Myths and realities of the life of a nursing woman. "Breastfed babies need extra vitamin D"

IN modern world a pregnant girl has access to a wide variety of sources of information: articles and forums on the Internet, various magazines, television programs, educational films and programs on disks. However, among young mothers, various myths continue to exist about breastfeeding, sometimes ridiculous or even dangerous to the health of mother and baby. We will try to understand a large amount of information on feeding a child and determine what is worth believing and what should be avoided.

Breastfeeding is a natural physiological process

For some new mothers, breastfeeding becomes a nightmare, with constant sleep deprivation, sterilization of bottles and nipples, painful and prolonged pumping, baby crying, trying to give him water or formula to drink.

The experience of long-term breastfeeding mothers has shown that if breastfeeding is treated as natural process, many problems can be avoided. Look at mammals animals, and do not be confused by such a comparison: after all, cats or dogs do not know the benefits of civilization, which most often can only harm or lead astray. For some reason, mammals never have such problems as lack of milk, lactostasis, and, of course, none of them decant or give their babies water. Kittens spend most of their infancy next to the cat, enjoying her closeness, delicious milk and mother's love.

Well organized breastfeeding a person should look about the same. Of course, in today's fast-paced world, mom often has to drive quite active image life immediately after the birth of a child, but in this case, she can come to the aid of such useful gadgets like slings and ergo backpacks.

Trusted sources of information about breastfeeding

Majority representation modern women about breastfeeding is complete collection various myths and prejudices. Where should a young mother get information from in order to be sure of its adequacy and usefulness?

1. Articles of the Association of Lactation Consultants (AKEV)
2. Publications and regulations of the World Health Organization (WHO)
3. Publications and books of lactation consultants AKEV
4. Publications and Authors' Books La Leche League (international public private secular organization to support breastfeeding women and provide information about breastfeeding)
5. Books by Martha and William Sears
6. Ledloff J. How to raise a happy child. The principle of succession.

By referring to these books and publications, you can be sure that you will receive important information, freed from prejudices and many modern delusions. In addition, it will be useful for any woman, even during pregnancy, to familiarize herself with these sources of information in order to be prepared for what awaits her and avoid many problems.

Myths about breastfeeding (VIDEO)

Only moms who are “lucky” can breastfeed. For some reason, it is commonly believed that breastfeeding is purely a matter of luck. Any long-feeding mother has ever heard such phrases addressed to her: “You were lucky - you are breastfeeding, but I didn’t have milk at all” or “You are lucky to feed for so long, but my child refused to breastfeed in the hospital.” No! The question is not at all in luck, but in availability correct information mother, how to cope with certain difficulties, and, consequently, in properly organized breastfeeding. According to medical statistics, only 3% of women are physiologically unable to breastfeed, and most often this is associated with serious illnesses.

The baby needs a feeding regime, otherwise it can be overfed. It should be noted that artificial babies need to comply with the feeding regimen. When breastfeeding, the child himself regulates the frequency and duration of feeding. Ignoring the needs of a newborn often leads to refusal of the breast, malnutrition, whims and possible lactostasis in the mother.

The baby must be supplemented with water, because milk is food! Supplementation, again, is necessary for babies who are on artificial feeding. Breast milk already contains all the substances necessary for the child. In addition, it is known that breast milk is divided into "hind" and "forward". The “back” is thicker and more nutritious, and the “front” is mostly water. Drinking water often leads to dysbacteriosis, and also provokes a lack of milk production in the mother.

By the time your baby is born, you should definitely buy a bottle and a pacifier. However, if you want to successfully breastfeed, this is highly discouraged. When correct organized feeding, you simply won't need a bottle and a pacifier. A child sucks a bottle and a pacifier in a completely different way, and even completely different facial muscles. Therefore, all slogans about the identity of bottle nipples and maternal breast- nothing more than an advertising ploy of manufacturers of bottles for feeding.

If there is not enough milk, you can’t fix anything, you need to transfer the child to artificial feeding. With the desire and the right knowledge of the mother, everything can be fixed. Seek help from a lactation consultant.

You can not feed at night - the child must sleep. In fact, night feedings are the most important, since it is at night that the production of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the amount of milk, is stimulated. If you're afraid of sleep deprivation, just adjust co-sleeping with baby.

