Breastfeeding; How to feed, Burping, how many times, benefits of Breastmilk and how to tackle common problems

BREASTFEEDING

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🔹 It is food of the baby 

🔹 Start BF within 1 hour of birth 

🔹 Exclusive BF till 6 month and continue till 2nd year of baby 

🔹 BF is beneficial to both mother and child 

 In short.... Breastfeeding is mother gift to her baby, herself and the universe 

🔴 Early sign of hunger

🔹 Crying is last sign

🔹 Moving eyes rapidly 

🔹 Putting finger in the mouth

🔹 Rooting means moving mouth towards touch 

🔹 Restless 

 In short...  Having crying baby means feed him quickly 

🔴 Position of mother for breastfeeding 

🔹 Use different positions if you are comfortable 

🔹 Use one breast at a time and then during next feeding on the other ones thus alternating them

🔹 When your baby wants more after feeding  one breast completely, offer next

🔹 You should be relaxed before and during breastfeeding 

❇️ Basic rules 

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🔹 Baby's head in line with the body

🔹Whole body is well supported

🔹 Baby's turned towards mother

🔹Baby's abdomen touches mother abdomen

 In short... Learn the proper way to get best

❇️ Types of positions 

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🔹 Cross cradle position 

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▪️Have mom sit up straight

▪️ Use pillow to raise baby to breast level

▪️ Hold the head & neck with the base of the hand , opposite the breast from which he is feeding

▪️ Rest of body is hold by forearm with his bottom hugged in near the crook of the arm

▪️ Use free hand to support breast in U shaped manner

🔹 Cradle position 

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keep the baby head at an angle of the elbow and rest of the body is supported by arm & hand. Baby lifted toward mother

rest is same

🔹 Side lying position

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▪️ The mother lie on side propping her head and shoulder with pillows 

▪️Infant is lying down facing mother 

 In short.... Once you're comfortable, you can experiment with different position 

❇️ Indicator of good positioning 

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🔹 Mouth wide open 

🔹 less aerola visible (black part just behind nipple of the mother) 

🔹 Nose free

🔹 Lower lip is turned outward

🔹 Baby's chin touches breast

🔹 Both are comfortable 

🔹 No pain to mother 

In short...  Breastfeeding isn't about only milk, it is also about love

🔴 Burping 

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🔹 Burping a baby should be continued through out 24 hours after BF

🔹 Burp the baby even he is sleeping 

🔹 Should be done for 5 to 10 minutes 

🔹May require longer time particularly in gaseous baby

 In short... Breastfeeding is the hardest but most rewarding thing you are doing 

🔳 Position 

🔹 Sit upright and hold baby against your chest. Your baby chin should be resting on your shoulder. With another hand, gently pat your baby's back. 

🔹 Lay the baby on your lap on his or her belly, support the head with one hand and gently pat with your hand.

 In short... Know the proper way for maximum benefit 

🔴 Indicator of successful feeding 

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🔹 Baby

▪️Urine adequate 

▪️ Weight gain

▪️ Audible and visible swallowing 

▪️ Go to sleep after feed

🔹 Mother

▪️ Breast softening 

▪️ Mother feel relaxed & sleep

 *In short...* Both are happy and satisfied 

🔴 Benefits of BF

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🔹 Baby

▪️ Boost immunity

▪️ Emotional development

▪️Intellectual development 

▪️Prevent chronic disease and allergies 

▪️Prevent sudden infant death syndrome 

🔹 Mother 

▪️ Birth spacing

▪️Prevent breast cancer 

▪️ Prevent Diabetes 

▪️ Gain normal figure

 In short...Breast Milk is love to yourself and your baby

🔴 How many times shall I breastfed babies

🔹 Depends upon baby

🔹 Usually 8 to 12 times till 6 month of baby 

🔹 Duration of one feed depends upon baby, usually 20 to 30 minutes

 *In short....* There is nothing better than time spent nourishing your baby

🔴 Contraindications of BF

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🔹 Infant

▪️galactosemia

▪️ Phenylketonuria

🔹 Mother 

▪️ HIV .. it depends 

▪️ Hepatitis B.... If vaccinations and immunoglobulin given then no need of stopping BF

▪️ Chemotherapy drugs

▪️Drugs... Avoid BF for 2 hours after intake 

In short... There is no such contraindications 

🔴 Common problem associated with breastfeeding

❇️ Breast engorgement 

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🔹 Commonly occurs in early period of baby's life

🔹 If baby is not feeding well in spite of good milk production than breast get full , becomes hard and painful 

🔹 Engorgement is usually temporary - eventually mother will produce less milk as per requirement of baby

🔹 How to ease engorgement 

▪️ Fitting bra that doesn't restrict breast

▪️Use hand expression technique to remove extra milk. Hot fomentation followed by gently massage in downward motion towards nipple 

