Breastfeeding rules. Breastfeeding: how to properly feed your baby. Problems in a newborn baby while breastfeeding

11.07.2019

Of course, mother's milk is the most healthy and proper food for a newborn baby. But, unfortunately, it happens that for some reason breastfeeding has to be abandoned. In what cases should you not breastfeed and why do you have to resort to such extreme measures? There are absolute contraindications, in which breastfeeding is categorically not allowed, and relative (temporary), in which breastfeeding is prohibited only for a while.

Mom's problems

Absolute contraindications to breastfeeding

It is absolutely contraindicated to breastfeed with the following diseases:

HIV infection. HIV infection can be transmitted through breast milk and is a contraindication for breastfeeding. It is now established that an HIV-infected woman can infect a child through breast milk with a probability of 15%. Despite the statement of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, which was published in September 1999, which supports the freedom of HIV-positive mothers to choose their own methods of feeding their infant, in our country, in such cases, doctors recommend feeding their children with milk formula, and not breast milk.

Open form of tuberculosis. An open form of tuberculosis, in which a woman secretes Mycobacterium tuberculosis and can infect others, is a contraindication for breastfeeding a baby. In this case, the mother, before breastfeeding the child, must undergo a full course of treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs. And only after the end of treatment, after 1.5-2 months, you can start breastfeeding your baby. And if the disease is in an inactive form and does not require treatment, then breastfeeding is allowed.

Relative contraindications for breastfeeding

If absolute contraindications occur quite rarely, then relative ones are a more common phenomenon.

The need for medication. Sometimes a woman's health condition requires constant medication. In this case, when choosing a drug, it is necessary to take into account not only its degree of effectiveness for the mother, but also the safety for the child. Breastfeeding must be stopped if the mother is forced to take drugs that are incompatible with breastfeeding: for example, some antibiotics, antidepressants, hormonal drugs, antiviral drugs, etc. Of course, if possible, the doctor will try to find medicines that can be used when breastfeeding the baby, but on In practice, this does not always work out.

Exacerbation of serious illnesses of the mother. In some cases, the mother’s body is not able to provide adequate nutrition for the baby due to severe metabolic disorders, for example, in severe cardiovascular diseases (chronic heart failure, severe heart rhythm disturbances, etc.), kidney problems (acute or chronic renal failure), liver, severe forms of diabetes, etc. The problem is that breastfeeding can lead to a deterioration in the general condition of a woman, therefore, in such cases, the question of maintaining lactation and returning to breastfeeding is decided by the doctor individually after treatment and stabilization of the woman's condition.

Complications during and after childbirth. If during or after childbirth a woman begins to bleed heavily, you must first restore the health of the mother, and then start breastfeeding the baby.

Mastitis. In cases where a woman develops mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland), it is recommended to continue breastfeeding, as the breast needs constant and thorough emptying. If antibiotics must be taken to treat mastitis, then drugs that are compatible with breastfeeding should be chosen. If this problem is not dealt with in time, then mastitis can become more complicated - pus will accumulate in the mammary gland and an abscess will develop (to find out if there is pus in the milk, you need to express some milk onto a cotton pad, while it will be absorbed, but the pus will not. To confirm diagnosis is performed by ultrasound of the mammary glands). If pus is found in the milk, it is impossible to feed the baby with this breast, but you need to continue to apply the baby to a healthy mammary gland. Milk from an infected breast will need to be carefully expressed and discarded.

Herpes. Herpes simplex viruses are not transmitted through breast milk. So if the mother does not have an exacerbation of this disease, then you can breastfeed the baby. Danger for a child can arise only with direct contact between the area of \u200b\u200bthe chest on which the herpes rash appeared and the baby's mouth. It is clear that until the affected area is healed, it is impossible to breastfeed the baby. Mom is prescribed antiviral treatment, after which she can return to breastfeeding.

Hepatitis B and C. Previously, there was an opinion that when breastfeeding, hepatitis B and C viruses can enter the baby's body. However, when studying this problem, it turned out that the main contact with these viruses occurs when the child passes through the birth canal. But with breastfeeding, the risk of infection of the baby is extremely low, so there is no need to refuse breastfeeding. A nursing mother with hepatitis B or C should carefully monitor the condition of the nipples when feeding. Any microtrauma of the nipples and contact of the child with mother's blood increase the risk of infection. In this case, breastfeeding should be stopped until the nipples heal.

