Feeding infants. How to breastfeed a newborn

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.

The most correct solution for the formation of good baby immunity 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:

Surgical intervention during childbirth, caesarean section.
Profuse birth bleeding.
Delayed birth.
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 effective feeding, you need to familiarize yourself with the step-by-step breastfeeding technique:

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.
It is necessary to take a comfortable position, you can do this while sitting or reclining.
At the time of feeding, it is advisable to untie the baby so that he feels the warmth of his mother.
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.
The chest should be supported from above with the index finger, from below with the rest of the fingers.
The baby should capture the areola (the area around the nipple), less on top than on the bottom.
The duration of feeding is determined by the baby. If he is already sated, he stops sucking movements and opens the gums.
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.

Diet at breastfeeding 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. Avoid during breastfeeding cow's milk fresh. 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, 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 correct technique breastfeeding.

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 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 loose stools are observed in a newborn during 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.

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 injected rotational movement into the anus of a 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.

And other specialized experts strongly recommend that all young mothers breastfeed their newborns and not abandon this process for a long period of time. What is its use? How to establish good lactation? When should we start introducing complementary foods? You will read about this and much more in our article.

With the advent of artificial mixtures, maximally adapted to the characteristics of the body of newborns and children under 1 year old, the process of feeding a child has been greatly simplified - in fact, quite a lot of problems related to the physiological needs of a growing organism have been solved. A few decades ago, doctors recommended a quick transition from breastfeeding to replacement nutrition. However, modern global studies have shown the fallacy of such judgments. Why is it so important to breastfeed your baby?

Maximum adaptive potential. Mother's milk at the physiological level is intended for the child, which even the most perfect artificial mixture cannot provide;
Protection against various infections. As recent biochemical studies show, mother's milk contains leukocytes and many anti-infective factors, which at the initial stage of development complement immune system newborn;
Optimal digestibility. Breast milk contains special enzymes, in particular lipase, which help break down fats as efficiently as possible. Moreover, the whey proteins of mother's milk are processed by the gastrointestinal tract without consequences for the baby's body. Artificial mixtures have neither. Visually, this is easy to see in the stool of a newborn - in the first case, it is softer and practically has no unpleasant odor, while the stools of children who are fed with mixtures are quite thick, darker and have a pronounced aroma. The same factors determine the almost complete absence of allergic manifestations and systemic problems with the gastrointestinal tract in newborns who consume breast milk;
Faster mental development. Separate studies of recent years indicate an indirect effect of food quality on the development mental capacity children under 5 years old. The control groups of infants who regularly use artificial mixtures had lower scores in tests compared to their peers who were breastfed. Some specialized experts associate this fact with the presence in mother's milk of a whole group of natural polyunsaturated fatty acids affecting work and development brain activity;
Stable psycho-emotional background. Breastfeeding is not just a process of introducing food into the child's body, but also a close emotional and mental closeness of mother and baby. The fact of active production of endorphins (they are also called hormones of happiness) by the woman's body in the process of feeding is proven, while the child, feeling the close presence of the mother, is calm and cries less;
good development swallowing-sucking reflexes. Breastfeeding, in contrast to artificial feeding with a bottle of formula, allows you to fully compensate for the sucking reflex and develop proper swallowing - milk, naturally and dosed, enters the child's body;
Improving maternal health. Natural feeding allows you to quickly overcome postpartum depression, get rid of the stress of the first months after childbirth, normalize hormonal levels, reducing the risk of developing cancer of the uterus and ovaries, more actively get rid of excess weight and mastopathy, prolong temporary lactational amenorrhea (absence of menstruation and, as a result, natural contraception with an efficiency of up to 99 percent), prevent anemia;
Saving money. If the mother eats properly and enough, supports healthy lifestyle life, then her milk for a long period of time completely satisfies the baby's need for nutrition. Good mixtures are quite expensive, and the artificial feeding system requires constant monitoring (sterilization of bottles and nipples, dilution and preparation of the mixture, control that various pathogenic bacteria do not get into the raw material, and so on).

The first days, weeks and even months of breastfeeding are associated with various difficulties - both adaptive for the mother and child, and objective, especially when it comes to poor lactation. However, most problems can be effectively overcome by adhering to a set of rules and guidelines.

