It's one of the earliest bonds formed between mother and child.The fact that it is also the most natural, safe and healthy form of nourishment for a growing baby is indisputable. Ruqya Khan meets a few experts who stress why breast-feeding is best for the child
It was a moment I had read and heard about so often. But seeing and holding your own child for the first time, and allowing the little one to snuggle up close to your body is a moment which is truly magical.
It is one of those times in your life you can never forget. The first time my baby was placed close to me, I was overcome by a range of emotions - of love, admiration, happiness, relief ... I carefully placed her delicate body close to mine and allowed her to nourish herself.
As she drew strength from me, I held her frail fingers in my hands and looked at her tiny face in amazement.
Unknown to me, a strong bond was forming. And moments later, when two clear black eyes, the whites pure as snow, looked back at me, it was pure magic. Breaking the gaze, my baby's eyes blinked and then closed with utter sense of contentment and comfort. She had slipped into deep, restful sleep.
In the muted light of the hospital ward, my heart felt light and my mind was awash with joy as I observed her tiny lips relaxed in a smile. The emotion I felt at that precise moment is indescribable.
Watching her sleep contentedly, I however did begin to see how my life would never be the same again. My little child was now dependent upon me for survival.
More than anything else, I wanted to be the best parent possible and give my baby the best of everything - to begin with nourishment and when it comes to nourishment for a new-born baby, there is nothing better than breast milk.
Wendy Al Rubaie, a trained midwife and lactation consultant at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah, is one of the founder members of Breastfeeding Friends, a Sharjah-based support group for nursing mums and is actively involved with the UAE lactation consultants association.
"Breast milk,'' she says, "is nature's most perfect food for your baby. It is naturally and uniquely produced by the mother for her baby. Long before the baby's birth, the body silently prepares to be the baby's primary source of nourishment.
"From the 14th week of pregnancy, hormones stimulate the mammary glands to produce milk. So, even if the baby is born premature, the mother is capable of nursing her child.
"Often, hospital staff are too busy or occupied to (educate) a new mother. Also, the mother may be too tired to learn and understand (about breastfeeding). So, it is best to gather information about breastfeeding even before the baby is born,'' she advises.
"Talk to your doctor, get support from family and friends, talk to other women who have breastfed or take an antenatal breastfeeding class. Make an informed decision before the delivery and be confident about it."
When you're admitted to the hospital, ask the labour and delivery room nurse to notify the nursery of your choice to breastfeed your baby.
Request that your baby be with you continuously (if possible) or that a note be made on the medical chart that your baby should not receive any bottle feeds and that she should be brought to you when she is hungry.
The benefits
"Nurse your baby as soon as possible, preferably within the first hour of birth. Your baby benefits right away from the easy-to-digest proteins, vitamins, and minerals - as well as from protective antibodies - in colostrum, the yellowish, translucent fluid that your breasts secrete for the first two to three days.
"In addition to helping both of you adjust to breastfeeding, frequent and early nursing also helps increase your milk production and helps your baby have its first bowel movement,'' says the expert.
"The size or shape of your breasts has nothing to do with the quality or quantity of milk you'll produce,'' she says.
Women with small breasts may not be able to store a large volume of milk. So such mums will need to feed their babies more frequently. This does not mean they produce less milk than those with large breasts.
"The level of milk production is directly tied to getting off to a good start by breastfeeding frequently, eating right, getting adequate rest, and feeling confident that what you are doing is the best thing for you and (your) baby," says Al Rubaie.
How to feed
Cup your hand under the breast with your little finger against the chest wall, to take the weight of the breast. Your thumb must be above and away from the areola (like a large C).
You do not usually have to hold the breast away from the baby's nose, as he will just move the head back a little (if he is unable) to breathe.
Positions for breastfeeding
Sitting:
- Sit in a comfortable chair with your back well supported and your feet flat on the floor. Use a stool for your feet if the chair is too high.
- Bring the baby up to chest level.
- You may find it helpful to use a pillow on your lap.
Lying down:
This is a useful feeding position if you have undergone a Caesarean section, as this way there is no weight on the mother's abdomen. In the early days, you will probably need help when attempting to feed your child in this position.
- Lie on your side with your head supported by a pillow.
- Lay the baby on his side close to your body.
- Have the nose opposite the nipple.
- Follow the basic principles for latch-on. (see box on previous page)
- You may need to put a small rolled up towel behind the baby's back to prevent him from rolling away.
Under arm position:
This position is useful for feeding twins (one on each side at the same time).
- Sit on a sofa or wide chair.
- You will need a cushion behind your back to bring you forward in the chair.
- Put enough pillows or cushions on your side to bring the baby up to breast level.
- Have the baby lying on his side close to your body and the nose opposite the nipple.
- When the baby opens his mouth wide with the tongue down over the lips, use your hand behind his shoulders to bring him quickly to the breast.
