MotherBreastFeeding.com

Every mother strives to learn more about breastfeeding. How long to breastfeed, when to start using formulas and when to stop breastfeeding? We’ve already considered the above issues, also, we’ve learnt about the benefits of breastfeeding. Let’s speak about the main stages of breastfeeding:

Feeding breast milk only. Once the baby tries mother’s milk for the first time, he/she knows that this is the tastiest and the most useful food ever. In the age of 6-7 months the baby becomes interested in the food that all people eat.

It is crucial to keep nursing during the first six months, as this is the main ground for baby’s healthy development and for formation of the baby’s digestive system.

Introducing new food. Your baby wants to taste something of table food? Even if you give the baby something of the kind – it will not be that sufficient for the baby as your milk will. The digestive system is not quite ready to adhere to a new feeding. During 1.5 years a new food will be introduced to your baby, but still, try to keep breastfeeding as long as possible. Thus your baby will develop a strong immune and nervous system.

Switching from baby food to table food. As the baby grows, he/she not only wants to try some table food, but wants to eat it fully. This alternative to mother’s milk is an important source of energy; it provides vitamins and a variety of useful salts.

At the age of 1.5-2.5 table food will substitute breast milk. This, however, does not imply that you should stop breastfeeding. You just need to breastfeed not so many times as you used to – 2-3 latches on will do, basically this should be done at night.

Breastfeeding after 1 year helps your child develop a healthy endocrine, immune and digestive system. Isn’t it great that your baby has the right bite, strong teeth and the risk of speech problems in your baby is reduced to minimum?

Weaning the baby off. After 2.5 years the child eats table foods and the mom tries to keep breastfeeding reducing the day latches to two. A nursing mom develops breast involution and gradually stops breastfeeding.

At first days after child birth some moms may have blood in breast milk. As a result, colostrum is rust colored, pink or red. Sometimes when a mother pumps she may observe blood in her milk. Some mothers feel slight breast pain, some wonder if it is ok to breastfeed with small amount of blood.

Let's consider the above issues.

Causes of Blood in Breast Milk

Strong stress. After delivery new mommies have low stress resistance which may cause blood in breast milk. Consult a psychologist, he/she will help to overcome the difficulties. Moreover, rely on your family support.

Leaking breasts. This is quite normal when you are lactating. In several weeks breasts will begin to dry up and leakage will begin to stop when mother's breast becomes soft. Pinkish milk will turn into white once a mom and her baby master breastfeeding.

Microtraumas. They occur due to wrong pumping or injuries of breasts. If you use an electric pump, try to use manual/hand expression techniques. If after that there is no blood in breast milk - avoid using a pump.

You know, this blog is for moms and about moms. I spoke to one of my friends about her breastfeeding experience and would like to share it with you.

Hi, Jane, please, tell some words about your family and your baby in particular. Was the delivery difficult? How were the first days after delivery?

Hi, Samantha, let’s start. We wanted to have a baby so much, so when I learnt I was pregnant - I had no fear of giving birth. The only thing I knew at that moment is that giving birth would hurt. My doctor was right - it really hurts. Still, as my medical card states, I had normal births no matter how painful they seemed to me. Birth weight was 4350 g, birth length was 57 cm, head circumference of the newborn was 38 cm. Our son had dark hair and looked like father. The most difficult thing was not about my baby, it was about me. I've lost much blood and could not stand up for 2 days. I could not hold the baby in my arms... My mother gave me Cyril to breastfeed. She took care both of me and my baby.

What was the most pleasant moment after delivery?

Wow, that was a miracle - I had my baby near me. That was incredible!

How did you prepare to become a mother? Where did you learn how to treat children?

Me and my husband visited our local school of motherhood, lactation consultant and psychologist. I've read a lot on the Internet. I cannot say I was interested much in breastfeeding specifically, but I've found a very good blog article on the net, read it and took it along to the maternity home.

What feelings did you have at first days of breastfeeding?

If you mean my physical senses, I felt as if I had high temperature in my breasts and I had a feeling of fullness when I started to produce milk. I did not have to increase lactation - the baby always got enough milk. If to speak of psychology, I felt a real bond between me and my baby - which I often read about in different sources.

Is breastfeeding ok for you and your baby? Are you producing enough milk?

I've always had enough breast milk, apart from lactation crisis of 3 weeks and 3 months. But that was a problem of one day, then the baby got enough milk. I believe breastfeeding is the most natural way of feeding which brings joy into mother's life. Breastfeeding is the best for my son.

It's time to wean your baby off? If you believe it's time to stop breastfeeding, be ready to have several weeks of hard work and patience on your part. Every stage of weaning may take from 1 to 2 weeks - but be sure to succeed in it!

1. Reduce times of breastfeeding. It will look as if you are becoming a nun . Try to cut out one feed at a time. Do not provoke your baby - do not walk around in a gown or underwear in front of him/her. Do not wear blouses which can easily unbutton, make your breasts inaccessible for the baby. Be occupied with something, as an idling mom is the best victim for a baby who wants to suck. You may give up - then the weaning will be put off whereas the decision has already been taken!
2. Distract your baby. The baby got used to nursing and will often ask for feeds. In such cases you shouldn't ignore the baby, try to place some sort of distraction, try different activities (playing with toys, calling father, looking at the window, etc.). Different games often help to substitute the baby's favorite occupation. Be sincere, otherwise, the child will feel vulnerable. Do not scold the baby and do not say No - you are the best mom ever, aren't you? If you did not manage to distract the baby at once - don't be in despair, you will succeed later.
3. Set a specific place for breastfeeding. You are producing less milk, it's time to enforce a new rule - nurse the baby in a specific place (like on the sofa, for instance) or in the same position. Thus your baby will learn about restrictions.
4. Do not latch on at a day time. Let the baby sleep during the day, but do not latch on. It is very important to teach the baby sleep without mother's breast when she is around. Promise to be back in a while, leave the child alone for a minute, then come back and put the baby down for bed. Increase the average length of time of your absence. Explain the baby where you go and what you are going to do there. If the baby tries to find you - make sure he/she finds you doing the things you've promised. Be patient - once returning to your baby's room, you will find the baby in a sweet sleep.
5. Reduce breastfeeding at night. Wean the baby off gradually, do not rush and he/she will reject the breast even before the night sleep. Watch your baby - if you moved to a new stage of weaning off too early, the baby will heavily play up, will suck its thumb and a favorite toy. In this case go back to the previous stage and take your time. If you did everything right, start to wean off at night. In about a week the baby won't get frustrated because of reduced feedings. If the baby is full - take off the breast, if he/she does not resist - you won. With time, breastfeeding at night will take several minutes.
6. Wake up earlier than your baby. Now it's your turn to wake him/her up. Congratulations, you've done a great job! The baby will soon forget about your breast.

Do you think your baby is not getting enough milk? In medicine, this is known as hypolactation. The main causes of hypolactation are:

• your baby cannot fall asleep after lactation. It is naughty and worried
• periods between lactation are nearly equal, if your baby wakes up earlier - this may be a sign of not getting enough milk
• pay attention to your baby's bowels – color changes (brown or dark), density changes (too watery or too thick) result from hypolactation
• if your baby does not have intestine disorders and a high temperature but the number of times of urination decreased significantly (less than 6 times a day), this may be another sign of not getting enough milk
• if for 2 weeks your baby's growth rate is negative – this means hypolactation