During seven years of study in medical university at the Faculty of Pediatrics, the phrase “Breastfeeding is the key to good baby health” has firmly settled in my mind. Young pediatricians carried this knowledge to the masses, actively promoting breastfeeding as the only true, optimal, natural method of feeding a child. We were not informed within the walls of the alma mater that this statement is not always true, and I periodically have to be convinced of its partial erroneousness already in my practical activities.

Of course, breastfeeding has a number of advantages, including:

• Protective properties breast milk due to the presence in it of active antibodies to diseases suffered by the mother in the past. In other words, as long as the baby is fed breast milk, he is immune to most diseases.
• Women's milk has the optimal formula for proteins, fats, carbohydrates for a child
• Frequent attachment to the breast provides close tactile-emotional contact, thanks to which the baby feels safe.
• Breastfeeding is free

I want to note that the attention of young mothers is often focused by doctors on the last point. And this is not surprising, if we take into account the standard of living and income of most young families. It turns out that the cheapness of this method of feeding is used as the main argument in its favor. But sometimes such savings can end badly.

A friend of mine gave birth to a wonderful baby three months ago. Due to some chronic pathology, the doctors forbade her to go to natural childbirth, so a healthy, moderately well-fed and overly noisy Kirill was born through a planned caesarean section. According to medical protocols, 20-30 minutes after birth, as soon as the young mother began to recover, he was put to the breast for the first time. Since all the processes of restructuring the body in women after cesarean section occur more slowly than in those who gave birth naturally, critically little colostrum stood out, and the milk did not want to stay for five days. All this time, the child, who was unsuccessfully applied to the breast 30 times a day, was starving.

The mother, idealizing the idea of ​​breastfeeding, did not agree to supplement the baby with formula to the last, giving up with a fight only on the third day. By the end of the fifth postpartum day, the milk began to stay a little, but the child, who was born with excellent appetite, did not have enough volume, so he was discharged from the hospital just as screaming and hungry. It would seem that nature itself in this case rebelled against breastfeeding, but the mother stubbornly did not want to notice these signs.

Weeks passed, turning into months, lactation improved quite a bit, so Kirill was constantly capricious, poorly gaining weight and was an extremely restless child. But the most important thing is that jaundice, which in the normal version disappears in newborns no later than the end of the second week, was not going to leave the baby at the age of 8 weeks. Just like that, yellow-eyed and yellow-skinned, I saw him on a walk in a stroller. To my friend’s question about whether the yellowness of a baby at the age of two months bothers her, she said that she sees nothing wrong with this, because Cyril was not born naturally, but by caesarean, so he is weaker and “ripens” more slowly. I immediately sounded the alarm and persuaded her to donate the baby's blood for bilirubin, and also to do a blood type compatibility test. It turned out that the child's bilirubin index crossed the figure of 150, and the reason for this was the incompatibility of the blood types of the mother and baby. In other words, the only reason for the "gilding" of the child was the mother's breast milk. Of course, after receiving the test results, Kirill and his mother went to the neonatal pathology department to treat jaundice for two weeks. There, with the joint efforts of pediatricians and neonatologists, the young mother was convinced that her particular case requires a complete rejection of breastfeeding and the transfer of the baby to an adapted formula.

That is why, the choice of the method of feeding a child must be approached thoughtfully, objectively weighing all the pros and cons, and not perceiving breastfeeding as the only possible and correct method, because in some cases, the rejection of it may be a necessary measure.

By the way, the refusal of breastfeeding was difficult for the young mother, and not for the child, because it was psychologically difficult for her to come to terms with the idea that she would lose one of the most important maternal functions in her understanding. Fortunately, through joint efforts with the father of the baby, it turned out to convince her that the power of love for a little son will not decrease from changing the way of feeding.

Breastfeeding baby - video

Pediatricians and breastfeeding experts recommend a free daily routine, in which the child himself sets the optimal routine for himself, based on his needs. Breast milk is fully adapted to the baby's gastrointestinal tract and is quickly absorbed, so the baby can and should be applied to the breast as often as he wants. This is the so-called feeding on demand, in which the intervals between feedings and the duration of sucking are set by the child himself. The baby's stomach has a small volume and is designed to receive milk in small portions. If the intervals between feedings according to the schedule increase to 3 hours, the child needs a portion of milk much more than he can digest, which leads to overstretching of the walls of the stomach and regurgitation.

In addition, breastfeeding for a newborn baby is hard work. He may simply get tired and not suck out enough milk for one feeding. That is, in one feeding, the child can suck out quite a bit of milk, but after 20–30 minutes, again ask for the breast to finish eating.

It is important to remember that the more often the mother puts the baby to the breast, the more it will be produced in the following days. So, to maintain full lactation at first, at least 10-12 applications per day are necessary. With rare scheduled feedings, there is insufficient stimulation of the breast and, as a result, a decrease in the amount of milk.

By regime
Maintaining a three-hour interval between feedings is recommended only for children who are on artificial feeding, since milk formulas differ in composition from breast milk and it takes a certain time to digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Second error. Cancellation of night feedings

At a time when our mothers and grandmothers raised children, it was believed that the baby should not disturb mom and dad at night. by all possible methods(sickness in the arms or in the crib, supplementing with water, sucking on a pacifier), parents tried to ensure that the child slept all night without waking up. Night feedings were also "forbidden", because it was believed that at night the children's stomach should rest from food.

Currently, there is a completely different point of view - night feedings are needed. Moreover, the baby should be applied to the chest as many times a night as he wants. The baby's body is designed so that his stomach can digest breast milk without interruption. In addition, after continuous intrauterine nutrition, the baby is not able to withstand long breaks between meals, and it is natural for him to wake up and eat at night.

Night feedings contribute to the production of a sufficient amount of milk and the establishment of good lactation. The maximum amount of prolactin (the hormone on which the volume of lactation depends) is formed at night: from 3 am to 7 am. If the baby is not breastfed at night, then prolactin is produced in small quantities and, consequently, milk production is reduced.

Error three. Feeding restriction 10-15 minutes

Properly organized breastfeeding implies that the duration of feeding is set by the child himself. One of the rules for successful lactation sounds like this: the baby should be kept at the breast for as long as he needs, i.e. feeding should be finished when he lets go of the breast.

Each child takes a different amount of time to feed: someone needs 5 minutes, and someone needs 30 minutes. Some babies suck quickly and tear themselves away from the breast, others fall asleep at the same time, others suck for a long time and with pleasure. To a large extent, this depends on the child's temperament, adaptation processes, the state of his nervous system and age. As a rule, babies suckle for a long time in the first weeks of life, when falling asleep, when they are sick, in the presence of psychological discomfort. Short feedings are most often associated with the need to quench thirst or calm down at the mother's breast in a stressful situation, fear, pain.

Limiting feeding time can lead to unpleasant consequences. If the mother interrupts feeding ahead of time, the baby does not receive a “rear” portion of milk rich in nutrients and enzymes. Unsplit substances (lactose) from the “front” portion of milk enter the large intestine, where they cause digestive disorders in the form of fermentation, increased gas formation, stool disorders, and abdominal colic. All this, in turn, leads to poor weight gain in the baby, anxiety, sleep disturbance.

In addition, poor emptying of the breast with insufficient suckling leads to a decrease in the production of a new portion of milk, and can also contribute to the development of milk stasis (lactostasis).

