There is nothing more natural than breastfeeding. However, this process, provided by wise nature, raises hundreds of questions from both young mothers themselves and their relatives. And it's not about what kind of childbirth occurred. Experienced mothers with many children know for sure that children are different, they eat differently, and lactation also happens differently every time. Therefore, the number of questions about breastfeeding of babies does not decrease. The famous pediatrician and TV presenter Yevgeny Komarovsky willingly and a lot talks about this topic, since he considers it very important.
Advantages and disadvantages
Breastfeeding is the best thing a mother can give her baby. There are many reasons for this:
- Mother's milk contains all the necessary substances, vitamins and trace elements that a baby needs for healthy development. Not a single, even the most expensive and good, adapted milk formula is able to give the baby more than mother's milk.
- Human milk contains antibodies to the most common infectious diseases. The toddler, receiving them during breastfeeding, grows stronger and healthier than their peers who are bottle-fed. While his body is nourishing, a small and immature immunity learns to recognize and defeat viruses and bacteria.
- Mom and child are not "chained" to the house. They can easily afford a long trip, since the power source (mom) is always nearby, and there is no need to constantly sterilize bottles, nipples and worry about the presence of milk formula.
- Breastfeeding allows for closer emotional contact between mother and baby.
- When breastfeeding, the mother's body recovers faster after childbirth, under the influence of oxytocin, which is released during lactation, the uterus contracts faster, and breastfeeding itself "takes" about 700 Kcal of energy per day from the new mother, which contributes to weight loss.
From the second half of pregnancy, under the influence of progesterone and estrogen, secretory tissue grows in the woman's mammary glands, and colostrum begins to be produced. Immediately after the birth of the baby, colostrum begins its transition in its composition to milk itself. Its quality and quantity depend on many factors. For convenience, we have combined the answers of Evgeny Komarovsky to the most frequent questions of women about breastfeeding.
And here is actually Dr. Komarovsky herself with his opinion on breastfeeding.
"How to feed - on demand or by the hour?"
In Soviet times, children were recommended to be fed by the hour. First, every 2.5-3 hours, then after 3-3.5 hours, and by the age of six months, the baby was on a feeding schedule every 4-4.5 hours. This was considered the only correct way to raise a healthy child.
Now pediatricians are increasingly speaking out in favor of on-demand feeding - offering him the breast when he himself wanted to eat. As a result, the baby almost constantly "hangs" on the chest, the tired mother cannot do anything else, and feedings have to be carried out every 1.5 hours, even at night.
A young mother, who is in prostration, grandmothers unanimously advise to feed the child in the old-fashioned way, and the all-knowing Internet, girlfriends and some doctors - on the contrary. Hence the questions arise, how to feed correctly.
Yevgeny Komarovsky does not consider himself a supporter of on-demand feeding. He argues that transferring a child to certain time intervals between meals will only add order to the life of the whole family. Mom will have time to go to the doctor, to the store, to the hairdresser, to sleep in the end.
This will not harm the baby in any way, because after he has thrown the breast, has eaten, he will not have a physiological need for food for 3 hours. If he woke up and cried again, then this is not a demand for food, as many mothers think, but rather a demand for attention and a need to feel protected. To do this, it is not at all necessary to give the baby a breast. You can just take it on the handles, squeeze it, shake it a little.
Komarovsky stands for the so-called "free feeding". With him, the child himself determines the feeding hours, but the intervals between meals are still maintained and observed by the parents.
And here is a small excerpt about what is the best time for feeding a newborn
In favor of on-demand feeding, Evgeny Olegovich cites the fact that the amount of milk produced always meets the needs of the baby. In other words, the more often he is fed, the more breast milk is produced.
However, the final choice of Evgeny Olegovich in this matter is left to the mother herself. Feeding on demand does not harm the baby; it is harmful to the parents. But if they are ready for this, and want it voluntarily, then this is exclusively their decision, their child will not develop in any other way than if it ate on a certain schedule.
"Should I feed at night?"
Komarovsky claims that if the child is gaining weight well, then it is not necessary to wake him up for night feeding. From birth, babies can withstand a nightly pause in feeding for 4-5 hours, and from three months - 5-6 hours.
It's another matter if the baby himself wakes up at night and demands to eat. In this case, you do not need to refuse him.
