Proper feeding of newborns with breast milk and formula. Basic and main rules for breastfeeding an infant I breastfeed

The birth of a child is the beginning of a wonderful, but also the most difficult period of life for a family. We have to resolve many issues, some of which appear even before birth. But perhaps the most important problem is nutrition. What to feed - breast or formula? Modern doctors recommend breastfeeding. But how to breastfeed a newborn correctly and until what age should it be done? Should we rely on Mother Nature, who, as they believe, will not allow us to make mistakes, or is it better to learn from those who understand the problem?

Ideal time to start breastfeeding according to WHO experts - immediately after birth. Putting a baby to the breast in the first hour of his life helps both the baby adapt to a sudden change in his “living environment” and the mother to more easily endure the process of childbirth. The production of oxytocin during sucking helps the uterus contract faster, resulting in atonic bleeding (the worst complication of the early postpartum period) being prevented. There is a lot of research showing the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby - from reducing the risk of childhood infections to preventing obesity and even increasing IQ.

Should you wash your breasts before breastfeeding?

In the recent past, washing the mammary glands with soap before feeding was considered absolutely necessary. It was even recommended to treat them with antiseptics, which was supposed to prevent gastrointestinal infections in the baby, which he could allegedly contract from dirty breast skin.

WHO recommendations in recent years have clearly stated that frequent washing of the mammary glands leads to the destruction of the protective water-fat layer of the skin. The result of this is a decrease in local immunity and an increase in the risk of skin infections. It is enough to take water procedures just once or twice a day without getting attached to feeding. You don’t move around on the ground with your bare chest, so why wash it all the time?

As part of food hygiene, hand washing should not be forgotten. Here everything is different - every time after visiting the toilet, changing a diaper and washing the baby, you should thoroughly wash your hands with some kind of detergent (even for dishes, although regular toilet soap is best). Here, too, you should not fanatically strive for absolute sterility - you are not planning to perform an operation. Just wash your hands and just give your baby the breast.

I have a small papilloma on my nipple, can I breastfeed my baby?

It all depends on the size, position and condition of the papilloma. If feeding causes pain or bleeding is noted during sucking, the growth should be removed using one of the safe methods (laser, electrocoagulation, cryocoagulation). It is unlikely that your child will become infected with the papilloma virus, but if this tumor bothers you, consult a doctor and together think through treatment tactics. It is impossible to give a single piece of advice here; it all depends on the specific situation.

What positions are there for breastfeeding?

Even doctors sometimes ignore the important issue of breastfeeding positions, getting off with the line “the main thing is that you are comfortable.” This is not a completely correct approach, although there are no clear recommendations, as in sports, such as “heels together, toes apart.”

Of course, for the first time, a woman exhausted by childbirth may attach the baby incorrectly, but later they should explain to her how to breastfeed correctly. So the rules are:

The baby's head and his body, regardless of your position, should be on the same line. He will not be able to suckle if his head is twisted, bent or wobbling left and right. Don't believe me? Turn your head to the side and try to drink from a cup.
The baby is turned to face the breast so that his nose is level with the nipple. This way he will be able to capture mainly the lower part of the areola.
Bring the baby as close to your body as possible. You should not put the breast in the baby’s mouth; it is better to bring him to the breast yourself, otherwise the nipple will periodically fall out. This is fraught with excessive swallowing of air, belching, colic, and is simply unpleasant for the baby.
Do not bend over while feeding - your back should be completely relaxed.
In newborn babies, the whole body needs to be supported, not just the head.
If you need to hold the breast, do it from below, forming something like the letter C from your fingers. Do not grab the nipple with “scissors” made from the index and middle fingers - there is a high risk of pulling out the nipple.

How to breastfeed while lying down

It is better to breastfeed properly while lying down only during the day. Yes, I want to sleep at night! Yes, no strength, we agree! But momentary convenience for you can turn into tragedy if you fall asleep and “sleep” the child. So there is only one rule - feed, then lie down and continue to sleep. Let the baby sleep in his crib.

How to breastfeed twins

If you're lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) and have twins, the feeding problem becomes a little more complicated. It may take more time, and such a life also takes a lot of energy. But they also feed twins and even triplets, some feed both their own and someone else’s child, which means you can handle it too. There should be enough milk, because the child himself stimulates its production, and the more children, the more stimulation. Help will most likely be needed in other household issues not related to feeding (washing, ironing, cooking, etc.), but this is the second question.

Technically, there is no difference between feeding one or two children: babies should grasp the entire areola with their mouths and suck so as not to choke or suffocate. You can feed them alternately or at the same time - whatever suits you. Most mothers prefer the simultaneous option - it takes a little less time. The main rule is not to “tie” Vasya to the right breast, and Petya to the left: each baby sucks differently and may require different amounts of milk. If Vasya always sucks more from one breast than Petya from the other, the breasts will become asymmetrical and this will be aesthetically unpleasant even for the mother herself. Therefore, breasts must be alternated.

There are several positions in which feeding two children does not turn into torture:

"Out of hand." Babies are placed under their armpits on rolled up blankets or special pillows. The children's legs are located behind the mother. Each child is given a breast: the right - the right, the left - the left.
"Crosswise." First, one child is laid down, pressing him to himself, then the second, pressing him to the first.
"Parallel". The first child lies on the arm, the second - under the armpit, the bodies are located in the same direction.

