Breast milk benefits baby in all kinds of ways; not only does it provide all the nutrients necessary for him to thrive, but the antibodies in breast milk also boost his immunity, protecting him from potential ear infections, respiratory ailments and diarrhea.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (which advocates breastfeeding for at least the first six months and preferably two years of baby’s life), there are also important advantages for mom, including a potentially lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Plus, there’s a lot of bonding between mother and child that occurs during breastfeeding. If you initially have trouble getting the hang of it, keep in mind that breastfeeding often takes practice, for both you and baby; if you both don’t catch on right away, keep trying.
But what if you can’t breastfeed, or you choose not to? Or what if your pediatrician has recommended that you supplement breast milk with formula? The most important thing is that your baby grows and gets the best care possible. You have options;
read about them here.
Some lactation experts say that your baby shouldn’t get milk from a bottle until he’s mastered nursing because of “nipple confusion,” when a baby has trouble returning to the breast after the relative ease of drinking from a bottle. Once breastfeeding is well-established – usually at about three weeks – feeding your baby expressed milk from a bottle sometimes is fine. Many moms choose to do this so that other family members can enjoy and help with feeding.
“If your goal is successful breastfeeding, then it’s worth extra work in the beginning to supplement without using a bottle until your milk comes in,” says pediatrician Deirdre Bernard-Pearl.
There are a number of methods you can try, including a spoon, a dropper, "finger feeding," supplemental nursing systems and a cup specifically designed for nursing babies.
“One of my patients had a premature baby, and the mom was worried that she would reject the breast,” says Dr. Bernard-Pearl. “I recommended that she try cup-feeding instead of bottle, and it worked! Once she was able to nurse and the mom's milk had come in, the baby was a super-nurser.”
To determine what’s best for you and baby, consult with your pediatrician, midwife or lactationist for advice.
For more on how often and how long your baby should breastfeed,
click here.
How can I tell if my baby is getting enough?
If your baby nurses well, is alert and shows interest in his surroundings, chances are he’s eating enough. If he seems tired and you have to insist that he eat, you should talk to your practitioner.
You can tell that your baby is nursing efficiently if you notice a rhythmic movement of his jaw, punctuated by short breaks; this pattern usually occurs about 60 times per minute. Sometimes you can actually hear him swallow or see milk dribbling out of his mouth. And if he wets his diaper mid-meal, it’s a sign that he has eaten well.
Another good way to check if baby’s getting enough is keeping track of his diaper production. After the first few days, when he is defecating meconium, your baby should have at least one yellow, grainy bowel movement per day, in addition to six to eight wet diapers. Many breastfed babies will have a small yellow stool with each feeding during the first two months of life.
Once your baby reaches about two months old, he may naturally have fewer bowel movements – and may even skip a few days. But until then, he should be going at least once a day. If he’s not, you should call your pediatrician about scheduling a visit to make sure he’s gaining enough weight.
Breastfeeding and smoking
A plea to those of you who smoke: If you or your partner haven’t quit yet, please breastfeed your child anyway. Even though your milk will contain nicotine, your baby especially needs the protection provided by breast milk.
Have your cigarette after nursing, but even if you just had a cigarette when your child needs milk, feed him anyway.
Children of smokers who are not breastfed have even more health struggles than those who are. These babies are at a higher risk for SIDS.
There are many services, some free, for mothers and pregnant women who are having trouble quitting smoking. It’s hard, but now you have twice the incentive for doing it.