Photo by Sarah Pflug from Burst
Breastfeeding or nursing is directly feeding of milk from the breast. Many medical experts suggests that breastfeeding is compulsion for six months. After introducing other foods also breastfeeding is needed for one to two years depends on mother's staminal matter.
Time of breastfeeding
Depends on baby age and requirement breastfeeding timings may vary. It will change as the baby grows. New born's want to be fed every two to three hours. After two months feeding may be extended 2to3 hours and by the baby is 6 months feeding may be limited to every 4 to 5hours.
Benefits of breastfeeding to the baby
Breastfeeding provides ideal nutrition for infants. It is a perfect mix of vitamins,proteins and fats. It helps to baby's growth and development. It is easily digestable. Breastfeeding contains antibodies that help babies to fight against viruses and bacterias.
Breastfeeding also increases IQ of baby. It creates strong bond between mother and baby. In infant stage breastfeeding helps to increasing the weight of a baby. AAP says breastfeeding plays a important role in prevention of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
Benefits to mother
It helps to lose pregnancy weight because it burns extra calories. It releases harmone called oxytocin which helps to normalization of uterus size. It lowers the risks of breast and ovarian cancer.
Common challenges of breastfeeding
Improving breast milk
Every new mother is worried about the availability of enough breast milk. If maximum milk is available than baby grows healthly. But there are some reasons for less milk avaliability it may be
- Excessive blood loss more than 500ml during the birth or retained fragments of the placenta.
- Diabities, thyroid or other harmonial disorders.
- Emotional factors- anxiety, stress etc.
- Previous breast Surgeries.
- Smoking and alchoal consumption.
Tips to improve breast milk
- Pumping of breasts between feeding.
- Using both the breasts regularly for feeding Instood of using any one particularly.
- Consumption of Lactation cookies like whole oats, wheat gram, flaxseed meal etc.
- Using garlic, ginger, fenugreek, feral and other herbs.
Weaning
It is a critical process to both mother and child. How breastfeeding create strong bond between mother and baby but it is same as inverse of the above.
Weaning may be natural (child -led).Baby who are weaned naturally like stop breastfeeding usually 2to 4years of age. In case mother- led weaning mother decides to stop breast feeding. At the time of weaning mother should take care of baby because sometimes baby may go to depression. It happens when mother suddenly stop breastfeeding.
Tips
- Reduce the frequency of breast feeding slowly.In my experience it's better to stop breastfeeding in the day time then gradually stop in night time.
- Before weaning baby should be practiced to eat other foods.
After weaning some mother's feel breast pain for several days but it will reduce gradually, if not should take consultation of gynaecologist or lactation expert. After weaning mother's should follow
- Take a warm bath
- Apply cold pack
- Increase fluid intake
- Drink sage tea
- Place cabbage leaves on your breast.
Here are some of the products that will help you with breastfeeding.
Arpitha SV did her post graduation in Masters of Commerce. She is working as a faculty in the department of commerce and management. She has published many articles in her regional language
(Kannada).
She can be contacted at arpithasv87@gmail.com and can be found on facebook with username - Arpita Sarish.
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mom Store.