Mistake four. Formula feeding baby

Many nursing mothers think that if the baby is often applied to the breast, this means that he is not full and needs to be supplemented with milk formula. Actually it is not.

For babies in the first months of life, breastfeeding is a normal and natural process. The fact is that at the age of up to 3 months, a child needs a breast not only for food. With the help of suckling, he satisfies his many needs: for physical and emotional contact with his mother, for warmth, security, incessant care and love. Feeling any discomfort, the baby calls his mother. Do not forget that young children have a well-developed sucking reflex and the baby needs to satisfy his need for sucking.

Especially frequent breastfeeding is typical for children in the first month of life. A newborn baby can ask for a breast up to 12-16 times a day. But from about 2 months, he begins to do this less often, and by 3 months, the crumbs form their own feeding schedule with breaks of 2-3 hours.

Attention!
Supplementary feeding with milk formula to a child can only be prescribed by a doctor, evaluating it general state and weight gain.

Mistake five. Feeding baby with water

The question of the need to supplement the baby with water is one of the most frequently asked specialists. The whole point is that in Soviet time It was customary to give the baby water between feedings. Today, one of the rules for successful breastfeeding outlined by World Organization health care, sounds like this: "Lack of supplementation and the introduction of other foreign liquids and products up to 6 months." Thus, a breastfed baby should not be given any additional fluids until 6 months of age.

This rule has a simple explanation. Breast milk contains a sufficient amount of water, approximately 85-90%, and it is able to fully meet the needs of the baby in the liquid. In addition, water supplementation adversely affects lactation. Even a small amount of water fills the baby's stomach and creates a feeling of false satiety. He has less desire to breastfeed, and the amount of milk produced decreases.

Mistake six. Pumping after every feed

If the mother feeds the baby on demand, then there is no need for regular breast pumping. In this case, there is sufficient stimulation of the mammary glands and the woman's body itself "calculates" how much milk to produce. A nursing mother who puts her baby to the breast on demand and expresses her breast after each feeding provokes an increase in milk production. Thus, the breast receives "false" information about how much milk was spent. By the next feeding, milk will arrive in the amount: sucked by the baby plus expressed. The baby cannot eat the large amount of milk that has formed, it stagnates in the chest and, as a result, the likelihood of developing lactostasis and mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands) increases.

Breast pumping is necessary for such a problem as breast engorgement, in the treatment of lactostasis, mastitis, nipple cracks, with a lack of milk to increase its production, in case of forced separation of mother and baby.

Error seven. Drinking large amounts of liquid

The most common mistake breastfeeding mothers make is drinking too much fluid. Many people think that what more woman drinks liquids, the more milk she produces. In fact, the process of milk production is not regulated by the amount of fluid entering the mother's body, but by the pituitary hormones (prolactin and oxytocin).

In addition, breastfeeding experts argue that excess fluid not only does not stimulate lactation, but can also reduce it. Excess fluid intake often leads to the formation of more milk than the baby needs, which, in turn, often causes lactostasis. For stable lactation, a nursing mother needs to drink 1.5–2 liters per day.

Mistake eight. Following a strict diet

For many women, breastfeeding is associated with a strict diet, which until recently, doctors recommended that mothers follow during breastfeeding. The meaning of the diet was to exclude from the menu of a nursing woman all products that can cause allergic reactions or digestive disorders in a baby. A competent approach to the issue of nutrition of a nursing mother at present is to monitor the reaction of the baby to one or another product eaten by the mother, and not to refuse them. That is, products that cause violations in the baby are excluded after the fact, and not in advance.

In addition, a nursing mother should not eat twice as much as usual. This is nothing more than a myth. The amount of food eaten does not affect the quantity and quality of milk produced. Every day, a nursing mother should receive a complete and balanced diet. Its calorie content should be 400–600 kcal per day more than usual, since approximately so many calories are spent per day on the production of breast milk.

To avoid mistakes when establishing lactation, in case of various questions and difficulties, a nursing mother can seek help from a pediatrician or a breastfeeding specialist.

Breastfeeding a newborn directly affects his health. The complex of valuable substances, which is in the composition of human milk, does not repeat any of its analogues.

Before feeding, the mother should wash her hands and pour warm water over her breasts.

by the most right decision for the formation of good immunity of the baby is breastfeeding, you will learn about the rules for this process below.

The first breastfeeding occurs immediately after the baby is born. The purpose of breastfeeding is to receive the first drops of valuable milk matter from the mother's breast. After giving birth, the newly-made mother does not yet have milk, her body produces a nutrient mixture in a small amount, the so-called colostrum.

Unfortunately, there are difficulties with early attachment of a newborn baby to the breast when:

1. Surgical intervention during childbirth, caesarean section.
2. Profuse birth bleeding.
3. Delayed birth.
4. The birth of a premature baby.

5) the presence of jaundice or traumatic brain injury in a newborn; 6) multiple pregnancy

In babies who were breastfed in the first minutes of life, a number of positive aspects are observed: they lose their weight less, the disease of physiological jaundice is mild.

How often should a newborn be breastfed?

In order to determine the number of feedings per day for a newborn, it is necessary to monitor his behavior. Most often, mothers try to put their child to the breast every 2-4 hours.

Breastfeeding newborns tips:

• It is necessary to remain calm, not to strain and not worry, the child feels the mood of the mother, and the stress can be transmitted to the baby, which will negatively affect his behavior during feeding.
• To increase lactation, you need to drink more fluids.
• At the time of feeding, you need to arrange so that both mother and baby are comfortable.

Of course, at first you will have to feed the baby more often, since milk production will return to normal only for 4-5 days.

For feeding efficiency, you need to familiarize yourself with step by step technique breastfeeding:

1. Pediatricians advise expressing the first few drops of milk before each feeding, firstly, to avoid its non-sterility, and secondly, this helps to increase the amount of milk formula.
2. It is necessary to take a comfortable position, you can do this while sitting or reclining.
3. At the time of feeding, it is advisable to untie the baby so that he feels the warmth of his mother.
4. The head and torso of the crumbs are recommended to be placed on the same horizontal line, the torso of the baby is pressed against the body of the mother.
5. The chest should be supported from above with the index finger, from below with the rest of the fingers.
6. The baby should capture the areola (the area around the nipple), less on top than on the bottom.
7. The duration of feeding is determined by the baby. If he is already sated, he stops sucking movements and opens the gums.
8. A well-fed baby is better to lay on its side. Do not forget to alternate the sides, for support, you can put a pillow under the back.

9) After the feeding is completed, the baby should be held in an upright position for 3-5 minutes to let the air out of the stomach. 10) After feeding, wash and dry the breast with a towel

This approach will help the newly-made mother to approach the process of feeding her child correctly.

Diet while breastfeeding a newborn

When breastfeeding, a woman needs to be careful in choosing food. So, as all the food that the mother eats, along with milk enters the body of the baby. Therefore, her diet should be nutritious and hypoallergenic.

The diet for breastfeeding a newborn consists of the following items:

• Balanced menu.
• Reduce the consumption of carbohydrate foods to a minimum, as they increase gas formation.
• During breastfeeding, it is necessary to exclude the use of alcohol and other bad habits.
• It is not recommended to eat foods containing dyes or preservatives.

The diet should be strict enough so as not to harm the still not fully strengthened child's body.

