About this topic
Breast milk is a natural food source for babies. Breast milk gives nutrition that baby formula cannot always give. Breast milk includes: ‚
- The right amount of fat, protein, sugars, starches, digestive enzymes and minerals
- Hormones that are passed from the mother to the baby
- Antibodies that can fight germs and problems like gas, loose and hard stools
When a baby is born early, some of the organs may not be fully developed. Then, your baby is more at risk for infections or other health problems. Breast milk made after a full-term pregnancy is different from the milk made after a preterm delivery. Breast milk helps in the overall growth of a premature baby. ‚
General
A good feeding position will help your baby get the most amount of milk. ‚
- Sit on a chair or lie on your side in a bed to stay comfortable.
- Cradle your baby in your arms. The babys body should be turned towards your body. Support your baby's head.
- Wet the nipple with a few drops of milk. Cup the breast towards your baby's mouth. Brush the nipple on the baby's mouth.
- When your baby's mouth opens, place the nipple inside the mouth. Your baby will take in most of the areola.
- Move the breast so that your baby's nose is not covered.
- Hold your breast while feeding.
- After feeding, place a finger into the corner of your baby's mouth. Placing your finger in the corner of your baby's mouth will help your baby let go of the breast and avoid injury to the nipple.
A premature baby may have trouble taking in enough breast milk. Talk with a lactation consultant about this. ‚
What will the results be?
Both the mother and the baby benefit from breastfeeding. ‚
Benefits for the baby are: ‚
- Proper weight gain
- Protection from germs
- Lower risk for health problems like diabetes, obesity, tooth decay, and sudden infant death syndrome
- Helps with brain growth
Benefits for the mother are: ‚
- Weight loss
- Low risk of pregnancy
- Low risk for certain cancers and heart diseases
- Low risk of bone problems like osteoporosis
What foods are good to eat?
Eat a healthy diet. Eat foods like: ‚
- Low-fat or fat-free dairy products
- Milk
- Lean meats and poultry
- Tofu
- Fruits and vegetables
- Wheat products
- Oatmeal
- Brown rice
What foods should be limited or avoided?
Avoid these foods: ‚
- Fish with high levels of mercury such as mackerel, swordfish, tuna, and shark
- Foods that cause gas like cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage
- Beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol)
- Caffeine
Will there be any other care needed?
- Talk to your doctor about the drugs you are taking. Some drugs may pass to the baby through breast milk.
- If your nipples dry up or have cracks, wash the nipple only with water. Let the nipple air dry. Put a pure lanolin cream on to help heal the cracks.
- Wear a cotton bra or special breastfeeding bra. Change right away if the bra gets wet.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of breast Infection such as pain and swelling in the breast, fever, chills, or redness of the skin.
- Blood leaking from the nipples
- Baby is not feeding well
- Baby does not stop crying or cannot be calmed after feeding
- A blocked milk duct that does not get better
Where can I learn more?
La Leche League ‚
http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb.html ‚
My Pyramid ‚
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wicworks/Topics/BreastfeedingFactSheet.pdf ‚
Womens Health ‚
http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