How long should you breastfeed?
Breastfeeding is the process by which human breast milk is fed to a child. Breast milk may be from the breast or expressed by hand or pumped and provided to the infant. Babies have a sucking reflex and can suck on a nipple or pacifier and swallow breast milk. Breastfeeding can be a positive experience for both mother and baby. According to the World Health Organization report, immediate skin-to-skin contact assists in the mother-child bonding for both mother and baby and is thought to encourage instinctual breastfeeding behavior in the infant. It can also soothe the baby.
According to research cited by UNICEF, a baby's first breastfeeding has a natural process. Experts recommend that mothers start breastfeeding immediately after birth and continue as often and as much as the baby wants. In the first few weeks of life, babies need to be breastfed about every two to three hours, and each feeding takes about ten to fifteen minutes. Feedings may last as long as 30–45 minutes each as milk supply develops and the infant learns the Suck-Swallow-Breathe pattern.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for two years or more. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers feed their babies only breastmilk for the first six months and keep breastfeeding for at least a year. Around six months of age, infants' energy and nutritional needs begin to exceed those provided by breast milk, and complementary foods are needed to meet these needs. Babies at this age are also developmentally ready for other foods. If Complementary foods are not introduced at six months old, or if they are not fed properly, the baby's growth may be slower.
Are breastfed babies smarter?
Some researchers think breastfeeding improves a child's intelligence, memory, judgment, and problem-solving skills, so are breastfed babies smarter? Breast milk contains the essential fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA or AA). Because DHA and ARA promote the development of the brain and nervous system, they believe breast milk can help improve a baby's cognitive abilities. But scientists don't yet know if adding essential fatty acids to the formula has the same effect on the brain as the natural essential fatty acids found in breast milk. And we cannot rule out that a baby's cognitive abilities are influenced by environmental factors that support cognitive development, such as children's genes, pregnant women's living habits, family relationships, economic conditions, etc.
Of course, breastfeeding has its positive effects. Breast milk contains antibodies, enzymes, and white blood cells that boost the immune system and help protect a baby against respiratory infections and diarrhea. It also helps reduce the risk of asthma, food allergies, celiac disease, diabetes, and leukemia. Breastfeeding reduces the chance of SIDS and obesity. Breastfeeding also has advantages for the mother. Benefits for the mother include less blood loss following delivery, better contraction of the uterus, and decreased postpartum depression. Breastfeeding delays the return of menstruation and, in particular circumstances, fertility, a phenomenon known as lactational amenorrhea. Long-term benefits for the mother include decreased risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. The advantage for the family is that breastfeeding saves money on formula milk purchases.
Can you breastfeed with nipple piercings?
Nipple piercings are becoming increasingly popular in recent years, and you may be wondering if it is safe to breastfeed your baby. Experts believe it depends on when the mother had a nipple piercing and whether she was feeding with jewelry still in place. Often the longer the time since the piercings were initially placed and the birth of the baby, the better the outcome. But breastfeeding with a nipple piercing can make it difficult for the baby to latch on correctly and control the milk flow, and it can increase the risk of choking if the jewelry becomes loose and dislodges. In addition, the jewelry may damage the soft tissues inside the infant's mouth. The recommendation and best practice are to remove nipple jewelry altogether and adjust the breastfeeding position to control the milk flow. If you want nipple piercing while breastfeeding, to prevent bacterial infection, it is recommended that mothers wait until 3-4 months after weaning before getting nipple piercing.
Can you overfeed a breastfed baby?
It's not possible to overfeed a breastfed baby via the breast, but if you need to bottle feed either breast milk or formula, there is a possibility of overfeeding. When your baby latches on, the nipple is stretched, and your baby's tongue forms a "rigid plate" that moves with the jaw. And the action of suction allows milk to flow into their mouths. Your baby will control the timing of their feedings and will show signs of lethargy and contentment after eating. If you notice your baby's "full" signals, you won't overfeed your breastfed baby. In addition, some babies may experience irregular and frequent urges to want to breastfeed, possibly because they are having a growth spurt or teething, which is unlikely to lead to overfeeding. The baby's possessing or spitting up after breastfeeding is a natural reflex phenomenon and is not a sign of overfeeding. Mothers can consult a health professional for specific circumstances.
Can you breastfeed while sick?
In most cases, it is safe to continue breastfeeding while you are sick. When the mother is sick, antibodies are produced in the body and passed to the baby through breast milk. And the baby acquires these beneficial antibodies and strengthens his resistance. Therefore, Nursing mothers may be immunized and take most over-the-counter and prescription drugs without risk to the baby. Still, certain drugs, including some painkillers and some psychiatric drugs, may pose a threat. But breastfeeding mothers should use medications in consultation with doctors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breastfeeding should not be performed if the mother has HIV, T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or II, and Ebola virus.
How long after vaping can I breastfeed?
The highest levels of nicotine were found in breast milk after mothers finished smoking, and nicotine concentrations in breast milk dropped significantly over the next two hours. The half-life of nicotine in breast milk is variously quoted as 95 minutes or 120 minutes. This means that nicotine levels in breast milk will drop by half about one and a half to two hours after the mother finishes smoking. Waiting as long as possible after smoking can allow nicotine levels in breast milk to drop (the levels will halve after two hours). Since breastfed babies are usually fed at least every two hours, the general recommendation is that smoking straight after breastfeeding can allow nicotine levels to drop before the subsequent breastfeeding.