Every infant has the right to his mother's milk. A mother is able to set up bond with her baby during the lactation period. It is the nature's creative way to supply vital nutrients to the new born. There is the birth of a new mother along with the birth of a new baby. A new mom has several questions in her mind with regards to fulfilling her baby's nutritional requirements. During the initial stages or in the first few months, a new mother may have certain problems with lactation.
The lactation process begins with the production of the Oxytocin hormone in the mother after the birth of the baby. Primarily, the Prolactin hormone controls the production of milk, which in turn, depends upon the nursing time of the infant. Lactation provides the much needed nutrition to the baby for the first six months after birth. The first milk that a baby receives after birth is called Colostrum which contains higher amounts of white blood cells and antibodies in comparison to mature milk. The Colostrum is rich in immunoglobulin A.
A new mother can take a note of these Do's and Don'ts of lactation in order to ensure the optimum supply of nutrients to her baby while taking good care of her own health:
The Do's of Lactation:
A nursing mother has to experience certain changes in the first 6 months. The flow of the breast milk doesn't get stabilized. That is, sometimes there will be a constant milk flow while at some other times, the flow stops. The milk flow usually takes 2 to 3 days to get stabilized after the baby's birth.
- Planning her diet well is very essential for the new mother. Including 3 glasses of milk in her daily diet is good for the mother as well as for her baby.
- The National Institute of Health recommends the intake of 1,500 mg of calcium per day for the nursing mothers. It is necessary to pay attention to this fact while planning a diet for a new mother.
- Apart from milk, pulses and vegetables should form a significant part of her diet throughout the day.
- Mothers have to be sensitive to the frequency of her baby's breastfeeding requirements. The first ten days of the baby's total dependence on mother's milk can allow a new mother to find out how the baby reacts to each feeding.
- A new mother should spend enough time with her baby. She can talk to him, sing to him and do every other thing to keep him engaged.
- After a week or say 10 days, the feeding interval extends to 3 to 4 hours.
- In case a new mom is pumping her milk, she should make sure to save every drop of it. Storing that milk in sterile bottles and keeping it under refrigeration is very important.
- Allowing some breaks in between will ease the baby's digestion process and will also support the bowel movements.
- Guiding the baby will allow him to get adequate amounts of milk.
- Switching form one breast to the other will help if a mother is experiencing soreness in her nipples.
The Don'ts of Lactation:
- It is not good to leave the baby sucking the nipple until both the mother and her baby find themselves asleep. This can be a cause of sleep deprivation for both of them and a new mom needs adequate sleep at this point of time.
- Some of the inexperienced mothers think that her baby is hungry if he cries or becomes cranky. This can lead to over feeding, which in turn, can cause a host of health issues like digestion problems, disruption in bowel movement, restlessness and even fever.
- Some new mothers think that their milk production will increase with an increase in their food intake. This is true, but overeating may produce undesirable effects on their overall health later.
- Some women are advised to drink Porter, a sweet beer before starting off with the lactating session. This is based on the idea that Porter increases milk production and helps in sustaining their health in a better way. In actuality, it has been observed that the consumption of Porter in large quantity and on a regular basis can bring down the milk supply.
- New mothers should not use soap to clean the nipples and the areola since this may make them sore and cracked.
- A new mother should keep a note of the food allergies which she may have. Certain foods that have been known to cause troubles in nursing infants are eggs, wheat products, citrus fruits, caffeine and chocolate. Garlic and cucumbers seem to be the major gas catalysts in some infants, and these foods are known for causing bloating and colic symptoms.
- Meat and poultry products can also contain harmful chemicals which tend to get accumulated in the fatty portions. Therefore, it is best for the nursing mothers to omit these portions.
- A nursing mother should refrain from offering formula, water or glucose water unless a sound medical reason supports it.
- Giving pacifiers or bottles during breastfeeding is not a good idea because the baby may get confused between the nipple and the pacifier. The baby should be allowed to learn one thing at a time.
- It is not a wise thought to try switching the breasts too early. The baby will then end up drinking the foremilk or the thin watery milk instead of the rich, thick and creamy milk.
Breastfeeding benefits new mothers at the same time. It helps them to lose the pregnancy weight. A nursing mother needs to take proper care of her own nutritional requirements to ensure a steady milk supply for her baby. Mother's milk, rich in vital nutrients, helps to boost up the baby's immune system and acts as a form of psychological protection for him.
