When should I start breastfeeding my little one?
How beneficial and important is breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding vs Bottle-feeding – What’s the best practice?
Breastfeeding ruins the shape of your breasts!
Bottle-feeding is same as Breastfeeding!
You should not breastfeed your baby when you are sick!
Well, a lot of questions flying in your mind right. Breastfeeding becoming a tough task with rising Misconceptions in this modern era. On this World Breastfeeding Week which is held every year from 1st to 7th of August in more than 120 countries, we, Sai Siva Children’s Hospitals wants you to understand the importance of breastfeeding and also want to burst some MYTHS associated with Breastfeeding(nursing).
When should I start breastfeeding my little one?
Every mother should nurse her baby at the earliest possible time after giving birth. The ideal time for breast-feeding your baby is within the first hour after delivery.
Unfortunately, breastfeeding a baby in the first hour after birth is becoming a challenge in India because the achieved rate is 41.6%. Experts say that this has to be 75%.
How important is breastfeeding in the first hour of birth?
Breastfeeding in the first hour is very important for a baby because it provides the infant with colostrum also known as First Milk, which very rich in antibodies and builds natural immunity power.
Breastfeeding vs Bottle-feeding – What’s the best practice?
The ideal food for an infant is mothers milk. Mothers milk contains all the required proteins, iron, fats, vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, and water in a perfect balance, unlike Bottled Milk. No other milk is as healthy as breast milk.
Bottle feeding with infant formula is the trending practice which can harm your baby if you choose bottle milk. The nutrients in baby food are hard to digest and absorb for your baby.
Breastfeeding – Remarkably beneficial for both Mother and Child
Breastfeeding provides unique benefits for the mother and her child. Breast Milk is easy for your newborn to digest. It helps in gaining healthy weight and also prevents obesity in childhood as well as in the future. It improves the mental development of your child and globally it prevents nearly 8,20,000 deaths of children every year under the age of five.
Breastfeeding women are very less prone to breast cancer and ovarian cancer. It also prevents affecting from osteoporosis. Reduces postpartum depression and other long term benefits like decreased risk of heart diseases, arthritis and less likely to develop high BP, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc., and many more benefits.
Let’s Burst some Breastfeeding Myths
MYTH – Breastfeeding ruins the shape of your breasts!
FACT: No, breastfeeding doesn’t alter the size or shape of your breast. In reality, factors like age, gravity, increasing weight mostly alter breast size than nursing.
Of course, the size of the breast might change during breastfeeding because they are filled with milk. However, most of the women find their breasts coming back to their normal size and shape with regular feeding or after they stop nursing.
MYTH – Bottle-feeding is same as Breastfeeding!
FACT: This is the finest MYTH in Breastfeeding. Bottle feeding never near to breastfeeding. Breast milk is an excellent food for your baby as it helps to close the normal openings fastly i.e, underdeveloped parts of the baby. Breast milk is designed to digest easily for your baby. It also provides “first immunizations” for your baby to prevent them from falling sick.
Breast milk prevents your baby affecting from Asthma, Celiac disease, Ear infections, GI tract infections, Respiratory infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, Serious colds, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and many other diseases.
If you are not able to breastfeed for any specific reason, then bottle feeding is the only choice left.
MYTH – You should drink milk to make milk!
FACT: Drinking milk has nothing to do with the production of breast milk. Whether a mother drinks milk or not she should remain hydrated always with any form of liquids and should maintain a well-rounded, healthy diet. Breast milk production is a natural process that mothers’ body will take essential nutrients and adds to her breast milk.
MYTH – You should stop breastfeeding within a year!
FACT: Limiting or continuing breastfeeding is a highly personal decision and considerably varies based on customs and individual preferences. Experts recommend breastfeeding your baby solely without any other food for about 6 months. After that, you can add some solid foods slowly in the diet of your baby along with breastfeeding until 12 months. Continue to breastfeeding after 12 months is your choice and your baby desire.
MYTH – Nipples should be washed every time before feeding the baby!
FACT: No, washing your nipples before feeding makes the area dry and removes all the naturally produced oils around the nipples. Rubbing a little amount of your breast milk around your nipples will keep the area moist and hydrated.
MYTH – you can’t produce sufficient milk to feed your baby if you have small breasts!
FACT: No, size does not matter in breast milk production! “The breast tissue that helps to nurse your baby grows in during pregnancy irrespective of your breast size.
MYTH – You should not breastfeed your baby when you are sick!
FACT: It depends on the kind of illness you are facing. You can usually continue breastfeeding if you have a cold or flu. In fact, the disease-fighting antibodies that released in your body transferred to your baby every time you nurse which creates even more effective defense system for your baby.
But in some particular cases, if you are facing a severe illness like HIV, untreated tuberculosis, undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, using medications for migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease or arthritis, etc., you should stop breastfeeding your baby.
On this world breastfeeding week, we would like to create awareness over “Paid Maternity Leave” For Mothers. Breastfeeding in the first six months is very important for mother and child. Working women should provide with leave during this period so that parents can nurture and provide quality care for their children.
Organizations should support and create a special environment where mothers can breastfeed optimally. Breastfeeding is totally the mother’s domain and when fathers, family members, workplaces, and other communities support her so that breastfeeding improves.
About The Hospital:
Sai Siva Children’s Hospital, Chanda Nagar, is a full-fledged medical facility specially designed for pediatric patients as well as young adults. The hospital was started in the year 2008, with the aim of reaching out to schools and villages to educate middle and high school students about health & hygiene. Sai Siva Children’s Hospital is one of the most sought-after children’s hospitals in Hyderabad with a team of experienced doctors and skilled staff who aim to help your child have healthy growth and development. We believe that children today are the future of our world, and must have good health to make the world a better place to live in.