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How to feed a newborn with breast milk. Does breastfeeding mean providing “three meals a day”? How much milk does a baby eat at one time?

More often, more often, more often! These are the magic words for successful breastfeeding. Both experience and scientific research show that when an infant enjoys frequent, unrestricted feedings, then:

Babies grow better - they bloom.

Breast milk contains the required amount of fat and calories.

Mothers experience less engorgement of the glands and less infections and irritations of the nipples.

Frequent feedings are the most important thing in the first three months of life.

Look at the child, not the clock. Breastfeeding is about a harmonious relationship, not a mathematical exercise. One nursing mother put it this way: “I no longer count the number of feedings, I count the number of kisses.” In fact, it is the frequency of feedings that stimulates the production of hormones responsible for milk production to a greater extent than the duration of each feeding.

Expert advice. Previously, most health care companies had a rather cool attitude towards breastfeeding. But in light of recent research, mothers are being advised not only to start breastfeeding, but to continue breastfeeding for years, not months. The American Academy of Pediatrics in 1997 recommended breastfeeding for twelve months and beyond, as long as mutual desire persists. The famous General of Surgery, Dr. Antonia Novello, a proponent of long-term breastfeeding, once proclaimed: “I feel that those children are happy who are breastfed until they are two years old.” So when well-meaning friends or relatives admonish you, “How? Are you still feeding?”, you can answer that the doctors are on your side.

Breast capacity varies from mother to mother. Mothers with less milk supply simply need to feed their babies more frequently. Each mother-baby pair enters into ongoing, mutual negotiations about the frequency of feedings, ensuring that the milk supply corresponds to the need for it. There are as many infant feeding patterns as there are children.

Previously, in your relationship with your child, you implemented the principle that there should be absolutely no regimes for breastfed children, especially in the first month. The only schedule a child can have is his own. The most beautiful type of relationship in biology is the relationship between a mother and the child she is feeding, when the law of supply and demand is developed for the proper regulation of breastfeeding. And again, listen to your child and look at him, not at the clock. The first few days, the intensity and duration of sucking during feeding in most children varies from feeding to feeding, and the duration of feeding sometimes even reaches an hour. Newborns will often fall asleep while feeding and then wake up again an hour later and want to feed again. The length of feeding often depends on the baby's sucking style. Little “gourmets” suck gently and slowly, stopping to savor and look around. “Barracudas” get down to business quickly and eat with a voracious appetite. As for the duration of feedings, do not listen to the old but often given advice: “Start with three minutes at each breast and gradually increase the duration at each breast to ten minutes, adding a minute at a time.” No baby, no experienced mother, would subscribe to this time-limiting advice on feeding. Three minutes of feeding from one breast is not even enough time to get your milk let-down reflex working. Normal newborns can take up to a full hour to complete a full meal. You will notice that the average length of feedings ranges from fifteen to forty-five minutes, with the average feeding time being around thirty minutes. Longer and more frequent feedings will occur in the early weeks of breastfeeding to help you produce more milk. After one to two months, mother and baby will develop a mutually satisfying, harmonious feeding schedule. Most babies get all the milk they need within the first ten minutes of feeding. But some babies still linger at the breast and enjoy the comfortable sucking. This is good for them and for the mother's milk production.

Limiting the duration of feedings was considered a preventive measure against nipple inflammation. But lactation consultants now know that sore nipples are caused by feeding position and how well your baby latches onto the breast, rather than the duration of the feeding. If your nipples start to become sore, you should change the way you feed your baby, not the duration or frequency of feedings.

Another myth is that frequent feedings cause painful engorgement of the glands. Research shows just the opposite. Mothers who limit the duration and frequency of feedings and make their babies sleep longer between feedings are more likely to have problems with engorged nipples.

You should expect your baby to eat every two to three hours in the first few weeks. We've noticed, and we're not alone, that babies who are thriving (meaning growing to reach their full potential) typically eat 8-12 times a day in the first few weeks. Once your milk supply reaches the desired level and you and your baby have established a mutually satisfying feeding schedule, your baby may find other sources of comfort besides the breast.

Feeding frequency and spacing is a hot topic among today's baby care consultants. Proponents of interval feeding try to present feeding schedules as a way to better fit a baby into a parent's daily routine. They believe that even newborns should be fed no more than three or four hours during the day. This advice can lead to underfeeding of children and ultimately to the abandonment of breastfeeding. Both experience and science show that fixed intervals between feedings are not suitable for most babies, and that babies who eat more frequently grow better and cry less. In short, eaters who eat frequently do well. Frequent feedings are biologically correct. Look, nature gives us a clue about how often human babies should be fed. Mothers of animals that are forced to spend long periods of time away from their newborns (called intermittent contact species) produce milk that is very high in fat and calories, so their offspring can thrive with infrequent feedings. Human milk is low in fat and calories, hence human is a long-term contact species. We can say that children need to be fed more often based on how the milk secretion hormones, prolactin and oxytocin, behave in the body. The term biological half-life means the time during which the body absorbs half of the resulting substance. Prolactin has a very short biological half-life, approximately half an hour. The half-life of oxytocin is even shorter, about four minutes. From the moment your baby begins to nurse, milk-producing hormones are released, so frequent feedings are necessary to keep these hormone levels high. Research also shows that the maximum fat content in breast milk is achieved at short intervals between feedings. The longer and more often the baby is fed, the higher the level of fat in mother's milk. By limiting the duration and frequency of feedings, you limit the baby's growth and the mother's ability to produce milk.