It is ideal if you feed your children at the same time. However, you should not fanatically follow this advice: one of the two wants to sleep, so let him sleep. Don’t forget that the main rule is that the baby is in charge of feeding, not his mother.

When I breastfeed, one breast is larger than the other. Could this be due to the fact that I feed more often from my right breast than my left? Olga, 27 years old

Yes, Olga, if before giving birth your mammary glands were the same, then this is the reason for the difference. A more “active” breast produces more milk, and accordingly it increases in size. Try to alternate, placing the baby on the right breast during one feeding, and on the left during the second, and everything will return to normal. And don't worry, usually after lactation stops both mammary glands become the same.

Which is better to feed: one breast or both?

Among nursing mothers, especially inexperienced ones, there is a myth that if you feed a baby with only one breast, it will become larger than the other and everything will remain that way. In reality, however, after the end of feeding, both mammary glands return to normal and their size becomes exactly the same.

Biologically, there is no difference between feeding one or both breasts - milk will be produced as much as the baby needs. Moreover, if a child prefers to eat only from one “plate”, do not disturb him. This is the essence of feeding “on demand” - to let the baby eat how, when and how much he wants. He, not you, controls his diet. Just don't pump unclaimed breasts: there's no point in doing so.

Of course, more radical situations are possible - for example, one breast was completely removed and replaced with an implant. Of course, you won’t be able to feed her anymore, but there’s still a second one left! She may well provide the volume of milk needed for the baby.

Why does a baby freak out and arch when breastfeeding?

There can be a lot of reasons: uncomfortable position, lack of milk, difficulty sucking, improper attachment, colic. Together with your doctor, you should rule out medical causes and also pay attention to irregularities in feeding techniques. In extreme cases (for example, with hypogalactia), supplementary feeding should be given.

Should I breastfeed after a year?

In former times, it was believed that a child should be weaned when he reached one year or a little later. Even many modern experts claim that milk after a year is no longer the same, it does not contain the necessary substances, the child lacks something, his digestive system is formed in such a way that mother’s milk is no longer absorbed properly. It is a myth!

The World Health Organization explains that breastfeeding after one year and up to two years is an important factor in the psycho-emotional development of the baby. Moreover, according to the results of three studies conducted in Brazil and Bangladesh (1987, 1989, 1995), it has been proven that in countries where there is a risk of food and respiratory infections, where access to medical care is low, breastfeeding children in the second year of life significantly reduces the frequency of their diseases and facilitates the course of diseases in already ill children. WHO insists on natural nutrition for children up to 6 months, strongly recommends - up to a year, and highly recommends breastfeeding and after a year - up to two years.

I've been breastfeeding for 6 months now, but I started getting my period. Should the child be weaned due to this? Alena, 30 years old

No, Alena, you don’t need to wean. Typically, lactation prevents periods from appearing, and this reduces the chance of getting pregnant by 98%. But it happens that menstruation begins earlier. This is not a reason to give up breastfeeding, since the taste of milk does not change, its composition also remains the same. Continue breastfeeding and use protection if another pregnancy is not desired.

Is it possible to breastfeed and formula-feed?

Sometimes situations arise when the baby begins to not have enough milk. There is even a special term for this - hypogalactia, which can be primary (usually due to disorders of the nervous and endocrine regulation of lactation) and secondary, arising as a result of many external factors:

complications of pregnancy and childbirth;
pathology of the mammary glands;
serious violations of feeding technique;
improper breast care;
severe course of various diseases;
improper or (more often) insufficient nutrition;
overwork, stress, lack of mood for feeding;
late start of breastfeeding;
disruption of the baby's sucking process;
taking medications or foods that change the taste of milk.

It is clear that with secondary hypogalactia it is possible to correct the situation, and by eliminating the cause of decreased lactation, normal milk production can be restored. Conventionally, this also includes lactation crises, when short term The child begins to lack nutrition due to his growth spurt.

Can I exercise while breastfeeding?

Yes, you can. However, you should plan your workouts so that your baby’s meals do not coincide with his workouts. Remember also that sports can cause chronic fatigue, which will affect the amount of milk produced. And definitely do not take any sports medications while feeding, because some of them may be dangerous for the baby.

In most such cases, mothers usually transfer the baby partially or completely to feeding with artificial formulas, making a big mistake. First of all, you need to see a doctor or a breastfeeding specialist and decide together with them whether it is enough to breastfeed your baby or whether you need to introduce supplementary feeding. Remember that it may only seem to you that the baby does not have enough milk (especially if he has suspicious grandmothers), but in fact the baby may gain even more than the required weight.

If there is a need for additional feeding, then some rules should be followed. Firstly, supplementary feeding is always given after the breast, otherwise the baby will stop sucking it altogether. Secondly, you should use only high-quality mixtures, but in no case whole cow’s or goat’s milk. Thirdly, when preparing the mixture, strictly follow the instructions supplied by the manufacturer with each jar. An excessively thick formula will lead to an overload of the child’s body with proteins and minerals (this is dangerous!), and a formula that is too thin will simply not be enough for the baby to eat. Pay attention to the composition - the daily dose of the mixture should contain all the necessary vitamins, micro- and macronutrients in the required quantities.

Everyone says that the baby should be fed naturally. But I don't want to breastfeed, I'm afraid that its shape will change. What should I do? Irina, 24 years old

Irina, first you should determine what is more important to you - a healthy child or beautiful breasts. If the first, then try to set yourself up to give up your “wants or don’ts” and take care of the baby. If the latter, then remember that sooner or later the beauty of your breasts will dry up, and in adulthood it will be painful for you to watch how the child moves away from you psychologically. Are you prepared to be single in old age?

