Every child needs to be breast fed for at least 6 months. No food other than breast milk is recommended during this time period. Some pediatricians recommend to give Vitamin D3( under the strict supervision of a qualified pediatrician). No other food including the traditional method of feeding the baby with gold with honey should be given. For most new mothers, milk secretion would be less during the initial days. It will gradually increase in the following days.
The milk in the first few days after birth is colostrum, which is very essential to the newborn. It helps the baby to build strong immune system, creates a tough coating in the intestines to keep baby from falling ill, acts as a laxative to help the baby to pass Meconium ( first poop), prevent Jaundice and get rid of harmful waste products. It also contains high level of proteins, fats, salt and vitamins for complete nutrition.
As recommended by the panel of pediatricians at Life Maid Easy Services Incorporated and feedback from Dr. Veena JS, breast milk can be divided into two- Fore Milk and Hind Milk. The one that is secreted during the initial phase of a breast feeding session is Fore Milk and the latter is Hind Milk. Fore milk contains mostly water, protein and nutrients. Hind Milk consists of mostly fat contents that is essential in brain cells development and body growth of the baby. This means, each breasts has to be fully emptied to ensure the complete purpose of breast feeding. Even though it is not advised to use milk formula, in exceptional cases, doctors suggest milk formula. It is always advised to administer formula milk with the consultation of the pediatrician.
There are situations where the mother has to be kept away from the newborn, like the mother having infection or communicable diseases like malaria or chest infection . In these cases, accumulated breast milk might cause Mastitis. Mastitis can be caused by engorgement, plugged milk ducts, or milk that remains in the breast after a feeding (milk stasis). These conditions can also lead to an infection, as can cracked or damaged nipples because germs can enter the breast this way. Breast pumps can be used to secrete milk and can be stored. Working mothers too can use breast pumps to excrete and store milk for later use. Trained child care givers from Life Maid Easy Services Incorporated know that ideally breast milk can be stored upto 12 hours. Smelling baby's used clothes or listening to baby's voice during this period will help generate Oxytocin hormone (the love hormone) in the brain, which in turn accelerates the milk secretion.
The weaning process begins the first time your baby takes food from a source other than your breast – whether it’s formula from a bottle or mashed banana from a spoon. Weaning is the gradual replacement of breastfeeding with other foods and ways of nurturing.
Stopping breast feeding is not that easy for most of the mothers. It is more emotional than anything else. It would cause emotional trauma to both mother and the baby. To reduce the impact of that, it should be done in different stages. On average it takes around a month to go through the multiple step weaning plan, but every baby is different – some get the hang of eating solids quickly, and others take a little more time to get used to new flavors and textures. They all get there in the end, so don’t rush – it’s fine to repeat steps until your baby is ready to move on. Take the time to enjoy it, and get ready for lots of mess and giggles! Life Maid Easy Services Incorporated has nannies that are trained to help you and your baby in this transition.
As far as the mother is concerned, abrupt stopping of breast feeding would lead to Mastitis. Systematic weaning will help to avoid developing Mastitis, due to milk that remain in the breast after feeding. Meeting a lactation consultant, can help you with your weaning process. She can lead you step by step and prevent Mastitis.