Proper breastfeeding

The diet must include meat, fish, dairy and sour-milk products, bakery products, all vegetables, fruits, berries, cereals and eggs. The main protein food should be fresh and low-fat, dairy products must be heat-treated. The restriction should be imposed on semi-finished products and exotic tropical fruits (except bananas). Do not forget also about oil - both vegetable (from sunflower, olives or corn), and creamy. As a "reward for labor" you can treat yourself to confectionery - mainly marmalade, low-fat cakes, marshmallows, marshmallows in limited quantities.
Despite the fact that during the initial active breastfeeding, a woman has a temporary menstrual pause, the chances of becoming pregnant still remain. Usually, menstrual cycle begins to recover as early as 2 months after childbirth, and in case of interruptions in lactation - already after 30-40 calendar days.
To avoid a quick unwanted re-pregnancy, which will hit a woman's health hard, you must first think about contraception. Despite the fact that there are no direct contraindications to taking progestins, gestagens or estrogens, in the vast majority of cases their regular use (namely permanent application gives the desired effect) can introduce a significant imbalance in the process of restoring the hormonal background of the fair sex. Recommended methods:
Installation of the "spiral". It is possible only in the absence of postpartum complications and other pathologies of the female reproductive system;

Use of a condom. A classic technique with a high degree of effectiveness, but often ignored by men due to the deterioration of tactile sensations during sex;

Aperture setting. The classic “cap” can be installed 1.5–2 months after childbirth and in the absence of cervical erosion / dysplasia.

Regardless of how often and intensively the mother uses breastfeeding, sooner or later the baby's diet must be supplemented with complementary foods. As modern pediatric practice shows, this should be done after 6 months if the child is fully provided with mother's milk.
It should be noted that the introduction of complementary foods does not eliminate the need breastfeeding- it can be carried out in parallel up to 2 years. Children's nutritionists do not recommend starting separate meals from the family table - even the crushed and most tidbits intended for adults do not always benefit a growing child. The optimal scheme is the use of special monocomponent purees at the first stage with a gradual expansion to multicomponent solutions and cereals.
Main phases:
From 6 months - vegetable purees from carrots, zucchini, cauliflower. New Component added no more than once a week;

From 8 months - corn, buckwheat and rice porridge;

From 9-10 months - oatmeal, wheat, multi-grain solutions;

From 11-12 months - phased introduction of fruits, meat, fish, biscuits and other products.

You should start introducing complementary foods with 1 teaspoon, reaching a standard serving of 100-180 grams for 1-2 months.
How to wean a child from breastfeeding
If the child is fully breastfed and the mother's milk is completely sufficient to cover all the needs of the baby for food, then the process of weaning from this event can be started no earlier than 6 months after birth.
At the initial stage of the introduction of complementary foods, active breastfeeding should be continued, however, as the diet expands (especially with the appearance of cereals in it), it is worth creating prerequisites for reducing the process - less often breastfeeding. Upon reaching 1 year of age, the child in the vast majority of cases is practically provided with all the necessary nutrients from the main diet, but often still requires breasts. Within 3 months, reduce the number of breastfeedings to 1-2 approaches per day, after which you smoothly switch to the usual menu.
Breast problems while breastfeeding
The vast majority of breast problems at the stage of natural feeding of a child are not formed due to the physiological process itself, but as a result of non-compliance with the recommendations of specialists. Typical problems:
Pain and cracked nipples. Usually they are formed during an improperly organized feeding process, when the child lies in an uncomfortable position for himself and wraps his mouth around only the nipple, and not the halo with it;

Lactostasis and mastitis. Stagnation of milk in the chest indicates irregular feeding of the child or too fast feeding, when the baby is weaned from the breast to full saturation. In addition, these problems can form as a result of hypothermia of the body;

Infections. Occur when the norms of local breast hygiene are not observed;

Change in the shape of the breast. Many women complain that after the end of the period of breastfeeding, their breasts sag a lot. Such a problem does exist, however, the correct preventive measures in the form of special gymnastics, the use of a tightening lifting cream and other procedures will quickly restore soft tissues and epithelium.