Consider a list that includes allowed products for breastfeeding a newborn for a mother. The daily diet should include meat, fish, eggs, cereals, root crops, vegetables. During the feeding period, fresh cow's milk should be excluded. Dairy products such as kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese and cheese are recommended.

a) steamed vegetables b) cottage cheese

It is better to refrain from exotic fruits, red fruits, as well as foods that cause increased gas separation - legumes, grapes and cabbage.

Nutrition while breastfeeding a newborn

One of the important topics that occupies all nursing mothers is nutrition while breastfeeding a newborn. During this period, it is recommended to eat stewed vegetables, a variety of cereals and low-fat soups in order to diversify the menu when breastfeeding a newborn. You need to follow a strict diet for about a month, after which the variety of foods for mom can expand.

A child with mother's milk receives everything necessary for its development, but mother should not eat for two, one should eat a little, but often.

Water for a newborn baby while breastfeeding

Since 90% of milk is water, there is no need to give your baby extra fluids. If the child is given some water, then he, having received a sufficient norm of liquid, eats less milk. As a result, he does not receive those nutrients contained in mother's milk. When drinking an excessive amount of water, dysbacteriosis can develop in the body of the crumbs.

Doctors believe that water is not needed for a newborn baby during breastfeeding. However, a baby older than 5 months can be given water, but in small doses.

Most breastfeeding mothers face such a problem as gas in newborns during breastfeeding. The reason for their appearance is the wrong feeding technique, an unbalanced diet of a nursing woman.

This trouble in newborns is associated with the immaturity of the digestive organs, insufficient production of gastric juice. Fermentation and the appearance of gases stretch the walls of the intestine, provoke pain in the abdomen of the little one.

To avoid this problem, you should reduce the consumption of foods that cause gas in the newborn during breastfeeding, as well as use the correct breastfeeding technique.

How to give espumizan to a newborn while breastfeeding?

Espumizan is a milky-white suspension with a banana smell. It has a carminative effect, is used for increased gas formation and bloating.

Moms are wondering when and how to give espumizan to a newborn while breastfeeding. The drug is given to the baby after meals. Drip on a small spoon 25 drops, or 1 ml (according to the instructions). Since pain disturbs the baby very often, you can give this drug 3-4 times a day.

Chair of a newborn baby while breastfeeding

The original stool of a newborn baby during breastfeeding acquires a dark, almost black shade, and has no smell. As milk comes in, transitional stools are observed, it is also called meconium or mature stools. During this period, it changes from dark to light color.
A sign that milk is being digested is the frequency of bowel movements, up to ten times a day is considered the norm.

Loose stools in a newborn while breastfeeding

If observed liquid stool in a newborn while breastfeeding, and he is calm, do not worry. This is absolutely normal. The reason for this is the still immature digestive system, which is not able to fight infections on its own. Diarrhea in a newborn during breastfeeding is a problem that worries all mothers.

If there are suspicions of any pathologies of the little one, you should immediately consult a doctor and find out the cause of the problem, since the situation is dangerous due to the threat of dehydration of the newborn's body.

Foamy stool in a breastfed newborn

A frothy stool in a baby at the age of one month is the reaction of an immature organism to changes in the mother's diet. Also, foamy stools in a breastfed newborn can occur when the baby does not completely empty the chest. Then he does not receive back milk, the composition of which is more nutritious than fore milk.

This state of defecation in a child is combined with malnutrition. In any case, you need urgent Care and advice from a qualified physician.

Green poop in a breastfed newborn

In general, green poop in a breastfed newborn is a physiological norm. Green feces appear due to sucking out only foremilk. It is less nutritious, which means that the baby is not saturated. Therefore, you need to ensure that the milk is completely sucked out of the breast.

The color of feces in a child depends on the content of breast milk and its absorption. Dark green kakuli means an increased content of bilirubin, which is not at all dangerous for the health of the child. You should carefully monitor the behavior of the crumbs, and at the first signs of pathology, seek the advice of your doctor.

An incompletely formed enzyme system in a newborn, an insufficient amount of fluid in the diet of both the child and the nursing mother - all this can provoke deviations in the digestive process. Therefore, during breastfeeding, constipation occurs in the crumbs. To help the baby cope with this problem, a laxative for newborns is used while breastfeeding.

a) "Multi-Tabs Baby"; b) Aquaderim

Properly selected laxatives for constipation in newborns, containing vitamin D, solve the problem within a week. It is recommended to use Aquaderim, Multi-Tabs Baby, Prelax, Dufalac syrups, rectal suppositories.

An effective way to quickly cleanse the intestines is the enema procedure, for which a pear is used. Its tip must be lubricated with petroleum jelly, then introduced with a rotational movement into the anus of the newborn, to a depth of 2-3 centimeters.

Keep in mind that a pear for feeding a baby under the age of 6 months should be no more than 60 ml in volume. But all these remedies are resorted to in extreme cases, otherwise the intestines quickly get used to and will not be able to empty themselves.

Breastfeeding newborn advice on the correct implementation can be obtained in detail from a pediatrician or obstetrician-gynecologist.

Breast milk is the main source of nutrition for a newborn. Doctors recommend keeping breastfeeding up to 1.5-2 years, because only mother's milk has a full range of vitamins and elements that are needed for the full development of the child. You can read about the benefits of breastfeeding and the benefits of breast milk for your baby at the link /.

Unfortunately, after the birth of a baby, many women face a lot of problems in breastfeeding, especially if this is the first child. This article contains the most popular questions that are of interest to nursing mothers. The recommendations of doctors and consultants on breastfeeding will help to maintain lactation longer and ensure proper nutrition baby. In addition, expert advice will tell you how to take care of the health of mom and baby.

How to start breastfeeding

1. First application

It is best to apply the baby immediately after birth. Body contact will speed up the flow of milk and teach the baby to suckle faster. The sooner the first application occurs, the better lactation will proceed. If it is not possible to immediately attach the newborn to the breast, ensure constant contact between the baby and mother.

2. Feed your baby on demand, not on schedule.

Give your baby as much milk as he needs. Do not stop feeding until the newborn drops the nipple on its own or falls asleep. Pediatricians recommend feeding your baby every 2 hours during the day and at least 4 times at night. Don't give up night feedings! They are an essential element for maintaining lactation.

3. Don't Force Eat

11. Don't give your baby water

Breast milk is 80-85% water. In addition, foremilk is thin and watery. It is able to quench the thirst of the baby to the fullest. Pediatricians do not recommend giving water to the baby in the first six months of breastfeeding. If the child is hot and sweats a lot, wipe the body wet wipes, wash with water and bathe more often.

12. Don't use a pacifier often.

The use of a pacifier replaces the breast, resulting in reduced lactation. In addition, mothers often face the fact that it is very difficult to wean the baby from the pacifier in the future.

However, it is not necessary to completely exclude the use of a pacifier. It soothes the baby and satisfies the sucking reflex, distracts from discomfort and relieve discomfort. A properly selected nipple will form a bite, rubber products will help babies when their first teeth erupt. With a rare and short-term use of a pacifier, it will not harm the baby and lactation.

13. Express milk only when necessary.

You don't need to pump often. Doctors recommend using this procedure only if the breast is full and discomfort is felt due to a strong rush of milk in the mammary glands. Pumping is necessary when the mother is unable to breastfeed. For example, with prolonged separation from the baby, with mastitis and lactostasis, while taking antibiotics.

