Breastfeeding: Complete nutrition for the baby, medicine for the mother

 Breastfeeding: Complete nutrition for the baby, medicine for the mother

A new mother cannot express in words the feeling of the child clinging to her mother's chest after a long wait of nine months. With that, the new mother's journey begins. A mother's first responsibility is to breastfeed her baby.

Because the newborn baby is completely dependent on mother's milk until the age of 6 months. Therefore, doctors say that new mothers should know everything related to breastfeeding.

Dr. Obstetrician and Gynecologist working at Vatsalya IVF Center. Upma Basnet says, 'From the day of birth to 6 months, all the nutrients a child needs are found in mother's milk. Therefore, breastfeeding is very important for children during this period.

Between 6 and 12 months, half of the nutrients a baby needs comes from breast milk and half from other solid foods.

Even after this, children from one year to two years of age should be breastfed because one-third of the nutrients they need are available from mother's milk.

Three stages of breastfeeding

Dr. According to Basnet, after giving birth, the mother produces milk in three stages: colostrum secretion, transitional milk and mature milk.

- Colostrum is secreted two to five days after birth. It contains many antibodies like cholesterol, nucleoside and immunoglobulin, which can protect the child from any infection.

- Transitional milk is released between the second and fifth day after birth until the second week. During this time, the mother feels full and hot breasts. The milk gradually turns blue or white in color.

- Mature milk starts coming from the second or third week. The amount of fat in this milk changes.

The difference between colostrum and mature milk is that colostrum milk is yellow in color compared to normal milk.

Mother's milk is 80 percent water while solid food is 12 percent. It also contains two percent carbohydrates and protein. She also says that it also contains all the necessary micronutrients in prescribed amounts, which help the child's digestion process.

Therefore, no food other than mother's milk is provided to the newborn for the first 6 months after birth.

"If you breastfeed properly when you are hungry, you don't have to give water to the baby," said Dr. Basnet says.

Dr. Upma Basnet

Breastfeeding for how long?

Gynecologist Dr. Isan Children's and Women's Hospital. According to Mala Shrestha, breastfeeding for two years from birth is very healthy for the child. It is common for working women to keep milk in the refrigerator and give it to their children when they are hungry.

But do not feed cold milk directly from the refrigerator. Wait until the milk reaches normal temperature. Shrestha says that milk should be fed only when it is normal. "It is not wrong to store milk and feed it to children later, but in this process there is a possibility that the nutrients in the milk will be reduced," she says, "Cold milk is also harmful for the health of the child."

Therefore, he suggests that mothers should prioritize their children over work until they reach the age of one year.

Why is breastfeeding important for babies?

Dr. According to Mala, mother's milk provides nutrients and antioxidants to the baby for six months.

"Mother's milk protects the child from long-term, short-term or any type of infection and problem," she says.

A strong bond between mother and child

During breastfeeding, there is a kind of tight bond between mother and child. This bond is very important for the development of children. Shrestha says.

During this period, the child feels safe with the mother. He says that this bond helps the child's physical and mental development to a great extent. But now most of the mothers are facing the problem of low milk production.

According to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022, only 56 percent of pregnant women were breastfeeding. That is, out of 100 people, only 56 mothers breastfeed their babies for 6 months after birth.

Some people are forced to resort to lactogen instead of taking their doo. With the introduction of some modernity, new mothers resort to formula milk and lactogen due to the mistaken understanding that formula milk is more nutritious and better than their own milk.

Such products fulfill the food needs of the child. But not as safe and powerful as mother's milk. Basnet says.

What to do if there is no milk?

Only 'formula milk' is made as an alternative to this. Formula milk is produced based on the nutrients found in mother's milk. Formula milk is prepared according to certain standards by combining the amount of protein, vitamins, minerals and fat in mother's milk.

It gives nourishment to the baby. Your own mother's milk does not contribute to the formation of antibodies. Although it is a good option if the milk does not come, if the milk continues to come, it is better to feed the mother's milk than such products. Basnet says.

When taking formula milk, it should be taken with high liquid protein. Mother's milk contains 70 percent liquid protein, which plays a role in the physical development of the baby and prevents constipation, she says.

Why is milk produced less?

Health conditions can also make a difference in breast milk production. If the mother is healthy, well-rested, calm and well-nourished, the milk provides all the nutrients. The production is also in the same ratio. But if the mother has problems such as stress, hormone imbalance, thyroid, low milk production, obstetrics and gynecology specialist Dr. Basnet says.

Stress causes hormonal imbalance, which affects milk production. Apart from this, low milk production of the mother can also be caused by the group of cells in the breast, hypothyroidism, underweight, she says, "Fat is necessary to increase the quality and quantity of mother's milk." Even if there is less fat, protein and liquid in the diet, less milk is produced.

Some women believe that according to the size of the breast, the milk is more or less. In other words, there is a widespread misconception that if the size of the breast is large, more milk will be produced and if the size is small, the milk will be less. Breast size has nothing to do with mother's milk production. Basnet says.

She says that breastfeeding is not only like elixir for the baby, but also works as a medicine because it is beneficial for the health of the mother.

What are the benefits?

- If the baby sucks the mother's milk immediately after birth, the placenta will come out quickly.

- Bleeding in childbirth is reduced.

- Breastfeeding helps the uterus return to normal.

- If he sucks mother's milk as soon as he is born, it helps him to get more milk from the breast.

- Sucking milk immediately and often reduces the problem of breast swelling.

- Breast milk can be fed anytime and anywhere.

- Intimacy between mother and child increases.

- It works as a contraceptive if there is no return of menstruation and effective full breastfeeding for the first 6 months after childbirth.

