Easy and convenient. Infant formulas require preparation, warming or sterilization of milk or bottles for feeding. When you breastfeed, you will always have just the right amount, at just the right temperature with no bottles to clean! Enhances bonding and helps encourage a close relationship with your baby.
Improves mom’s recovery time. The hormones released while breastfeeding cause the uterus to contract and return to its previous size. When you breastfeed immediately and frequently after delivery, bleeding is reduced since your uterus is already beginning to contract and reduce in size.
Helps prevent maternal illnesses. Mothers who do not breastfeed have a higher incidence of anemia (low iron levels), breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and osteoporosis in later life.
Improves baby’s future dental health. The type of suckling babies use with bottles leads to higher incidence of severe dental problems and more orthodontic corrections later in life.
Saves money. Using infant formula for the first year of your baby’s life can cost as much as $1,500-$1,800! That doesn’t even include the cost of bottles, artificial nipples.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Why is Breast Milk the Best Choice?
Your baby will most likely be healthier! Formula fed babies have more colds, diarrhea, ear infections, urinary infections
and hospital admissions. Research shows they also have a higher incidence of diabetes, obesity and certain kinds of
cancer in childhood. Formula fed babies also develop more allergies and asthma.
Your baby will most likely be smarter! Research shows that formula fed babies may have lower IQs.
Breast milk contains unique ingredients not found in infant formulas that are important for growth and development of your baby. Breast milk is all the nutrition your baby will need for the first six months of life. Cows milk, which is the basis of most infant formulas, is ideally suited for the needs of a newborn calf and is substantially altered in an attempt to mimic breast milk.
Breast milk provides your baby with immunities not found in infant formula. The milk you produce during pregnancy is called colostrum. Colostrum, baby’s first milk, is very high in immunity factors. This plays a major role in protection against
infection and disease in your newborn. These immunity factors continue to be found in mature breast milk as well.
and hospital admissions. Research shows they also have a higher incidence of diabetes, obesity and certain kinds of
cancer in childhood. Formula fed babies also develop more allergies and asthma.
Your baby will most likely be smarter! Research shows that formula fed babies may have lower IQs.
Breast milk contains unique ingredients not found in infant formulas that are important for growth and development of your baby. Breast milk is all the nutrition your baby will need for the first six months of life. Cows milk, which is the basis of most infant formulas, is ideally suited for the needs of a newborn calf and is substantially altered in an attempt to mimic breast milk.
Breast milk provides your baby with immunities not found in infant formula. The milk you produce during pregnancy is called colostrum. Colostrum, baby’s first milk, is very high in immunity factors. This plays a major role in protection against
infection and disease in your newborn. These immunity factors continue to be found in mature breast milk as well.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Breastfeeding - Attaching Baby to the Breast
Latching the baby on correctly is the key to a pleasant, rewarding breastfeeding experience. Nursing behavior patterns are established early. Once set, bad habits are difficult to correct. Make sure you and your baby get off to a good start. A variety of reading materials and videos are helpful, but there is nothing like hands-on assistance from an experienced health care provider. Don't hesitate to ask for help the first few times. If you are still having difficulty by the time you leave the hospital, contact a breastfeeding specialist or a La Leche League leader.
Step 1
For most women, sitting up in bed or in a comfortable chair is easiest for breastfeeding. Make sure you are relaxed before you put the baby to breast. Use pillows on your lap, under your arms and behind your back. Putting your feet on a footstool to raise your knees slightly above your hips will eliminate back strain and put your body at the right angle.
Make sure your baby is comfortable and feels secure and supported. Nestle the baby in your arm at the level of your breast with his head and shoulders supported by your forearm just below your elbow, with your other hand holding his bottom. A nursing pillow can also help support your baby comfortably, while providing a resting place for your arms. The baby should be turned toward you, chest to chest, his head and trunk in a straight line, so that he doesn't have to strain or turn his head to attach to the breast. Tuck the baby's lower arm into the pocket between the two of you; if necessary, hold his upper arm down gently with the thumb of your supporting hand. Be careful not to tilt the baby's head down, as it will be difficult for him to swallow in that position. A very slight extension of the baby's head, with his chin touching your breast, will help keep his nose clear without your having to press on your breast tissue.
