Breastfeeding

More than two decades of research have established that breast milk is the best or most complete form of nutrition for infants and that it protects infants from a wide array of infectious and noninfectious diseases. Some of these include diarrhea, respiratory tract infection, otitis media or ear infection, pneumonia, urinary infection, necrotizing enterocolitis (damage to the intestine and colon), and invasive bacterial infection.

Breastfed infants, compared with formula-fed infants, also seem to have stronger immune systems to fight infection, resulting in lower rates of chronic childhood diseases, such as diabetes, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, childhood cancer, and allergies and asthma. As a result, breastfed babies have lower rates of hospital admissions. Some studies also suggest that the type of fatty acids available in breast milk enhances brain growth and development in infants, giving them earlier visual acuity and cognitive function.

How is breast milk different from formula?

Breast milk has greater nutritional value than infant formula. Human milk contains just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein for human digestion, brain development, and growth. Cow's milk contains a different type of protein that may be good for calves, but human infants can have difficulty digesting it. Bottle-fed infants tend to be fatter than are breastfed infants, but not necessarily healthier.

Breast milk also contains immunologic agents or the mother's antibodies to disease. These antibodies are transferred to the infant and act against bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Anti-inflammatory agents in breast milk help to regulate the body's immune system response against infection. Also, a breastfed baby's digestive tract contains large amounts of Lactobacillus bifidus, beneficial bacteria that prevent the growth of harmful organisms. Since the infant's immune system is not fully mature until about 2 years of age, breast milk provides an advantage that formula-fed infants do not have.

Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile, and is never contaminated by polluted water or dirty bottles, which can lead to diarrhea in the infant.

For how long should you breast feed your baby?

The Surgeon General, in the newly released Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding, recommend that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first four to six months of life, preferably six months, and ideally through the first year of life. Protection against infection is strongest during the first several months of life for infants who are breastfed exclusively. Breastfeeding into the second 6 months of life protects against infection, and longer duration of breastfeeding may provide an even stronger protective effect.

Do breast implants affect breastfeeding?

It is not known whether breastfeeding by women who have breast implants has an effect on the nursing infant. Many women with implants lactate successfully. Women who have had reduction mammoplasty may not be able to lactate if the glandular tissue has been removed or the connection between it and the nipple is interrupted.

What are some of the challenges of breastfeeding?

For all its health benefits, breastfeeding can be challenging. In the early weeks, it can be painful if it is not done properly. A woman’s nipples may become sore or cracked if she allows her infant to latch on to the nipple, instead of the areola. She may experience engorgement more than a bottle-feeding mother, when the breasts become so full of milk that they’re hard and painful. She can reduce the risk of painful engorgement by using proper latch-on and positioning, as well as by allowing the baby to nurse on-demand. Engorgement can be relieved by frequent feedings, massaging the breast, and by applying warm or cold compresses between feedings. Nursing women may also develop clogged milk ducts, which can lead to mastitis, a painful infection of the breast. While most nursing problems can be solved with home remedies, mastitis requires prompt medical care.

Another possible challenge is that nursing can affect your lifestyle. A nursing mother must wear clothes that enable her to nurse anywhere. She must take special care to eat well and avoid food that might irritate the baby. She should stop smoking and check with her doctor before continuing taking prescription drugs. Drinking alcohol should be limited, since alcohol appears in breast milk.

Is it safe to take medications while breastfeeding?

Most medications have not been tested in nursing women, so no one knows exactly how a given drug will affect a breastfed child. Since very few problems have been reported, however, most over-the-counter and prescription drugs, taken in moderation and only when necessary, are considered safe.

Even mothers who must take daily medication for conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, or high blood pressure can usually breastfeed. They should first check with the child's pediatrician.

If I choose to breastfeed, is there any right way to do so?

According to the FDA, the following advice should help make breastfeeding a pleasant experience for the mother and baby.

