• Pregnency | Breast Feeding | Common Cold | About Your Heart | Stress | Blood Pressure | Diabetes | Diabetic Care Tips | eMedicine
  • Facts about Breastfeeding
    • All mothers can successfully breastfeed their baby, which is the most natural way to feed babies.
    • Mother's milk is complete nutrition for the baby for first 6 months and the child should be exclusively breastfed during this period of time.
    • No other milk, food, drink or even water is required.
    • Your baby should be breastfed immediately after birth, preferably within half to one hour of birth, to give Colostrum to the baby - the initial yellowish mother's milk during the first 2-3 days after birth.
    • Breastfeed the baby on demand without any restrictions.
    • Nothing should be given before the first breastfeed.
    • No pacifiers should be given to the baby.
    • You can continue breastfeeding during sickness without any harm to the baby and yourself.
    • Bottle-feeding is not necessary and even harmful for your baby. It is the leading cause of loose stools in babies.
    • Solid foods should be introduced only after 6 months of age.
    • Home made, family food is better than commercial food for your baby.
    • Commercially available powder milks are always inferior to mother's milk.
  • Tips on Breastfeeding
    • Put your baby on the breast straight after birth.
    • It's important to have a drink (preferably water) at your side while breastfeeding. Feeding is thirsty work at first, and water helps replenish fluids that your baby is taking from you.
    • To avoid sore nipples, feed your baby in different positions and alternate breast during feeding time.
    • Invest in a special nursing bra, so you can use it on one side at a time.
    • Leaking is common during early weeks, so buy special breast pads to tuck in your bra. Remember to change them regularly so your breast stays dry.
    • Feeding the baby on demand helps to increase the mother's milk supply.
    • In case you cannot breastfeed the baby directly, express your milk by using a good breast pump or use both hands to gently squeeze milk from your breast.
  • Breastfeeding Skills

    • As a mother, you should establish good breastfeeding skills as it helps in effective milk transfer to the baby. Good breastfeeding skills include proper positioning of the baby at the breast and effective feeding. One can feed the baby in any comfortable position such as lying (sideways) or sitting. The baby needs free access to the breast. This is important because poor positioning often results in poor attachment.

      For feeding, the mother should hold the baby with head straight, facing the breast with his nose opposite to your nipple and his body close, supporting infant's whole body not just the neck and shoulder. Your nipple should touch the infant's mouth. Wait till his mouth opens wide, and offer the whole breast to your baby to get as much as he can into his mouth. Good body positioning is recognised by the following signs:

      • Baby’s neck is straight or bent slightly back.
      • Baby’s body is turned towards you.
      • Baby’s body is close to you.
      • Baby’s whole body is supported.
      • LThere is eye contact between you and the baby.