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Like
you, all mothers have a lot of concerns
about their babies. This is a special
chapter to assist you to answer some
of your own questions. Some common
questions asked by the mothers are:
Q.
Some mothers give fruit juices and
soups during early months of life.
Is it advisable?
No. From birth upto
about 6 months a child should be given
only breastmilk. Any other thing may
be harmful. Giving these would deprive
the baby adequate amount of breastmilk
and also increases chances of getting
diarrhoea.
Q.
Most mothers
use gripe water and/or Ghutti,-is
it desirable?
No. Use of Ghutti and
gripe water is an unscientific practice.
it is better not to use them. These
preparations sometimes contain medications
that may induce sleep that is not
natural. Also babies should not be
given what is not desirable.
Q.
Does
my baby need vitamins?
Usually not. A baby
who is only breastfed for first 6
months does not need tonics or vitamins.
Bottle fed babies however may need
vitamins. Ask your doctor, he may
be the best judge in this case.
Q.
My
baby is passing frequent loose stools,
do I worry?
An exclusively breastfed baby passes
frequent, some what loose stools.
It is normal. However the baby should
be passing urine as frequently should
not be given anything other than breastmilk.
But if it is bottle fed baby, it is
worrying.
Q.
My
milk leaks from breast after feeding
the baby. What should I do?
It is a temporary problem. A little
pressure over the breast will stop
that. You can put a soft cotton cloth
pad inside bra if you are going out
doors.
Q.
I
am taking medicines. Can I continue
breastfeeding my baby?
Yes. Most drugs don't
cause any harm to babies. Ask your
doctor, he may be the best judge in
this case.
Q.
I
am sick. Can I still breastfeed my
baby?
Yes. In case you are
sick you can continue breastfeeding.
Diseases like typhoid, malaria, tuberculosis,
jaundice or leprosy don't call for
stopping breastfeeding.
Q.
My
milk looks thin and watery. Is it
all right?
Yes. Foremilk (at the
start of breastfeed) is thin and contains
less fat. Hindmilk (near the end of
a feed) is thicker and full of fat.
A baby needs both. It has a unique
quality of changing with the baby's
needs. Feed the baby in an unrestricted
fashion to ensure that the baby receives
both fore and hindmilk.
Q.
I
don't have enough milk, What to do?
Most mothers can produce adequate
breastmilk for their babies. If you
feel that you don't have enough milk,
you should check the points listed
in the correct positioning of the
baby during breastfeeding. See if
you are following a demand schedule
or not.
The feeling of inadequate milk is
usually apparent as it comes from
the fact that the baby asks for feed
more frequently. "My baby keeps on
crying after my feed", "My baby sleeps
well after an artificial feed" and
"My friend or mother tells me that
I don't have enough milk" are some
of the reasons given by the mother.
After listening to these problems,
a family members, friends or health
worker concludes that mother's milk
is inadequate for the baby and he
needs a supplementary feed.
What you can do is increase suckling
frequency of your baby to increase
'prolactin' and thus the milk production.
Avoid hurry and be confident.
Most mothers can increase their own
milk supply by allowing the baby to
suckle more often. "More suckling
makes more milk" is true for all mothers.
Sign of getting adequate milk supply
is the passing of urine 6 times (or
more) in 24 hours. You are the best
judge of yourself and your baby.
Q.
How
can I start breastfeeding immediately-
It seems difficult in a hospital?
Talk to the staff of the hospital
where you are going to deliver the
baby about your determination to breastfeed.
Ask for the baby to be near
you as soon as he is delivered and
let the baby remain with you as long
as you stay there.
Q.
If
I have a caesarian section delivery
can I breastfeed my baby successfully?
Yes. This operation
does not affect the ability of the
mother to successfully breastfeed
her baby. After a few hours
of surgery when you are out of the
effects of anesthetic drugs you can
manage to keep the baby and start
breastfeeding. You can tilt your body
to one side in the lying-down position,
get in front of the baby with the
help of a pillow and start feeding.
It is a little difficult in the beginning
but most mothers who have C-section
deliveries are successful in breastfeeding
their babies with assistance for the
first few days. You will need practical
support from a health worker, relative
or a friend.
Q.
Can
I feed my baby in lying down position?
Yes. You can feed your
baby in any position comfortable to
you and your baby. It may be lying
down, sitting or reclining.
Q.
I
have pain in the nipples while feeding
the baby. What should I do?
One of the most important factors
is the baby suckling in an incorrect
position. If the baby is suckling
only at the nipple, it causes trauma
and sore nipples which is painful.
