How to do Breast Feeding correctly

Is it important to feed your baby with breast milk? What do you think? 

Do you know about the ingredients of your breast milk? 

Do you know about the advantages of breast feeding other than providing nutrition to your baby? 

Breast feeding is the most nutritious most convenient food for your baby. It has many advantages towards the baby as well as to the mother. This area is very much important if you want to provide a good health and good weight to your baby and to develop a good mother and baby attachment. There may be many reasons that mothers are not in a position to start breast feeding or continue breast feeding. It is strictly advised to give breast feeding at least for the first 6 months fully. We name this as exclusive breast milk. 

Properties and component of breast milk

Breast milk is watery and bluish white in colour. When considering to the colustrum, which is the milk comes during the first few days after the delivery, is yellowish in colour and high in antibodies which will be helpful to develop a better immunity to the baby.

Breast milk contains

• —  Fat
• —  Lactose
• —  Protein
• —  Fat soluble vitamins
• —  Water soluble vitamins
• —  Minerals and trace elements
• —  Anti-infective factors – leukocytes, immunoglobulin

Management of breast feeding

Management of breast feeding should start during the pregnancy period before the delivery. This is the best time for the mother to concentrate. She should know when to commence the breast feeding. It should be started after the delivery as soon as possible. Baby will develop sucking reflex at birth and once the baby contact with the mother’s nipple, baby will hold it and start sucking.

Preparation and maintain the proper position of the mother and baby is very important to have effective breast feeding. When considering to the preparation of the mother, mother should be mentally relaxed and physically rest before starting breast feeding. Mother’s bladder should be empty, hands should be washed and nipple should be cleansed. Baby should wear a clean and dry diaper. 

Benefits of breast feeding to the mother

• —  Decrease chance of developing breast cancers
• —  The incidence of thrombophlebitis is lower
• —  Uterine involution is more rapid
• —  Contraceptive effect for a shorter period

Benefits to the baby

• —  Easy digestion
• —  Antibody protection
• —  Decrease in respiratory infections
• —  Allergic disorders are less common
• —  Weight gain is high, obesity less common
• —  Establish healthy mother-baby relationship
• —  Readily available for the baby at right temperature 

 References: 
Monga, A., 2011, ‘Gynaecology by Ten teachers’, Book Powers, 19^th edn

To be Cont'd.