Breastfeeding
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Breastfeeding
Sarah Prendergast, a medical student in Norwich and Mum, writes about the health benefits of breastfeeding and answers common questions
What is breastmilk?
Breast milk is made from the nutrients in the mother’s bloodstream and body’s stores. The content of breast milk depends on how long the baby nurses, the mother’s diet and environment, but generally consists of a mix of water, fat, carbohydrates, antibodies and other nutrients.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Bonding – Breastfeeding is a good way to enhance bonding with your baby, because it lets you spend regular periods of quiet time together and your smell and touch will comfort your baby.
Financial – Breastfeeding is cheap! It provides all the free food your baby needs.
Weight loss – Because breast milk is high in calories, breastfeeding can help you to lose weight after the birth of your child and return to your pre-pregnancy figure faster. Some research studies estimate that a woman who breast feeds her infant exclusively uses 400 – 600 extra calories each day 1
Convenience – Breastfeeding means that you are able to feed your baby easily wherever you are. There is no need to spend time preparing feeds or sterilising bottles.
Nutritional – Breast milk gives babies all the nutrients they need for the first six months of life and is designed to be easily absorbed. Because it’s the perfect food for your baby you know that your baby is getting the best possible start in life. Bottle-feeding does not give your baby the same ingredients as breast milk.2
Protection – Breast milk helps to protect babies from infection and diseases such as:
Breastfeeding also helps to protect mothers against:
- ovarian cancer 11
- breast cancer 12
- weak bones later in life.13
Common problems with breastfeeding
Pain or discomfort – Some discomfort during breastfeeding is normal for some mothers and will soon go once breastfeeding is established. Asking your midwife or health visitor about breastfeeding technique may be useful.
Sore or cracked nipples –This can be relieved with topical creams like Kamillosan or use of nipple shields. Again, advice from your midwife and health visitor regarding feeding technique is very helpful.
Embarrassment – Breastfeeding in public places may seem daunting. There are often breastfeeding friendly signs, quiet places or rooms (like toilets) available in shops and public places.
Peer support –Talking to other mums, your health visitor, midwife or GP is useful. Local breastfeeding groups can be an important source of support – see Norwich Food Web for a list of local breastfeeding support groups in Norwich.
Is breastfeeding clean?
Yes, breast milk is sterile and breastfeeding is perfectly safe for you and your baby.
How do I know baby is getting enough food?
Because you can’t see how much milk baby is drinking, it can be difficult to know if baby is getting enough nutrition. Generally, babies are very good at taking what they need, but signs that a baby is not feeding enough would be a baby who is very sleepy and difficult to rouse or one who has dry nappies. 5 A good general guide is the weight gain of your baby. The average breastfed baby doubles birth weight in 5–6 months. By one year, the typical breastfed baby will weigh about 2½ times birth weight.14 At one year, breastfed babies tend to be leaner than formula-fed babies. By two years, there are no longer any differences in weight gain and growth between breastfed and formula-fed babies.15
How often do babies need feeding?
In general, breastfed babies need feeding more often because breast milk is more easily digested. Breast fed babies may feed from 6 to 14 times a day, perhaps every 2-4 hours. There is no definite guide. If you are feeding on demand, be guided by your baby’s needs.
Avoiding problems
Putting the baby to the breast as soon as possible after birth helps to avoid most breastfeeding problems. Your midwife will visit you after the birth to provide further support, and if problems occur after the first few weeks your health visitor will be able to help as well.
How popular is breastfeeding?
The 2005 Infant Feeding Survey shows 76% of mothers in the UK now start out breastfeeding – up seven percentage points from 2000 – and more are continuing to breastfeed their babies for longer. However, while the number of mothers who start out breastfeeding is increasing, drop-off rates continue to be sharp. At six weeks, fewer than half of mothers were still breastfeeding and at six months only 25 per cent were still breastfeeding. Fewer than 1% of mothers follow current Government advice by continuing to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their infant’s life. According to the study, the highest incidences of breastfeeding were found among mothers from managerial and professional occupations, those with the highest educational levels, those aged 30 or over and first time mothers.16
What makes women give up?
