Newborn babies rely on Newborn breastfeeding to get the right nutrition. Feeding through the breast helps build an emotional bond between tiny toddlers and women. You must be surprised to know breastfeeding is also helpful in recovering after delivery.
However, first-time mothers often feel worried and stressed about newborn breastfeeding. How long do they have to breastfeed her baby? What is the right time to feed their baby? Is there any alternative to breastfeeding? What if I try formula feeding instead of breastfeeding?
Likewise, there are so many questions striking the head of young mothers. That’s why we came up with this detailed post that helps guide you about breastfeeding and its various aspects. Let’s get started.
An Overview of Breastfeeding
Newborn breastfeeding is a way of supplying passive immunity and vital nutrients to babies. The first yellow milk released from the breast, known as colostrum, is rich in antibodies. It helps to build immunity that helps to fight against various diseases. The World Health Organization also recommends continuous breastfeeding for at least six months.
After that, mothers can start following formula feeding and a mixed diet. The practice includes breastfeeding and foods such as vegetables, fruits, and grains. However, mothers still have to maintain breastfeeding for at least one and a half years.
But the final decision is on the mother for how long she wants to continue breastfeeding her child. Besides this, learning to breastfeed is a matter of time. Not all mothers are experts in breastfeeding, so they have to practice continually. In the beginning, babies and mothers both feel discomfort while breastfeeding. But the sooner you become comfortable and breastfeed your toddler properly.
Why is Breastfeeding Important?
We all know that breastfeeding is crucial for the child as it’s a vital source of nutrition for them. But do you know breastfeeding is extremely helpful for mothers too? Research shows that breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of type II diabetes in women.
Let’s focus on the benefits a mother and baby receive while breastfeeding their child.
Speed Up Recovery
After delivery, women may feel weak, the uterus becomes wider, and it takes longer to recover. But breastfeeding can help to recover faster after delivery. Continuous breastfeeding secretes a high amount of oxytocin which improves uterine contraction. This, in turn, helps in returning to the prepregnancy size.
Reduce Depression Risk
Mothers deal with postpartum depression after delivery. But newborn breastfeeding is helpful to postpartum depression risk. However, there is no clear evidence that shows it helps reduce depression. But several searches have been made that show women who are breastfeeding have less risk of depression than those who are not.
Lose Post-Pregnancy Weight Faster
Lactating women shed weight faster after delivery than those who do not breastfeed their babies. Lactation triggers hormones, which helps to lose weight faster.
Reduce Chances of Type 2 Diabetes
Several types of research show that breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis, and high blood pressure.
Boost Immunity against Bacterial and
Breast milk is rich in antibodies and immunoglobulins. The proteins help boost strength in infants and build the immune system. Moreover, breastfeeding is also helpful for women and helps them fight infection.
Maintain Healthier Weight
Women who breastfeed their babies have a lower risk of obesity. If she continues to breastfeed her baby for longer, it helps maintain her ideal body weight. Not only this, but breastfeeding is also helpful in maintaining the ideal weight of the babies compared to those who follow formula feeding.
Fulfill Nutritional Requirement of Babies
Babies have different nutritional requirements during the growing stage. This can only be fulfilled by breast milk. Mother milk is rich in essential nutrients and antibodies, which help toddlers to grow faster.
Reduce the Chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Babies who feed their mother tend to have a low risk of sudden infant death syndrome compared to those who do not feed on mother milk. If a woman continues to breastfeed her child for one year along with formula feeding, it helps lower the risk of SIDS and other diseases that can be fatal for the health of babies.
Reduce the Chances of Infection
Babies who are breastfeeding are likely to have less risk of infections such as respiratory, ear, and gut infections than those who do not feed on breast milk.
How to Share a Bond with Baby While Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding mothers always share an emotional bond with their babies. When a mother breastfeeds their babies, she not only nourishes the baby but also shares an intense love bond with her toddler. But for this, the physical connection is crucial. Choosing the right breastfeeding position can help to build that emotional connection.
Always choose to cuddle and lay in the breastfeeding position where babies have skin-to-skin touch with your body. Within a few minutes after delivery, women start lactating and produce milk. The first yellow milk is slightly thicker and contains antibodies that help build the first line of defense. Moreover, it also helps prepare the gastrointestinal system to feed your baby.
Breastfeeding is itself a bonding exercise. When you start breastfeeding your baby, you automatically get to know hunger cues and how to handle your baby. Of course, while breastfeeding, you spend a lot of time cuddling your babies. This skin-to-skin touch further makes your bond stronger.
Is Breastfeeding Better Than Formula Feeding?
Yes, breastfeeding is more excellent than formula feeding during the initial stage. It fulfills all the nutrient requirements of the babies. However, as the babies grow, they need more nutrition which can be fulfilled by following the baby formula feeding.
Formula feeding is essential, and several alternatives are available to breast milk. These baby formulas contain the following elements.
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Proteins
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
Babies digest formula food slower as compared to breastfeeding. Hence, caregivers and mothers get more time between feeding. On top of this, formula feeding is great for fulfilling the nutrition requirements of weak babies. However, the only downside is that feeding formulas are expensive.
