Nutrition for life

When it comes to breastfeeding, it is important to seperate fact from fiction, says Dr Kishore Kumar as he decodes some common myths

Are you a new mother who has the habit of “Googling” all your doubts? Whether it is about swaddling a baby the right way or dealing with a diaper rash, the Internet probably has the answer to everything related to motherhood.

However, as soon as a first-time mother talks about breastfeeding, everyone around her seems to have an opinion or some unsolicited advice. Between the validated and unauthenticated information on the Internet and the half-cooked insights from friends and family, there are chances of steering away from actual facts. Hence, it is important to separate fact from fiction, as it concerns the health of your baby.

Here are some of the most common breastfeeding myths that have been decoded for you:

• Breastfeeding problems like low supply of milk or engorgement are NOT hereditary. Just because your mother or sister had difficulty breastfeeding, doesn’t mean you will face the same issues while breastfeeding.
• Breast milk does not lose its nutritional value over time. But it is important to store it in the right condition and use it within a stipulated amount of time.
• The idea that a small breast produces less milk is WRONG. The production of milk has nothing to do with the size of the breast.
• Flat or retracted nipples have no adverse effects on breastfeeding. If the baby does not latch on to the nipple properly, use a nipple extractor to pull the nipple out or use a nipple shield. These devices can help the baby latch on during the initial days of breastfeeding.
• It is wrong to assume that if a baby does not burp, it has not digested the food. A burp is only a sound made by the emission of air that is swallowed during the feeds. It has nothing to do with digestion. Most breastfed babies do not burp, as they don’t ingest air while feeding.
• Breastfeeding is an important stage in both the baby’s and the mother’s life. It is mandatory for a mother to breastfeed her baby at least for the first six months.

• Besides satisfying physiological needs, breastfeeding is a time for babies to bond with their mothers. This is a moment rife with feelings, contact, sounds, tastes and scents.
• Satisfying this need gives both the mother and the baby a feeling of well-being.
• Not only does breast milk contain all the necessary nutrients required to satisfy a baby’s dietary needs, but it is also rich in substances that protect an infant against infections and boost the immune system.
• For mums, breastfeeding causes natural contractions in the uterus. The process helps a new mother’s uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size. These contractions also help them regain their pre-pregnancy shape.

• Feed your baby before you leave for work and often once you return home. Night feeds will keep up the milk supply, taking care of baby’s nutritional and emotional needs.
• You can express milk during office hours using a breast pump and storing the pumped out milk. Ensure that the pumped out milk is stored in a refrigerator and used within 48 hours.
• Wear anti-bacterial absorbent breast pads, as they prevent milk from seeping out to the surface and also avoids proliferation of bacteria inside the pad.

Mothers often feel demotivated after a few weeks of breastfeeding because of the difficulties encountered in the early stages such as pain, irritation, rhagades, fatigue or stress.

Here are the few challenges that many mothers face during early phase of breastfeeding:

• The baby may reject the breast if it is held in an uncomfortable position or if there is abundant milk flow. In such cases, mothers can extract the milk using a breast pump and offer it to the baby.
• Nipple rhagades can make the process painful. Rhagades are small cuts at the base, middle and at the tip of the nipple that are common in the initial phases of breastfeeding.
• These can be prevented by positioning the baby correctly, changing breast pads frequently and using nipple shields during the feeds.
• A feeding pillow can also provide the necessary support for the mother and the baby, making feeding easier.
• Mothers often experience pain or discomfort while breastfeeding. This is not normal and in most cases it is because of holding the baby in the wrong position. The best thing to do here is to get the baby to latch on correctly.

A premature baby, especially if born before the 32nd week of pregnancy, is not always developed enough to follow the suck-swallow-breathe pattern of breastfeeding.

If the baby is not able to suck at the breast, milk can be expressed with a breast pump every two to three hours. Start as early as possible, preferably within four hours of birth because colostrum (the dense yellow liquid feed) is particularly important for the baby.

(The author is Head paediatrician, Cloud Nine Hospital.)