Care tip: Finish feeding from one breast first. Let your baby determine when he has finished feeding on one side and is ready to move to the other. The baby will get more of the fat-rich milk that is produced at the end of feeding if he is given the opportunity to completely empty the first breast first.

How soon can I try to switch my baby to a feeding schedule?

If you try to schedule breastfeeding, you run the risk of problems with both your breasts and your baby. Babies on strict schedules have poorer weight gain, and mothers are more likely to experience breast engorgement, infections, and milk production problems. Babies digest breast milk faster than bottle-fed formulas, so they will feel hungry more quickly than formula-fed babies and therefore need more frequent feedings. In addition, in the early months, children need an increased milk flow every two weeks, during which children feed as intensely as teenagers. Children also periodically need the process of sucking, for the sake of feelings, and not for food. Sometimes babies are just thirsty, and then they nurse briefly, only to get some watery milk. All these needs need to be satisfied by latching on to the breast, and not by a rigid schedule. We prefer a less rigid term—breastfeeding routine—to describe the successful feeding routine established between mother and baby. Even better is the term – harmony of breastfeeding, it implies that the needs of the child and the mother’s capabilities are mutually agreed upon. In the early months of breastfeeding, it is important that mother and baby develop their own routine in which the baby gets enough milk and feels comfortable at the breast, and the mother feels happy, rested and calm in responding to the baby's needs. Continue to work on a routine that will help you both thrive. This is an ongoing process as the needs of both the baby and the mother change.

Should you feed your baby on demand?

Instead of the term demand feeding, we prefer the term cue feeding. Feeding on demand sounds like something from the slave era. And although in fact the first months are the mother's giving and the children's the receiving, it is important that mother and child eventually develop a mutually satisfying routine that meets the needs of both members of the nursing couple. Cue feeding means that you look closely at your baby to see if he is hungry or needs affection, and respond accordingly: either feed him, or hold him, or both. It's good if your needs coincide and if you feel when the child wants to take a nap. Just as there is a language of love, there is also a language of breastfeeding, learning it to understand your baby's cues is the first step to understanding your baby.

Explanation of frequent feedings

Both baby and breast are designed for frequent feedings. Babies have tiny stomachs and breast milk is digested quickly, so frequent feedings are necessary. New research also suggests that frequent breastfeeding for the first three months allows breasts to continue to produce adequate levels of milk until weaning. Breastfeeding experts have looked at mothers who breastfeed less often or follow a rigid feeding schedule, and it turns out that these mothers may have enough milk for the first few months, but then often wean their baby early because they "don't have enough milk." Analyzing these observations, the following can be noted. Frequent feedings in the first few months keep the mother's prolactin levels (the level of the hormone responsible for milk production) high. Frequent breastfeeding causes the mammary glands to mature, possibly by increasing the number and sensitivity of prolactin receptor sites within the breast, causing milk-producing cells to become highly sensitive to prolactin. Then, as prolactin levels decrease after the first few months of breastfeeding, the mammary glands can continue to produce sufficient milk even with less hormonal stimulation. The breasts actually become more productive. If feedings are not frequent enough in the first weeks, the required number of prolactin-sensitive receptor sites will not develop (this happens when feeding on a schedule, with long breaks for sleep) and the breasts will produce less milk as time passes. In addition, the importance of frequent feedings is confirmed by studies that show that with more frequent feedings, the breasts are emptied more often and the milk contains more fat (and therefore more calories). This often explains little weight gain in infants who are fed on a strict feeding schedule. The longer a mother stays away from feeding her baby, the lower the fat content in her milk. Allowing your baby to cry until feeding time upsets his baby's biorhythms. By the time the baby is brought to the breast, he is either too upset or falls asleep before he finishes eating. This leads to breast infection in the mother and poor weight gain in the baby. With rigid feeding schedules, too many babies are unable to thrive. Remember, the remarkable biological feeding system was hinted at working millions of years before the invention of clocks, and a generation of “baby trainers” began promising to fit breastfeeding into the mother’s busy schedule. Forget about the clock and stick to a program that is proven to work.

Frestota_kormlenij.txt · Last changes: 2012/11/20 09:07 (external change)

A mother gives birth to a baby, this is a great happiness. Small children require increased attention - you need to walk with them, play, and satisfy all their desires. The basic need is food. - difficult process. A mother needs to know many things - how to attach the baby to the breast so that he takes the nipple into his mouth correctly, how often to express, whether it is possible to feed the baby with formula from birth.

Newborn babies express the need to feed every 2-3 hours (8-12 times per day) during the first 2-4 weeks of life. A newborn baby, like a kitten, has a small stomach capacity that progresses significantly over the first month.