Avoid stress. Bad mood, depression, other psychological problems significantly worsen lactation and lead to a host of other problems;

Eat well and diversify. Do not forget that in addition to your body, part useful substances from the food consumed, the child also gets;

Follow the recommendations of doctors and visit them regularly. Regular visits to a pediatrician, gynecologist and other specialized specialists, as well as compliance with their recommendations, is a guarantee of the health of the mother and baby;

Love and be loved. Maternal love for her child and the reciprocal feeling of the baby is the best thing that can be in a woman's life.

Breastfeeding a newborn is a completely natural and physiological process, but many women have many questions for the first time. It is very important to figure out how to breastfeed correctly in order to avoid difficulties such as the development of lactostasis, refusal of the breast, lack of milk.

Is it necessary to breastfeed a child?

Often women are interested in what will happen to the child if the mother did not breastfeed him. The vast majority of neonatologists or pediatricians recommend breastfeeding at least in the first months of a child's life, since mother's milk contains the ideal amount of fats, amino acids and vitamins needed by the baby.

How much to breastfeed the baby is usually decided by the mother herself, but doctors recommend that breastfeeding be continued until at least six months of age. Until what age is the best time to feed a baby? There is no deadline for breastfeeding, but most women wean their children from the breast at the age of one and a half to two years, less often they continue feeding until three to five years.

If breastfeeding is not possible for some reason, it is necessary to use a special milk formula to feed the child, which is close in composition to mother's milk. It is forbidden to replace the adapted mixture with cereals, broths or regular milk. There are not enough useful substances in these products, such nutrition will harm the child.

Rules for feeding on demand

The frequency of feeding a newborn with breast milk depends on the chosen method of feeding. There are two ways to feed your baby: on demand and on schedule.

Of course, the mother herself decides which way to choose, but you need to consider that on-demand feeding is the best option. Only this method of feeding guarantees long and high-quality lactation, because regular stimulation of the nipples causes milk production.

A woman starts breastfeeding on demand immediately after childbirth, as soon as the doctor gives her the baby. And from that moment, as soon as the child cries, the woman offers him a breast.

This method of feeding provides sufficient nutrition to the child, the baby cries a little, as he is always next to his mother, he is calm and warm. Thanks to frequent applications, a woman is not threatened with a lack of milk, and the likelihood of developing lactostasis and mastitis is also reduced.

Often women are afraid of feeding on demand, as it becomes necessary to constantly get up and feed the baby at night. Most The best way to avoid sleepless nights - the correct organization of feeding on demand. To do this, it is recommended to sleep next to the child.

In order not to take the baby to the parent's bed, you should try to put the crib next to it and remove one side. In this case, the woman will be able to breastfeed the baby on demand without getting out of bed.

The breast should be changed every two hours, regardless of the frequency of application, so that the child has time to suck the entire breast without residue.
It is very important to apply correctly so that not only the nipple, but almost the entire areola is in the child’s mouth, otherwise cracks and stagnation will occur due to ineffective emptying of the gland.
During breastfeeding, you need to eat right, do not drink alcohol and allergens.
Feeding should be carried out at the request of the baby, wherever the woman is.

How often you need to feed on demand depends on the age and condition of the baby. A baby up to three months old can be applied 20 times a day. If a child is teething or sick, for the sake of comfort, the baby can be at the breast almost all day, this is the norm. To facilitate the process for a woman, special devices will help - slings and ergo backpacks, which help to safely carry the baby and do their job.

Feeding rules according to the regimen

Feeding according to the regimen is an option that is more convenient for the mother, but less useful for the baby. Benefits of routine feeding:

You can plan your day, leave if necessary.
When the child gets used to the regime, it will be possible to avoid night feeding.

Disadvantages of feeding by the hour:

The baby may not eat. Due to infrequent attachments, the baby does not receive enough milk.
At first, the baby will cry a lot, because the regime is incomprehensible to him.
The likelihood of developing milk stagnation is greatly increased, since nature does not provide for long breaks. Normally, the breast should empty constantly, and not once every three hours.
There is a high probability of a decrease in lactation, especially in the absence of nightly applications, since it is at night that an active release of prolactin occurs.

Thus, feeding by the hour is not recommended at this time. But if a woman nevertheless made a decision for herself, then you need to do it right. First of all, it is necessary to understand that feeding according to the regimen cannot be started from the birth of a child. The newborn will not be able to quickly get used to the regimen and will scream for days and nights, which is bad for both the child and the parents.