Should I pump my breasts after feeding?

Most mothers believe that if the baby has not sucked everything from the breast, the milk must be expressed, otherwise there will be less milk. This is only half the truth. There is a substance in milk called an “inhibitor” that suppresses its production. The more milk in the breast, the more inhibitor it contains, the more its secretion is suppressed. Then everything is simple: the baby sucked a lot - there is little inhibitor left - a lot of milk was produced and vice versa. Thus, if the baby has not sucked everything, the body understands that it should not produce so much milk and reduces its “production”. This is how mastitis and engorgement of the mammary glands are prevented.

It has been noticed that mastitis develops more often in those women who express milk constantly: they always have too much milk, it stagnates, becomes infected and illness occurs. Let the baby and your breast regulate the process themselves, this is biologically correct. Pumping is only necessary in a few cases, most often associated with the inability of the baby to attach to the breast.

My hair is falling out a lot and I am breastfeeding. Is this connected and what should I do to avoid losing what remains of my hair? Ira, 21 years old

Irina, hair loss is a sign of a certain problem in the body. Most are guilty of hormonal imbalances, although only a few percent of such situations can be explained by this reason. Most often, hair falls out due to a lack of certain vitamins and minerals in the mother's diet, as well as due to overwork. In the second case, you can shift some of the everyday issues to other family members (husband, grandmothers, older children). First, you need to reconsider your diet and diet. It is better to do this with a doctor, and not with a local therapist, who for the most part do not have the necessary skills, but with a breastfeeding specialist or nutritionist.

Diet while breastfeeding

A healthy mother of a healthy child should not adhere to any diet. A nutritious, balanced diet is the key to successful lactation. All stories about the dangers of certain products are just myths. If your child is not allergic to the tomatoes you eat, eat them. If he is not “confused” by strawberries, bon appetit. Honey and nuts are strong allergens, and isn’t it strange that they are often recommended when milk production decreases? The main thing in a woman’s nutrition is its quantitative and qualitative usefulness. And if the child reacts to something, well, cancel this product. And don’t drink alcohol - it’s dangerous in any quantity, even 10 grams. You should not eat fast food either - it is biologically inferior and often dangerous food due to the low-quality ingredients included in its composition.

The same rule applies to drinks - drink something that does not affect your health. Ideally, you should drink only clean water. It is not recommended to take tea, coffee, especially energy drinks, as this stimulates the child’s nervous system, which is not prepared for such a boost.

We're planning a birthday, and I'm not sure I can avoid drinking a drop of alcohol. Tell me, how long after you can breastfeed after drinking alcohol, for example, beer? Anna, 20 years old

Hello Anna. Alcohol is a powerful neurotoxin; it is extremely dangerous for a baby’s nervous system, even in minimal doses. We advise you to completely stop using it during the entire breastfeeding period. However, if you cannot avoid this, you should remember one rule - 20 ml of pure alcohol is destroyed by the body in an average of 3 hours. This is 50 grams of vodka or cognac, 150-200 ml of wine or a glass of beer. We recommend multiplying this time by two and also multiplying it by the amount of alcohol you drink.

Is breastfeeding acceptable in public?

Often in benches in courtyards or squares you can see women putting their baby to their breasts. Sometimes this causes serious debate about the permissibility of breastfeeding in public places. Leaving aside the moral side, let's look exclusively at the medical aspect.

Breastfeeding is an “on demand” process, which means that where and when the baby wants to eat, there and then he needs to be fed. Nobody bothers you to cover your chest with a light scarf if the moral standards of society condemn such situations. The child should eat when he wants. Your task is to ensure the hygiene of the procedure. However, if you shower once or twice a day, this is quite enough to prevent infections. Just remember to treat your hands with antiseptic wipes before feeding.

2 years ago I had breast augmentation. Now I'm pregnant, and I know that the best food for a baby is breast milk. But is it possible to breastfeed with implants? Shouldn't they be removed in advance? Nastya, 28 years old

Good day, Nastya. The danger of silicone to a child is a myth. If the substance were toxic, it would have killed the woman herself first. Moreover, silicone is insoluble in water, which means it cannot penetrate into milk, even if the implant is damaged. Another proof of its safety is that millions of pacifiers for children are made from it and not a single one has ever been poisoned.

However, after breastfeeding, the shape of the breast may change and the implant will become noticeable. No one is immune from this; repeated plastic surgery may be required. Remember that the shape of your breasts could change without implants. And isn’t the health of the child more important than the beauty of the breast, which, especially, is seen only by one husband?

You can ask your question to our author:

Breastfeeding is not only a way to feed your baby, but also an opportunity to establish a close bond with him. Mothers who breastfed their children note that as they grew older, the children did not so much satisfy their hunger during breastfeeding, but simply enjoyed the closeness and contact with their mother. How to properly feed a newborn with breast milk? What mistakes should you not make? How to make the process painless and enjoyable for both mother and baby?

The very first breastfeeding

It’s good to start breastfeeding in the delivery room. Ideally, it is possible to put the baby to the breast within the first hour after birth. Of course, at this moment the baby will not yet be able to suck milk, but even a few drops of colostrum (a harbinger of milk) will help populate his intestines with beneficial microorganisms and start the gastrointestinal tract.