You can not feed the baby for more than 20 minutes. Perhaps this is the most favorite advice of Soviet-style pediatricians, “thanks to” which mom has great amount questions and doubts: “If the child does not eat enough in 20 minutes, then I don’t have enough milk?” or “Why does my baby wake up so often and spend so much time at the breast, is something wrong?”. But do not forget that the process of feeding is also a time of communication with the mother: the child feels not only full, but also protected. He has a need to feel motherly warmth for any discomfort: hunger, cold, colic, pain during teething, and so on.

Teats should be washed with soap and water at every feeding. In fact, constant washing of the nipples is dangerous because the natural protective layer, the presence of which is thought out by nature itself. No need to wash your chest more often than you take.

By pumping, you can find out if the mother has milk. Perhaps the most frequently asked question on women's forums about motherhood: “It seemed to me that I did not have enough milk, I tried to express it, and in fact, I managed to express only a couple of teaspoons! What to do?". We hasten to reassure you that this indicator does not mean anything. The baby empties the breast much more efficiently than any breast pump. In addition, the release of milk from the breast depends on many other factors.

Breast milk is low in iron. Against, mother's milk is able to fully satisfy the need for iron in the first six months of a child's life.

Bottle feeding is easier and more convenient than breastfeeding. This statement is rather controversial: one has only to remember the need to sterilize bottles and nipples, as well as dilute the right amount of sweep in the middle of the night. In addition, with artificial feeding, it is necessary to control portions of food, while with breastfeeding, the baby is fed on demand.

Contemporary artificial nutrition so high quality that it is no different in composition from breast milk. This statement is also not true. Manufacturers of milk formulas are trying to bring their composition closer to the composition of breast milk, but it is impossible to make them identical. In addition to the main nutrients, trace elements and vitamins, breast milk contains unique antibodies, enzymes, hormones. In addition, the composition of breast milk is constantly changing in accordance with the age of the child, adjusting to his needs and requirements. So the functions breastfeeding much wider and more complete.

If the mother is sick, then she needs to stop breastfeeding. This statement is not true, since during the illness of the mother, antibodies enter the breast milk, which will serve as additional protection for the child from this infection. You can also continue breastfeeding.

If the mother needs medication, breastfeeding should be stopped. This is wrong. IN modern medicine many drugs (including antibiotics) have been developed that are compatible with breastfeeding and do not bring any harm to the baby. Ask your doctor to prescribe a drug that is compatible with breastfeeding.

If a woman is breastfeeding, she is constantly dependent on the child: you can’t be away for a long time, you need to be constantly nearby, it’s impossible to visit, etc. With the birth of a child, a woman's life changes radically, so it is naive to think that you can continue to lead the same way of life. Dedicating yourself to your home and baby is a matter of prioritization, not breastfeeding. With properly organized breastfeeding, you can continue to be active social life even without outside help.

Breastfeeding spoils the figure and shape of the breast. Many women believe that breastfeeding contributes to a set of extra pounds. However, it is not. When breastfeeding, the body, on the contrary, gradually (within 6-8 months) gets rid of fat reserves accumulated during pregnancy. Some women stop breastfeeding in order to keep their breasts in shape, but in non-breastfeeding women, the breasts can also sag or lose shape at a certain age.

After a year, there is nothing useful in mother's milk. This is an incorrect statement, which also came to us from Soviet times, when a woman needed to go to work after the child was one year old. However, even after a year, and even after two years, mother's milk continues to be a valuable source of the child needs substances, hormones that favorably affect its growth and development.

It is necessary to introduce complementary foods from 3-4 months, as the baby will not have enough nutrients in milk. This is wrong. Breast milk able to satisfy the child's nutritional needs for a sufficiently long time (according to some studies - up to the age of one year). Complementary foods must be introduced when the baby has a so-called food interest. After about 6 months, he begins to become actively interested in other foods and the contents of his mother's plate.

How to explain your point of view on breastfeeding?