Child problems

Absolute contraindications for breastfeeding

It happens that breastfeeding is banned not because of the mother, but because of the baby himself. There are a number of conditions in which the baby should not receive breast milk, and he is prescribed a special therapeutic mixture.

This includes a whole group of congenital hereditary metabolic disorders: galactosemia, phenylketonuria, maple syrup disease. With these diseases, there is no enzyme in the body of the crumbs - this does not allow the components of breast milk to be properly broken down and leads to diseases of the child.

Galactosemia. The disease is based on a deficiency of an enzyme that is involved in the conversion of galactose to glucose. With this metabolic disorder, milk and milk formulas based on cow's milk are strictly contraindicated for a child. Goat milk and goat milk formulas are also contraindicated for a baby with galactosemia. As food, it is recommended to use special artificial mixtures based on soy protein or casein hydrolyzate.

Phenylketonuria. This disease is associated with a violation of the metabolism of the amino acid phenylalanine. To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to exclude this amino acid from the nutrition of an infant. It is contained in breast milk in small quantities, so breastfeeding is possible under strict control of the level of phenylalanine in the child's blood. With its increase, breastfeeding has to be limited, and several feedings are replaced with special adapted milk formulas that do not contain phenylalanine. How many times a day and how much you can breastfeed a baby, the pediatrician decides, taking into account the general condition of the baby and the level of phenylalanine in the blood.

Maple syrup disease. This disease is caused by a violation of the metabolism of the amino acids leucine, valine and isoleucine. In breast milk, these amino acids are present in a very small amount, therefore, as in the case of phenylketonuria, it is possible to breastfeed the baby, but in limited quantities, replacing part of the feeding with artificial milk mixtures that do not contain "unnecessary" amino acids.

Temporary contraindications to breastfeeding

There are a number of deviations in the health of the baby, in which a restriction is imposed on breastfeeding until the child's condition returns to normal. Most often, problems occur in weakened children, due to the unfavorable course of pregnancy and difficult childbirth. So, breastfeeding will have to wait:

if the assessment of the state of the newborn on the Apgar scale is below 7 points;
with deep prematurity;
if the birth weight of the child is less than 1500 g;
with a syndrome of respiratory disorders, birth injuries and convulsions in a baby;
with congenital heart defects with severe heart failure of the child.

In all these cases, breastfeeding, which requires a lot of effort from the baby, can lead to a general deterioration in his condition.

With prematurity and severe damage to the nervous system, the problem for breastfeeding, as a rule, is that due to the slow maturation of centers in the brain, by the time of birth, the child has not expressed (or poorly expressed) sucking and swallowing reflexes. The baby is simply not yet able to coordinate breathing, sucking and swallowing, which is necessary for proper capture and sucking of the breast. In addition, under these conditions, newborn babies are very weak and it is simply difficult for them to suckle at the breast.

When attachment to the breast is not possible for any reason, the baby should receive expressed breast milk. The question of when it will be possible to resume breastfeeding is decided together with the doctor individually in each individual situation, and it depends, first of all, on the condition of the child.

Separately, there are such congenital malformations as the cleft palate and cleft lip (cleft lip, hard and soft palate). At the same time, there are difficulties associated with putting the baby to the breast and the sucking process itself. In this situation, the baby is fed with expressed breast milk using special feeding devices. After surgical treatment, on the recommendation of a doctor, breastfeeding can be restored.

How to restore breastfeeding

If a mother is unable to breastfeed for any reason, she must pump regularly to maintain lactation. Pumping is a kind of signal for the body, reporting the need to produce milk. If the baby is fed with expressed milk, then the mother should express her breast immediately before feeding. If the baby is temporarily switched to formula milk, the mother needs to pump her breast every three hours, including at night. With more infrequent pumping, the amount of milk will decrease, and when it is possible to return to breastfeeding, the baby will miss it.

If it is necessary to feed the baby with expressed breast milk, it should be given from a spoon, syringe (without a needle) or a cup. It is important not to teach your baby to suck from a bottle so that later he does not refuse the breast.

So, the time has finally come when mom can start or resume breastfeeding. Where to start?

The most important thing is the confidence of the mother that she will succeed!

The process of restoring lactation includes several basic steps. First, you need to often apply the baby to the breast. The child should be able to breastfeed as often and for as long as he wants, while night feedings are also required. Secondly, bodily contact between mother and child during the day is very important (it is convenient to use a sling for this), joint sleep at night.

That is, the task of the mother at this stage is to ensure almost continuous contact with the child and regularly offer him breasts. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the baby is correctly applied to the breast, since the effectiveness of stimulation and emptying of the mammary gland and, accordingly, the full production of milk depends on this.

