Most people have heard about the importance of breastfeeding. But in practice, many people still have questions about it. To give you an idea, it is estimated that it can prevent 13% of deaths in children under the age of five from preventable causes worldwide.
• Breastfeeding is considered the strategy with the greatest impact on reducing child mortality. In Brazil, in 14 municipalities of the state of São Paulo, the impact was an average of 9.3% in a survey conducted in 2003 ?, notes Fábia Queiroga Oliveira, pediatrician and supervisor of the Milk Bank of Hospital Santa Lúcia.
In addition, breastfeeding, rather than a means of feeding, is the first physical contact between mother and child, and also one of the main ways to strengthen this important family and love bond in the baby's first months of life.
Below you know all the benefits of breastfeeding and clarify your main doubts on the subject. It is worth checking!
Benefits of breastfeeding
Know the main advantages of breastfeeding:
Also read:? Breastfeeding? ? the new app that helps breastfeeding moms
1. Ideal milk
"Just as all species of mammals produce the ideal milk for the development of their young, the human species is no different: it produces the ideal milk for the baby," says Fabia.
Human milk is composed of balanced nutrients, ideal for the consumption and development of the baby from the first hour after birth. Are calories, lipid, protein, and lactose levels best adapted to each phase of a child's development?
2. Protection against disease
Fabia explains that human milk has numerous components of the immune system, which makes it extremely important in preventing infections and allergies. IgA, Igm, IgG, macrophages, T lymphocytes are some of these protective factors. Can we say that breast milk is the first vaccine the child receives to protect him from countless diseases ?, he says.
"Today is already well known the importance of breastfeeding in the prevention of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes," adds the doctor.
3. Development of intestinal flora
"The natural probiotics that exist in human milk will help in perfect development of the intestinal flora of the newborn," says Fabia.
"Due to the nutritional and defense importance, breast milk is so important in reducing infant mortality", explains the doctor.
4. Strengthening the mother-baby bond
Another great importance of breastfeeding, according to Fabia, is the strengthening of the mother-child bond, which begins as soon as the child is born and is placed skin to skin with its mother.
5. Benefits for the mother
• For the mother, breastfeeding in the first hour postpartum helps contraction of the uterus and reduction of postpartum bleeding. Breastfeeding mothers also have a lower risk of breast cancer ?, says Fábia.
Stages of breastfeeding
Did you know that breast milk changes composition, color, consistency during breastfeeding? Know the variations that occur:
First phase: "Colostrum, in the first four to five days, is a more fluid milk, rich in water and protein and defense cells," explains Fabia.
Second level: It is called transitional milk. It has higher volume per breast compared to colostrum. This is the phase in which milk undergoes gradual nutritional changes between the characteristics of colostrum for mature milk. For example, there is a decrease in protein levels and an increase in fats and carbohydrates.
Third phase: The milk is called mature. This phase, according to Fabia, begins around the 10th day. "The milk already has more fat compared to colostrum and, therefore, will give greater feeling of satiety and increase the speed of weight gain," says the doctor.
? Each phase is programmed for the digestion capacity of the child and the need for the baby ?, explains Fabia.
"WHO recommends that children should be exclusively breastfed until the sixth month, when complementary feeding should be introduced and breastfeeding continued until two years," says the doctor.
Timetables, frequency and quantity of milk: what is ideal?
Fabia explains that the child should be breastfed on demand, ie without time restrictions."And without introduction of water, teas, juices or milk formulas, unless prescribed by the doctor for some specific reason," he says.
• In general, an average baby breasts 8 to 12 times a day. Does he tend to take longer breaks as he grows up?
"Colostrum, for example, has very fast digestibility and therefore normally the baby in the first week of life breasts at very short intervals, and also usually breasts more at night." since milk production is initially higher at night ?, he adds.
The recommendation, according to Fabia, is that the mother adapts to the rhythm of the child, and tries to rest at times when the child sleeps, even if it is daytime.
• The duration of the breastfeeding should not be stipulated either. Usually the child has control and gives satiety signals and leaves the breast. Is it important for the mother to have the patience to let the child empty the entire breast so that she will get more fat? What is the component that comes out at the end of the feed? and thus will be more satisfied ?, directs Fabia.
