Child benefits
Breast milk is equally useful for the baby at all stages of infancy.
Balanced natural food
For a child, mother’s milk is a source of beneficial substances, the only sterile and natural food product. It is fully absorbed and has the desired temperature.
Colostrum, which is excreted at first in the mammary glands of women, contains a lot of protein and elements that protect the child’s body from bacteria and help it grow.
Immunity formation
With regular use of breast milk, the child’s body becomes less susceptible to infectious diseases. Getting the enzymes and vitamins contained in breast milk, the child grows and develops in accordance with the norm. Feeding prevents the development of anemia, gastrointestinal diseases and diabetes.
Mother benefits
Continuous breastfeeding for a long time has a positive effect not only on the health of the infant.
Convenience and ease of procedure
Mom does not need additional inventory and time to prepare the product, as is the case with infant formula. Breastfeeding can be done anywhere, anytime and in any position, which also makes things easier.
Prevention of female diseases
Regular breastfeeding will help avoid the development of mastitis and breast cancer.
Establishing an emotional connection with the baby
Irina Ryukhova, a consultant on lactation, in the book “How to give a baby health: breastfeeding” writes: “The first application is the recognition of each other’s existence and the first acquaintance. It must take place at least on the first day after birth. ” An emotional connection is established between the first feeds between mother and child. During contact with the mother, the child feels calm and protected, and the woman feels the joy of physical unity.
Two hormones, oxytocin and prolactin, are involved in lactation. Oxytocin is responsible for the secretion of the formed milk, prolactin – for the production of milk during breastfeeding. In case of violations of oxytocin and prolactin, the young mother faces difficulties.
Milk changes in composition over several months, starting with the formation in the prenatal period and up to the beginning of the second month of the child’s life. As a result of “evolution”, breast milk is divided into 3 types:
- colostrum – from the third trimester to day 3 after birth,
- transitional – from 4 days after birth to 3 weeks;
- mature – from 3 weeks after birth.
In the perinatal centers and maternity hospitals, doctors teach mothers feeding techniques, but do not always sound the useful and harmful properties of breastfeeding.
Benefits of expressed milk
Squashing is sometimes the only way to feed a child in a timely and complete manner.
Strain the milk for later feeding should be when:
- disturbed sucking reflex;
- the child was born prematurely and temporarily isolated from the mother;
- you need to leave the child for a few hours to leave on business;
- the baby is not saturated with the amount of milk that has accumulated in the mother’s breast;
- there is a risk of lactostasis – with milk stagnation;
Temporary pumping is necessary when the mother:
- has a retracted nipple shape;
- is a carrier of infection.
The use of expressed milk is reduced to the availability of feeding, when contact between mother and child is impossible, and in the case when it is necessary to “get rid” of excess milk.
Breastfeeding Harm
Sometimes the process of breastfeeding is not possible for reasons related to the health of the mother or child.
Contraindications to breastfeeding from the mother:
- bleeding during or after childbirth;
- childbirth operations;
- decompensation in chronic lung, liver, kidney and heart diseases;
- acute tuberculosis;
- oncology, HIV or acute mental illness;
- taking cytotoxic drugs, antibiotics or hormonal drugs.
The presence of an infectious disease in the mother, for example, sore throat or flu is not a reason to stop breastfeeding. During the period of illness, entrust basic care of the child to another family member, and put on a protective mask and wash your hands before each contact with the child.
Contraindications to breastfeeding on the part of the child:
- prematurity;
- developmental disabilities;
- hereditary enzymopathies in a child;
- circulatory disorders in the head 2-3 degrees.