It is difficult to measure in grams how much a baby should eat. After some time, the mother begins to understand whether the baby is full or not. The quantity and quality of breast milk produced by the mother perfectly matches the needs of the baby. The first milk (colostrum) is thick, concentrated, produced in small quantities, gradually increasing in volume, but losing saturation. The amount of milk corresponds to the baby's expanding stomach.

Important: “With colostrum, the child receives immunity against diseases” - the school of Dr. Komarovsky. Drops of first milk provide the baby with reliable and natural protection against diseases.

Does he want to eat or is he just being capricious?

Experienced mothers know that babies' sucking patterns and needs vary. Some babies ask for the breast when they are hungry and are quickly satisfied; other babies require additional latching to the breast soon after feeding to gain psychological comfort. Babies ask for the breast when they feel lonely, afraid of something, or sick. If the mother is absent, they “pick up a replacement” for her: they give her pacifiers, nibblers, pacifiers, and bottles of water.

The mother decides for herself how long to feed a newborn with breast milk. During the newborn period, the duration of one breastfeeding is 20 - 45 minutes. After one breast is empty, the mother offers the other breast. If the baby does not suck the breast completely, it’s okay, you can use a breast pump or express the excess.

How long can you breastfeed your baby?

The health organization recommends individual breastfeeding for six months after birth, some mothers prefer until one year of age. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as the infant's consumption of breast milk without the addition of any excipients (water, juice, milk, food), with the exception of vitamins, minerals and medications. Some countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, recommend daily vitamin D supplementation for infants.

After introducing complementary foods at around six months of age, it is recommended to continue breastfeeding until at least one year of age.

The vast majority of mothers are able to produce enough milk to fully meet the baby's nutritional needs during the first six months of life. The amount of milk increases in response to the baby's increasing needs and decreases when it is not needed. Poor lactation is caused by milk remaining in the mammary glands for a long time, when the baby is not put to the breast or does not suck all the milk during feeding. The situation is not difficult to restore or prevent. In 5% of women, poor lactation is caused by medical conditions. If feeding lasts a sufficient amount of time, the baby stays at the breast for a long time, eats diligently, but does not gain weight, or shows signs of dehydration, you can suspect that the mother has insufficient milk.

Frequency of breastfeeding

During the first week of life, most children eat 8-12 times a day. The mother feeds the baby when signs of hunger appear.

The baby receives enough breast milk if:

feeds at least 8 times a day (several times during the night);
mom changes diapers 6-8 times a day;
during the first 6 weeks of life, bowel movements occur 2 or more times a day (the intestines become less active in infants at 5-6 weeks of life);
grows and gains weight according to anthropometric indicators;
The baby is active and in a good mood when he is awake.

Pitfalls in the feeding process

So, how long a child should suckle at the breast is up to him to decide for himself. The more often a mother feeds her baby, the more milk she produces. To maintain good lactation, mother follows simple rules:

the baby will not let go of the nipple, then the second breast is offered;
offer the breast both at night and during the day;
avoid complementary feeding, do not bottle-feed the baby (reduces the baby’s need for breastfeeding, reduces lactation);
Avoid pacifiers and nipples.

Foremilk and hindmilk

Well-read mothers know that breast milk is divided into fore and hind milk. There is an opinion that hind milk is fattier and satiates the baby, while fore milk serves as an analogue of simple drinking water. Some mothers unnecessarily try to express milk, trying to feed the baby as much calories as possible.

Important: “The composition of mother’s milk changes as the baby grows and the needs of his body change” - the school of Dr. Komarovsky. Nature made sure that the baby received enough nutrients. Having become a little older, at the age of a month or two, the baby sucks the breast completely, receiving both types of milk. In a woman's body, the replacement of foremilk and hindmilk occurs, to which the baby receives equal access.

What to do if the baby often latches on to the breast and eats little

It is impossible to say definitely how long and how many times a day to feed a newborn. Many mothers adhere to the feeding regimen described in pediatric books. Sometimes these instructions conflict with the child's individual preferences. A typical example is cluster feeding, when the intervals between feedings are reduced to 30-40 minutes. Adherents of “frequent feeding” eat more often in the evening.

A child on cluster feeding has the following behavioral characteristics:

rests, sleeps in short intervals between feedings;
eats for a few minutes, takes a break;
screams and behaves restlessly in the evening.

Cluster feeding is physically and emotionally draining for a woman. The mother feels exhausted, upset, it seems that she is making mistakes, is unable to maintain the correct feeding regimen, and the baby does not have enough milk. When cluster feeding, the mother should:

allow the baby to feed as needed;
for rest, use the time after feeding, when the baby falls asleep;
try to rest at the beginning of the day, prepare for a tiring night;
to drink a lot of water;
eat well, don’t skip meals;
Involve family members in caring for the child - the mother needs proper rest.

A woman seeks advice and medical help with cluster feeding if the child:

normal urination and defecation are impaired;
is capricious and does not calm down after eating;
the baby is unable to latch onto the breast;
Cries more than 50% of waking hours for no apparent reason.

Cluster feeding occurs in the neonatal period. Mom should be patient and just wait.

