Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the ideal way to feed a baby because breast milk is a baby’s natural food containing all the required nutrients in the right proportions for the first months of life.

But like any new skill, breastfeeding has to be learned and you may find it more difficult than you expected.

Don’t give up thought, because breastfeeding really is best for your baby and for you and, once it is established, it can be a pleasure.

If you are having problems, talk to your midwife or health visitor. Ideally, you should put your baby to your breast as soon after birth as possible.

The sucking will start reaction that leads to the release of the hormones that cause both the milk to be manufactured in the breast and the let-down reflex, which allows the milk to pass through the breast to the nipple.

Immediately after the birth and for the first few days, the breastfeeding produce colostrum, a high protein liquid full of antibodies.

This is followed by actual milk coming in, which often makes the breasts feel heavy and uncomfortable. This discomfort will soon wear off once breast-feeding has become established.

At the first stage of a feed your baby gets fore milk from the breast; this has a high water content to satisfy thirst.

Fore milk is followed by calorie-rich hind milk which satisfies your baby’s hunger and helps her to grow.

To make sure your baby always gets the hind milk, you should allow her to feed for as long as she wants from one breast before you offer her the other one.

If your baby has had enough when she has finished feeding from one breast, remember to start with the other breast at the nest feed.

Your breast produce milk in response to your breastfeeding, so the more your baby feeds the more milk you will produce.

By letting your infant feed for long as she wants you should be able to produce the amount of milk that is needed.

Finding the best position

Finding the position which best suits both you and your baby is one of the most important factors for successful breastfeeding, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Immediately after the birth, when you are still sore, you may find that sitting on a low chair with plenty of soft cushions is more comfortable than sitting in bed.

You can raise your knees slightly by resting your feet on a low stool, or put a pillow on laps to raise your baby and cushions your abdominal muscles.

Hold your baby so that her body is in s straight line with your breast so that she does not have to turn her head to feed.

Sit up straight and lean slightly forward so that the nipple drops into your baby’s mouth. Make sure that she is then properly latched onto the breast.

This means that your baby takes as much as possible areola (the dark area around the nipple) into her mouth, along with the nipple.

The milk ducts lie just under the areola and your baby’s sucking action on these effectively draws the milk from the breast while breastfeeding.

You may be told to check that your baby’s nose is not pushed against your breast so making it hard for her to breathe.

However, if your baby is positioned properly, she will be able to breathe easily.

There is no set pattern for feeding,. Some babies want to be fed every couple of hours; others can happily go for four to six hours before requiring feed.

Your baby will let you know when she is hungry and your milk supply will be supply and demand.

Expressing milk

Expressing milk allows someone else to feed your baby with your breast milk. You can express milk with your hands or you may find it easier to use a breast pump.

The best time to express is when you have most milk, which is either in the morning or, once your baby has dropped her night feed, it may be in the evening.

Milk can be expressed from your breast and kept in refrigerator for up to 48 hours, or it can be frozen and kept for up to six months.

Any feeding equipment or containers you use must be sterilized.

Breastfeeding equipments

Although no equipment is essential, there are some items that will make life easier, such as feeding bras.

There are other things that you may require if you can occasionally bottle-feed. You may need:

• At least two well fitting cotton nursing bras that allows access to a large area of the breast when your baby is feeding.
• Breast pads for use inside the bras to absorb any leaks of milk.
• Nipple shields to protect your sore nipples.
• Breast shields to fit over the nipples and collect excess milk.
• Breast pump, bottles, and teats if you intent to express breast milk.
• Sterilization equipment.

Breastfeeding problems

If you concerned that you are not producing enough milk, breastfeeding more often will automatically increase your supply, so don’t be afraid to let your baby suck for as long as it is comfortable.

You may have a sleepy baby who needs to be woken for a feed. If your baby needs encouragement, gently brush her mouth with your nipple but don’t force it into her mouth.

Your baby may fall asleep at the breast after a feed but this only means that she is contented, well fed and doing all right.

