Breastfeeding. Is My Baby Getting Enough Breast Milk?

Knowing the basic things about breastfeeding and effect of breastfeeding to a child will go a long way in helping the nursing mother to be willingly ready at all time to breastfeed their baby. Certain countries don’t allow breastfeeding to the public and this makes it sometimes difficult for the mother to breastfeed their children when they are out in public places. They still so much desire to have their baby breastfed because they know the benefit of breastfeeding to baby and mother as well. Not all mothers actually aware of all the benefit of breastfeeding, to some, is just the normal thing for a mother to breastfeed, and to some others especially in underdeveloped countries (even in developed countries), if they find their ways, they will go for formula feeding instead of breastfeeding.

This article is just about enlightening mothers of breastfeeding’s fact and benefit to their babies because mother’s role in individual’s life in immeasurable, so they cannot be left behind. Although breast milk is the ideal food for human infants, because of medical or other reasons, some women opt for formula feeding.

Known Value (Merit) of Breastfeeding

1.  Total body weight of the baby is double or triple in the first year of life and this majority of this weight gain comes from the breast milk that the baby drinks.
2. Breastfeeding food is the food least likely to cause allergic reactions, it is inexpensive, it is readily available at any hour of the day or night; babies accept the taste readily, and the immunity factors in breast milk can help the baby fight off some infections.
3. Breast milk also contains infection-fighting antibodies from the mother, and breastfed babies are believed to be at a reduced risk for many acute and chronic infections early in life.
4. The amino acids in breast milk, the building blocks of proteins, are well balanced for the human baby, as are the sugars (primarily lactose) and fats. The baby’s intestinal tract is best aided in its digestion by the vitamins, enzymes, and minerals found in breast milk.
5. The cholesterol content is also high in human milk and very low in formulas. Cholesterol promotes brain growth and provides the building blocks of hormones, vitamin D, and intestinal bile.
6. Nursing helps most women lose weight (though not fluid) after delivery, as 500 calories or more are used by breastfeeding each day.
7. There is a well-accepted extra closeness that breastfeeding mothers experience that is both hormonal and emotional in nature.
8. Breast milk is also the least expensive way to feed an infant. However, the mother must maintain good nutrition and continue taking any vitamin/mineral supplements her doctor recommended during the pregnancy.

However good some things are, there is also another side of it but these are just little things that can be overcome with much understanding. These happen when things are not going well, the demerit that most commonly arises involve the rest of the family. Siblings and dad often feel “left out” of baby care since mom is the only one who can do the nursing. However, other family members can be involved in helping with different aspects of the baby’s care, and this gives them a valuable feeling of importance and allows mom a chance to rest.

And again, breastfed babies eat more often than formula-fed babies since breast milk is more quickly digested and leaves the stomach empty more frequently. This puts a little more stress on the mother because of the potential necessity for more frequent feedings. If the mother develops certain medical conditions, whether or not to continue breastfeeding may need to be reassessed. These conditions should always be discussed with the doctor. However, it is rare that breastfeeding would need to be discontinued completely.

In any interaction, the mother’s doctor and/or pharmacist should be informed that she is breastfeeding. Some medicines should be avoided during breastfeeding. Numerous other medications have not yet been adequately studied in the context of breastfeeding and the possible effects on the baby. If a breastfeeding mother is required to take a medication which has not been fully studied, she may want to consider discussing this matter with her doctor.

I hope you know more than you knew about breastfeeding in this article. Feel free to use the comment box if you have any questions, suggestions, or add to what we have just discussed in the article.