In addition, in the first two months, the process of breastfeeding is normalized, lactation is established. If a woman rarely feeds, milk production is likely to stop, and by the third month of a baby's life, it will burn out.

Only from the second, and preferably from the third month of life, you can switch to the regime, increasing the intervals between feedings. An older child is already exploring the world around him, it is easier to distract him from the chest than a newborn.

The intervals between feedings should be increased gradually, this is very important. First, you need to feed every 2.5 hours, then every 3 hours. After 6 months - every 4 hours. If you immediately make an interval of 4 hours, the child will not gain weight well, such nutrition is not enough.

Every mother is advised to listen to the child, and if the baby really wants to eat, you need to break the regimen and feed him. It is also better to abandon the regimen during the period of illness and teething, and in order to alleviate the condition of the baby, it is better to offer breasts on demand.

Breastfeeding is not only a way to feed your baby, but also an opportunity to establish a close bond with him. Mothers who breastfed their children note that as they grew older, the babies did not so much satisfy their hunger during breastfeeding, but simply enjoyed the closeness and contact with their mother. How to feed a newborn with breast milk? What mistakes should not be made? How to make the process painless and pleasant for both mom and baby?

The very first breastfeeding

It is good to start breastfeeding in the delivery room. Ideally, if it is possible to attach the baby to the breast within the first hour after birth. Of course, at this moment the child will not be able to suck milk yet, but even a few drops of colostrum (a harbinger of milk) will help populate his intestines with beneficial microorganisms and start the digestive tract.

Do not forget about the psychological moment of this action. A newborn baby, suckling the mother's breast, feels safe and begins to get rid of the stress associated with birth. Contact between mother and baby is established.

Unfortunately, most municipal Russian maternity hospitals do not practice breastfeeding immediately after birth. Therefore, if possible, it is better to give birth in a paid perinatal center or choose a maternity facility abroad.

Breastfeeding Rules

How to feed a newborn with breast milk? The most important part of feeding is proper attachment to the breast. This is the key to the success of the entire event. A child who correctly grasps the nipple sucks more efficiently and does not injure his mother's breast. Often in maternity hospitals, specialists help to properly attach the baby to the breast, explain the subtleties and observe the process of the first feeding. But this is not practiced everywhere.

Proper attachment is in the following points:

Mommy should take a comfortable position in which she can spend 20-40 minutes almost motionless. You can feed lying or sitting, as convenient and health allows.
The position of the mother's body should be chosen so that the breast is accessible to the baby. Properly breastfeeding should be in the “tummy to mom” position.
When giving a breast, you need to make sure that the baby is positioned correctly. The baby should not pull the chest down, in this case the baby is too low. You also need to make sure that the baby is not too pressed to the chest, the mammary gland in this case can put pressure on the face of the newborn, blocking the access of oxygen.
It is necessary to ensure that the child himself took the nipple. If you put it in his mouth, then the wrong grip will be ensured.
If the baby grabbed the breast incorrectly and only the nipple without the areola got into the mouth, then you must immediately free yourself by pressing the baby on the chin or sticking the little finger into the corner of his mouth.
Incorrect gripping of the nipple threatens with cracks and injuries of the milk ducts. In this case, sucking will be ineffective, and a lot of air will enter the baby's stomach, providing colic and gases.
After making sure that the application was successful, you can safely breastfeed your baby.

Proper nipple grip: the areola is almost completely in the baby’s mouth, the baby’s lips are slightly turned outward, the chin is firmly pressed against the mammary gland, sucking occurs without extraneous sounds (only the sound of swallowing is acceptable), the mother does not experience discomfort.

How often to change breasts

If there is enough milk, then it is not necessary to change the breast during feeding. One feeding - one breast. In the next feeding, you need to alternate and offer the baby a different mammary gland.

Feeding from one breast ensures that the baby eats both foremilk and hindmilk. Only the combination of these two liquids provides the most balanced nutrition for the child.

Sometimes milk may not be enough and the baby does not eat from one breast, then you can offer the child alternately both mammary glands. But before that, you need to make sure that the baby is really hungry, otherwise there is a risk of overfeeding.

How to tell if a baby is full

Breastfeeding is the ideal way to provide your baby with food. But how not to overfeed the baby and determine if he is full?