14. Store your expressed milk properly

Milk is expressed into a sterile container. For long-term storage, choose freezing and plastic bags made of dense polyethylene. You can leave the milk in the refrigerator if the expressed milk does not require long-term storage. This product should be used within two to five days. How to choose the right container for storing expressed breast milk, read.

15. Ask for help from specialists

If you have any problems and questions during lactation, do not be afraid to contact specialists. If in this moment you can not consult with a pediatrician, they will help. Today you can also contact an expert via the Internet. In addition, communicate with other more experienced mothers who will definitely help with advice.

16. Don't go on a strict diet.

After childbirth, a woman loses many vitamins and nutrients, the lack of which must be filled. It is also important that the baby must receive the necessary nutrients for full growth and development. The diet for breastfeeding should be varied and rich. Strict restrictions will lead to problems in the health of the baby and the woman.

17. Don't Overeat

The abuse of certain products will lead to problems in the digestion of the baby. Overeating causes indigestion, constipation and diarrhea, and sometimes poisoning. In addition, excess food increases colic and increases gas formation, which worsens the well-being and causes serious discomfort to the baby.

18. Introduce New Foods Gradually

In the first three months, the baby's body only adapts to new conditions, so adult food should be introduced carefully. Do not try two new products at the same time, take breaks of 3-5 days. After the first test, carefully monitor the reaction of the child. If there are no allergies and problems with the tummy, the product can be eaten further. If you feel worse, postpone the introduction for a month.

19. Follow a hypoallergenic diet for the first month

20. Nutrition for a nursing mother in the first month

• green apples and bananas in heat treatment;
• light soups and broths;
• mashed cauliflower and broccoli, potatoes and zucchini;
• buckwheat and rice porridge on the water;
• fermented milk products, except for kefir;
• low-fat sour cream and cottage cheese, hard cheeses;
• stewed or boiled beef, rabbit meat or ground turkey.

21. Eat cooked food and watch what you eat.

Eat food stewed, boiled or baked. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be introduced into the diet in the second or third month of lactation. Avoid highly fried, fatty, spicy and salty foods. Do not use seasonings and spices, sauces, mayonnaise and ketchup. For dressing, take sour cream, vegetable oil and lemon juice. Eliminate semi-finished products and seafood, canned foods, and other chemicals from the diet.

22. Stay hydrated

Warm, plentiful drink favorably affects the health of the mother and supports lactation. Daily rate liquid during breastfeeding is 2-3 liters, while half of the volume falls on ordinary drinking water. Also, a nursing mother can drink green and weak black tea, compotes and natural juices, sour-milk drinks. A nursing mother can drink coffee and cocoa after six months from the birth of the baby.

Drink cow's milk with caution, as it often causes allergies in babies. Many pediatricians do not recommend introducing this drink into the diet when breastfeeding before 4-6 months. And then it is advised to drink in a minimum amount.

23. Forget about alcohol

Alcoholic drinks poison the body of the baby and mother, inhibit the development of the baby and provoke diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and nerve cells. Some believe that a small portion of wine helps to fall asleep quickly. Indeed, the child will fall asleep quickly, but he will sleep restlessly and poorly, he will often wake up. Remember that even a small dose of alcohol can adversely affect the well-being of the baby.

Breast care during lactation

24. Be hygienic, but don't get carried away.

It is enough to wash the breast twice a day. Do not use natural soap and towels, as they wash off the protective layer, irritate the skin and nipples. Neutral soap and soft cloths are suitable for washing. But hands should be washed with soap after each feeding.

25. Choose the right underwear

Choose a bra that allows you to easily open and close your cups with one hand. Take breathable material, based on cotton or microfiber. The first nursing bra should be free of wires and seams on the inside of the cup, as they can injure the nipples and skin. The cups are loose and do not constrict the chest.

26. Use breast pads

Special pads absorb excess milk, which ensures proper breast hygiene. They will help with cracked nipples and prevent skin irritation. In addition, pads will protect clothes from getting wet, and nipples from chafing underwear. How to choose and use breast pads, read. Don't forget to change your earbuds when they get wet!

27. Get a massage

Massage stimulates milk production and prevents lactostasis. However, it is important to apply the right movements. Before the procedure, rinse the chest and wash your hands thoroughly, which can be lubricated with olive or castor oil. Massage the chest with light circular movements in a clockwise direction for 2-4 minutes. Do not squeeze the mammary glands and do not press hard on the skin! This massage is especially effective during the shower.

28. Apply compresses

Apply warm compresses before feeding, cool compresses after. A warm compress stimulates the production of breast milk, while a cool compress restores the breast. Cabbage leaves are also used, which relieve pain, swelling and tension in the mammary glands, heal wounds on the nipples, and help with strong inflows of milk.

29. Express milk properly

You need to express at least 20 minutes to get a complete composition, which includes both hind and foremilk. Foremilk is less fat and often looks like water, but don't underestimate it! After all, it is foremilk that quenches thirst and gives required amount fluids in the body of the baby.

30. How to express milk easily and painlessly with your hands

Manual pumping is carried out by alternating the mammary glands for five minutes. If milk began to be allocated drop by drop, do not stop the procedure. Wait a few minutes and it will start again. Do not squeeze or stretch the nipples, do not squeeze the skin when pumping!

Breast problems

31. How to recognize lactostasis

Lactostasis (milk stasis) is often found in mothers who breastfeed for a long time. With this disease, chest pain is felt, small bumps and redness form, there is a lack of milk during feeding. Also, a woman may have a slight fever, aches and weakness in the body, headaches. If the temperature rises above 38 degrees, consult a doctor immediately!

32. How to drain stagnant milk

• Feed your baby every hour;
• Apply the child so that the seal is under the lower jaw;
• Before feeding, massage with light clapping, and during the time lightly massage the chest with your knuckles;
• Make special compresses. Apply cool cabbage leaves for 15-20 minutes after feeding. Before going to bed, make a warm compress with camphor oil.

33. How to recognize mastitis

If lactostasis is not noticed in time and treatment is not started, it develops into a more complex disease - mastitis. It is characterized by painful lumps in the chest, high temperature and malaise. For the treatment of this disease, be sure to consult a doctor! With mastitis, you can not do warming and alcohol compresses, knead and massage sore spots!

34. Cracks and abrasions on the nipples

Cracks often occur due to too delicate and sensitive skin, flat or underdeveloped nipples, poor hygiene and not proper attachment baby. As a rule, the pain disappears as soon as breastfeeding and the diet of the baby are established.

35. How to get rid of cracked nipples

With this problem, do not refuse breastfeeding and do not use antibiotic ointments. Also, you can not lubricate the nipples with iodine or brilliant green, alcohol solutions. For nursing mothers, ointments and oil solutions containing vitamin A are well suited. Retinol tightens wounds and restores the skin, eliminates peeling and dryness, and prevents the appearance of new cracks. In addition, ointments containing lanolin effectively help, which heals wounds and softens the skin.

36. Ointments for the treatment of cracked nipples

• Purelan is a safe and hypoallergenic product that is 100% lanolin. Does not require rinsing before feeding and does not cause an allergic reaction!;
• Bepanten - an antibacterial agent for the prevention and treatment of cracks, be sure to wash off before feeding! Bepanten is also used to eliminate diaper rash in infants;
• Sanosan mom does not require rinsing and consists of natural lanolin without additives and impurities;
• Avent is a moisturizing cream with lanonil and coconut oil with high efficiency in wound healing. Does not require rinsing;
• Mom comfort is a wound healing cream with a natural composition that nourishes the skin, relieves irritation and flaking. Does not require rinsing;
• Videstim is a hypoallergenic ointment with a high content of vitamin A, stimulates healing and restores the skin, relieves pain and does not require rinsing.

