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Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding

Breast milk is the best choice for your baby. It has an optimal balance of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth and development. Aside from promoting maternal infant bonding, better mouth and jaw development, breast fed infants have stronger immune systems than bottle fed babies because breast milk contains antibodies created in the mother's system and passed through breast milk into the baby's system, offering temporary protection against common infections, including intestinal and ear infections. Breast feeding also reduces the incidence of food allergies in later life, as well as many other health benefits for both, your baby and you.

The breast milk produced during the first 2–5 days after childbirth, is called colostrum. Colostrum contains large quantities of secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) which works like the concentration of immune factors and antibodies and protects baby's mucous membranes of the throat, lungs, and intestines.

Colostrum also has a laxative effect that helps the infant to pass early stools, aiding in the excretion of excess bilirubin, which helps to prevent jaundice.


Oxytocin & Prolactin - During the breast feeding you will be calm and more relax. Your brain will produce chemicals that will calm you, give you a feeling of well-being and promote maternal behavior. Your baby's sucking stimulates nerve endings in the areolae, which send messages to hypothalamus and pituitary gland (in your brain), causing them to start releasing two breast feeding hormones; oxytocin and prolactin, that will begin to calm and relax you.


Don't forget to take care of yourself:

Get plenty of rest and drink at least eight (8 oz) glasses of water, milk or juice a day at periodic intervals.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine, both of which can dehydrate you. Excessive caffeine consumption by the mother can also cause irritability, sleeplessness, nervousness and increased feeding in the breastfed infant. Moderate use (one to two cups per day) usually produces no effect.

Eat at least three meals a day and listen to your body's needs. It takes a lot of energy to feed and care for your baby and the first couple months following childbirth are not the time to go on a diet. Nursing uses up extra calories, and most mothers find that they lose weight faster (without special dieting) than formula feeding moms.

Coronavirus Disease and Breastfeeding - Transmission of active COVID-19 (virus that can cause infection) through breast milk and breastfeeding has not been detected to date. There is no reason to avoid or stop breastfeeding. Find out more answers to commonly asked questions about COVID19 and breastfeeding.


Did You Know?

Breast milk consumption has been linked to a decreased risk for several infant conditions including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The sucking technique required of the infant encourages the proper development of both the teeth and other speech organs.
Frequent and exclusive breastfeeding delays the return of menstruation and fertility (this is known as lactational amenorrhea) allowing for improved iron stores and the possibility of natural child spacing.
Breastfeeding mothers experience improved bone re-mineralization postpartum, and a reduced risk for both ovarian and pre-menopausal breast cancer.
Breastfeeding can also allow the mother to return to her pre-pregnant weight as the fat stores accumulated during pregnancy are utilized in milk production.

"We all have nipples. I don’t care who I offend; my baby wants to eat."

~Selma Blair, American actress


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