Everything changes when the baby is six months old. At this age, Komarovsky believes, the toddler physiologically no longer needs a night meal, and therefore it can be smoothly weaned off the habit of eating in the middle of the night. To do this, according to the doctor, you need to arrange a late bathing (at 22-23 hours), then feed the baby tightly and put him in a well-ventilated room, where it is not stuffy and not hot (the air temperature is about 19 degrees).
If, after six months, the baby indulges in his desire to wake up in the middle of the night and yell until they give a breast, then, according to Komarovsky, it is possible to achieve the opposite effect - the child will begin to suffer from overeating, wake up and cry no longer from hunger, but from gluttony, from pain in the abdomen, distention. Mom, of course, will immediately offer the crying baby a breast, he will take it to calm down, as a result, a vicious circle will turn out that will not lead to anything good.
Evgeny Olegovich also reminds mothers that not every child's nighttime awakening is caused by hunger. Before giving him a breast, you need to figure out whether the baby is experiencing discomfort - whether he is dry, whether he is comfortable in the crib, whether it is hot. Perhaps it is not necessary to feed him this time.
And here is the opinion of Dr. Komarovsky on how long you need to maintain breastfeeding.
Why does the baby refuse to breastfeed?
Most likely, says Komarovsky, your child is not hungry. The hunger instinct works well from the very first minutes of a person's life, and therefore mothers just need to learn to trust their young children. The crumbs know exactly what they want. If the baby has abandoned the breast, then he does not want to eat. If he is not fed up, he will scream and no persuasion will calm him down.
Another reason a baby may refuse to breast is because the milk tastes bad. His son or daughter knows well and can react to changes in the lineup. True, these changes should be significant, the child will not react to minor ones.
For example, smoking or alcohol consumed by the mother while breastfeeding can cause the milk to taste bitter. And too harsh perfume, which the mother uses, can generally push the baby away from the breast. To cope with the problem will help a balanced proper nutrition of a nursing woman.
It seems to me that the baby does not have enough milk! Is it necessary to supplement with a mixture?
Mother's milk contains everything a child needs, and therefore Komarovsky does not see any need for the introduction of complementary foods until five months. It is not necessary to sound the alarm about the baby's malnutrition, the doctor says, if the child is gaining weight well, the district doctor has no fears about the baby.
However, if lactation is insufficient, the baby is not gaining weight well, it may be necessary to supplement with a mixture. But this issue should be decided on an individual basis by the doctor observing the child. Komarovsky advises in any case, even with the introduction of supplementary feeding, not to stop breastfeeding, so as not to lose milk at all. In addition, he recommends showing your doctor exactly how you attach to the breast. If there are mistakes, the pediatrician will definitely point out and correct them.
How to increase lactation?
The problem of insufficient lactation, according to Evgeny Komarovsky, is usually invented by the mothers themselves. They first come up with this problem, and then they get nervous, which in itself does not improve the quantity or quality of breast milk.
The doctor believes that the surest way to increase the amount of milk is to stimulate the nipples and regularly latch on the baby to the breast, regardless of whether there is enough milk there or not.
You can also increase lactation with the help of special teas for mothers, proper and sufficient nutrition. Evgeny Olegovich focuses on eating behavior. Mothers who want to lose weight as soon as possible after childbirth, and begin to limit themselves in fats, carbohydrates, risk being among those who have insufficient lactation.
If a woman drinks little liquid, her lactation also decreases.
Both stressful situations and the physical activity of a nursing woman lead to a decrease in milk production. Thus, if you eliminate negative factors and pay attention to nutrition and proper rest and adequate sleep, then lactation will return to normal and there will be enough milk.
What can a nursing mother eat?
This question is perhaps the most frequently asked question. You can eat almost everything, says Komarovsky, with the exception of strong allergens, which can provoke an unhealthy reaction in a child. What must be in the diet:
- Milk and dairy products. It is better if these are products that do not contain chemical and food colors, it is better to avoid store-bought yoghurts and mousses. The minimum amount of milk in a mother's diet is at least 300 ml per day. In the first three months after giving birth, it is better to refuse milk.
- Vegetables and fruits... It is better to eat them with every meal, says Komarovsky, since fiber is necessary for the normal functioning of the mother's intestines. And vitamins are useful for both her and the child. However, you should refrain from consuming oranges, lemons, tangerines and limes, as citrus fruits can cause allergies. Carefully, mom needs to eat red berries (strawberries, raspberries, cherries).
- Meat, fish, poultry... These are sources of protein that are required in large quantities for both mother and baby. Therefore, it is advisable that dishes from these products be on the mother's table several times a day.
