Breastfeeding defined by WHO
Breast milk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean and contains antibodies which help protect against many common childhood illnesses. Breastmilk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life.
Globally, 3 in 5 babies are not breastfed in the first hour of life.
WHO
This article includes all the basics you need to know about breastfeeding:
Benefits of breastfeeding for baby
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Moms
Uses of breast milk
How to deal with nipple Biting during breastfeeding
Milk supply during breastfeeding
How to wean off your baby from breastfeed
Breastfeeding during Pregnancy
Myths and Truth About Breastfeeding
Some most commonly asked questions and concerns about breastfeeding
Benefits of breastfeeding for baby
Only 38% of infants are breastfeed for first 6 months and around 45% of children have developmental issues in Pakistan. Breastfeeding offers health benefits to mother and child even after infancy.
Benefits of Breastfeeding your baby includes:
Health experts believe breast milk is the best nutritional choice for baby. The decision to breastfeed or formula feed is based on the comfort level, lifestyle, and specific medical situations.
- Provides ideal nutrition: Breastfeeding provides the ideal nutrition for the baby. Breast milk is packed with vital nutrients, proteins and fat which are essential for the body to grow.
Where formula feeding does provide some basic dose of vitamins, proteins and fat, but it can’t replicate the exact composition of breast milk in terms of antibodies. Although vitamin D is present in formula milk as breast milk doesn’t contain it - Helps in digestion: Breastfed babies have less difficulty with digestion than do formula-fed babies. Breast milk is more easily digested and breastfed babies have fewer bouts of diarrhea or constipation.
- Allergies and Illness: Breastfeeding also decreases the chances of allergies, illnesses and asthma. Breastmilk also boosts up the baby’s immune system. Whereas formula do not contain the immunity boosting formulas needed for the baby’s growth
- Expenses and convenience: Breast milk is ever-ready and is always at the right temperature for the baby and is free, and there’s no need to buy or wash bottles and nipples or warm up bottles in the middle of the night , unless you are pumping the breastmilk and feeding via bottle.
- Offers natural immunity
- Promotes a healthy weight
- 73% decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome Increased intelligence
- Decreased likelihood of contracting middle ear infections and provide cold and flu resistance
- Lower risk of childhood onset diabetes
- Decreased dental problems
- Decreased risk of obesity later in life
- Decreased risk of developing psychological disorder
The immunologic agents found in breastmilk help fight against bacteria, viruses and parasites. Do you know that 1 drop of breastmilk contains 1 million white blood cells? And chilled breastmilk makes a super power moisturizer
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Moms
As we know there are numerous benefits of breastfeeding a baby, but do you know that there are few benefits for Moms also who breastfeed? Below are some of the benefits of breastfeeding for the Moms
- It promotes uterine contractions after birth thus control postpartum bleeding and prevents anemia
- It helps in losing weight by naturally using up 500 calories a day
- It helps to build a strong bond between mother and her baby
- It lowers the risk of getting Breast, Uterine and Ovarian cancer
- To some extent it prevents Depression
- It’s always available at the right temperature
- It may reduce the risk of having Heart attack and Stroke later in life by 8-9%
- Reduces the risk of Type II Diabetes
- Exclusive Breastfeeding for 6 months also works as a natural birth control method
Uses of breastmilk
You can use breast milk topically to treat:
- Cracked or sore nipples
- Cradle cap Ear infections
- Mild eye infection due to blocked tear duct and conjunctivitis
- Soothe teething pain
- Insect bites
- Diaper dermatitis aka rash
- Acne
- Mild to moderate atopic dermatitis i.e Eczema
- Burns
- Stuffy nose
How to deal with nipple biting during breastfeeding
A common concern women have with breastfeeding is baby biting nipples. If you haven’t been bitten, then you are lucky. If you have been bitten, then it’s important to determine the cause why the baby is biting?, here are few of the questions to ask yourself:
- Is the baby biting out of pain from teething
- Is baby biting because of milk letdown or flow preference
- Is baby is full and is playing as to see how you react to it
- Is baby is simply Bored
Often, looking at the breastfeeding session and the timing of when baby is biting can help in knowing the reason why baby is biting. It’s Important to note when does the baby bite:
Beginning of the feeding ? or End of the feeding ?
Beginning of the Feeding:
Baby may need to chew on a teether or cold washcloth to relieve sore gums before feeding.
End of Feeding:
At the End of a feeding when the flow slows , try doing hand compression to prompt a stronger flow of milk.
Some babies find it hilarious and it becomes a game if you react in by fake crying or ouching but if you don’t react , calmly ends the feeding and sets baby down, the game loses its appeal and when no response or reaction is there , baby often stops doing it again.
It is also important to note that the baby can’t bite while actively nursing as the tongue covers the lower teeth. Just keep on watching baby’s behavior / cues and act before they bite – slip your finger into the mouth and unlatch before the baby can bite. Consistently stopping it before it happens usually ends the behavior in a few days.