Hemolytic disease: to breastfeed or not?

Hemolytic disease of the newborn, which occurs with Rhesus or blood type conflict, is not a contraindication for breastfeeding. Previously, the usual measure was the abolition of breastfeeding due to the presence of anti-Rhesus antibodies in the mother's blood. Since these substances are the cause of the destruction of the red blood cells (erythrocytes) of the child, doctors feared that their additional intake with mother's milk could aggravate jaundice in the baby and worsen his condition. Currently, studies have shown that Rh antibodies are destroyed in the gastric juice of the newborn and breastfeeding does not increase the breakdown of red blood cells. Therefore, a baby with hemolytic disease can be applied to the breast already on the first day.

There is no consensus on the duration of breastfeeding. Someone thinks that after a year it is not advisable to breastfeed, someone feeds until the end of paid parental leave, and supporters of radical views believe that a baby can receive mother's milk for as long as he wants. The general opinion is that a child in the first six months of life should receive only breast milk, which contains all the necessary nutrients and water. From six months, breast milk remains useful for the baby, but it can no longer fully provide all the nutritional needs of the baby, and therefore, from this age, along with mother's milk, so-called "complementary foods" are introduced into the diet of crumbs. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF pay great attention to the continuation of breastfeeding in children older than one year, recommending that this process be continued up to two years or more. A child of the second year eats very diversely. His diet is almost the same as that of an adult. Mom can breastfeed her baby once or twice a day, most often at night. But this feeding is very important, because at the end of the first and second years of life, intensive growth, physical and mental development of the child continues. Therefore, breastfeeding should be as long as possible to help the child develop properly and harmoniously. Breast milk has a unique property: at each stage of a baby's development, milk contains exactly those biological substances (hormones, growth factors, etc.) that are not found in any other baby food, and which will ensure its proper development at the moment. For example, the milk produced by a woman who has given birth to a premature baby, during the first two weeks of breastfeeding (lactation), is close in composition to colostrum ("concentrate" of breast milk), which helps the baby catch up with the developmental lag. Or in the last stages of lactation (its second year), milk, in terms of the content of specific protective proteins of the immune system - immunoglobulins, resembles colostrum, which prevents the development of infectious diseases in a child.

Benefits of long-term breastfeeding

nutritional value

Scientific studies prove that in the second year of life (and even after two or more years) milk remains a valuable source of proteins, fats, enzymes that break down proteins and fats in the intestines; hormones, vitamins and trace elements that are quickly and easily absorbed. The content of vitamins and microelements in women's milk may vary depending on the mother's diet, but with a balanced diet, it always meets the needs of the child. For example, when breastfeeding in the second year of life, the baby is protected from vitamin A deficiency, which is necessary for the normal formation and functioning of the eyes, skin, hair, as well as vitamin K, which prevents bleeding. In addition, women's milk contains the optimal amount of iron, which is very well absorbed in the intestines of the child and prevents the development of iron deficiency anemia. Scientists have calculated that if a one-year-old child receives 500 ml of breast milk per day, then his daily energy needs are met by a third, in proteins by 40%, and in vitamin C almost completely.

Disease protection

And it is interesting to note that every pathogen that infects the mother stimulates the production of immunoglobulins present in milk and received by the child. The concentration of these substances in milk increases with the age of the crumbs and with a reduction in the number of feedings, which allows older children to receive strong immune support. Immunoglobulins coat the intestinal mucosa like "white paint", making it inaccessible to pathogens and provide unique protection against infections and allergies. In addition, human milk proteins stimulate the development of the child's own immune system. Also, women's milk contains substances that stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria (bifidus and lactobacilli) in the intestines, which counteract the colonization of its pathogenic bacteria. Other milk proteins are also important. For example, the iron-binding protein lactoferrin is able to prevent the growth of a number of bacteria that absorb iron.

Reducing the risk of allergic diseases

WHO studies have shown that long-term natural feeding (over 6-12 months) in combination with hypoallergenic nutrition of a nursing mother significantly reduces the incidence of food allergies in children. The formation of bite, the structure of the face, the development of speech in children is also determined by the duration of breastfeeding. This is due to the active participation of the muscles of the soft palate in the process of obtaining milk from the breast. Children who are breastfed for a long time, reproduce the tonalities and frequencies of sounds better. Speech disorders in them are less common and, basically, these are physiological replacements of the sounds "w", "g", "l" with more "simple" sounds, which can be easily corrected.

