Breastfeeding is a wonderful but challenging process every mother goes through. This way of nourishing a baby not only helps them be healthier, it also provides a host of benefits for Mum herself.
Starting early helps the body produce milk more quickly, ensuring your baby gets all the nutrients and antibodies he or she needs for healthy development. Here are some of the benefits of breastfeeding:
- Breast milk contains antibodies and lactoferrin, which help maintain proper immune function for babies against many common childhood illnesses.
- It induces epigenetic changes that lower infant cortisol levels, making babies less reactive to stress.
- Exposure to potential allergens in breast milk, with its anti-inflammatory contents, helps reduce the likelihood of allergies and airway inflammation in infants.
- Breast milk contains a perfect balance of enzymes, nutrients and antioxidants that help reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes in your baby.
- Breast milk composition changes following a circadian clock, which helps meet the baby’s nutritional needs over time.
- Breastfeeding can reduce risk of ovarian and breast cancer in the mother.
Initiation and duration
The health ministry and World Health Organisation recommend initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, with the baby placed skin-to-skin with Mum to suckle the first breast milk known as colostrum – a thick yellowish foremilk rich in nutrients and antibodies.
You should exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first six months without any other foods or liquids, including milk formula or water. This includes breastfeeding from a wet nurse and feeding expressed breast milk (e.g. using a breast pump).
When the baby is six months old, safe and nutritionally adequate foods can be introduced along with continuation of breastfeeding until your little one turns two years and above.
Breastfeeding challenges
Breastfeeding is often perceived as effortless – but in reality, both mothers and babies may require time and practice. Challenges often faced by new mums include:
- sore and cracked nipples due to lactation and latching issues;
- concern on low milk supply;
- worries about infant nutrition and weight;
- mother’s concern with medications while breastfeeding;
- cultural norms and lack of family support;
- unsupportive work policies and unsupportive hospital practices and policies
These challenges can be tackled by getting appropriate health services from a registered medical practitioner regarding the correct positioning of breastfeeding; treatment of mastitis with antibiotics; and regular weight monitoring of a breastfed baby, who should gain 20-30g a month.
Policies and environments such as longer maternity leave and breastfeeding facilities in the workplace and public area should also be encouraged to help mothers and infants.
Top tips for breastfeeding
Eat well-balanced meals consisting of quarter portions of protein and carbohydrate, while the remaining half portion consists of fibre.
Baby should feed frequently on demand for at least 15-20 minutes from each side. Alternating breasts in the same feeding session or different sessions helps keep up milk supply in both breasts and prevent engorgement.
Line your baby’s nose with your nipple to ensure a good latch. If you notice frequent poor latching, you may want to check for any tongue or lip tie in the baby, which is correctable through minor surgery by a registered primary care physician.
Exclusively breastfed babies usually need a maximum of 150ml per feed for their whole first year. As your baby gets bigger, your breast milk will adapt and increase in calories required by the baby. Milk production follows supply and demand rules: thus, when there is demand, there is supply.
For help and guidance on breastfeeding, seek the advice of certified lactation consultants, doctors, or registered dietitians.
This article was written by Azmyza Azmy, family doctor from Alpro Pharmacy, a dedicated community pharmacy committed to providing opportunities, health, and guidance to anyone striving for a better life. Speak to their professional healthcare providers at 019-702 1923.