We should not forget about the psychological aspect of this action. A newborn baby, sucking at the mother's breast, feels safe and begins to get rid of the stress associated with birth. Contact between mother and baby is established.

Unfortunately, most municipal Russian maternity hospitals do not practice putting a baby to the breast immediately after birth. Therefore, if possible, it is better to give birth in a paid perinatal center or choose a maternity facility abroad.

Rules for breastfeeding

How to properly feed a newborn with breast milk? The most important part of feeding is proper attachment to the breast. This is the key to the success of the entire event. A child who has properly latched on to the nipple sucks more effectively and does not injure the mother’s breast. Often in maternity hospitals, specialists help to properly attach the baby to the breast, explain the subtleties and observe the process of the first feeding. But this is not practiced everywhere.

Correct application consists of the following points:

Mommy should take a comfortable position in which she can spend 20-40 minutes almost motionless. You can feed while lying down or sitting, as is comfortable and your health allows.
The position of the mother's body should be chosen so that the breast is accessible to the baby. Proper breastfeeding should be done in the “tummy-to-mother” position.
When giving breastfeeding, you need to make sure that the baby is positioned correctly. The baby should not pull the chest down; in this case, the baby is positioned too low. You also need to make sure that the baby is not too pressed to the chest; in this case, the mammary gland can put pressure on the newborn’s face, blocking the access of oxygen.
It is necessary to ensure that the child takes the nipple himself. If you put it in his mouth, then the wrong grip will be ensured.
If the baby grasps the breast incorrectly and only the nipple without the areola gets into the mouth, then you need to immediately free yourself by pressing the baby on the chin or sticking your little finger in the corner of his mouth.
Improper nipple latching can lead to cracks and injuries to the milk ducts. In this case, sucking will be ineffective, and a lot of air will enter the baby’s stomach, causing colic and gas.
Once you are sure that the attachment was successful, you can safely breastfeed your baby.

Correct grip of the nipple: the areola is almost completely in the baby’s mouth, the baby’s lips are slightly turned outward, the chin is pressed tightly to the mammary gland, sucking occurs without extraneous sounds (only the sound of swallowing is acceptable), the mother does not experience discomfort.

How often to change breasts

If there is enough milk, then there is no need to change breasts during feeding. One feeding - one breast. At the next feeding you need to alternate and offer the baby another mammary gland.

Feeding from one breast ensures that the baby eats both fore and hind milk. Only the combination of these two liquids provides the most balanced, complete nutrition for the child.

Sometimes there may not be enough milk and the baby does not get enough from one breast, then you can offer the baby both breasts in turn. But before this, you need to make sure that the baby is really hungry, otherwise there is a risk of overfeeding.

How to tell if your baby is full

Breastfeeding is the ideal way to provide food for your baby. But how not to overfeed your baby and determine whether he is getting enough?

Everything is simple here. The baby is full if:

He let go of his chest.
After feeding, he behaves calmly and does not cry.
He sleeps soundly and is actively awake.
He is gaining weight well according to WHO standards.

If the baby is not gaining weight well, is restless, or constantly cries after feedings and between them, then this indicates that he is not getting enough to eat and there is not enough milk.

In this case, you need to contact a breastfeeding consultant and do everything to increase lactation. If nothing works out, then the pediatrician should definitely help in selecting the mixture.

Sometimes the opposite situation occurs: the mother has too much milk (hyperlactation). A newborn baby does not know how to eat in moderation and may overeat.

Signs that a child is overeating:

Profuse regurgitation.
Abdominal pain, gas.
Rapid weight gain beyond normal limits.

If the baby is clearly overeating, then you can slightly shorten the time of each feeding by taking away the baby’s nipple before he overeats. Or look for ways to reduce lactation, but this is risky as it can lead to loss of milk.

How long should you breastfeed your baby?

When it comes to the duration of a feeding session, everything is individual. Some babies suck actively and quickly, in which case feeding can be completed in 10-20 minutes. There are kids who can eat for 40 minutes.

Experts believe that the maximum time for one feeding should be about 30 minutes. If the baby sucks longer, it is not because of satisfying hunger, but simply because of pleasure. The exception is premature babies, who can eat for a long time due to weakness and ineffective sucking.

Newborn babies often fall asleep while feeding. If this happened at the very beginning, then you need to wake up the baby by patting him on the cheek, stimulating further sucking. When a child falls asleep after eating, you should not wake him up. You need to carefully insert your little finger into the corner of your mouth so that the baby releases your breast.

When lactation is established and breastfeeding becomes part of the usual routine, the issue with the duration of the baby’s meal will be resolved by itself.

If we are talking about the duration of breastfeeding in principle, then each family decides this issue independently. There are mothers who prefer to breastfeed their children for quite a long time (up to 2-3 years and older). Sometimes women stop breastfeeding already in the first months of the baby’s life.

Experts believe that the minimum duration of breastfeeding is six months from the birth of the child. The optimal duration of breastfeeding is the first year of life. Doctors leave the decision on further breastfeeding to mothers.

If, for a number of good reasons, it was not possible to feed your child for a year and you had to stop breastfeeding earlier, then you do not need to feel guilty and reproach yourself for it

You can also feed your baby with an adapted formula. The main thing is mother’s care and love!

The age at which a child is weaned is discussed in detail in this article.

Is a feeding regimen necessary?

Often mothers are concerned about the breastfeeding regime of their newborn. In the first months there is no need to think about the regime. It is necessary for sufficient and stable lactation to be established. To do this, it is necessary to put the baby to the breast as often as possible - at least 10 - 15 times a day. As the child grows, the routine establishes itself. With sufficient lactation, 7-8 feedings per day are sufficient, which occur approximately every 3-3.5 hours. The baby quickly gets used to this regime, and mommy can make time for herself.

About the organization of the regime and the frequency of applications.

Rules for breastfeeding twins

Many women believe that breastfeeding twins is impossible, and when two children are born, artificial feeding is provided. In fact, this is not so, as evidenced by the experience of many families with twins.

Yes, at first it will be difficult and you will have to try to establish a sufficient level of lactation, because two babies need twice as much milk. But when everything falls into place, the benefits of breastfeeding will be very noticeable:

Children get sick less because breastfeeding strengthens the immune system.
No need to wash or sterilize bottles.
Huge savings on adapted mixtures.
Mom's quick return to her former form, since she can feed two children coming a huge amount of calories.

Ways to feed twins

There are two main ways:

Feeding two children at the same time.
Feeding babies in turns.

Most mothers choose the first method, as it significantly saves time. Of course, it is necessary to adapt, but this is much more convenient than first feeding one baby, then changing the baby and breastfeeding the second. With the second method, the baby often gets restless and screams while waiting for his turn while mommy tries to feed his brother or sister.

How to feed babies at the same time

There are several rules for feeding twins at the same time:

A comfortable posture is the main thing. Finding a comfortable position with two children is more difficult than with one. Modern devices help with this, such as, for example, a pillow for feeding twins.
Before feeding, be sure to massage your breasts to increase milk flow. This manipulation will make the feeding process easier, and the likelihood that the children will eat will increase.
If one of the babies is weaker and smaller, then it should be put to the breast more often. If possible, do this on demand, that is, every time he cries.
You cannot allocate one specific breast to each child. Babies suckle differently and it is best to alternate breasts with each latch, offering babies the opposite breast each time.
If there is not enough milk and additional feeding is needed, then a pediatrician should select an adapted dairy product for this purpose. It is better to entrust bottle feeding to the father or grandmothers, if possible. It is important that children associate mothers only with breast milk.

With the help of a pillow, it is convenient for mom to hold her children, and the babies are positioned with maximum comfort

The most comfortable positions for breastfeeding twins at the same time

Mothers who have breastfed twins note that it is no more difficult than feeding one child. The main thing is family support, a well-established life and a regime in which the mother has the opportunity to have proper rest.

How to breastfeed correctly? There are several more nuances of proper breastfeeding:

The mother does not always have the strength to hold the newborn for the entire half hour of the meal, especially if the birth was difficult and the baby was born large. In this case, it is better to purchase a special device - a feeding pillow. This accessory will make life much easier for mothers and help feed the newborn comfortably.
If a child cries, you should not immediately put the breast on him. The baby may bite the nipple, or the latch may be incorrect. First you need to calm the child. To do this, you can rock him in your arms, sing a song or say a few affectionate words.
Weaning needs to be done correctly. There is no need to try to force the nipple out of the baby's mouth. This is painful and can lead to injury and cracked nipples. In order for the baby to release the nipple, you can gently slip your finger into the corner of his mouth, this will remove the vacuum and it will be easy to remove the breast.
Before feeding, it is good to do a light breast massage in a circular motion, this stimulates the flow of milk.
There is no need to wash your breasts before every feeding. This washes away the natural lubricant, and the risk of nipple cracks increases many times over. A morning and evening shower is quite enough.
You should not give your baby water after feeding! With sufficient lactation, the baby does not need other food and drink. The exception is hot summer, when drinking water is a must to prevent dehydration.
If your nipples hurt and cracks appear, you should not interrupt breastfeeding. To make feeding your baby more comfortable, you can use special silicone breast pads.

Nursing pillow - a convenient accessory

Breastfeeding is a process that has been practiced for thousands of years. No need to be afraid! Answers to all questions can be obtained by studying specialized literature or asking questions to specialists. What could be more correct and natural than breastfeeding your baby?

Every mother wants her child to grow up healthy and not get sick. Everyone knows that the foundation for a child’s further development is laid in infancy. Currently popular feeding formulas will not fully replace breast milk. It is mother's milk that is ideal for feeding a newborn. In addition, breastfeeding promotes a close bond between mother and baby.

But not every woman knows how to breastfeed. This article will help young mothers with this difficult issue.

How to properly attach a baby to the breast

Usually, how to properly breastfeed a newborn is explained to women in labor in the maternity hospital. But not all maternity hospitals can boast of competent specialists in this matter. Sometimes a mother has to learn to put her baby to her breast on her own. Below are several rules for properly attaching a baby to the breast.

Basic postures when breastfeeding

In a sitting position

This is the most common pose. Most mothers consider it the most comfortable. It is suitable for you if the baby quickly gets enough, otherwise mommy’s hands will get tired at first. But not everyone knows how to properly breastfeed while sitting.

Correct position: the baby's head lies on the mother's forearm. The baby's tummy is in contact with the nursing mother's belly. The legs are extended. If the baby pulls the nipple down, then you are holding the baby too low.

