Like you, a good number of expecting, or mothers with newborns are faced with the dilemma of whether to breastfeed or formula feed. The rest decide easily because they know the conveniences involved in either method.
Whichever route you take, fed is best.
In this article, we are going to explore breastfeeding and
learn all the tricks that can help you breastfeed easier.
Let’s dive in.
What we shall cover;
- Breastmilk
and its wonders.
- Why it
is crucial to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months.
- Pros
and cons of breastfeeding.
- Tips
for successful breastfeeding.
- What
you can expect while breastfeeding.
- Home
and workplace support for breastfeeding moms.
Let’s do this!
The wonderful Breastmilk.
You might not have known this, but the process of milk
production starts quite early in your pregnancy stage. Your baby’s developing
placenta signals your body to start the complex biological process of preparing
the milk. By the second trimester, your milk ducts were most likely fully
developed and ready to channel milk would your baby end up being born early.
There are 3 stages of breastmilk.
Colostrum -the first stage that you will encounter,
will come in a small amount a few days before or after the birth of your child.
This milk is will look slightly yellow and thick. It is rich in antibodies and
more concentrated in proteins.
Transitional milk – Comes in second and may last up to 2
weeks. It’s white in color or might look slightly tinged with blue. Your body
will produce high quantities of transitional milk as it is yet to learn the
amount your baby will need.
Mature milk – The dominant stage, comes in last and also in
high volumes. By now, your body has learned a bit about your baby’s feeding
demand and will be adjusting the quantity according to the demand. Mature milk
will look thinner than transitional milk. It is composed of 90% water and 10 %
carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. When your baby is feeding, your breast will
first release a watered-down foremilk for hydration before releasing a richer
hindmilk for calories.
The real deal
Your infant’s immunity system is not fully developed. He
will be relying on yours for a while as his matures.
When your baby sucks on your nipple, its diameter increases
and a small back pressure is created inside your breast. This pressure will
pull in oral fluids from your baby’s mouth back into your body. This backwash
of the baby’s saliva communicates to your immune system the needs of your baby.
In response, your immune system works with your body to
prepare just the right ingredients your baby requires in the next feeding. Your
breastmilk is therefore not just a ready-to-serve meal but a customized
medicine when your baby is in need.
Exclusive breastfeeding; why first 6 months are
important.
To breastfeed exclusively means that your baby will only
feed on your breast milk or milk from a wet nurse, with the only exemption is
of medicine or supplements.
It might seem intimidating and a tough task to be your
baby’s only source of nutrition. However, research has found breastmilk to be a
perfect meal full of all the nutritional needs of an infant up to the age of 6
months. Health experts, therefore, recommend it for optimal growth, health, and
development of any child.
After the first 6 months, with your baby’s immunity matured
and appetite increasing, it is proper to gradually start introducing him to
other foods and water. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that a
child continues to breastfeed for up to 2 years of age and above. As a mother, however, if your baby is gaining weight and growing properly, the decision to
continue breastfeeding is entirely up to you.
Advantages and disadvantages of breastfeeding.
It’s always nice to start on the bright side. So let’s see
what’s in it for you and your baby.
Pros:
- Breastmilk
is a perfect meal for your baby. Its composition is dynamic from
day 1. Sugars, protein, fats, and compounds levels are adjusted according
to his needs. The backwash mechanism triggers your immunological umbrella
to customize the immune factors in the milk for your baby.
- It
is medicinal. Colostrum has high amounts of
immunoglobulin A (IgA) that form a layer of protection in your baby’s
nose, throat, and digestive tract. Breastmilk has been found to protect
children against infections of the upper respiratory tract and the middle
ear. Breastfed children are at a lower risk of getting child leukemia,
allergies, and bowel diseases. Also, preterm babies can be protected
against necrotizing enterocolitis, an intestinal inflammation that causes
death.
- Might
help you lose weight. For your body to make milk, it melts
your body fats. Cool, right? The baby weight you gain during pregnancy is,
in fact, a stock of fat cells your body will use later on to make food for
your baby. It is normal and part of the process for your body to lose
weight during breastfeeding. And to prove this, your body will likely feel
hot and even sweat when you nurse your baby.
- Helps
your body to quickly recover from the traumas of childbirth. Breastfeeding
triggers the pituitary gland in your brain to produce a ‘love hormone ‘
called oxytocin. This hormone on its own is credited with good feelings
like orgasms, relaxation, stress and anxiety reduction, lowering blood
pressure, and causing muscle contraction. When you breastfeed, your
oxytocin levels ramp up, helping you to bond with your child and your
uterus to shrink down to its normal size. It also triggers the let-down
reflex in your breasts that makes your milk flow down easily.
- A
natural birth control method. Lactational Amenorrhea
is something you might experience 6 months prenatal if you breastfeed
exclusively. It can be described as nature’s way of ensuring spacing
between consecutive pregnancies. In lactational amenorrhea, your
body does not ovulate nor menstruate. Instead, it focuses more on
producing optimal nutrition for your child.
- Cost-effective
and convenient. Breastmilk can be a cost-free meal or
require just a little investment in purchasing a pump and feeding bottles.
You will not incur recurring costs like when buying formula. Also,
breastmilk is almost always readily available and at the right temperature
and sanitation. No prior preparations are needed.
Though it might seem like the best choice, there are some
downsides that are too significant to ignore. Let’s walk through them.
Cons:
- It
can be uncomfortable. In the first few weeks or
months, as you and your baby are getting to know each other, breastfeeding
can get painful. It is common at this time for your nipples to get sore
and cracked, and for your breasts to feel sore, and painful from clogged
ducts. Some women also get mastitis, an inflammation that often leads to
an infection.
