How often to breastfeed a newborn. How to breastfeed correctly? The most comfortable positions for feeding

The birth of a child is one of the greatest miracles in the world. At first, the baby most of all needs the mother and her milk. The composition of women's milk is ideal for the normal development of the child, so pediatricians strongly recommend breastfeeding. However, many new mothers face problems: they are unable to maintain lactation, which reduces the period of breastfeeding to only a few months. Unfortunately, there are no analogues to breast milk, therefore, as a result, the child does not receive all the substances he needs. Pediatricians note that the most common cause of lactation disorders is the wrong behavior of a young inexperienced mother. Therefore, it is so important to know how to feed the baby and how to properly apply it to the breast.

In this article, you will find answers to many important questions: how to understand the needs of the baby, what are the most common mistakes mothers of infants make, and how to avoid the negative consequences of these mistakes. This information will help to establish feeding and will enable both mother and child to experience only joy and pleasure from this unique process.

Proper application is the basis for continued success

Proper attachment of a newborn to the breast is one of the main factors that determine the success of the feeding process. If you make a mistake at this stage, then you cannot avoid negative consequences for both the mother and the child. For example, due to frequent incorrect attachments, a child may refuse mother's milk.

Of course, in almost all maternity hospitals, medical staff assists mothers during the first feeding. However, unfortunately, this is not always the case. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with how to properly attach the baby to the breast, even before childbirth.

So, what is the right way to apply the baby to the breast? The process is carried out in several stages:

Feeding can last quite a long time, up to several hours. Therefore, at the first stage, it is important to take the most comfortable position: you should not get tired quickly. You can feed your baby in almost any position. The child should be turned to the mother with his stomach, and his face should be located near the chest. You can’t fix the baby’s head: he must choose his own position and be able to tell his mother that he has had enough.
The baby's nose should be close to the chest, but do not press it too hard. Women with large breasts should be especially careful: the baby will be forced to reach the nipple, which will cause it to be caught incorrectly.
It is important that the child must take the nipple into his mouth on his own. In no case should you put the nipple in the baby's mouth: this is fraught with an incorrect grip, which means a lot of unpleasant problems in the future. If the baby takes only the tip of the nipple into his mouth, the mother should gently release it by gently pressing on the newborn's chin.

It can be difficult for new mothers to know if the baby has been able to latch on properly. However, this is quite simple to do: just look at how the feeding process is carried out. If you managed to achieve the correct capture, then feeding will look like this:

In the mouth of the child will be not only the nipple, but also the areola, while the lips of the child turn slightly outward.
The baby's nose is pressed quite tightly against the chest, but does not sink into it completely.
The child does not make any sounds except for sips.
The mother does not feel discomfort or pain.

Should I feed my baby on a schedule?

The question of whether to follow a feeding schedule is faced by almost all new mothers. Representatives of the older generation confidently declare that you need to feed the baby on a schedule. However, you should not listen to these tips: doctors assure that it is necessary to feed the child not according to a certain strict schedule, but when he requires it.

The fact is that the amount of milk produced directly depends on the volume drunk by the child. Therefore, the more often the baby is applied to the breast, the less likely it is that there will be any problems with lactation.

How long should the baby stay at the breast?

Many are concerned about the question of how long to feed a child. There are no clear limits here: the time depends on the needs of the baby. However, a healthy baby should actively breastfeed for at least half an hour. The maximum time is individual for each baby.

In general, there are three main points to consider:

The amount of time a baby spends at the breast varies from person to person. For example, there are children who breastfeed quite actively and are quickly satiated. Naturally, in this case, feeding does not take much time. Other babies suckle slowly and even fall asleep at the breast. To wake the baby, it is enough to touch his cheek or gently pull the nipple.
The total breastfeeding time is determined both by the desire of the mother herself and by the living conditions of the family, for example, the need to start work and other factors.
As a rule, newborns are breastfed up to 10 times during the day. When the child begins to grow up, the number of feedings is gradually reduced.

How can you tell if your baby has received enough milk?

There is one indisputable truth: a well-fed child is always satisfied. Having eaten, the baby either lets go of the breast on its own, or falls asleep. To understand that the child no longer needs milk, you can by the following signs:

The baby releases the nipple on its own each time.
There is a uniform increase in both weight and height.
The baby is quite active and has no problems sleeping.

Should I give both breasts while breastfeeding?

In the process of feeding, you should give the baby only one breast. During the next feeding, you need to give another one and thus alternate them. Such a strategy will make it possible to establish proper lactation in both mammary glands. One breast provides the baby with both fore, light milk, which the baby gets drunk with, and hind milk, which is thicker and more nutritious, containing a large amount of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Of course, if the baby is not full on one breast, then you need to give him another.

Some women do not produce enough milk and the baby does not eat enough from one breast. Often this happens at those moments when the child has a jump in weight or height, for example, after reaching two months of age. During such periods, both breasts should be given to the child.

Do not believe the opinion that there is no milk in the soft breast or it is not enough. If the child is full by all indications, you should not try to give him a second breast.

How often should you breastfeed your baby?

How many times do you need to feed a child so that he does not overeat? It is necessary to be guided by the desires of the child himself. If the baby has received enough milk, then he will begin to experience hunger in two or three hours. If the child asks for breasts more often, he should not be denied, because he might not have received the required amount of milk during the last feeding. Feeding on demand is the key to success: you should forever forget the feeding strictly on schedule imposed by the older generation.

What to do if the child is overfed?

Many young mothers are afraid that the child will be fed. However, this should not be feared. Of course, the baby can drink too much milk, but he will simply vomit everything that is superfluous, so his health will in no way be at risk.

Will the milk have time to be digested before the next feeding?

