We are all breastfed before, so this article is teaching us why it was necessary.
Lactation
Prior to the birth of her child, a mother must determine whether to breastfeed.
Breast size is not an impediment to breastfeeding for the majority of women. The interaction of many hormones after the baby is delivered facilitates lactation, which is the process of producing and secreting breast milk to sustain a newborn.
The lactation process is triggered by prolactin and oxytocin. Milk production is regulated by prolactin, while milk ejection from the breast is influenced by oxytocin.
Milk is ejected into the baby’s mouth as a result of the oxytocin released when the baby suckers. We refer to this as the let-down reaction. It is a mechanism of supply and demand. A woman will produce more milk the more her infant nurses.
Since it will take two to three weeks for a feeding schedule to get fully established, it is advised that no additional feedings be given during this time. The nutritional requirements of newborns for the first six months of life are met by human milk formulations. Since breast milk has a very low iron level and is highly absorbed, breastfed newborns do not require an iron supplement.
Advantages of Nursing
Breastfeeding has a lot of advantages. Breast milk’s main advantage is nutritional. Lactose, water, vital fatty acids, and amino acids are all present in just the proper amounts in breast milk for healthy brain development, growth, and digestion.
Although they could respond to whatever their mother consumes, newborns are not allergic to the milk of their mothers. At least 100 elements that are absent from formula are present in human milk.
Babies who are breastfed are less likely to get allergies, diarrhea, ear infections, and hospital stays. Babies who are breastfed inherit their moms’ immunity to whatever diseases from which the mother may have suffered or been exposed. When a baby is sick, the mother can catch the illness from the infant’s bacteria while the baby is being breastfed, which triggers the mother’s immune system to produce antibodies for the baby.
Because it takes more effort to extract milk from a breast than from a bottle, sucking at the breast stimulates the development of a strong jaw and straight, healthy teeth. The mother-child relationship is strengthened by breastfeeding. Touching skin to skin gives a newborn a sense of safety, security, and affection. When a baby is born prematurely, pediatricians advise mothers to hold their newborns skin to skin on their chests. It has been demonstrated that giving a baby “kangaroo care” would aid to calm and soothe them as well as help to maintain their body temperature. By putting their babies against their naked chests, fathers can also take part in kangaroo care.
Benefits for the mother include encouraging the uterus to shrink back to its initial size and aiding in the loss of pregnancy-related weight gain.
A new mother needs to rest, and nursing provides her with that chance.
Breastfeeding is a cost-effective method that is always at the ideal temperature and easily accessible, particularly at night.
Returning to work does not mean giving up breastfeeding; a breast pump can be used to express milk for feedings in situations where the mother is unavailable.
At room temperature (66°–72°F), breast milk will keep for 8–10 hours. It will also keep for 8 days in the refrigerator, 3–4 months in the freezer, and 12 months in a deep freezer. Milk that has been previously frozen must be consumed within 24 hours of defrosting in the fridge. It is not recommended to microwave or cook breast milk directly on the stove. The immune-boosting properties of breast milk will be destroyed by such heating techniques.
The amount of calories needed while lactating
When a mother is lactating, her calorie needs rise. The quantity of milk produced determines the necessary number of calories. A quantity of 85 calories is needed to make 100 ml (3 1/3 oz) of milk. The mother needs an additional 640 calories per day to produce the 750 ml (25 ounces) of milk on average each day throughout the first six months. When the baby starts eating solid food during the second six months, the average daily milk production drops to 600 ml (20 ounces), and the caloric demand is decreased to roughly 510 additional calories per day.
During lactation, the Food and Nutrition Board recommends an increase of 500 calories per day.
Because it is anticipated that some fat has been saved during pregnancy and can be used for milk production, this is less than what is actually needed.
The exact amount of calories required by the mother is determined by the infant’s size and appetite as well as the mother’s size and activity level. Human milk has 20 calories per ounce.
As is the case in many third world countries, less milk might be produced if the mother’s diet is deficient in calories. Therefore, starting a severe weight loss diet during nursing is not a good idea. The process of burning stored fat to produce milk will result in some natural weight loss.
Requirements for Nutrients During Lactation
The majority of nutritional needs generally rise during lactation. The amounts are determined by the mother’s age. Given that 10 grams of protein are thought to be secreted in milk daily, protein is very important.
She should make careful to include an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables, particularly those high in vitamin C. Most of the extra calories and nutrients needed during lactation can be found in extra fat-free milk.
