#breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful images nature could have ever created. It is the simplest and the most natural thing that a mother can gift to her baby. You can read a book about playing a flute but you won’t really learn how to play it unless you actually do it. Breastfeeding is like that. It is a combination of motivation, knowledge of essential skills and practice. Many Medical experts, including the Indian academy of Pediatrics (IAP) and Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India(FOGSI), strongly recommend To start breastfeeding as soon as possible, i.e. within an hour of delivery and also breastfeeding exclusively 9no formula, juice or water) for 6 months. Also to continue breastfeeding at least till 1 year with other foods which should be started at 6 months of age, such as vegetables, grains, fruits, proteins.
BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING FOR YOUR BABY:
Breastfeeding provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein and fat- everything your baby needs to grow. It has the hormones, cholesterol, Vitamin D, enzymes which cannot be provided by formula milk or cow’s milk. The best thing the breast milk is tailored according to the nutrient needs of the baby and its nutrient supply is not constant as formula milk.
It is easily digestible because of various enzymes like lipase unlike infant formula. It has proteins like whey and casein which are easier to digest.
Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off the viruses and bacteria.
Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies like atopic dermatitis
Babies who are breastfed exclusively for 6 months without any formula have fewer ear infections( otitis media), respiratory illnesses, and bouts of GI infections such as diarrhea. It also helps in quick recovery in infants with established RTIs and pneumonia
Breastfeeding has been linked to Higher IQ scores in later childhood
The physical closeness, skin to skin touching, and eye contact all help your baby bond with you and feel secure.
Breastfed babies are more likely to gain the right amount of weight as they grow and prevents obesity and overweight related issues.
It also plays a role in the prevention of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
It reduces the risk of obesity, pre-diabetes and diabetes in adulthood.
BREASTFEEDING BENEFITS FOR THE MOTHER:
Breast feeding burns extra calories, so it can help you lose pregnancy weight faster.
It releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps your uterus return to its pre- pregnancy size and reduce uterine bleeding after birth.
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
It lowers your risk of osteoporosis
It maintains the blood pressure, lowers the sugar levels in patients with diabetes, reduces the cholesterol levels and chances of having Heart diseases in future.
Since you don’t have to buy and measure formula, sterilize nipples and warm bottles, it saves your time and money.
It gives you regular time to relax quietly with your newborn as you bond.
IS THERE ENOUGH BREASTMILK TO FEED: The first few days after birth, your breasts make an ideal “ first milk”, called “COLOSTRUM”. It is thick, yellowish, scant, but there is plenty to meet your baby’s nutritional needs. Colostrums helps the newborn’s digestive tract develop and prepare itself to digest breast milk. Most babies lose a small amount of weight in the first 3 to 5 days after birth. This is unrelated to breastfeeding if the weight loss is less than 10% of the birth weight. As your baby needs more milk and nurses more, your breasts respond by making more milk.
If you supplement with formula your breasts might make less milk. The milk supply is dependent on the baby’s demands. Even if you breastfeed less than the recommended 6 months, its better to breastfeed for a short time than no time at all. You can add solid food at 6 months but also continue to breastfeed if you want to keep producing milk.
If you want to know more about breastfeeding, you can visit our website: www.chaitanyahospital.org
or can check our blog: https://chaitanyahospital.org/breastfeeding-2/
#breastfeeding #breastpain #chaitanyahospital
DR. HEENA DHINGRA
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