The fact of Breastfeed correctly The newborn provides a number of benefits, not only in the nutritional aspect, but also in the establishment of an adequate link between the mother and the child, with all that this means for growth and subsequent development.
If we approach it from a public health perspective, it is important to emphasize that the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding would greatly reduce the costs of health care immediately.
It would do so through a decrease in infant and long-term morbidity (disease) and mortality, even affecting the incidence of chronic noncommunicable adult diseases, including obesity, diabetes , Hypertension and dyslipidemia.
We must consider that many mothers (especially first-time mothers) have a high level of anxiety , Fears and insecurities due to their inexperience.
It is therefore extremely important to give them reliable, clear and timely information throughout the period of their pregnancy, so that when faced with the challenge of breastfeeding, they have the best possible tools, from the psychological to perform a correct technique .
Therefore, the present article seeks to inform you about some unwanted situations that you may suffer in this period of life.
I'm sure it will be very useful, even if you have not yet thought about being a mother because you can also share the information with your friends and family.
Most frequent breastfeeding problems
1- Inverted nipples
This is caused by a disproportion between the mouth and the nipple, which prevents a good coupling.
It is recommended to take advantage when the breasts are soft, before the milk is lowered. Mechanical measures are also used to try to fix it, for example with a"nipple tensioner"to try to return them to their physiological position.
Beyond the above, it is recommended to exercise patience and if it is too much trouble to seek to give milk extracted per cup in older infants.
2- Painful, cracked or cracked nipple
Nipple suction should not be painful, as this pain occurs when the infant sucks the tip and does not introduce the entire areola into his mouth, which would indicate a poor technique.
Because the pain interferes with your ability to breastfeed normally, it is important to eliminate it urgently.
It is advisable to put the child to the nipple when it imitates a fish mouth and at the end of the breastfeed seal the nipples with your own breast milk (this is called a patch of milk).
It is also a good measure to isolate the nipples from the frictions or adhesions with the mother's underwear, using even some handmade method. In this sense it is very effective and economical to use tea strainers (new), which are cut off the handle, which is to isolate the nipple from the friction, in addition to keeping it dry and ventilated.
3- Mycosis of the nipple
This is an infection of the nipples, usually produced by the fungus Candida albicans . Between its signs and symptoms they emphasize a pink color of the nipples and areolas.
It can also provoke algorra in the child, where it shows a whitish coloring around his lips, tongue or palate. It is characterized by intense pain, burning, stabbing and persistent in nipples and areola.
Its management focuses on a treatment for the mother (in the nipple) and the child with oral antifungal agents (nystatin or oral miconazole after each feeding, for a minimum of 10 to 14 days).
4- Hypogaláctea (little milk)
The diagnosis of this situation is reached by discarding, because mothers often confuse this picture or have sensations that do not correspond completely to reality, due to the stress situation to which they are subjected.
The technique of breastfeeding is reviewed, the infant is evaluated and after that it could be reached.
The indications given in this case are; Exclusive breastfeeding on demand without night interruption (a lot of patience), minimum of 8 breastfeeds in 24 hours, no fillings, no extra water, no entertainment pacifiers and frequent (weekly) health checks.
The usual is to achieve good results with these measures, but ultimately, may indicate the use of a supplementary artificial formula, but we do not want to reach this.
5- Breast congestion
It is caused mainly by an inadequate or ineffective emptying of the breast (s). Its management is through warm wet packs before breastfeeding.
To prevent this discomfort, the areola should be emptied before breastfeeding, adequate and painless attachment, and a frequent, regular and effective breastfeeding sequence.
6- Exaggerated milk ejection reflex
This may sound strange, but on certain occasions and in certain women it is possible to provoke a rejection of breastfeeding on the part of the infant, by reason of a great discharge of milk that catches him and then leads him to present colic.
Its management refers to placing the child in a"horse"position or on the mother in the supine position (upwards) and withdrawing the child from the breast whenever there are signs of being stuck.
It is also recommended to breastfeed only one side at a time to try to reach the milk with more fat at the end of the blowjob and also use the ancestral techniques that always teach the grannies; Eliminate the gases with massages and a lot of patience.
7- Temporary interruption of lactation
This should be given for different reasons, but the good news is that you can achieve a reinduction of breastfeeding, in due time and with correct techniques to get milk again.
It is necessary to reinduct breastfeeding in children with low weight, deficient increase in height, problems and feeding or who have been temporarily separated from their mothers.
In this sense, it is essential to teach the mother the process of milk extraction, how to identify it, keep it and transfer it to relevant units of hospital care when appropriate.
8- Transient crisis of lactation
This usually occurs between the 2nd and 3rd month of life of the child, because as it grows, it needs higher volumes of milk, which results in more frequent and extensive breastfeeds.