It often happens that a nursing mother is faced with misunderstandings coming from relatives and friends, as well as from pediatricians or nurses. Some mothers try not to advertise their views on breastfeeding, while others, on the contrary, promote the benefits of long-term feeding, on-demand feeding, constant contact with the baby, and so on. Try to find golden mean:

• Chat with mothers who adhere to your views;
• Gently and reasonably (preferably with links to scientific sources) explain their point of view to relatives;
• Unnecessarily do not argue with doctors, however, in some situations insist on their point of view (for example, if it is necessary to prescribe a drug that is compatible with breastfeeding).

Breast-feeding This is a process that is important for both the child and the mother. It helps to better understand the needs of your baby and provides a close emotional relationship between mother and child.

Health

Breastfeeding is a natural process during which not only baby food but also a close relationship with the mother.

However, along with knowledge about breastfeeding, there are a number of misconceptions that exist among mothers.

Let's look at the most common.

Start breastfeeding vani I

Myth 1. Breastfeeding is always painful.

In the first few days after childbirth, a woman may feel some soreness, especially if the baby is the firstborn. This is due to the fact that the child was not properly attached to the breast. It is enough to correct the application and the pain will go away. During attachment to the breast, the hormone oxytocin is stimulated, it is this hormone that continues to work to maintain breastfeeding, supporting state of mind mother.

Myth 2. Breastfeeding spoils the shape of the breast

In fact, the mammary glands undergo changes during pregnancy. Properly organized breastfeeding does not cause breast prolapse. What really spoils the shape of the breast is frequent pumping, feeding according to the regimen, and abrupt cessation feeding.

Myth 3. Breasts should be washed before feeding.

With normal graphics hygiene procedures(2 times a day) no microbes are dangerous to the child. Immediately after childbirth, special microorganisms settle on the halo of the chest, which help the baby create a healthy microflora in the intestines. These microorganisms are also antiseptics.

Myth 4: Some women don't produce enough milk.

The real problem - hypogalactia - exists in only 3-5% of women. This is preceded by serious illness. Breast size also does not affect the amount of milk. Milk in the breast begins to be produced in response to sucking her baby. The more often the baby suckles at the breast, the more milk.

Water while breastfeeding

Myth 5: Your baby needs extra fluids.

Breast milk is not only food, but also an ideal drink for baby. In addition to nutrients, it contains 87% water and at the same time has important properties that help the baby's digestion, which are not present in plain water. At the age of 6-8 months, the baby can be offered water from a cup.

Treatment while breastfeeding

Myth 6. If a mother is on medication, she should stop breastfeeding.

In fact, there are very few medications that a breastfeeding mother cannot safely take. The amount of medicine that passes into breast milk cannot harm the baby.

Myth 7. When a child has diarrhea, you need to stop breastfeeding.

In no case. Human milk contains substances that promote quick recovery intestinal mucosa and lactose, which is well tolerated by children.

IN last years mothers are becoming more and more educated about breastfeeding. Whatever questions a nursing mother has, find necessary information it's not that difficult - she has a lot of books and websites dedicated to breastfeeding at her disposal. However, along with useful tips, mom can face a lot of myths, many of which our grandmothers and mothers knew. If you follow such "bad" advice, your mother may have many problems, including a lack of milk, mastitis, and so on.

So let's look at some of the most common myths.

1) Myth - milk need to dig! If you often breastfeed your baby, there will be less milk. Therefore, it is advisable to observe the intervals between feedings so that more milk is accumulated in the breast.

The truth is, in fact, everything is exactly the opposite! How more kid sucks, the more milk mom will have! Surprisingly, but the fact is that the breast works on the principle of request-response. Milk in the chest decreases - a signal enters the brain - the chest is empty, you need to produce more milk! The hormonal process starts, which leads to the fact that the breast is filled again. If the chest is full - stop! There is a lot of milk, we stop producing. So, the more often the baby sucks, the better he empties the breast, the more milk the mother will have!

2) Myth - It is imperative to pump "dry" after feeding! Otherwise, the milk will be wasted.

True - this myth is the opposite of the previous one and leads to backfire. If the mother feeds the baby enough, and even expresses herself, a signal enters the brain - a lot of milk is needed, because the breast is emptied at such a speed! Mum must be having twins or triplets! There is more and more milk, and as a result, mom does not know what to do with so much milk. She can no longer do without pumping, and getting her breasts back to normal is no longer so easy, sometimes it takes months to reduce excess milk production. However, if the mother rarely feeds, saves milk, then, of course, pumping is indispensable. But they are not at all as effective as suckling the baby, and the amount of milk is still reduced. So, the best way out is to feed the baby on demand! Then there will be exactly as much milk as you need!

