Breastfeeding: Indications and Nuances
Humans belong to the family of mammals, which means that their first food is maternal milk. The answer to the question of what breastfeeding provides is unequivocal: in the early stages, it fully supplies the small organism with all the necessary nutrients, systems, and organs develop correctly, the immune system functions like clockwork, and all of this together is a guarantee of robust health throughout life.
At a minimum, the first month of breastfeeding newborns is accompanied by anxiety from mothers and dozens of questions: whether the baby is properly holding the nipple in the mouth, whether it effectively suckles at the breast, whether the diet of the breastfeeding woman is appropriate. However, the mother must monitor not only the condition of the child but her own as well. Sometimes women experience pain in the breasts or nipples while breastfeeding – this may occur due to irritation of the delicate skin on the nipples, a feeling of fullness due to a rapid influx of milk, or milk let-downs during the establishment of lactation.
The well-being of the baby largely depends on the diet of the breastfeeding mother. She should choose food products while breastfeeding, remembering that they enter the child's body through breast milk and provoke corresponding reactions. A breastfeeding mother's diet may include:
- vegetable soups without frying;
- lean meats and fish;
- various vegetables and unsweetened fruits;
- grains in milk and water.
At the same time, it is important to remember the restrictions in the maternal diet. These primarily apply to the following drinks and foods:
- alcohol;
- carbonated drinks;
- tea;
- coffee;
- chocolate;
- cakes;
- smoked meats;
- legumes.
Breastfeeding and Antibiotics
It should be remembered that if the mother takes antibacterial medications, they can pass through the milk into the child's body with all the negative consequences. Treatment with antibiotics during breastfeeding necessitates a pause in feeding.
Some antibiotics that the mother takes are considered harmless to the child, as they enter breast milk in absolutely small quantities. In any case, before taking antibiotics, one should consult with a pediatrician and their own doctor.
Constipation and Diarrhea in Infants
The age from 0 to 12 months is not an easy period in an infant's life, during which they may experience periodic gastrointestinal issues: problems with defecation (constipation, diarrhea) in infants are common.
Constipation can occur due to insufficient complementary food or because the liquid is absorbed well, so the stool does not trigger the urge to defecate. To combat constipation in this case, the child should be given more complementary food and fluids. If constipation arises due to sluggish bowel activity, tummy massage can help. Enemas are prescribed only by a doctor.
Diarrhea may occur because the gastrointestinal tract is adjusting to new food and, not having fully acclimatized, may reject it. The mechanism is similar to food poisoning in adults – but this is not poisoning. If the child has a liquid stool, it is necessary to find out if there is any unnatural color in the stool and if there are air bubbles. If not, just wait for the defecation to normalize.
Weaning from Breastfeeding
If parents initially have questions about when to start complementary feeding, as the child grows older, the moment will inevitably come when your child completely transitions to food outside of mother's “milk factory,” which, moreover, is already quite exhausted from continuous use. It's important to know how to wean the child from breastfeeding.
It is not advisable to abruptly wean the child from the breast, as this will provoke stress in the baby. Wean gradually – first, extend the intervals between feedings, while at the same time offering the child tasty and favorite complementary foods, so they understand that “yummy” does not only come from the mother's breast. At some point, try not to give the child the breast at all, while still maintaining tactile contact with them – continue to hug and cuddle them. Gradually, the child will develop an understanding that their mother is not being taken away, but they are being fed something delicious.
When the child is weaned from the breast, not only does the little organism adapt to changes in diet, but there are also changes in the mother’s body, particularly with respect to the reproductive system. First and foremost, any woman is interested in when menstruation starts after breastfeeding.
It should be known that lactation is directly related to the menstrual cycle. The hormone prolactin, which stimulates milk production, conversely suppresses the production of hormones responsible for the ovarian-menstrual cycle. The resumption of menstruation most often occurs at 20-25 weeks postpartum – that is, during the period when breastfeeding is still practiced. In some cases, menstruation in the mother resumes before the end of the baby's first year of life – before the weaning of the child from the breast.
You can find more information about breastfeeding by visiting our website Dobrobut.com.
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