Lying down

Suitable for mothers whose babies eat slowly and immediately fall asleep after breastfeeding. The correct position when feeding while lying down looks like this: Mommy lies on her side (preferably with support behind her back). A pillow is placed under the head. The woman is completely relaxed. The baby lies on his side, opposite mommy, close enough to properly latch onto the nipple. He is pressed with his tummy to his mother. She supports the child under the shoulder blades.

How often do you change breasts when breastfeeding?

It depends on the mother's physiology. If the baby has eaten milk from one breast, then there is no need to change it.

Few people know that milk in the breast can be anterior and posterior. The anterior one is rich in proteins and minerals. The back contains the main nutrients and enzymes necessary to strengthen the immune system. For this reason, There is no need to alternate breasts during feeding, if there is enough milk in one for a full feeding.

Before feeding your baby with the second breast, you need to make sure that he is really hungry. Overeating is dangerous for a weak stomach.

Feeding time

It varies from ten to forty minutes. Such a wide range is explained by the individuality of each child. If the baby is active and sucks quickly, breastfeeding can take about fifteen minutes. Premature and inactive babies usually breastfeed much more slowly.

If a newborn falls asleep while feeding, you can wake him up by lightly patting his cheek.

A separate case is when children fall asleep after having eaten. In this case, you need to carefully pull the breast out of the baby’s mouth (to do this, carefully insert your little finger into the corner of the baby’s mouth). After this, the baby can be put to bed.

There is ongoing debate among experts about whether At what age should a child be weaned from the breast?. Some people gradually introduce the baby to formula in the first months of life, while others feed breast milk until the age of four.

But usually, formulas begin to be introduced into the baby’s diet after a year.

Problems of nursing mothers and ways to solve them

Cracks.

If a mother has not learned how to properly attach her baby to the breast, then cracks may appear on her nipples. They may become inflamed. In this case, an urgent visit to the doctor is necessary. Until the inflammation goes away, you should not feed the baby. The infection can be transmitted to him.

Cracks can also be caused by washing your breasts too often. Soap is known to dry out the skin. This causes it to begin to crack. Therefore, you need to wash your breasts no more often than your body.

Under no circumstances listen to grandmothers who will strongly recommend you lubricate inflamed cracks with brilliant green. This method of fighting inflammation has long been outdated. Yes, brilliant green really disinfects and prevents inflammation. But it leads to irritation of the delicate skin of the nipples, and as a result, to the appearance of new cracks.

The now popular disposable breast pads also cause cracks. When a pad is soaked in milk, it becomes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

Involuntary leakage of milk.

Women in labor usually face this problem in the first months of motherhood. Subsequently, milk production usually corresponds to the baby's needs.

Why you should not use disposable breast pads is described above.

The optimal solution in such cases is silicone pads. They can be used without restrictions. But they need to be washed regularly and scalded with boiling water so as not to turn them into a breeding ground for bacteria.

If, while feeding from one breast, milk flows out of the other breast, then try pinching the nipple for about ten seconds.

While some mothers suffer from excess milk, others suffer from its lack. Here are some ways to deal with this problem.

Night feeding

It is necessary in order to maintain the level of breast milk necessary for the baby. Besides , night milk is more filling than day milk.

A newborn baby can eat up to eight times a night. The older the child, the less he needs feeding at night. By the age of one year, babies already refuse night breastfeeding and allow their parents to get at least a little sleep.

There is no need to specifically wake up the baby to feed him. The baby will wake up on his own when he feels hungry.

Also Do not turn on the light during night feedings. This will help your child avoid sleep problems.

It is important to understand that a newborn's biological clock is not yet synchronized with what surrounds him. Artificial lighting at night can prevent a child from learning to understand when it is day and when it is night.

If light is still needed, then you need to use a night light with soft light.

Expressing milk

Why express milk?

Below are basic principles of proper pumping.

If pumping is needed to reduce breast hardening, then it is performed once every two hours. You need to pump as long as it takes to soften your breasts. In order not to injure the mammary gland, pumping should last no more than twenty minutes.
If you are pumping to increase lactation, then this is done once or twice in between feeding the baby.
Expressing should not cause discomfort. If you feel pain, something is going wrong.
Don't try to do this too quickly. This can lead to chest injuries.

Breastfeeding comes with many challenges and challenges. But for the sake of the health and normal development of the child, it is worth being patient. Proper breastfeeding brings not only benefits, but also pleasure. In the future, the baby will delight you with excellent health and a smile - the best reward for a loving mother.

Breastfeeding is the process of feeding a newborn baby with mother's milk. Continue until the child begins to fully feed on his own. Pediatricians recommend breastfeeding your baby for at least a year, because... Usually, after the first year, parents begin to feed the child little by little, usually as the child develops an interest in food.

How does the process of breastfeeding a baby occur?

On the first day after birth, the mother of the newborn usually feeds him while lying in bed.

Before feeding, the mother washes her hands with soap and treats the area of the nipple and areola with a sterile swab moistened with a solution of potassium permanganate or furatsilin. Then the baby is placed on a sterile napkin so that it is convenient for him to later grasp the nipple; the head should not be thrown back too much.

Brief instructions on proper breastfeeding

Mom supports the breast with her index and middle fingers, pulling it back a little so that nasal breathing is not greatly hampered by pressing the breast.
The nipple, which the mother holds with her fingers, must be placed in the child’s mouth in such a way that he can capture the areola of the nipple with his lips.
It is better to express the first drops of milk before feeding.
After feeding, the breasts should be washed with running water and soap.
Then lubricate the nipple with Vaseline and cover it with a piece of sterile gauze.

