Breastfeeding can be challenging, especially if you’re a new mother. However, there are several important benefits to breast feeding.
Breast milk contains important nutrients for your baby and is easier to digest than commercial formula. The antibodies in breast milk boost your baby’s immune system, and breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by about half.
Although breastfeeding may be intimidating at first, it’s important to ask for help. OBGYNs, nurses or other hospital staff can offer breastfeeding tips after birth, starting with how to position the baby and make sure he or she is latching on correctly to the nipple. Before breastfeeding, make sure to get comfortable and support yourself with pillows, if needed.
There are some women who may not be able to breastfeed or have extreme difficulty with it. If you’re struggling, ask a lactation consultant or a primary care physician for help. Most hospitals have lactation consultants on staff who can answer your questions or help you resolve any problems you may encounter. Remember, just as your body knows what it’s doing during pregnancy and childbirth, your body knows how to support a breastfeeding baby.
For the first couple of weeks, most newborns breastfeed every two to three hours, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no set time as to how long your baby should be breastfeeding. If your baby consistently nurses on only one breast at a feeding during the first few weeks, pump the other breast to relieve pressure and protect your milk supply.
Your breasts should feel firm and full before a feeding and soft and empty afterward. Breastfeeding causes your baby to gain weight steadily and produce at least six wet diapers per day.
It’s important to note that giving your baby a pacifier may interfere with breastfeeding. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should wait to introduce a pacifier until breastfeeding is well-established, which is usually three to four weeks after birth.
Breast milk is also much cheaper than store-bought formula. According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, the United States would save about $13 billion per year in medical costs if 90 percent of U.S. families breastfed their newborns for at least six months.
Other perks of breastfeeding can also include weight loss for the mother after the baby is born. Breast milk contains 20 calories per ounce, so if you feed your baby 20 ounces a day, that’s 400 calories you’ve swept out of your body.
Making healthy lifestyle choices is key to being successful in breastfeeding. For example:
• Eat a healthy diet — To keep up your energy, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Your primary care physician might recommend taking a daily multivitamin as well.
• Drink plenty of fluids — Water, juice and milk can help you stay hydrated. Moderate amounts of caffeine are generally considered OK as well, but scale back if you suspect that too much caffeine is interfering with your baby’s sleep. If you have an alcoholic drink, avoid breastfeeding for two to three hours afterward.
• Rest as much as possible — If you can, sleep when the baby sleeps.
• Don’t smoke — Smoking during breastfeeding exposes babies to nicotine, which can interfere with your baby’s sleep. Secondhand smoke also increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), as well as respiratory illnesses.
• Be cautious with medication — Many medications are safe to take while you’re breastfeeding, but make sure to double check with your primary care physician first.
If breastfeeding is tougher than you expected, try not to get discouraged. Feeding a newborn every few hours can be tiring, but remember that the more often you breastfeed your baby, the more milk your breasts will produce, and the more natural breastfeeding will feel.
To ensure that you are breastfeeding correctly, talk to your OBGYN. To schedule an appointment with an OBGYN or a primary care physician at Eskenazi Health, please call 317-880-8687. Eskenazi Health has a sliding fee schedule and is open to all regardless of ability to pay.
Nydia Nuñez-Estrada, M.D.
Family Medicine
Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington