As new parents, we want what is best for our babies. When it comes to nutrition, all of the experts agree: breast is best. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the Food and Drug Administration all emphatically agree that breastfeeding for at least 6 months, preferably longer, is the best option for your baby.
For some, nursing comes easy, but for many other first-time moms, nursing is something they need to learn right along with their newborns. According to the Food and Drug Administration, breast milk is the perfect food for the first year of an infant’s life. Mother’s milk contains just the right amount of fatty acids, lactose, water and amino acids for human digestion, brain development and growth.
“When you give birth for the first time, you cannot fathom how you will feel about breastfeeding in a year,” says Laura Shive, a mother of three from York County. “Make the decision to breastfeed for the first three weeks. When you get to the three-week mark, decide to nurse for one more week. Take it a week at a time and, before you know it, you will be comfortable nursing and loving it.”
Benefits
Because human milk transfers all the mother’s antibodies, breast-fed babies are likely to have fewer illnesses. About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are known as macrophages — cells that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. Breast-fed babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections and German measles. Nursing mothers also produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight the diseases their babies are exposed to.
“Within days of my daughter’s birth, my husband and I both became very ill with a viral infection,” says Shive. “I had a fever of 105 and felt miserable, but I kept nursing and she didn’t get sick at all.”
Human milk is believed to contain at least 100 ingredients not found in formula and has rarely been known to cause an allergic reaction. Some babies can react adversely to something that mother has eaten, but that problem can be solved by a change in diet.
Other benefits from nursing for the baby include good jaw development and straight healthy teeth. It is harder for an infant to get milk from a breast than it is a bottle. Suckling at the breast strengthens the jaw and encourages the growth of straight teeth.
Breastfeeding also offers many benefits for the mother as well. There are no bottles to sterilize and no formula to buy, measure and mix. It is easier for a nursing mother to lose the extra pounds from pregnancy because nursing burns extra calories. Lactation also stimulates the uterus to contract back to its original size. A nursing mom also is likely to get more rest, since she must sit and relax with her infant every few hours to nurse. Frequent nursing suppresses ovulation, making it less likely for a nursing mother to menstruate, ovulate or get pregnant. Women who do not want more children right away, however, should use contraception even while nursing. Along with the nutritional benefits come the psychological benefits. Nursing creates an early attachment between mother and child. At birth, infants can see only about 12 to 15 inches, the distance between a nursing baby and its mother’s face.
It’s not easy
Breastfeeding, as natural as it may be, can also be tricky at first. It is important to not become frustrated. Most breastfeeding problems relate to how the baby is latching onto the breast. Latching on was a concern for Andrea Flannery of Dauphin County when her daughter was born seven weeks early.
“It was very difficult for her to nurse or take from the bottle at first,” says Flannery. “She was tube-fed for a while. I started pumping right away, every three hours. I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to nurse her, but I just kept at it.”
Lactation consultants are available at area hospitals and birthing centers to help new moms. During an outpatient visit, the consultants can assess how breastfeeding is progressing for mom and baby, recommend different kinds of breast pumps and provide tips.
“Some moms give up too easy saying they just didn’t make enough milk,” says mother of two Aimee Peeling of York County. “It’s important to remember that the way you get more milk is to feed your baby.”
In the early weeks of nursing, many moms find it hard to keep their babies awake at the breast. If your newborn is acting too tired to eat, try changing her diaper before nursing. By removing your baby’s blanket and some of his clothing, you may be able to keep your little one alert for a feeding.
“The early weeks are always hard,” says local La Leche League leader, Paula Hostler. “The first two to six weeks of your newborns life can be challenging, no matter how you decide to feed.”
The La Leche League is a national support organization for nursing mothers and has local chapters that meet regularly to discuss breastfeeding problems and to offer support. Interested women are welcome to attend meetings free of charge and many leaders, including Hostler, offer advice by phone as well.
If you can’t
Mary McLane, a Lancaster County midwife, says there are a few reasons why a woman may not be able to nurse, including the presence of a breast implant, certain infections, such as AIDS, and the emotional trauma of sexual abuse. Options for these women include donated breast milk
and formula.
“This doesn’t necessarily have to be the usual soy or cow’s milk-based ones from the big companies,” she says. “There are alternative formulas that have been promoted as being better than these.”
It’s important to remember that how to feed your infant is a personal choice and one that should be made with your partner. No matter what your decision, embrace it. Enjoy your infant and get to know each other.
Wendy L. Garman is a stay-at-home mother of three who lives in York County with her husband, Tom.
Nursing Tips
1. The earlier you start to nurse, the better.
2. Proper positioning can prevent future problems. The baby’s mouth should be wide open, with the nipple as far back into the mouth as possible.
3. Nurse frequently. Many newborns will usually want to nurse at least every
two hours.
4. Do not supplement. Nursing babies don’t need sugar water or formula supplements. Providing these can interfere with appetite and diminish
milk supply.
5. Delay the pacifier. It is best to wait two weeks to introduce a pacifier to prevent any nipple confusion.
To find a convenient La Leche League chapter, call 1-800-LA-LECHE or visit the Web site at www.lalecheleague.com.