Breast milk is fed to a newborn by its mother, generally directly from her breasts, in a practice known as breastfeeding. Another name for it is “nursing.” Breastfeeding is a personal choice that should be respected as such.
Breastfeeding frequency is determined by how frequently your baby eats and how long each feeding lasts. As your child grows, this will change. Every two to three hours is a typical feeding time for a newborn. A meal every 3-4 hours is usual for newborns as young as two months, and by six months, most babies are eating every 4-5 hours on average. As a mother or a mother-to-be, you have the freedom to choose whether or not to breastfeed.
Indicators that Your Infant Is Hungry
Crying is one of the most frequent ways a baby tells you they’re hungry. Some more signals that your baby is ready for food are as follows:
- Putting their tongues out or licking their lips.
- Moving their jaw, tongue, or head in an effort to locate your breasts
- putting one’s hand over one’s mouth and sucking
- letting out a sigh
- Fussiness
- Sucking on things
The advantages of breastfeeding for a newborn
1. When it comes to baby nourishment, breast milk is the best option
At least six months of breastfeeding is recommended by most health care providers. Everything a baby needs in the first six months of life is in breast milk, in just the proper amounts. In particular, throughout the first month of life, its composition alters according to the changing demands of the newborn.
In the first few days after giving birth, your breasts produce colostrum, a thick, yellowish fluid. High in protein, low in sugar and brimming with health-promoting ingredients, this food is an ideal choice for athletes. As a miracle meal, it cannot be replaced by formula.
2. It serves as an anti-infective agent
As a result of the antibodies your baby receives when nursing, he is better able to fight off common childhood ailments such as colds, ear infections, respiratory tract infections, and others. During the first six months, your antibodies-rich milk helps protect your baby against infections like influenza and whooping cough that he hasn’t yet been inoculated against.
3. It’s easier on your baby’s tummy
Breast milk goes down and stays down easier since it’s intended for your baby’s gut. Infants who are breastfed are less likely to have constipation or diarrhoea than those who are fed formula, according to one study. Milk that’s simpler to digest also means better-smelling excrement, so it’s a win-win situation.
4. Healthier weight is promoted
It’s up to the infant to decide what he or she eats when he or she is breastfed. When it comes to eating, breastfed babies are more likely to stop when they are satisfied, but bottle-fed babies may be urged to keep going until the bottle is empty. At the beginning of a feed, a lower-calorie foremilk is given to relieve thirst, but the higher-calorie hindmilk given at the conclusion of a feed marks the end of the meal.
Advantages of breastfeeding on a mother
1. Postpartum healing is aided
The “feel-good” hormone oxytocin is released when a baby suckles on your breast, and this stimulates your uterus to shrink back down to its pre-pregnancy size once again. Reduced lochia flow minimises your blood loss as a result. There’s more to it than that. The additional calories you expend during nursing may help you shed the baby weight more quickly and potentially help you maintain a healthy weight in the future.
2. Period free time
After giving birth, the average time it takes for a woman to start ovulating again is 4 to 6 months, however, some women might go up to 9 to 18 months without having a period. Even yet, nursing should not be relied upon as a method of birth control.
3. Convenience
As long as you’re nursing, you’re not going to need a lot of other baby gear like bottles, nipples, or cleaning tools. Late-night feedings don’t involve much more than a simple nightie and a slumbering cuddle with your child; you don’t even have to wake up at 2 a.m. to fetch a formula refill.
It is also possible to do just about anything else at the same time after both you and your baby have mastered breastfeeding, from eating your own meal to playing with your toddler.
4. Breastfeeding mothers are less likely to suffer from depression
It is possible to develop postpartum depression (PPD) within a few weeks after giving birth to a child. According to research, breastfeeding moms are less likely to suffer from postpartum depression than women who wean their babies early or don’t nurse at all. Even yet, women who have early-onset postpartum depression are more likely to have nursing difficulties and to breastfeed for a shorter period of time.
As soon as you notice any signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PPD), notify your doctor.
You can now keep track of your baby’s vaccines, health exams, and other data with the help of Nurturey’s Pink Book. In addition to these features, you can also create a family account, schedule appointments, and receive personalised NHS information. Download the app now!