37. Folk remedies for cracked nipples

• Compresses from the leaves of white cabbage;
• Wipe the nipples with a decoction of chamomile or birch leaves. Two tablespoons of the collection are boiled in 0.5 liters of water until half of the water has evaporated;
• Lubricate the nipples with sea buckthorn, vegetable and butter. Be sure to rinse before feeding!;
• Compresses from grated beets are replaced after the slurry dries;
• Lubricate your nipples lightly with breast milk.

38. Don't bandage your chest!

If you have a lot of milk, don't bandage your breasts! Also, do not use this method at the end of lactation. Pulling will worsen the condition of the mammary glands and the health of the woman. This method can lead to lactostasis and even mastitis.

39. Fungal infection

If left unattended and untreated, cracked nipples can cause fungal infection(staphylococcus in milk, thrush, etc.). With an infection, pain is felt deep inside the chest, after and during feeding. A rash and redness, itching and burning appear on the skin. Often the temperature rises and one feels malaise, loss of strength. Such infections are dangerous because they are transmitted to babies from mothers. It is important to consult a doctor in time and start treatment!

40. Mastopathy

This disease of the mammary glands implies the presence of neoplasms (benign) in the form of nodules and seals. In addition, with mastopathy, the volume of the breast increases greatly. If you notice nodules and lumps in the chest, bloody, white and colorless discharge from the nipples, consult a doctor immediately!

41. How to wean a child from biting his chest

When a baby bites or pinches her nipples, immediately take the breast and say that this is not allowed. Repeat this until the child stops. Sometimes the baby plays like this. An alternative will help - offer the child finger games or beads.

Often the baby bites the nipples during teething. When teething, give the baby special teethers or a rubber nipple. If the baby has bitten the breast, do not pull or pull on the nipple! Insert your little finger into the baby's mouth and carefully remove the nipple.

42. What to do with delayed lactation

Sometimes a woman is faced with such a problem when the arrival of milk after childbirth. This phenomenon is especially characteristic of primiparas. First of all, it is necessary to establish feeding and attachment to the breast, to teach the baby to properly grasp the nipple. With a delay in lactation, light massage, warm and cool compresses will help. In no case do not start feeding the baby with mixtures if breast milk has not yet come!

43. Is it necessary to increase the fat content of milk

Breast milk should not be too fatty, because it is 80-85% water! Believe me, breast milk fully satisfies the needs of the baby, because the composition changes over time, taking into account the needs of the baby, if the baby is cheerful and active, normally gains weight, there are no problems with the composition of milk! Please note that too fat milk causes severe colic and dysbacteriosis in infants.

44. How to check the fat content of milk

If you think that the milk is too thin and looks like water, you can check the fat content. Express milk 15-20 minutes after feeding into a sterile tube and leave at room temperature for 6 hours. The liquid will be divided into two parts, the upper of which shows the fat content. Measure the indicators with a ruler, where one millimeter corresponds to one percent. The normal fat content of milk is 3.5-5%. If the indicators are lower, the tips from the article “” will help to increase the fat content.

45. How to understand if the baby is getting enough milk

Pay attention to two indicators - weight and number of urination. The daily rate of urination in infants is more than eight times. In this case, urine should be pale, colorless or light yellow. As far as weight is concerned, healthy baby Gaining about 120 grams every week, and about 500 grams per month. By six months, the weight of the baby increases by about two times compared to body weight at birth.

46. ​​If there is not enough milk

Often, nursing mothers have a problem with a lack of breast milk. First of all, pay attention to the nutrition and attachment of the baby to the breast. Sometimes doctors recommend drinking special herbal teas and mixtures to maintain lactation. But you can take pills and various medicines only in extreme cases and only after consulting a specialist. Remember that drugs can harm the baby!

47. Basic methods of increasing lactation

• Correctly apply the baby to the chest, use comfortable postures for feeding;
• Attach your baby more often. Frequent sucking is great for stimulating milk production;
• Use skin-to-skin contact and apply the baby only to the bare chest;
• Do not supplement and do not supplement the baby, give a pacifier less often;
• If supplementation is needed, use a spoon or syringe, not a bottle with a pacifier;
• Every day do a light chest massage, take a shower and do compresses;
• Watch your diet;
• Drink more liquid. Drink water and juices, tea and compotes. Soups and broths must be included in the daily diet;
• Get more rest and be outdoors;
• Avoid stress and overwork. Nervous tension and frustration, severe fatigue and even bad mood negatively affect lactation.

48. Drugs to increase lactation

Tablets and herbal teas during breastfeeding can be taken only after the permission of the doctor. Remember that some compounds cause allergies in the baby. Below is a list of the most effective and popular means to increase lactation:

• Laktogon - food supplement, which includes carrot juice and royal jelly, various herbs and ascorbic acid;
• Apilak - tablets containing royal jelly and vitamins, sometimes disturbs sleep;
• Mlekoin - granules based on plant substances;
• Femilak - dry milk mixture containing cow's milk, whey and vegetable oils;
• Milky Way - a dry mix containing soy protein and herbs, enriches the diet of a nursing mother;
• Hipp - the most popular herbal tea for nursing with anise, cumin, fennel and nettle;
• Grandmother's basket - lactogenic, tonic and strengthening tea for nursing.

Keep in mind that the human body is individual. The same remedy will improve lactation in one woman and not help the second at all. The same drug causes an allergy in one baby and does not bring problems at all for another.

49. If there is too much milk

Some breastfeeding mothers face another problem when too much milk is produced. This is hyperlactation, which causes serious problems, including involuntary leakage and regular stagnation of milk, heaviness in the chest and fatigue, sleep disturbance. If hyperlactating, drink less fluid and express foremilk before feeding.

50. When and how to end lactation

Whether a baby is ready for weaning can be determined by several factors. As a rule, this is the age of 1.5-2 years. At this time, most of the milk teeth are already formed, and they are ready to chew food, while breastfeeding occurs up to six times a day, the rest is complementary foods.

After weaning the baby, milk arrives from several weeks to several months. To reduce breast milk production, drink less fluids and exercise more. Infusions and compresses of sage or mint will also help to effectively complete lactation.

51. How to restore lactation

If breast milk is gone or is produced in insufficient quantities, it is necessary to stimulate sucking and apply the baby to the breast more often, gradually reduce supplementary feeding and use safe means to increase lactation (teas, massage, etc.). It is important to monitor nutrition and ensure regular bodily contact with the baby.

52. How to understand that the baby is sick:

• Fever and fever;
• A low temperature may occur as a reaction to an infection;
• Rapid breathing;
• Refusal to eat;
• Frequent crying and anxiety, sleep disturbance;
• Vomit;
• The number of urination has decreased and is less than five times a day or not at all;
• A sharp change in the color and consistency of feces, an increase in mucus, the appearance of blood or foam in the stool;
• Too frequent stools or, conversely, no stools for more than two days.

53. What to do if the baby has a high temperature

Undress the child and wipe with water at room temperature. Take the temperature again after 10-15 minutes. If the readings do not decrease, consult a doctor. In an emergency, you can give the baby the age dose of the antipyretic, which is indicated in the instructions for the drug. Most safe means for infants is paracetamol or ibuprofen.