- The risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer in the mother is reduced.

- Reduces the unnecessary weight of the mother.

How to breastfeed

- The mother should always breastfeed the baby while sitting in a comfortable position. When holding the baby in your lap, you should feed it with one hand on the head so as to balance the body well.

- You should not breastfeed the baby while sleeping. It makes the child uncomfortable to eat.

- After breastfeeding, the baby should be placed on the shoulder and lightly touched on the back for some time.

What kind of food does the mother eat?

Obstetrics and gynecology expert Dr. should give preference to foods rich in protein and fat. Basnet says. Lactating women should take protein foods three times a day.

90 percent of protein can be supplied from plants and 10 percent from fish. A pregnant mother should eat different types of food every day (grains, legumes, green vegetables, vegetables and fruits, fish, meat). Pregnant women should not do hard work and should stay away from smoking and alcohol.

Anxiety in the breastfeeding mother

Dr. According to Basnet, when they become mothers for the first time, some superstitions take root.

Many people have the illusion that the breasts will sag and the shape will look bad if the baby is fed milk. Because of this concern, they are afraid of getting pregnant," she says. "It's not breastfeeding, but age and heredity that are responsible for loose breasts."

A mother needs proper sleep

If the child does not sleep at night, the mother can also cause sleep problems. Thapa says.

Good sleep is a basic need for mothers. If there is a problem related to sleep, it affects the mother both physically and mentally. It causes problems related to depression, Dr. Basnet says.

You can sleep and rest while the baby is sleeping or someone else is taking care of it. During this time, you may feel tired as you have to rest at home. To make good use of this time, one can concentrate on activities that are of interest to please the mind.

After delivery, the breast will return to its original shape?

Various changes in the breast after pregnancy can become a matter of concern for women. Because such changes may cause the breasts to sag, become larger than necessary and spoil the body structure. But even after the birth of a child, a woman can bring her breasts back to their previous state if they pay attention to their lifestyle.

Hormonal changes begin from the beginning of pregnancy to prepare the mother's breasts for nourishment after the birth of the baby. First of all, a slight pain in the breast starts to be experienced. It appears as the first symptom of pregnancy in two weeks of pregnancy.

Gradually, the breast starts to feel heavy. Some may experience mild pain while others may experience severe pain.

When estrogen and progesterone hormones change during pregnancy, the pain can sometimes be in the right or left breast. The only purpose of having pain like this is to prepare for breastfeeding.

In fact, during pregnancy, the breast size starts to increase compared to before. Therefore it is more sensitive. Because it is sensitive, it sometimes feels painful even when touched. Another cause of breast pain during pregnancy can be a condition called 'fibrocystic', in which small lumps form in one or both breasts. This can cause swelling and pain.

Change in breast color

The color of the nipple also changes during pregnancy. The effect of hormones during pregnancy increases the amount of melanin in the skin. Because of this, it starts to look dark and black in color. As the pregnancy progresses, the color of the nipple becomes darker and after the baby is born, it will automatically return to normal.

Those who do not experience pain symptoms during pregnancy. They have nothing to worry about. Because these symptoms may vary from person to person.

Milk production

During pregnancy, the estrogen hormone increases in a woman's body and increases the milk ducts. Milk reaches the nipple through a thin tube. After 14 weeks of pregnancy, milk starts to form in the breast. The size of the nipple and areola also increases. When the blood circulation in the breast starts to increase, it looks like a thorn grows in the vein near the breast, which is called allora.

Many women may experience milk-like discharge before they have a baby. Generally, it is normal for milk to come from the mammary gland in the 26th to 30th week or the last week of pregnancy. This milk prepared for breastfeeding can be 'Colostrum'. Colostrum is dark, slippery and yellow in color. Which continues for a few days after delivery. After a few days it turns into mature milk. Since it contains high amounts of carbohydrates and proteins, it helps to increase immunity and reduce the risk of jaundice in infants.

First breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is also new for women and newborns. Because of this, it is uncomfortable for both of them to get used to it. A woman may also experience pain during breastfeeding in the initial days, which gradually subsides.

Mother's milk is like nectar

Milk for the first 6 months is like nectar for the baby. The first milk released after delivery is a powerful milk that increases immunity for the baby. Because the baby gets the necessary nutrition as well as antibodies from milk. Which helps to fight the virus.

After delivery, only a small amount of milk comes out. Which turns out to be enough for the child. Because the baby's stomach is small. And, a small amount of frequent breastfeeding is enough for them. Gradually, the amount of milk in the body increases.

Breast sagging after pregnancy?

Sagging breasts during pregnancy is normal. After giving birth, the baby gradually returns to its original shape after breastfeeding. After the child reaches two-three years, the flow of milk also stops.

As far as sagging breasts are concerned. Breastfeeding does not sag. Instead, the size may appear enlarged and full. The cause of sagging breasts may be thinness. Therefore, since the activity is less during this time, unnecessary fat in the body increases and not only the breast, but also the body can gain unnecessary weight.

How to keep the breast fit?

Diet: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, women who have become mothers should eat a balanced amount of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein daily to keep their breasts fit. These foods provide the body with the nutrients it needs.

Exercise: It is not just about eating healthy food, physical activity should also be increased. The practice of keeping the upper body arms, chest, back and shoulders moving continuously helps in blood circulation to the breast. As a result, the breast becomes tight and strong. By reducing unnecessary fat, the breast starts to take a definite shape.

Breast massage

Massaging the breast with the help of natural oil helps to regulate blood circulation. It provides relief from increased laxity in the breast tissue and changes in breast size and shape are felt.