How to Achieve Excellent Latch
Lactation is a natural process, but it doesn’t seem as easy as it looks. Breastfeeding needs skills, and breastfeeding mothers need to learn unless the baby and mother feel comfortable. Therefore, you can start by following the most comfortable breastfeeding position.
Make sure the baby must face toward the breast. Check if your baby needs to twist their neck; they may not be feeding accurately. Always ensure that babies’ mouths open naturally and their tongues cup around their nipples. Now, place the mouth of babies directly on this nipple. This way, babies will automatically close their mouths on the breast and begin to suck milk.
If the lips of the babies are pursed in an outward direction, this means they are feeding correctly. Be sure that the baby’s mouth will cover the nipple and darker areola region. However, if you experience any pain and discomfort while breastfeeding, gently push down your baby’s mouth, and the nipple will come out.
Wait for some time and before you breastfeed them again, be sure to open the mouth of the baby and repeat the process unless you achieve a good latch. Establishing a good breastfeeding position can also help in feeding your baby properly. Moreover, it is also helpful in reducing the pain and discomfort you may experience while breastfeeding.
However, if you still struggle to achieve the best latch, you must consult with your pediatrician or any lactation expert. They will guide you on lactation and how to achieve a good latch.
In some cases, physical problems such as Tongue ties, Inverted nipples, and Slipping can cause breastfeeding problems in women. Therefore, you can take proper guidance from the lactation expert to deal with such a problem.
What a Breastfeeding Mother Eat While Feeding Her Baby
Breastfeeding mothers need a proper diet, especially when feeding their toddler’s breast milk. Keep in mind that you’ve to eat the right nutrition for yourself and your toddlers. If you don’t eat food properly, your body doesn’t make proper milk, and your infant may not be able to receive the right nutrition.
Hence, during the first six months of breastfeeding, you need to add 500 more calories per day. Even after six months of breastfeeding, you still have to enhance calorie intake to support the baby’s healthy growth. In addition to this, make sure to eat a well-balanced diet when breastfeeding your baby.
Include high protein sources, vegetables, healthy fats, and fruits in the diet. Drink enough water to keep yourself away from thirst issues. Monitor signs such as dry mouth, darker urine, and infrequent urination. These signs indicate that your body needs more water.
In addition to this, take vital supplements such as iron, folic acid, zinc, and omega-3-fatty acid. This helps make your body stronger and build immunity to fight against infectious diseases. The best diet for a breastfeeding mother helps nourish her body and support the growth of the babies. You can take the diet plan for breastfeeding mothers from a certified nutritionist. They will provide you with the best-balanced diet plans for you and your baby.
How to Deal With Nipples Soreness
Many breastfeeding mothers experience nipple soreness during breastfeeding. Soreness of the nipples is very common and can be cured after some time. However, if the pain and nipple soreness trouble you, some steps help ease the pain.
Start With the Least Painful Nipple
The strongest suction you receive from the baby is when they are hungry. But the suction gets weaker when they get to fill. Therefore, if your baby is hungry, then be sure to start with the nipple with the least pain. It is helpful to prevent nipple soreness.
Wear Fitted Bra
Never wear a tight bra when you feel soreness in your nipples. The tight bra may irritate and rub against the nipples. As a result, nipple soreness increases, and you may have extreme pain with this. Therefore, always wear the proper fitting bra. This helps to reduce the soreness and ensures that you have less pain.
Air Dry Nipples
Before you wear your bra back after breastfeeding, clean your nipples and air-dry them. If you do not clean your nipples carefully before wearing your bra back, your skin may feel irritated. As a result of this, you experience nipple soreness. Hence, it would be great to clean your nipples before wearing your bra again.
Place Warm Cotton Cloth on Sore Nipples
If you are experiencing nipple soreness due to breastfeeding, take a warm cotton cloth and keep it on sore nipples. You can also use a cotton cloth dipped in warm water. This helps to soothe pain that occurs to you due to sore nipples. Moreover, a warm water cloth is also helpful for cleaning nipples after feeding your baby.
Use Cream and Ointment
If the above remedies don’t work for you, you can ask the doctors to suggest some ointment to soothe the stinging discomfort. However, be sure not to use ointment on your own as it may harm your skin and cause irritation. Always prefer to have ointment recommended by the doctors only.
How to Wean Your Baby Off From Breastfeeding
According to healthcare experts such as W.H.O, ACOG, and AAP, as your baby starts growing, you need to feed your baby with essential food. Breastfeeding is good for the first six months, but their nutritional requirements change when they grow. At this point, you need to introduce additional food into their diet.
However, you can continue breastfeeding and formula feeding for up to 2 years. Weaning a baby off from breastfeeding is a process that you can accomplish slowly. You can include cow milk in their diet, baby food, and juices. When you start this process, you may feel resistance, and your baby may dislike the external food for some time.