"Lazy sucker"

Another common problem is a “lazy” baby who sucks sluggishly. Newborns fall asleep while feeding and seem uninterested in eating. The mother tactilely stimulates the child, he was not lazy. The child can be kept active in the following ways:

gently patting the baby's heels;
lightly stroking the head;
stroking the baby's ears;
lightly massaging the spine.

If a child needs to make significant efforts to suck out liquid, he will quickly get tired, will be lazy and throw the nipple, and will not receive enough food in one sucking. The mother massages the breast more often, which allows the milk to flow out faster, the baby will not suck sluggishly, and will actively eat. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise the baby will choke. You should not transfer your child to artificial feeding, even if he eats lazily. A bottle of formula, no matter how high quality it is, cannot replace the mother's breast. Milk flows out of the bottle much more freely, and next time the baby will not want to take the breast and will suck poorly and for a long time. A child’s laziness, which manifests itself from an early age, cannot be ignored.

It is necessary to remember that the baby tenses and makes efforts while sucking. It is completely normal if the baby sweats, puffs, and immediately falls asleep after eating - he did a good job.

Dr. Komarovsky’s advice is not to strain, to trust nature. Every mother wants the best for her baby. Feeding a newborn with breast milk is a time-tested method. The baby receives the necessary vitamins, comfort and attention from the mother. Breastfeeding is convenient - milk is at an optimal temperature, contains favorable flora, is free, and is available to the child.

How to pump

Breast pumps

Increased lactation

More and more modern mothers are committed to breastfeeding. However, their lack of experience raises many questions and difficulties. One of these controversial issues is the timing of breastfeeding.

Duration of breastfeeding

The duration of one breastfeeding greatly depends on the baby’s age, his character and other factors. As a rule, it ranges from 10 to 40 minutes. In this case, the fattier hind milk begins to flow to the baby approximately 10-15 minutes after suckling.

For breastfeeding to be successful and problem-free, nursing mothers should breastfeed their baby on demand. Opponents of this approach claim that this will “tie” the mother to the child and deprive her of free time. But, if you look at the process through the eyes of a child, it becomes clear that this is an important period of transition from nutrition through the umbilical cord to food familiar to adults. It is the mother who helps the baby adapt to nutrition during the postpartum period.

During the period of intrauterine stay, the baby is accustomed to receiving “nutrition” constantly, so he is not familiar with either hunger or the feeling of fullness after eating. And if the mother always gives him the breast when the baby asks for it (and he will constantly ask immediately after birth), the baby will overeat and burp, and then suck again. And indeed, at first the mother will have the feeling that she does not belong to herself, but only to her baby. However, several months will pass and the baby will begin to latch on to the breast less often and become full faster. And most importantly, he will learn to wait. A year or two will pass, and the baby will already sit down at the table with the whole family, and sleep at night. In the meantime, he is a newborn, the baby eats when he wants.

The best solution is to feed the baby on demand

Are there time restrictions?

The time spent at the breast should be determined by the child himself. There is an opinion that a child eats his fill within 10-15 minutes, and then just “plays around.” And, accordingly, such “pampering” should be stopped, and the time of sucking should be limited. But supporters of this opinion forget that the baby at its mother’s breast does not only eat. For a baby, the mother's breast is an opportunity to calm down, satisfy the sucking reflex, and feel mother's affection. Is it worth limiting this little man? In addition, it is after 15 minutes from the start of feeding that the baby begins to receive more nutritious and fatty hind milk.

A monthly weigh-in with your pediatrician will help you find out whether your baby is gaining weight normally

How do you know if your child has eaten enough?

There are only two reliable ways to find out if a baby is eating:

Look at your monthly weight gain.
Count the number of urinations per day.

If the mother has enough milk, then the baby will gain from 500 grams every month (every week from 125 g), and will wet 10-12 diapers or more per day. Weight gain of less than 500 g per month and the number of wet diapers per day less than 6-8 are objective signs that the baby does not have enough nutrition from the mother’s breast.

What should you not pay attention to?

When a mother worries whether the baby has enough nutrition, she may mistakenly focus on criteria that do not at all confirm a lack of milk. Such erroneous criteria include:

No hot flashes or leakage of milk from the breast. If lactation has already established, the woman may no longer feel the milk flowing in. However, this is only a sign that the breasts have begun to produce milk in exactly the quantity required for one feeding.
Inability to express milk from the breast. Believe me, the baby sucks nutrition from the mammary glands much more efficiently and completely than even the best breast pump.
The baby's whims and crying between feedings, as well as while on the breast. Such signs cannot be called reliable. Perhaps the mother feeds the baby too rarely. The baby may also suffer from colic, other causes of discomfort or illness.
Very frequent or prolonged feedings. The most common reason for introducing formula is precisely because the baby often asks for the breast or sucks for a long time. If the mother does not understand that her breasts are important for the baby not only as a source of food, then in such situations she decides that the baby does not get enough to eat.
A baby's greedy sucking if you give him a bottle of formula after breastfeeding. Seeing how the baby begins to absorb the formula, the mother decides that this is indeed a sign of a lack of milk. However, the baby can simply satisfy the sucking reflex.
Frequent waking up at night. This reason is considered very important by the older generation, who are confident that a child’s tummy should “rest” at night. However, the production of hormones important for lactation, and, accordingly, the success of breastfeeding, depends on night feedings.

