Start of breastfeeding
During pregnancy, your body will prepare for feeding the baby, no doubt, this natural way will give the child the best start in life.
Breastfeeding is a skill that you must learn in the same way as riding a bicycle or driving a car, and it's easier to give one than the other. However, mothers, who first experience minor difficulties, usually find that they are easily overcome by patience and tranquility. If necessary, seek medical advice.
THE FIRST TWO DAYS
If only you did not have difficulty in childbirth, like Caesarean section, you can usually breastfeed your baby very soon after his birth. Many children take their breasts immediately and begin to happily suck it without any problems. However, some are not at all ready for this, for example, if the birth was difficult or the baby was born prematurely. In this case, you can fondle the and to stroke the baby until you understand what it is ready to eat.
At first, children can not stand a 6-8-hour gap between feedings. Do not worry that a child does not get enough food, in the early days it does not take much.
DEVELOPMENT OF BREAST MILK
Understanding the milk production process will help you to successfully breastfeed. Each of your breasts consists of 15-20 branches, called lobes. Each share is divided into segments. They contain alveoli, grape cluster of cells, which produce and store breast milk. From the alveoli milk is fed through the milk ducts, which expand under the areola( dark area around the nipple), forming the sinuses that feed milk through 15-20 holes in the nipple.
When a child sucks, nerve endings in the nipple and areola are stimulated, and they send signals to the brain to produce two hormones, oxy-tocin and prolactin. Oxytocin provides
milk flow, a process known as reflex supply. Prolactin stimulates further production of milk in the alveoli, which means that milk is produced on the basis of "supply-demand": the more a child consumes it, the more milk is produced.
Reflex supply
When oxytocin enters the blood vessels of the chest, it causes the alveoli to contract and squeeze milk through the milky ways into the mammary sinuses and then through the nipple to the outside.
Some women feel the named reflex of the approach( also called "reflex milk squeezing") as a sharp, needle-like feeling in the chest, milk rushes to the holes. Other women simply feel a tingling sensation or a warm sensation, and the milk begins to drip. The approach reflex can work in response to a child's crying or during sex. Other women who are breastfeeding have never felt the reflex of the approach, but this does not mean that it does not work.
If you find that milk flows from the breasts, when it's time to feed, or when your baby starts to cry, it is helpful to wear the breast pads by inserting them into the bra. If the milk flows, when you are not ready to feed, try pressing the nipples hard with the knuckles or the back of your hands to reduce the flow of milk.
CHANGES OF BREAST MILK
Unlike the milk formula, the nutritional composition of breast milk varies, both during feeding and over time. Due to this, it contains all the necessary nutrients and water for the baby at least during the first 4-6 months of life.
Colostrum
The first food a child receives from the mother's breast is colostrum. It is produced on the last days of pregnancy as a reaction to the hormones estrogen and progesterone. It is a viscous golden-yellow substance that appears within 2-3 days. Although colostrum is small, it is a unique and valuable nutrient for the baby. It contains more protein than mature breast milk, as well as all the minerals, fats and vitamins that the baby needs in the first days of life. Colostrum is rich in antibodies that help protect the baby from infections and create a strong immune system. Colostrum works as a laxative, removing meconium( the first dark green stool) from the baby's intestines. Even if you are not going to breastfeed for a long time, in the first days it makes sense to feed your child with valuable colostrum.
Transient and mature breast milk
After two or three days, the colostrum gradually turns into transitional milk. You may notice this change as a feeling of fullness of the chest. There will be a feeling that "milk comes", regardless of whether you feed the baby or not. Transient milk, which is colder and whiter than colostrum, is a mixture of colostrum and mature milk.
After two or three weeks, mature breast milk will begin to appear. First it will have a watery, almost blue look and will change its color to white when the fat content rises.
Premol and post-milk
The change in the appearance of mature breast milk reflects the fact that it consists of two types: premolochka and post-milk. The premature milk is produced when you start feeding your baby. It looks inviscid and watery, because it is poor in calories and fat and quenches the thirst of the baby before he starts to eat.
