Frequently Asked Questions about breast fedding
Question 1:How do I know that my baby needs now my breast?
Answer:Usually every mother knows when her baby is hungry, but there are some famous signs :
* Excessive movement of the baby
* Movement of the mouth.
* Crying (crying is a late sign).
Question 2:My baby needs my breast a lot, so will this lead to depletion of my milk in a certain time?
Answer:
The reverse is true , the more the number of times to breastfeed the baby more milk yield.
Question 3:I have a small breast size, does this mean I will not be able to give my baby the adequate amount of milk?
Answer:
There is no relationship between the quantity of milk and breast size, as most nursing mothers produce roughly equal amounts of milk per day.
Question 4:I have 2 babies (twins), Can I feed them normal? Or do I need to supplement my milk with artificial one to meet their nutritional needs?
Answer:
The mother’s milk is enough to feed twins
Both breasts are capable of producing enough milk, There is no relationship between the quantity of milk and breast size, if you are still confused, consult the pediatrician.
Question 5:How do I know that my baby is in proper feeding position?
Answer:
The baby can be fed efficiently if was adherent to the breast properly, this can be known by the following:
• If the baby’s body was facing the mother’s body and not, turning away from her.
• If the baby’s head is on the same line with his body, not bent or curled to his body.
• If the baby was completely in touch with the breast and not away from it.
• If the chin of the baby was touching the breast.
• If the baby’s mouth hides as many as possible of the areola.
• If suckling was slow and profound than whether it was rapid or superficial.
• If the mother does not feel pain in her nipple but if she is feeling a pain ,this means that she is in need to change the position of the baby.
Question 6:How do I increase the amount of milk in my breasts?
Answer:
This can be achieved when emptying the breast for at least 7 times a day after feeding with an attempt to empty the milk from the breast before the midnight because the milk hormone is secreted after midnight till the pre-dawn breaks, thus if breast feeding was at this time, milk hormone secretion is activated.
Nursing mothers are advised to drink plenty of fluids, eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, yoghurt, nuts, natural fenugreek and cheese.
However, nursing mothers who have cardiovascular diseases are advised to visit their doctors before taking these foods .
On the other hand, there is some scientific views that psychological stress, depression, coffee, tea, and birth control pills reduce the milk secretion.
Question 7:I feel my breast engorged, what are the reasons and managment?
Answer:
Reasons:
Excess milk production
Incomplete emptying of excess milk regularly .
The baby refuses the breast for several reasons such as illness
Irregular and delay in nursing times .
Insufficient breastfeeding .
The mother is tired, the breast may be tender on touch and congested and the mother may suffer of high temperature .
Managment:
• Start to feed your baby immediately after birth.
• Let the baby suck on the breast several times.
• Feed the baby at frequent close intervals, you can awake him when you feel that you have the desire of feeding .
• If the breast is engorged to the point that makes it difficult for the baby to hold it ,squeeze some amount of milk to make it easy for the baby to catch the breast.
• hot fomentations are advised .
• Let the baby begins breastfeeding from the breast more full at the beginning.
• If your baby finished feeding and still you find your breast full , evacuate it and store the excess amount of milk .
• Have hot water baths
Question 8: Milk does not come out of my breasts while feeding, despite fullness of my breasts?
Answer:
If there is a blockage of milk ducts , a red colored area of skin often appears over the blocked ducts , and the mother feels a pain because milk is not properly emptied
One of the common causes for this problem is the narrow stretcher (bra).
Treatment:
• Wear a suitable size bra.
• Gently massage the area where you feel pain, directing the massage towards the nipple, especially when the baby begins to absorb the milk.
• Empty breast when you feel pain after each feed.
• Change your position between each feed as this distributes pressure absorption of milk by the baby on different parts of the breast, you can breastfeed lying down sometimes and sitting other times.
• Put a warm cloth on the breast between feeds.
• Have hot water baths.
• Take a great amount of rest.
• If the problem persists or inflammation occurred or an abscess was formed, consult the surgeon.
Question 9:How can I avoid cracks in the nipples? :
Answer:
Cracked nipples occur for several reasons, including:
1 – The baby grips on the nipple violently due to severe hunger.
2 – Wrong feeding position.
3 – The baby holds the nipple partially .
4 – Rapid nipple withdrawing from the mouth of the baby while he is still breastfeeding.
Tips to prevent nipple cracks:
• Breastfeed the baby before he becomes hungry in order not to grip the nipple violently…Do not wait till baby crying (crying is a late sign).