There are many factors that a mother can mistakenly mistake for a lack of milk for her baby.

Duration of breastfeeding

The timing of the end of breastfeeding is one of the controversial topics. Even though most young mothers understand the value of mother's milk for their baby, the number of children receiving human milk for up to a year or longer is very small. This is facilitated by the presence of a large number of myths and misinformation regarding breastfeeding, and the abundance of breast milk substitutes on the market, and social pressure associated with the fact that a few decades ago breastfeeding was rare and rare, since mothers had to go to work early. But, if in the past pediatricians more often recommended that young mothers switch babies to formula, the approach of modern doctors is aimed at promoting breastfeeding.

Experts advise stopping breastfeeding during the involution stage. This is the name for the time when the composition of milk changes and the breasts prepare to stop lactation. The onset of the involution period varies from woman to woman, but most often it begins when the baby is 1.5-2.5 years old.

The optimal age for weaning is determined by the psychological readiness of mother and child, it starts at 1.5 years

After a year

Mothers feeding babies older than one year often have to hear that the child is already big and milk is less valuable. However, numerous studies confirm that a woman’s milk, even in the second or third years of breastfeeding, is still beneficial for the child.

pros

Long-term breastfeeding is undoubtedly very beneficial for the mother, as studies have confirmed that it reduces the risks of breast and ovarian cancer. While untimely weaning is fraught for the mother with congestion, mastitis and other breast problems.

Long-term breastfeeding has many benefits for the baby:

After a year of feeding, milk changes its composition, becoming even more useful. It contains more fats that are valuable for the child, as well as immunoglobulins and substances that stimulate the maturation of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract.
Studies have confirmed the influence of long-term breastfeeding on the development of a child’s intelligence, as well as more successful social adaptation when the child is 6-8 years old.
Infants who receive mother's milk after one year are less likely to develop infectious and allergic diseases, and they recover much faster than their peers who do not have the support of mother's milk.
Breastfeeding after one year maintains a close emotional connection between baby and mother, helping to establish a trusting relationship between them.

Minuses

There are no negative effects of breastfeeding a one-year-old baby. Human milk is still a healthy food, even if the baby is over one year old. All the troubles of long-term feeding can only be associated with the desire of others to intervene in this process with their advice and scary stories.

Breast milk is the best nutrition a mother can give her baby.

Every mother wants to see her child healthy and from the first days of his life begins to give him everything he needs. This is breast milk, which contains useful substances and microelements necessary for the growth and strengthening of the child’s body.

However, in addition to the feeding process itself, other factors are also important - proper breast care, position comfort, pumping, the need for supplementary feeding, etc.

Find out all the nuances from our article: how to properly feed a newborn baby, the rules of feeding breast milk and formula, nutritional features during mixed feeding, how often and after what period of time to feed the baby (schedule and norm of food consumption for infants).

Natural feeding

In the first year, breast milk is a vital food for the baby. In order for this period to bring only joy to the baby and mother, you should know about the basic rules of feeding.

What determines the amount of milk a mother has?

The amount of milk can be affected by:

suffered stress;
insufficient sleep;
mother's nutritional characteristics;
lack of physical activity;
fatigue
hereditary predisposition;
lack of rest.

Breast size does not affect milk supply. Neither the shape of the nipple nor the type of milk matters.

Read on the pages of our website! Let's talk about the manufacturer and the composition of the product, how it differs from other infant formulas.

Breastfeeding rules and breast care

When feeding, there is only one rule - feeding should be carried out in a separate room, where there is no one except mother and baby.

It doesn’t matter what position you take during feeding - sitting, lying, standing; the main thing is complete relaxation and convenience.

Separately, we need to talk about pumping and breast massage. These procedures should be carried out in the first 3-4 weeks after birth. Then the milk supply returns to normal.

Before pumping and massaging, hands and breasts should be washed with soap. Do not use products containing alcohol.

Regular baby soap is an excellent antiseptic. It is also necessary to ensure that the detergent does not remain on the chest after washing procedures.

It is not recommended to use soap before each feeding.. The product is able to remove the fatty film that protects the mammary glands from external influences.

That's why You only need to wash your breasts once a day. If necessary, warm running water is sufficient.

The massage itself is not difficult. However, make sure that the glands are of the same density. If seals are detected, the massage is performed in this area more intensely.

The chest is supported with one hand from below. The second, using 4 fingers, you need to massage the mammary gland in a circular motion, starting from the ribs and moving to the nipple. The hand that supports the chest from below should not be idle - the technique is similar.

At the site of compaction, movements do not intensify, only the duration of the massage increases.

Pumping is an important step for a nursing mother. If excess milk is left unattended, it will lead to the development of mastitis.

So, only two fingers should be involved in pumping - the index and thumb. It is important to press not on the nipple, but on the gland tissue. The most effective method of expressing is using a breast pump..

Many difficulties associated with breastfeeding consist in the appearance of cracks and abrasions on the nipples. These phenomena occur due to:

child activity;
characteristics of the mother's skin;
insufficient hygiene.