Demand and supply
Successful breastfeeding is a result of patience, practice and proper positioning. Although breastfeeding is a natural way to nourish your baby, remember it's a way of feeding that you and your baby will learn together.
Breastfed babies tend to feed more often than formula-fed babies because breast milk is very easy to digest.
In the beginning, a baby will usually need breastfeeding 8-10 times during day and 1-2 times at night.
Often mothers worry that once the baby has had his feed, their breasts may be emptied. But it isn't so. Breasts continue to produce milk as the baby feeds and even after the baby has stopped.
Your breast milk production is based solely on demand from your baby. If you skip regular breastfeeding sessions, your breasts eventually will produce less milk.
So to keep producing the milk your baby needs, you need to be consistent in your feedings. Don't wait for the baby to cry to put him to your breast.
At this stage, a baby is too hungry and desperate. He would have given cues to hunger like sucking the hand or moving the mouth much earlier. Feed him when you notice these cues.
Do not let him sleep through feedings. Also, alternate the breasts during feeds.
Do not time the feedings. Allow the baby to feed until he leaves the breast by himself.
Breast milk actually changes to keep up with a baby's nutritional needs. Even within one feeding, the quality of your breast milk changes.
The moment your baby begins to feed, he first gets the watery first milk or ?fore milk' which quenches his thirst. Next follows the creamy ?hind milk' which satisfies his hunger. Sometimes mums may experience breast engorgement.
Engorged breasts are hard, swollen and painful, and usually occur if the feed is delayed or missed. The milk accumulates in the breast, causing discomfort.
Engorgement also can occur if your baby is not latching on properly and is unable to drain the breast well.
To avoid this, excess milk must be expressed either by hand or by using a breast pump, suggest experts.
Continue to feed after resuming work
Many women going back to work decide that the "added stress" of nursing is the last thing they need. But breastfeeding your baby even after you have resumed work is a way to tie the two halves of your life together.
Dr Faiz Zaman, a consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician who works at the Kuwaiti Hospital and Qasimia Hospital in Sharjah, says: "Breastfeeding is an art which creates a special bond between you and your baby. Once learnt, it can be both comfortable and rewarding for the baby as well as the mother.
"When the baby nuzzles at the breast oxytocin (a hormone) is produced. This not only stimulates milk production but also causes the uterus to contract and return to its normal size faster,'' says Dr Zaman, who also volunteers as a lactation consultant at the breastfeeding clinics held at the Mother and Child Healthcare Center in Sharjah.
"As a result, the amount of postpartum bleeding is significantly reduced and there will be less menstrual blood loss during the first few months after the baby arrives.
"The mother may even experience absent or delayed periods for the first six months when she exclusively breastfeeds - implying that nursing the baby doubles as an effective means of family planning.
"Breastfeeding improves the storage of minerals in your bones so you'll have less risk of osteoporosis once you reach menopause. And it also reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer," says the doctor.
Her tips:
Maintain proper hygiene at all times. Wash your hands before you bring the baby to your breast but you don't need to wash your breast before or after the feed.
"Avoid washing the breast often with soap. This will dry the skin and make it vulnerable to tenderness. If you have any problems like sore or cracked nipples do not apply topical creams. Instead, apply some breast milk and allow the hurt to air-dry,? advises the doctor.
Barriers to breastfeeding
Sometimes babies can be born with a condition called galactosemia, in which they can't tolerate breast milk. This is because their bodies can't break down the sugar, galactose.
Babies with classic galactosemia may have liver problems, malnutrition, or mental retardation. Since both human and animal milk contain the sugar lactose that splits into galactose and glucose, babies with classic galactosemia must be fed a special diet that is free of lactose and galactose.
Breast milk is nature's miracle - it transfers living cells from the mother to the child. This is why mothers with certain severe medical concerns should not nurse their babies.
Breastfeeding is an important mode of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Women who are infected with HIV should discuss their health status before they breastfeed.
Mothers with infectious tuberculosis (sputum positive) should not be in contact with their infants. They may pump their breasts and feed expressed breast milk to their infants, says some experts.
When they are sputum negative they may nurse their baby. In cases where the mother is positive for hepatitis B, breastfeeding can be done after the hepatitis B vaccine has been administered to the infant.
It is best for nursing mums to consult a doctor before taking any medication, as the effect of the drug can be passed on to the baby. Also, women who have had breast surgery might have problems with milk production.
This, however, depends on the type of surgery performed. The mother can certainly breastfeed (after consulting the doctor).
Being a mother calls for a responsibility not just towards the baby but also towards yourself. Try and kick any bad habits that you may have.
Benefits to the mother
When you are breastfeeding your newborn, you'll spend a great deal of time together. This is the perfect chance for the two of you to get to know each other better.
As you cuddle, the skin-to-skin and eye-to-eye contact provides a unique closeness that you can build on as your baby grows.