Lack of support – Midwives, health visitors and post-natal groups are all useful sources of advice and support. Breastfeeding groups and networks are good sources of advice and a good way to meet other mums.
Fatigue – It is a common notion that because breastfed babies feed more frequently, the mother is more tired. This is not necessarily the case. Try to get plenty of rest by sleeping when your baby sleeps or taking offers of help from family and friends when available. It can be a lot easier to put baby to the breast during the night that having to get up and make up formula bottles.
Unrealistic expectations – Mothers may think, or have been told, that breastfeeding will happen automatically and expect it to be easy. It can take up to 6 weeks for breastfeeding to be established and some babies and mothers take more time to learn the technique than others. Whilst some mothers and babies can breast feed easily from day one, for others perseverance is needed. It is important to practise and keep going if breastfeeding is more difficult than expected. Remember that it can be done, and lots of positive reinforcement from your health professionals, friends and family is essential.
Can Mums of twins or triplets breast feed?
Yes, mums with twins, and even triplets, have breast-fed very successfully. It does take a bit more time and practice than with one baby, but it is achievable. Organisations like The Twins and Multiple Births Association (TAMBA) provide information and support about these issues.
What other breastfeeding support is available?
There are many books and videos to advise mothers about breastfeeding. Lactation consultants are specialists who advise about breastfeeding and work in hospitals or private practice. You can ask your midwife, health visitor or GP about any breastfeeding issues. Other sources of advice include:
National Breastfeeding Helpline
Operated by the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers and the Breastfeeding Network
tel. 0844 20 909 20
La Leche League
Tel. 0845 120 2918
National Childbirth Trust – Breastfeeding line
Tel. 0870 4448708
The Breastfeeding Network
Tel. 07944 879 759
UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Initiative
www.babyfriendly.org.uk
Father’s Direct
www.fatherhoodinstitute.org
Twins and Multiple Births Association
www.tamba.org.uk
Please see Norwich Food Web listings for details of local support groups in Norwich
References
1 Breastfeeding Guidelines. Rady Children’s Hospital. San Diego.2007
2 www.breastfeeding.co.uk
3 Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommsen-Rivers LA (1995). “Differences in morbidity between breast-fed and formula-fed infants”. J. Pediatr. 126 (5 Pt 1): 696–702.
4 Ibid
5 Blaymore Bier JA, Oliver T, Ferguson A, Vohr BR (2002). “Human milk reduces outpatient upper respiratory symptoms in premature infants during their first year of life”. J Perinatol 22 (5): 354–9.
6 Mårild S, Hansson S, Jodal U, Odén A, Svedberg K (2004). “Protective effect of breastfeeding against urinary tract infection”. Acta Paediatr. 93 (2): 164–8
7 Owen CG, Martin RM, Whincup PH, Smith GD, Cook DG (2006). “Does breastfeeding influence risk of type 2 diabetes in later life? A quantitative analysis of published evidence”. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 84 (5): 1043–54.
8 Greer FR, Sicherer SH, Burks AW (2008). “Effects of early nutritional interventions on the development of atopic disease in infants and children: the role of maternal dietary restriction, breastfeeding, timing of introduction of complementary foods, and hydrolyzed formulas”.Pediatrics 121 (1): 183–91.
9 Armstrong J, Reilly JJ (2002). “Breastfeeding and lowering the risk of childhood obesity”. Lancet 359 (9322): 2003–4.
10 Oddy WH, Holt PG, Sly PD, et al (1999). “Association between breastfeeding and asthma in 6 year old children: findings of a prospective birth cohort study”. BMJ 319 (7213): 815–9.
11 Gartner LM, et al (2005). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics 115 (2): 496–506
12 Ibid
13 Ibid
14 Weight gain (growth patterns). AskDrSears.com
15 Mohrbacher, Nancy (2003). The Breastfeeding Answer Book, 3rd ed. (revised), La Leche League International
16 www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/breastfeed2005
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