Why should I breastfeed my baby?
Almost all physicians recommend that infants be given breast milk, and nothing else, for the first six months of life. Water, juice or other foods are rarely necessary for healthy babies who are successfully breastfed. Although parents typically introduce complementary, semi-solid or solid foods at six months of age, organizations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend that mothers continue to breastfeed their children until they are at least two years old.
Breastfeeding provides many benefits to both mother and child. Children who are breastfed have greater natural protection from such diseases as ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory tract infections. In addition, breastfeeding may offer protection against the development of allergies and allergy-related diseases such as eczema, asthma, rhinitis, and food allergies. There is also some evidence to suggest that breastfeeding may help protect infants from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS.)
Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding. When a woman first breastfeeds, her uterus contracts, which helps it return to normal size more quickly and decreases the amount of bleeding after giving birth. Breastfeeding burns calories and helps a woman return to her pre-pregnancy weight more quickly. Breastfeeding delays ovulation, and, as a result, delays the return of a regular menstrual cycle. It will not prevent a woman from becoming pregnant, however, and some method of contraception should be used while nursing if a new pregnancy is not desired. Finally, breastfeeding can help prevent bone loss and possible fractures later in life, and may provide protection against ovarian cancer.
Breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience that allows a mother to nourish and nurture her baby. It provides complete nutrition and helps support the infant’s immune system until it begins functioning on its own. While not every woman can or chooses to breastfeed, mothers and children who are successful have a chance to enjoy a very special bonding experience.
Do you have any tips to help me breastfeed my baby successfully?
For some women, breastfeeding seems to come naturally. For others, it is a learned process that is not always simple or easy. Fortunately, there are many tips and tricks that can help make breastfeeding a little easier. Because yours and your baby’s needs are unique, our tips may not address them all. Please check with your health care provider for answers to specific questions you may have about feeding your child.
Tips for breastfeeding:
- Begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after delivery, as soon as your baby is alert and interested. If you give birth in a hospital, try to have your baby remain in the room with you during the entire recovery period and during the rest of your stay in the hospital so you can feed "on demand" if you wish to do so.
- When you return home, breastfeed your baby whenever he or she seems hungry. Common signs of hunger include increased alertness or activity, mouthing, or rooting. Crying is usually a late sign of hunger.
- To ensure an adequate supply of breast milk, breastfeed frequently. Allowing a newborn to nurse every 2-3 hours (or 8-12 times in a 24-hour period) will help ensure there is enough milk produced. For the first month, wake your baby up to eat if he or she has gone more than three to four hours in between feedings.
- In the beginning, let baby nurse from both breasts at each feeding. This will help you build up your milk supply. Because your baby may take more from one breast than from the other, switch sides each time. If your baby started breastfeeding from the right breast last time, start with the left breast next time (and vice versa.) If you can’t remember which side you started with, keep a safety pin or ribbon on your bra strap to help you remember. Let your baby nurse as long as possible from each side. While some babies nurse for only ten minutes on a side, others stay on much longer.
- Choose a comfortable, quiet place to breastfeed, especially if your household is normally very busy and hectic. Find a comfortable position sitting up or lying down. Make sure your baby’s entire body is facing you, not the ceiling—your baby’s tummy should be facing your tummy.
- Stimulate your baby to arouse interest. Try tickling your baby’s lips with your finger or nipple. This will stimulate your baby to open his or her mouth widely. Once your baby’s mouth is open, quickly bring your baby to your breast. To help with the latch-on, support your breast with your hand, with the thumb on top and fingers underneath. Be sure to get the nipple and a good portion of the areola well back into the baby’s mouth. If your baby is correctly latched on, you should feel a tugging sensation. If it hurts or pinches, your baby is probably latched on incorrectly. Gently break the latch-on by slipping your finger into the corner of your baby’s mouth and try again.
- If your baby is sleepy or is distracted easily during breastfeeding, stroke her under the chin, tickle her on the feet, or put some of your milk on your finger and put it on her lips before offering her your nipple.
- Stay hydrated. You can’t produce breast milk if you become dehydrated. Drink water, natural juices or herbal tea every time you nurse. Your urine should be pale in color. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these drinks will encourage fluid loss and can be harmful to your baby. Avoid smoking since this can be harmful to your baby, as well.
- Rest as much as you can. Ideally, you should sleep when the baby sleeps for at least the first two weeks.
- Eat a nutritious diet while breastfeeding just as you did while pregnant. Remember that when you breastfeed, your baby eats what you eat. Do not miss meals.
Breastfeeding, like many aspects of having a new baby, can be both demanding and rewarding. Don’t give up, though. Be patient, keep trying, and remember that breastfeeding successfully takes practice for both of you.
Are there any situations when a baby might need an alternative to breast milk?
Exclusive breastfeeding a baby during its first six months insures it the best start in life. There are times, however, when mothers cannot breastfeed exclusively or even partially. Alternatives to breastfeeding include expressing or pumping breast milk and feeding it through alternative methods such as a bottle. Breast milk may also be provided by donation from another mother. Another alternative is to feed the baby an industrially prepared infant formula. If you are at all doubtful of your ability to breastfeed, please check with your health care provider concerning any specific questions you may have.
When formula should be used as an alternative to breastfeeding:
- The mother dies in childbirth or is separated from her baby during adoption or foster care.
- A baby fails to thrive because the mother cannot satisfy its nutritional needs with breast milk alone.
- Altered diet: many situations exist where a mother’s basic diet, unless supplemented with vitamins, is insufficient to accommodate the nutritional needs of her baby. This includes women on an extremely restricted diet (< 1800 kcal/day) and complete vegetarians who avoid milk products.
- Multiple births: while many women can successfully breastfeed more than one infant at a time, some women choose to supplement due to time constraints.
- The mother is employed outside the home and legislation does not allow for adequate maternity leave or time off during work hours for breastfeeding or pumping.
- The baby is at risk because it was born prematurely or with a metabolic or other nutritional disorder.
- Infants with infectious illnesses, such as colds or diarrhea, should still be breastfed and, in fact, will most likely benefit from breastfeeding.
- In many cases of infant pre-maturity, breast milk can be expressed, then fortified with specially prepared infant formulas and fed to the infant through a nasogastric tube or bottle. Many mothers resume breastfeeding once the baby is home from the hospital and growing adequately.
- A mother is advised not to breastfeed because she suffers from an infectious disease that could be transmitted to the baby.
- Most common illnesses, such as colds and flu, should not stop a mother from breastfeeding.
- Women with infectious diseases such as HIV and active tuberculosis may be advised by their healthcare providers to stop breastfeeding. Most physicians currently allow women infected with hepatitis A, B, or C to breastfeed.
- A mother is receiving chemotherapy, other cancer treatments or other medications that are excreted in the breast milk, or she has been exposed to such hazardous environmental agents as lead.
- A mother frequently uses illegal drugs or alcohol.
- A mother stops breastfeeding for whatever reason before her baby has reached the age of six months and the baby needs a nutritious alternative to breast milk.
Updated August 2003
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