Breastfeeding A Baby

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• QHow long should I breastfeed my baby?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  It is best to give your baby only breast milk for the first six months of life. This means not giving your baby any other food or drink — not even water — during this time. Drops of liquid vitamins, minerals, and medicines are, of course, fine, as advised by your baby's doctor. It is even better if you can breastfeed for your baby's first year or longer, for as long as you both wish. Solid iron-rich foods, such as iron-fortified cereals and pureed vegetables and meats, can be started when your baby is around six months old. Before that time, a baby's stomach cannot digest them properly. Solids do not replace breastfeeding. Breast milk stays the baby's main source of nutrients during the first year. Beyond one year, breast milk can still be an important part of your child's diet.

  This answer is based on source information from National Women's Health Information Center.

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• QCan I breastfeed if I adopted my baby?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  It may be difficult, but many women are able to breastfeed adopted children. If you have been pregnant before, that may make it easier. The help of your doctor and a lactation consultant may be necessary. The stimulation of the baby feeding may cause your body to produce milk, and the more the baby nurses the more milk will be produced. However, you may need to discuss hormone supplementation with your doctor to get the process going. If you can, prepare by pumping every three hours around the clock (for eight sessions each day) a couple of weeks before the baby arrives. If you are unable to produce enough milk for the baby, consider an at-breast supplementer; these devices enable the baby to get more milk, either formula or donated breastmilk, while feeding at your breast. Don't be discouraged; even if you are unable to give the baby enough nutrition on your own, it is still a wonderful way for baby and you to be close.

• QWhat is colostrum?

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  A Intermountain Healthcare answered

  Colostrum is the golden yellow milk that you pump the first days after your baby’s birth. It is packed with everything your baby needs to grow and provides extra antibodies (disease-fighting substances) that help your baby fight infections and other complications. After the first few days, your milk will become thinner and less yellow, until it becomes mature milk. Mothers who deliver preterm infants produce colostrum longer. This gives their babies more antibodies and extra protection for a longer time.

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• QWhy am I not producing enough breast milk?

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  A Henrico Doctors' Hospital - HCA Virginia answered

  Although most breastfeeding-related problems can be corrected by addressing a few simple procedural issues, a small subset of the population can experience primary lactation failure (PLF), a condition occurring when the mother’s body fails to produce enough milk to supply her infant’s nutritional needs. PLF can be due to various factors, notably previous thoracic or breast surgery severing vital nerves or ducts, hormonal imbalances and/or insufficient glandular tissue (IGT), which can also be referred to as hypoplasia or tubular breast syndrome.

  Many options exist for proper infant nutrition outside of breast milk, including many different types of formula. Your pediatrician can best guide you on which type of formula will work best for your infant, and can help you adjust if you experience issues transitioning.

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• QHow can breastfeeding benefit my baby?

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  A St. David’s HealthCare answered

  Breastfeeding has many benefits for your baby. For example:

  • Colustrum, the first milk a woman makes for her infant post-delivery, meets a baby's needs for the first few days of life. Colostrum helps boost the baby’s immune system, lower his or her chances of jaundice and helps the baby have his or her first bowel movement.
  • Breast milk, which develops within three to five days after giving birth, helps the baby’s brain to develop. Also, breast milk contains antibodies that help to prevent the baby from getting sick and decrease incidence of asthma, allergies and dental caries. Breast milk also helps to prevent sudden infant death syndrome and continues to protect baby long after breastfeeding is stopped. Baby’s risk of being overweight, developing diabetes and even some cancers can drop if he or she has been breastfed.

  This content originally appeared on http://www.livehealthyaustin.com/

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• QWhat should I do if I have problems breastfeeding?

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  A HCA Virginia answered

  Although most breastfeeding-related problems can be corrected with changing how you're actually doing it, a small number of women experience primary lactation failure (PLF), a condition when the mother’s body fails to produce enough milk to supply her infant’s nutritional needs.

  PLF can be due to various factors, notably previous thoracic or breast surgery severing vital nerves or ducts, hormonal imbalances and insufficient glandular tissue (IGT), which can also be referred to as hypoplasia or tubular breast syndrome. Many options exist for proper infant nutrition outside of breast milk, including many different types of formula. Your pediatrician can best guide you on which type of formula will work best for your infant, and can help you adjust if you experience issues transitioning.

• QWhat are the benefits of breastfeeding?

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  A Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered

  Breast feeding provides the best nutrition for your child. Breast feeding decreases your baby's risk of ear infections, respiratory illnesses, sudden infant death syndrome, obesity and hypertension. Breast feeding also provides mom with benefits including aiding weight loss after delivery, and reducing risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

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• QCan I breastfeed if I smoke?

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  A HCA Virginia answered

  Many restrictions that existed during pregnancy still exist, to some degree, when breastfeeding. Cigarette smoking is universally unhealthy for both mothers and infants, and should be avoided. Babies who are exposed to cigarette smoke have higher incidences of respiratory distress, ear infections, eye irritation, croup, colic and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

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• QWhat should I avoid or limit in my diet while breastfeeding?

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  A HCA Virginia answered

  Many restrictions that existed during pregnancy still exist, to some degree, when breastfeeding. A good rule of thumb about alcohol consumption when breastfeeding is that if you’re sober enough to drive, then you can breastfeed. Alcohol affects infants in a magnified way because of their underdeveloped liver function, so consumption should always be monitored with care. Caffeine intake is another common concern, although most mothers can have it in moderation. Some infants are more sensitive than others to a mother’s caffeine intake, particularly if the mother avoided caffeine entirely during pregnancy.

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