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Breastfeeding
Basics
Seven Steps to
Successful Breastfeeding
While
many women start out with good intentions to breastfeed, many give
up in the early weeks due to sore nipples and feeding difficulties.
A just-released study (1) finds that many new moms would benefit from
the support of lactation-savvy health professionals and family members.
Findings From the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System
found that 32% of women did not attempt breastfeeding at all, 4% started
but stopped within the first week, 13% stopped within the first month,
and only 51% continued for more than 4 weeks.
While
the American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants breastfeed for at
least one year, statistics
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that
only 22.7 % of infants were breastfeeding at 1 year of age.
The
numbers don't tell the whole story, though. Just because breastfeeding
is natural doesn't mean it is easy! I still have vivid memories of
the pain and difficulty I encountered when I tried to nurse my daughter
(now a 19 year-old college freshman!) Not until I received advice
from an experienced lactation counselor, did our difficulties (and
my pain) resolve.
Steps to Successful breastfeeding
-
Early in your pregnancy, make a commitment to breastfeed. Take
classes, read books, and identify local resources before your
baby is born. You will feel more prepared and confident.
-
Develop a plan for lactation management in the hospital. Communicate
to the doctor, nurses and hospital staff that you prefer 24-hour
rooming in, feeding on demand and oppose the use of sterilized
water, sugar water, formula or artificial nipples.
-
To prevent nipple confusion, avoid the use of pacifiers and
bottles until nursing is well-established, a process which normally
takes a month to several weeks.
-
Watch for signs that your baby is receiving adequate nutrition,
i.e infant latches on with an open mouth, there are audible
swallowing sounds during nursing, the baby wets and stools frequently
(at least six wet diapers and three yellow stools in 24 hours)
and there is adequate growth and weight gain at doctor or clinic
visits. Newborns should be seen by a healthcare provider two
to three days after discharge and again in two weeks for an
assessment and weight check.
-
Consult a knowledgeable lactation specialist at the first sign
of a problem. Often, difficulties with sucking, positioning,
and scheduling can be easily remedied if caught in the early
stages. Check with your doctor or hospital for referral to a
board-certified lactation consultant.
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Planning
and problem-solving are prerequisites for combining work and
breastfeeding. Women should address the issue beforehand with
their employer, detailing what their needs will be (e.g. a private
place for milk expression, use of scheduled lunch and/or breaks
for pumping, refrigeration, etc). Even the most difficult work
situations can be adapted to accommodate milk expression. For
those who work in open or semi-private cubicle areas, one solution
is to find a private area in their workplace. A borrowed office,
storeroom with a lock, an empty conference room, or a private
lounge area can all be adapted for breast pumping. If refrigeration
is a problem, milk can be stored in a small cooler with refreezable
ice packs.
-
A support network is one of the most important factors contributing
to longterm success at breastfeeding. Become involved in groups
such as La
Leche League International or Nursing Mothers Counsel (check
your local area to see there is a chapter nearby).
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Benefits
for Both Baby and Mom!
Talk
about an all around winner! Breastfeeding has so many advantages,
including health, economic and even environmental! Here's a few:
FOR
BABY:
-
Breast milk provides superior nutrition matched precisely to a growing
baby's needs. Studies show that the omega-3 fatty acids found in
breast milk play an important role in infant brain development.
Additionally, researchers have identified hormones, enzymes, and
other growth factors in human milk that make subtle, yet important
contributions to growth and development.
-
Breast milk contains antibodies that protect infants from disease.
Breastfed babies have fewer allergies, less diarrhea, and a lower
risk of serious bowel disorders.
-
Babies who are breastfed have reduced ear infections and respiratory
illnesses, and fewer doctor and hospital visits than infants who
are formula fed.
-
Breastfed babies have a lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS).
-
Breastfeeding may convey a lifetime advantage in terms of cancer
risk. One study showed a lowered risk of breast cancer in later
life for women who were breastfed as infants. Another report documented
a reduced risk of childhood cancer among those youngsters who were
breastfed.
-
Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of developing insulin-dependent
diabetes in childhood.
-
Production
of breastmilk uses around 200-500 calories each day, which aids
new moms in losing excess pregnancy weight. (It's like walking an
extra 2-5 miles each day!)
-
Women
also regain their shape faster because of the hormones associated
with lactation. The uterine contractions women feel in the early
weeks of breastfeeding signal that the uterus is contracting back
into shape.
-
Lactation
may be a protective factor against breast cancer and ovarian cancer,
particularly in premenopausal women. It appears that women who lactate
the longest have the most protection.
-
Breastfeeding women who return to outside employment miss fewer
days of work attending to an ill infant.
-
Breastfeeding
is more convenient and economical -- there's nothing to buy, mix,
or store!
FOR
BOTH:
Breastfeeding is a relaxing and enjoyable chance for mother and baby
togetherness. When feeding time comes, schedules, deadlines, and other
activities become secondary. The hormones produced during lactation
contribute to relaxation and stress relief.
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RECIPE:Sweet
Granny Potatoes
The Dietary
Guidelines for Americans 2005 and MyPyramid recommend we "Vary
our Veggies" and even list sweetpotato as a specific example.
Little wonder, since sweetpotato is an absolute nutritional powerhouse.
One medium sweet potato, with a mere 103 calories, is good source (>10%
daily value) of fiber, vitamin B6 and potassium, and a very good source
(> 20% daily value) of vitamin A, vitamin C and manganese.
Too often though,
sweetpotatoes conjure up images of buttery, marshmallow swamped orange
mushy stuff served only at holiday time. But sweetpotato is a delicious
vegetable all on it's own! Even my 13 year-old son enjoys a plain boiled
sweetpotato, dabbed with a bit of soft margarine (I buy the trans-fat
free varieties).
The following recipe
was a big hit with my kids at Thanksgiving. Upon request, I made another
batch the following week. Enjoy!
3 medium sweetpotatoes
(or 2 large)
1 large Granny Smith apple, washed and thinly sliced
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon
cinnamon
2 T. soft margarine (trans-fat free)
nonstick cooking spray
DIRECTIONS:
1. Scrub the sweetpotatoes and put them in a saucepan. Cover with
water and bring to a boil. Cover and boil gently for 20-30 minutes
or until easily pierced with a fork. Drain, cool slightly, peel and
slice into 1/4 inch thick pieces.
2 .Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 1 1/2 quart baking
dish with nonstick spray.
3. In
a small saucepan, mix together brown sugar, water, raisins, cinnamon
and margarine. Cook over medium heat for approximately 5-7 minutes,
stirring often.
4. In the baking dish, layer sliced sweet potatoes with sliced apples.
Pour the sauce mixture over the top.
5. Bake covered for 15 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for 15-20
more minutes until the sweetpotatoes and apples are tender.
Makes 6-8 servings
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The
information contained in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute
for medical and/or nutrition advice. See your physician and/or registered
dietitian for individual health and/or dietary concerns.
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©2005,
by Connie Evers, All Rights Reserved. There is a modest reprint fee
for reproducing the material in this newsletter in either print or electronic
publications. Please send an email to reprint@nutritionforkids.com
for details and rates.
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