For this reason we also recommend that the mother does not keep changing breasts in a breastfeeding already mature, ie after 10 days postpartum. Most of the time a breast satisfies the hunger of the child ?, adds the doctor.
Feeding during lactation
It is important for the woman who is breastfeeding to have a balanced and regular diet. Because breastfeeding can lead to hunger, the mother should not wait long to feed (which would make her overindulge and look for fatter foods to promote satiety).
Some tips for healthy eating are:
- A good breakfast: with whole grain cereals or breads, lean cheeses and natural juices.
- Morning snack: A fruit is a good tip.
- Full lunch: for example with rice or potato or pasta, beans, vegetables, and lean meat.
- Afternoon Snack: You can repeat breakfast foods, for example.
- Dinner: A complete meal, for example with rice, vegetables, and lean meat.
- Supper: A fruit or a natural yogurt with whole grain cereal.
Some women who have the habit of drinking milk comment that babies feel colic. But in reality, each mother should notice what, in her diet, causes her child to be unwell (besides the normal physiological colic she experiences in the first three months of life).
Care must also be taken with the bad fats (trans and saturated) present in fried foods and processed foods, milk and whole derivatives and red fatty meat. It's not good to overstate caffeine (present in coffee, black tea, cola drinks, etc.). Moderation is the keyword.
Initially, we do not recommend removing anything from the power supply. The mother must keep the food she is used to eating, nor should she? Invent? Lots of news. The important thing is to eat well, healthy and drink plenty of fluids to produce a good quality milk, says Fábia.
Breast milk storage
Fábia explains that it is possible to store human milk for own consumption or for donation. • The mother should protect mouth and hair, using a burrow and mask, sanitize her hands to elbow height, massage the feedings and milking. The technique is taught by professionals who work with breastfeeding ?, highlights.
• The milk should be removed from a sterilized glass with a plastic lid. Put the date on the glass and store in the freezer. The shelf life is 15 days. If not used during this period, can be donated to human milk bank, because if pasteurized up to 15 days, it will be valid for 6 months and can be consumed by babies admitted to the neonatal ICU ?, adds the doctor.
? Raw milk can only be consumed by their own child, is not offered raw (unpasteurized) human milk to another baby, but also cross-breastfeeding contraindicated, ie a mother breastfeed another child other than her child? .
In the gallery below you can see examples of products to collect and store milk. But remember: When in doubt about the procedure, always consult a professional you trust.
Savemilk Breast Milk Collection Bottles for R $ 20,32 in Submarino
Púr breast milk storage pots for R $ 29,90 at Magazine Luiza
Promillus Dumplings for $ 39.90 at Americanas
Lillo Breast Milk Container for R $ 26,91 90 at Americanas
Breast Milk Electric Pump for R $ 168,89 at Americanas
Medela Thermal Bag for R $ 209,90 at Extra
Breast Milk Storage Bags for R $ 59,88 at Abracadabra
Set of 5 pots for $ 49.41 at Shoptime
Manual breast pump for R $ 83.70 at Medjet
Lillo Strip for R $ 29.61 at Extra
Today's donor
Not everyone is aware of it, but nowadays, human milk banks regulate the role of the old "milk nurse" as it is not allowed to distribute human milk without pasteurization to ensure both donor mother's health. like the baby's.
To be a donor, a woman must:
- Be breastfeeding your baby;
- Have no disease that contraindicates breastfeeding;
- Be producing more milk than your baby needs;
- Make this donation for free;
- And preferably not to be a smoker.
The milk collected for pasteurization should be stored in a freezer or freezer.
The priority for the distribution of human milk is premature and low birth weight infants, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Units, always with prescription or nutritionist.
If a woman is interested in donating, she should contact a local milk bank and find out about the procedure that is sure to make a difference in many lives.
Breastfeeding cup: what is it?
The breastfeeding cup is an alternative to a bottle to give the child when the mother, for some reason, cannot breastfeed: either because she will start work, for example, or because she will be away for a few hours.
The bottle, as much as it is the most used object to offer milk to the baby, generates some controversy mainly because it is the most likely utensil to cause nipple confusion. That is, the suction that the baby makes in the bottle is similar to the suction in the mother's breasts, but without its benefits. And, since the bottle may offer an easier option for sucking and exiting the milk, this may cause the baby to be confused later with the movement and force it needs to do when breastfeeding.