• Start breastfeeding, from the less painful breast while massaging the breast to facilitate the flow of breast milk.
• Make sure that the baby holds the nipple and the halo surrounding his mouth.
• Change your feeding positions , lying once and sitting another once in order to distribute milk absorption the from the breasts evenly.
• After feeding , wash by water the baby saliva remaining on your breast, and let nipples dry completely in the air before covering them.
• Avoid washing nipples with soap after each feed; it is enough to use water simply.
• Wear a cotton bra and cotton clothes as they help to keep the nipples dry.
Question 10:I note that my nipples are inverted, will this affect feeding of my baby?
Answer:
There is no importance for the length or shortness of nipples , what is important is that the nipple and areola are capable of feeding any way.
What you should know is that most of small or inverted nipples develop progressively near the time of delivery .
Be sure you can feed your baby even if you notice a little or no improvement in nipples, babies get their food not only from nipples but from the whole breast.
Solution:
• During the last months of pregnancy Pull the nipple gently to the outside using the thumb and index fingers , pull them in all directions daily..
• put the index finger above the nipple and other fingers below it and pull away from the nipple in the opposite direction.
• When feeding your baby , try different positions and squeeze a little amount of milk directly into his mouth and let him explore your breast .After a little time from the baby’s suckling , the nipple will protrude forward naturally.
Question 11:I am a working mother, how my I feed my baby?
Answer:
World Health Organization recommends nursing mothers take a rest from work for a period of not less than 16 weeks after delivery, in order to be able to get rest and breastfeed her baby.
If the mother had to work ,there must be available places that meet safety , hygiene conditions and privacy in the workplace.
Working mothers or mothers enrolled in the study can breastfeed their babies by collecting and storing their milk to be given again to their babies by that person who will substitute the mother at home during her absence .This a good solution instead of giving artificial milk.
Milk can be expressed and collected either by manual breast squeezing or by manual vacuum aspirators or battery-powered or electric ones .
How to collect milk?
1 – Wash your hands with soap and water before squeezing milk.
2 – During squeezing and suction it is preferred to drink water or juice.
3 – It is recommended to bend slightly forward and press by two fingers on the halo surrounding the nipple and not the nipple itself.
4 – Keep pressing on one place till it is empty then shift to another place…
5 – Collect milk in a sterile container.
6 – Or you can use the various suction pumps to collect milk.
How to store milk?
1 – You can store the milk at room temperature for 8-10 hours.
2 – Or in the refrigerator (in the coldest place) for 24-48 hours.
3 – Or in the freezer for a period of 3-6 months.
4 – Milk is collected separately for each feed in a bottle and then closed carefully , numbered and the date of collection is recorded , use the oldest first and then newer.
5 – When storing milk in freezer , do not fill the bottle completely, but leave a place for the milk to expand .
6 – When using the mil; Leave it in room temperature till it become warm or warm it a bath of hot water before use , Do not use direct fire or ordinary ovens or microwave ovens.
7 – Once used or warmed ,Re-cooling or re-use of milk is not allowed.
How to feed the baby by cup?
1 – Put the baby standing or semi-sitting on your lap.
2 – Get the glass of milk close to the lips of the baby.
3 – Tilt the cup little down to allow access for milk to the lips of the baby.
4 – Avoid pouring milk into the baby’s mouth ..
5 – Measure the amount of milk taken by the baby within 24 hours ,not that taken in each feed.
Question 12: My baby is crying too much, can I let him use pacifiers or teats?
Answer:
Never use pacifiers or teats for their negative effect on breastfeeding .
Disadvantages of pacifiers:
1 – Pacifiers weaken jaw muscles and suckling power of your baby.
2 – Dissociate your baby as he sucks your breast once and the pacifiers another once .
3 – Cause deformation jaw and teeth.
4 – Decrease milk production.
5 – cause microbial if unclean.
Question 13: When I start weaning to my baby and when do I use the supplementary foods?
Answer:
Weaning process is the process of gradual training of the baby to eat semi-solid and solid foods.
It begins from the sixth month as a complementary and not alternative to breast milk, and continues until the baby is two years old .
No weaning or supplementary foods of any kind during the first half of the life of baby, breast milk alone is fully sufficient food until the age of 6 months.
Important tips:
1 – When you begin weaning, you should not reduce breast-feeding .
2 -Supplementary food should be given with a spoon or cup, not by the bottle
3 – Supplementary food should be clean, safe and available.
4 – Enough time should be given for young babies to learn how to eat solid foods.