Everything is simple here. The baby is full if:

He let go of his chest.
After feeding, she behaves calmly and does not cry.
Sleeps soundly and is actively awake.
Gaining weight well according to WHO standards.

If the baby is not gaining weight well, shows anxiety or constantly cries after feedings and between them, then this indicates that he is not eating enough and there is not enough milk.

In this case, you need to contact a breastfeeding consultant and do everything to increase lactation. If all else fails, then the pediatrician must help in the selection of the mixture.

Sometimes the situation is reversed: a mother has too much milk (hyperlactation). A newborn child does not know the limits in food and can overeat.

Signs that a child is overeating:

Profuse regurgitation.
Abdominal pain, gas.
Rapid weight gain in excess of the norm.

If the baby is clearly overeating, then you can slightly reduce the time of each feeding by taking the nipple from the baby until he overeats. Or look for ways to reduce lactation, but this is risky, as it can lead to milk loss.

How long should you breastfeed your baby

When it comes to the duration of the feeding session, then everything is individual. Some babies suck actively and quickly, in this case, feeding can be completed in 10-20 minutes. There are kids who can eat for 40 minutes.

Experts believe that the maximum time for one feeding should be about 30 minutes. If the baby sucks for longer, then not because of satisfying hunger, but simply having fun. The exception is premature babies, who can eat for a long time due to weakness and inefficiency of sucking.

Often newborn babies fall asleep during feeding. If this happened at the very beginning, then you need to wake up the baby by patting him on the cheek, stimulating further sucking. When the child falls asleep after eating, it is not worth waking him up. It is necessary to carefully put the little finger in the corner of the mouth so that the baby releases the chest.

When lactation is established and breastfeeding enters the usual routine of life, the issue with the duration of the meal of the crumbs will be decided by itself.

If we are talking about the duration of breastfeeding in principle, then here each family decides this issue on its own. There are mothers who prefer to breastfeed their babies for quite a long time (up to 2-3 years and older). Sometimes women turn off breastfeeding already in the first months of a baby's life.

Experts believe that the minimum duration of breastfeeding is six months from the birth of a child. The optimal duration of breastfeeding is the first year of life. Doctors provide mothers with a decision on the issue of further breastfeeding.

If for a number of good reasons it was not possible to feed the child for a year and had to stop breastfeeding earlier, then there is no need to feel guilty and reproach yourself for this

You can feed the baby with an adapted mixture. The main thing is mother's care and love!

Details on the age of weaning a child from the breast are discussed in this article.

Is a feeding schedule necessary?

Often, mothers are concerned about the mode of breastfeeding a newborn. In the first months, you do not need to think about the regime. It is necessary to establish sufficient and stable lactation. To do this, apply crumbs to the chest as often as possible - at least 10 - 15 times a day. As the child grows, the regimen sets itself. With sufficient lactation, 7-8 feedings per day are sufficient, which occur after about 3-3.5 hours. The baby quickly gets used to this regimen, and mommy can make time for herself.

About the organization of the regimen and the frequency of applications.

Breastfeeding guidelines for twins

Many women believe that it is impossible to breastfeed twins, and at the birth of two children artificial feeding secured. In fact, this is not so, as evidenced by the experience of many families with twins.

Yes, at first it will be difficult and you will have to try to establish a sufficient level of lactation, because two children need twice as much milk. But when everything falls into place, the benefits of breastfeeding will be very tangible:

Children get sick less, as HB strengthens the immune system.
No need to wash and sterilize the bottles.
Huge savings on customized blends.
The quick return of the mother to her former form, since a huge amount of calories is used to feed two children.

twin feeding methods

There are two main ways:

Simultaneous feeding of two children.
Feeding babies in turn.

Most mothers choose the first method, as it saves time. Of course, you need to adapt, but this is much more convenient than first feeding one baby, then changing the baby and breastfeeding the second. In the second method, often the baby is worried and screaming while waiting for his turn, while mommy is trying to feed his brother or sister.

