Breastfeeding is an integral part of a new mom’s routine. The milk produced 48 hours after the delivery is called “colostrum,” also known as the pre-milk liquid. It is high in minerals and nutrients, which help the newborn strengthen its immune system.
Breast milk is highly recommended for the healthy growth of the child. If you cannot produce enough milk and the baby is hungry most of the time, it is best to start with formula milk, but don’t give up on breastfeeding altogether, as with time and constant sucking, you will be producing enough milk. Also, try to alter your diet and eat food rich in iron and calcium.
Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms
Few moms are struggling with the problem of producing excess milk. In this case, the baby is content, but the mom will suffer from the heaviness and soreness of the breast. To fix this problem, pump out excess milk between feeds and freeze it. You can use it within 24 hours after thawing in warm water, don’t microwave it. You can also use hot compresses to ease out the pain and the tenderness.
If you have the problem of an inverted nipple, then it is a big challenge to breastfeed the baby. In this case, with the help of external aid, your doctor or midwife will softly pull out the nipple.
Some new moms also suffer from mastitis. It is a bacterial infection caused due to unhygienic conditions. This causes redness and severe pain in one breast and also high fever. One must treat it, or it will cause an abscess. Your doctor will prescribe a few oral antibiotics, and you would be told to use a hot compress to relieve you of the throbbing pain and wear cotton feeding nighties with side zip at night for comfortable breastfeeding.
Few moms also suffer from blocked milk ducts which can be treated by feeding your baby at regular intervals and gently massage your breast with warm baby oil.
Breastfeeding helps you form a bond with your baby. Make sure you feed your baby a minimum of 16 months. It is beneficial for your baby and your health as breastfeeding will help keep ovarian and cancer at bay. You might feel like giving up as breastfeeding is painful initially, but just stick to it, and it will become a part of your routine. Also, breastfeed your baby after 2-3 hours or as soon as she wakes from a deep slumber.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mothers
Undoubtedly breastfeeding is cheaper and easier than bottle feeding because there’s nothing to buy, measure, pour, heat, or sterilize. Remember that your baby sucking is beneficial for you because it stimulates your uterus to contract and return to its pre-pregnant size sooner. Since you burn more calories while nursing, it becomes easier to lose weight without dieting to regain shape sooner. Moreover, the extra fat deposited over a woman’s body during her pregnancy gets utilized during the early months of her pregnancy.
Moreover, breastfeeding decreases the chances of the development of various cancers in the body. Mind it that the woman’s risk of getting breast cancer gets proportionately reduced by the length of the time she breastfeeds. It means the longer you nurse, the better protection you have. Women also notice a decrease in cervical and ovarian cancer when they breastfeed.
The emotional advantages of breastfeeding include more intimate contact between you and your baby. It also increases the feeling of satisfaction plus a sense of fulfillment in you when you nurse your baby. In addition, the hormone prolactin, which causes the secretion of milk, helps you feel motherly. It also has a soothing and tranquilizing effect on your body. Every time you nurse your baby, the process calms and relaxes you tremendously. Breastfeeding also helps you to cope with stressful situations too. Researches show that cortisol, a stress hormone released in a woman’s body, gets suppressed in her lactating period.
Traveling also becomes easier for breastfed babies, both for mothers as well as their babies. You need not have to worry about packing anything, any supply, or warm bottles, and it frees you from the worry of the milk solution getting soured without refrigeration. So, you can easily enjoy it.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Child
There is no denying that a mother’s milk is the best milk for the overall development of a child. Breast milk is a unique nutritional source that any other food can never replace, including infant formula. According to various reports, a breastfed child turns out to be much healthier and disease-free as mother’s milk shields the baby from various diseases like respiratory problems, allergies, leukemia, and ear infection, amongst others.
In addition, it also strengthens the child’s immune system and helps in the overall health and development of the child. Most importantly, breastfeeding a child develops a strong physical and emotional relationship and union between the baby and the mother, a unique and everlasting relationship.
Breast milk is more digestible than formula as it is a known fact that cow’s milk contains about two times more protein than human milk. However, the baby’s body doesn’t need such a large amount of protein, and thus it causes digestion-related problems. According to research, breastfed children are less likely to develop respiratory and food-related allergies later in their lives. In addition, breastfeeding in infancy can protect your child from diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
If you want your baby to turn out to be a smart and intelligent child, then you should breastfeed him in his infancy as, according to studies, breast milk enhances the brain development and cognitive development of a child. In short, mother’s milk is the best milk for any child as it provides lifetime shielding and protection from various diseases.
Conclusion:-
While a mother’s milk has a preventive and healing influence on the child, it is not one-way traffic as even mothers benefit from breastfeeding their babies. According to studies, breastfeeding helps decrease the mother’s risk of developing ovarian cancer and reduces weight. Thus, one should always opt for breastfeeding a child to lay the perfect foundation for his future development.
