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Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a natural and low-cost way to help reduce your child's risk of infection, chronic disease and obesity. It's also good for moms, and helps a woman lose the weight she gained during pregnancy and also reduces her risks for breast and ovarian cancer later on.
 Breastfeeding Podcast
Breastfeeding Facts
Prenatal
- Human milk is uniquely superior for feeding the human infant.
- Human milk is easy to digest and contains over 200 components for healthful development and protection against disease. reference Formula is not equivalent.
- There is strong evidence that factors in breast milk protect infants from a wide variety of illnesses including respiratory and digestive tract infection, ear infections and urinary tract infections.
- Some evidence suggests that children who have breastfed are less likely to die of SIDS, to contract diabetes or certain types of cancer, or to become overweight.
- Breastfeeding reduces postpartum bleeding and helps a woman´s uterus to return to pre-pregnancy size.
- Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months can help with spacing pregnancies and reduces the mother´s risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Breastmilk is free.
- Healthy infants should be placed and remain in direct skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately after delivery until the first feeding is accomplished.
Baby aged 1 day to 6 weeks.
- Yes You Can: Just as your body was capable of developing a baby during your pregnancy, your body is prepared to produce milk for your baby after delivery.
- During the early weeks infants should be breastfed at least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, offering the breast whenever the infant shows early signs of hunger such as increase alertness, physical activity, mouthing, or rooting.
- Avoid pacifiers and bottles in the first month to ensure establishment of breastfeeding and an adequate milk supply.
- Babies don´t need formula, water, glucose water or other supplemental fluids unless prescribed by a physician for a medical condition.
- Seek help from a breastfeeding expert such as a lactation consultant if you have problems.
- Breastfeeding alone is the best way to nourish an infant for the first six months of life and should be continued after introduction of solids for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.
Breastfeeding Management Guidelines 0 to 6 weeks
Reference: La Leche League International, The Breastfeeding Answer Book
- The more often and effectively a baby nurses, the more milk there will be.
- When the mother´s milk "comes in" on the third or fourth day after birth, there should be five or six (disposable) diapers in 24 hours.
- During the first six weeks, at least three to four bowel movements per day the size of a US quarter or larger is one indication that the baby is getting enough to eat.
- Engorgement can be avoided by breastfeeding long and often from birth.
- From birth to three months, typical weight gain is five to six ounces (140 to 170 grams) per week.
- If a baby is sleepy or uninterested in nursing during his first few days, suggest that mother encourage him/her to breastfeed often.
- Good nutrition, fluids and rest are important for mother´s recovery after giving birth
- "Growth spurts" or periods of increased nursing commonly occur at around two or three week, six weeks, and three months of age.
- Infants may "cluster feed" especially in the afternoon.
- Call for advice if your breastfed baby has less than 3 dirty and 6 wet diapers in 24 hours after your milk becomes plentiful.
- Some breast tenderness in the first week is normal. If you have very sore, cracked or bleeding nipples, call for advice, you may need to adjust your baby´s position or latch at the breast.
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