| Basic Information |
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| Description |
- New parents want to give their babies the very best. When it comes to nutrition,
the best first food for babies is breast milk. More than two decades of research
have established that breast milk is perfectly suited to nourish infants and
protect them from illness. Breast-fed infants have lower rates of hospital
admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes, allergies, and other medical
problems than bottle-fed babies
- Babies should be breast-fed for six to 12 months. The only acceptable alternative
to breast milk is infant formula. Solid foods can be introduced when the baby
is 4 to 6 months old, but a baby should drink breast milk or formula, not
cow's milk, for a full year. There aren't any rules about when to stop breast-feeding.
As long as the baby is eating age-appropriate solid foods, a mother may nurse
for 2 years if she wishes. A baby needs breast milk for the first year of
life, and then as long as desired after that
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| Benefits To Infants |
- The primary benefit of breast milk is nutritional. Human milk contains
just the right amount of fatty acids, lactose, water, and amino acids for
human digestion, brain development, and growth. Cow's milk contains a different
type of protein than breast milk. This is good for calves, but human infants
can have difficulty digesting it. Bottle-fed infants tend to be fatter than
breast-fed infants, but not necessarily healthier
- Because human milk transfers to the infant the mothers antibodies to disease,
breast-fed babies have fewer illnesses. About 80 percent of the cells in breast
milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. Breast-fed
babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including
pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear
infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce anti- bodies
to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed
to fight the diseases their babies are exposed to as well
- A breast-fed baby's digestive tract contains large amounts of Lactobacacillus
bifidus, beneficial bacteria that prevent the growth of harmful organisms.
Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile, never contaminated
by polluted water or dirty bottles, which can also lead to diarrhea in the
infant
- Human milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in formula. No babies
are allergic to their mother's milk, although they may have a reaction to
something the mother eats. If she eliminates it from her diet, the problem
resolves itself
- Sucking at the breast promotes good jaw development as well. It's harder
work to get milk out of a breast than a bottle, and the exercise strengthens
the jaws and encourages the growth of straight, healthy teeth. The baby at
the breast also can control the flow of milk by sucking and stopping. With
a bottle, the baby must constantly suck or react to the pressure of the nipple
placed in the mouth
- Nursing may have psychological benefits for the infant as well, creating
an early bond between mother and child. At birth, infants see only 12 to 15
inches, the distance between a nursing baby and its mother's face. Studies
have found that infants as young as 1 week prefer the smell of their own mother's
milk
- Many psychologists believe the nursing baby enjoys a sense of security
from the warmth and presence of the mother, especially when there's skin-to-skin
contact during feeding.
- Parents of bottle-fed babies may be tempted to prop bottles in the baby's
mouth, with no human contact during feeding. But a nursing mother must cuddle
her infant closely many times during the day. Nursing becomes more than a
way to feed a baby, it's a source of warmth and comfort
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| Benefits To Mother |
- Breast-feeding is good for new mothers as well as for their babies. There
are no bottles to sterilize and no formula to buy, measure and mix. It may
be easier for a nursing mother to lose the pounds of pregnancy as well, since
nursing uses up extra calories. Lactation stimulates the uterus to contract
back to its original size
- A nursing mother is forced to get needed rest. She must sit down, put her
feet up, and relax every few hours to nurse. Nursing at night is easy as well.
No one has to stumble to the refrigerator for a bottle and warm it while the
baby cries. If she's lying down, a mother can doze while she nurses
- Nursing is also nature's contraceptive-although not a very reliable one.
Frequent nursing suppresses ovulation, making it less likely for a nursing
mother to menstruate, ovulate, or get pregnant. There are no guarantees, however.
Mothers who don't want more children right away should use contraception even
while nursing. Hormone injections and implants are safe during nursing, as
are all barrier methods of birth control. The labeling on birth control pills
says if possible another form of contraception should be used until the baby
is weaned
- Breast-feeding is economical also. Even though a nursing mother works up
a big appetite and consumes extra calories, the extra food for her is less
expensive than buying formula for the baby. Nursing saves money while providing
the best nourishment
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| When Should You Not Breast-Fed |
- There are very few medical reasons why a mother shouldn't breast-feed.
Most common illnesses, such as colds, flu, skin infections, or diarrhea, cannot
be passed through breast milk. In fact, if a mother has an illness, her breast
milk will contain antibodies to it that will help protect her baby from those
same illnesses
- A few viruses can pass through breast milk, however. HIV, the virus that
causes AIDS, is one of them. Women who are HIV positive should not breast-feed
- A few other illnesses-such as herpes, hepatitis, and beta streptococcus
infections-can also be transmitted through breast milk. But that doesn't always
mean a mother with those diseases should not breast-feed. Each case must be
evaluated on an individual basis
- Breast cancer is not passed through breast milk. Women who have had breast
cancer can usually breast-feed from the unaffected breast. There is some concern
that the hormones produced during pregnancy and lactation may trigger a recurrence
of cancer, but so far this has not been proven. Studies have shown, however,
that breast-feeding a child reduces a woman's chance of developing breast
cancer later
- Silicone breast implants usually do not interfere with a woman's ability
to nurse, but if the implants leak, there is some concern that the silicone
may harm the baby. If a woman with implants wants to breast-feed, she should
first discuss the potential benefits and risks with her child's doctor
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| Possible Problems |
- For all its health benefits, breast-feeding does have some disadvantages.