3) Myth - the quality of milk varies. If mom is lucky, then her milk is fatty, nutritious. If not - empty, watery, the child does not gain weight, it is better to switch to the mixture. And to improve the quality of milk, you need to eat certain foods, preferably fatter ones!

The truth is that the composition of milk changes as the child grows. Colostrum is replaced by transitional, and then mature milk. The secret is that its composition is always perfect and fully meets the needs of a growing baby. The myth of watery and fatty milk is based on the process of stratification of milk. If the mother took a break in feeding, the milk in the breast is somewhat stratified, first the anterior, more watery milk, sweet, rich in vitamins, and at the end of feeding - more fatty, nutritious milk. Therefore, it is so important to feed the baby as much as he wants, and not limit him to 10 minutes! Otherwise, it will be difficult for him to get to the fatty hindmilk.

The composition of milk, and especially its fat content, has very little to do with the products that the mother consumes. It is quite constant and fluctuates slightly, even if the mother's diet is not good enough and does not differ in variety.

4) Myth - Milk can go bad! It can turn sour if the baby is not fed for a long time, or if it is very hot outside.

True - for sour milk are necessary certain conditions- the presence of oxygen, bacteria, etc., which are not in the chest. Milk is synthesized constantly, however, after long break in feeding, for example, after lactostasis, it may slightly change the taste, become salty, due to a large number sodium salts. It is safe, you can continue to feed the baby with such milk.

5) Myth - if it is very hot outside, breast milk is not enough. The baby must be offered water, otherwise he may be dehydrated!

True - according to the World Health Organization, which conducted research even in countries with a very hot climate (for example, in Africa), babies under 6 months of age who are breastfed on demand do not need additional watering. Breast milk is 90 percent water, so it's enough to quench your thirst and keep your baby hydrated. In addition, breast milk water is as safe and digestible as possible.

6) Myth - after a year, milk changes its composition and becomes empty, non-nutritious, useless, so breastfeeding after a year is just pampering and is only needed to calm the baby.

The truth is, things are quite different. Indeed, after a year, breast milk changes somewhat and approaches colostrum in composition! There are many immune factors that protect the baby from diseases, as well as vitamins and minerals in the most digestible form. So you simply won’t find the best for your baby!

7) Myth - mothers are dairy and non-dairy. There are quite a few non-dairy mothers, and if you're not lucky, there's nothing you can do about it.

True - indeed, there are an extremely small number of women with true hypogalactia - a real lack of milk associated with hormonal problems and problems with the glandular tissue of the breast. However, their percentage is very low. Much more often we can meet mothers who do not properly organize breastfeeding of their baby, and this is what leads to a temporary shortage of milk. However, if the feeding rules are changed, the amount of milk will increase, and everything will return to normal!

8) Myth - if a mother cannot express anything after feeding, it means that there is not enough milk!

True - in fact, mom can have problems with pumping on different reasons. Often she just doesn't know correct technique pumping. Sometimes the structural features of the breast are to blame, in which expressing milk is not so easy, especially for an inexperienced mother. However, most often the baby simply empties the breast well, and the remaining fatty milk is expressed with difficulty, drop by drop.

We have looked at the most popular myths about breastfeeding, but in fact there are many more. Fortunately, in Lately In Russia, there are many support groups for nursing mothers and centers where breastfeeding consultants work. By calling hotline Mom will get an answer to any question that concerns her.

Happy feeding!

Ekaterina Karpova, Curator of the ProHV Project, general practitioner

Time does not stand still, and in recent years there have been many studies in the field of breastfeeding. For example, World Organization Health (WHO) has developed special rules for successful breastfeeding. It is on the basis new information, which is available to anyone who wants to breastfeed a child, we can safely say that some of the previously established ideas about breast milk and breastfeeding have nothing to do with reality.

Myth #1. In order for a mother to have a lot of breast milk, she must eat a lot.