How to feed babies at the same time

There are several rules for feeding twins at the same time:

A comfortable posture is key. Finding a comfortable position with two children is more difficult than with one. This is helped by modern devices, such as, for example, a pillow for feeding twins.
Before feeding, be sure to massage the breasts to increase the flow of milk. This manipulation will facilitate the feeding process, and the likelihood that the children will be full will increase.
If one of the babies is weaker and smaller, then it should be applied to the chest more often. If possible, do this in the "on demand" mode, that is, every time he cries.
You can not allocate one specific breast to each child. Babies suckle differently and it is best to alternate breasts with each suckling, offering babies the opposite breast each time.
If there is not enough milk and supplementation is needed, then an adapted milk product for this purpose, a pediatrician should select. Bottle feeding is best entrusted to the father or grandmothers, if possible. It is important that the mother is associated in children only with breast milk.

With the help of a pillow, it is convenient for mommy to hold the children, and the kids are positioned with maximum comfort.

The most comfortable positions for breastfeeding twins at the same time

Mothers who have breastfed twins say that it is no more difficult than breastfeeding one child. The main thing is the support of the family, a well-established life and a regimen in which the mother has the opportunity to have a good rest.

How to breastfeed correctly? There are a few more nuances of proper breastfeeding:

Mommy does not always have the strength to hold a newborn for half an hour of a meal, especially if the birth was difficult, and the baby was born large. In this case, it is better to purchase a special device - a feeding pillow. This accessory will make life easier for the mother and help to feed the newborn with comfort.
If the baby is crying, then you can not immediately poke his chest. The baby may bite on the nipple, or the latch will be incorrect. First you need to calm the child. To do this, you can shake it in your arms, sing a song or say a few kind words.
Weaning must be done correctly. Do not try to force the nipple out of the baby's mouth. It hurts and threatens with injuries and cracked nipples. In order for the baby to release the nipple, you can gently slip your finger into the corner of his mouth, this will remove the vacuum and it will be easy to remove the breast.
Before feeding, it is good to do a light breast massage in circular motions, this stimulates the flow of milk.
You don't need to wash your breasts before every feeding. So the natural lubrication is washed off, and the risk of cracking the nipples increases many times over. Morning and evening shower is enough.
Solder baby water after feeding should not be! With sufficient lactation, the baby does not need other food and drink. The exception is the hot summer, when supplementing with water is a mandatory prevention of dehydration.
If the nipples hurt and cracks appear, you should not interrupt breastfeeding. To feed the baby more comfortably, you can use special silicone pads on the mammary glands.

Nursing pillow - a handy accessory

Breastfeeding is a process that has been practiced for thousands of years. No need to be afraid! Answers to all questions can be obtained by studying the specialized literature or asking questions to specialists. What could be more correct and natural than breastfeeding your child?

Proper feeding of a newborn in the first days of life is as important an element of growth and development as mother's care and care for the baby. The ideal option is breastfeeding. If for various reasons it is not possible to breastfeed, high-quality milk formulas for newborns will help out.

It is important for a young mother to know how to organize the nutrition of a tiny man. Study the material: you will find answers to many questions related to the organization of nutrition for the smallest children. The most important thing is to ensure maximum comfort for mom and baby.

How to properly feed newborns

At the maternity hospital, staff will talk about the benefits of early breastfeeding, and provide conditions for close contact between mother and baby immediately after birth. Now the babies are in the same room with their mother, which allows them to feed the baby “on demand”.

If there is a shortage of milk, do not despair, try to establish natural feeding. Drink plenty of fluids, try to calm down, breastfeed your baby more often. Even a minimal amount of milk will benefit. Supplement the newborn with mixtures, control behavior, weight, and stool quality. In the absence of milk, switch to artificial mixtures.

Breast-feeding

The benefits of early breastfeeding have been proven by neonatologists and pediatricians, confirmed by satisfied mothers and well-fed, peacefully snoring babies. Close emotional contact is one of the benefits of breastfeeding.

Breast milk benefits:

crumbs (the child receives fully digestible food, develops well, gets sick less often);
mother (the uterus contracts more actively under the influence of sucking movements of the crumbs, the body recovers more quickly after childbirth).

First stage

In the first hours after childbirth, the mammary glands produce a valuable product - colostrum. The amount of useful substance is small, but the rich composition, high fat content satisfy the needs of the crumbs for food. Important detail- colostrum saturates the small organism with biologically active substances, strengthens the immune system.