The Benefits of Children's Physical Development

Breastfeeding ensures the optimal ratio of adipose and muscle tissue in the child's body and the optimal ratio of length and body weight. The physical development of the child corresponds to his biological age, does not lead him and does not lag behind. This was determined by the timing of the formation of various bones of the skeleton. An important role is played by the emotional aspect of long-term breastfeeding. The special bond, the psychological attachment that is established between mother and child during breastfeeding, lasts a lifetime. The neuropsychic development of such children can be advanced, they adapt better in adulthood. It is the process of breastfeeding that helps in the formation of the soul and personality inherent only to a person, self-awareness and knowledge of the world around. Mothers who breastfeed for a long time show more concern for their children, treat them more positively, maintain a sense of love, which is especially important during critical age periods of children after a year. No matter how stressed the mother is when she sits down to feed her baby, by the end of the feeding, both relax, and both of them noticeably improve their mood. In addition, women who breastfeed are much less likely to develop malignant neoplasms of the mammary glands and ovarian cancer. The protective role of breastfeeding in relation to the incidence of diabetes mellitus and obesity in children and adults has been established. At the same time, the reduction in the risk of diabetes depends on the duration of breastfeeding. The direct mechanism of this effect is associated with the fact that the energy substances of female breast milk, especially proteins and carbohydrates, are optimal in structure for the child, are easily absorbed by him, without requiring an increase in the level of substances (including insulin) that break down milk elements into constituent parts. . Therefore, the regulation of the centers of hunger and satiety in the brain does not change. And failures of such regulation lead to metabolic disorders and the development of endocrine diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Attention: during the entire period of breastfeeding, the psychological support of loved ones (husband, parents) is important for a woman in an effort to breastfeed as long as possible. After all, often mothers stop feeding the child only because of a misunderstanding of others. Don't listen to those who suggest stopping feeding a year. Continue breastfeeding up to two years or more. Women's milk after a year or a year and a half does not become "empty", at any stage of breastfeeding it is the most valuable and useful product for the baby, which helps him grow up healthy, smart and cheerful.

When not to stop breastfeeding

For any disease, indisposition of the child, including during diarrhea, since breast milk allows the baby to acquire additional protective factors that help to cope with the disease. It has been observed that children who receive breast milk in the second and third years of life recover faster during malaise. In summer time, since in summer, due to high temperatures, food spoils faster, and the risk of developing intestinal infections is higher. But even if such a disease has arisen, then complementary foods will have to be temporarily canceled and eat only mother's milk, which will be not only food, but also the most valuable natural medicine. In addition, the cessation of breastfeeding is always stressful for the body, including the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In summer, the activity of enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract changes due to the predominance of vegetables and fruits in the diet, rather than meat and dairy products, and the high air temperature does not favor more high-calorie foods. Thus, the abolition of breastfeeding and the complete transition to adult food creates additional conditions for indigestion. Don't stop breastfeeding directly before important, significant events in your life and in the life of the baby, since these events - for example, a change of residence, a trip, a mother's exit to work or study, the beginning of a child's visit to a nursery, etc. are a stress factor for a small organism. In general, continue breastfeeding for as long as your mother's intuition tells you. Depending on the state of health of the baby and your inner feelings, it is she who will help you make the right decision.

Expectant mothers during pregnancy are very worried about the process of childbirth, how it will proceed and what complications may be. After them, even more questions arise related to the development and health of the child. Unfortunately, there are a number of problems that arise in new mothers, among which is the inflammatory process of the mammary glands, called mastitis. If there are signs of such a disease, women are concerned about an important question in this period, is it possible to breastfeed with mastitis?

To answer it, it is important to have a clear understanding of what mastitis is, what signs define it, and how it threatens the child.

general information

Mastitis can occur in breastfeeding women, less commonly in non-breastfeeding women, and even in newborns.

Inflammation can occur due to stagnation of milk in a nursing mother or infection in her body. In the first case, there is a seal, swelling, pain, redness of the skin of the chest, and sometimes fever due to impaired movement of milk through the ducts.

Lactostasis is a common occurrence during breastfeeding, especially during the first birth. In most cases, it appears due to a disturbed feeding regimen for the baby or incomplete emptying of the milk ducts during feeding or pumping.

You should not be afraid of this phenomenon, but it is important to take timely measures to eliminate and prevent the development of the disease.