54. When and why does the baby cry

Most often, crying indicates that the baby wants to eat. In addition, a child's restless behavior can indicate poor health, the onset of illness, anxiety, and other problems. Pay attention to other signs as well. This will help determine the cause.

55. Colic

This is normal for babies in the first weeks of life. The problem goes away 3-5 months. Therefore, there is no need to worry that something is wrong with the child, because the body of a newborn is only getting used to new conditions and food. With this ailment, the baby often cries and draws his legs towards him. In addition, there may be a violation of the chair.

56. What to do with colic

• Spread the baby before feeding on the tummy on a hard surface and leave for 2-3 minutes;
• After feeding, hold the baby in an upright position until he burps;
• Make sure that the baby swallows as little air as possible when feeding;
• Do a light massage of the tummy with circular movements in a clockwise direction;
• Periodically bend and unbend the legs when the baby is lying on his back;
• Apply a warm, but not hot, diaper to the tummy;
• Take relaxing baths with chamomile;
• Monitor the nutrition of a nursing mother;
• If the baby is on artificial or mixed feeding, the cause of colic is often an improperly selected milk formula.

57. Pharmacy remedies for colic

• Dill water. In 250 ml of boiling water, dilute a teaspoon of dill or fennel seeds. The decoction is insisted for an hour and given to the newborn in a sip before feeding;
• Warm infusions of lemon balm and chamomile, ginger and immortelle, carrot seeds. do not give your baby more than a quarter cup of decoction per day !;
• From the first day of life, babies can be given Bifiform baby oil solution and Espumizan baby drops. They eliminate disturbances in the work of digestion and soothe, form the intestinal microflora and prevent dysbacteriosis;
• From two weeks you can take Plantex powder, which includes fennel. The drug stimulates digestion, removes gases and reduces colic;
• From one month they give a suspension of Sab Simplex and Bobotik drops, which reduce bloating, relieve pain and colic;
• Also, the pediatrician can prescribe Linex, Baby Calm, Babinos and other effective drugs for colic to babies.

58. How to recognize an allergy in a baby

Another unpleasant disease that warns a newborn is an allergy. There are many varieties of this disease. It can be a reaction to food, wool and pollen, insect bites, and more. Allergies manifest themselves in three ways:

• Reaction to skin: rash and redness, peeling and itching, swelling;
• Reaction in digestion: violation of the stool, vomiting and profuse regurgitation;
• Reaction in the respiratory organs: cough and runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion, asthma.

59. How to cure allergies

To cure an allergy, you need to identify the cause and eliminate the irritant. Only a doctor can prescribe treatment! First of all, a nursing mother is advised to exclude allergenic foods from the diet and replace the milk formula if the baby is on artificial or mixed feeding.

60. How to distinguish prickly heat from allergies

Prickly heat, unlike allergies, is not a disease. This ailment can disturb the baby with severe overheating, and when he often sweats. A rash appears on the skin of the child in the form of bubbles. Unlike allergies, the affected areas do not itch or itch.

The rash with prickly heat goes away on its own. It is important to ensure a comfortable temperature in the room, which is 18-22 degrees above zero. Bathe regularly and keep your child hygienic. Powder from prickly heat is applied to the reddened areas, almond oil and special ointments.

Take good care of your baby's skin. If the liquid in the blisters begins to darken, consult a doctor immediately!

61. Regurgitation

This is a normal physiological process that is characteristic of everyone. baby. Dumping of breast milk or formula begins spontaneously 15-30 minutes after feeding. For most babies, regurgitation goes away by 4-7 months.

Abundant regurgitation or regurgitation with a fountain already speaks of violations in the work of digestion. The causes of such an ailment can be overeating, poisoning, and common indigestion. IN this case need to see a doctor.

62. How to distinguish regurgitation from vomiting

It is important to distinguish between regurgitation and vomiting. Regurgitation is a typical phenomenon for newborns, which goes away on its own. Vomiting, on the other hand, can indicate severe poisoning, serious disorders in the work of digestion, and even pathologies in the development of the gastrointestinal tract.

To distinguish between these processes, pay attention to the frequency and volume of regurgitation. Regurgitation occurs once after feeding in a volume of up to 5 ml at a time and more than five times per day. When regurgitation, the baby's well-being does not worsen, and the food comes out in its original form.

Vomiting occurs in unlimited volume and at any time, not only after feedings. It can be repeated repeatedly, while the child refuses food, sleeps poorly and is naughty. When vomiting, the food is already partially digested and may look like curdled milk and have a sour smell. Remember that only vomiting is a fountain!

63. How to recognize dysbacteriosis in infants

This is an imbalance in the intestinal microflora, which is observed in 90-95% of babies. It is accompanied by severe and frequent colic, bloating, sleep disturbance and brings severe discomfort to the child. In addition, with dysbacteriosis, nausea and vomiting, stool disturbance, decreased or lack of appetite, dry skin and allergic dermatitis are often observed. Treatment of dysbacteriosis can only be carried out by a doctor!

Baby's stool while breastfeeding

64. What should be the chair of the baby

Breast milk is a unique food product for a newborn, not only natural, but also very useful. It contains all the nutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary for the proper development of the child's body.

Colostrum precedes the formation of breast milk. It has no equal in composition and quality of nutrients. It perfectly saturates the baby during the first 2-3 days and is easily digested. And by 4-5 days after birth, real breast milk appears.

With the birth of a child, a young mother has a lot of different questions and problems regarding feeding. Especially a lot of them at the birth of the first child. Answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found in this article.

Long gone are the days when newborns were in separate wards of the maternity hospital from their mother. To date, it has been proven (and carried out) that the contact of the newborn with the mother and the first attachment to the breast are necessary immediately after birth. The sooner the baby is attached to the breast, the faster breastfeeding will be established, the easier the child will adapt after birth.

How often to feed the baby

One of the important issues for a young mother is the number of feedings during the day, and many doubt whether it is possible to feed a child at night. There are 3 options to solve this problem:

1. Feeding by the hour, or according to the schedule, - old way when the baby was applied to the chest strictly after 3 hours. This is convenient for the mother, and not for the child, because the mother could do household chores between feedings.

1. Feeding on demand, that is, attachment to the mother's breast at the first cry of the baby at any time of the day. This is exactly what pediatricians now recommend to feed children. In addition, the baby can suck on the breast as much as he wants. As a result of frequent applications, lactation is stimulated without the use of any additional means.

The child quickly gets used to sleeping at the mother's breast. At night, there is no need to wake up the baby for feeding: if he wants, he will suckle himself, the nipple is in his mouth. But the mother, as it were, is constantly attached to the child, at any time she should be able to feed the child.

In addition, a child may cry for another reason: abdominal cramps, a wet diaper, or another reason. And the mother, not understanding this, will try to feed him.

1. Free feeding is an intermediate way between the first two. With this method, the mother feeds the child “according to appetite” both day and night, but not more often than after 2 hours. According to physiology, the need for food in a child should not arise before. Keep the baby at the breast while you only need 15-20 minutes. - this time is enough for saturation. Sucking longer only contributes to the satisfaction of the sucking reflex. Night feedings should definitely be kept, as they are important for supporting lactation.

On which feeding option to stop, it is up to the mother to decide together with the pediatrician. The best interests of the child must be put at the forefront.