In the early weeks, it can be painful. A woman's nipples may become sore or
cracked. She may experience engorgement more than a bottle-feeding mother,
when the breasts become so full of milk they're hard and painful. Some nursing
women also develop clogged milk ducts, which can lead to mastitis, a painful
infection of the breast. Mastitis requires prompt medical care
- Another possible disadvantage of nursing is that it affects a woman's entire
lifestyle. A nursing mother with baby-in-tow must wear clothes that enable
her to nurse anywhere, or she'll have to find a private place to undress.
She should eat a balanced diet and she might need to avoid foods that irritate
the baby. She also shouldn't smoke, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and
restlessness in the baby, as well as decreased milk production
- Women who plan to go back to work soon after birth will have to plan carefully
if they want to breast-feed. If her job allows, a new mother can pump the
breast milk several times during the day and refrigerate or freeze it for
the baby to take in a bottle later. Or, some women alternate nursing at night
and weekends with daytime bottles of formula
- In either case, a nursing mother is physically tied to her baby more than
a bottle-feeding mother. The baby needs her for nourishment, and she needs
to nurse regularly to avoid getting uncomfortably full breasts. But instead
of feeling it's a chore, nursing mothers often cite this close relationship
as one of the greatest joys of nursing. Besides, nursing mothers can get away
between feedings if they need a break
- Finally, some women just don't feel comfortable with the idea of nursing.
They don't want to handle their breasts, or they want to think of them as
sexual, not functional. They may be concerned about modesty and the possibility
of having to nurse in public. They may want a break from child care to let
someone else feed the baby, especially in the wee hours of the morning
- If a woman is unsure whether she wants to nurse, she can try it for a few
weeks and switch if she doesn't like it. It's very difficult to switch to
breast-feeding after bottle-feeding is begun
- If she plans to breast-feed, a new mother should learn as much as possible
about it before the baby is born. Doctors, childbirth instructors, nurses,
and midwives can all offer information about nursing. But perhaps the best
ongoing support for a nursing mother is someone who has successfully nursed
a baby
- La Leche League, a national support organization for nursing mothers, has
chapters in many cities that meet regularly to discuss breast-feeding problems
and offer support. Most La
- Leche League chapters allow women to come to a few meetings without charge.
League leaders offer advice by phone as well. To find a convenient La Leche
League chapter, call (1-800) LA-LECHE
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| Treatment/Post Procedure Care |
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| Medication |
- Most medicines have not been tested in nursing mothers
- A nursing mother should advise any health care professional who prescribes
a medication for her that she is breast-feeding
- Read the instructions on nonprescription drugs to see if they are safe
for breast-feeding.
- Ask the pharmacist or doctor if unsure
- Avoid all drugs of abuse if breast-feeding
- Some drugs can be taken by a nursing mother if she stops breast-feeding
for a few days or weeks. To maintain milk supply, she can pump her breasts
and discard the milk; baby can be fed formula temporarily
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| Breast-Feeding Instructions |
- It's helpful for a woman who wants to breast-feed to learn as much about
it as possible before delivery. The following tips can help foster successful
nursing:
- Get an early start: Nursing should begin within an hour after delivery
if possible, when an infant is awake and the sucking instinct is strong. Even
though the mother won't be producing milk yet, her breasts contain colostrum,
a thin fluid that contains antibodies to disease
- Proper positioning: The baby's mouth should be wide open, with the nipple
as far back into his or her mouth as possible. This minimizes soreness for
the mother. A nurse, midwife, or other knowledgeable person can help her find
a comfortable nursing position
- Nurse on demand Newborns need to nurse frequently, at least every two hours,
and not on any strict schedule. This will stimulate the mother's breasts to
produce plenty of milk. Later, the baby can settle into a more predictable
routine. But because breast milk is more easily digested than formula, breast-fed
babies often eat more frequency than bottle-fed babies
- No supplements: Nursing babies don't need sugar water or formula supplements.
- These may interfere with their appetite for nursing, which can lead to
a diminished milk supply. The more the baby nurses, the more milk the mother
will produce
- Delay artificial nipples: It's best to wait a week or two before introducing
a pacifier, so that the baby doesn't get confused. Artificial nipples require
a different sucking action than real ones. Sucking at a bottle could also
confuse some babies in the early days. They, too, are learning how to breast-feed
- Air dry: In the early postpartum period or until her nipples toughen, the
mother should air dry them after each nursing to prevent them from cracking,
which can lead to infection. If her nip pies do crack, the mother can coat
them with breast milk or other natural moisturizers to help them heal. Vitamin
E oil and lanolin are commonly used, although some babies may have allergic
reactions to them. Proper positioning at the breast can help prevent sore
nipples. Soreness can be caused when the baby does not have the nipple far
enough back in his or her mouth
- Watch for infection: Symptoms of breast infection include fever and painful
lumps and redness in the breast. These require immediate medical attention
- Expect engorgement: A new mother usually produces lots of milk, making
her breasts big, hard and painful for a few days. To relieve this engorgement,
she should feed the baby frequently and on demand until her body adjusts and
produces only what the baby needs. In the meantime, the mother can take over-the-
counter pain relievers, apply warm, wet compresses to her breasts, and take
warm baths to relieve the pain
- Eat right, get rest: To produce plenty of good milk, the nursing mother
needs a balanced diet that includes 500 extra calories a day and six to eight
glasses of fluid.
- She should also rest as much as possible to prevent breast infections,
which are aggravated by fatigue
Note: This information adapted in part from the FDA Consumer (the magazine
of the United States Food and Drug Administration)
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| Notify Your Healthcare Provider If |
- You or a family member discovers a lump or other change in the breast
- The following occur after treatment or surgery:
- Nausea, or vomiting, fever, swelling in the arm
- Pain that is not controlled by medication
- New, unexplained symptoms develop. Drugs used in treatment may produce
side effects
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