Breastfeeding: Benefits and Comprehensive Guide

Breastfeeding is the optimal way to nourish newborns and infants. Breast milk is packed with nutrients, antibodies, and protective factors that help babies grow healthy, strong, and protected from diseases.

I. Benefits of breastfeeding:

1. Benefits for baby:

• Perfect, sterile source of nutrition: Breast milk is the ideal food for newborns, containing all the essential nutrients for their growth and development. It’s also produced sterile, ensuring safety for the baby’s immature digestive system.
• Promotes physical and brain development: Breast milk is rich in galactose, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid, which are vital nutrients that help babies grow taller, gain weight, and develop their brains.
• Protects against infections: Breast milk contains antibodies, immune cells, and other protective factors that help babies fight common infections like respiratory illnesses, diarrhea, and ear infections.
• Easy to digest, provides hydration, cleanliness, and nutrition: Breast milk is easy to digest, provides hydration, and contains all the essential nutrients for babies. It ensures safety and hygiene and is perfect for the baby’s developing digestive system.

2. Benefits for mother:

• Reduces blood loss after delivery: Breastfeeding immediately after birth helps the uterus contract, reducing the risk of postpartum blood loss.
• Helps the uterus contract: The baby’s sucking action stimulates the production of oxytocin, which helps the uterus return to its original size quickly.
• Stimulates milk production: Continuous breastfeeding stimulates milk production, ensuring sufficient milk for the baby.
• Prevents engorgement: Frequent breastfeeding helps prevent engorgement, reducing the risk of blocked milk ducts.
• Saves money: Compared to using formula, breastfeeding saves money for the family.
• Enhances mother-child bonding: Breastfeeding is a fantastic opportunity for mothers and babies to bond and strengthen their emotional connection.
• Improves mother’s health: Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of developing chronic illnesses like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
• Delays menstruation and pregnancy: Breastfeeding triggers the body to produce prolactin, a hormone that inhibits ovulation, helping mothers delay their period and pregnancy.

3. Benefits for society:

• Reduces disease risk: Breastfeeding reduces the incidence of diseases and deaths among children, contributing to improved public health.
• Reduces healthcare costs: Breastfeeding helps alleviate the burden of healthcare costs for families and society.

II. Colostrum:

• Definition: Colostrum is the first milk produced in the days after birth. It’s pale yellow, thick, and has a pH of 7.7. Colostrum is produced from the fourth month of pregnancy and lasts up to six days after birth.
• Characteristics:
  • High protein, vitamin A content: Colostrum contains ten times more protein than mature milk, rich in vitamin A and other vital nutrients for newborns.
  • Abundant antibodies: Colostrum is packed with antibodies and immune factors that protect babies from illnesses.
  • Low calcium and phosphorus: Colostrum is low in calcium and phosphorus, suitable for the newborn’s developing kidneys.
  • Has a mild laxative effect: Colostrum has a mild laxative effect, helping babies pass meconium quickly, reducing jaundice.

III. Types of breast milk:

• Transitional milk: From the seventh to the fourteenth day after birth, breast milk enters the transitional stage, containing more fat than colostrum.
• Mature milk: From the third week after birth, breast milk becomes mature, containing all the essential nutrients for the baby’s development.

IV. Milk production mechanism:

• The role of sucking: When the baby suckles, the mother’s brain releases two crucial hormones:
  • Prolactin: Stimulates breast tissue cells to produce milk.
  • Oxytocin: Triggers the contraction of muscle cells around the breast, ejecting milk.

V. Milk volume characteristics:

• Maximum milk volume: 2000-3000 ml/24h.
• Duration of each feeding: 10-15 minutes.
• Duration of exclusive breastfeeding: First six months.
• Required milk volume: 8-12 liters/day if the baby is lacking milk.
• No other formula milk: During the first six months, babies should exclusively breastfeed, no other formula milk should be given.

VI. Micronutrients in breast milk:

• Protein: Breast milk contains all the essential amino acids for the baby’s growth and development. It contains more protein than cow’s milk and is easier to digest.
• Lipid: Breast milk is rich in essential fatty acids like linoleic and linolenic acids, easier to digest than lipids in cow’s milk.
• Lactose: Breast milk contains more lactose than cow’s milk, helping babies absorb calcium and other minerals more effectively.
• Vitamin A: Breast milk contains more vitamin A than cow’s milk, protecting babies from dry eyes.
• Minerals: Breast milk contains lower mineral content than cow’s milk but is easier to absorb, especially iron, which prevents rickets and anemia.

VII. Milk ejection reflex:

• Milk ejection reflex: The baby’s sucking action stimulates the mother’s brain to release prolactin, a hormone that promotes milk production. Prolactin levels are higher at night, sustaining milk production for the next feeding.
• Let-down reflex: The baby’s sucking also triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps eject milk. The let-down reflex is influenced by the mother’s mood and thoughts.

