Breastfeeding

The benefits of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is not just giving food to our baby. It is also a moment of immense love, in which we are building and establishing our emotional and physical bond with him.

It is a moment to transmit all the peace and security that he needs, by feeling close, by listening to the beats of our hearts and our voices.

Breast milk is the only food that the baby needs during the first six months of life, as it contains all the nutrients necessary for its development. No food, nor formula milk, contains all the nutrients that breast milk provides.

Other advantages for the baby:

• It provides you with all the protection against infections and diseases such as: diabetes, asthma, ear infections, respiratory infections, diarrhea, allergies, viral and bacterial diseases, obesity, even some types of cancer such as leukemia and lymphomas.
• It helps in the development of the bones and muscles of the face and mouth and in the formation of an adequate dental arch.
• It promotes neurological and cognitive development and language development.

Other advantages for mom:

• It helps the uterus return to its natural size and reduces bleeding after childbirth.
• Reduces the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.
• The body produces oxytocin “the love hormone”, giving you the feeling of well-being and the feelings of caring, protecting, loving and responding to your baby's needs.
• It helps you regain your weight, since daily the body invests 500 additional calories than normal expenditure.
• It is much more comfortable and practical, since you do not have to carry additional luggage to feed it, nor invest work, time and energy in its preparation.
• Help with the home economy

What is colostrum?

It is the first “milk” that is produced, sometimes even before birth. It is a light yellow viscous liquid, rich in proteins and antibodies, which will provide the baby with nourishment and protection against diseases. Colostrum consumption is very important.

The baby consumes colostrum in its first 3 to 5 days, in small quantities (it is the amount that the baby needs due to the size of its stomach) and then begins the moment of milk let-down or the moment of transition of milk production. colostrum to breast milk.

• The time for milk to come in varies from woman to woman, you just have to be patient and feed the baby frequently with colostrum until the milk comes in.
• After colostrum comes transitional milk, which is a bluish-white milk, which has a higher content of soluble vitamins, proteins, lactose and fats and is produced until the baby's second week.
• And finally, mature milk arrives, a very important source of energy. It is a whiter and more consistent milk, with a greater amount of fat and calories, important for brain development and the maintenance of body structure.

Maternal colostrum facilitates the expulsion of meconium and protects the baby against infections.

What are my premature baby's nutritional needs?

Some premature babies who are very small or very sick are fed through an intravenous (or IV) line, known as " total parenteral nutrition " (TPN). Total parenteral nutrition contains a special mix of nutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

Doctors and nutritionists closely monitor the diet of premature babies and make changes when necessary to make sure babies get the nutrients they need to grow.

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for all babies, especially premature babies.

 

The mother's colostrum is essential, as it contains millions of cells from the maternal immune system and antibodies that protect against infections, as well as friendly bacteria that help keep her delicate intestine healthy so that the baby, due to his condition, cannot take it directly from the breast. maternal, those drops of colostrum that the mother extracts can be given directly into the baby's mouth with a dropper or spread with a cotton applicator, this is known as colostrotherapy.

The breast milk of a mother who has had a premature baby has different and special characteristics, with a different balance of vitamins, minerals, proteins that help fight infections , and sugars that favor the connection of neurons in her brain.

Although most premature babies cannot feed directly from the breast because their sucking mechanism is not fully mature, mothers can express milk in the neonatal unit so that nursing staff can later give it to the hospitalized baby through a probe, a small tube that goes from the baby's nose or mouth to the stomach.

Once premature babies leave hospitalization, they need to go to a “Kangaroo Program” to make all their medical visits, including pediatric check-ups, neurodevelopment evaluations, retinology, breastfeeding support and, if necessary, apply the Kangaroo Mother Method to keep the baby carried 24 hours in skin-to-skin contact with his mother, father and a maximum of two other caregivers, also give him the vaccines that all babies need to stay healthy, and have regular vision and hearing checkups.

As your baby grows, his or her doctors will look at his or her growth and development, including speech, language, learning and motor skills, muscle tone, strength, and reflexes.

How can I face the process of caring for a premature baby?

Caring for a premature baby can be much more physically and emotionally demanding and complex than caring for a full-term baby.

So it is very important that you take care of yourself by eating well, resting when you can and doing physical exercise according to your state of health.

Spend time with your other children whenever you can, and get help from other people.

Accept support from your friends, relatives, and also community support groups.

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What is colostrum?

It is the first “milk” that is produced, sometimes even before birth. It is a light yellow viscous liquid, rich in proteins and antibodies, which will provide the baby with nourishment and protection against diseases. Colostrum consumption is very important.

The baby consumes colostrum in its first 3 to 5 days, in small quantities (it is the amount that the baby needs due to the size of its stomach) and then begins the moment of milk let-down or the moment of transition of milk production. colostrum to breast milk.

• The time for milk to come in varies from woman to woman, you just have to be patient and feed the baby frequently with colostrum until the milk comes in.
• After colostrum comes transitional milk, which is a bluish-white milk, which has a higher content of soluble vitamins, proteins, lactose and fats and is produced until the baby's second week.
• And finally, mature milk arrives, a very important source of energy. It is a whiter and more consistent milk, with a greater amount of fat and calories, important for brain development and the maintenance of body structure.

Maternal colostrum facilitates the expulsion of meconium and protects the baby against infections.

Correct posture and form for breastfeeding

The key to avoiding the problems of sore and cracked nipples is the correct posture of the baby when breastfeeding.

• The baby's body should be completely facing the mother's body. Your head and body must be aligned (the baby cannot remain with his head turned, as it will hurt the nipples)

Before achieving the grip, it is very useful to secure the breast with one of the hands in a C shape, placing the thumb on the top of the breast and the other fingers on the bottom.

With the other arm we carry the baby, keeping him facing our body. With our hands we hold the baby by the neck and back and support his head so that it is slightly backwards.

• Once we have the baby well secured, we take him to the chest, pushing him gently to help him achieve latch.

• Before attaching the baby, we press the areola a little so that a few drops of milk come out. We stimulate the baby to open his mouth, touching the edge of the mouth with the nipple. When the baby opens his mouth completely, we introduce the breast, ensuring that the nipple is directed towards the palate.

• The baby's lips should be completely open (like a fish's mouth), grasping the breast from the areola and not from the nipple, to achieve good suction. The entire nipple and a good part of the areola, especially the lower part, should remain inside the baby's mouth. This way we will have a deep grip.
• The baby's tongue should wrap around the nipple at the bottom, the cheeks should look rounded and the nose and chin rest lightly on the mother's breast. There is no need to uncover your nose, as doing so can cause a poor grip.

• At the time of sucking the baby works with the jaw, the jaw moves up and down and the ears and temple also move. No clicking should be heard and the mother should not feel pain.

Recommendations to identify a good grip

grip