One of the most common myths claims that a breastfeeding woman must eat for two, otherwise there will be little milk. In fact, this statement is not true at all. The amount of food eaten does not affect the amount of milk produced. The amount of breast milk produced does not depend on the amount of food eaten and its calorie content, but on the hormone prolactin, which is produced in the pituitary gland and tells the body how much milk needs to be produced for feeding. The concentration of this hormone depends on the frequency of attachment of the baby to the breast, the presence of night feedings and the correctness of the baby's capture of the breast. Therefore, if the mother puts the baby to the breast correctly and often, a lot of prolactin is produced, and this ensures sufficient milk production for the baby. How much milk the baby sucks - so much of it will arrive.

According to experts in the field of breastfeeding, the calorie intake of a nursing woman should be 500-700 kcal more than before pregnancy. It is recommended to eat in small portions, but often, about 5-6 times a day, and additional snacks are quite acceptable.

Myth #2. Some nursing mothers have fatty breast milk, while others have low-fat, “empty”.

Breast milk cannot be fat or non-fat. All breastfeeding women have approximately the same composition of breast milk. Nursing mothers often consider the color of expressed breast milk to be an indicator of fat content, but this is not entirely true.

mature milk(which begins to be produced on the 2-3rd week after childbirth) is heterogeneous in its composition. Conventionally, it distinguishes "front" and "rear" portion. "Forward" milk is what the baby receives at the beginning of feeding. It contains a lot of liquid, sugar (lactose) and protein, has a bluish color and is produced in greater quantities. It is this portion of milk that many women evaluate as an indicator of fat content and come to the conclusion that they have low-fat (“empty”) milk. In fact, milk is completely normal, just with this first, more liquid portion, the child quenches his thirst - this is a kind of drink for the baby.

"Hinder" milk the baby sucks at the end of feeding. It has a rich White color, and, expressing this portion, it seems to the mother that her milk is good and fat. Indeed, the concentration of fat in the "hind" milk is 4-5 times higher than in the "forward". This portion serves as the main source of energy for the baby and is directly food for him. Thus, during feeding, the fat content of milk gradually increases and the milk changes its color.

It turns out that in order for the baby to eat “fatty” milk, it is necessary not to limit the time of breast sucking, so that the baby receives a “rear” portion of milk at each feeding.

Myth #3. To have a lot of breast milk, after each feeding it is necessary to express milk to the last drop.

This statement has nothing to do with reality. When expressing leftover milk after feeding, the breast receives false information about how much milk was spent. TO next feeding milk will arrive in more quantity than the baby needs. That is, regular pumping of the breast after each feeding will lead to an increase in milk production (hyperlactation) and, as a result, increase the likelihood of developing lactostasis and mastitis. The baby will not be able to suck out the resulting large volume of milk, and it will stagnate in the chest.

If the feeding of the baby is organized not according to the regimen, but at the request of the child, then there is no need to express milk after each application to the breast. At free feeding The baby's milk is produced exactly as much as he needs.

Myth number 4. To have a lot of breast milk, you need to drink more.

The most common recommendation that a nursing mother can hear when lactation begins is to drink as much liquid as possible, and it is better if it is milk, tea with milk or condensed milk. Breastfeeding experts have proven that excess fluid not only does not stimulate lactation, but can also reduce it. An excess of fluid intake can lead to the formation of more milk than the baby needs, which, in turn, often leads to its stagnation (lactostasis). In addition, drinking too much liquid overloads the kidneys of a nursing mother, which can cause health problems.

The amount of breast milk is regulated not by the amount of fluid entering the mother's body, but by the pituitary hormones (prolactin and oxytocin). And as mentioned above, their production, in turn, depends on how often and correctly the baby suckles the breast.

Whole food intake by mother cow's milk also does not affect lactation, and in a child it can cause allergic reactions and colic. Tea with condensed milk due to the large amount of sugar can provoke allergic reactions in the baby. Thus, a nursing mother should drink so much liquid so as not to feel thirsty, that is, at will, and not under duress. For stable lactation, a nursing mother is recommended to drink 1.5–2 liters of fluid per day.

Myth number 5. The amount of breast milk depends on the size of the mother's breasts.

Sometimes young women doubt their ability to breastfeed because of small size chest. There is a stereotype that a woman with small breasts will have little milk, and the owner magnificent forms- a lot of.