As the baby continues to suck, the reflex of the approach is triggered and postmilk appears. It is rich in fat, energy and nutrients, and although it is less than pre-milk, it satisfies the child's hunger and increases its energy potential. The approach time of post-milk can vary on different days. Sometimes it takes half a minute, sometimes several minutes. You can be sure that the
child has received enough post-milking by the way he grabs his chest and how he drains the first before moving on to the second.
PROVIDING GOOD MILK PROCESSING
Breastmilk production is stimulated by hormone prolactin, responsible for touching the baby's mouth with the baby's mouth. Therefore, when you feed your child, in your opinion, hungry, you naturally produce as much milk as you need.
Some women are concerned that they do not produce enough milk, and try to create a reserve, limiting the time of feeding the baby. However, this approach may have the opposite effect, since it reduces the supply of milk. If you are worried that your baby seems hungry after feeding, the solution may be more frequent feeding, and make sure that each time he consumes a sufficient amount of milk.
HOW TO AVOID
PROBLEMS In the early days, there is usually nipple inflammation and coarsening of the mammary glands, so try not to let the painful phenomena develop during feeding. Feeding on demand will help if you take the right position( other less common problems are outlined on page 357).
Inflammation of the nipple
Many women, starting to feed, experience pain in the chest, accompanied by painful or burning pain. In most cases, you can get rid of soreness by changing the position during feeding, perhaps, it should be changed with each feeding. You can also make several attempts to teach the child to take the nipple correctly. If you want to change the position, remember to stop sucking, you need to put your finger in your mouth before you take away the chest, as tearing the baby from the nipple will intensify the painful sensations.
Take care also of nipple care. Soreness can cause very wet or very dry skin, so do not wear a bra for several minutes after feeding to allow air to affect the skin;The bra must necessarily be made of natural fiber, such as cotton, which will allow the nipples to "breathe".Rubbing a small amount of breast milk into the nipples after feeding or applying to
To give your child enough nutrients, try to eat the same food you ate during pregnancy, making sure that it contains enough protein and calcium.
Your energy level during feeding should be higher than during pregnancy. You will need an additional 500 calories a day compared to what you were consuming before pregnancy.
You may feel more thirsty than usual, so drink water more often. However, do not force yourself to drink in large quantities.
Try to drink as little as possible caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Everything that you eat and drink will go to your child through milk.
Monitor the child's reaction. If the food you usually eat disrupts the child's digestion, it's likely that he just does not like it. Try to replace it for a week with another meal of a similar nutritional value.
Successful breastfeeding
Before you feed your baby, regardless of whether you are at home or in a hospital, try to create a more relaxed atmosphere in order to relax as much as possible. If necessary, disconnect the phone and hang on the door of the ad so that you are not disturbed. Shortly before feeding, drink water to maintain the balance of fluid in the body.
A convenient position for feeding can be the key to its success, so try a few to see which is better. In general, most women are fed sitting on a chair, often with raised legs and a pillow on their knees, but under certain circumstances, other circumstances can be accommodated. The lying position on the side( 1) can be used if you are tired or inconvenient to sit( for example, after an episiotomy).Make sure you have enough cushions to support. Put the child face to itself so that his mouth is on the same line with your breast, and the hand supported his head. If you had a cesarean section or if the child is wriggling or arching the backrest( 2), bend your knees and lean your back against the pillow. Put the baby on your knees, if necessary, lift it with a pillow. Maintain the head with your hand.
Regardless of the chosen position, the entire body of the child should be close to you, the chest near your chest, facing your chest. You should be able to easily bring the baby to the chest.
The child's mouth should fit snugly against most of the alveoli. If there is no such "capture", the child will chew or suck the nipple, which can lead, for example, to the soreness of the nipple.
Some women are at first difficult to get a baby to grasp the nipple correctly. But this skill requires some practice, patience and a few days of time.
Position of the child
Before feeding, make sure that you and the baby are comfortable. If you are sitting upright, you can support the head and shoulders of the baby with your forearm or hold them with your free hand. The head of the child should be at the same level as the nipple, and the child can easily reach it. Alternative provisions are described in the sidebar.
