Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding

Mother's Milk
- The perfect, specially made food for your child
- Easy to digest and absorb
- Helps build immunity against diseases
- Enhances mother-child bonding
Infants Breastfed
- Reduces problems related to allergies and obesity
- Less likely to have digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation, and bloating
- Better overall physical and mental health
When to Start Breastfeeding
- First milk is yellow and highly beneficial in preventing infections
- Breastfeed frequently to stimulate milk production to meet the baby's needs
- Breastfeed from both breasts during each feeding
- Proper positioning and latch are vital
- Let the child breastfeed as long as needed
- Always start with the breast that is left over
- Don't worry about nipple pain in the first 2-3 days; it will soon go away
- Always burp the baby during and after each feeding
Positions for Breastfeeding
- Hold the baby facing the breast
- Gently touch the nipple to the baby's lower lip, letting the baby latch onto all of the nipple and areola
- Support the baby's head close to your chest
- Draw the baby's bottom close, with the nose tilted up for easy breathing
- Stop the baby before removing the nipple from the mouth
- Insert a little finger into the corner of the baby's mouth to break the suction gently to avoid nipple damage
Diet
- Include all five food groups

Foods to Avoid

Avoid fermented, pickled foods, alcoholic beverages, and certain fishy odors
Avoid strong-smelling vegetables such as pickled garlic, bamboo shoots, acacia, and various chili sauces

Benefits to the Mother
- Reduces the risk of hemorrhage
- Helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state
- Helps the mother return to her pre-pregnancy shape faster
- Reduces the risk of breast cancer

Benefits for the Child:

Complete nutrition
Helps in growth and physical development
Easy to digest and absorb
Immunity against diseases, reduces problems related to allergies
Obesity
How to have enough breast milk?

Mother is ready and willing to breastfeed immediately:

Breastfeed frequently. If the child sleeps for more than 3 hours, wake them up to suckle on both sides and do it correctly.
Should breastfeed directly from the mother’s breast.
Give only breast milk, not formula, until 4-6 months.
The mother should have sufficient sleep and rest.
Drink plenty of warm water.
Eat from all 5 food groups.

Drink lots of water and eat all 5 food groups, not less than during pregnancy:

Breastfeed frequently, every 2-3 hours in the beginning, the more the child suckles, the more milk will be produced.
Allow the child to suckle from both sides each time.
Give formula to the child only as needed, as it will reduce breastfeeding.
Remember, if you change the diaper 6-8 times a day, it means the child has enough breast milk.

7. Hand Expressing Milk: - Position fingers and thumb as shown. - Place fingers behind the brown part of the nipple. - Press gently onto the breast, squeeze forward, then release, repeating several times until milk flows. - Express milk into a clean container. - Move around the breast area, going around the nipple. - Store the milk in a clean bottle, refrigerate for 24 hours, or freeze for 2 weeks.

8. Should the child be bottle-fed when going out? In the beginning, avoid giving formula. If necessary, wait until the child knows how to breastfeed first, which may take 2-3 weeks. If you need to be away, express the milk for the child. This method allows the child to have milk to eat. Spoon or bowl feeding is better than a bottle as the child may confuse between the mother’s breast and a rubber nipple and refuse to breastfeed again.

Key to Stimulating Milk Production: