Four Tips for Breast Feed Baby

Written by TsangShireen

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Posted on August 10 2022

August 1-7, 2022 is the 31st World Breastfeeding Week, and this year's theme is Breastfeeding for Health Education.

Breast milk is one of the gifts that mothers give to their babies. Many parents have a lot of questions and doubts about breastfeeding, such as what is the correct way to breastfeed? How to determine whether breast milk is sufficient or not? Let's talk about those things of breastfeeding.

Table of content:

  • The nutritional value of breast milk
  • Benefits of breastfeeding
  • Four Tips for Breast Feed Baby
  • How to determine if breast milk is sufficient?

The nutritional value of breast milk

Breast milk contains proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

  • The proteins in breast milk are rich in essential amino acids, have high nutritional value, form small clots in the stomach, and are good for digestion and absorption.
  • Lactose in breast milk is higher than that in cow's milk and is the main source of energy for infants during the first 6 months of life.
  • The fat in breastmilk is mostly in the form of fine-grained dairy products, and the content of oleic acid fat, which is more easily absorbed, is one times more than that of cow's milk and is easier to digest and absorb.
  • Breast milk has a high content of vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C.
  • The total mineral content of breastmilk is about 1/3 of that of cow's milk.
  • In addition, the immune component of breast milk is unique compared to other milk substitutes. Breast milk contains a variety of other immune components such as immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A.

 

Benefits of breastfeeding

Breastmilk is rich in nutrients, high in calories, and has the right ratio of nutrients for infants' digestive capacity and needs. Exclusive breastfeeding can meet the nutritional needs of infants up to 6 months of age. Breast milk is rich in immune components, which have anti-infection effects and can promote the maturation of infants' immune functions.

Breastfeeding is not only beneficial to the growth of the baby, but also to the mother:
1. Through breastfeeding, the contraction of the uterus can be accelerated, promoting uterine rejuvenation and having the effect of stopping bleeding. It can make the uterus quickly return to its pre-pregnancy state, and can delay the return of menstruation and ovulation time, which can make the uterus and ovaries fully rest. It can reduce the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer for the mother.
2. Breastfeeding is simple, convenient, clean and hygienic, and can quickly get the baby to eat milk at any time.
3. Breastfeeding can burn up certain calories and gradually consume excessive fat, which helps the mother's body shape to recover quickly.
4. Breastfeeding can increase the affection of mother and baby, meet the nutrition needed for the development of the baby, improve the immunity, and help the development of baby's teeth and face.

Of course, breastfeeding has certain disadvantages for the mother, so we have to learn the science of breastfeeding.
1. Breastfeeding can easily affect the mother's sleep.
2. Breastfeeding without paying attention to hygiene or squeezing the breast can easily lead to the occurrence of mastitis, causing fever, breast swelling and pain, and in serious cases, suppuration. If the feeding position is not correct, it can lead to the mother's nipples cracking.
3. If the mother has combined heart function abnormalities, breastfeeding will increase the burden and lead to an increased risk of heart failure.

In addition, many drugs can enter the baby through the breast milk and affect the normal development of the baby, so there are limitations to the use of drugs for breastfeeding women, and they must be used under the guidance of a doctor.

   

Four Tips for Breast Feed Baby

Make good prenatal preparation  

Most healthy pregnant women are capable of breastfeeding. They should learn about the benefits of breastfeeding from the beginning of pregnancy and increase their confidence in breastfeeding; they should maintain good health, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, and prevent the influence of various adverse factors, etc. Get motherhood maternity clothing ready. As the breasts become bigger and heavier during pregnancy, pregnant women can use a bra that matches the size of their breasts to support them and prevent them from sagging. It is important to start breastfeeding as soon as the baby is born under the guidance of a professional.

Establishing normal breastfeeding 

The first two weeks after delivery is a critical period for establishing normal breastfeeding. New mothers should do the following three things.

1. Feed as early as possible. Within 5 minutes of the delivery of the newborn, the mother can hold the baby in her arms in the delivery room, observe the baby and wait for the baby to finish the first sucking. Although there is little milk production at this time, the baby can adapt to the mother's breast early, and the stimulation of powerful sucking can help promote milk production and build the bond between mother and child.
2. Mother and baby in the same room. So that the mother can feed her baby as needed.
3. Insist on breastfeeding on demand. Do not limit the frequency of breastfeeding and the time between breastfeeding. Feed when the baby wakes up, when there are signs of feeding or when the mother's milk rises. Prepare for breastfeeding by applying warm compresses to the breasts for 3 to 5 minutes and massaging the breasts to stimulate the ejection reflex.

Mastering the correct breastfeeding position 

    Breastfeeding positions include lying, lateral lying and sitting, of which sitting is the most common position.
When breastfeeding, pay attention to the "three stickers": the baby's jaw is close to the mother's breast, the baby's abdomen is close to the mother's abdomen and the baby's chest is close to the mother's chest.
The mother sits down and holds the baby so that the baby's head and shoulders are resting on the bend of the elbow on the breastfeeding side, and holds the breast with the other hand in the shape of a "C". The mother uses her thumb to help shape the breast and stimulate the baby around the mouth with the nipple. When the baby opens her mouth wide, the mother puts the nipple and most of the areola into the baby's mouth in a smooth motion so that the baby can suck effectively and prevent sore and cracked nipples.

Patting after breastfeeding 

After breastfeeding, the mother can hold the baby upright with the head resting on her shoulder and pat her back with the palm of her hand to help her expel the air from her stomach. If the baby falls asleep after feeding, keep the baby in the right lateral position to prevent suffocation due to reflux of milk.

How to determine if breast milk is sufficient?

To determine whether breast milk is sufficient, the following indicators can be referred to.

  • When the mother feeds, along with the sucking action of the infant, the sound of the infant swallowing can be heard; the mother has the sensation of breastfeeding, and the breast becomes soft after breastfeeding.
  • The infant feels satisfied and sleeps quietly after eating.
  • After the mother feeds on demand, the infant has to change diapers about 6 times a day and passes stools 2 to 4 times a day, with golden yellow paste.
  • the infant's weight increases by an average of about 150 grams per week
  • The weight of a one-month-old infant is 600 grams and more more than the weight at birth.

If the mother does breastfeed on demand (8 to 12 times a day, about 10 times on average) and the infant's weight gain is slow and does not reach normal values, it is important to pay attention and seek professional help as soon as possible to find out if there is a problem with insufficient volume intake.

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