Preventive measures must be followed. This includes:

the nipple should always be dry after feeding (to do this, blot it with sterile gauze);
breast cleanliness;
a nursing mother should not wear underwear containing synthetics - only cotton;
the child should grasp the area around the nipple (halo), and not the nipple;
if a crack is detected, treatment begins immediately;
the mother’s nails should be short (so as not to get scratched during pumping);
Do not hold your baby near your breast for more than 20 minutes;
You cannot bring the baby to such a degree of hunger that he attacks the breast;
perform massage and pumping;
Keep your chest open if possible.

To treat abrasions and cracks, use oil-based vitamin A (sold in pharmacies), Bepanten, sea buckthorn oil, and special aerosols (without antibiotics).

If suppuration appears, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Meals by the hour or on demand

After how many hours should a newborn baby be fed breast milk?

Two options for natural feeding are being considered– feeding by the hour and on demand. Both options are equally relevant and acceptable.

Feeding by the clock is carried out strictly at a certain time every 3 hours. At night there is a break of 6 hours.

This regime lasts up to 2 months. Then the interval between feedings increases to 3.5 hours, and at night - up to 7 hours.

The advantage of this method is teaching the child discipline from early childhood. Otherwise, this method is a radical choice on the part of the mother, since not all children agree with the regime.

Feeding on demand is the most popular choice among modern parents.

After birth, the child experiences extreme stress, and the only effective way to get rid of it is physical contact with the mother. That's why it is so important to put your baby to the breast when he wants it. After all, sucking is not only a process of receiving food, but also an effective method of calming a child.

This method is a highly effective means of maintaining lactation.

However, frequent feeding will not allow the mother to do household chores., therefore, the baby should be put to the breast not at the first signs of anxiety, smacking lips, grunting, sniffling, but when the baby really needs food - once every 2 hours with a 20-minute feeding duration.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you a few words about the breastfeeding regimen and how to properly feed a newborn baby with breast milk:

Which option to choose

The basic rule is a healthy child knows when he needs food. You shouldn’t wake him up just because, in his mother’s opinion, it’s time for him to eat. Exceptions are the following cases:

if mom needs to leave urgently;
children who weigh little.

The optimal interval between feedings for children under 1 month is 2-3 hours. Then the baby himself will gradually increase it as he grows and develops.

An important condition is to apply only to one breast during one feeding. This rule is irrelevant if the baby has not eaten enough or if the mother has cracks in her nipples.

Make sure that the baby makes swallowing movements and not sucking while applying. If you don’t stop his desire to “hang” on his mother’s chest in time, then in the future it will be quite difficult to wean him from his favorite activity.

Feeding a baby from a bottle

Bottle feeding a baby is different from breastfeeding. In the latter case, he himself determines the volume of milk and the duration of feeding. Due to this, milk production is adjusted to the needs of the baby. and changes as it grows.

There are different ways to feed a baby with breast milk if the mother is not around. This situation is justified due to the mother’s inability to put the baby to the breast (severe pain, urgent departure, etc.).

Then it is allowed to feed from a bottle with a nipple. Today, this method is in demand for artificial and mixed feeding or if the mother is not around.

Advantage of pacifier– the safest and most natural process of food absorption.

However, sucking from a bottle and from the mother's breast have significant differences. In the first case, the baby puts in less effort. Therefore, after getting acquainted with the bottle, many infants refuse their mother’s breast.

An alternative is to choose a special pacifier.

When tilting the bottle, no drops of milk should come out of the nipple.
When pressing on a wide area of the nipple, a trickle should appear.

Remember to take care of your bottle. It is necessary to regularly wash and rinse children's containers with boiling water.

Expressed breast milk can be frozen. This will preserve all the vitamins and beneficial microelements, and the newborn will not remain hungry if the mother is away on business. It is not recommended to mix milk after several pumpings. Frozen liquid can be stored for no more than 2 months.

What to do if there is no lactation

What to feed a newborn baby if there is no milk? Often in medical practice there are cases when the mother does not have enough milk to adequately nourish the baby. Additional measures agreed with the doctor can correct the situation..

Mom should drink at least 2 liters of water per day.
You should apply crumbs in the first days of his life as often as possible.
Do not replace breast milk with other liquids.
Night latching is the main condition for good lactation.
Proper nutrition for mom is also important.

10-15 minutes before feeding, mother should drink a glass of warm sweet tea with milk or dried fruit compote.

No stress or worries: with emotional disorders in women, lactation worsens.

Why can't you eat grapes while breastfeeding? You will find answers to questions about nutrition for nursing mothers.

Introducing formula into a baby's diet

If, despite all the efforts of the mother, there is still enough milk, then, willy-nilly, you will have to use additional nutrition - switch to mixed feeding. In the case of a complete transfer to infant formula, we can talk about artificial nutrition.

What to give

The baby should receive nutrition that is as close in composition to breast milk as possible. Such products are mixtures. All mixtures are divided into 3 groups:

partially adapted (children after one year);
less adapted (after 6 months);
maximum adapted (up to 6 months).

The best mixture will be the one on the packaging that says:“Intended for feeding children from birth to 1 year.”

