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Breast Feeding Guide
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| In most cases, breast milk is the most perfect food for your baby. Breast milk contains easily digestible proteins, many factors that support your new baby's immature immune system, and other factors that aid in digestion. It is also low in cost and requires no preparation. Most pediatricians say that breast fed babies are also less likely to have colic (making for easier parenting), upper respiratory infections, ear infections, constipation, asthma or allergies. And breast feeding will burn up almost 500 calories each day, helping mothers return to their pre-pregnancy weight sooner.
Despite all of these advantages of breast feeding, you should not feel guilty if you decide that you would rather feed your baby formula. There are many formulas available that will provide your baby with good nutrition to promote his growth and development. |
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Producing breast milk
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| Your body produces milk in response to the maternal hormone prolactin. When your newborn sucks at the breast, it causes more prolactin to be released in your body, which causes more milk to be produced. Therefore, the more your baby breastfeeds, the more breast milk you will produce.
At first you will only produce colostrum, which is a yellowish fluid that is very high in protein and contains factors that will help your baby fight infections. If possible, you should try and breast feed soon after your baby is born and before he is taken to the nursery.
After three or four days, your breasts will become engorged as your milk comes in. If your breasts are too swollen or breast feeding is painful, then you may have to pump before your baby can latch on effectively. |
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Positioning
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| There are different ways that you can hold your baby while breast feeding, and you should choose which ever way you are most comfortable with. Whatever position you are using, your baby should be held close, directly facing your breast.
You may want to breast feed while sitting in a chair or on the bed, cradling your baby in your arms. Consider placing a pillow on your lap if it is more comfortable for you. Your baby should be held close to you on his side, directly facing your breast, with his abdomen against yours.
You can also breast feed your baby while lying down on your side. Your baby will be lying down next to you and again held close and directly facing your breast. Use pillows to help with positioning.
Other mother's prefer the football position, in which you hold your baby in your arm, with the back of his head in the palm of your hand and his body supported by your arm. Consider using a pillow to support your arm. This position doesn't put much pressure on your abdomen, so may be more comfortable for mom's who have had a caesarian section. |
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Latching on
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| The rooting reflex will help your baby to latch on to your breast. This is the reflex that causes him to search for the breast when his lips or cheek is lightly stroked. To begin, hold your breast between your thumb and first two fingers, with your thumb on top. Next, touch your nipple against his lower lip, which will cause him to open his mouth. Now, place the nipple and areola (the dark area around the nipple) inside his mouth. Your baby's mouth should close around the areola and not just the nipple, since sucking on the nipple will make it sore and your baby will not get much milk.
Once the areola is well inside your baby's mouth, he will form a seal around the breast and his tongue will thrust upwards, causing milk to be released. You may need to reposition your baby if his nose is blocked or if he seems to be twisting or bending to reach the breast.
If your baby is properly latched on, breast feeding should not hurt. |
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Let down reflex
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| Once your baby begins sucking on the breast, it causes your body to produce another hormone called oxytocin. This hormone causes contraction of cells in the breast and ejection of milk. It may take time for this reflex to work effectively and it does seem to work best if you are in a relaxed mood. |
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Frequency/Duration of feedings
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| You will probably want to switch breasts after five to ten minutes. It is necessary to break the seal before removing him from the breast. Place your finger into the corner of your baby's mouth to break the suction and then burp him and reposition him so he can latch on to your other breast.
Although most milk is released in the first ten minutes of a feeding, most babies will breast feed for fifteen to sixty minutes. While not as much milk is produced toward the end of a feeding, this hind milk contains much more fat and calories than the milk at the beginning of the feeding. It is therefore important to allow your baby to breast feed until he is finished, at which time he will lose interest or fall asleep.
When your baby is finished with the second breast, you should again break the seal and burp him. Consider alternating which breast you begin feeding with or you may choose to start with whichever breast seems the fullest. Breast milk is digested more quickly than formula, so you may need to breast feed your baby every one and a half to three hours. At first you should feed on demand, until your baby gets into his own routine.
You will know that your baby is getting enough breast milk if he is gaining weight, seems satisfied after eating, and he is having four to six wet diapers each day. |
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Preventing nipple soreness
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| Sore nipples are usually caused by your baby not being latched on or positioned correctly. Make sure that you are latching your baby onto the areola and not just the nipple.
Other steps you can take to prevent sore nipples, include not washing your breasts excessively and do not use soap on the nipple area, use a loose fitting bra that is kept clean and dry, allow your breasts to air dry after washing, and use lanolin based moisturizers. Begin feeding on the breast which is the least tender and then switch to the more tender breast once the let down reflex has occurred. You can then switch back to the other breast.
If your breasts are sore because they are too full, you can manually express some milk or allow your baby to feed if possible. You can also try taking a hot shower or using a warm heating pad or washcloth.
Nipple soreness should improve after a few days. If not, see your doctor, especially if you suspect that you have mastitis, which is a plugging of the ducts in the breast that can lead to infection. With mastitis, your breast may become red and tender and you will require antibiotics to fight this infection. You may continue breast feeding. |
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Expressing breast milk
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| If necessary, you can express breast milk manually or with a pump. There are many different kinds of pumps, including manual, battery powered, and electric, that you can buy or rent.
You can store pumped breast milk in the refrigerator or a cooler for up to forty eight hours. You can also store breast milk in the freezer for up to three months (six months in a deep freezer). You can thaw frozen milk by placing it in the refrigerator and then warming it, or you can thaw and warm it directly under running warm water. Always test warmed milk before feedings. Avoid thawing or warming milk in a microwave, as it can produce hot spots that can burn your baby. |
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Weaning
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| Weaning usually begins at about four to six months of age, as you begin to introduce solid foods. If you stop breast feeding before your baby is a year old, then you will need to start him on formula. |
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Maternal diet
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| To ensure that your baby is getting adequate nutrition while breast feeding, it is important that you have an appropriate diet. Your diet should include four servings of dairy products, three to four servings of protein containing foods, five servings of fruits and vegetables, and six servings of breads and other grains. You should also drink plenty of fluids, but avoid drinks that are caffeinated or that contain alcohol.
While most things in your diet will pass into your breast milk, you should not have to restrict your diet too much. If your baby seems to get fussy after you eat or drink certain things, then avoid that type of food for a week or so. Milk and other dairy products and spicy foods can be especially irritating to your baby.
Most medications also pass into your breast milk, so you should be sure that any medication that you take is safe while breast feeding. |
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Vitamin supplements
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| Not all babies will require vitamin supplements while breast feeding, but you may need to give extra Vitamin D if you baby is not exposed to any sunlight, or fluoride if you are living in an area where the local water supply does not contain any fluoride. Common vitamin supplements for infants include Poly-Vi-Sol and Tri-Vi-Sol (has iron).
Your baby will also need additional iron supplements, which can be provided by feeding an iron fortified cereal when he is four to six months old.
If you are on a strict, restricted or vegetarian diet, then you should see your doctor about the need for maternal vitamins. |
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Conclusion
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Breast feeding your child should be an enjoyable experience. If you are having problems, you should talk with your doctor or consider seeing a lactation consultant for advice.
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