Many mothers worry that if the baby eats too often, then the milk will not have time to be digested before the next feeding. However, do not be afraid, because mother's milk has an ideal composition for the baby, so it is digested easily and quickly.

Feeding and crying

What to do if the baby is crying and needs to be breastfed? First of all, there is no need to panic: hold the child close to you, shake him a little, talk to him. If the crying is caused by the fact that the baby is unable to capture the breast, you need to squeeze some milk into his mouth or touch the nipple to the cheek or lips. Breasts are great at soothing babies, so you don't usually have to "persuade" your baby to take them for a long time.

How to properly breastfeed?

It is important to learn not only to give the breast correctly, but also to take it away correctly. If this is done incorrectly, then the mother may experience rather unpleasant sensations, and much more serious problems are possible, for example, nipple cracks. To avoid these troubles, you should wait until the baby himself releases the nipple from his mouth. If he does not, gently press your finger on the child's chin. There is another way: you should insert the little finger into the corner of the baby's mouth and gently pull. This technique will force the baby to open his mouth, after which the chest can be removed.

What to do in case of milk stagnation?

It is difficult to find young mothers who do not face certain problems in the process of breastfeeding. For example, if a child does not drink all the milk, it begins to stagnate. The chest becomes firm to the touch. Often, stagnation is accompanied by an increase in body temperature and pain. If you ignore this symptom, mastitis cannot be avoided, which, in turn, is fraught with the need for a surgical operation.

What to do if you notice stagnation of milk? You need to act immediately. At the initial stage, breast massage in the shower, gentle expression of milk or the attachment of the baby to the breast will be effective. A compress of cabbage leaf and honey will also help. Massage the chest should be very careful: massage should not cause pain and discomfort. The compress should be done every time after the child has eaten. If within a few days all these actions do not alleviate the condition of the mother, it is necessary to go to the hospital.

New moms are faced with a plethora of information about how to breastfeed their baby. Often, an uncritical attitude to the advice received leads to making mistakes, the most common of which will be described below:

Washing the breast on the eve of attaching a child to it. You should not do this: it is quite enough to take a shower in the morning and in the evening. Too much enthusiasm for hygiene procedures leads to the fact that a special lubricant is washed off the nipples, which protects them from injury.
The chest must be supported by the hand. In this case, milk stagnation may occur in places that are in contact with the hand.
The child should be given water or weak tea. Mother's milk contains all the necessary substances: the baby not only eats up, but also drinks plenty of it.
With colds or cracks on the nipples, you need to switch to mixtures. If the mother has a cold, then to protect the baby during feedings, it is worth wearing a medical mask: this is quite enough, since pathogenic bacteria do not penetrate the milk. Special silicone pads on the chest will protect against cracks.

This is not a complete list of mistakes that a young mother can make. If you have any other problems, you should consult your doctor.

Establishment of lactation

Immediately after the baby has eaten, the remaining milk should be expressed. A clean container is used for pumping, before the procedure you need to wash your hands thoroughly. To date, in pharmacies you can see a wide range of breast pumps, but you need to resort to them only as a last resort, since breast pumps injure the thin skin of the nipples.

There are general rules for breastfeeding a baby:

It is necessary to give the breast a few hours after the baby was born, as this stimulates lactation.
If the baby is hungry, he will try to find the nipple by opening his mouth and smacking his lips. If the baby is not trying to find the breast, it is necessary to attach the nipple to his lips.
The baby should capture not only the nipple, but also the areola.
The cheeks and nose of the baby should be pressed tightly enough to the chest.
It is not necessary to give both breasts at one feeding: it is enough for the child to completely drink all the milk from one breast.

The newborn should be breastfed as early as possible. In modern maternity hospitals, the first feeding occurs a couple of hours after birth. The first feeding is of utmost importance, because it is at this time that the correct nipple grip reflex will form, which will be the key to successful breastfeeding in the future.

How should a breastfeeding mother behave?

There are rules that a nursing mother should follow:

In the first days after childbirth, you need to eat foods that contain a lot of fiber. But a large amount of sugar is best avoided. Give up tobacco and alcohol, as well as limit the use of foods that can cause allergies (citrus fruits, eggs, etc.).
Do not be distracted by the TV or computer during feeding: in the first months of life, it is at this moment that mother and baby communicate, so you should focus all your attention on the child.
It is necessary to give the baby the opportunity to burp, and after feeding, keep him in a column, which is the prevention of abdominal pain.
It is worth giving up breastfeeding if the mother suffers from a serious illness (AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, etc.).

Most mothers try breastfeeding while in the hospital. It is advisable to give the baby a breast in the first 60 minutes after birth. Experienced midwives help to attach the baby, talk about the features of feeding. If you did not immediately figure out how to properly feed a newborn with breast milk, there is nothing to worry about. Breastfeeding can be mastered with simple tips.

Before putting a newborn to the breast for the first time, you need to find a position in which you can spend half an hour without discomfort. You have 3 options:

sitting;
standing;
lying on your side.

Most women choose a lying position for the first feeding, since after childbirth it is almost impossible to stay upright for a long time. Until full recovery, it is necessary to feed the child, lying on his side, in order to protect himself from discomfort. If you chose this option, then check out how to properly apply a newborn for feeding while lying on your side:

Release your chest on the side you are lying on.
Lay the baby with his stomach towards you so that his head is against his chest.
Bring the nipple to the baby's mouth, he will immediately try to take it. When sucking, the entire areola should be in the baby's mouth, which means that its capture is done correctly.

The sitting position is comfortable. This position allows mothers to breastfeed two babies at the same time. In the hospital, this position can be uncomfortable, since on the bed you will have to keep your hands on weight, and there will be no support for the back. If you have a spacious chair at home, then feed the baby while sitting in it, placing your hands on the armrest.

Sitting, two babies can be fed at the same time, placing them on a special pillow in the “out of hand” position.

The standing pose is rarely used, as it puts too much stress on the spine and arms. It is used only by women who, after natural childbirth, had sutures in the perineum. They need to lean on the table to reduce the load on the spine and legs. At the first opportunity, the position is changed. It is also recommended when the baby does not properly latch onto the breast while lying on a bed that is too soft or uncomfortable.

Provides a rush of milk light massage of the mammary gland in a circular motion.

Breastfeeding experts offer some tips on how to properly breastfeed your baby:

place it on its side facing you;
the chin and cheeks should be pressed to the chest, and there must be free space between the gland and the nose;
bring the nipple to the newborn - he will take it himself;
there should be no pulling sensations (their appearance means that the baby is too low);
if there is a nipple without an areola in the newborn's mouth, immediately release the breast (gently press the little finger on the corner of the baby's mouth, straighten the breast and offer it to the newborn again).

Evaluate the result: if the baby has enough air, and he correctly grabbed the nipple, leave it until he is full. The first seconds of feeding can cause discomfort in a young mother due to the fact that the skin on the nipples is not yet coarsened enough. Until this happens, the woman will be in pain at the moment of catching the nipple. The application is done correctly if there is no discomfort. When feeding, only swallowing of the baby should be heard.

Learn how to properly latch your baby to the breast beforehand, as mistakes in this process can lead to:

the capture of a crumb of air;
colic in a baby;
the appearance of cracks in the nipples;
milk duct injury.

If you feel pain during the entire feeding session, then the cause is often an incorrect grip on the areola. The baby's lips should be located on its edge.

During one feeding, do not give a second breast. Ideally, each time you need to offer the crumbs a different mammary gland. If you follow this rule, then the baby is guaranteed to eat the fore and hind milk, which will allow him to eat fully and balanced, get a full set of vitamins, useful trace elements.

There is an exception to the rule of using one breast per application. They can be neglected if there is not enough milk produced.

How to understand that the baby is full?

In addition to knowing how to properly attach a baby to the breast, mothers need to get information about the signs of satiety crumbs. After all, it is very easy to overfeed a baby, for whom every feeding session is an opportunity to feel the protection and support of the mother.

The baby is full if he:

behaves calmly;
cheerful after the completion of the process;
gaining sufficient weight according to WHO standards;
independently released the chest;
after feeding, falls asleep soundly or moves on to active activities.

If the newborn is often naughty, worried, crying, then before giving him both breasts for one feeding, it is necessary to carry out a control weighing. It is held once a week. If at the end of the seven-day period the weight of the child has become higher, it is necessary to look for another reason for crying.

Signs of overeating are:

regurgitation after feeding;
rapid weight gain in excess of established norms;
increased gas formation, leading to colic and abdominal pain.

Regurgitation can be a sign of a neurological disorder, so it is important to monitor the child's health and visit doctors in a timely manner. If your pediatrician notices signs of overeating in your baby, release the nipple 15-20 minutes after the start of feeding. When overeating, do not try to reduce lactation, this often leads to its complete loss.

Baby feeding time

The question of the time of each meal cannot be solved unambiguously. The duration of one feeding session depends on the individual characteristics of the child. Some babies eat actively and quickly, so they only need 10 minutes to saturate. Other kids enjoy the process for a long time, they need more than 40 minutes. In the first month of life, you should not interrupt feeding on your own. Gradually, the newborn will adjust the duration of sucking.

Experts consider a feeding session lasting up to 30 minutes to be correct. It can last longer if the baby is premature or weakened. If the baby fell asleep with a breast in his mouth, then you just need to release the nipple and transfer it to the crib. For newborns, sleep after feeding is considered the norm.

If you are interested in the total duration of the GW, then it is selected individually. It is worth stopping feeding after a year. After the first 6 months of life, you can gradually replace feeding with complementary foods, which will prepare the baby's digestive system for normal food intake, and the mother will gradually reduce lactation.

It is important not only to know how to breastfeed, but also to learn how to respect the time intervals. Doctors recommend applying crumbs by the hour, but it is best to do this on demand. Breaks can be from 15 minutes to 2 hours, and during a night's sleep, the interval increases. If the baby is calm, the chest does not require, then after 3-4 hours it is worth offering him a refreshment on his own. Don't wake the baby up to breastfeed him. A well-fed baby will not sleep peacefully, he will demand food on his own.

What can't be done?

Just because you know how to breastfeed your baby doesn't mean you don't have other questions. The process of breastfeeding is very complicated, and young mothers often make mistakes that negatively affect the lactation process.

Another mistake is frequent weighing. If the baby is slowly gaining weight, then the mother begins to give him an artificial mixture. It acts as an additional nutrition or completely replaces natural nutrition. Find out the child's body weight no more than 4 times a month, then you will be able to objectively assess the changes.

Solving difficult situations

Before you properly attach the baby to the breast, you need to prepare for possible problems with lactation.

Small inverted nipples usually change their shape by childbirth. If this does not happen, then you can change the position for feeding, stretch the flat nipple yourself, apply silicone pads. Many believe that a small tight chest can become an obstacle. This is not a problem: it is enough to express for 1-2 weeks so that the baby can get his own food. The mammary glands during lactation can increase by 1-2 sizes - just a couple of weeks after childbirth, small breasts will change, it will be convenient to feed them.

Before childbirth, you should not solve the problem with excessively tight breasts and improper nipple anatomy, since touching the breasts can trigger the production of the hormone oxytocin.

Cracks are not a reason to refuse natural feeding. Before they heal, use silicone pads for feeding, and between applications, make applications with Bepanthen ointment, and take air baths. Make sure that the medicinal composition does not get into the child's mouth. Sometimes, in order to get rid of cracks, you need to learn again how to properly breastfeed, since improper capture of the areola leads to nipple injuries.

In the first 3 months after the start of lactation, every young mother is faced with the problem of arbitrary leakage of milk. Any woman will not like to walk around with milk stains on clothes in the chest area, so use special disposable pads that fit into a bra.

Breast engorgement can be saved by more frequent breastfeeding or pumping. Take a warm shower before feeding, do a light massage. From folk remedies, you can use cabbage leaf compresses. After feeding, apply a cold compress to relieve swelling.

Lactation crises do not mean that it is time to finish feeding the crumbs. There is less milk, but this situation can be overcome: drink tea with cumin and fennel, eat right, and rest. During the first year of a baby's life, you will experience crises at least 3 times.

Mothers often self-program themselves for failure. It should be understood that feeding is a natural process that is available to every woman after childbirth. Do not neglect it, even if you want to quickly restore the figure. Losing weight can be combined with feeding crumbs. Do not use diets: the diet of a nursing mother should be complete. Only sweets, products with chemical dyes and those that can cause an allergic reaction in a child should be excluded from it. If you are used to making a menu for yourself, keep in mind that its calorie content should slightly exceed the norm for adult women. The diet must include fruits, vegetables, meat and fish.

Every mother wants to see her child healthy and from the first days of his life begins to give him everything he needs. This is breast milk, which has useful substances and trace elements necessary for the growth and strengthening of the child's body.

However, in addition to the feeding process itself, other factors are also important - proper breast care, comfort of position, pumping, the need for supplementary feeding, etc.

Find out all the nuances from our article: how to properly feed a newborn baby, the rules for feeding with breast milk and formula, nutritional features with mixed feeding, how often and after what period of time to feed the baby (schedule and rate of food intake for the baby).

natural feeding

In the first year, breast milk is a vital food for an infant. In order for this period to bring only joy to the baby and mother, you should know about the basic rules of feeding.

What determines the amount of milk a mother has

The amount of milk can be affected by:

transferred stresses;
insufficient sleep;
mother's dietary habits;
insufficient physical activity;
fatigue
hereditary predisposition;
lack of rest.

Breast size does not affect the amount of milk. Neither the shape of the nipple nor the type of milk matters.

Read on our website! Let's talk about the manufacturer and the composition of the product, how it differs from other infant formulas.

Breastfeeding rules and breast care

When feeding, there is only one rule - feeding should be carried out in a separate room where there is no one but mother and baby.

It does not matter what position will be taken during feeding - sitting, lying, standing; the main thing is complete relaxation and comfort.

Separately, you need to talk about pumping and breast massage. These procedures should be carried out in the first 3-4 weeks after childbirth. Then the flow of milk is normalized.

Before expressing and massaging, hands and breasts should be washed with soap and water. Alcohol-based products should not be used.

Ordinary baby soap is an excellent antiseptic. It is also necessary to ensure that the detergent does not remain on the chest after washing procedures.

It is not recommended to use soap before each feeding.. The tool is able to remove the fatty film that protects the mammary glands from external influences.

That's why wash your breasts only once a day. If necessary, warm running water is sufficient.

The massage itself is not difficult.. However, make sure that the glands are of the same density. When seals are detected, massage is carried out in this area more intensively.

The chest is supported by one hand from below. The second, with the help of 4 fingers, you need to massage the mammary gland in a circular motion, starting from the ribs and moving towards the nipple. The hand that supports the chest from below should not be inactive - the technique is similar.

At the site of compaction, movements do not increase, only the duration of the massage increases.

Pumping is an important step for a nursing mother. If left unattended, an excess amount of milk will lead to the development of mastitis.

So, only two fingers should be involved in pumping - index and thumb. It is important to press not on the nipple, but on the tissue of the gland. The most effective pumping method is using a breast pump..

The many difficulties associated with breastfeeding consist in the appearance of cracks and abrasions on the nipples. These phenomena occur due to:

child's activity;
characteristics of the mother's skin;
insufficient hygiene.

Preventive measures must be followed. This includes:

the nipple after feeding should always be dry (for this, it is blotted with sterile gauze);
cleanliness of the chest;
a nursing mother should not wear underwear containing synthetics - only cotton;
the child should capture the areola (halo), and not the nipple;
if a crack is found, treatment is started immediately;
mother's nails should be short (so as not to be scratched during pumping);
do not keep the baby near the chest for more than 20 minutes;
you can not bring the baby to such a degree of hunger that he pounces on the chest;
perform massage and pumping;
Keep your chest open as much as possible.

For the treatment of abrasions and cracks, vitamin A is used on an oily basis (sold in pharmacies), Bepanten, sea buckthorn oil, special aerosols (without antibiotics).

In case of suppuration, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Catering by the hour or on demand

After how many hours should a newborn baby be breastfed?

Two breastfeeding options are being considered– feeding by the hour and on demand. Both options are equally relevant and acceptable.

Feeding by the hour is carried out strictly at a certain time every 3 hours. At night there is a break - 6 hours.

This mode lasts up to 2 months. Then the interval between feedings increases to 3.5 hours, and at night - up to 7 hours.

The advantage of the method is teaching the child to discipline from early childhood. Otherwise, this method is a radical choice on the part of the mother, since not all children agree with the regimen.

Feeding on demand is the most popular choice among modern parents.

After birth, the child experiences severe stress, and the only effective way to get rid of it is physical contact with the mother. That's why it is so important to put the baby to the breast when he wants it. After all, sucking is not only the process of getting food, but also an effective method of calming the baby.

This method is a highly effective means of maintaining lactation.

However, frequent feeding will not allow mom to do household chores., therefore, the baby should not be applied to the chest at the first signs of anxiety, smacking lips, grunting, sniffing, but when the baby really needs food - 1 time in 2 hours with a 20-minute feeding duration.

A few words about the breastfeeding regimen and how to properly feed a newborn baby with breast milk, Dr. Komarovsky will tell:

Which option to choose

Basic rule - A healthy child knows when he needs food. You should not wake him up just because, according to his mother, it is time for him to eat. Exceptions are such cases:

if the mother needs to leave urgently;
children who are underweight.

The optimal interval between feedings in children under 1 month is 2-3 hours. Further, the baby himself will gradually increase it as he grows and develops.

An important condition is attachment to only one breast during one feeding. This rule is irrelevant if the baby has not eaten enough or the mother has cracks on the nipples.

Make sure that the baby performs swallowing movements during attachment, and not sucking. If you don’t stop his desire to “hang” on his mother’s chest in time, then in the future it will be hard enough to wean him from his favorite thing.

Bottle feeding baby

Bottle feeding a baby is different from breastfeeding. In the latter case, he himself determines the volume of milk and the duration of the meal. Due to this, milk production adapts to the needs of the baby. and changes as it grows.

Breastfeeding a baby if the mother is not around can be done in different ways. This situation is justified due to the inability of the mother to put the baby to the breast (severe pain, urgent departure, etc.).

Then it is allowed to feed from a bottle with a nipple. Today, this method is in demand for artificial and mixed feeding or in case the mother is not around.

Nipple advantage- the safest and most natural process of eating food.

However, there are significant differences between bottle sucking and breastfeeding. In the first case, the baby makes less effort. Therefore, after meeting with the bottle, many babies refuse their mother's breasts.

The alternative is the choice of a special nipple.

When the bottle is tilted, no milk drops should come out of the nipple.
When pressing on a wide area of the nipple, a trickle should go.

Remember to take care of your bottle. It is necessary to regularly rinse and rinse children's containers with boiling water.

Expressed breast milk can be frozen. This will save all the vitamins and useful trace elements, and the newborn will not remain hungry if the mother has left on business. Mixing milk after several pumpings is not recommended. The frozen liquid is stored no more than 2 months.

What to do if there is no lactation

What to feed a newborn baby if there is no milk? Often in medical practice there are cases when the mother does not have enough milk to adequately feed the baby. Additional measures agreed with the doctor can correct the situation..

Mom should drink at least 2 liters of water per day.
Apply crumbs in the first days of his life should be as often as possible.
Do not replace mother's milk with other fluids.
Night application is the main condition for good lactation.
Proper nutrition for the mother is also important.

10-15 minutes before feeding, the mother needs to drink a glass of warm sweet tea with milk or dried fruit compote.

No stress and worries: with emotional disorders in women, lactation worsens.

Why not grapes while breastfeeding? You will find answers to questions about the nutrition of nursing mothers.

Introduction of formula into the infant's diet

If, despite all the efforts of the mother, there is still enough milk, then, willy-nilly, you will have to use additional nutrition - switch to mixed feeding. In the case of a complete transfer to milk formulas, we can talk about artificial nutrition.

What to give

The baby should receive food that is as close as possible in composition to breast milk. These products are mixtures. All mixtures are divided into 3 groups:

partially adapted (children after a year);
less adapted (after 6 months);
maximally adapted (up to 6 months).

The best will be the mixture, on the packaging of which it is indicated:"Designed to feed children from birth to 1 year."

You should not change baby food often, because the baby may develop unpleasant reactions in the form of diarrhea, frequent regurgitation, allergic rashes, etc.

It is necessary to switch to another mixture in case of:

if the baby is not gaining weight;
if he has frequent constipation.

It is unacceptable to give diluted cow's milk as a supplement (full feeding). This can lead to irreversible consequences.

The product does not contain those beneficial minerals and vitamins that are found in an adapted formula or mother's milk.

Mixed feeding rules

Breastfeed first, then formula.
Only one feeding can be replaced with a mixture.

You need to introduce the product gradually, starting with a small amount. The temperature of the mixture should not exceed the temperature of the child's body. It is necessary to dilute the product only with boiled water.

Here is another interesting video featuring Evgeny Komarovsky, from which you will learn about the feeding regimen of a newborn, whether it is necessary to feed him at night and how many times this can be done:

Feeding hours and dosage

How to properly feed a newborn baby with a mixture and do I need to do it on time?

With artificial feeding in the first months of life, 6-7 meals a day are recommended with an interval of 3-3.5 hours.

At night, a 6-hour interval should be done. It is important to take into account the required volume, which is calculated depending on age and weight.

So, for the first six months of life, an infant needs 115 kcal per 1 kg, after 6 months - 110 kcal.

The daily amount of food needed by a baby with normal weight indicators is:

from 7 days to 2 months - 1/5 of body weight;
from 2 to 4 - 1/6 of body weight;
from 6 to 12 months - 1/8.

Introduce a new mixture according to the following schedule:

1 day - 10 ml 1 time per day;
2 day - 10 ml 3 times a day;
Day 3 - 20 ml 3 times a day;
Day 4 - 50 ml 5 times a day;
Day 5 - 100 ml 4 times a day;
Day 6 - 150 ml 4 times a day.

Start of complementary foods

Learn to distinguish between "complementary foods" and "supplementary foods". In the first situation, the baby receives additional food to prepare for adulthood and food. In the second, it is supplemented in case of a lack of milk with mixtures.

Complementary foods are introduced at 6 months of age- with breastfeeding and 5 - with artificial nutrition. Until this period, except for mother's milk, formula and water, nothing can be given.

Start slowly and with caution. The first time you need to give half a teaspoon of complementary foods, and then supplement with milk or formula. A "test" is possible before the second feeding, at 9-11 am.

Evaluate the child's reaction to a new product. If rash, irritation, anxiety, constipation (diarrhea) is not found, then the next day you can give 2 times more.

In no case should you introduce an unfamiliar product during illness or after vaccination. If any reaction occurs, the start of complementary foods is delayed for 1-2 weeks.

Don't force your child to eat. Perhaps the baby is not yet ready for a new stage in life.

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Where to start feeding

It's best to start with vegetables. These are zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli. Any vegetable is thoroughly washed and boiled (in a double boiler or in a regular saucepan). Then grind with a blender.

On the first day - half a teaspoon. Then the dose is increased by 2 times every day and brought to normal.

If there are no extraneous reactions to a new product, after 4 days you can try another vegetable, and then mash from the previously proposed products. After 10 days, one intake of dairy food should be completely replaced.

For 7 months you can offer porridge. This should be done at the very last reception - before a night's sleep. To begin with, the baby should be introduced to buckwheat, rice and oatmeal, then gradually expand the diet.

Use special baby cereals intended for 7 months of age. Giving semolina at this age is not recommended due to the presence of gluten in it.

At 8 months, two feedings are already being replaced. Now you can introduce your child to fermented milk products - kefir. On the 4th day, offer low-fat cottage cheese.

Fruits are introduced into complementary foods when the first tooth appears in the baby.. The first is an apple. It is not recommended to fully replace feeding with fruit. They are given in addition to the main food.

Meat is introduced at 9 months of age and fish at 10 months. You can add half the yolk and vegetable oil to the diet. From 10 months, soup is already being prepared on meat, fish broth, where bread crumb is added. The introduction of vegetable oil and cookies is allowed.

By one year of age, all 5 feedings should be completely replaced. Although some mothers still put the baby to the breast at night.

Water must be included in the diet. Its temperature should correspond to the body temperature of the baby.

The most important thing while breastfeeding is to eat well.. Prohibited during this period:

consume alcoholic beverages;
eat spicy, salty, spicy food.

Necessary:

exclude cow's milk, peas, beans, white cabbage from the diet;
limit the use of caffeine, chocolate;
exclude fast food and convenience foods.

During the feeding period, stress should be avoided, sleep and rest should be adhered to.

From this video lesson, you will learn a lot of useful information about the positions for breastfeeding a newborn, how to properly feed a baby in a sitting position and lying on your side, in which position it will be best for you and your baby:

In contact with

Nature has made the female body ideal, able to endure and grow a new life without artificial mixtures and pumping. Breastfeeding is a natural process that does not cause discomfort to the baby and the mother herself. If cracks appear on the nipples, the baby is naughty, refusing to eat, it's time to reconsider the technique and methods of "feeding" the mammary glands.

perfect time

You can’t listen to the advice of newly-made grandmothers who know “how best”, and apply the baby to the bust exclusively on schedule. In the first 4-8 days after discharge, the child will literally hang on the mother's chest. This is necessary so that the baby develops its own feeding schedule, and the female body understands how much milk should be produced per day.

Having survived a week of a kind of slavery, the young mother will have the opportunity to relax and do her own thing. The baby will ask for breasts a maximum of 12 times a day, and eat up in 20 minutes, and then sleep soundly. Well-fed children rarely act up, gain weight faster than others, and get sick less. Mother's milk is a source of a stable immune system.

You need to offer food to the baby before bedtime, after waking up and in situations where he is about to cry. You can not refuse night feeding, otherwise lactation worsens. And in order not to run to the baby's crib twenty times in three hours, you can put the baby next to you.

Choosing a position

The success of feeding depends on the position in which both the woman and the baby are. It is important for the baby to feel safe, and not to balance in the air between the mother's body and her hands. There are a few things to keep in mind to make breastfeeding easier:

The baby should be pressed against the woman not with his back or side, but with his stomach.
Hold the baby firmly so that it does not slip or fall. You can put it next to you on the bed, and press it to the body with your hands.
You can not tightly fix the child's head in a certain position. He himself moves closer to the mother's bust, and not vice versa. The lower part of the head should be supported so that the neck remains free and the baby does not rest his chin on his chest.
A woman should not be tense, or feel uncomfortable. A comfortable posture helps to relax and makes feeding easier.

Sitting position
You can lean back against the sofa or headboard, putting the baby on your arm, or bend over him. If he eats his right breast, you should clasp him with his left limb. The hand holds the head, and the body of the child lies on the forearm, and rests on the bent elbow.

Option for women after caesarean section:

Turn the baby booty to the chest so that his legs are behind his mother.
Put him on a special or regular pillow, turning on his side so that his stomach is in contact with the body of the nursing. The baby's lips are in contact with the mammary gland.
Support the lower part of the head and neck with the palms. Press the baby to yourself with your elbow so that it does not slip off the pillow.

Almost a resort
Mom can relax by lying on her side and placing the baby next to her. When offering the lower breast, you should support the baby's head, but do not restrict the movement of small arms and legs. If it is difficult for an infant to suck milk from the breast, or it stagnates, it is advised to give him an upper gland. Putting a pillow under her head, the mother leans slightly over the baby, and puts her free hand on his back or ass.

Tired mothers can put newborns on the pillow, not forgetting to hold, and offer breasts. If the first signs of lactostasis appear, it is advised to try a pose where a woman with a baby lies with a jack.

Restless Eaters
Babies who like to wave their arms or choke on milk will love the back position. Mom should put a pillow or several under her, taking a half-sitting position. Press the child to your tummy, and move closer to the source of food.

If milk stagnates in the bust, it is recommended to feed the baby, standing on all fours. You can turn to the baby at different angles, choosing the most convenient. There is nothing funny or ugly in this position, because it helps a woman avoid mastitis.

Activating reflexes

The breast for a child is like a huge sandwich with ten layers of sausage for an adult. Appetizing, but how do you put it in your mouth? Nature prudently laid the necessary reactions in the baby's head, but they should be launched.

Place the mammary gland in front of the nose, and not the lips or chin of the baby. Otherwise, he will not be able to open his mouth as wide as required.
Touch your nipple or finger to the tip of your baby's nose and lower lip. This is a kind of signal for the brain, awakening the appetite, and forcing you to look for a source of food.
If the baby does not figure out what to do with his mother's breasts, they are advised to express some milk and moisten the lips of the baby with it, or drink it from a spoon. Remembering his native taste, he will definitely want to continue the meal.

Responsible moment

When the baby realizes that it's time for a good snack, and opens his mouth wide, you need to slightly flatten the mammary gland.

Wrap your fingers around the sides, a few centimeters above the areola.
Squeeze so that the nipple comes forward.

The mammary gland should be compactly placed in the baby's open mouth so that he captures as much as possible.

Correct if:

The nipple rests on the palate of the baby, as if inviting "come to me." This gesture makes the child actively work with the lower jaw, drinking all the milk to the last drop.
In the mouth of the baby, almost the entire areola disappears. If the child “terrorizes” only the nipple, cracks appear on the chest, and the baby himself has to work hard with his jaw to get food. The baby begins to get nervous, and eventually refuses to breastfeed.
Mom doesn't feel pain. Discomfort is the first signal that the process is going wrong and something needs to be changed.
The lower lip of the baby protrudes forward, a tongue may lie on it. His cheeks are rounded rather than inward, and you can't see how the jaw muscles work. This means that the milk is going well, and the baby does not have to try his best.
After feeding, the mammary gland is completely emptied, or baby food remains “on the bottom”.

You need to stick the chest when the child opens his mouth wide, as if yawning. The lips at this moment resemble the wings of a butterfly. If you try to push the nipple into a half-open mouth, the baby will capture only part of the bust, and it will be uncomfortable for him to eat, he will quickly get tired and remain hungry.

Movements should be fast so that the baby does not have time to close his jaws. If the mother felt pain when the nipple was in the baby's mouth, you should tickle the baby or press on the chin. Did not help? It is advised to pinch the nostrils to block the access of air. When the baby spit out the breast, remove the fingers.

Important: Sometimes children act up, pushing or spitting out the mammary glands. You can't give up. You should calmly continue to offer the baby a nipple until he agrees to have breakfast or lunch.

Common Mistakes

Babies from birth to six months do not need anything other than mother's milk. The exception is children on artificial feeding. Quite often, newly-made parents under the pressure of "experienced" relatives make mistakes.

So that the child does not give up natural food ahead of time, and does not want to get food from the breast on his own, you should not give him a bottle. It is much easier to work with the jaw, squeezing milk from a rubber thing than from a mother's bust.
It is better for a crying baby to offer a breast than a pacifier. It is small, and the child can forget how to open the mouth so wide that the nipple with the areola fits in it. Soothers and bottles form the wrong bite in the baby, because of which the mother's bust suffers, and cracks appear.
The baby has enough milk. No need to supplement it with boiled water, poke juices or vegetable purees. Extra food is a direct road to indigestion, colic and diseases of the digestive organs.
The baby is fed with one breast, and not alternate. The first milk is liquid and replaces water. The leftovers are thicker, colostrum-like, and have a high concentration of nutrients. The baby should empty one mammary gland, and the next time the second. So mom protects herself from congestion and mastitis.
The child needs not only to suck, but also to breathe. It is correct when his chin is pressed against the woman's bust, and there is a small gap between the chest and the nose. The baby, who lacks oxygen, begins to choke, get nervous, and refuses to continue the banquet.
Do not abruptly pull the nipple out of the baby's mouth. The woman injures her own breast and frightens the child. You should loosen your grip, putting your little finger in the corner of your mouth, and gently pry off the mammary gland.
The baby should not champ or smack loudly, chew nipples. This means that it is difficult for him to get milk, and he should take it out, and then correctly insert the chest between the baby's jaws.

Tip: If the mammary glands are bursting with milk, it is recommended to express it a little so that the bust becomes softer and more pliable, and it is more convenient for the baby to eat.

Mothers with inverted nipples will be helped to adapt to breastfeeding by special pads. Although the child adapts to almost any shape and type of mammary glands, the main thing is to offer them correctly.

Milk is the first protection of the baby from diseases, and the guarantor of its normal development. Mothers who have mastered the intricacies and nuances of breastfeeding receive only pleasure and positive emotions from the process. They rarely experience inflammation of the mammary glands, mastitis and cracked nipples.

Video: how to put a baby to the chest

Maria Sokolova

Reading time: 7 minutes

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Breastfeeding is the process of feeding a newborn baby with mother's milk. Last until the child begins to fully feed on his own. Pediatricians recommend breastfeeding your baby for at least a year, since. Usually, after the first year, parents begin to feed the child little by little, usually as the child develops an interest in food.

How is the process of breastfeeding a baby?

On the first day after birth, the mother of the newborn usually feeds him while lying in bed.

Before feeding, the mother washes her hands with soap and treats the nipple and areola area with a sterile swab moistened with a solution of potassium permanganate or furacilin. Then the child is placed on a sterile napkin so that it is then convenient for him to grab the nipple, the head should not be thrown back too much.

Brief instructions for proper breastfeeding

Mom supports her breasts with her index and middle fingers, pulling her a little so that nasal breathing is not greatly hindered by pressing the mammary gland.
The nipple, which the mother holds with her fingers, must be put into the child's mouth so that he can capture the areola of the nipple with his lips.
It is better to express the first drops of milk before feeding.
After feeding, the breast should be washed with running water and soap.
Then lubricate the nipple with Vaseline and cover it with a piece of sterile gauze.

The correct position of the mother during breastfeeding

During feeding mother should take a comfortable position. This position should allow her to keep the baby at the breast without problems during feeding.

It can be absolutely any, at the choice of the mother, position: lying, sitting, reclining, half-sitting, standing.

The correct position of the child

Before you feed your baby, it should be turned chest to your chest. The child himself should be located close to the chest so that he does not have to reach for it. The child should be gently pressed against the body, the head and torso of the child should be located in one straight line.

During feeding it is worth holding the child himself, and not just the shoulders and head. The baby's nose should be kept level with the nipple, the baby's head turned slightly to the side.

After feeding you should hold the child for 10-15 minutes in a horizontal position. This will allow air that has entered the baby's stomach during feeding to escape. Then you should put the child on its side. This position will allow him to spit up and avoid aspiration (milk entering the respiratory tract).

How to apply the baby to the breast?

Take the chest so that four fingers are located below and the thumb is on top of the chest. It is desirable that the fingers are located as far as possible from the nipple.
In order for the child to open his mouth, the nipple should touch his lips. It is better that the child's mouth is wide open, the lips are extended into a tube, and the tongue is deep in the mouth.
Make sure that the child captures the nipple and areola of the nipple in his mouth. The baby's lower lip should be below the nipple, and the chin should touch the breast.

What to do if breastfeeding is not possible? If, due to circumstances, your child still needs supplementary feeding, you should approach the choice of formula correctly. In such cases, experts recommend a formula that is as close as possible to breast milk so that the baby does not experience metabolic disorders, an allergic reaction, skin problems and digestion. Closer to the composition of human milk are adapted mixtures based on goat's milk with beta-casein protein, for example, the gold standard of baby food - MD mil SP "Kozochka". Thanks to this mixture, the baby receives all the necessary substances that help the child's body to form and develop properly.

If the baby is properly attached to the breast, his lips and gums will put pressure on the areola of the nipple, and not on the nipple itself. This makes feeding painless and enjoyable.

Video instruction: how to breastfeed

To make breastfeeding a baby a simple and easy process, follow these tips:

Before feeding, you should calm the baby if he is acting restless or crying. When a baby behaves like this, he lifts his tongue up, which can make feeding difficult.
Remember that the baby should be brought closer to the breast, and not vice versa.

Attach the baby to the chest easily, without pressure, otherwise he will try to wriggle out and fight in every possible way, which will make feeding very difficult;
Do not move the breast during feeding as when feeding from a bottle, this can prevent the baby from holding the breast;
If during feeding you feel pain, this indicates that the baby is not properly attached to the breast. Touch your child's lips with your finger to open their mouth. And put it on your chest again.
When feeding a child, they are applied to one breast, and the next time the breast is changed. If there is not enough milk from one breast, then the baby should be supplemented from the other. At the next feeding, it is applied to the breast that was fed last.

How often should a baby be breastfed?

The child should be fed on demand. But a nursing mother needs to learn to distinguish when a child cries from a desire to eat, and when for some other reason.

In the first days of life, a child can eat 10-14 times a day. And after about two weeks, the child begins to develop his own individual rhythm of nutrition. On average, a child eats every 2-3 hours.

In the first month, the number of feedings balances around 8-12 times a day.
And already in the second and third months, somewhere around 6-8 times.
From four months, the number of feedings decreases to 6-8 times a day.

No overnight breaks should be taken. At night, feeding for a child is very important and necessary.

10 principles for successful breastfeeding

Formed by WHO and UNICEF in Geneva and 1989.

Strictly adhere to the basic principles of breastfeeding and regularly communicate these rules to medical staff and women in labor.
Train medical staff in the necessary breastfeeding skills.
Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and techniques of breastfeeding.
Help mothers during the first time after childbirth.
Show mothers how to breastfeed properly and how to keep lactating even when mothers are temporarily separated from their babies.
Do not give newborns any food other than milk. The exception is cases due to medical indications.
To practice round-the-clock finding of mother with the newborn in one chamber.
Encourage breastfeeding on demand rather than on a schedule.
Do not give newborns at the initial stage of breastfeeding sedatives that mimic the female breast, such as a pacifier.
Encourage and refer mothers to breastfeeding groups.

For greater comfort, use special clothing for feeding. It is made specifically to make it easy for the baby to breastfeed as the need arises.
Frequent feedings, plenty of fluids, and proper rest help milk production.
Leakage of breast milk happens quite often, so use special breast pads.
In order not to be very exhausted during the day, try to sleep yourself while the baby sleeps.

Be sure to take modern vitamin and mineral complexes. Just choose proven and high-quality ones - the emphasis must be placed on a balanced and rich composition, as well as on the reputation of the manufacturer.

As a rule, such preparations necessarily contain folic acid, iron. But not everyone has a large amount of magnesium and iodine. But in Finnish "Minisan Mama" , which can be purchased in pharmacies of the Russian Federation, is.

In addition, taking "Mom" does not take much time - a small tablet is easy to swallow, and just one tablet a day is enough.