You should not change baby food often, as the baby may develop unpleasant reactions in the form of diarrhea, frequent regurgitation, allergic rashes, etc.

It is necessary to switch to another mixture in the following cases:

if the baby is not gaining weight;
if he has frequent constipation.

It is unacceptable to give diluted cow's milk as supplementary feeding (full feeding). This can lead to irreversible consequences.

The product does not contain those beneficial minerals and vitamins that are found in an adapted formula or breast milk.

Mixed feeding rules

Give breast first, then formula.
Only one feeding can be replaced with formula.

The product should be introduced gradually, starting with a small amount. The temperature of the mixture should not exceed the child’s body temperature. The product must be diluted only with boiled water.

Here is another interesting video with the participation of Evgeny Komarovsky, from which you will learn about the feeding regime of a newborn, whether you need to feed him at night and how many times this can be done:

Feeding hours and dosage

How to properly feed a newborn baby with formula and do you need to do it over time?

With artificial feeding in the first months of life, 6-7 meals a day are recommended with an interval of 3-3.5 hours.

At night, you should do a 6-hour interval. It is important to consider the required volume, which is calculated depending on age and weight.

So, for the first six months of life, a baby needs 115 kcal per 1 kg, after 6 months - 110 kcal.

The daily amount of food required by a baby with normal weight indicators is:

from 7 days to 2 months – 1/5 body weight;
from 2 to 4 – 1/6 body weight;
from 6 to 12 months – 1/8.

A new mixture is introduced according to the following schedule:

1 day – 10 ml once a day;
Day 2 – 10 ml 3 times a day;
Day 3 – 20 ml 3 times a day;
Day 4 – 50 ml 5 times a day;
Day 5 – 100 ml 4 times a day;
Day 6 – 150 ml 4 times a day.

Start of complementary feeding

Learn to distinguish between “complementary feeding” and “supplementary feeding”. In the first situation, the baby receives additional food to prepare for adult life and food. In the second, in case of lack of milk, it is supplemented with formula.

Complementary foods are introduced at 6 months of age- with breastfeeding and 5 - with artificial nutrition. Until this time, nothing other than mother's milk, formula and water can be given.

Start gradually and with caution. For the first time, you need to give half a teaspoon of complementary foods, and then supplement with milk or formula. A “test” is possible before the second feeding, at 9-11 am.

Assess the child's reaction to a new product. If there is no rash, irritation, anxiety, constipation (diarrhea), then the next day you can give 2 times more.

Under no circumstances should you introduce an unfamiliar product during illness or after vaccination. If any reaction occurs, the start of complementary feeding is delayed for 1-2 weeks.

Don't force your child to eat. Perhaps the baby is not yet ready for a new stage in life.

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Reviews have been collected about the Malyutka dry mixture and the composition of this product.

Where to start feeding

It's better to start with vegetables. These are zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli. Any vegetable is thoroughly washed and boiled (in a double boiler or in a regular saucepan). Then it is ground with a blender.

On the first day - half a teaspoon. Then the dose is increased by 2 times every day and brought to normal.

If there are no adverse reactions to the new product, after 4 days you can try another vegetable, and then prepare a puree from the previously proposed products. After 10 days, one meal of dairy food should be completely replaced.

For the 7th month you can offer porridge. This should be done at the very last dose - before bedtime. To begin with, the baby should be introduced to buckwheat, rice and oatmeal, then gradually expand the diet.

Use special baby cereals, intended for 7 months of age. Giving semolina porridge at this age is not recommended due to the presence of gluten.

At the 8th month, two feedings are already replaced. Now you can introduce your child to fermented milk products - kefir. On the 4th day, offer low-fat cottage cheese.

Fruits are introduced into complementary foods when the baby’s first tooth appears.. The first is an apple. It is not recommended to completely replace feeding with fruits. They are given in addition to the main diet.

Meat is introduced at 9 months of age, and fish at 10 months.. You can add half an yolk and vegetable oil to your diet. From the age of 10 months, soup is prepared in meat and fish broth, to which bread crumb is added. The introduction of vegetable oil and cookies is allowed.

By the age of one year, all 5 feedings should be completely replaced. Although some mothers still put their baby to the breast at night.

Water must be included in the diet. Its temperature should correspond to the baby's body temperature.

The main thing during breastfeeding is to eat well. It is prohibited during this period:

drink alcoholic beverages;
eat spicy, salty, spicy foods.

Necessary:

exclude cow's milk, peas, beans, and white cabbage from the diet;
limit the consumption of caffeine and chocolate;
exclude fast food and semi-finished products.

During the feeding period, you should avoid stress and adhere to a sleep and rest schedule.

From this video lesson you will learn a lot of useful information about positions when breastfeeding a newborn, how to properly feed a baby in a sitting position and lying on its side, in which position it will be best for you and your baby:

In contact with

Breastfeeding is the most natural and beneficial source of vital energy for a newborn baby. Young and inexperienced mothers are wondering what the optimal duration of breastfeeding is. During the lactation process, it is necessary to find a middle ground in which the baby will not remain hungry and will not overeat.

