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Meet the
Pediatrician - in a conversational mood - PERIODIC UPDATES :
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BREAST
FEEDING
At the outset , it is presumed that we all know the over riding
benefits of breast milk over all other milks for an infant.
We also presume that all mothers are motivated to breast feed and
there may be some unique or compelling situations that make the mother
opt for some other form of milk.
For those who happen to relatively less motivated , here is a brief
outline of the unequivocal benefits of breast milk to the child and to
the mother.
The child gets what nature designed for him ; there are no storage or
preparation issues involved , absolute sterility ( safety from
infections ) is guaranteed, Colostrum ( the small amount of milk that
is the first secretion from the breast , uncharitably known as
'Witch's Milk' ) is extremely rich in nutrition and loaded with
antibodies that shall protect the new one from infections. On the
whole the composition is beautifully tailored for the infant - it is
like an ATM counter at home ! What more
could you ask nature for.
The mother also benefits on several accounts. It helps in early
involution ( getting back to normalcy ) of the Uterus , acts as a
natural contraceptive, protects against cancer of the breast, promotes
mother-infant bonding and helps restore the body figure by secreting
fats and other constituents in the milk.
Thus far, we make an assertion to ourselves : yes,I want to breast
feed.
I shall now touch upon some interesting ( may appear somewhat random )
tips of breast milk and breast feeding :
FORE MILK & HIND MILK : nature has designed breast milk to such
artistic perfection that one admires it for its insight. There are two
components to each feed the child gets from the breast. The first is
known as Fore milk - this is rich in carbohydrates. The second one is
Hind milk - this is rich in fats. The idea is to provide satiety ( a
sense of fullness ) at the END of the feed. Were it the reverse, the
infant would latch off too soon. It is like the bliss of a sweet dish
after a full meal !
DO NOT WIPE OFF NIPPLE AFTER A FEED : it is common for the
untutored mother to wipe off the nipple after a feed. The fat in the
milk forms a layer of emollient on the nipple and prevents nipple
soreness, keeps it soft - makes things comfortable for both of you.
HOW DO I MAKE OUT MY MILK IS ENOUGH : This is a common
situation
many a mother faces.The following shall help you judge for yourself:
1 when you feed from one side and the other breast also oozes some
milk - all is well
2 in case you have not been able to feed for some time and this gives
you discomfort / pain the breasts - all is well
3 if the child is passing frequent urination - something like 10-12
times a day - all is well
4 if he is gaining weight appropriately ( as a general rule of thumb :
20-30 gm/day for the first 3 months of age ) - all is well
HE SLEEPS OFF DURING A FEED - LAZY BONES HE IS : It is
interesting to know that an infant who is sucking lustily,shall take
about 85% of his requirement in the first some 5 minutes - the rest is
just playfulness for him.
The following tips come in handy for the real lazy bones who simply
sleeps off :
1 try tickling his soles or the back of his ears - it helps to keep
him up and about
2 when he just tending to sleep off , gently pry him away from the
nipple.It will be interesting to find him getting back into action and
not letting go.
3 you shall be able to make your own improvisation and with practice
you shall learn how best to keep him on.
WHAT MAY I DO TO KEEP MY MILK PRODUCTION IN TOP GEAR ?
A firm conviction that you have enough and shall have more is perhaps
all that you need.
It is common for a first time mother to have a relatively delayed flow
of milk - it is rare,however, that a mother shall have "no milk at all
".
The idea being built is that a relaxed mental state , leaving nature
to itself , and frequent feeding sessions WILL keep you in top gear.
The more the child sucks, the more Oxytocin is released from the Brain
and the more the flow of milk.Herein comes a fine interplay of
emotional factors.Stress ( mainly the feel that there is not enough
milk and other stresses of handling the numerous chores of having a
newborn ) is enemy
number one - please keep him away.I know it is easier said than done -
but please take charge.
Plenty of fluids ( please try and keep your target at 3 litres of
water a day - yes I mean it ) , and our traditional grandmothers'
recipes ( laddoos of jaggery,saunth,ajwain) work wonders
- IN CASE THERE IS A CONFUSION AT THIS END BASED ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL
AREA
YOU RESIDE IN -PLEASE GET BACK SO THAT I MAY TAILOR MAKE IT FOR YOU.
WHAT IS THIS HYPE AGAINST BOTTLE FEEDING :
Bottle feeding is one sensitive issue that I need to talk about it
unofficially.The official stand is " break the bottle - save the
child"
There is a valid reason why there is general consensus in India and
the academic / policy making levels are dead against it.
Bottle in the wrong hands is disastrous - bottle in the right hands is
a blessing.
The reason why bottle feeding is vigorously discouraged is to be
understood. If the message goes out that bottle feeding is safe , it
will be used by all and sundry. It is akin to saying in the press /
newspapers that an alcoholic drink a day ( a defined amount - the user
would love to defy the amount though ! ). The message would give
sanction to families of all socioeconomic groups and has a huge
potential for misuse.
If one manage the following , bottle is safe :
1 proper hygiene of the bottle ( boiling for 10 minutes etc ).
2 buying the good quality of bottle out of the huge numbers available
3 understanding the proper milk powder dilution method
4 understanding the cost implications - a tin of milk powder costs
short of 200 rupees and may last 3-5 days only.
5 so on and so forth
Since ground reality is known to us all - the universal message given
is " do NOT use a bottle at all". However, in a one to one situation,
where your Pediatrician understands you understand and can follow all
the maintenance and other issues, there is nothing so wrong with a
bottle. It is especially relevant to working ladies.
Having touched a rather controversial issue as a tailpiece , we take
your leave and shall get back soon some time.
Dr Jindal & team Healthybaccha.com
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