Quantity and quality of milk

Literally from the first days after discharge with a newborn from the maternity ward, every mother begins to worry about the quality, and often the quantity of milk: is the baby enough, and is there enough fat in the milk? Maybe, better mix? Moreover, advertising obsessively claims that milk formulas are not inferior to breast milk.

However, there is no substitute for mother's milk. It is important that the baby is breastfed for at least 6 months.

The benefits of breast milk for a baby are undeniable:

• it is the best fit for the baby in composition;
• mother's milk will not cause and, if only the mother adheres to the recommendations of the doctor on nutrition;
• in addition to nutrients, the mother provides protection to the baby from many diseases with her antibodies contained in milk;
• no reheating required or special conditions for storing it, which is especially convenient when feeding at night or out of the house.

That is why you should not rush to supplement the baby with mixtures, you need to fight to maintain lactation. Frequent attachment to the breast is better than any stimulant for the flow of milk. Even if the breast seems "empty", the baby sucks milk, called hind milk, which is considered more valuable than the front. That is why during feeding it is not recommended to change breasts often. With a lack of hindmilk, the baby will lag behind in weight and intestinal problems may occur.

For lactation, the psycho-emotional state of the nursing mother, the absence of stress and sufficient time for rest and night sleep are important. Well, the quality of milk directly depends on the nature of the mother's diet.

What is the best position to feed your baby?

You can breastfeed your baby in a wide variety of positions, but 3 of them are considered the most common.

To choose a position when feeding a newborn, the main condition is convenience, a sense of comfort for both the child and the mother.

Main poses 3:

• classical ("cradle"): the mother sits and holds the child in her arms, pressing him to her with a slightly raised head; while the baby lies, as in a cradle, which served as the name of the pose;
• from the armpit: the mother holds the child on her side, under her arm, pressing her head to her chest. This position is more often used at the birth of twins and the simultaneous feeding of both babies;
• lying on its side: mother lies on her side; nearby, at the chest, lies a child; the most comfortable position for feeding at night, after a caesarean section.

Postures can be changed, which will enable the baby to suck out milk from different lobes of the mammary gland to prevent its stagnation. It is important that in any position the baby's body is in the same plane and is not curved.

Correct chest grip

It is very important to teach the baby to grasp the nipple correctly: the nipple and most of the areola should be in the wide-open mouth, and the lower lip of the crumbs should be turned outwards. The nose and chin rest against the chest when feeding. At the same time, the child will not swallow air and suffer from colic, and due to regurgitation, he will also not gain weight.

It is not difficult to determine the correctness of the grip: there will be no smacking while sucking the breast, and feeding will not cause pain for the mother. If the nipple is taken incorrectly, you need to carefully insert your little finger into the baby's mouth, pull out the nipple, and then insert it correctly, pointing to the sky.

Do I need to express milk

Mandatory pumping after each feed, as well as feeding by the clock, is now called a relic of the Soviet era. Now pediatricians do not recommend mothers to express. Milk in the mammary gland will be produced in the amount in which the child sucks it out.

But sometimes pumping is necessary:

1. With fullness and a feeling of fullness in the mammary gland. Pumping and breast massage will help to avoid.
2. At the birth of a premature baby who is not able to suck out milk completely. But in this case, you need to express the breast before feeding the crumbs, so that he sucks out the more useful back milk. Pumping will help conserve lactation until the baby completely sucks the milk out of the breast.
3. By pumping, you can save lactation during the period of illness of the mother and separation from the baby or taking antibiotics.
4. In the absence of the mother for some time (going to work or for another reason).

Safe nutrition for breastfeeding mothers

Regular questions about. The nature of the mother's diet affects the quality and taste of milk. All the nutrients in milk come from the foods consumed by the mother.

If the mother does not receive any substances, then the child receives them from the reserve reserves of the mother's body, which necessarily affects her health (hair falls out, teeth, etc.). That is why the mother's diet should be given special attention.

Food should be taken in moderate portions 5-6 times a day, overeating will not improve the quality of milk. But strict diets during lactation cannot be used - the diet should be varied and satisfy all the needs of the child's and maternal organisms.

During the first month, it is advisable to follow a hypoallergenic diet: exclude citrus fruits, bright-colored fruits and vegetables, flour products and sweets, cow's milk, honey, chocolate, cocoa, etc.

Mom in the first month is allowed to use:

• soups and hateful broths;
• meat (stewed or boiled) - beef, rabbit meat, turkey;
• porridge (on water) - rice and buckwheat;
• fat-free cottage cheese and sour cream;
• hard cheese;
• fermented milk products, excluding kefir;
• vegetable puree from zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes;
• bananas and green apples after heat treatment.

It is necessary to exclude spicy, fatty and fried foods, spices, pickles, sauces, seafood and canned food.

Care should be taken to select products in the first 3 months. after childbirth, adding them to the menu one by one at intervals of 3-5 days and watching the reaction of the child. If the baby does not have problems with the intestines and allergic phenomena, you can leave the product in the diet. Fresh fruits (except strawberries, exotic and citrus fruits) and vegetables are introduced gradually and brought up to 500 g per day.

From fats, it is preferable to use olive, sunflower, corn oils, but within reasonable limits, since fatty milk is more difficult for a baby to digest. Fish, eggs, nuts are gradually introduced.

Mustard, horseradish, and other spices can flavor milk, while onions and garlic can bad smell and cause the baby to stop breastfeeding. Of course, any alcoholic beverages should be banned.

Legumes, plums, cabbage will lead to increased gas formation and colic, and sometimes to diarrhea in the baby. Overeating the mother will cause indigestion in the baby - colic, flatulence, constipation or diarrhea.

It is mandatory for a nursing mother to drink liquid in the amount of 2-3 liters per day. It can be tea with milk, freshly squeezed juices, dried fruit compote, milk (fat content not more than 2.5%), still water. Cocoa and coffee can be drunk no earlier than 2 months after childbirth. Whole cow's milk quite often causes allergies in babies, so pediatricians advise mothers to use it with caution, not earlier than 4-6 months, in small quantities.

Quality and quantity of breast milk

Sometimes it seems to the mother that she does not produce enough milk, and the baby is malnourished. To understand this will help weight gain and the amount of urination. A baby should normally urinate more than 8 times a day. Body weight grows weekly by about 120 g (about 500 g per month). By six months of age, birth weight should double. If these 2 indicators are normal, then the baby has enough milk.

Some women produce a lot of milk, which causes it to flow spontaneously, heaviness in the glands, stagnation in the chest. In such cases, you can express some milk before feeding and reduce the amount of fluid you drink per day.

Anxiety is also often unfounded. The percentage of fat content is easy to check at home. To do this, express milk into a sterile test tube after 20 minutes. after feeding and let it stand for 6 hours at room temperature. The milk will be divided into 2 layers, the upper one will show the fat content: its height (measured with a ruler) in mm will show the percentage of fat content (1 mm = 1%). Normally, it should be 3.5-5%.

The composition of milk in the process of growth of the child changes and fully meets the needs of the growing organism. If the child is calm, weight gain is normal, then there is no need to worry. Very fatty milk can cause severe colic and development (violation of the ratio of beneficial bacteria in the intestines) in infants.