Milk supply during breastfeeding
Mothers are mostly worried about the amount of breast milk produced. And the most common complains are that the baby’s need is not fulfilled and I am unable to produce more milk. Baby is not gaining weight. Should I start formula milk as my baby is always hungry?
another most common question asked is “How to increase Breast milk??”
The key to increase breastmilk supply is to nurse your baby frequently and stay stress free , Have a balanced healthy diet , consume a lot of fruits , take multivitamins and calcium supplements prescribed by the Doctor , keeping your body hydrated and taking enough rest. Most of the following tips are tried by me and some by my friends , so I am compiling all them together.
Food to consume to increase / maintain Breastmilk supply
- Drink Hareera:
Sauté sooji in ghee till it’s aromatic then add milk and sugar cook for 1-2 mins. The consistency should be like of a smoothie. - Dry Fruit Milk:
Sauté chopped pistachio and almond in ghee ,add sugar , elaichi and milk. Consume it warm - Oats soup:
Add chopped onion, tomato , garlic and zeera in desi ghee – sauté for few minutes then add oats , spices and mutton broth and cook for 10-15 mins. - Kehwa:
Make a kehwa by adding 1/4 tsp ajwain , 1/4 tsp Sauf , 1/4 tsp zeera and 1/4 tsp methi dana in 1 litre of water , boil it for 5 mins. Have it by adding a bit of honey( optional) once or twice a day. It helped me a lot and reduced my postpartum weight also. - Cumin seeds:
A teaspoon of either plain or roasted cumin seeds gulped down with warm milk or water. - Fenugreek
Grind fenugreek to fine powder. Have a teaspoon of it with water once a day. - Popcorn
We doctors believe that it’s a myth that by having popcorns milk supply is increased but it worked for my friends. - Garlic
Intake of 2-3 garlic cloves a daily help in increasing the Breastmilk supply. - Fox nuts / Makhane
Roast Fox nuts in desi ghee add in chaat masala, salt ( both are optional) and have it as a snack all day long. - Cow’s Milk:
Have a glass of milk with nuts or add milk in oats or make kheer or sheer khurma with lots of nuts, or at least have 2-3 glass of plain milk daily. - Powerful juice
Mix 1 cup of beet root juice , 1 cup of carrot juice ,1 cup of tomato juice and half a cup of apple juice. Have it twice a day one in morning and one evening on empty stomach.
* Visit your Doctor and check for your allergies or suitability or if you have any medical condition before trying any home remedy.
How to wean off your baby from breastfeed
Weaning your baby is part of the natural breastfeeding experience. It doesn’t have to be a time of unhappiness for you or your baby. If done “gradually, and with love” – La Leche League motto.
Abrupt weaning should always be avoided, if at all possible, for the sake of both you and your baby. If you suddenly stop nursing, your breasts will respond by becoming engorged, and you may develop a breast infection or breast abscess.
-Your hormone levels drop abruptly, and depression can result.
-Abruptly withdrawing the breast can also cause emotional trauma in the baby.
-Since nursing is not only a source of food for a baby, but a source of security and emotional comfort as well, taking it away abruptly can be very disturbing.
Tips to wean your child off the breast gently
- The key is to gradually reduce breastfeeding. You can begin by dropping a breastfeeding time which your baby appears to least enjoy.
- You don’t need to worry about your baby gaining less immune benefits from the dropped breastfeeding sessions.
Over time, weaning makes your breastmilk much more condensed with antibodies to fend off bacterial and viral diseases. - By gently and gradually reducing breastfeeding sessions, rather than stopping abruptly, you will also prevent issues like engorgement and blocked ducts from affecting you.
- Currently if you are breastfeeding 10 times u reduce to 7 times, 5times, 2 times over time then once and stop.
- During the day time, make sure the baby eats his food regularly and not hungry, whenever he comes for breast you can distract the child with any other thing he likes to eat or a toy.
- For night time if you sleep away from the child for 3 to 5 nights the child will forget the breast.
- The key aim should be to reduce milk supply naturally – as the babys sucking reduces then you will not experience unnecessary pain in the breast from engorgement.
But, if you are in a hurry to wean your baby, say for a medical reason, consult a lactation consultant for the best way forward.
Breastfeeding during Pregnancy
Can I still breastfeed while I am pregnant? This question is most commonly asked by mothers, who may have heard or know that breastfeeding causes mild uterine contractions.
In a healthy pregnancy, these contractions are not a huge concern as they generally do not cause preterm labor. This is because oxytocin, the hormone released during breastfeeding that stimulates contractions, is usually released in such a small amount during breastfeeding that is not enough to cause preterm labor. Such contractions are also harmless to the fetus and rarely increase the chances of having a miscarriage. Also, although a small number of pregnancy hormones pass into your milk, these hormones pose no risk to your child.
(American Pregnancy Association)
However, it is always better to consult your Gynecologist in regards to your decision to breastfeed while pregnant as there are some cases where weaning may be advised.