Mothers may feel that they do not give enough to satisfy their child's milk wants, which affects them psychologically, not letting this act develop smoothly, naturally and effectively.
In these cases an irritable child is usually observed, who seeks to suck more often, on the other hand the mother feels her breasts are empty, and the increase in weight of the infant may be affected.
These episodes of crisis are usually repeated throughout the first semester of life. Its management is based mainly on giving support to the mother, reminding her that it is a transient situation, correcting the technique and stimulating to breastfeed more frequently and both breasts alternately.
9- Separate mother-child binomial
This is a problem that is becoming more frequent in our society, when the mother should be away for a few hours or go back to work, many questions arise about how to maintain breastfeeding.
From the beginning, the mother can extract her own milk, leaving it stored and available for her child, considering the following:
- Wash your hands well before doing it, in a comfortable and quiet place.
- Apply gentle massage of the breasts.
- You can extract the milk by manual sorting or by pump extractor (which is much simpler and faster)
- The milk should be stored in the bottle that the child will use, and must be labeled with the date and time of extraction.
- Refrigerated or frozen milk should be stored for proper storage.
- Shake the bottle from the refrigerator or freezer to be offered to the infant.
Steps to achieve a correct breastfeeding technique
- The first thing is that you feel comfortable, with your back supported, in a pleasant and safe place (if you do not do it in public, there are even commercial centers that allocate specific rooms for it).
- If the baby is very small you can use a pillow or breastfeeding cushion to bring it close to your breasts.
- You should hold the breast underneath with one of your hands forming a kind of letter C.
- He places the child's mouth to the nipple and with a quick movement favors the entrance of the nipple and almost the entire areola inside his mouth.
- It considers that each breastfeeding should have a duration of approximately 15 minutes for each breast (alternating left to right onset)
Indicators of correct suckling
- If you can perceive the sound of when the child swallows the milk
- The child is breastfeeding with a rhythm that seems constant
- After suckling, calmly sleep for between 1.5 and 3 hours
- You can count an average of 6 wet diapers with urine daily
- In addition to about 3 to 4 yellow stools per day.
- Breastfeeding is pleasurable and without major pain
- In your child's health checks, the child has a normal nutritional status, with a correct height and weight increase.
What happens to the pounds I gain during pregnancy?
Every mother must raise a reasonable amount of kilos, as a consequence of carrying a child in the womb, and fat reserves for future milk production.
However, afterwards you can help to regain your usual weight by providing exclusive breastfeeding for your child, which will also mean providing optimal nutrition for your baby, greater attachment bond between both and great savings in economic terms for your family.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Benefits for your child
- It is the only source of complete nutrition
- Strongly strengthens its defenses
- Children who receive breastfeeding achieve better intellectual development
- The bond and attachment with the mother is favored
- Have a better development of your teeth
- Reduced risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases
- It decreases the risk of obesity, as it allows it to grow within normal parameters.
Benefits for the mother and her family
- Helps you regain your weight (helps lose fat gained in pregnancy)
- Prevents development of breast and ovarian cancer
- It significantly strengthens self esteem Maternal
- Reinforces mother-child attachment
- Induces early retraction of the uterus
- Another very important point is that it prevents Postpartum depression
- Undoubtedly a great saving in economic terms
In this article You can learn more about its benefits.
Duration of the milk extracted according to the conservation method
- At room temperature: approximately 12 hours
- Cooling temperature: 3-5 days
- In freezer: 14 days (To defrost it is removed from the freezer the previous night and left in refrigerator).
Final Considerations
There is no doubt that the best alternative of food in the first months of life is breastfeeding, which is why I invite you to respect and promote it.
One of the fundamental pillars is to be well informed about its benefits and risks, to contribute in this way to having new generations of healthy and strong children.
References
- Lawrence R, Lawrence A, Breastfeeding, 6th edition, 2007, Elsevier editorial.
- Dyson L, Renfrew MJ, McFadden A, McCormick F, Herbert G, Thomas J. Policy and public health recommendations to promote the initiation and duration of breast-feeding in developed country settings. Public Health Nutr 2010; 13: 137-44.
- WHO Child Growth Standards 2006, Infant weight increases by sex.
- Sisk PM, Lovelady CA, Gruber KJ, Dillard RG, O'Shea TM. Human milk consumption and full enteral feeding among infants who weigh
- DiGirolamo A, Thompson N, Martorell R, Fein S, Grummer-Strawn L. Intention or Experience? Predictors of Continued Breastfeeding. Health Educ Behav 2005; 32: 208-26.
- Bartick M, Reinhold A. The burden of suboptimal breastfeeding in the United States: a pediatric cost analysis. Pediatrics 2010; 125: and 1048-56.