So, if possible, then start slowly and do not push your baby to war irrelevantly. Let them realize hunger and eating urges. This way, they automatically wean to another diet. In between, you can keep your baby busy with other activities.
Continue the process unless you achieve results. However, avoid regular breastfeeding when you are practicing another diet for babies. Once they start munching on other food, slowly, you can leave breastfeeding and turn on another diet. This way, the breast stops producing milk, and you will be able to weave your baby completely on other food.
Breastfeeding and Infection
A lot of the time, breastfeeding mothers experience intense pain in their breasts while feeding their babies. If the intense pain gets vigorous over time, this may signify a thrush infection. This is a form of fungal infection that usually happens due to a moist environment and when your nipples remain wet.
Therefore, if you observe a thrush infection on your breast, choose the appropriate medicine to treat the infection. Also, avoid breastfeeding when you have a thrush infection on the breast. Some symptoms are associated with thrush infection, which is as follows:
- Sudden pain
- Flaked and peeled skin near nipples
- The breast becomes tender on touching
- Intense pain.
These are some of the symptoms that are associated with newborn breastfeeding infection. You can consult with your doctor about the infection and take proper treatment. Also, avoid breastfeeding your toddler when you have an infection.
If you continue breastfeeding during infection, your toddler also receives the same infection. Thrush causes patches on the cheeks and tongue. Shift your baby to other food items or baby food when you are suffering from thrush. It helps to prevent the spreading of infection.
If your baby got the same infection from you, ask for a pediatric consultation. They will guide you in dealing with such an infection and may provide appropriate treatment.
Is Your Baby receiving Enough Milk through the Breast?
When you are breastfeeding your babies, it’s hard to decide whether you are making enough milk or not. The only way to measure the milk is through breast pumping. Collect the milk and measure it in ounces. Alternatively, you can look for these signs, which are as follows:
Babies Wet Too Much Diapers
Babies who receive enough milk may wet diapers more than those who do not receive proper milk. Ideally, babies wet at least 6-8 diapers per day. Moreover, the number of dirty diapers also increases if they are feeding properly.
Babies Gain Healthy Weight
If your babies receive enough milk from breastfeeding, they may gain weight steadily. However, if the baby’s weight drops continually, then this may be a sign your body is not making enough milk. This also means that your baby is not receiving adequate nutrition. Therefore, you need to consult with your lactation experts and pediatrician to know the exact reason for the weight drop.
Babies Don’t Show Hunger Signs.
The next sign that your baby is receiving enough milk from breastfeeding is no clues for hunger signs. If your baby is not receiving enough breast milk, it may show signs of hunger, such as crying, clenched fist, and many more. These signs show that your baby is not receiving enough milk. If they do not receive proper milk, they may experience poor growth. In that situation, you can consult with your doctor to get the right guidance.
Things to Focus on While Proceeding for Breastfeeding
Before you proceed with breastfeeding, consider these things mentioned here.
Discomfort
Many breastfeeding mothers experience pain and discomfort during the initial days of breastfeeding. However, the pain and uneasiness are temporary. If you experience discomfort for a longer time, consult with your doctor to get proper treatment.
Lack of Focus
A newborn baby’s mother often remains busy with newborn breastfeeding schedule. During initial breastfeeding days, a baby can feed more than 12 times a day. This is why women cannot focus on work and other life activities. She might be juggling all the time and rushing for feeding and other work.
Restricted Diet
What you eat is directly supplied to the babies too. You may have heard this so many times from your granny and grandmother. But they also say lactating women must have to follow a restricted diet. Some of the food materials can affect your lactation and may be harmful to the babies. Therefore, women must follow a restricted diet, excluding sour food items, alcohol, caffeine, and herbal supplements.
Medication
You share a direct bond with your child. Hence, what you eat will reach the baby too. Therefore, if you are eating medicine and any other form of drugs, stop immediately because it can be problematic for your baby. However, if you’re taking medicines because of health concerns, ask your doctor for a better recommendation. They will guide you on these essential things.
Galactagogues to Enhance Breast Milk
If you are making less milk, you should try galactagogue, which is one of the best remedies to boost milk production naturally. Milk thistle, fenugreek seeds, and malunggay are natural milk boosters.
Frequently Asked Questions
- For how long can women breastfeed their baby?
- A woman can breastfeed her baby for at least two years. However, lactation in women may last longer, up to two and half years, or unless her baby is feeding on her milk.
- How to improve milk secretion in women naturally?
- fenugreek seeds are a natural supplement to improve milk and feed your babies properly.
- What if you do not make your babies burp after feeding?
- Babies burping is helpful as it helps in passing the air bubbles from the mouth and allows food to digest properly into the stomach.
Final Takeaway
Newborn Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience in a woman’s life. It gives a bundle of joy and an emotional flood at the same time. Women not only feel emotionally connected with their baby but also fulfill the nutritional requirement of their baby through breast milk. Hence, you need to follow a balanced diet and energy and follow formula feeding to grow for healthy breastfeeding. This helps to supply the right nutrition to your toddler, which helps to fulfill all the nutritional requirements.