In most maternity hospitals, early attachment to the breast is practiced. An exciting moment for mom and baby, falling into an unfamiliar world. The warmth of the breast, the smell of milk soothe the newborn, allow you to feel the protection. The more colostrum a child can get, the better for his immunity.

Homecoming

Many young mothers get lost, panic, being at home with a newborn. There is a caring dad nearby, a familiar environment, but there is still excitement. If a woman listened to the recommendations of the maternity hospital staff, there would be less difficulties with breastfeeding.

Features of feeding newborns with breast milk:

the diet in the first week takes into account the interests of the newborn more. Mom will have to adapt to the needs of the baby;
it is useful to observe when the baby is really hungry, to note the interval between feedings that the child can withstand. The best option is 3 hours, but in the first week, babies often require milk with loud crying after 1.5–2 hours;
pediatricians advise: feed the baby “on demand”, when he eagerly searches for breasts with his mouth. Gradually, the child will get stronger, will be able to drink more valuable liquid at a time, will stay full longer. Active breastfeeding will increase lactation, the nutritional needs of the infant and the capabilities of the mother will gradually coincide;
after a couple of weeks, accustom the baby to the diet. If in the first days you fed your baby every one and a half to two hours during the day and after 3-4 hours at night, gradually switch to seven meals a day. The regimen improves the functioning of the tiny intestines, gives mom a rest.

Suitable postures

Choose the position that best suits you. Remember: each feeding in the first weeks of a newborn's life lasts a long time.

Keep in mind that you are unlikely to succeed in sitting for half an hour or more beautifully, bending over the baby (as nursing mothers pose for photos in magazines), especially after a difficult birth. If the mother is uncomfortable or hard to hold the baby, she is unlikely to have pleasant thoughts, tender feelings.

Try several poses, choose the optimal one, taking into account the condition of the chest, weight, age of the crumbs. As the baby grows, an uncomfortable position can become suitable and vice versa.

Basic postures for feeding newborns:

supine position. The baby leans on mommy with arms, legs, head. Woman's shoulders, head raised with a pillow. The pose is suitable for abundant milk flow;
lying on your side. This convenient option is chosen by many mothers, especially for evening and night feedings. Be sure to alternately lie on each side so that both breasts are emptied;
the classic sitting position for feeding. Mom holds the child in her arms. Pillows under the back, on the knees and under the elbow will help reduce hand fatigue, “reduce” the weight of the baby;
hanging posture. Recommended for poor outflow of milk. The newborn lies on his back, mommy feeds him from above, bending over the baby. Not very comfortable for the back, but effective for emptying the chest;
posture after caesarean section, when nursing twins. The woman is sitting, the baby lies so that the legs are behind the mother's back, the head peeks out from under the mother's hand. This posture relieves the manifestations of lactostasis - stagnation of breast milk, accompanied by soreness, pronounced compaction of the lobules of the mammary gland.

Milk formulas for babies

Artificial feeding is a forced measure, but in the absence of breast milk, you will have to adapt. Properly organize the nutrition of the newborn, listen to the recommendations of pediatricians.

Features of feeding newborns with a mixture:

unlike breastfeeding, when the baby eats and falls asleep, the nutrient mixture has a certain dosage. It is important to know how much breast milk replacer to give to the "artificial" per day;
from the first days, feed the baby 7 times, an interval of 3 hours. Later, you can switch to six meals a day with an interval of 3.5 hours;
choose a quality mixture that provides satiety, maximum nutrients. Unfortunately, it will not work to feed the baby on demand: the mixture cannot be given “whenever you want”, it is important to maintain a certain interval;
occasionally it is allowed to shift the time of the next intake of a useful mixture, but not by much. Violation of the rules causes problems with the baby's stomach / intestines;
choose milk formulas for newborns from well-known manufacturers, without palm oil, sugar, maltodextrin. As a last resort, there should be a minimum amount of components that support a feeling of fullness;
if there is not enough breast milk, you have to constantly supplement the crumbs. First, offer the breast, then - baby food in a spoon. Avoid the bottle: it is easier to get milk from the nipple, after a while the baby will probably refuse the breast;
be sure to give the newborn - "artificial" boiled water. The volume of liquid depends on age;
artificial feeding will help you get healthy twins or triplets. Mom does not have enough milk for two / three children, you have to give a nutrient mixture. As babies grow, breast milk is replaced with formula milk.

