Breastfeeding: 7 answers to the most common questions

Below we have compiled the most common questions asked by mothers who want to learn about breastfeeding

1. What are the benefits of breastfeeding for mom?

• Breastfeeding burns up to 500 extra calories per day and this helps in losing the weight gained during pregnancy.
• Women who breastfeed have lower rates of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
• Breastfeeding women have lower rates of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
• Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, a hormone that causes the uterus to contract. This helps the uterus return to its normal size more quickly after delivery and can decrease  the bleeding that occurs after delivery.

2. What benefits does breastfeeding bring to the baby?

• Breast milk contains the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein and minerals needed for the growth and development of the baby. As the baby grows, breast milk changes to accommodate the baby’s changing nutritional needs.
• Breast milk is easier to digest than formula
• Breast milk contains antibodies that protect newborns from infections such as ear infections, intestinal infections, respiratory diseases and allergies.
• Breastfed infants have a lower risk of SIDS. Regardless of how much breast milk a baby is given, breastfeeding appears to help reduce this risk.
• If your baby was born preterm, breast milk can help reduce the risk of developing many of the short- and long-term health problems that premature babies often face, such as necrotizing enterocolitis or other infections.

3. How long should I breastfeed my baby?

WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding of newborns for the first 6 months of life. Exclusive breastfeeding means that the baby is fed only with mother’s milk. Nothing else, solid or liquid, should be given unless advised by your doctor.

After six months, breastfeeding should continue as other foods are introduced until the baby’s first year of life.

It is still possible to continue breastfeeding after the first year when your baby is weaned as long as you and your baby want to.

If you go back to work, you can continue breastfeeding by pumping. The breast pump helps maintain a good milk supply even when you are away from the baby.

4. When can I start breastfeeding?

Most healthy newborns are ready to breastfeed within the first hour after birth.

Holding the baby directly to bare skin (“skin-to-skin” contact) immediately after birth activates those innate reflexes that help the baby latch on to the breast.

5. How do I know if my baby is hungry?

When babies are hungry, they reach for their mother’s breasts, suck their hands, flex their arms and clench their fists. Crying is usually a late sign of hunger.

When children are full, they relax their arms, legs, hands and close their eyes.

6. How do I know my baby has had enough milk?

The baby’s stomach is very small. Breast milk is digested much faster than formula.

For these reasons, usually during the first weeks of the baby’s life, he breastfeeds at least 8-12 times in the space of 24 hours. Always in the first weeks of life, if more than 3 hours have passed since the last feed, it may be necessary to wake up the newborn to breastfeed him .

Each feeding has a variable duration which also depends on the child: in fact, they can last on average 10-45 minutes.

Once the milk supply has settled, the baby will pee at least 6 diapers a day and have about 3 poops a day.

After about 10 days of life the baby will have reached its birth weight.

While breastfeeding is successful for most women, it isn’t for all.

7. Who can help me with breastfeeding?

First of all, midwives and breastfeeding consultants, but also your gynecologist or pediatrician can give you useful information to start breastfeeding correctly and help you deal with problems that may arise.

Breastfeeding is not without its difficulties. For example, if the baby cries while eating it may simply be due to excessive milk production. Specific breast problems such as fissures and traffic jams can happen and resolve themselves with some attention. Other situations, such as mastitis, may require the use of medicines.