You may find it helpful to press your chest( 3) or support it by placing your fingers on the ribs under your chest. Try not to use two fingers around the nipple as a "scissors grip", so you will not give the child the opportunity to eat properly. There is no need to squeeze the chest from the baby's nose to let it breathe, because the child's expanded nostrils allow him to eat and breathe at the same time.
The child begins to instinctively suck. As soon as he senses the mother's breast on his cheek, you can also rub the baby's lips against the nipple to trigger a radicular reflex. When the child
opens his mouth wide, quickly bring it to his chest.
Check that the baby takes the chest The child should have as much of the breast as possible in the mouth. If he is in the correct position( 4), his entire mouth will be filled with breast, including the nipple and a significant portion of the areola, and the lower lip will turn back. The muscles of the jaw will work rhythmically, almost to the ears. If your child's cheeks are sunken when he sucks, this means that he took the breast wrong. In this case, change the position of the baby and try again. You can stop sucking by placing your little finger ( 5) in the corner of the child's mouth.
If necessary, change the chest The sucking pattern in a child during feeding can change from short sucking movements to long bursts with pauses. The child will let you know when the chest is empty, starting to play with it, falling asleep or transferring the nipple to the
corner of the mouth. Then you can offer him another breast.
When you need to take the baby from the chest, stop sucking by placing a finger in the mouth of the baby
( as mentioned above).Do not worry if the baby refuses the second breast, but next time start with it. It is important that the child empties one breast before you offer him another, since the remaining milk that he receives from her is a calorie post-milk.
it with cold moist tea bags can also reduce pain.
If at some point the nipples turn red, start burning or you feel a shooting pain in your chest, consult your doctor. Perhaps you have an infection, such as thrush.
Coarsening of the mammary gland
A few days after birth, when the milk comes, the breasts of many women begin to swell, creating a feeling of swelling, hardening and soreness due to the accumulation of blood and milk. In this case, breastfeeding becomes a difficult, sometimes painful process. Frequent feeding( eight or more times a day) can help avoid coarsening of the mammary glands, but if your breasts are really full, try to squeeze a little milk before feeding. It can also help if before feeding you put a rag soaked in warm water on the areola, and after feeding put a cold compress on your chest. Some women relieve the pain with cold cabbage leaves: rinse the outer leaves of cabbage with water and put them on the chest for 10-20 minutes. Another solution is breast massage.
COMBINED FEEDING: BREAST AND BOTTLE
There are various life situations( for example, you decide to return to work) when you want to give breastmilk to a child from a bottle or alternate breastfeeding with a milky mixture. Try to avoid this as much as possible in the early days, as the child will probably need some time to move from breast to bottle, as the sucking action will be different. But once you establish an acceptable mode for you, try to express the milk. If a child at first reluctantly eats from a bottle, it will probably be easier if you ask someone else to feed the baby, and leave the room yourself. As an option, try feeding the baby from a pipette or a spoon.
If you want to stop breastfeeding altogether, it is better to do it gradually, alternating breast milk with a milky mixture in a bottle. Not only will the child take time to learn how to eat from a bottle, but also to your body, too - to rebuild. If you abruptly stop breastfeeding, there is a chance that you will have problems with the breast, such as coarsening.
how to express breast milk
Sometimes you need to express breast milk, for example, if it is your husband's turn to feed the baby or you need to leave for a while. You can express the milk with your hands or with the help of a breast pump.
Milk should be expressed directly into a sterile bottle, a sterilized plastic container or a freezer for breast milk. Expressed milk can be stored in the refrigerator for a day or freeze and used for three months.
To express the milk by hand( 1), stimulate the flow of milk by hand, making the squeezing movements from the top of the chest to the areola. Then place your thumbs over the areola, the remaining fingers under the breast and begin to rhythmically compress the lower part of the chest, pushing against the sternum.
Many women believe that a mechanical or electric breast pump works faster, more efficiently and is easier to use than to express milk by hand. So, using a piston-type breast pump, you simply put the funnel on the nipple, press it tightly( 2) and move the cylinder back and forth. These movements will suck the milk. You should try several breast pumps to find the one that suits you, so ask if you can rent the device before purchasing.