Get an early start: Nursing should begin within an hour after delivery if possible, when an infant is awake and the sucking instinct is strong. Even though the mother won't be producing milk yet, her breasts contain colostrum, a thick, yellowish fluid that contains antibodies to disease.
Use proper positioning: The baby's mouth should be wide open. After placing the nipple in the baby’s mouth as far back as possible, make sure his or her lips and gums are around the areola and not only on the nipple. This minimizes soreness for the mother. A nurse, midwife, or other knowledgeable person can help her find a comfortable nursing position.
Nurse on demand: Newborns need to nurse frequently, whenever they show signs of hunger, at least every two hours, and not on any strict schedule. Signs of hunger include increased alertness or activity, mouthing, or rooting. Crying is a late indicator of hunger. Newborns should be nursed approximately 8 to 12 times every 24 hours until satiety, usually 10 to 15 minutes on each breast. In the early weeks after birth, non-demanding babies should be aroused to feed if 4 hours have elapsed since the last nursing. This will stimulate the mother's breasts to produce plenty of milk. Later, the baby can settle into a more predictable routine. But because breast milk is more easily digested than formula, breastfed babies often eat more frequently than bottle-fed babies.
No supplements: Nursing babies don't need sugar water or formula supplements. These may interfere with their appetite for nursing, which can lead to a diminished milk supply. The more the baby nurses, the more milk the mother will produce.
Delay artificial nipples: A newborn has to learn how to breastfeed. It is best to allow time to establish a good sucking pattern before introducing a pacifier. Artificial nipples require a different sucking action than real ones. Sucking at a bottle could also confuse some babies in the early days.
Air dry: In the early postpartum period or until her nipples toughen, the mother should air-dry them after each nursing to prevent them from cracking, which can lead to infection. If her nipples do crack, the mother can coat them with breast milk or other natural moisturizers to help them heal. Vitamin E oil and lanolin are commonly used, although some babies may have allergic reactions to them. Proper positioning at the breast can help prevent sore nipples. If the mother is very sore, the baby may not have the nipple far enough back in his or her mouth.
Watch for infection: Symptoms of breast infection include fever, irritation, and painful lumps and redness in the breast. These require immediate medical attention.
Expect engorgement: A new mother usually produces lots of milk, making her breasts big, hard and painful for a few days. To relieve this engorgement, she should feed the baby frequently and on demand until her body adjusts and produces only what the baby needs. In the meantime, the mother can apply warm, wet compresses to her breasts, and take warm baths to relieve the pain. She also can express some milk before breastfeeding, either manually or with a breast pump. For severe engorgement, warmth may not help. In this case, she may want to use cold compresses as she expresses milk. Ice packs used between feedings can relieve discomfort and reduce swelling. Pain from engorgement also may be relieved by feeding the baby in more than one position, or gently massaging the breasts from under the arm and down toward the nipple. This will help reduce soreness and ease milk flow. Do not take any medications without approval from your doctor. Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) may relieve pain and is safe to take occasionally during breastfeeding.
Eat right, get rest: To produce plenty of good milk, the nursing mother needs a balanced diet that includes 500 extra calories a day and six to eight glasses of fluid. She should also rest as much as possible to prevent breast infections, which are aggravated by fatigue.

Benefits of Breastfeeding:

Gives increased warmth and comfort to the baby
Increases baby's immunity
There are no bottles to sterilize or formula to buy
Helps mom's uterus return to normal size
May decrease risk of pre menopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer
Helps mom lose pregnancy pounds
It is nature's contraceptive- although it is not very reliable

Who Should Not Breastfeed?

HIV positive moms
Women that have Human T Cell Leukemia
Women that have Hepatitis C and have cracked and/or bleeding nipples

How do I know that my baby is getting enough milk from breastfeeding?

Babies vary in their eating and diaper habits, but the American Academy of Pediatrics advises breastfeeding mothers to watch for certain signs that their babies are getting enough milk. These signs are as follows:

at least six wet diapers per day and two to five loose yellow stools per day, depending on baby’s age. (Stools should be loose and have a yellowish color to them. Be sure stools are not white or clay-colored.)
steady weight gain, after the first week of age.
pale yellow urine, not deep yellow or orange.
sleeping well, yet baby looks alert and healthy when awake.