Correct position for mother during breastfeeding

During feeding Mom should be in a comfortable position. This position should allow her to hold the baby at the breast without any problems during feeding.

This can be absolutely any position of the mother’s choice: lying, sitting, reclining, half-sitting, standing.

Correct baby position

Before feeding your baby, he should be turned with his chest towards his chest. The baby himself should be close to the chest so that he does not need to reach for it. The child should be gently pressed to the body, the child's head and torso should be in one straight line.

During feeding It is worth holding the child himself, and not just the shoulders and head. The baby's nose should be kept level with the nipple, the baby's head should be turned slightly to the side.

After feeding You should hold the child in a horizontal position for 10-15 minutes. This will allow any air that may have entered the baby's stomach during feeding to escape. Then you should put the child on his side. This position will allow him to burp and prevent aspiration (milk entering the respiratory tract).

How to properly put your baby to the breast?

Grab your chest so that four fingers are on the bottom and your thumb is on top of the chest. It is advisable that your fingers are located as far from the nipple as possible.
In order for the child to open his mouth, you should touch his lips with the nipple. It is better for the child’s mouth to be wide open, his lips extended into a tube, and his tongue to be in the back of his mouth.
Make sure that the baby grasps the nipple and areola of the nipple in his mouth. The baby's lower lip should be below the nipple and the chin should touch the breast.

What to do if breastfeeding is not possible? If, due to circumstances, your child still needs supplemental feeding, you should choose the right formula. In such cases, experts recommend a formula that is as close as possible to breast milk so that the child does not experience metabolic disorders, allergic reactions, skin or digestive problems. Closer to the composition of human milk are adapted mixtures based on goat milk with beta-casein protein, for example, the gold standard baby food— MD mil SP “Goat”. Thanks to this mixture, the baby receives all the necessary substances that help the child’s body form and develop correctly.

If you latch your baby to the breast correctly, your baby's lips and gums will put pressure on the areola of the nipple rather than on the nipple itself. This makes feeding painless and enjoyable.

Video instructions: how to breastfeed correctly

To make breastfeeding a simple and easy process for your baby, follow these tips:

Before feeding, you should calm your baby if he is restless or crying. When a baby behaves this way, he will raise his tongue, which can make feeding difficult.
Remember that the baby should be brought closer to the breast, and not vice versa.

Place the baby lightly on the breast, without pressure, otherwise he will try to wriggle out and struggle in every possible way, which will make feeding very difficult;
During feeding, you should not move your breasts as when feeding from a bottle, this may prevent the baby from holding the breast;
If you feel pain during feeding, this indicates that the baby is not attached to the breast correctly. Touch your baby's lips with your finger to encourage him to open his mouth. And apply it to your chest again.
When feeding, the baby is placed on one breast, and the next time the breast is changed. If there is not enough milk from one breast, then you should supplement the baby from the other. At the next feeding, it is applied to the breast that was fed last.

How often should you breastfeed your baby?

The baby should be fed according to his demand. But a nursing mother needs to learn to distinguish when the baby cries from the desire to eat, and when for some other reason.

In the first days of life, a child can eat 10-14 times per day. And after about two weeks, the child begins to develop his own individual feeding rhythm. On average, a child eats every 2-3 hours.

In the first month, the number of feedings balances around 8-12 times a day.
And already in the second and third months somewhere around 6-8 times.
From four months, the number of feedings decreases to 6-8 times a day.

There should be no night breaks. Feeding at night is very important and necessary for the baby.

10 principles for successful breastfeeding

Formed by WHO and UNICEF in Geneva and 1989.

Strictly adhere to the basic principles of breastfeeding and regularly communicate these rules to medical personnel and women in labor.
Train medical personnel in the necessary breastfeeding skills.
Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and techniques of breastfeeding.
Help mothers during the first time after childbirth.
Show mothers how to breastfeed properly and how to maintain lactation even when mothers are temporarily separated from their babies.
Do not give newborns any food other than milk. The exception is cases due to medical reasons.
Practice keeping mother and newborn in the same room 24/7.
Encourage breastfeeding on the newborn's request rather than on a schedule.
Do not give newborns at the initial stage of breastfeeding sedatives that imitate the female breast, such as a nipple.
Encourage and refer mothers to breastfeeding groups.

For greater convenience, use special clothing for feeding. It is made specifically to make it easy to put the baby to the breast as the need arises.
Frequent feeding, drinking plenty of fluids and proper rest help milk production.
Leakage of breast milk happens quite often, so use special breast pads.
To avoid getting too exhausted during the day, try to sleep yourself while your baby sleeps.

Be sure to take modern vitamin and mineral complexes. Just choose proven and high-quality ones - the emphasis should be on a balanced and rich composition, as well as on the reputation of the manufacturer.

As a rule, such preparations necessarily contain folic acid and iron. But not everyone has a large amount of magnesium and iodine. But in Finnish "Minisan Mama" , which can be purchased in pharmacies in the Russian Federation, there is.

In addition, taking “Mama” will not take much time - the small tablet is easy to swallow, and Just one tablet a day is enough.

