a little older, they stop on their own. In case of persistent regurgitation, you should consult a doctor.

If a child has vomiting after feeding, and even more so if it recurs, you should immediately consult a doctor.

If the child immediately after feeding or after a while vomiting, and even more so if it recurs, you should immediately consult a doctor and strictly follow his instructions. Vomiting can be a sign of an intestinal illness. At the same time, the baby's stool becomes more frequent, its appearance changes, and mucus appears. Abundant repeated vomiting occurs in children with congenital abnormalities of the stomach (spasm or stenosis of the entrance to the stomach), which requires special treatment.

Methods for latching twin children

Certain difficulties are encountered when feeding twins. They have to be fed from both breasts, applying alternately. In this case, you should first feed the more restless child. The second baby is applied to the breast that the first sucked. This is done in order to empty the mammary gland as much as possible and increase milk production in it. After this, the baby is fed from the second breast. The next feed starts from the breast where the feed ended. It is only important that each child receives both "front" and "back" milk, this will ensure their normal development.

One way to breastfeed twin babies is to feed at the same time, applying to both breasts at once. In this case, the mother only needs to choose a comfortable position for herself and for the children.

Usually, when feeding twins, mother's milk is not enough, and they have to be supplemented with artificial formula. At the same time, it is very important that both babies receive at least a little breast milk with each feed, since only it contains enzymes that help digestion and protective antibodies that protect babies from diseases.

How to properly teach a premature baby to breastfeed

Careful attention should be paid to the rules and techniques for breastfeeding a premature baby. Special studies have shown that the milk of the mother of a premature baby contains more protein. Therefore, prematurely born children grow better on their mother's milk than on donor "mature" breast milk. If necessary, special milk “enhancers” containing vitamins, minerals and easily digestible protein can be added to breast milk.

Premature babies weighing less than 1600 g often do not know how, not only to suck, but also to swallow. These babies should be kept in the premature babies' wards. They are fed expressed milk through a special tube. If the baby can swallow, it can be fed from a small cup, but not from a bottle, otherwise it will be difficult for him to suckle later.

In order for the mother of a premature baby to produce more milk, she must start hand pumping as early as possible. It is necessary to express milk before each feeding of the child, that is, after 3 hours, day and night, up to 8-10 times a day. Expressing only 1 or 2 times a day will decrease milk production in your breasts.

When the baby's body weight reaches 1600-1800 g, you can try to give the baby a breast. Moreover, this should be done often in order to switch to direct breastfeeding as early as possible. This tactic helps to develop the baby's ability to breastfeed and better stimulates the milk flow reflex. It is very important to help the premature baby to pick up the breast in the correct position. So he will quickly get used to self-sucking.

At first, a premature baby sucks with respite. This must be taken into account and not prematurely weaned from the breast. After the baby has sucked as much as he could, but has not yet received the required amount of milk, the remaining milk in the breast should be expressed and fed from the cup to the baby.

If the baby is sick, breastfeeding is an essential part of treatment. Mother's milk is the most nutritious, easily digestible food, contributing to a faster recovery of the baby.

How to breastfeed a sick baby correctly

If necessary, the sick child should be fed with expressed breast milk from a cup or spoon. If you express milk, it will be produced in sufficient quantities.

Any sick baby, including those suffering from diarrhea, can be breastfed as much and as often as a healthy one. Moreover, if a child, due to a serious condition and weakness, cannot suckle strongly and for a long time, he needs to breastfeed as often as possible.

If a sick child is prescribed any medicinal solution (to replenish fluid loss with frequent stools), it should be given from the cup so that the baby does not lose the skill of sucking at the breast.

How to breastfeed and express milk

It is important not only to know how to properly teach your baby to breastfeeding, but also how to express milk.

Sometimes a practically healthy and full-term baby refuses to breastfeed. Most often this occurs with severe engorgement of the mammary glands. In this case, a small amount of breast milk is expressed.

Learning how to express milk correctly is very important.

If the breast is engorged, expressing can be painful. Then you can apply a warm compress or a heating pad with warm water to your chest, take a warm shower. At the beginning of pumping, gently massage the breasts towards the nipple, you can gently stroke the nipple and areola with your fingertips. Expressing should only be done until the chest distension has passed, after which the nipples are relaxed and the baby can easily pick up the breast.

If the baby is premature, weak, or sick, milk should be expressed immediately before each feed. At the same time, milk, if a sufficient amount is produced, is expressed from only one breast, which ensures its full-fledged composition. The baby in this case receives both "front" and "back" milk. For the next feeding, milk is pumped from the other breast. And only with insufficient lactation, milk is expressed each time from both breasts.

You can express milk manually or with a breast pump. Many different breast pumps are now produced:

  • Pump and breast pump with pear. Previously, there were only such breast pumps. Now they are also sold, but are already unpopular, mainly due to the fact that they injure the breast, with their help you can collect a little milk, and also because of the inability to use it often.
  • Reciprocating. A very popular breast pump with soft silicone attachments. Relatively inexpensive, effective and quiet, does not injure the chest. The main disadvantage: when expressing, your hands get tired quickly.
  • Electric. Also popular despite its high Price. Very convenient to use, massages the breast when expressing, high performance. Among the disadvantages is the noise during operation.
  • Electronic. Microprocessor-controlled breast pump, mainly used in maternity hospitals.

A breast pump is best used when you need to express a lot of milk and when hand pumping can be painful.

Manual pumping. It is most convenient to do this in a position when the chest hangs down. The chest should be clasped with a hand so that the thumb is on the areola above the nipple, and the index and middle fingers are under the nipple. First, you need to make a few light massaging movements with your fingers from the base of the chest towards the areola (movements should be soft and intermittent, as when rubbing cream into the skin; if necessary, you can knead the milk passages by pressing with your fingertips and vibrate). Having brought the milk to the areola, it is necessary to deeply grasp the areola area and press towards the nipple. Milk first flows out in drops, and then, with repeated manipulations, in a trickle. Thus, the entire breast is massaged and the milk is expressed until it is completely emptied.

You can express milk using the warm bottle method, especially if your breasts are engorged and your nipples are tight.

This method is as follows. Hot water is poured into a fairly capacious (from about 700 ml to 1-1.5 and even 3 liters) bottle with a wide neck (with a diameter of at least 3 cm), Let it stand for a while, then the water is poured out, the neck of the bottle is cooled and immediately tightly applied to the areola area so that the bottle seals it hermetically. The nipple is drawn into the neck and milk begins to separate. When the milk flow weakens, the bottle is removed, the milk is poured into a previously prepared clean container. Then the bottle is refilled with hot water, and the whole procedure is repeated several times until the milk is completely expressed.

Repeated expression of milk, if necessary, can be carried out no earlier than 2-3 hours in order to avoid unnecessary trauma to the breast.

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