It is a fact that this does not happen with all babies, but it can happen. This is why many mothers have considered using the breastfeeding cup.
We recommend the cup to offer milk to complement breastfeeding for several reasons. Thus we are less likely to disinterest in the child; the cup causes no confusion of nozzles. But it is necessary to know the correct way of using the cup ?, highlights Fábia.
In the video below there are guidelines on how the technique of administering milk in the cup should be. But the ideal is always to consult a professional you trust.
Remember: the cup avoids the confusion of nozzles, but should not be used without professional guidance and training.
Mother's Breast Care
Below, dermatologists give important tips for mothers to take care of breast skin before, during and after breastfeeding.
Before breastfeeding
- For Helena Costa, dermatologist and member of the Brazilian Laser Society in Medicine and Surgery and director of the Helena Costa Clinic in Rio de Janeiro, the first tip is to sunbathe daily on the breasts for 10 minutes before 10am and after 4pm. "This will help strengthen skin that is very thin in this area," he says.
- "Contrary to what is said around, wiping a towel or a towel will make the areola's skin become too thick as a defense mechanism, tending to crack more often," adds Helena.
- Renata Domingues, a dermatologist and member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, says she often recommends that future moms read a lot about breastfeeding and talk to breastfeeding women. "Before getting pregnant, the ideal is that women prepare emotionally and physically," he says.
- "A risk factor for stretch marks is excessive weight gain, so nutritional monitoring can be very helpful," adds Renata.
- Moisturizing the breasts, according to Helena, is also essential to prepare the skin, preventing the appearance of stretch marks.
- "The use of bras throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding (including at night) prevents the weight of the breasts further stretch the ligaments that support the breasts, avoiding further ptosis (fall)," says Helena.
During breastfeeding
- Helena recommends keeping the areola hydrated with lanolin-based creams. ? An easy and affordable tip is animal fat? The oil allows to maintain hydration, is not harmful to the health of the baby and is not at risk of contamination, since bacteria do not proliferate in animal fat ?, says.
- Renata explains that when breasts are still adapting to the volume of milk demanded by the baby, too hot water during the bath can greatly increase milk production and generate discomfort. At the time the woman feels relief, but the over stimulation ends up worsening the congestion soon after. To prevent milk from accumulating in the canaliculi and forming "stones", the ideal is to massage in the nipple direction from the base of the breast to the nipple, as drainage, he says.
- The use of proper bra with some compression also helps.At this time, excess weight gain should also be avoided ?, adds Renata.
After the breastfeeding period
- As soon as possible the woman should resume physical activity. Bodybuilding exercises will help strengthen the arms for a hard day and also improve breast support ?, says Renata.
- "Creams with appropriate technology can help firm the breast," adds dermatologist Renata.
Mastitis: Know What It Is And How To Avoid
"Mastitis is an infection in the breast usually caused by the accumulation of milk and its contamination within the breast by bacteria that has managed to enter through a gateway, for example, cracks in the nipples," explains Fabia.
To prevent mastitis, according to the pediatrician, "it is important that the breasts are properly emptied by sucking the breast, and when this is not possible or not enough, by milking excess milk."
? It is important to avoid nipple cracks, paying attention to the correct grip at the time of breastfeeding and, if you have cracks, take proper care of them ?, adds Fabia.
"The mother with mastitis can and should breastfeed so that the baby promotes the emptying of the breast and thus can progress to improvement," says the doctor.
Breastfeeding Questions and Answers
Below, pediatric doctor Fabia answers common questions about breastfeeding.
1. How old should breastfeeding alone be?
Fábia Queiroga Oliveira: The baby should be exclusively breastfed until six months of age.
2. What to do if the baby has reflux? This is normal?
Fábia Queiroga Oliveira: Most babies have some degree of gastroesophageal reflux, which is the return of gastric contents from the stomach to the esophagus, which may or may not reach the mouth. It is physiological up to about four months because the? Valve? Keeping the esophageal outlet closed to the stomach is incompetent in small babies. And, therefore, any increase in abdominal pressure, for example, raising the legs to change diapers, will make milk return from the stomach to the esophagus. We recommend in these cases anti-reflux postural measures: leave a little more time upright after breastfeeding; keep at head up when lying down after breastfeeding; avoid too much handling, stimulation or diaper changes in the first hour after breastfeeding. The reflux disease that requires medication is when the pediatrician identifies that he or she has left the physiological picture for a situation that is causing important symptoms and disorders for the child's development.