The treatment is to feed the baby
in the correct position. If breastfeeding,
is painful, the baby is in an incorrect
position, put your finger in his mouth
and break the suction. Then take out
the nipple and try again.
Once the baby starts suckling in the
correct position, pain will immediately
disappear. Feed at frequent intervals.
Don't apply any creams or lotions.
It is not recommended. You can take
a few drops of your own milk and put
it over the damaged area. Allow to
dry.
Q.
What
should do if the breasts are full
and firm?
You can have this feeling in case
there is delay in feeding the baby
or missing breastfeeds. It can be
relieved by unrestricted feeding to
the baby along with hand expression
of milk.
Q.
How
to prevent breast infection or abscess
formation?
Unrestricted feeding in the correct
position usually prevents this. But
in case sore or cracked nipples develop,
and are followed by engorgement, it
may lead to swelling, pain and redness
on the side of the infection. It is
to be treated by the doctor with drugs.
If an abscess develops it has to be
removed surgically. Mother can continue
to breastfeed from the same side even
after surgery.
Q.
How
long can I continue to breastfeed?
You can continue to breastfeed, well
into the 2nd year of child's life.
Breastmilk can take care of the milk
requirement of baby even during 2nd
year.
Q.
I
want to start bottlefeeding so that
baby does not refuse to accept it
later-What do you think?
There is no need to start bottlefeeding
for this reason. A child can
take milk from a cup or glass even
when he is as small as a newborn.
Bottle is never required by the baby.
Q.
What
is the harm of using one bottle-feed
a day When I am boiling the bottles
carefully?
Starting bottlefeeds leads to three
major problems
1. Baby starts refusing the breast
due to nipple confusion.
2. It will reduces your own milk supply.
3. The Baby becomes more prone to
infections even though bottles are
boiled because your baby misses protection
of your milk. Also, since many things
are involved in preparing a bottlefeed
e.g. spoon, sugar, sugarpot, milk,
bottle, caps, nipple and your own
hands, a minor mistake at any step
could lead to a major infection.
Despite this, if you must start bottlefeeding
we shall advise you to boil all the
material for 20-25 minutes. Wash your
hands with soap before you handle
the bottle. Don't put your finger
into the milk to check its temperature.
Q.
My
baby is preterm- Can I breastfeed
successfully?
Yes. However babies
delivered preterm i.e. before completing
their gestation are usually small
in size and weight. They may not be
able to suck. In such circumstances
these babies may have to be kept in
special care units. Your own breastmilk
can be used to feed such a baby. For
this you should learn the method of
expression of milk by hands. Expressed
breastmilk can be given through a
tube or with a cup and a spoon. It
is always preferable to avoid bottle.
When the baby starts sucking he should
be allowed to be breastfed.
Q.
If
I have twin babies- Can I feed both?
Yes. They can
be breastfed simultaneously using
one breast for each feed and alternating
the breasts for next feeds. Breastmilk
production is usually sufficient to
meet with the requirements of both
the babies. If required fresh milk
can be used with cup and spoon.
Q.
Should
I breastfeed from both breasts each
time I feed my baby?
Let your baby decide that. Take your
hint from him. He may prefer to have
milk from one or both breasts at each
feed.
Q.
Is
there any drug that may increase the
milk supply?
Yes. Some drugs have
been reported to increase supply,
But frequent suckling at the breast
and avoiding bottle feeding is more
important to ensure adequate supply
of milk than medicines to increase
your milk supply. The medicines have
their inherent side effects as well.
Q.
Would
washing the breast before and after
each feed and application of any cream
or ointment help in the prevention
or treatment of sore or cracked nipples?
No. Daily bathing is
all that is required. Avoid applying
soap on your nipples. Frequent washing
or cleaning of the breast is likely
to remove the antibacterial lubricating
oil produced by the special glands
present on the areola. The application
of creams or ointment available in
the market for prevention or treatment
of sore or cracked nipples may actually
make the problem worse.
Q.
Exclusive
breastfeeding for first 6 months:
What does it mean?
Giving only breastmilk to babies during
this period without addition of any
other supplementary fluid, food or
milk is called exclusive breastfeeding.
Mother's
milk is sufficient to meet all the
baby's needs for about 6 months. Recent
research has shown that exclusively
breastfed babies don't require water
even during very hot season. If a
baby is passing urine 6 times during
24 hours it means he is getting enough
food & fluids.
Q.
In
case I need to give artificial milk:
Breastfeeding takes care of the milk
requirement of a baby even upto 2
years. These milks are usually not
required. If the baby has to be given
these milks they should be given with
a cup or spoon and not with a bottle.
Your baby does not need bottle at
any age.
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