Breast milk is the best nutrition a mother can give her baby. It contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals, ensuring the full development and growth of the child.
Breast milk is the best nutrition a mother can give her baby. It contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals, is easily digestible, significantly improves immunity, ensuring the full development and growth of the child. Throughout the entire feeding period, the composition of breast milk changes to suit the baby's needs.
Colostrum
Immediately after childbirth (and sometimes in the third trimester of pregnancy), colostrum is released - a thick, viscous yellowish liquid. The amount of nutrients in colostrum and its energy value are much greater than that of mature milk. Colostrum contains substances that stimulate the development of the baby's intestines, preparing it for the digestion of mature milk. Together with colostrum, beneficial microorganisms (bifidobacteria and lactobacilli), as well as other elements that contribute to the formation of healthy intestinal microflora, enter the child’s body.
It is very important to attach the baby to the mother's breast in the first 30 minutes after birth (as a rule, this happens in the delivery room). Early attachment will help mother and baby establish close emotional contact from the first minutes of the baby’s life. It also stimulates the formation of oxytocin, which promotes the separation of the placenta, contraction of the uterus and the prevention of bleeding and the formation of lactation
As a result of breastfeeding immediately after birth, the baby can receive the first valuable drops of colostrum. They contain immunoglobulins that protect the body. Colostrum provides everything a newborn needs in the first few days of life, despite the fact that it is excreted in small quantities. And the thick consistency and slow flow of colostrum from the breast helps the baby learn to suck, swallow and breathe at the same time.
By the age of five days, the baby gets used to it and begins to ask for the breast more often. And the mother begins to produce milk. First (up to two to three weeks) transitional and then mature milk.
If breastfeeding is not possible...
When breastfeeding is not possible, the best nutrition for the baby is milk expressed from the mother's breast. Breast milk can be given from a clean cup that is easy to clean. It can even be used to feed newborns.
If mother's milk is not available, the baby can be given a breast milk substitute by cup. Your doctor will help you choose the best breast milk substitute based on your baby’s individual characteristics.
Feeding with a breast milk substitute may not be sufficient to cover the baby's physiological needs or may cause diarrhea if dry formula, finished product and utensils are not properly prepared and stored. When preparing milk formula, you must strictly follow the instructions and use only boiled, cooled water.
Animal milk and formula spoil at room temperature within a few hours. Expressed breast milk can be stored in a clean, sealed container at room temperature for up to eight hours.
Starting from the age of six months, children must be given complementary foods (porridge, vegetable and fruit purees, meat hash), but breastfeeding must be continued.
Although babies need complementary feeding from six months of age, breast milk continues to be an important source of energy, protein and other nutrients such as vitamin A and iron. It provides protection for the baby from diseases during the entire period of breastfeeding. At the age of six months to a year, the child must first be given breastfeeding and only then other food, so that the daily intake of mother's milk is maximum.
General recommendations for complementary feeding
Between 6 and 12 months:
breastfeeding on demand; other age-appropriate fresh, specially prepared food 1-5 times a day.
Ages 12 months and older (up to 24 months):
breastfeeding if mother and baby so desire, as well as fresh, specially prepared food 5 times a day.
In painful conditions that are not accompanied by vomiting and choking, a sick child requires breast milk. When a baby loses his appetite, mother's milk is the optimal, easily digestible nutrition.
Breastfeeding helps calm an upset baby.
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How to understand that a child is hungry?
A newborn has a stomach volume of only 30-35 ml, so he cannot eat much at one feeding and often asks for food. So how can you tell if your baby is hungry? Here are the main signs:
- He is crying. The first and most obvious signal of hunger.
- Makes sucking movements, sticks out his tongue.
- The child pulls his hands to his lips, puts his fingers and fists in his mouth (even in his sleep).
Feed your baby on demand. Even if he has recently eaten but is showing signs of hunger, feed him again.
How to breastfeed your baby correctly?
Proper latching of the baby to the breast can be called half the success. During feeding, how the mother holds the baby and how he latch onto the breast is very important.
- Position the child so that not only his face, but his entire body is turned towards you, and his head is at the level of your chest.
- Gently lift and support your chest with your palm so that your thumb is on top and the other four are on the bottom. To avoid pinching the milk ducts, your fingers should be outside the boundaries of the areola.
- Touch your nipple to your baby's lower lip and wait until he opens his mouth wide.
- Place the nipple in the baby's mouth so that it touches the roof of the mouth. In this case, the child’s lower lip should be turned outward and located not under the nipple, but under the areola, the chin is pressed to the chest, the tongue is pushed forward, taking a cupped shape. In this case, the baby’s tongue will make pressing movements on the lacteal sinus (the place where milk accumulates) and stimulate the receptors responsible for milk production.
During feeding, the baby should lie horizontally, and his head and body should be in one line. This position of the baby will help you attach him to the breast correctly. If you feel pain during feeding, then something obviously went wrong. Insert the tip of your little finger into the corner of the baby's mouth and interrupt the sucking, releasing the breast, and then reapply it to her.
Always give your baby the breast from which you did not feed him the previous time. It is necessary to alternate sides during feeding only when the baby is not full, but has already sucked all the milk from one breast. This is necessary so that he receives not only the “fore milk”, which is released at the beginning of the process, but also the “hind milk”.
Foremilk is translucent, contains a lot of lactose and water, and quenches the baby’s thirst. And the “back” is white or yellowish, fattier, and contains enzymes that activate digestive processes. It saturates the baby and also reduces abdominal pain that causes colic due to the enzymes it contains.
Starting breastfeeding
Starting breastfeeding soon after birth stimulates mother's milk production and helps the uterus contract, thereby reducing the risk of heavy bleeding or infection.
Colostrum, the thick yellowish milk that a mother produces in the first days after birth, is an excellent food for a newborn. It is highly nutritious and helps protect against infections. Sometimes mothers are advised not to feed their babies colostrum, but this is misguided advice.
If the birth took place in a maternity hospital or hospital, then the mother has the right to expect that her child will be in the same room with her around the clock and will not receive complementary foods or water if she is breastfeeding.
Frequent breastfeeding stimulates milk production.
Many new mothers need to be encouraged and supported in their decision to start breastfeeding. A woman with experience in successful breastfeeding - a relative, friend or another young mother who has taken courses in preparation for childbirth and child care - will help them overcome uncertainty and avoid complications.
When breastfeeding, the way the mother holds the baby and how he latch onto the breast is of great importance. Correct positioning of the baby facilitates the process of latching and sucking.
When baby is positioned correctly when breastfeeding:
- the child’s whole body is turned towards the mother;
- the child is sufficiently close to the mother’s body;
- the child is relaxed and satisfied.
If the child is positioned incorrectly, the following complications are possible:
- sores and cracks on the nipples;
- decreased milk production;
- baby's refusal to breastfeed.
With the correct feeding procedure:
- the child's mouth is wide open;
- the baby's chin touches the mother's chest;
- the area of the areola (papillar circle) that is visible above the child’s mouth is larger than the one that is in his mouth;
- sucking movements are long and deep;
- There is no pain in the nipple.
Almost every woman will have sufficient milk flow if:
- she exclusively breastfeeds the baby;
- the baby is in the correct position and grasps the breast well;
- the intervals between feedings and the duration of sessions meet the needs of the child (both day and night);
- the woman is provided with rational, nutritious nutrition, including through the introduction of balanced amounts of vitamins and microelements into the diet or, optimally, food products rich in these vitamins and microelements.
Proper breastfeeding is the key to success
During feeding, how the mother holds the baby and how he latch onto the breast is very important.
- Position the child so that not only his face, but his entire body is turned towards you, and his head is at the level of your chest.
- Gently lift and support your chest with your palm so that your thumb is on top and the other four are on the bottom. To avoid pinching the milk ducts, your fingers should be outside the boundaries of the areola.
- Touch your nipple to your baby's lower lip and wait until he opens his mouth wide.
- Place the nipple in the baby's mouth so that it touches the roof of the mouth. In this case, the child’s lower lip should be turned outward and located not under the nipple, but under the areola, the chin is pressed to the chest, the tongue is pushed forward, taking a cupped shape. In this case, the baby’s tongue will make pressing movements on the lacteal sinus (the place where milk accumulates) and stimulate the receptors responsible for milk production.
The importance of the first attachment for mother and baby
Attachment to the breast is the logical end of the birth process, which gives a powerful impetus to the establishment and establishment of lactation. Ideally, attachment should take place immediately after the baby is born. The baby is born and cries, the midwife lays it “belly to belly” towards the mother, helping to find the nipple.
The mother's body is prepared and adjusted to breastfeeding if the newborn is attached immediately after birth. Sucking the breast gives a signal that labor is over, and the woman’s body’s task is to feed the baby with milk. Baby sucking at the breast activates nerve endings in the mother's body that are responsible for active contractions of the uterus, which leads to a reduced risk of developing postpartum complications.
Attachment is of particular importance for the baby. He receives the first drops of colostrum, which activate protective reserves. They help the child cope with pathogenic bacteria and allergens. Colostrum, containing a large amount of antibodies, protects the baby from diseases. It helps in populating the intestinal microflora with beneficial bifidobacteria.
The psychological role of early attachment is also important. During childbirth, the child is exposed to stress, finds himself in unfamiliar conditions, and the baby needs his mother to feel safe. Mom's touch, physical contact, and breast sucking help reduce postpartum stress and establish a tight emotional “mother-child” connection, which is called “imprinting.”
It has been established that breastfeeding increases the level of pleasure hormone in a woman’s blood -
endorphin, allowing you to relax and unwind even after a difficult birth.
Should I wake up my baby to feed him?
If the baby is developing well and gaining weight, then there is no need to specifically wake him up. Now most experts prefer free feeding: the baby is given a breast or a bottle only when he requests it. For most babies, an individual feeding rhythm is established at 3-4 weeks of life.
Feeding will go better if the baby finally wakes up. Therefore, before you bring him to your breast, talk, play with him, change his diaper.
If the mother breastfeeds her baby correctly, she will not experience any pain in the nipple area, and after finishing feeding, the baby will be relaxed and happy, and may even fall asleep. Don’t worry if at first things don’t work out for you or if you have questions. For help, you can always turn to the maternity hospital staff if you and your baby have not yet been discharged, or to the local pediatrician and nurse during patronage visits, as well as to lactation consultants. Try to breastfeed your baby for as long as possible, because it is so important for his health! Good luck to you!
When preparing the material, the following sources were used: 1. Propaedeutics of childhood diseases: Textbook for pediatric faculties of medical universities / Compiled by: S.J. Bokonbaeva, T.D. Happy, H.M. Sushanlo, N.M. Aldasheva, G.P. Afanasenko. – Bishkek: Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University (KRSU), 2008. – 259 p. 2. A guide to natural feeding of children. St. Petersburg branch of the Interregional public association “Union of Pediatricians of Russia”. – 64 s.