3. Is it true that, by breastfeeding, the mother loses weight?
Fábia Queiroga Oliveira: Yes, breastfeeding helps the mother return to pre-pregnancy weight faster.
4. Does breastfeeding cause hair loss?
Fábia Queiroga Oliveira: There is no relationship between breastfeeding and hair loss. It is myth.
Mothers report their experiences
Glauciane Mata, blogger and mother of Mateus, says that already in her pregnancy, in one of the prenatal consultations, the gynecologist / obstetrician said that she would have some difficulties to breastfeed because she had "the nipple short". Difficulty is not impossible! Was my desire to breastfeed my baby much higher than any barrier? And that was just the first. I followed all the guidelines she gave me, except for sunbathing in the area and took the time to wait to read more about this subject ?, says.
The second difficulty was precisely the instruction she failed to follow: “Daughter of a military father and a shy mother, I became super shy in the way my body was exposed. So, just thinking about being seen sunbathing, would you die of shame?
When Matthew was born, amid all the turmoil of this unique moment, already in his bedroom, Glauciane says that a nurse, without even asking permission, in front of everyone, simply unzipped her clothes and “stuck the baby in her chest”. ? "It was hard to stop to think that this was my first child, that I had no experience in breastfeeding and that I might prefer to experience the first breastfeeding without anyone in the room," he comments.
"After three days and after much learning from another nurse, my milk" went down? (In the meantime, my baby was fed formula by cup, because as I had heard that if he tried the bottle, he would not want the breast later, he would be scared), I finally had the feeling of having him in my arms, being fed by the milk that I produced. I have only one word to describe this moment: magical! It was a success? Of course not! But it was an unforgettable start !? reports Glauciane.
From then until the day I definitely decided not to breastfeed my baby, I went through many unpleasant situations: a baby who did not cry to nurse; comments and criticism that did not help; cracks that hurt too much; painful massages and cold compresses to relieve the blockage caused by excess milk production; use of silicone nipple for easy grip; reflux; we want to watch Matthew suck? But my desire to breastfeed him was stronger than any barrier !? adds Glauciane.
The mother says she just didn't have an obstacle: Matthew didn't want to suck anymore! "But I didn't find that out early on?" Have been months of unsuccessful attempts to make him suckle longer?
Years later, did Glauciane discover that Matthew had lactose intolerance? which answers a lot that at the time she was breastfeeding she didn't know.
"The rewarding thing was seeing that I was able, after all the hardship, effort and perseverance, to breastfeed Matthew for a year and a half and provide during that period all the benefits that breast milk offers," says Glauciane.
The enriching part is in the first great lesson of motherhood: to love is also to respect the other! Putting in balance the balance of breastfeeding was very positive and recommend to everyone! But nothing that is imposed can be good, nor can breastfeeding! Can't it be imposed on the mother? who can't or won't breastfeed? but neither can it be imposed on the child, who may prefer other foods. The business is to look for new sources of nutrients to grow it healthy. The rest is vanity, after all we should breastfeed for the child and not for us? Says Glauciane.
Barbara Ferraz, Bia's secretary and mother, reports that she had professional guidance to better breastfeed her baby. Since my daughter was born, I had pain to breastfeed her. The pediatrician recommended me to use an ointment, the help of a shell, a silicone nipple, and a medicine for milk to come out more easily. Did it all help me a lot? He says.
“It was very gratifying for me to breastfeed my daughter; This, in my view, greatly strengthens the bond between mother and baby. I recommend to all future moms that even if they find it difficult to breastfeed in principle, seek professional help so that they can perform this important act of love ?, concludes Barbara.
So remember: Breast milk is considered the most complete food for the baby. It is rich in nutrients such as protein, vitamins, fats and water. In addition to being totally important to the health of the baby in general, it strengthens the bond between mother and child and offers protection to women's health.
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