Insufficient lactation

If, nevertheless, there is not enough milk, then there is no need to rush with supplementary feeding, but take measures to increase lactation:

• less often give a pacifier to the baby, and more often apply to the breast - sucking stimulates the formation of milk;
• it is also more actively produced upon skin-to-skin contact, that is, if you expose your chest for feeding;
• be sure to use a light massage of the mammary glands;
• normalize your diet;
• increase the amount of liquid you drink (water, juices, compote) with the obligatory inclusion of hot tea with milk, broths and soups in the diet;
• provide the nursing mother with sufficient rest, daily walks in the fresh air;
• Eliminate anxiety and stress that reduce lactation.

On the advice of a pediatrician, you can drink herbal teas. Medications and bioadditives can be taken only as directed by a doctor (some may cause allergies in a child):

1. Laktogon is a food supplement containing royal jelly, carrot juice, herbal extracts, vitamin C.
2. Apilak is a tablet preparation, contains vitamins and royal jelly (may cause sleep disturbance).
3. Mlecoin is a herbal remedy in the form of granules.
4. Hipp - herbal tea, contains fennel, anise, nettle and cumin.
5. Grandmother's basket - tea with lactogenic, tonic and firming effect.

The reaction of the body of a woman and a child to these drugs is purely individual.

It is important to support breastfeeding for at least 6 months. It is possible to supplement the baby with milk mixtures only in agreement with the pediatrician, when the child is behind in weight due to a lack of milk. At the same time, it is desirable to keep breastfeeding and supplement the amount of mixture calculated by the pediatrician from a spoon, and not from a bottle with a nipple.

Why is the baby crying

Usually a newborn cries when he wants to eat or expresses dissatisfaction with a wet diaper. Crying at night is also usually associated with night feedings. From the second half of the year, there is no longer a physiological need for them, but dependence has developed, the habit of sucking the breast at night every 3 hours. It will be possible to refuse night feedings gradually, changing the time and order of falling asleep after 30-40 minutes. after evening feeding.

Sometimes whimpering at night is just a test to see if mom is around. If the child is simply stroked on the head, then the baby calms down and falls asleep again. There is no need to accustom the baby to motion sickness in her arms, to rush to take the child in her arms at night - the children quickly get used to this, and then they will only cry for sleep in their arms.

Crying and anxiety may also indicate that the child is not feeling well (with colic, teething, at the beginning of the disease). By observing the behavior of the baby, the mother will soon learn to determine the cause of crying.

Colic

Colic disturbs almost all babies up to 3 months, and sometimes longer. To alleviate the condition of the crumbs, to improve the discharge of gases, a light massage of the tummy will help.

From the first weeks of life, colic bothers almost every newborn - adaptation to a new diet is underway. They are not a pathology and usually go away after 3-5 months. With colic, the child cries, presses the legs to the tummy, the chair may be disturbed. How to help the baby?

Necessary:

• put the baby before feeding on the stomach on a hard surface for 2-3 minutes;
• monitor the posture and capture of the nipple during feeding, so that the child swallows less air;
• hold the baby after feeding in a “column” (that is, in an upright position) until air escapes, regurgitation;
• put the child on the back and unbend-bend the legs;
• do a light massage of the abdomen in circular motions clockwise;
• apply a warm diaper on the tummy;
• make a relaxing bath (with the addition of chamomile decoction);
• follow a diet for a nursing mother.

As prescribed by the pediatrician, you can apply and pharmaceutical products to deal with colic:

• Espumizan baby (drops) and Bifiform baby (oil solution) can be used from the birth of a baby to normalize digestion and prevent dysbacteriosis;
• from 2 weeks of age, you can use Plantex to remove gases and reduce colic;
• from the 2nd month, Bobotik drops and a suspension of Sab Simplex, Linex, Bebinos are used to reduce bloating and relieve colic.

Spitting up and vomiting

Regurgitation is a normal physiological process, not a disease. It is observed in every baby from birth to 4-6 months. It occurs spontaneously after 15-30 minutes. after feeding and is associated with the swallowing of air during sucking. Milk is excreted unchanged in a volume of not more than 5 ml. At the same time, the well-being of the baby does not suffer.

If regurgitation is plentiful, with a fountain, then this already indicates a violation of digestion and requires an appeal to a pediatrician. With vomiting, the volume and frequency are not limited, food can be released in a fountain already partially digested (curdled milk with a sour smell). This phenomenon signals a serious violation of digestion and requires a visit to a doctor. The general condition of the child suffers: there is anxiety, poor sleep, refusal to eat, etc.

How to care for breasts during lactation

It is enough to wash the chest with neutral soap twice a day and then blot the moisture with a soft cloth. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after feeding.

The bra must be chosen from cotton, without seams on inside cups, pitted. It should not tighten the chest. It is advisable to use special breast pads that absorb excess milk, protect the skin and nipples from irritation, rubbing underwear, and clothes from getting wet (but they will have to be changed regularly).

When taking a shower, it is advisable to lightly massage the chest for 3-4 minutes (using circular movements in a clockwise direction). Such a massage will prevent lactostasis and will stimulate the formation of milk. In this case, you do not need to strongly squeeze the mammary gland or intensively press on the skin. For ease of sliding, hands can be lubricated with olive oil.

When lactation is delayed in a primipara, compresses can also be used: before feeding - warm to stimulate milk production, and after - cool to restore the shape of the breast.

lactostasis

Stagnation of milk in the breast occurs quite often. In this case, a kind of milk plug is formed, which impedes the movement of milk through the ducts. A manifestation of the condition is an increase in the size of the gland, the formation of painful seals in it, redness at the site of stagnation, and fever. The general condition also suffers - headache, weakness worries.

What to do when milk stagnates:

• feed the child every hour;
• change the position of the child so that the place of stagnation (compaction) is under his chin;
• if feeding is very painful, you can first express some milk by hand, gently massage the gland, put a towel moistened with hot water on it, or stand in the shower;
• after feeding, apply any of the compresses for 15-20 minutes: a cold cabbage leaf, or cold cottage cheese, or honey with flour in the form of a cake to relieve pain.

A fever above 38 0 C may indicate the onset of a purulent-inflammatory process in the chest, so you need to urgently consult a doctor. Medical care is also needed in the case when the condition has not improved in 2 days in order to prevent the development of mastitis.

Cracks in the nipples

main reason cracks in the nipples of the mother - improper attachment of the child to the breast. When properly applied, the baby's mouth covers most of the areola (and not just the nipple), is wide open, the lower sponge is turned outward.

Damage to the nipples causes pain to the mother during feeding, so it is better not to allow the development of cracks.

The reasons for their appearance may be different:

• sensitive delicate skin;
• flat nipples;
• improper attachment of the child;
• non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene.

With cracks, you need to continue to feed the child. You can not use the treatment of nipples with brilliant green, iodine or other alcohol solutions, ointments with antibiotics.

For treatment can be used:

• ointments with vitamin A: Retinol or Videstim not only heal wounds, relieve pain, but also prevent new damage; rinsing is not required;
• Purelan and Sanosan mom do not require to wash off the product before feeding, do not cause allergies (consist of lanolin without impurities);
• cream avent s coconut oil and lanolin perfectly heals wounds, does not require rinsing;
• Bepanten is an antibacterial agent used for healing cracks and prevention, it requires mandatory rinsing before feeding.

Resume for breastfeeding moms

The article touches upon questions that appear in almost every young mother. The district pediatrician should become the best adviser and consultant in their decision.

Visually about the correct attachment of the child to the breast:

Webinar by lactation consultant N. Salimova on the topic "Basic rules for successful breastfeeding":

Pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky about infantile colic: