Breastfeeding is the natural feeding method suitable to the baby’s needs.
Following are common questions that arise regarding breastfeeding
How does breastfeeding contribute to the mother’s health?
- Following delivery, breastfeeding helps shrink the uterus and diminish the bleeding.
- Breastfeeding strengthens the bonding between mother and baby (from the mother’s aspect).
- Breastfeeding helps in correct utilization of the fatty tissue, thereby enabling the return to pre-pregnancy body weight.
- Breastfeeding provides protection and reduces the risk of future breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
How does breastfeeding contribute to the baby’s health?
Mother’s milk is more than “just” food. It provides the baby with an immunizing protection which no other food will.
- Breastfeeding strengthens the bonding between mother and baby (from the baby’s aspect)
- Breastfeeding aids in proper growing.
- Breastfeeding strengthens the baby’s immune system and helps in its protection from illnesses such as ear infections, diarrhea, allergies and more.
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome”.
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity later on in life and of diseases associated with obesity, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Can any woman breastfeed?
Almost any woman who wishes it can breastfeed.
Also in cases where only partial breastfeeding is possible, it is preferable to not breastfeeding at all.
Breastfeeding should be avoided only in rare cases.
Although Breastfeeding is the most natural way of feeding the baby, it is also an acquired action by mother and baby. Some mothers experience difficulties at the beginning; therefore it is important to get help at the hospital in the delivery department, and following discharge from the hospital to contact Tipat Halav (the Family Health Center) to get help from a nurse. Help can be obtained from the Tipat Halav nurses who are lactation guides, and some of whom are certified lactation consultants who specialize in the subject.
In special cases, like birth of premature babies, twins or babies with particular problems, it is important to seek professional help.
Is it possible to breastfeed following breast enlargement or reduction surgery?
Usually breastfeeding is possible following breast cosmetic surgeries.
If you are about to undergo surgery, it is recommended to find out from the surgeon by what method the surgery will be carried out, in order to avoid damage to the milk ducts or the nerves during the surgery.
Even when it seems to be plenty of milk, a close follow up by a Tipat Halav nurse/lactation consultant that could guide you in taking actions to augment the milk supply in case a problem arises, is recommended.
How many times a day should the baby nurse?
In the first days following the delivery and during the first few weeks the baby nurses often: about 8 to 12 times a day and for a long time.
The number of feedings decreases as the baby grows. A daily routine is formed, which makes it easier for the mother to get through the day.
As the baby keeps growing and starts eating solid foods, (around 6 months of age) the frequency of nursing decreases gradually.
How will I know the baby wants to nurse?
Usually the baby shows signs of searching: awake, moves its head from side to side, puts his hands in his mouth and shows signs of sucking. Crying is a belated sign of hunger; therefore you should not wait for the crying and try to nurse before its start.
How will I know that the baby latches on to the breast properly and nurses correctly?
The baby latches on properly when it is very close to the mother’s body, its chin tucked in the breast and most of the areola, which is at the level of the baby’s lower lip, is inside the baby’s mouth. There are no pains during the nursing and sucking sounds are heard.
How will I know that the baby is getting enough milk?
- By the amount of the baby’s urine and stool: in the first six weeks after birth there should be 3-4-soft yellow bowel movements and 5-6 diapers soaked with urine per day.
- The baby is relaxed after nursing.
- The baby gains weight and regains his birth weight within 10-14 days.
Must the baby suck from both breasts in each feeding?
The right method to feed the baby is as follows: offering the first side till the baby disengages from the breast on his own, letting him pass air by lifting him up and then offering the second breast.
You can encourage nursing by changing the baby’s diaper between one side and the other, thereby waking it up.
As the baby grows, you can nurse it from one side only – as he wishes.
What is the Ministry of Health recommendation regarding nourishing the baby up to one year of age?
The recommendation is to breastfeed exclusively until the end of the sixth month, with no need for supplementary water or other liquids.
After the age of six months, breastfeeding combined with supplementary foods is recommended, in order to provide the growing baby’s nutritional needs.
When and why do fullness and/or congestion appear in the breasts?
- Fullness - a normal condition, which occurs about 3-4 days after delivery.
- Congestion – a pathological condition that occurs because of imbalance between the amount of milk the body produces and the amount the baby sucks. Congestion that goes untreated may cause a breast infection. Furthermore, congestion may impede the baby from closing his mouth around the areola and sucking successfully. The congestion may occur in the first few days following delivery, because of the aforementioned imbalance between the amount of milk produced and the amount the baby sucks. In this case it is important to nurse the baby often and place cold compresses on the breast to ease the condition. If it is not possible to breastfeed, pumping the milk is recommended.
It is important to seek professional help in order to avoid unwanted phenomena like infection.
Is breastfeeding painful?
No. breastfeeding is not supposed to be painful.
There may be some discomfort in the first few days after delivery.
If you feel pain:
- Check the baby’s posture and the way it latches on to the breast, gently detach the baby from the breast and latch it on again;
- Start nursing from the less painful breast;
- You can massage a little bit of mother’s milk on the nipple to ease the pain;
- If a sore or a crack appear, you should seek professional help.
Are there any foods the nursing mother should avoid eating?
No. There is no overall recommendation to avoid certain foods. The nursing mother can go on eating whatever she likes and is used to eat. If, after eating a certain food, the mother notices that her baby is restless during nursing, she should avoid this particular food temporarily.
Is drinking alcohol allowed during the breastfeeding period?
No! Alcohol drinking must be avoided, since the alcohol is transferred directly to the baby.
Is there a need for supplements (vitamins, minerals) to the mother’s diet during breastfeeding?
There is no need for particular nutritional supplements. It is recommended that the mother maintain a varied diet and proper eating habits.
In the first days it is imperative to drink a lot – 8 to 10 cups a day.
In the first month after delivery, the mother should continue to take iron supplements (as a continuation of the pregnancy), to perform blood count and, in case of anemia, receive treatment by her care-giving physician.
It is important to emphasize: most of the time the milk the mother produces is of high nutritional value and suitable exactly to the baby’s needs. The importance of maintaining a sensible menu is in preserving the mother’s reservoirs and her health.
For a mother whose diet is not varied or who avoids a certain food group, it is recommended to consult with a dietitian/doctor.
Even if the mother’s diet is deficient, it is still recommended to breastfeed the baby.
Is it allowed to take medications during the breastfeeding period?
Most of the medications are safe to take during the breastfeeding period. It is important to consult with a doctor regarding the use of the medications and adjusting them to be consumed during the nursing period.
You can consult with the Teratological Centers:
- Ministry of Health: 02-6243669, 02-6243663
- Rambam: 04-8541900
- Beilinson: 03-9376911
- Assaf Harofeh: 03-9779309
How much water should a nursing woman drink and does ample drinking increase the mother’s milk production?
In general it is important to drink a sufficient amount of water in order to restore to the body the liquids lost by perspiration. During the breastfeeding period, the amount of liquid that needs to be restored to the body increases. In the Israeli summer it is even more important to make sure to drink plenty.
Nursing mothers should make sure that they regularly drink a sufficient amount of liquids to avoid dehydration. It is recommended for a nursing mother to have a bottle of water close by her both at home and when going out, which will remind her to take a few gulps frequently. It is recommended to pay close attention to the feeling of thirst and to the color of the urine. Early signs of dehydration include: dryness in the mouth, dark urine, dizziness, headaches and weakness.
There is no need to overdrink. It is recommended simply to drink to satisfy one’s thirst. Studies show that extensive drinking does not enhance the milk production. Milk production is enhanced only by emptying the breast by direct breastfeeding or by pumping.
