First, the benefits of breast milk
1. Colostrum benefits
Colostrum is milk produced by a mother within 4 to 5 days of childbirth. Colostrum is yellow in color, thick in appearance, and seems to be a little "dirty".
Colostrum is important for both the child's health and the mother's recovery, and is a precious "golden nutrition".
The protein, carbohydrates, minerals and trace elements contained in colostrum are very rich and reasonably proportioned, easy to be digested and absorbed by the baby, which can help the child resist various infections and enhance immunity.
Colostrum also has the effect of promoting early excretion of fetal stool and preventing allergies in children.
2. Breast milk benefits
Breast milk is the best food for your baby and should be exclusively breastfed for up to 6 months and continue to breastfeed until 1.5 years of age.
Breast milk is nutritionally comprehensive, adequate and easy to digest and absorb.
Breast milk contains a variety of immune substances that help prevent your baby from getting sick and allergic.
Breastfeeding promotes your baby's neurodevelopment and makes your baby smarter.
Breastfeeding fosters an intimate relationship between mother and baby, making mothers more satisfied and newborns more at ease.
Breastfeeding can reduce the growth retardation or obesity of the baby 1-2 years after birth, which is conducive to preventing the occurrence of chronic diseases in adulthood.
Breastfeeding promotes uterine contractions, helps mothers recover after childbirth, and reduces the chance of breast and ovarian cancer.
Second, breastfeeding methods
1. How to feed your child colostrum
After giving birth, the child is physically contacted with the mother and the child is allowed to suck on the mother's nipple within 20 to 30 minutes after childbirth
。 The correct way to do this is to hold the nipple up in a C-shape by hand and let the child hold the areola. Only when the child holds the areola, it is not easy to make the nipple rupture.
The child's sucking can promote the contraction of the mother's uterus, which is conducive to the mother's early recovery and can also prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
Early feeding and breastfeeding is also conducive to establishing close contact between mother and child, enhancing maternal and infant feelings, and enhancing parent-child relationships.
2. Different feeding methods
Lying on the side
Keep your baby on the side of your mother's body, support your baby's back with your forearms, and rest your neck and head on your mother's hands.
If it is a cesarean section, then this is a very suitable position, because the pressure on the wound is very small.
This method is easy to see if the baby has firmly grasped the nipple to form an effective lactation.
It will be more comfortable for a mother who undergoes a cesarean section because keep the baby away from the incision.
Mothers with large breasts will be more comfortable because their baby's chest can help support breast weight.
When the breasts are full, this position facilitates the adjustment of the shape of the breasts.
Cradle support holding method
Use the inside of the elbow joint of the mother's arm to support the baby's head, so that his abdomen is close to the mother's body, and support the mother's breast with the other hand.
Because the breast is so little exposed, it is better to hold it out for breastfeeding.
This method is usually the easiest to learn posture and the most commonly used posture for most moms.
Cross cradle hugging method
The position is the same as using the cradle support method, but this time use the opposite arm, so that you can support the baby's head with your hands and the body with your forearm.
This allows the mother to better control the orientation of the baby's head.
This method can use the hand to support the back of the baby's neck, which will give you better control over the formation of the baby's head than using the forearm.
It is especially effective when used to breastfeed premature babies or babies who have difficulty holding on to their nipples.
Rugby holding
The rugby posture is suitable for those babies who have difficulty feeding, and it can also help the mother to observe the baby, and the position of the baby can be adjusted when the baby is feeding.
The steps are to place your baby in a wider chair or sofa, place him under his mother's arm, head close to his mother's chest, and support his head and shoulders with his mother's fingers.
Then put a pillow under your baby's head so that your baby's mouth can touch your mother's nipples.
If the nipple has been injured, it is difficult to breastfeed directly, and the injured part should be breastfed at the corner of the baby's mouth, which is a good position at this time.
3. The number and amount of breastfeeding
Each baby has its own needs, and the number and amount of feedings the mother to the baby each day needs to be adjusted according to the baby's needs.
Feeding the baby can be on demand or on time, and the mother can decide according to her actual situation.
Breastfeed at least 8 times a day, once a day in 3 to 4 hours.
Newborns' stomachs are emptied about every 3 hours, so they are generally fed every 3 to 4 hours.
However, some babies have a small stomach volume or faster digestion, and the stomach will be empty every 2 hours.
At this time, the mother is best to meet the needs of the baby, and does not have to wait until 3 hours to feed.
Some babies have a larger stomach volume or slower digestion, and the interval between feedings is longer, but it should not exceed 4 hours.
If the baby is still sleeping for more than 4 hours, the mother should wake the baby up and breastfeed him.
Mother's heart: The great thing about mothers is selfless dedication, feeding their babies with sweet milk!
The mother of three children will share with you the experience of parenting and the fun of bringing a baby. Like my sharing, please like and comment!