The topic of breastfeeding is one of the most important in the life of a mother and a newborn child, many prepare for this stage of life at the beginning of pregnancy. The most important questions of Woman’s Day were answered by Mikhail A. Budarin, Ph.D., Deputy. Chief Physician for Pediatrics, Pediatrician of the Clinical Hospital on Yauza
How to prepare yourself for breastfeeding?
First of all, the expectant mother should prepare psychologically: the focus on breastfeeding is important, because this is the best that you can give the baby after birth.
Before the baby is born, a woman should discuss with her pediatrician the issues of hygiene, feeding techniques, the importance of breastfeeding, as well as all sorts of individual characteristics. Ask your mother and grandmother how they went through the feeding process and be patient – not everyone can immediately attach the baby correctly, but after 2-3 weeks the process will definitely get better.
Do lactation enhancers help?
A sufficient amount of milk should appear 5-7 days after childbirth, its intake occurs daily and reaches a maximum by 3-4 months. To determine the need to increase lactation, it is necessary to focus on the baby’s milk needs. Other factors to consider are: Is the baby getting enough food?
In order to understand this, you need to track weight gain, duration of feeding and the interval between meals, as well as the fullness of diapers.
There can be many reasons for a decrease in lactation – stress, difficult childbirth, fatigue, maternal diseases and hormonal changes. After eliminating the existing problems, the milk flow can be increased. It is imperative to observe the water regime, and drink at least 2 liters of water per day.
With low lactation (hypogalactia), there is a need for stimulation, which includes massage of the mammary glands, prescribing medicines and adhering to a certain regimen – rest, good nutrition and sedative herbal preparations for the mother, lactogenic herbal remedies.
At the initial stage of the formation of lactation, frequent latching of the baby to the breast is recommended, which stimulates the production of hormones (oxytocin and prolactin) and increases milk production. The maximum milk secretion after feeding is observed for 2-4 hours. It should be borne in mind that the average duration of feeding should not exceed 40-60 minutes. The child receives the bulk of milk in the first 20-30 minutes of feeding, longer feeding durations indicate the presence of certain problems that require discussion with the pediatrician.
Do I need to express milk while breastfeeding?
There is an opinion that after feeding the baby, it is imperative to add milk to increase lactation.
With an excess amount of milk, it is necessary to decant the residues in order to enhance lactation, eliminate stagnation of milk in the ducts and avoid inflammatory processes in the gland, as well as create some milk reserves in order to feed the baby if necessary in the absence of the mother. But if you do not have a lack and excess of milk, then pumping is not necessary.
How many months should you breastfeed?
Feeding a baby only with breast milk is usually recommended until the age of six months, because after that milk does not completely cover the physiological needs for nutrients, and complementary foods must be introduced into the baby’s diet.
There are no specific guidelines for how long your baby is to feed, but many pediatricians recommend continuing to breastfeed for up to a year.
How to choose a breast pump and what features should you pay attention to?
If the mother is going to often leave the baby, goes to work, or if more milk is produced than needed, a breast pump should be used. The choice in each case is individual, since the goals that are priorities for a woman should be taken into account – comfort and ease of use, time saving, and physiological characteristics.
When choosing a manual breast pump, a piston pump should be preferred over a pump pump, they are considered ineffective. When choosing an electric one, choose one with multiple pumping modes, it saves time, so if you are going to use it daily, it is better to choose one.
All Philips Avent breast pumps feature unique paddle massage attachments that stimulate milk flow. You should stock up on freezer bags and containers in advance if you are going to make a breast milk bank. In special bags, in the freezer, milk can be stored for up to 6 months!
Do I need to supplement with water while breastfeeding?
After the child ceases to be considered a newborn (28 days), he should begin to supplement him with water. Contact your pediatrician and he will help you determine how much water is needed and when it should be supplemented.
Can my baby be fed expressed milk?
If a woman is faced with the choice between breastfeeding and using a bottle for feeding, the first option is of course recommended. Bottle feeding should only be resorted to if, for whatever reason, breastfeeding is not possible, since there is a high probability that the baby will give up breastfeeding in the future. Feeding from a bottle requires less effort and is likely to be difficult for your baby to give up later.
However, the process of getting used to the bottle is not easy for everyone. Therefore, we advise you to pay attention to Philips Avent Natural bottles. The slow flow teat follows the shape of the breast, which helps to combine bottle feeding with breastfeeding. The double valve prevents air from entering the baby’s tummy and reduces the risk of colic.
What nursing gadgets should you take with you to the hospital?
To avoid cracks and difficulties when applying, it is worth taking with you a special agent based on purlane, a pads for feeding. You can also take your breast pump with you right away to speed up milk production and avoid stagnation. Philips Avent has thermal pads in the line that stimulate milk flow and relieve pain.
You can also take care of the right pacifier right away to soothe your baby. For example, the Soothie one-piece silicone pacifiers are specially designed to support the natural development of gums and teeth.
At home, a baby monitor will be an indispensable assistant, which will allow you to react in a timely manner if the baby wakes up, and will give you the opportunity to calmly do other things without constantly worrying about the baby. The Philips Avent SCD506 baby monitor even has features to soothe your baby: a lullaby, dimmed soft light and voice transmission so that mom can calm her baby remotely if he tosses and turns in his sleep.