Myths and Truth About Breastfeeding
- Spicy Food will cause Nursing Baby Gas
Food a mother eats do not give her baby gas. Spicy foods will add flavor to mother’s milk, thereby giving baby an early introduction to new flavors. - You can’t get Pregnant while Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can be effective form of birth control only if your baby is 6 months or under and is exclusively breastfeeding and you haven’t start menstruating - Breastmilk is Lighter that Formula Milk
Breastmilk has a much higher content of fat and is more dense and the nutrients are more readily absorbed as compared to formula milk - Don’t nurse the baby after shower they will get cold
Breastmilk is always warm and is readily available at the optimal temperature , Unless of you are suffer from hypothermia or fever. - Breastfeeding changes the shape of your breasts
Change in shape of breasts can be due to the result of pregnancy and hormones but in some cases it can be due to breastfeeding - Formula fed babies sleep better.
Formula fed babies do not sleep better, although they may sleep longer. Because formula milk doesn’t get digested as quickly. - No leaking means no milk or less milk
Once the baby acquires feeding routine at around 6-12 weeks leaking usually stops because breasts now make milk according to your baby’s need. - Small breasts can’t make more milk
Breast size doesn’t matter at all. Milk production has nothing to do with breast size.Just make sure to understand the needs of your baby and breastfeed as and when demanded to ensure adequate production of milk. - You can’t breastfeed if on medication
Most medicines are safe to take while breastfeeding, usually only a small amount of the medicine may appear in breast milk and may not be bad
“I really wish that all new mothers were told that the majority of newborns want to breastfeed much more frequently than every few hours. And many even want to stay latched on, suckling for extended periods of time. This can understandably shake a new mother’s confidence and make her second guess if she’s producing enough milk to keep her nursling satisfied. Women are usually just told that their baby should nurse ‘every 2-3 hours’, but frequent (and lengthy) nursing is a totally normal thing for newborns to do! It helps keep them close to mama while regulating her milk supply.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Often babies won’t have these longer stretches between feeds until they’re a little older. Even then, there are several things that could make them want to nurse more, including (but not limited to) teething, sickness, unfamiliar surroundings, or feeling tired. I can’t imagine how miserable it would be to have a fussy baby in your arms but feel like you shouldn’t breastfeed again because it’s “not time yet”.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This isn’t discussed often enough and new mothers need to be reassured. If baby is gaining weight, then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with breastfeeding more often than what you’ve been told is ‘normal’. The postpartum period is all about surrendering, so cozy up with your babe and forget the clock.”
-words by Oh Baby Nutrition
Some most commonly asked questions and concerns about breastfeeding
Q: How do I know my supply is enough for my baby?
A: If your baby is gaining weight and is having adequate amount of wet diapers then there is no need to worry.
Q: My baby wakes up at night frequently is it normal?
A: It’s normal for the baby to or wake up at night to feed.
Q : My baby now demands more , is it due to low supply?
A: It’s a phase that baby suddenly increases the frequency or length of nursing – it doesn’t indicate low supply.
Q : I am having sore nipples what should I do?
A: Apply your breast milk on the nipples or you can apply coconut oil or nipcare or lanolin cream or mebo – clean the nipples before feeding.
Q : I am not having any let down now is it due to low supply?
A: Let down reflex often decreases with time , when supply adjusts to fulfil the demand of the baby very precisely without a lot of milk left over.
Q: How do I know that my baby is latching properly?
A: Here is tip to know that; weigh your baby before and after feeding – there will be some weight difference which means that the baby latched properly or has drank the breast milk.
Q : What should I eat or avoid while breastfeeding?
Ans : Follow a balanced diet Including milk , fish , eggs , meat and vegetables. You can eat anything you want to eat. Breastfeeding MOMs need extra 500 calories so enjoy the food you like. In some cases, babies are allergic to protein present in cow’s milk. They either will be constipated or have some kind of rashes or lumps or vomiting , if any of these reaction is seen in your baby (when no other cause is present) then you should avoid drinking cow’s milk and consult your Doctor.
Q : I am 8th month pregnant and experiencing pain around my breast area. Is this normal?
A: Your breasts will continue changing throughout your pregnancy. So, pain or sensitivity around the area is completely normal.
Q: How to increase the breast feed?
A: Breasts make milk in response to baby’s sucking. Breastfeed frequently, offer both sides at each feeding , drink a glass of milk or water before feeding , breastfeed your baby at night- as more prolactin is produced at night.
Q : I had C – section 2 days back but my milk supply is very less I do feed frequently what to do?
A: After C – section it takes about a week to establish the milk supply. Don’t panic keep feeding your baby it will get better as the time passes.
Q : How to quit breastfeeding??
Ans : I will advise to let the baby feed till 2 years , because till that age the baby can understand you and it will be easy for both of you to quit. But if you choose to quit before you can apply Safi or Concentrated coffee or iodex or musabar (crush it in powder) on your breasts
This article is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to offer medical advice.
