ADVANTAGES OF BREAST MILK AND BREASTFEEDING

The composition of the mother's breast milk is incomparable with any other milk or its substitute:

• Colostrum, or early milk, contains very valuable protective substances (immune antibodies) that provide a child with immunity for up to six months to those infectious diseases that his mother has had;
• Milk from the third day contains the correct balance of nutrients needed by the baby;
• Mother's milk is always sterile and at the optimum temperature and is easily digested;
• Breastfed babies are less likely to experience respiratory and intestinal infections, as well as allergic reactions.

Breastfeeding is good for the mother herself. Frequent breastfeeding - prevention of mastitis and uterine inflammation. Lactating women are less likely to develop malignant tumors of the breast and ovaries.

KEY RULES FOR FITTING A CHILD TO THE BREAST

It is very important that the baby is properly attached to the breast.

To do this, the mother should bring the baby to her breast and wait until the baby opens her mouth wide.

The baby's lower lip should be under the nipple, and the chin should touch the breast.

In this case, it is necessary to monitor the position of the baby's mouth in relation to the breast:

• the child's mouth should have a large part of the areola (2-5 cm areola);
• the baby's chin is pressed against the chest;
• the lower lip is turned outward and applied further from the base of the nipple than the upper lip;

With the correct feeding technique, the mother should not feel soreness or pulling on the nipple. If pain is felt during sucking, then the baby took the breast superficially, that is, only the nipple. In this case, interrupt the feeding and repeat the attachment to the breast so that the baby grabs the nipple and part of the areola.

EVERY WOMAN CAN SUCCESSFULLY BREASTFEED YOUR BABY, REGARDLESS OF THE SHAPE AND SIZE OF NIPPLES

After childbirth, the nipple and areola have the ability to stretch, which greatly facilitates attachment to the breast.

It is best to start breastfeeding in the first hours of a child's life (with the exception of medical contraindications). There is never a lot of colostrum in the breast, it optimally meets the needs of the newborn and gives the baby the first immune defense.

During feeding:

• the mother needs to get as comfortable as possible: (you can feed while lying or sitting), you do not need to move yourself or move the breast closer to the baby;
• the child's head and torso should be in a straight line, and the torso should be close to the mother's body;
• in the first days after the birth of the mother, it is necessary to support the entire body of the child, not just the shoulders and head;
• nipples or pacifiers should not be given to the baby — this will cause "nipple confusion" and may lead to breastfeeding.

FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF FEEDING

Frequent feeding (up to 20 times a day) is necessary for a child, because his stomach is small, and he cannot absorb a large amount of milk at once. In addition to receiving nutrition, the baby has a psychological need to suckle the breast (the feeling of closeness of the mother makes him feel safe). Frequent feeding (at the request of the baby) stimulates milk production. The number and duration of feedings will vary and by 4-6 weeks of age the baby will develop its own feeding schedule.

Duration of feeding is not critical. It depends on the nature of the child: 15 minutes is enough for one, a little more for another. After feeding, you need to try to make the baby vomit the swallowed air. To do this, you need to support the child in an upright position, leaning forward slightly and gently stroking and patting him on the back.

For one feeding, the baby should be offered one breast, and the next feeding should start from the breast that was not fed. This type of feeding does not require expression of milk from the breast, as the baby itself regulates the amount of milk produced. Sometimes when you feel full in your breasts, you can express a small amount of milk to feel comfortable.

BREAST HYGIENE

Wash your breasts once a day during a hygienic shower. Then, before each feeding, a few drops of milk are expressed and the nipple and areola are lubricated. After feeding, it is necessary to again express a few drops of milk and re-lubricate the nipple.with areola, it is advisable to leave the breast open for 15-20 minutes. It is not advisable to use ointments to treat the nipples, as this "interrupts" the smell that the child is used to during intrauterine life (the areola skin and amniotic fluid have an identical smell). In exceptional cases, ointments are used as directed by a doctor.

REMEMBER!

BREASTFEEDING IS THE KEY TO YOUR AND YOUR BABY'S HEALTH!