When organizing a baby’s meal, follow the following rules:

Choose a quiet place for feeding so that it contributes to the establishment of a good relationship between mother and baby.
It is important that the baby stays in the same place during breastfeeding. During the newborn period, children create their own psychological support points - they remember objects and their location in space, smells in the environment. This allows kids to easily navigate the world around them and feel safe.
Feeding is a moment of intimacy between mother and baby, so don't let anyone disturb them. When a woman is breastfeeding, she should be free from other activities, such as talking on the phone, watching a movie or reading a book, to provide the baby with the attention he needs.
During feeding, you need to look at the newborn and talk to him.
Mom should have a positive attitude.

It is important for a woman to know how to breastfeed her baby correctly. This will give her self-confidence and help her overcome possible difficulties.

Breastfeeding technique for a newborn

The child's head and body are placed in one straight line.
The baby's face is turned to the chest, the nose is opposite the nipple.
The mother presses the baby's torso to her body.
The woman supports the baby's entire body, not just his shoulders and head.
The chest is held with four fingers from below near the chest wall, the thumb is on top. Remember that your fingers should not be close to the nipple.
To help your baby latch onto the breast correctly, touch your nipple to his lips and wait until he opens his mouth wide. Quickly move it towards the breast, guiding the baby's bottom lip below the nipple.
When your baby eats, his mouth should be wide open and his lips pulled back. In this case, the lower lip is turned outward and is applied slightly further from the base of the nipple than the upper lip.
The lips and gums are pressed against the area around the nipple (areola).
The tip of the nipple should be in the very depths of the baby's mouth, and the child's tongue should be below the areola area, covering the lower gum and lip. If feeding is correct, then you can clearly see how the baby’s jaws move near the ears, and not the cheeks. In this case, the load on the surface of the nipple is minimal, because the baby grasps with his mouth not only the nipple, but also the areola.
If the baby is full, he releases the breast on his own.
The food is offered with love and served rather than shoved. When an infant's boundaries are violated without his permission, an act of violence is committed.
Sometimes 3–4 days after birth, when milk begins to be produced intensively, engorgement of the mammary glands occurs: they hurt and become hard. In this situation, first express some of the milk to make the breasts softer, and then latch on to the baby.
The breast is offered to the baby when he is awake and interested in food. If you attach a baby who is sleeping or does not want to eat, he will take the nipple into his mouth and continue to sleep, but will not suck.

What to avoid:

It is impossible for the baby to suck only the nipple. In this case, he does not receive enough milk and remains hungry, becomes restless and may even refuse to breastfeed. Improper sucking leads to engorgement of the mammary glands, cracks and inflammation of the nipples.
You cannot interrupt feeding after a certain period of time or wean your baby off the breast. Some children are lazy suckers, others are the opposite. Give them the opportunity to decide when to stop eating.
We should not, either at the time of birth or subsequently, put the breast into the baby's mouth. We just need to create favorable conditions for this. The child decides for himself when to eat. This forms in him the right attitude towards food, which will last throughout his life.
You should not feed a sleepy baby. If you take the baby out of bed while he is still sleeping, he will not eat, but will continue to sleep in his mother’s arms. At the same time, the mother’s body in this situation will not receive a physiological signal to produce milk, because a child was attached who was not hungry. The result of such actions is the cessation of lactation.

Remember that the purpose of breastfeeding is to provide the good nutrition you need to survive. It should also create a special bond between mother and baby. This is where the foundations of social life are laid, where we learn how to communicate with other people and what feelings we have towards them.

It is important to know that breastfeeding requires a lot of muscle effort from the newborn, and this work should be treated with respect: if the baby stops sucking, this does not mean that he is “lazy.” He's just resting.

Only when children are hungry do they happily perform such rewarding work. Babies love the situation, the smell of their mother, the warmth of her hands, the beating of her heart and the milk! This gives them a feeling of complete happiness and the first idea of how wonderful life is.

Free breastfeeding mode

Montessori offers free feeding. Freedom does not mean that the baby is given the breast at any time. You need to watch the child and offer him food when he is awake and wants to eat.

It is wrong to think that when children are awake or crying, they are always hungry. There are many other important reasons for crying. For example, the baby peed itself, it is uncomfortable for him to lie down, or he is simply bored.

Kids are interested in the environment. If they are given freedom of sight and movement, they will carefully observe people and objects around them and focus their attention on them. Newborns don't sleep all the time, so food isn't the only thing they're interested in.

Mothers often try to force a breastfeeding regimen on their baby for no apparent reason. But we must remember that all babies are different: they differ in weight, muscle strength and stomach volume.

Also, milk production varies at different times of the day: it reaches a maximum in the morning, decreases during the day and increases slightly in the evening. Consequently, babies cannot suck the same amount of milk during breastfeeding and the interval between meals varies.

The feeding schedule “every three hours”, starting from 6 am until 12 midnight, has neither a biological nor a psychological basis. In the 70s of the last century, studies were conducted on sleep and frequency of meals in children in the first two months of life. Scientists have found that most newborns choose a schedule from the beginning with 5-6 feedings (3-4 hours apart) over a 24-hour period. The night interval between milk intake is 5–6 hours - from 7–8 pm to 2–3 am. This schedule differs from what they often try to impose on infants: the last meal is at midnight and the first at six in the morning.

If we are patient, follow the wise biological rhythm of children and feed them at the "strange" time of their choice, then after about 6-8 weeks the night interval will end at 5-6 am. This change in breastfeeding pattern corresponds to the moment when the baby's weight reaches 4300–4500 kg.

Free feeding means that the baby is put to the breast only when he really wants to eat. Under no circumstances should you wake him up to feed!

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