Breast FeedingBabies who are breastfed have less illness and are better nourished than those who are fed other drinks and foods. If all babies were fed only breast milk for the first six months of life, the lives an estimated 1,5 million infants would be saved every year and the health and development of millions of others would be greatly improved.

Using breast milk substitutes, such as infant formula or animals milk, can be a threat to infant’s health this particularly the case if parents cannot afford sufficient substitutes, which are quite expensive or do not always have clean water with which to mix them.

Almost every mother can breastfeed successfully. Those who might lack the confidence to breastfeed need the encouragement and practical support of the baby’s father and their family, friends and relatives.Health workers, women’s organization the mass media and employees can also provide support.

Everyone should have access to information about the benefits of breastfeeding and it is the duty of every government to provide this information. Breast milk alone is the only food and drink an infant needs for the first six months no other food or drink, not even water is usually needed during this period.

Newborn babies should be kept close to their mothers and begin breastfeeding within one hour of birth.Frequent breastfeeding causes more milk to be produced. Almost every mother can breastfeed successfully.Breast-feeding helps protect babies and young children against dangerous illness. It also creates a special bond between mother and child.

Bottle-feeding can lead to illness and death, if woman cannot breastfeed her infant, the baby should be fed breast milk or breast milk substitute from an ordinary clean cup.From age of six months, babies a variety of additional foods, but breastfeed should continue through the child’s second year and beyond.Exclusive breastfeeding can give a woman more than 98% against pregnancy for six months after given birth…..???

Breast FeedingAdvantages of Breast Feeding

It is the best food for the mental and physical development of the baby.

It protects the baby from:    Diarrhea; Coughs and colds; Respiratory infections; Ear infections; Sudden infant death  It develops bonding between mother and child.

Baby will not get: A sore bottom; Stomach ache; Constipation; Too fat. 

It develops better; Jaws Speech Teeth Breast milk contains fats of the right kind needed

for the growth of the baby’s brain. 

FOR THE MOTHER

Breast feeding helps get: Your weight back to normal after delivery; Your womb back to normal after delivery;   breast feeding gives; pride and satisfaction to the mother; breast feeding does not put extra burden on your budget as it does not money;   breast feeding means a mother can feed her baby; any time; Anywhere; Without any preparation.     Breast feeding mother develops a loving relationship with her baby. Breast feeding delays pregnancy, if the baby is fed every 2-3 hours, morning and evening  

REMEMBER – ALMOST ALL MOTHERS CAN BREAST-FEED -- ONLY 1 OR 2 IN EVERY 100 MAY HAVE PROBLEMS.  

OXYTOCIN REFLEX

Baby sucking Nerve endings in the breast stimulated Massage carried to the brain Secretion of prolactin into the blood Milk secreted into the breast Babies sight baby’s sound sucking Nerve ending in the breast stimulated Massage carried to the Brain Secretion of Oxytocin into the breast Squeezing of the muscles around the breast

Anxiety, pain or doubts stop this reflex

PREPARATION OF BREAST DURING PREGNANCY

The nipple may be massaged 3 or 4 times daily during the last 2 months of pregnancy.

Olive oil or any other oil can serve the purpose.

Wash or sponge the breast or nipple to prevent crust formation.

Proper support by a well-fitted brassiere helps the mother to maintain her figure.

BREAST CARE DURING LACTATION

CLOTHING SOME DOS: Wear a well fitted brassiere preferably open in front; Select a well fitting dress opening in front; Place a clear folded handkerchief or cotton pads in the brassiere to protect

against leaking of breast milk   SOME DO NOTS: Padded nylon brassieres should not be used as they prevent nipple drying; The mother’s clothing should not be too tight over the breast to make her

uncomfortable.   HYGIENE   The breast should be washed once a day preferably while taking a shower; Let the breast air dry naturally after breast feeding; Always wash your hands before taking care of the baby.

SUKING REFLEXES IN THE BABY

THE ROOTING REFLEX:  The baby finds the mother’s nipple with the reflex. When anything touches the baby’s cheeks or side of

mouths a hungry baby turns his/her head towards the touch.  

THE SUCKING REFLEX:   When anything goes into the baby’s mouth far enough he/she sucks it.   THE SWALLING REFLEX:   If the baby’s mouth fills with milk he/she swallows it naturally.  

HOW DOES A BABY SUCK?   Act of sucking by the baby: Stretching the nipple and areola to form a teat.   Pressing the stretched areola with jaws and tongue against the palate to press the milk out of the lactiferous

sinus beneath the areola.

HOW TO PUT THE BABY ON THE BREAST CORRECTLY?

POSITIONING OF THE BABY MADONNA OR CRADLE HOLD FOOT BALL HOLD:  SIDE BY SIDE: Any method which the mother and baby

find comfortable is recommended.

COMPARISON BETWEEN GOOD POSITION AND BAD POSITION OF BREAST FEEDING 

SIGNS OF GOOD POSITION:

The baby’s whole body is close to the mother; The baby’s mouth and chain are close to the breast The baby’s mouth is wide open with the areola in baby’s mouth; The baby can now easily take small deep sucks;  The baby is relaxed and happy; The mother does not feel nipple pain when the baby sucks correctly.

SIGNS OF BAD POSITION:

The baby’s body may be too far away from the mother; The baby’s mouth and chain are separated from the breast; One sees the areola especially below the lower lip; The baby takes many quick small sucks as the baby is not satisfied with the milk The baby fusses or refuses to suck as he/she does not get enough milk flow; The mother may feel pain in the nipple because of bad sucking position

WHEN SHOULD THE FIRST FEED BE GIVEN TO THE BABY?

Breast-feeding should be started as soon as possible after delivery preferably at the delivery table or within 1-2 hours of birth.

ADVANTAGES:  The baby gets valuable colostrum or first watery milk; Baby adapts more easily to breast feeding; It develops a strong bond of love and affection between the

mother and the child from the beginning.  The newborn must room in with his/her mother to

promote breast-feeding and enhance mother-child bonding.

 

What is colostrums and how is it beneficial?

Colostrums is the first watery bright yellowish milk of the mother. It should be given to the baby because:

It is very high in protein content; It contains natural minute bodies (antibodies) which protect the

baby from infection; Usually colostrums protects the baby from diarrhea, T.B. and to

some extent from polio and skin infection.  When to feed the baby?  Allow the baby to be breast fed whenever he/she wants milk

because more often the baby sucks more milk is produced. The baby will cry when he/she needs to be fed. In the beginning do

not fix a precise time for breast-feeding. Usually during the first few days the baby is breast-fed even every two hours. Later on the interval increases as baby settles down to his/her required needs.

How long to feed the baby?

Although the infant obtains 85-90% of his her feeding in the first 5-8 minutes of vigorous sucking, he/she should be allowed to nurse for atleast 10-20 minutes at a time.

Research has shown that slow feeders take the same total amount of milk as fast feeders. If you stop a slow feeders before he/she may not take enough milk. He/she may not get the energy that is needed to grow well.

  Which foods have an effect on breast milk secretion?  Almost every category of food having nutritional value is a lactogogue,

which means food that helps to produce more milk. However in different regions culturally some foods are avoided by the

mothers after delivery which includes rice, dal, eggs, roots, leafy vegetables, brinjals, onions, sour food, fish, meat, mustard oil, etc. In fact these foods don’t cause any problems, rather they are important for the mother’s diet.

 

When and how to burp the breast-fed baby?

 Mother should burp the breast fed baby after each feed before laying her in the crib.

Method for burping

The baby should be held over the shoulder or seated erect in mother’s lap or lying face downward and gently patted or stroked on the back. Thereby the air that the baby has swallowed will rise to the top of his/her stomach and be expelled.

What should be the maximum or minimum period of breast-feeding?

Breast milk should be fed to the baby for as long as possible.

Minimum period of breast-feeding is at least one year. Although breast milk continues to be important for growth in the second year of life also.

Weaning of breast feeding: Stopping breast-feeding should not be sudden. If a

mother wants to stop breast-feeding she should do it gradually.

How can a mother confirm that the baby is taking enough milk?

With the help of a doctor, LHV/midwife a mother can find out that her baby is taking enough milk by the following tests:

The wetness test: The mother should note how often the baby urinates:  The baby should urinate six or more times a day; The urine should be colorless or pale yellow. If the mother is not

giving water or other drinks the this test is fairly confirmatory; If the baby cries after urinates six or more time’s daily then it

means there is some other problem with the baby. The weight test:  Weight the baby and check his/her weight gain on a growth chart; A healthy baby should gain between half and one kilo per month or

a minimum of 125 GMS each week.

HOW TO INCREASE A MOTHER’S MILK SUPPLY?

Babies sometimes become fussy during growth spurts when they require more milk. The problem is not that the mother’s supply is decreasing, but she should increase her milk supply

The mother can be advised as follows: Nurse the baby more often every hour if necessary; She (mother) should rest more often; Try to cut back on tiring outside activities; Eat properly both in quality and quantity especially if she (mother) is

malnourished; Drink plenty of fluid; The mother should keep the baby near her handle him/herself as much as

possible; The mother should feed the baby during night also; The mother should feed the baby long than before from each breast; If the mother knows of a locally valued lactogogue she should take that too; Sometimes a doctor needs to be consulted if the mother’s milk supply is not

increasing.

Thank YOU for giving me your precious time,

By dr,ali achakzai