Why does not a single high-tech milk formula replace breastfeeding, how to properly organize feeding in the first hour of a newborn's life? On the eve of the World Breastfeeding Support Week, which will begin on August 1, "AiF" talked about this with the chief freelance specialist pediatrician of the Ministry of Health of the region Irina Klimova.
No bottle or pacifier
Experts from the World Health Organization recommend exclusive breastfeeding and call it "the first vaccine of a child." In their opinion, breastfeeding a newborn should begin from the first hour of his birth and continue to do so until the child reaches six months. The use of bottles and pacifiers during this time is not recommended. The explanation is simple: a bottle-fed baby can gradually switch to artificial feeding and completely abandon the breast. A dummy nipple can cause malocclusion and reduce the number and duration of breastfeeding.
Feeding on demand
Breast milk is an ideal food for feeding, it contains more than 200 nutrients. When breastfeeding, the baby is in close contact with the mother. It is important for the baby to regulate the frequency and duration of feedings himself. Feeding on demand stimulates the production of breast milk as needed. Breastfeeding significantly reduces the risk of diarrhea and pneumonia, which are very dangerous for the health and life of a newborn baby, is beneficial for the mother: it reduces the risk of developing type II diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer.
Every breastfeeding mother should be familiar with the technique of latching a baby to the breast. Improper latching of the breast leads to serious problems: cracks and bleeding appear on the chest, the number of feedings decreases due to painful sensations, excessive production and violation of the outflow of breast milk leads to stagnation - lactostasis, which manifests itself in the form of thickening of the mammary glands, soreness and redness of the skin. With lactostasis, you should immediately contact your doctor, since self-medication often has negative consequences. It is also necessary to discuss with him the use of ointments and creams so that they do not lead to allergies in the child.
If the child is weak?
A frequent question is whether a weakened child needs to be supplemented with formula? This is exactly the case when breast milk is especially necessary for especially weakened children: those who are underweight or born prematurely, children of adolescent mothers, or those born in a family in a difficult financial situation. Breastfeeding is also recommended for mothers infected with the HIV virus, but both the mother and the baby need to take antiretroviral drugs on a regular basis under the supervision of a doctor.
It's important to know!
WHO experts believe that the optimal age for a baby for weaning is two years. Breastfeeding not only satisfies the baby's nutritional needs, but is also a sedative.
If your baby is overworked or stressed out, breastfeeding can help him relax and calm down. By the way, breast milk contains immunoglobulins that support the baby's natural immunity.