Studies have long established that breast size does not affect the possibility of sufficient and prolonged lactation. Breast size is determined by the amount of adipose tissue, and lactation is provided by glandular tissue. Glandular cells actively develop in the breast during pregnancy and in the first days after childbirth, in direct proportion to the frequency of feeding the child. Therefore, for successful breastfeeding, it is not the size of the breast that is important, but properly organized breastfeeding: feeding the baby on demand and proper breastfeeding.

Myth number 6. The amount of milk a mother has is hereditary.

Often when discussing breastfeeding, you can hear that there are "dairy" and "non-dairy" women. Many women fear that if their mother (grandmother) was unable to breastfeed, then they will not be able to, since "the whole breed is non-dairy." Research has shown that there is no such pattern.

Our mothers and grandmothers, for the most part, did not feed their children for long, not because of the characteristics of the body, not because they were “non-dairy”, but because of the lack of information on proper breastfeeding, that is, due to violations in the organization of feeding . For example, for a long time there was a recommendation to feed the baby according to the regimen - once every 3 hours, with additional drinking water between feedings. As a result of this feeding schedule, insufficient stimulation of the mammary glands occurred and lactation often ended at 4-5 months.

Of no small importance during breastfeeding is the psychological attitude of the mother to breastfeeding. If the mother is sure that she will have milk and she will be able to feed the baby, then everything will work out for her.

There are cases when women, due to lack of knowledge and self-confidence, did not feed the first baby, and fed the second (and subsequent ones) for a long time.

Myth number 7. Breastfeeding after a year is not advisable, since milk loses all its beneficial properties by this time.

Numerous studies have proven that this opinion is one of many misconceptions. As the child grows older, the composition of milk (the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates) changes in accordance with the needs of the baby, but useful components are saved.

In the second year of life, normal daily dose breast milk that the baby receives is an average of 500 ml. Studies have shown that this amount of milk provides 29% of the baby's energy needs, 43% of the protein needs, 36% of the calcium needs (necessary for normal development bones), 75% of the requirement for vitamin A (needed for the normal formation and functioning of the eyes, skin and hair), 94% of the need for vitamin B12 (needed for normal activities nervous and digestive system) and 60% of the requirement for vitamin C.

Breastfeeding after a year is very useful for babies prone to allergies. The active immunoglobulins contained in breast milk create a kind of barrier for allergenic molecules in the intestine, preventing the penetration of foreign proteins. Therefore than longer mom breastfeeds the baby, the less the risk of allergies in him in the future.

Also, with the help of various studies, it was found that children who receive breast milk in the second year of life have more harmonious development nervous system. This happens due to unique proteins women's milk, which are growth factors for nerve cells.

Myth number 8. If the baby is often applied to the breast, the milk will not have time to be produced and the baby will miss it.

Breast milk is produced constantly, without interruption. The more often the mother puts the baby to the breast, the more he sucks, the sooner more milk will be produced.

If the mother rarely puts the baby to the breast and waits until the breast is full, the body perceives this as a signal that too much milk is being produced, and ceases to replenish its reserves in the right amount. That is why breastfeeding experts advise to feed the baby on demand, that is, to offer the baby the breast at the first sign of his anxiety and as often as he wants. For a newborn, the interval between feedings should be no more than 1.5–2 hours, then the number of feedings decreases. With sufficient stimulation of the mammary gland, milk will be produced as much as the baby needs.

If there are difficulties in establishing breastfeeding and for all questions related to breastfeeding, the mother can contact breastfeeding specialists or a pediatrician

The older generation caught the time when doctors actively intervened in the process of feeding the crumbs, strangers. The feeding system at that time included meals by the hour, pumping day and night, obligatory washing of the breast with soap before each feeding, and the nipples were also smeared with green paint to prevent the occurrence of microbes and cracks. For the most part, these tips were not backed up by scientific facts or research results. All this is very unnatural, only a few managed to feed the child at least up to a year.

Medicine and science do not stand still. Annually held different kind studies that prove the benefits of breast milk.

With the birth of a child, a lot of questions arise for the mother, the very first of them is about breastfeeding. How to properly apply, how long to feed, what are the benefits of breast milk. Breast milk is a storehouse of vitamins and microelements, which, in turn, provide everything necessary for the growing body of the baby. Each mother must decide for herself what is important to her and what kind of food she will choose for her child.

