ADVANTAGES OF BREASTFEEDING: WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT HAVE TOLD YOU
One of the most important decisions a. mother makes in the months preceding her baby’s birth is how she will feed her baby. According to medical childcare experts, more and more mothers these days are choosing to breast feed. The decision seems to be a wise one because the American Academy of Pediatrics has labeled breastmilk as the “perfect” food for a baby during the first year of life. Moreover, breast milk is easy for the baby to digest, and it provides antibodies until the baby’s body can make them on its own. Breastfeeding also provides a special closeness for mother and baby, and it helps restore the uterus to pre-pregnancy size.
Here are several things a mother can do to ensure successful breastfeeding:
1) Go to breastfeeding classes before the baby is born.
2) Try to nurse the baby as soon as possible in the delivery room. Research shows that babies who begin nursing almost immediately after delivery are more successful at breastfeeding.
3) Nurse your baby as often as 8 to 12 times a day for the first few weeks, and let the baby nurse as long as he or she wants. The more a baby nurses, the more milk a mother will provide.
4) Allow the baby to nurse from both breasts during each feeding. Nurse on one side until it appears the baby is losing interest, then offer your baby the other breast.
The next time you feed your baby, begin with the side you ended with the time before.
5) Don’t give your baby supplemental bottles or a pacifier until you have been nursing successfully for more than three weeks and the baby is gaining weight.
6) The key to success for any breastfeeding mother is to pay attention to her baby, and having the support of those around her in her decision to breastfeed. Some experts even recommend joining breastfeeding support groups.
Any prospective mother considering breastfeeding her baby should consult a pediatrician who is supportive of breastfeeding and can help with any questions or problems that might arise.
*380\27\8*
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.