- Porridge... The most "useful" for a nursing mother are cereal cereals, and it doesn't really matter if they are dairy or boiled in water. Buckwheat, oatmeal, rice are preferred.
You shouldn't eat smoked meats, mayonnaise, hot spices. For a while, it is worth giving up confectionery, since a large amount of sugar and carbohydrates can cause a violation of flatulence in a mother, and the baby will be more tormented by gas and colic.
Quite often you can hear that halva is useful for a nursing mother. This is a dangerous delusion, says Yevgeny Komarovsky. Halva is a rather strong allergen, and it is better for a woman to refrain from it. As well as from drinking coffee, especially instant coffee. This drink is not only an allergen, but also acts as an aphrodisiac, and this is definitely not necessary for the baby. If before pregnancy the mother could not live a day without a cup of coffee, then after childbirth this drink can be replaced with chicory. It tastes like coffee, but chicory does not contain caffeine, and therefore the question of a possible allergy or overexcitation of the nervous system in a child is completely removed.
Komarovsky emphasizes that the main thing in the nutrition of a nursing mother is the quality of the products.... They should be fresh, as natural as possible, without preservatives and all kinds of additives. Nowadays, it is quite difficult to find such, but young parents must learn to read labels with information about the composition without fail. In order to choose the least harmful and the most useful.
And here is actually Dr. Komarovsky himself with a comment for nursing mothers
What medications can I take?
Almost all medications are contraindicated for breastfeeding, which is always written in the instructions for use of the drugs. But if a situation arises in which the mother cannot be without medication, her attending physician and pediatrician who observes the child should decide whether to take certain pills and injections.
For a cold, mom should not take any medication, with the exception of drugs that contain paracetamol. In case of upset stool or vomiting - mom can take "Smecta", "Maalox", "Almagel" without any special fears. In case of severe allergies, the doctor may allow a woman to take second and third generation antihistamines, such as Loratadin, Erius.
Antibiotics for breastfeeding require special attention. Most of them are contraindicated for nursing mothers. But if there is a real risk to the life and health of the mother, doctors go for antibiotics, regardless of the fact that she is breastfeeding. In this case, according to Komarovsky, antibiotics of the penicillin group can be justifiably prescribed, and if they do not help, or the infection is quite severe, antibiotic drugs of the cephalosporin group will be used.
Under no circumstances should breastfeeding mothers take antineoplastic drugs that are prescribed to patients with cancer diagnoses. Breastfeeding is incompatible with antibiotics - aminoglycosides, since "Neomycin", "Gentamicin" and similar drugs can cause a child to develop deafness, impaired bone formation and many other unpleasant consequences.
A mother who is breastfeeding should not take drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, as well as hormonal drugs, especially contraceptives based on estrogen.
If it so happens that a woman necessarily needs treatment with medications that are incompatible with breastfeeding, and there is no time to wait until the child grows up, the feeding is stopped. In addition to the treatment, a woman is given drugs that extinguish lactation ("Bromcriptine") so that mastopathy does not start, and it is recommended to tighten her breasts.
Up to what age to breastfeed?
Pediatricians cannot come to a consensus on this issue. Some argue that it is necessary to quit breastfeeding when the child is 3 years old, more often the age is called - 2 years. Yevgeny Komarovsky is quite categorical on this issue - 1 year and no later. The doctor explains his position by the fact that after 12 months of breastfeeding, mother's milk begins to lose its valuable and useful properties for the baby, it becomes essentially useless.
Moreover, it is no longer able to meet the needs of a rapidly growing organism. The child already needs meat, fruits, vegetables. It is not for nothing that his first teeth appeared! Nature itself hints to mother that her mission as a nurse has been fulfilled and it is time to end.
General Tips
- Weaning should be done gradually, not abruptly.Komarovsky recommends reducing the number of feedings by 1 per day, replacing them with other food - cereals or vegetable and fruit purees. Abrupt weaning is severe stress for the child, emphasizes Evgeny Olegovich.
- With increased lactation, when the woman has more milk than the child is able to eat, it should be expressed. Komarovsky also recommends using a breast pump not only to express excess milk, but also to normalize insufficient lactation, because such stimulation will increase lactation quickly at home.
- Do not listen to any advice, even those that he gives himself. This is how Dr. Komarovsky ends his lectures on breastfeeding. Each newborn is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to all babies. Therefore, mother needs to look at her child, watch him, learn to understand him, trust him, but not forget about the principles of parental rationality.