Types of pathology

A complicated long-term lactostasis with its pronounced signs is mastitis, which can be infected and uninfected. The latter type of disease can give high fever, redness of the skin in places of blockage, pain that increases with movement and a change in body position. Chills and fever may occur, adversely affecting the mother's body.

High fever and soreness that lasts for 2 or more days are symptoms of mastitis in an infected person. Weakened immunity of a woman, the presence of cracks in the nipples, unhygienic, chronic and even mild diseases are prerequisites for infection to enter the body. This is a dangerous situation, in the event of which it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor.

To determine the nature of the treatment of mastitis, an accurate diagnosis must first be made. For this, microbiological and ultrasound examinations are carried out. As a result of the first, the type of pathogen, the degree of its prevalence and the level of infection of milk with microbes are established, with the help of the latter, the places of accumulation of milk that form the blockage of the milk ducts are determined.

In the video, see the types of pathology and emergency care for young mothers.

The process of inflammation

In most cases, mastitis appears 2-3 weeks after childbirth. The process of development of the disease occurs sequentially in stages: serous, infiltrative and purulent.

The serous form is accompanied by chills and a high temperature of up to 39 degrees, pain, redness of the skin in the chest area appear, and overall health worsens. At the same time, the processes of milk formation and feeding the baby do not change.

With the accumulation of milk in the milk tissues and, as a result, impaired milk flow, an infiltrative form of mastitis develops. It is characterized by the appearance of infiltrates uneven throughout the chest, that is, seals. Most often, such accumulations occur in the upper outer square of the woman's chest. With a similar disease, the lymph nodes in the armpits may increase to protect against further spread of infection in the body.

In the case of a sharply worsened condition of the mother, accompanied by the appearance of pus in places of seals, severe swelling and pain, there is already purulent mastitis. This form is very dangerous and severe, with very strong reddening of the skin of the chest and engorgement. Purulent mastitis is eliminated by an incision in the place of suppuration to remove accumulated pus.

Feeding the baby

The answer to the question of whether it is possible to breastfeed a child with mastitis cannot be unambiguous and depends on the stage of the course of the disease and the method of its treatment. In most cases, feeding is not only possible, but necessary. Frequent and effective emptying of congested milk ducts by suckling or pumping is the main means of combating the emerging disease.

Moreover, it is children who can help mothers get rid of the stagnation of milk in the breast and dissolve seals. No breast pump or manual expression can empty the mammary glands as effectively as a baby. At the same time, it is recommended to express milk a little between feedings so that it does not accumulate excessively.

With lactostasis and uninfected mastitis, breastfeeding does not harm the baby. You should not be afraid that pathogenic bacteria will enter the child's body, because the baby will also receive antibodies developed by the body of the nursing mother. When changing the color of milk, its consistency should not be limited to feeding a sick breast.

The appearance of a fever in the mother is also not a reason to refuse breastfeeding, the quality and usefulness of milk in this case do not change. According to medical research, infection or disorder of the gastrointestinal tract in a child when breastfeeding a mother with mastitis does not occur. Stopping breastfeeding in this case can only harm the woman.

If purulent mastitis occurs, the decision to continue or stop breastfeeding is made by the doctor. Permission to feed in this case depends on the degree of prevalence of the disease in the mother, the quality of the milk, the level of pus content in it, and the drugs prescribed to treat the disease.

Selection of drugs

Among the medications used for therapeutic purposes in mastitis, there are drugs that are compatible and incompatible with breastfeeding.

When using drugs, it is important to know the degree of penetration of the drug from mother's milk into the child's body.

When choosing a treatment that is compatible with feeding, the treatment of the disease does not imply the end of breastfeeding. The best option would be a product that does not stand out with milk. At the same time, it is important to know that even drugs that have the least chance of passing to a child can harm him by causing a violation of the intestinal microflora.

There are also drugs that do not have verified data on compatibility with breastfeeding. In this case, the decision is made by the doctor and the mother herself. The benefit of breastfeeding, which outweighs the possible harm from getting the drug to the baby, makes it possible to continue breastfeeding. In this case, the health of the child should be under the close supervision of a doctor.

Stopping feeding can be temporary or permanent. The latter case may occur with a serious pathology that requires long-term treatment.

Most often, doctors recommend a temporary transition to artificial feeding of the child with mixtures. At the same time, it is important to maintain lactation through periodic pumping, preferably with a breast pump. Milk obtained by pumping is not offered to the baby and is disposed of. If the mother's milk does not pose a threat to the child, but direct breastfeeding is dangerous, expressed milk is allowed to be given to the baby.