️ Continue BF at least 8 to 12 times in a day. After feeding, place a cold cabbage leaves on the breast

▪️Always consult Dr for complications or any other cause and medicine

▪️ Don't give formula feed 

 *In short...* If you want best result, follow instructions along with medicine 

❇️ Nipple crack

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🔹 Common problem 

🔹 Due to poor feeding technique, baby with teeth, tongue tie or thrush or infection of nipple 

🔹 It causes pain leading to decrease production 

🔹 How to overcome sore nipples 

▪️Proper latching

Remember it is breastfeeding not nipple feeding 

▪️ Proper BF position as discussed 

▪️Help baby to unlatch 

Removing a baby from the breast without breaking the suction can cause a crack nipple. Wait till baby finish feeding or if you want to stop feeding in between, you can stop suction by pulling down baby's chin or by inserting finger into corner of baby's mouth 

▪️ Can use nipple shield 

▪️ Apply milk on sore nipple 

▪️ When you wash your breast, clean with warm water and avoid soap 

️Avoid bras that are too tight. Change bra whenever it gets wet. If you are using a breast pad and change it if it becomes wet. 

▪️Rinse the bra to remove excess detergent on it

▪️Treat baby's condition like thrush or tongue tie

▪️Don't stop BF from sore nipple side

▪️ Consult Dr to rule out infection, other causes and of course medicines

 *In short...* Following instructions is key in the treatment along with medicines

❇️ Working mother 

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🔹 Continue your maternity leave as long as possible if possible till 6 month of baby age

🔹 Learn how to express breast milk by hand or Pump

🔹 Use clean plastic container with tight lid for collection of expressed breast milk 

🔹 BF baby before going to work from one breast and collect milk from other breast 

🔹 Store at room temperature for 2 to 6hour or refrigerator for 1 day

🔹 Feed store milk if baby is hungry by wati and spoon

🔹 If possible, come back during lunch break for BF or send express milk again

🔹 If not possible, give formula milk by wati and spoon

🔹BF baby again as soon as you come back 

🔹 Continue BF for rest of the day. 

🔹 No top formula milk on holidays 

🔹 If baby's age is more than 6 month,  start weaning during working hours 

🔹Avoid taking baby with you at working place 

 Show this quote to all family members.... Being a working mom means that you are always disappointing someone. Please support all nursing mothers. 

❇️ My milk output is less

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Whenever a baby cries continuously, you might feel inadequate breast milk. 

🔹 First prove it

▪️ Baby urine adequate 

▪️ Weight gain adequate

It means that you had wrong perception and consult paediatrician for other causes of crying 

🔳 Causes of low milk output 

🔹 Mother

▪️Physical health issues 

▪️Mental health issues 

▪️Poor diet

▪️Lack of sleep 

▪️Working woman 

▪️Oral contraceptive 

▪️Pregnancy 

▪️Addiction 

▪️Caffeine 

▪️Medicine  (always consult doctor before taking any medicine) 

▪️ Nipple shield 

🔹 Baby 

▪️Illness of baby 

▪️ Intermittent bottle feeding 

▪️ Pacifier 

 Remember.. You are not only one who is suffering from this problem 

❇️ What to do? 

▪️ Treat the cause

▪️ Positive thoughts 

▪️ Nurse often when you are with baby

▪️ Take nursing vacation 

No work, only feeding the baby for 3 to 5 days

▪️ Stay at maternal side

▪️ Drink lot of water

▪️ Proper diet

▪️ Drugs to increase breast milk 

As no specific drugs are available, still consult a doctor.

 In short... Breastfeeding is 90% determination and 10% milk production 

❇️ Diet of mother

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🔹 Breastfeeding requires extra calories almost 500 calories extra per day

🔹 Come to your normal diet once you start weaning after 6 month of age

🔹 Eat one and half times what you eat daily in early period of breastfeeding 

🔹 Eat home made food and try to include all types of food like whole grains, vegetable, fruits, dairy products.

🔹Avoid packed food, Chinese and bakery food

🔹 You can eat home made non vegetarian food also 

🔹 The color and flavor of food in your diet will appear in breastmilk. Don't worry if your baby is comfortable. 

🔹 Drink plenty of water 

🔹 If your baby is facing allergies, avoid cow milk, wheat, egg. Less common food which causes allergies are fish, nuts, corn and peanuts. 

🔹 Avoid alcohol, smoking and caffeine.

 In short... Proper food in lactating mother is fuel not therapy which you can skip

🙏🏻🙏🏻 If you like this blog, share with other mothers and friends

Remember..... Gaining knowledge is first step to wisdom and sharing it is first step to humanity 

Dr Ashish Agrawal, Paediatrician and expert in child behavior, education and developmental problems.

Ph: 8888126037, 7057551985

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