Breast-feeding may hurt during the first few weeks because your milk supply has to become established and your nipples are not yet used to your baby’s sucking.

If the discomfort persists, however, then the positioning of your baby on the breast may not be right and you should experiment.

Also check your baby is latched on properly.  If not, your baby may just be sucking the nipple which means she won’t be getting enough milk and the more she sucks the more painful it will actually become.

You may experience engorged breasts while breastfeeding. This is when your breast becomes over-filled and painful.

Feeding your baby frequently will help and you can ease the swelling by bathing your breast with warm water or having a hot bath.

Smooth out some milk with your fingers, stroking the breast downwards towards the nipple.

If you experience a shooting pain when your baby sucks, you may have a cracked nipple.

If your baby is in the correct position even if your nipples are sore, they shouldn’t hurt when you are feeding, so check your position.

Keep sore nipples clean and dry and let the air get to them as much as possible. A nipple shield which fits over your nipple may help, but don’t were it for more than a day or two.

Occasionally sore nipples as can be caused by thrust in a baby’s mouth. If you think this may be the case, discuss the problem with your doctor.

Finally, some nursing mothers can develop a condition called mastitis. This is an infection of the milk ducts and you breast will be inflamed, hot, and flushed in places.

Bathing your breast in warm water, or holding a cold flannel against it, will help to ease any discomfort.

You may also need a course of antibodies to clear up the infection, so consult your doctor.

Sore, cracked nipples and mastitis are usually caused by your baby’s sucking just the nipple.

Make sure your baby takes the nipples and surrounding area well into her mouth when she is feeding.

Advantages of breastfeeding

• Breast milk is designed especially for babies and it contains all the nutrients your baby needs. It is always available, at the right temperature, and it is free.
• Breast milk is easy for your baby to digest. So she is less likely to suffer stomach upsets and constipation.
• Breast milk contains antibodies which will help protect your baby against infections.
• Breast fed babies is less likely to develop allergies.
• Breast-feeding will help you get your figure back more quickly.

Does Breastfeeding make body less attractive

Look at almost any television show or magazine; unfortunately, the breasts are everywhere, selling everything from cars to cleansers.

A huge industry in this country banks on woman’s breasts being seen in a sexual light, rather than as a part of woman’s reproductive and child nurturing equipment.

Since media plays major role in showing that breasts only have a sexual side and hence lowers the importance of it being nurturing equipment.

The question that bothers many women today is whether “Does breastfeeding ruin your breasts“?

Many women worry, for example, that breast feeding will cause their breasts to become droopy or ugly.

But changes in breast shape are more related to pregnancy itself than to breast feeding. Breasts grow during pregnancy, as milk producing tissues develop.

This stretches the fiber support tissue of the breast. Whether or not, these tissues spring back once the breasts shrink again is mostly a matter of luck – some woman’s breasts are springier than others.

Women with highly elastic breasts can breastfeed and a few months later, look the same as they did before getting pregnant.

Other mothers who do not breast feed can have long lasting changes in breast shape from their pregnancies.

Does breastfeeding make women unattractive to their husbands or partners? This varies from person to person.

Some men are put off by nursing breasts, but many find them interesting and attractive. The fact that their spouse is feeding their baby from her own body fills some men with awe, other with lust.

Some nursing mothers feel that their breasts are less sensitive to erotic stimulation. Others find that having longer breasts makes them feel more sensual.

Is breastfeeding sexually arousing? Nursing mothers often report that breastfeeding feels good, but the feeling is not really sexual.

It’s clear to them that their breasts have developed a specialized function as a source of nutrition for their babies.

Will breastfeeding make your partner feel excluded or jealous? This does happen sometimes, but it doesn’t have to.

Fathers can help make their partners comfortable for nursing, and they can take over many other parenting tasks, such as changing, holding, singing to and playing with the baby.

Many nursing mothers pump their breast milk regularly, especially if they are working outside of the home, and faters can certainly feed this to their babies using a bottle, spoon or cup.