Breast Feeding
Breastfeeding is something that every pediatrician encourages for moms everywhere! It is a practice endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and certainly endorsed by all the physicians at Westchester Park Pediatrics. Not only does it offer many health benefits and antibody protection against illness, it is a very easy and convenient source of nutrition and a wonderful bonding experience between a mom and her child. However, breastfeeding may not be desired by everyone for personal or medical reasons. In that case, there are excellent formulas available on the market that simulate breast milk very closely and which can be used in lieu of breastfeeding. You should consult with your pediatrician about which of these formulas to start the baby on and always check with your pediatrician before changing formulas on your own.
All babies are born with a natural reflex to suck and breastfeeding should come fairly easily to most newborns. The main ingredients are to rest, eat a very healthy diet, drink plenty of fluids, and RELAX. If you are having trouble with your baby latching on, the hospital nurses are an excellent resource for help. In addition, your pediatrician may want to refer you to a special lactation consultant when you go home. Breastfeeding can be somewhat painful in the first few days. You want to be sure to start off slowly and increase the amount of time the baby spends on the breast gradually within the first week of life. It may take four or five days for your milk supply to come in fully. Once that happens, the baby will feed on demand or usually between one and three hours. If your baby is very sleepy in the first few days of life, you will need to wake the baby somehow, such as rubbing the bottom of the foot or using a cool wipe to clean the baby's behind. Most of the milk is let down in the first 15 to 20 minutes. Therefore, after feeding on the first breast for that amount of time, you can switch to the second breast. The whole feeding experience is usually completed within 30 to 40 minutes.
Unless your pediatrician has any specific concerns, babies do not require any other fluids other than breast milk in the first few months of life. Some moms prefer to pump their extra breast milk and offer that at times in a bottle. Please click on this site for further information regarding storage of breast milk and other breastfeeding concerns www.pamf.org/children/newborns/feeding/storing.html. Formula can be used as a supplement as well. These two options should only be used after your milk supply is well established and the baby is feeding vigorously. The best way to gauge if your baby is getting enough milk is to look for six to eight wet diapers in a day and several bowel movements daily. Also,the best indication as to the success of the breastfeeding is if your baby is gaining weight appropriately. Your baby's weight will be checked when you visit your pediatrician's office. All babies spit up to some degree. If this becomes excessive or the baby seems unusually cranky, you should consult your pediatrician.
Any medications taken by the nursing mother, short of tylenol or motrin/advil, should be cleared with either the pediatrician or obstetrician. A healthy diet should be followed; some babies may be sensitive to spicy or gassy foods in your diet and may need to be avoided. Moms should stay on their prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding, and the babies are usually given Vitamin D supplementation for as long as their main source of nutrition is breast milk. Solid foods are introduced at the appropriate age in accordance with the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, usually between four and six months of age. Starting solid foods too early does not enhance the length of time that your baby remains asleep, and may result in food allergies and other medical problems.
The length of time which you continue to breastfeed is highly individual and personal. Some women need to return to work and find it very difficult to breastfeed while working; others may continue to nurse for months or even years! Whether breastfeeding lasts for one week or one year, you have given the baby great benefits and you should feel the accomplishment of having done the very best thing for your baby.