BREAST MILK is known to be the healthiest, most accessible and most cost-effective source of nutrients a baby needs. Exclusive breastfeeding is best for babies up to 6 months of age. The very first drops from a mother’s breast called colostrum will protect and nourish a new born baby.
The word
BREASTFEEDING itself is an abbreviation for series of healthy benefits which is present on breast milk and a mother can produce just enough for her baby’s needs.
The abbreviation
BREASTFEEDING stands for:
B – Best for babies
R – Reduces incidence of allergies
E – Economical
A – Antibodies
S – Stool inoffensive
T – Temperature just right
F – Fresh milk
E – Emotional bonding
E – Easy once established
D – Digested easily
I – Immediately available
N – Nutritionally balanced
G – Gastroenteritis greatly reduced
In order for a baby to effectively suck breast milk, the mother must identify certain criteria to fully recognize when her baby is breastfeeding without any discomfort.
Criteria for effective breastfeeding:
1. Proper positioning.
• Mouth wide open.
• Chin touching breast.
• Lower lip turned outward.
• More areola seen above baby’s top lip than below.
2. Proper attachment.
• Baby’s body close to mother’s body.
• Baby’s head and body are straight.
• Mother supporting baby’s whole body, not just neck and shoulders.
• Baby facing mother’s breast with nose opposite mother’s nipples.
With proper position and attachment, a mother will really enjoy breastfeeding her baby without any worries at all. On the other hand, there exist probable breast feeding problems for some mothers due to these reasons, such as:
• Use of feeding bottles.
• Lack of active feeding.
• Difficulty in breastfeeding.
• Child less than 4-months is taking other milk/food.
• Not feeding well during illness.
• Improper handling and use of breast milk substitute.
• Infant not exclusively breastfed.
• Child who is 6-months and up is not yet given complementary foods.
• Complementary food is not enough in quantity/quality/variety.
• Use of breast milk substitute/cow’s milk/evaporated milk.