Breast feeding is one of the most important things you can do for your baby as breast milk is a living fluid and every mother's milk is tailor made for her own baby.
It contains many important 'ingredients' to help a baby stay healthy, e.g it has antibodies to fight infections and protect against illness. It also contains growth factors to help your baby's immature organs develop.
Compared to breastfed babies, babies who are bottle fed formula milk are:
Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop:
Breastfeeding is also free !
Whilst formula feeding can cost up to £50 a month
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Q. How do i know my baby is getting enough milk ?
A. Indications to show your baby is getting enough milk include, your baby should be healthy and gaining weight after the first 2 weeks . In the first 48hrs your baby is likely to have only 2-3 wet nappies then from day 5 onward wet nappies become more frequent with at least 6 wet nappies in 24 hrs . At the beginning your baby will have a black tar-like stool (meconium ). By day 3 it will become a much lighter, runnier, greenish stool. From day 4 and for the first few weeks your baby should be passing at least 2 yellowish stools every day .These stools should be at least the size of a £2 coin . Remember it is normal for breastfed babies to have loose stools .Also your baby will be content and satisfied after most feeds and will come off the breast by himself. You should also feel no pain during and after a feed.
Q. Should breastfeeding hurt ?
A. Breastfeeding should be pain free if the baby is positioned and attached correctly , however some mums especially first time breast feeders do say that they have experienced an uncomfortable sensation to begin with. If you do experience pain please seek some support as the sooner you find the cause, the less serious the problem will become.
Q. Should babies feed from both breasts ?
A. Babies should be allowed to decide what they want themselves from each feed i.e length of feed , one breast or two etc. But it is advised that at every feed you should alternate the breast the baby feeds from first and allow them to drain the breast before being offered the other.
Q. Do breastfed babies need water ?
A. No your colostrum and milk will be all your baby needs . The first part of the feed is what the baby takes to quench his thirst and the end of the feed is the full fat milk that makes the baby gain weight. So if a baby is just thirsty he might come to the breast more frequently and for shorter periods of time .
Q. Should i carry on breastfeeding if i am unwell ?
A. Yes because your breast milk will contain antibodies to your current illness to help your baby fight against the infection. Breastfeeding is the best way to protect your baby from illness.
Q. When should a breastfed baby be weaned onto solids ?
A. The world health organisation recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed until 6 months. For more information on weaning please contact your health visitor.
Q. Can i take medication whilst breastfeeding ?
A. Always inform your doctor and dentist that you are breastfeeding so they can give you the correct medication that is safe to take whilst breastfeeding. If you are buying over the counter medication always check with the pharmacist to make sure it is safe.
Q. Why is my baby constantly feeding ?
A. Babies can come to the breast more frequently for a number of reasons, it may be that your baby is thirsty, in summer when it is hot this is how your baby will get his drinks, by coming to the breast frequently for shorter periods of time. He maybe feeling unwell so is coming to the breast for comfort. But the main reason he will feed more frequently is because he is having a growth spurt and he needs to come to the breast often to stimulate the hormones that produce the milk (prolactin) to help increase your milk supply. Another reason to consider could be positioning, is your baby attached at the breast properly? If he isn't that would contribute to the baby needing to feed more frequently as he will be taking insufficient amounts of milk at each feed .
It contains many important 'ingredients' to help a baby stay healthy, e.g it has antibodies to fight infections and protect against illness. It also contains growth factors to help your baby's immature organs develop.
Compared to breastfed babies, babies who are bottle fed formula milk are:
- Five times more likely to get a stomach bug which could lead to being admitted to hospital.
- Twice as likely to catch middle ear infections.
- Twice as likely to go to hospital with respiratory disease.
- Five times more likely to get a urine infection.
- More likely to suffer from diabetes.
- More likely to suffer from childhood leukemia.
- More likely to suffer from allergies e.g eczema
- Likely to have a lower IQ
- More likely to be obese and have higher blood pressure.
Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop:
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Osteoporosis
Breastfeeding is also free !
Whilst formula feeding can cost up to £50 a month
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Q. How do i know my baby is getting enough milk ?
A. Indications to show your baby is getting enough milk include, your baby should be healthy and gaining weight after the first 2 weeks . In the first 48hrs your baby is likely to have only 2-3 wet nappies then from day 5 onward wet nappies become more frequent with at least 6 wet nappies in 24 hrs . At the beginning your baby will have a black tar-like stool (meconium ). By day 3 it will become a much lighter, runnier, greenish stool. From day 4 and for the first few weeks your baby should be passing at least 2 yellowish stools every day .These stools should be at least the size of a £2 coin . Remember it is normal for breastfed babies to have loose stools .Also your baby will be content and satisfied after most feeds and will come off the breast by himself. You should also feel no pain during and after a feed.
Q. Should breastfeeding hurt ?
A. Breastfeeding should be pain free if the baby is positioned and attached correctly , however some mums especially first time breast feeders do say that they have experienced an uncomfortable sensation to begin with. If you do experience pain please seek some support as the sooner you find the cause, the less serious the problem will become.
Q. Should babies feed from both breasts ?
A. Babies should be allowed to decide what they want themselves from each feed i.e length of feed , one breast or two etc. But it is advised that at every feed you should alternate the breast the baby feeds from first and allow them to drain the breast before being offered the other.
Q. Do breastfed babies need water ?
A. No your colostrum and milk will be all your baby needs . The first part of the feed is what the baby takes to quench his thirst and the end of the feed is the full fat milk that makes the baby gain weight. So if a baby is just thirsty he might come to the breast more frequently and for shorter periods of time .
Q. Should i carry on breastfeeding if i am unwell ?
A. Yes because your breast milk will contain antibodies to your current illness to help your baby fight against the infection. Breastfeeding is the best way to protect your baby from illness.
Q. When should a breastfed baby be weaned onto solids ?
A. The world health organisation recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed until 6 months. For more information on weaning please contact your health visitor.
Q. Can i take medication whilst breastfeeding ?
A. Always inform your doctor and dentist that you are breastfeeding so they can give you the correct medication that is safe to take whilst breastfeeding. If you are buying over the counter medication always check with the pharmacist to make sure it is safe.
Q. Why is my baby constantly feeding ?
A. Babies can come to the breast more frequently for a number of reasons, it may be that your baby is thirsty, in summer when it is hot this is how your baby will get his drinks, by coming to the breast frequently for shorter periods of time. He maybe feeling unwell so is coming to the breast for comfort. But the main reason he will feed more frequently is because he is having a growth spurt and he needs to come to the breast often to stimulate the hormones that produce the milk (prolactin) to help increase your milk supply. Another reason to consider could be positioning, is your baby attached at the breast properly? If he isn't that would contribute to the baby needing to feed more frequently as he will be taking insufficient amounts of milk at each feed .