The opinion of medical specialists and WHO recommendations will help you cope with this task.

Timing of breastfeeding

The health of a newborn baby largely depends on the timeliness of the first attachment to the mother's breast. In the first days after childbirth, the mammary glands of a nursing mother secrete valuable colostrum, which contains the entire list of substances necessary for the child.

The immunostimulating properties of colostrum persist for several hours after birth, so the young mother is recommended to put the baby to the breast as early as possible.

Experts from the World Health Organization recommend placing the baby on the mother's breast while still in the maternity room. The period of birth is stressful for a baby, so a nursing woman should not expect active actions on the part of the baby when feeding.

Technique for breastfeeding

If a nursing woman has taken into account all the necessary requirements, then the process of natural feeding will not cause her any difficulties. Proper feeding requires the baby to fully capture the mother's nipple with part of the surrounding areola. Feeding position plays an important role in this process.

It is worth choosing a position taking into account convenience and simplicity for both the mother and the newborn. The most common option is armpit feeding. You can find other options for breastfeeding positions by following this link.

Many infants are in no hurry to wean from their mother’s breast, even when fully saturated. In order to delicately remove the nipple from the baby's mouth, you need to make 2-3 gentle pressures with your index finger on the baby's chin.

Important! In order to remove the nipple, it is strictly forbidden to pinch the baby’s nose. Such actions may result in breast milk entering the baby's respiratory tract.

Feeding frequency

In order to maintain harmony during lactation, the young mother is advised to follow a feeding period. Today, feeding a newborn on demand is recognized as the gold standard. When a young mother takes into account the desires and needs of her baby, the child can independently regulate the amount of food consumed.

The volume of a newborn baby's stomach does not exceed 2 ml. By the end of the first week of life, this figure increases to 65-70 ml. That is why a nursing woman should prepare herself in advance for frequent breastfeeding. During the first week, your baby will need food every hour. By the time of discharge from the maternity hospital, the interval between feedings will be at least 1.5 hours. The intervals between feedings depend on many factors, including:

general condition of the newborn baby;
the baby's temperament and activity level;
birth weight, maturity of the body, and timing of birth.

That is why the frequency of feedings is individual for each baby.

Duration of feeding

The World Health Organization has created uniform recommendations for feeding newborns. The duration of a baby's meal should not exceed 40 minutes. The baby eats the largest amount of mother's milk in the first 7-10 minutes of feeding, after which so-called passive feeding is observed.

If a child exerts a mechanical effect on the mother’s breast for longer than the specified time, then the risk of abrasions and cracked nipples increases in a nursing woman.

In order not to stretch the newborn's stomach, the duration of the feeding period must be increased gradually. In the first 48 hours after birth, the duration of each breastfeeding is 5-7 minutes. On day 3 this figure increases to 10 minutes. Every day a young mother should add 5 minutes, bringing the duration to 40 minutes.

Night feeding

Within 2-3 months from the birth of the baby, night feedings must be carried out without fail. In the body of a newborn, biorhythms gradually form, so the child does not feel the change of day and night. Infants have the same need for food both during the day and at night, so if the baby has not been fed in a timely manner, he will have difficulty falling asleep.

Starting from 5 months, infants can maintain a 6-hour interval between feedings, which is especially convenient at night. After feeding the baby in the evening, the young mother will be able to pay attention to her own rest. It is recommended to continue night feeding until the baby wakes up in the middle of the night to eat.

In this matter, it is necessary to focus on the needs of the child. Night feedings can be completely eliminated if the baby is reluctant to attach to the breast and falls asleep quickly. It is advisable for such children to give drinking water at night instead of breast milk.

Alternating breasts when feeding

In order for a nursing woman to avoid congestion in the mammary glands, she is recommended to alternate between the right and left breasts at each feeding. It is not recommended to change mammary glands during one feeding, since remaining milk in the breast leads to lactostasis.

Assessing infant satiety

Inexperienced young mothers are often concerned about the saturation of the child. You can understand that a child is full by the following signs:

the baby has no difficulty falling asleep and sleeps soundly;
weight gain occurs in accordance with age norms;
diaper consumption ranges from 4 to 6 pieces per day;
During the waking period, the baby is completely calm, does not act up or cry.

The following signs indicate nutritional deficiency:

there is a slow gain in body weight;
the frequency of bowel movements does not correspond to the age norm;
after feeding, the baby continues to look for the mother’s breast and behaves irritably;
The child constantly fusses, often cries and is capricious.

Do I need to add water?

Mother's milk is not only a source of nutrition for the baby, but also a source of biological fluid. If the baby was born healthy, then he does not need additional water consumption. Additional water consumption is recommended for children in the following cases:

to improve the condition of physiological jaundice in newborns;
to replenish lost fluid during severe intoxication, accompanied by an increase in body temperature.

After discharge from the hospital, the baby should receive liquid only from breast milk. Supplementing with drinking water is advisable in the summer, when the baby’s body overheats.

These recommendations also apply to women who bottle-feed their children with breast milk. If generally accepted standards do not meet the needs of the newborn, then young parents should seek advice from a breastfeeding specialist. In this case, the child will be given an individual feeding schedule.

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