Dos and Don’ts of Breastfeeding
Mother’s health program.
The program must be comprehensive enough to ensure that the mother remains healthy throughout her pregnancy until she is able to breastfeed the baby. After all, it takes a healthy mother to feed a healthy baby. An effective health program for the mother consists of, among other things, a proper diet, sufficient exercise, and staying away from pollutants or an unhealthy environment. First of all, this may not be a concern for mothers who do not have health problems. But if the mother has a history of health problems in the past, or if she has been accustomed to a carefree lifestyle in which, for example, the intake of fatty and cholesterol-rich foods, alcohol or nicotine has been excessive or uncontrolled , it is necessary for her to take steps to ensure that she puts herself back in the rose of health.
breastfeeding instructions
Specific tasks must be carried out during the first six months of lactation. The flow of breast milk does not normally stabilize until two to three days after delivery, especially for mothers giving birth for the first time. During this pause, the baby can be fed a mixture of milk (about two thirds), water (about one third), light porridge and sugar.
The baby should be given a full ration of breast milk as soon as his supply is stable. Mothers need to be aware of how often their babies need to breastfeed. The first ten days of the baby’s total dependence on breast milk requires paying close attention to how the baby reacts to each feeding. Both underfeeding and overfeeding can have dire consequences for the baby. A baby’s stomach is thin and delicate, but it is not used to the digestion process, and it is likely to stimulate feedback from the baby’s brain in a number of ways. The way in which the baby communicates and makes himself understood by the mother is, therefore, crucial for both of them to be able to direct the breastfeeding program.
After a week to ten days, a three to four hour feeding interval is generally recommended. This must be done day and night. A practical schedule for both mother and child with regard to night feedings is to set them at 10:00 PM and 5:00 the next morning. It is not good to leave the baby sucking on the nipple until both mother and baby are asleep. This can only further deprive them of more time to sleep; after all, sleep is something they often lack. Structured rest allows enough time for proper digestion to occur and thus stabilize the baby’s bowel movements. It makes babies less irritable and moody, which is why they are often shown crying.
The breastfeeding program should be applied consistently until the baby is six months after birth. It is even advisable to continue with this program beyond this period, or until the time of weaning the baby, as long as the mother remains healthy and can continue to produce breast milk at the same level of quantity and quality.
breast compression
Breast compression is helpful when breastfeeding runs into problems. If you are the nursing mother, this is how you can apply it.
1. Hold the baby with one arm, cup your breast with the other arm. Place your thumb on the breast while your other fingers lightly press down on the breast, two to three inches from your nipple.
2. You don’t need to be alert all the time, but you still need to keep a close eye on breastfeeding. Guide the baby so that she can quickly get used to an open-pause type of feeding; this will allow you to drink more volume of milk. When the baby starts to nibble or stops drinking, she compresses her breast firmly but not too hard. The compression of the breasts causes the milk to flow and the baby will probably start suckling again.
Keep pressing on your breast until your baby stops responding to compression. If your baby doesn’t come off your breast even after you’ve released the pressure, pause for a few seconds and then start pushing again. Releasing the pressure allows you to rest your hand; it also encourages your milk to flow back into the baby’s mouth. If your baby stops sucking when he releases pressure on your breast, he will probably start sucking again the moment he feels the milk. If the baby cannot drink enough milk, try re-compressing your breast.
3. Continue compression feeding until your baby stops drinking. Pause until your baby starts drinking again, without prompting. If you can feel that your baby has stopped drinking, let him loose or just remove him from her breast.
4. See if your baby still wants to eat. If she does, offer her milk from the other breast. Follow the same procedure as she did earlier with the other side. She can repeat the change from one breast to the other several times unless her nipples are sore. Help your baby improve her grip.
lactation pitfalls
One of the most common mistakes that nursing mothers make, particularly those who are inexperienced, is to feed their babies whenever they cry or show signs of discomfort, thinking that they are hungry. This can lead to overfeeding. This is neither necessary nor recommended. When overfeeding occurs, the digestion process can be disrupted causing, among other things, loose bowel movements, more fussiness on the part of the baby, and even a fever.
Also, there have been cases where mothers just can’t get rid of unhealthy habits or traditions. Inadequate information on the part of nursing mothers is often to blame, sometimes leading to further health problems. A misconception is to eat as much food as the mother can in the belief that this will fully support the milk-producing capacity of her mammary glands. While input often equals output, it doesn’t necessarily mean that gaining weight equals better health. Because that’s what overeating is all about: gaining weight. The breasts may supply enough milk, but the mother’s overall health may be compromised.
Another pitfall that often plagues young mothers who are breastfeeding for the first time is drinking a dark, sweet beer called porter. The practice is based on the tradition in which many mothers have been taught that porter increases their milk supply and helps maintain their perfect physical health. Without medical approval on a case-by-case basis, this practice poses a threat to the mother. There have been cases where taking porter, particularly in large quantities and on a regular basis, has instead caused loss of the mother’s milk supply and induced soft stools in the baby. Mothers may also experience headache, thirst, hot skin, drowsiness, and fever.