Many drugs are excreted from the mother's body already for 2-3 days, after which breastfeeding can be resumed. The exact withdrawal time of the drug is indicated in the instructions for use.

When the first signs of mastitis appear in a nursing woman, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor to prevent the development of the disease and prescribe treatment.

You should not use drugs, painkillers on your own, most of which can harm the baby.

At the initial stage of the disease, the most effective treatment is to increase the number of attachments of the child to the breast. At the same time, the frequency of feeding depends not only on the desire of the baby, but on the desire of the mother as the milk ducts fill up.

In this case, the chosen posture of feeding should be aimed at intensive emptying of the breast in a problematic compacted area. To do this, it is necessary to position the baby so that the crumbs chin is directed to the painful seal.

Hand pumping can also help the mother, but it can also be harmful and cause an abscess. Therefore, it should be in moderation, carried out between feedings, but not instead of them. A rough pumping process, squeezing and strong massage are not allowed, in which the mammary gland can be transferred and seals form in other places.

Additional pumping is prescribed for severe cases of mastitis, along with frequent breastfeeding. To do this, the breast must be slightly warmed up, a gentle massage should be done, milk should be expressed a little and after such procedures the child should be applied. It is not recommended to express at the end of the feeding, this leads to the release of more milk the next time, which will lead to a new stagnation.

If you can’t cope with mastitis on your own and a positive result is not observed, there is a risk of developing a purulent stage that requires medical or even surgical intervention.

Doctors sometimes prescribe physiotherapeutic procedures, including ultrasound sessions to help eliminate seals, magnetic, light, electroneurostimulating and laser therapies that affect the amount of milk secretion.

Mastitis is not a sentence; with urgent treatment, the disease is quickly and successfully eliminated. The main thing is to take appropriate measures.

Measures to prevent the occurrence of the disease

The most effective method of preventing the occurrence of mastitis is its prevention, which includes the following measures:

properly organized breastfeeding;
pumping milk after feeding in the first weeks after childbirth to prevent stagnation of residues;
timely treatment of nipple cracks;
breast hygiene;
a calm emotional state that affects lactation.

The concept of properly organized breastfeeding includes the correct capture of the breast by the baby, the attachment of the child not strictly according to the schedule, but at his request, the duration of feeding depending on the desire of the baby, the choice of different positions for feeding, and the absence of pumping unnecessarily.

An important preventive measure is maternal hygiene, but in moderation. Breasts should be washed before each feeding, but excessive use of soap or alcohol-based wipes can dry out the skin and, as a result, crack the nipples.

Thus, milk stasis appears in many nursing mothers, however, the correct actions and timely treatment do not allow its transition to mastitis. The occurrence of this disease does not require a refusal to breastfeed if it is a non-purulent stage and medications that are incompatible and contraindicated during breastfeeding are not taken.

Watch the video about the occurrence of mastitis in a nursing mother.

It is important to know! In women who have not given birth before the age of 25-30, fibrocystic disease (mastopathy) does not cause much concern, but closer to 30, especially during pregnancy and after childbirth, 80 percent of women develop a complication of mastopathy. Along with women who have not given birth, many mothers who devote almost all their time to their baby forget about their health or think that this problem is trifling and will pass by itself. Expectant mothers are in an even more difficult situation - during pregnancy and breastfeeding, many pharmaceutical preparations are prohibited. Did you know that mastopathy, if it is not treated in time, making the prevention of the disease, can cause breast cancer. Read about an all-natural remedy for mastopathy (fibrocystic disease), compatible with breastfeeding and pregnancy, read here...

You should always remember that all cases are individual. There are no universal recommendations on when it is better to stop breastfeeding. But at the same time, there is no need to go to extremes: “I will feed as long as possible” or wean him from the breast in the very first months of the baby’s life. Neither one nor the other will benefit the baby and the nursing mother. There are families where the mother decided to breastfeed until the so-called self-renunciation (usually it occurs at about 2.5-3 years), but the child did not stop breastfeeding until the age of 4, and sometimes much longer. It is unlikely that psychologists will say that it is useful for a nine-year-old boy to suck on his mother's breast, to see his mother naked, etc.

Weaning a baby from the breast in the first months is also not worth it. Almost all nursing mothers periodically experience a lactation crisis: the amount of milk is reduced. So the woman's body seems to be checking whether breast milk is needed and in what quantity. Therefore, if in the third month milk suddenly became less or, it is worth fighting for the continuation of breastfeeding. But there is no need to go too far either. If the days go by, and the milk does not appear, the baby screams heart-rendingly for days on end from hunger and cannot sleep, it is better to buy a mixture. So it will be calmer for both mother and baby.