VIII. Factors affecting milk production:

Factors affecting milk volume:

• Mother’s illness: Medical conditions in mothers can affect milk volume.
• Mother’s young age (<18 years): Mothers who are too young may not be physiologically mature, affecting milk volume.
• Insufficient weight gain in mothers: Underweight mothers may lack enough energy to produce milk.
• Mothers using milk-suppressing drugs, antihistamines, antibiotics: Certain medications can interfere with milk production.
• Labor-intensive work: Mothers who engage in strenuous work may experience a decline in milk volume.
• Sadness, stress: Stress can interfere with the production of prolactin, leading to reduced milk production.
• Long feeding intervals (>3 hours): Long feeding intervals can reduce milk volume.
• First year: 1200 ml/day
• Second year: 500 ml/day
• Third year: 200 ml/day

Factors affecting milk quality:

• Iron deficiency: Mothers with iron deficiency can affect milk quality.
• Vitamin B1 deficiency: Mothers lacking vitamin B1 can affect milk quality.
• Deficiency in vitamins A, D, E, K: Mothers deficient in vitamins A, D, E, K can affect milk quality.
• Calcium and phosphorus deficiency: Mothers lacking calcium and phosphorus can affect milk quality.
• Consumption of strong-smelling foods: Mothers eating strong-smelling foods can influence the taste of breast milk, making babies reluctant to breastfeed.
• Exposure to toxins: Mothers exposed to harmful toxins can affect milk quality.

IX. Breast care:

• Maintain cleanliness: Keep breasts clean using warm water and mild soap.
• Avoid tight bras: Tight bras can cause blocked milk ducts.
• Cracked nipples: Apply Vaseline to cracked nipples to protect and heal the skin.
• Breast abscess: Avoid breastfeeding when the breast is infected with an abscess. Pump or express milk to prevent blocked milk ducts.

X. Mother’s diet:

• During pregnancy: Consume enough calories (2550 calories/day), gaining 10-12 kg throughout pregnancy.
• While breastfeeding: Consume enough calories (2750 calories/day), ensuring adequate intake of essential nutrients for the body.

XI. Breastfeeding practices:

• Early breastfeeding: Breastfeed immediately after birth.
• No other food or drinks: For the first six months, babies should exclusively breastfeed, no other formula milk or drinks should be given.
• No limit on feedings: Breastfeed on demand, without restricting the number of feedings.
• Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 4-6 months: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is the most beneficial for babies.
• Breastfeeding 8-12 times a day: Breastfeed 8-12 times daily depending on the baby’s needs.
• Breastfeeding until 18-24 months: Breastfeed until 18-24 months, combined with introducing solid foods.
• Feed from one breast completely before switching: Breastfeed completely from one breast before switching to the other.
• Express any remaining milk after feeding: Express any remaining milk in the breast after breastfeeding to prevent blocked milk ducts.
• Feed for 10-20 minutes: Breastfeed for 10-20 minutes on each breast.
• Clean the breasts before feeding: Clean the breasts with warm water and a soft towel before feeding.
• Keep the baby upright for 5-10 minutes after feeding: Keep the baby upright for 5-10 minutes after feeding to prevent spitting up.

XII. Signs of hunger in babies:

• Restless, fussy: Babies often squirm, startle, and become fussy when hungry.
• Open mouth, turning head to both sides: Babies open their mouths and turn their heads to both sides when hungry.
• Protruding tongue: Babies stick their tongues out when hungry.
• Sucking on fingers or fists: Babies suck on fingers or fists when hungry.

XIII. Breastfeeding positions:

• Hold the baby close to the mother’s body: Hold the baby close to the mother’s body, providing warmth and security.
• Baby’s tummy faces the mother’s tummy: Ensure the baby’s tummy faces the mother’s tummy, creating comfort for both.
• Head and body in a straight line: Keep the baby’s head and body in a straight line, making breathing and swallowing easier.
• Baby’s face towards the mother’s breast: Position the baby’s face towards the mother’s breast, facilitating latch-on.
• Hold the baby close after feeding: Keep the baby close to the mother’s body after feeding for security and warmth.
• Mother supports the breast with her hand, guiding it into the baby’s mouth: Support the breast with your hand and guide it into the baby’s mouth, making latch-on easier.

XIV. Signs of a good latch:

• Wide mouth opening: Babies open their mouths wide when latching on.
• Baby’s lips are turned outwards: The baby’s lips are turned outwards, not pushed inwards.
• More of the dark areola is visible above than below: The baby has a deep latch, with more of the dark areola visible above than below.
• Mouth engulfs the areola: The baby’s mouth engulfs the areola, not just latching on to the nipple.
• Baby’s chin touches the mother’s breast: The baby’s chin touches the mother’s breast, creating pressure for easier sucking.

XV. Consequences of poor latch:

• Nipple pain and injury: Poor latch can cause pain and damage to the nipples.
• Breast engorgement, blocked milk ducts: Poor latch can lead to breast engorgement and blocked milk ducts.
• Reduced milk production: Poor latch can decrease milk production.
• Frequent demands, excessive crying: Poor latch can result in babies not feeding adequately, leading to frequent demands and excessive crying.
• Poor weight gain: Poor latch can result in insufficient nutrient absorption, leading to poor weight gain.

XVI. Weaning considerations:

• Don’t wean before 12 months: Breastfeed for at least 12 months.
• Avoid weaning in the summer: Avoid weaning during the summer when the weather is hot, as it can make babies more susceptible to illnesses.
• Avoid abrupt weaning: Abrupt weaning can cause stress and difficulty adapting for babies.
• Don’t wean when the baby is ill: Avoid weaning when the baby is sick, especially with diarrhea.

Note:

• Maintain a relaxed and happy mood while breastfeeding.
• Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or using stimulants while breastfeeding.
• Consume a nutritious diet, supplementing with necessary vitamins and minerals.
• Seek help from a doctor or lactation consultant if you experience difficulties with breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is a fantastic gift mothers give their babies. Let’s work together to build a generation of healthy, intelligent children through breastfeeding!