The proper way to hold the baby is chest-to-chest, at the level of the breast. Baby's head should
be in the crook of your arm and your hand should hold baby's buttocks.
The football hold is a good position for latch-on problems, or for premature or Cesarean birth babies.
The lying down position is especially useful after a Cesarean birth.
Two alternative positions are the clutch (football) hold, and lying down. The clutch is especially helpful if you are having difficulty getting the baby attached to the breast or if you have had a Cesarean birth.
Step 2
Hold your breast with your fingers underneath and thumb on top, making sure all of your fingers are placed well away from the areola. It is sometimes helpful if you roll your nipple between your fingers for a couple of seconds to help it become more erect. Then manually express a couple of drops of colostrum to entice the baby to take the breast. A woman with large breasts may find it comfortable to help support the weight with a rolled washcloth or diaper under the breast.
Step 3
Gently tickle the baby's lower lip with your nipple to encourage him to open his mouth wide. The moment he opens wide, almost like a yawn, quickly pull him in close to you. Do not lean forward, trying to put your breast into the baby's mouth. Instead, pull the baby toward you so that he has a large mouthful of breast tissue. His chin should be pressing into your breast; his nose should be just touching your breast. Keep supporting your breast with your hand until the baby is latched-on and is sucking well. Women with large breasts may have to support their breast throughout the entire feeding; smaller-breasted women may not need support.
The key to successful latch-on and preventing nipple soreness is to teach your baby to take a large portion of the areola into his mouth.
Step 1
For most women, sitting up in bed or in a comfortable chair is easiest for breastfeeding. Make sure you are relaxed before you put the baby to breast. Use pillows on your lap, under your arms and behind your back. Putting your feet on a footstool to raise your knees slightly above your hips will eliminate back strain and put your body at the right angle.
Make sure your baby is comfortable and feels secure and supported. Nestle the baby in your arm at the level of your breast with his head and shoulders supported by your forearm just below your elbow, with your other hand holding his bottom. A nursing pillow can also help support your baby comfortably, while providing a resting place for your arms. The baby should be turned toward you, chest to chest, his head and trunk in a straight line, so that he doesn't have to strain or turn his head to attach to the breast. Tuck the baby's lower arm into the pocket between the two of you; if necessary, hold his upper arm down gently with the thumb of your supporting hand. Be careful not to tilt the baby's head down, as it will be difficult for him to swallow in that position. A very slight extension of the baby's head, with his chin touching your breast, will help keep his nose clear without your having to press on your breast tissue.
The proper way to hold the baby is chest-to-chest, at the level of the breast. Baby's head should
be in the crook of your arm and your hand should hold baby's buttocks.
The football hold is a good position for latch-on problems, or for premature or Cesarean birth babies.
The lying down position is especially useful after a Cesarean birth.
Two alternative positions are the clutch (football) hold, and lying down. The clutch is especially helpful if you are having difficulty getting the baby attached to the breast or if you have had a Cesarean birth.
Step 2
Hold your breast with your fingers underneath and thumb on top, making sure all of your fingers are placed well away from the areola. It is sometimes helpful if you roll your nipple between your fingers for a couple of seconds to help it become more erect. Then manually express a couple of drops of colostrum to entice the baby to take the breast. A woman with large breasts may find it comfortable to help support the weight with a rolled washcloth or diaper under the breast.
Step 3
Gently tickle the baby's lower lip with your nipple to encourage him to open his mouth wide. The moment he opens wide, almost like a yawn, quickly pull him in close to you. Do not lean forward, trying to put your breast into the baby's mouth. Instead, pull the baby toward you so that he has a large mouthful of breast tissue. His chin should be pressing into your breast; his nose should be just touching your breast. Keep supporting your breast with your hand until the baby is latched-on and is sucking well. Women with large breasts may have to support their breast throughout the entire feeding; smaller-breasted women may not need support.
The key to successful latch-on and preventing nipple soreness is to teach your baby to take a large portion of the areola into his mouth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)