Doctors advise to continue breastfeeding until 1 year of age. This recommendation can be seen on the packaging of baby food. During the first year of life, all food that the baby receives besides breast milk is complementary food, and not the main food. By the first birthday, the child's diet should already include milk porridge, vegetables, meat and fruits. It is from this age that the baby goes to the "common table", that is, he begins to eat the same foods as his parents. Of course, the size of the pieces should correspond to the baby's ability to chew.

Therefore, from the age of 12 months, you can gradually curtail breastfeeding. Milk is no longer the main source of nutrients for the child's body. This does not mean that it becomes less useful. Just in the diet of the child already has everything you need.

Psychological factor

After a year, breastfeeding, if continued, takes on a completely different function. The baby begins to use breast sucking only for calming, contact with the mother, for falling asleep. If the mother has not established a warm relationship with her own child by that time, this leads to great inconvenience. Then the baby can calm down only with the breast or stop sleeping well because he cannot sleep. A nursing mother cannot go anywhere in the evening, because the baby will not fall asleep without her. It becomes difficult to do household chores, etc.

When weaning a child older than 1-1.5 years, you often have to come up with some tricks: smear the nipples with brilliant green or something bitter to make the baby stop sucking. Although this is not the case in all families. Some children easily and simply stop breastfeeding even at this age.

Dental health

Breastfeeding lasts the longest at night. In a dream, a child does not produce saliva, one of the functions of which is the disinfection of the oral cavity. Breast milk is less harmful to tooth enamel than formula. But, nevertheless, many dentists argue that sucking for a long time at the breast in a dream still damages milk teeth.

The child does not eat anything

There are children who are very fond of breastfeeding. They do not follow any regimen, they do not eat complementary foods well, being content only with mother's milk. At the same time, the baby suckles at the breast almost every hour and is naughty, because he still does not get enough. Some mothers decide in this case to continue breastfeeding longer, thinking that this is how the baby eats at least something. But often these babies begin to eat cereals and vegetables just after they are weaned.

The optimal age when to finish is chosen by the mother herself, focusing on her desire and the condition of the crumbs. Someone with very great difficulty retains breastfeeding for up to six months, and someone easily and comfortably feeds up to 2 years. This process should bring joy and satisfaction to both the baby and the mother.

Breastfeeding is a whole science that young mothers have to master in a matter of days. What the baby will eat in the coming year depends on the quality of the learned material. Properly established breastfeeding (HB) will allow the child to receive valuable and incredibly healthy breast milk, relieve mom from stagnation, lactostasis and mastitis, and make the process of motherhood pleasant and calm. If you do not understand the principles of breastfeeding from the very beginning, this can result in neurosis, poor sleep, problems with the mammary gland, and, as a result, artificial feeding. Which, by the way, entails a lot of questions, because not every mixture is suitable for a child, you need to select the right product in an experimental way, which leads to additional health problems and financial costs. That is why it is necessary from the very beginning of motherhood to tune in to breastfeeding, talk with doctors, experienced friends, invite a breastfeeding consultant. All of them will help to establish this natural process, and then feeding will bring pleasure to you and your child.

In the process of establishing breastfeeding, the issue of feeding time is very acute. Regarding this, there are two opinions - to feed the child on demand or by the hour. A couple of decades ago, our mothers fed us in maternity hospitals strictly at certain hours, at other times the child was not even next to her mother. Today, the World Health Organization recommends feeding a child on demand - that is, when he wants it. Each of the feeding methods has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is up to you what you choose for your baby.

Feeding on demand

This is the most correct, healthy and natural way of feeding. Even animals feed their young when the kids want it. This is especially important in the first days after childbirth - when only colostrum is released from the breast. Do not worry - colostrum is enough for the child, it performs an important function - populates the intestines of the crumbs with beneficial bacteria, starts digestion. Already 3-5 days after birth, full-fledged breast milk comes. In the first month, it is very important to feed the baby on demand, that is, when the baby cries. After all, it is during this period that the body is rebuilt, determines how much milk the child needs. Here are some tips and tricks for feeding on demand.

It is necessary to give the baby a breast with any concern - this will not only saturate the baby, but also increase milk production, because the more the baby is applied to the breast, the more the breast will pour next time. Feeding on demand is the main way to increase your milk supply.

Breast for a child is not only food, but comfort, unity with the mother, protection. Feeding on demand allows you to have all these wonderful feelings any time your baby wants it, when he has a tummy ache, he is cold or just bored.

