Breast is best! (Breastfeeding in General)

Member Name: anwar7

Product:	Breastfeeding in General
Date:	27/01/09 (123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see review

Disadvantages: see review

When I was pregnant with my first child I knew I wanted to breast-feed. I thought it would be easy and really gave it little thought. However when my son was born 10 weeks early I was ill prepared for the struggle that followed. I have written A review on his early birth entitled born too soon if you are interested.

My son was born by emergency caesarean section. As the birth was an emergency I had had to have a general anaesthetic. I was very unwell in the first few days following the birth, as was my son. I had read how important it is for your baby to receive colustrum (first milk) as this contains important nutrients and anti-bodies. My son was initially fed via a tube, as he had no sucking reflex. Even if you don't want to breast feed it really is worth giving your baby this early pre-milk.

On the second day following the birth a mid-wife came to talk to me about expressing my milk ready for my baby. I was given an electric breast pump and shown how to use it. Many neonatal units have a "milk room" where you can express your milk in privacy. If you return home leaving your baby in hospital then you may well be able to borrow an electric pump. The milk was stored in a freezer within the baby unit.

Once my son was well enough I was able to tube feed him with my milk. There is a lot of research that shows that a mother's breast milk is best for her premature baby as it is uniquely suited for her baby. My son thrived and after several weeks was able to suck at the breast. Premature babies often have problems establishing breast-feeding. They have small mouths and get tired quickly. My son had problems as he used to fall asleep after just a few sucks. He would then wake every hour wanting to feed. This continued when we finally returned home. I was exhausted!

I think I would have given up if it hadn't been for all the support I received. A friend told me about the La Leche league, a support group for breastfeeding mothers. There are branches all around the country so there should be one near you. They have an excellent web site too at www.laleche.org.uk. My health visitor was also very supportive and wasn't too hung up on weight charts!

It is very important to ensure the baby is latched on correctly as this will ensure they get the hind milk correctly. Like any new activity, learning to breast-feed can take time for both mother and baby; it really is a learning experience. Many women give up on breast-feeding due to problems that stem form incorrect latching -on. My health visitor told me that the baby's nose should be lever with your nipple. If you are unsure then ask for help. Some hospitals have breast-feeding clinics that can be really crucial. The La Leche league has counsellors who will be happy to give advice and support.

On the subject of weight charts, it is useful to remember that most of these are based on bottle fed babies. Bottle fed babies tend to put on weight far more quickly than breast fed babies. However there is research that shows a human baby is meant to grow more slowly. Breast milk enables a baby's brain to grow at the correct rate, hence the research that shows breast-fed babies tend to be more intelligent than those who are bottle-fed.

Premature babies tend to feed far more often than full term babies as they have smaller stomachs and can't take much milk at a feed. Even full term babies will probably feed more often than bottle fed babies, as breast milk is better absorbed than formula. However I really think having to feed more often is no hardship. It is important to remember that the more you stimulate your breasts by allowing the baby to feed, the more milk you will produce. In the early days it can be difficult to get the supply and demand right. However for most women this usually sorts itself out after a few weeks.

Breastfed babies often feed several times during the night and can be slower to sleep through the night than bottle fed babies. This may be because prolactin (the hormone that controls milk production) levels are higher at night when you are relaxed. Once I stopped looking at the clock and fed my baby in bed with me, the night feeds became less of an issue. It does help if you have a supportive partner who can take the baby for a walk whilst you catch up on some important shuteye! Unless you baby is really wet or dirty I wouldn't bother to change their nappy at night either. If your baby falls asleep feeding then leave well alone!

On the subject of nappies, breast fed babies have sweeter smelling nappies than their bottle-fed counterparts. I was worried when my son only produced a dirty nappy every few days but this is normal for many breast- fed babies.

I continued breast-feeding my son for well over a year and we both enjoyed the experience.

My second son was born several years later and my experience of feeding him was very different. He was born at 37 weeks and fed well from the start. I did get sore and cracked nipples unlike with my first son. If this happens to you then it is important to realise this is probably due to incorrect latching. What ever you do, don't stop feeding on the sore breast. This will only make the problem worse. Once the baby is latched on correctly the problem should ease. You can always take an aspirin prior to feeding if that helps.

Breast- feeding can be uncomfortable and painful in the early days. If you are having problems then ask for help from someone you respect. There is still a lot of incorrect advice being given! Most women can breast feed successfully if they want to. However if you can't then it's no reason to feel guilty. Being a mother is so much more than how you feed your baby. Luckily there are safe alternatives available.

I found breast-feeding very convenient too. I became an expert at feeding in public without any one really noticing. I have always refused to feed my children in a loo. Well would you want to eat your meal in a toilet?! I am far too lazy to make up and sterilise bottles! Breast-feeding is instant and there are no bottles to worry about unless you chose to express.

My second son continued breast-feeding alone until he was weaned at 6 months .He still had breast feeds until he was 2 ½. Again we both enjoyed the experience and he thrived both physically and emotionally.

Breast-feeding is supposed to help you shed the baby pounds,. However I wasn't that lucky. This could have had something to do with the fact I was always hungry when I was breast-feeding! I also found I got very thirsty when I fed and always had a glass of water to hand. You can ignore advice that tells you to drink pints of liquid. Research shows that you don't need to drink pints to feed successfully! Just drink to quench your thirst.

I am really pleased I was able to breast-feed and would recommend it to all mothers. It really is the best start you can give your baby!

Summary: breast-feeding