- Dietary
restrictions. Your baby may be out of your body but it won’t mean
that you are finally at liberty to eat whatever you want. You are required
to be alert on what you eat as some of it will end up passing to your baby
through the milk. While it is okay to eat spices and garlic, you will be
required to be modest in alcohol or caffeine consumption. You will also
need to alert your doctor when he gives you a prescription.
- Restricted
movement. Your infant will ask to feed every one to three
hours maximum. That means that you cannot go anywhere far from him without
risking a missed feeding. There is an easy solution to this though. Pump.
Tips for successful breastfeeding.
Armed with the following tips, you will be able to
breastfeed for years and you and your baby will love it.
- Prior
preparation. You might need to designate a location, comfortable
seat, and a nursing pillow for this. Being comfortable allows your mind to
relax and be calm. For your energy, keep some healthy snacks and a lot of
drinking water at an arms reach when breastfeeding or pumping. Your body
will be in need of an additional 500+ calories to balance off what it is
releasing. As for water, taking small sips now and then helps with the
let-down reflex. A book or your phone might keep your mind engaged.
- Eat lactogenic foods.
Including lactogenic foods in your meal will make a huge impact on your
milk production. Examples of these foods are fenugreek and fennel seeds,
sesame seeds, cashew nuts, almonds, leafy greens, beets, carrots, oats,
barley malt, goats rue, garlic, blessed thistle, etc. Not only will these
foods add your milk, they will be an additional source for your calorific,
mineral, and nutritional needs, ensuring that you stay healthy and strong.
- Pumping
or feeding on a schedule.
Breastmilk production follows the law of demand and supply. The higher the
demand, the more milk will be produced. To increase or maintain your
supply, ensure that you are nursing or pumping every two hours. Power
pumping will also trick your body by artificially increasing the nursing
frequency and demand.
- A proper
latch. Latching is how your baby mouths your nipple and areola
when nursing. A bad latch can stand in the way of successful
breastfeeding. Your baby won’t get all the milk he needs and your body
will interpret this as low demand, tanking your supply. Additionally, it
will hurt your nipples, leaving them sore and cracked and the whole
session will be painful. For a good latch, direct your baby’s mouth such
that he gums your areola. This way, he will be able to effectively express
milk from your breast.
- Breastfeeding Positions.
How you hold your baby during nursing matters. Positions dictate whether
your baby is able to mouth your areola with ease. Every set of mother and
child is unique and you might have to try out several positions before
knowing which will work best for you and your child. The common positions
are:-
- Laidback
nursing.
- cradle
hold.
- Cross
cradle hold.
- Ball
hold.
- Side-lying
position.
- Koala
hold.
A good position will enable your baby to latch properly or
even help with clearing clogged ducts.
What to expect if you are new to breastfeeding.
- Your
baby will need to feed frequently. (Every 1 – 3 hrs). His stomach is tiny
and will require about 8 to 12 feedings per day.
- Feeding
patterns will vary. If you follow your baby’s lead/ feed on demand, some
sessions will be longer than others. He might cluster feed for 45 minutes
for one session and be on the breast for 7 minutes for the next. As long
as he is gaining weight and has enough wet and soiled diapers, the pattern
is hardly a cause of worry.
- His
poops will be different from those of a formula-fed baby. Breastmilk-fed
babies have poops that are yellow in color and runny. They also go less
frequently.
- He
might get frustrated during feeding and even refuse to nurse. While it’s
normal, it is good to eliminate probable causes like over and undersupply
of milk and distractions.
- You
will feel thirsty. Milk from your body is 90% water. To replenish your
body, ensure to drink about 128 ounces / 3.8 liters of fluid. You should
however avoid sodas and sugary drinks. Staying hydrated will also save you
from constipation, dizziness, fatigue, and headaches.
- Discomforts;
Leaking, soreness, engorgements, lopsidedness, and pain. These are however
temporary and only last for a few months.
Home and workplace support for breastfeeding moms.
Breastfeeding is good for everyone. As a statement, August
1st to 7th is globally recognized as the world’s breastfeeding week. Global
organizations have acknowledged the need to support breastfeeding mothers
through organized and predictable structures.
With proper support, breastfeeding will be easier for you
you and you will be able to do it for a longer-term. There are roles that your
partner, family, community, employer, and government should play towards this.
To highlight a few examples;
- Your
partner can get involved by learning the basics of what is expected or in
setting goals for breastfeeding. Financial expenses that may arise
should also be a shared responsibility.
- Your
employer is required by law to give paid maternity leave to female
employees. He should have a set policy with established guidelines for
breastfeeding employees. On returning to work, he is required to provide a
private, clean, and well-ventilated nursing room with facilities such as
clean water, comfortable seats, and or storage facilities. You are
entitled to pumping breaks every few hours of not less than 30 minutes
each, every time you are at work.
- Health
providers; A Lactational consultant should be available to you in an event
of you needing one. Also, to note, some insurance providers cover the cost
of hospital-grade breast pumps for nursing mothers, ensure to check with
your provider before enrolling for a plan.
To conclude;
Breastfeeding is natural, convenient, and cost-effective.
Research and emerging technologies keep uncovering previously unknown benefits.
Also, mothers and health professionals are constantly realizing methods of
making it even easier for modern times. With proper knowledge and support,
breastfeeding can play a big role in the general well-being of everyone
involved. The decision of whether or not to breastfeed is however up to you. As
long as your baby is fed, you are doing a great job!