The benefits of breastfeeding

Let’s first understand what breast milk is. Breast milk is a nutrient fluid that is produced by the mammary glands. Produced from lymph and blood. In its composition, fully meets the requirements of the baby in given period also acts as a defense immune system crumbs.

Breast milk contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, macro- and microelements and other substances.

Breast milk creates almost invisible flakes in the stomach, which in turn make it easier for the baby to digest. This gives great opportunity in order to often apply crumbs to the chest without fear for indigestion or for overloading the gastrointestinal tract.

Lactose is a disaccharide that, when broken down by the enzyme lactase, forms glucose. Glucose is a source of energy in our body.

The fat content in breast milk ranges from 2% to 4-5%. The difference is that the fat content of hindmilk is an order of magnitude higher than that of foremilk. As many people think, the foremilk is the baby's drink, while the hindmilk is the food. During feeding, the child himself regulates his energy saturation. But how - the mechanism has not yet been elucidated.

Macro- and microelements in breast milk are found in mild form, which allows you to fully assimilate the baby.

Benefits of breast milk and breastfeeding

As we know, breast milk is the cure for all diseases. With breast milk, the child is given not only vitamins, but also antibodies that protect him from diseases..

For the body of a woman who has just given birth, breastfeeding is especially beneficial. The uterus begins to shrink faster to its original size, is formed emotional connection between baby and mom.

The first hours after childbirth, a woman develops colostrum in small quantities, and immediately young mothers are afraid, will this amount be enough for a newborn? Of course, that's enough! In the first hours and days of life, the baby has a tiny stomach about the size of Walnut and because the baby does not need much. If lactation is actively stimulated, then milk will come faster.

Gradually, as the child grows older, milk production may decrease, this is the so-called lactation crisis. It happens to every third woman, and most often occurs in the second, third and fifth month of feeding. These numbers may vary, because the body of each woman is individual. Cause lactation crisis can serve as stress, hormonal changes in the body, lack of sleep. In order for this period to pass faster, a young mother needs to rest more, put her newborn to her breast more often, thereby stimulating lactation, and also sleep more. This can be done if daytime sleep go to bed with the child, then you can forget about lack of sleep.

If the child is full, then it is also not necessary to actively stimulate lactation. After all, the baby will not be able to eat more than it should be, and the young mother will suffer and experience discomfort with excess milk. There may be a need to express excess amounts. Also the most unpleasant moment is lactostasis.

lactostasis- stagnation of milk in the mammary glands of a nursing woman.

The most common causes of lactostasis:

Prevention of lactostasis

What should be remembered in order to avoid such unpleasant phenomenon how is lactostasis? After all, if it starts lactostasis, in other words, stagnation of milk, then it will develop into mastitis.

• Completely emptying the breast will help proper attachment baby. The child must take the nipple correctly so that the process occurs as gently and comfortably as possible, without pain, this will help to avoid stagnation;
• Change position every feeding, then the milk lobules will be completely emptied, the possibility of squeezing the milk ducts is reduced;
• You also need to remember that untimely emptying of the chest leads to congestion in the chest, and therefore it is better feed the baby on demand, and not by the clock, then the breast will be emptied as expected, without lactostasis.

How to put the baby to the breast correctly

Application technique

When the child correctly grasped the chest, then his cheeks are inflated, not drawn inward, the lips are deployed, and underlip completely turned out, the chest does not block the nose and makes it possible to breathe deeply.

Myth #1 Breastfeeding ruins your breasts

Fact: breasts change even during pregnancy. It is then that it becomes heavier, swells and increases in size, stretch marks may even appear. Your breasts will not get better after breastfeeding. The breast becomes softer after feeding, but is it really a problem? The greatest happiness is a well-fed child, because, if you look at it, this is what a woman needs breasts for.

Myth #2 Breastfeeding spoils the figure

Fact: Basically overweight a woman gains during pregnancy. But if we compare the weight of the fetus, amniotic fluid, increased blood volume, then an average of 10 kg comes out. Immediately after childbirth, a woman can leave them in the hospital.