How much should a child eat

How much should a newborn eat per feeding? When breastfeeding, the child himself feels when the ventricle is full. The baby stops sucking at the breast, calmly falls asleep.

To feed the "artificial" mother must pour a certain amount of the mixture into the bottle so that the newborn does not remain hungry. Pediatricians have developed a formula for calculating the volume of baby food for each day.

The calculations are simple:

the newborn weighs less than 3200 grams. Multiply the number of days lived by 70. For example, on the third day, the baby should receive 3 x 70 \u003d 210 g of milk mixture;
The newborn weighs over 3200 grams. The calculation is similar, only multiply the number of days by 80. For example, on the third day a large child should receive a large portion - 3 x 80 = 240 g of baby food.

Note! Calculations are suitable for the smallest. From the 10th day of life, the norms are different. A detailed calculation of the amount of formula for feeding babies - "artificial" you will find in the article, which describes the selection rules, features of the use of popular infant formula from 0 to 6 months.

Meal table by the hour

It is easier for young mothers to navigate if they have a clear idea of the diet of the crumbs. For the first month, the newborn will sleep most of the time (up to 18 hours a day), the rest of the day will be awake.

Remember: when the baby does not sleep, half the time he sucks his mother's breast or receives infant formula instead of breast milk. Pay attention to the table of feeding newborns. It lists feeding times for normal weight babies.

if the newborn spits up after feeding, a simple trick will help: carry the fed baby in a column for 10-15 minutes;
the neck of a newborn is still very weak, how to act so as not to damage the bones, not to stretch the muscles? Put the head on your shoulder, hold the baby upright, gently press it to you, supporting the back and buttocks. This position will ensure the release of excess air, reduce the frequency and volume of regurgitation;
after eating, you can not disturb the baby, it is undesirable to put it in the crib. Active games, tickling, braking are prohibited. Change the clothes of the newborn too after 10-15 minutes, when the air leaves the ventricle;
if the newborn hiccups after feeding, he may have overeaten or is cold. Stroke the tummy, warm the baby, let the excess air out (hold it with a column). If the volume and pressure of breast milk is too large, feed the baby intermittently so that the previous portion has time to get into the tiny stomach.

How to maintain the emotional and physical health of a nursing mother

Helpful Hints:

upon returning home after the maternity hospital, a woman should also get at least a little sleep, devote time to other family members and herself, otherwise psychological problems, a crisis in relations with her husband cannot be avoided;
constant fatigue accumulates, mommy gets irritated for any reason, gets nervous. The result is a decrease in milk production, an eternally hungry, crying baby, again nerves and new worries. The circle closes. That is why it is important to take care not only of the baby, but also to maintain the health, psychological balance of a woman who has undergone natural childbirth or a caesarean section;
The realization that with the birth of a baby a successful business woman has turned into a “milk machine” depresses many young mothers. The closest people should help here. Praise, pride for the person who gave a son (daughter) / grandson (granddaughter) must be expressed in warm words. A woman feels much more confident if she feels supported;
An important point is helping to care for the baby. It’s good if the husband, grandmothers and a young mother share household chores. A woman needs to rest, often feed a newborn, recuperate. In the first two or three weeks, the lack of real help negatively affects the physical and psychological state of a nursing mother;
unfortunately, it often happens that a husband stays late at work (not to mention how difficult it is to “knock out” a vacation after the birth of a baby), and grandmothers, due to various circumstances, cannot help with household chores. It is important to preserve breast milk, not to fall off your feet from fatigue;
what to do? You will have to ask for help from good friends, relatives, neighbors. Surely, someone will agree to help you: go for groceries, buy diapers, or wipe the dust at home. Involve people you trust, don't refuse help. Even half an hour of rest for a young mother will be useful;
cook simple meals, buy a slow cooker that minimizes labor costs for cooking. The device does not require constant monitoring, which is important in case of fatigue, frequent feedings, in a state where mommy thinks only about the baby and sleep.

Now you know how to start breastfeeding, how to give special formulas. Pay maximum attention to the crumbs, remember your health and the existence of other family members. The right diet will provide maximum comfort for the baby and adults.

More useful tips about breastfeeding in the following video: