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WHAT IS COLOSTRUM?
Colostrum is the first milk
produced by your breasts for a few days after your baby is born. Colostrum
is very rich in proteins, minerals, vitamins, and the immunity factors
to help keep your baby healthy.
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EXPRESSED BREAST MILK
Breasts that are too full make
it difficult for your baby to latch on properly. Removing some of the milk
may help your baby to latch on more comfortably.
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FEEDING TIME
Feed from each breast for as
long as your baby wants to continue suckling. The more often your baby
feeds, the more milk your body will produce.
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BREAST - FEEDING AND DIET
Do not try to lose weight while
you are breast-feeding unless your doctor says it is okay. Certain foods
you eat may affect your baby and cause fussiness or crying.
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IF YOU CANNOT BREAST
FEED
A commercial infant formula
is the safest alternative to breast milk and is recommended for the first
9 to 12 months if a mother cannot breast-feed.
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Did
you know?
Mothers
enjoy added benefit of the hormones prolactin and oxytocin.
During
the breast feeding you will be calm and more relax. Your brain will produce
chemicals that will calm you, give you a feeling of well-being and promote
maternal behavior. Prolactin, which increases during the last two weeks
of pregnancy and intensifies the mother's warm, loving feelings, also increases
with breastfeeding. Your baby's sucking stimulates nerve endings in the
areolae, which send messages to hypothalamus and pituitary gland (in your
brain), causing them to start releasing two breast feeding hormones; oxytocin
and prolactin, that will begin to calm and relax you and it will also make
those warm feelings last.
When
the baby breastfeeds and the mother has "letdown," she also releases oxytocin,
another hormone. This causes the uterus to tighten and protects her from
excessive bleeding. |
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| Breast
milk is the best choice for your baby. Aside from promoting maternal infant
bonding, better mouth and jaw development, breast fed infants have stronger
immune systems than bottle fed babies because breast milk contains antibodies
created in the mother's system and passed through breast milk into the
baby's system, offering temporary protection against common infections,
including intestinal and ear infections. Breast feeding also reduces the
incidence of food allergies in later life, as well as many other health
benefits for both, your baby and you.
Breast
milk is always sterile ( free of germs) and because of that children
who are breast fed tend to have fewer problems with diarrhea, constipation
and other digestive problems than children who are fed formulas.
Breast
milk alone can provide virtually all the nutrients needed to ensure your
baby's normal growth and development. during the first 6 months. In some
cases breast fed babies may need to take a vitamin D supplement, depending
also on the amount of baby's exposure to sunlight.
Baby's
possible individual need to use supplements should be discussed with pediatrician. |
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Diaper
Care
Diaper
rash is a problem that affects most babies at least once during their infant
years.Frequent changing can keep this problem to a minimum. In a 1 month
old infant this means changing the baby before and after feeding. In a
10 month old baby it means checking every 2 to 3 hours for soiled or wet
diapers. Today many disposable diapers are available claiming that they
absorb wetness, however do not let this alter the frequency of changing
your babies diaper.
While
these disposable diapers are very convenient they tend to keep warmth and
moisture which will cause diaper rash. |
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