If you eat for two during breastfeeding, then, naturally, a woman will gain excess weight. If the young mother adheres proper nutrition, and the weight is growing, then this may indicate a hormonal imbalance, with this you need to consult a doctor. Immediately after giving birth, breastfeeding only improves the shape! After all, the uterus begins to actively contract, thereby reducing to its original size and thus the tummy falls into place.

Myth #3 Breasts need to be prepared for feeding.

Fact: there is no need to prepare the breast, everything is arranged by nature and after childbirth the breast is completely ready for feeding. Rubbing the chest with hard washcloths, nipple stimulation will not give pleasant results, but the consequences are most likely.

Myth #4 Until the milk comes, you need to drink more water

Fact: in the first hours and days of life, a woman produces colostrum, its quantity is quite enough for the baby, with the active sucking of the baby, lactation will soon begin. Why rush and replace?

Myth number 5 Milk is food, the child should be given to drink

Fact: Breast milk is both food and water for the baby. Because there is foremilk and hindmilk. The front one is basically considered as water for the baby, he quenches his thirst with it, the back one is denser and has a high fat content, the baby eats up with it, and therefore the child does not need additional drinks.

Myth number 6 While there is no milk, the child needs to be supplemented with formula, because he is hungry

Fact: as mentioned above, colostrum in the first days of life is enough for a child, the baby loses weight not from hunger, it physiological feature and it happens to almost every newborn. If you start supplementing with formula, then the so-called nipple confusion can happen and as a result the baby will simply refuse the breast, but why is this necessary?

Myth #7: You need to pump after every feed to keep your milk supply from decreasing.

Fact: with established lactation, additional stimulation is not needed, because there will be an excess of produced milk, after which - stagnation. If the child eats by the hour, then, in this case, the production of milk will indeed begin to decline, in order to avoid this, feed the child on demand.

Myth #8 Your baby should suck on two breasts at one feeding.

Fact: why? The child must completely empty one breast in one feeding, thereby getting enough of the fore and hind milk. If he is given both breasts, then he will eat only the foremilk, which is not as fat and nutritious as the hindmilk.

Myth #9 If a child often asks for breasts, then he is hungry.

Fact: not true. Thus, the baby simply seeks and establishes a connection with his mother. The child seeks closeness with the mother. Or quench their thirst. Don't give up on the little one.

Myth №10 If the breast is soft, then there is no milk.

Fact: This is not true. If the breast is soft, the child is calm and not hungry, then the mother has established lactation. Milk is produced during sucking, i.e. breast stimulation, and not just when he wants to.

Myth #11 Nerves can make you lose milk

Fact: Milk is produced under the influence of the hormone prolactin, and nothing else affects this.

Myth #12 The nutritional value of milk is influenced by the mother's diet

Fact: False. Maternal nutrition affects the vitamin and mineral composition of milk, but not its fat content or nutritional value. After all, milk is produced from lymph and blood, and not from the mother's food. Many women who go in for sports and watch their diet, without drinking tea with condensed milk in their diet, fully feed their children up to a year or two, and they, in turn, do not lose weight, develop properly and do not experience a deficiency of nutrients.

Myth #13 If you exercise, your milk will burn out.

Fact: not true. Many young mothers after childbirth begin to bring themselves into their original shape and go to the gym, many of them successfully breastfeed their children for more than a year. For some, this myth is just an excuse not to do it.

Myth #14 There are no nutrients in milk after a year.

Fact: after a year, milk does not lose its useful properties, the composition of milk may vary from the need of the child to different ages, but not to become "empty" and useless.

Optimal age for feeding

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding up to two years of age.

For the first six months, the baby should receive exclusively breast milk, without supplementation and complementary foods. Breast milk is perfect food for newborns.

After six months, the child can be introduced complementary foods. Food must be introduced gradually, following the reaction and be prepared in a safe way.

Every mother knows her child better and feels better until what age it is better to feed her baby.

Conclusion

There is nothing more useful than mother's milk, in addition to the fact that it contains a sufficient amount of vitamins, proteins, fats and carbohydrates, it is also an excellent immune stimulant, because with mother's milk, antibodies are transmitted to the child, which protect the baby from various diseases.

During breastfeeding, psycho-emotional and physical connection mother and child, what could be more beautiful? When a mother hugs her child, she gives him all her warmth, love and care. The baby near the chest calms down faster, because he feels how much he is loved.