Feeding on demand will protect the mother from mastitis, because milk simply does not have time to stagnate in short periods of time.
It has been proven that a baby who receives a breast at any time suffers less from colic and gas, as he does not experience a strong feeling of hunger and does not overeat after long "hungry" intervals.

If you are breastfeeding your baby at any time it is necessary for him, it is better to practice co-sleeping.

Try to feed your baby from one breast at a time from start to finish. The fact is that the foremilk is more liquid, it is easier to suck it out, for the baby it is a drink. But hindmilk, which is more difficult to suck out, more fatty, is considered food.

A baby who is fed on demand does not develop bad habits such as thumb sucking, fist sucking, etc. If you always give your baby a breast, he does not get used to a dummy, the sucking reflex is completely satisfied.

Frequent feeding saves during the period of illness of the child. Firstly, it is the replenishment of fluid, which is so necessary in case of temperature or poisoning. Secondly, the baby calms down, more easily tolerates discomfort during teething and colic. Thirdly, breast milk contains immunoglobulins, which form the immunity of the crumbs and protect it from viruses.

Psychologists say that children who are fed on demand grow up more calm and self-confident. After all, they know from early childhood that their mother is always there and will come to the rescue if necessary, protect and reassure. And this is very important for the development of the future personality.

Feeding by the hour

This method involves a strict feeding regime - after a certain period of time. Remember Soviet times - at night, children were not fed from the hospital, the last feeding was at 12:00, and the first in the morning at 6:00. That is, newborn children had a huge period of time without food - 6 hours. What are the features and benefits of feeding by the hour, let's try to figure it out.

Feeding by the hour can only be done in the second or third month of a child's life, when lactation improves. If you feed your baby on a schedule from birth, with long periods without suckling, the amount of milk can be drastically reduced as unnecessary. If you don't want to breastfeed right now, it's best to express your milk so you don't lose it.

Feeding by the clock allows the mother to sleep at night. This is a very dubious plus, because the stimulation of lactation is especially intense in the morning from 3 to 8 in the morning. If at this time the breast is not sucked, the hormone oxytocin is not produced, there will be less and less milk each time.

Babies of the first months of life need to be fed every 2-2.5 hours, no more. The stomach of a child of this age is very small, the baby should eat often. With age, this interval can be increased to 3-4 hours.

Feeding by the hour makes mom's life more understandable and simple, as mom can plan her day, leave things for a certain time, and even leave the house if someone looks after the baby.

Some mothers choose a cross between feeding by the clock and feeding on demand. If you listen to your baby's body, you will notice that the child asks for food at approximately equal intervals of time, you can focus on this time and life will obey a certain regimen.

But remember that in some cases, feeding by the hour is strictly contraindicated. Firstly, these are the first 2-3 weeks of a baby's life. Secondly, a woman develops a lactation crisis every 2-3 months, when there is not enough milk, because the baby is growing rapidly. At these moments, you need to give the baby a breast as often as possible in order to "increase" the amount of milk produced. Thirdly, you need to abandon the regimen if you see that the child really wants to eat. If the baby is crying, you took him in your arms, shook him, and the child is looking for the chest with his mouth and does not stop crying - most likely, he is hungry. So, in the past feeding, the baby didn’t eat or burped, in general, you need to discard all the rules and feed the baby again.

Do I need to wake my baby up for feeding?

Many mothers are wondering if it is worth feeding the baby if he sleeps for a long time, does not wake up and does not ask for a breast? A healthy body of a newborn baby cannot sleep for more than five hours in a row without food, doctors say. Therefore, a child who sleeps longer than the specified time without waking up is very rare. This does not apply to artificial ones - a hearty mixture allows you to stay without food much longer than breast milk.

To answer a disturbing question, you need to know how much a child sleeps. If the baby sleeps for more than five hours, you should definitely wake him up - slowly stir him up with strokes and touches. If the baby is underweight or premature, it is necessary to wake him up, no more than three hours later. Such children need enhanced nutrition in order to quickly get stronger and gain weight, a long sleep may be due to weakness, it is impossible not to feed such children. It is also necessary to wake the baby for feeding if a long sleep was caused by taking certain drugs.

Feeding is a completely understandable and intuitive process. A loving and caring mother, after a few days of life, the crumbs can understand that the child is crying precisely from hunger. Love your baby, feed him when he wants to, do not wait for artificial periods of time. And then the child will grow and develop well.