Sick Mothers And Breastfeeding

If you are a new mother, you may have doubts whether you can breastfeed your baby when you are ill. You may have apprehensions if your baby will also be affected by your illness if you commit the mistake of breastfeeding.

The answer to your doubts is that you can certainly breastfeed your baby when you are affected by cold, flu or other common illnesses. But, you should take utmost care to protect your baby from infections. You should not forget that your baby may be affected by your illness even if you do not breastfeed. But, by breastfeeding even when you are sick, you will be making your baby more immune. You may wonder how this is possible. The reality is that when you are sick, your body produces antibodies to fight the infection. When you breastfeed, these antibodies enter your baby's body also and these antibodies will do a world of good, by strengthening your baby's immunity system.

A few mothers may worry if there will be any problem due to the medications they take for curing their illnesses. As a breastfeeding mother, you should discuss this with your doctor. But, researchers have proved that common medicines may not affect the babies even if the sick mothers breastfeed them. So, mothers need not worry about common ailments, symptoms or medications. In fact, some of the symptoms may affect the mothers more than they affect the babies. So, mothers can continue with their breastfeeding even if there are such symptoms or ailments. But, if they have serious ailments like Hepatitis or HIV, it is better they consult their doctors before deciding to breastfeed their babies.

If you have a common fever and take medications for getting relief from it, it is certainly safe to breastfeed your baby. But, if the fever occurs during the first few weeks after the birth of the child, it is better to consult your doctor because the child may get infected very easily.

As far as vomiting and diarrhea are concerned, you should ensure that you do not get dehydrated because dehydration may deplete the milk supply. If there is no such problem, you can continue breastfeeding your baby.

It is true that cough is highly contagious but you can continue breastfeed your child but you should take a few precautions. Your cough will not affect your baby through your milk but if you cough on the baby, the infection may affect the child. So, you should take small precautionary steps like not breathing or coughing on your baby, keeping your hands clean by washing them frequently and before you touch the child and so on. If you feel that you are taking unusual medications for getting relief from your cold and cough, you should consult your doctor about breastfeeding your baby.

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Why Choose Breastfeeding Your Baby?

The benefits of breastfeeding start on day one and last for years, probably for life. Anything that researchers describe as an advantage of breast feeding can also be described as a risk associated with artificial feeding. Of course it's up to you whether you breastfeed or not and for how long, but holding back information and minimizing the differences between breastfeeding and formula feeding keeps parents from being able to make informed decisions about their infant's care. There are so many scientifically proven benefits of breastfeeding, that when you see them listed, it's surprising that not everybody who can breastfeed does. If you can breastfeed your baby, that's the best way to go.

Proteins are the key to growth Proteins in your milk are as different from those in cow's milk (or other animal milks) as you are from a cow. Protein is mother's milk is much higher in nutritive value than in based on cow's milk formula, and is perfectly suited to the human baby digestive system.

Amino acids and taurine Proteins break down into amino acids, the building blocks of body tissue. Your milk contains essential amino acids in the proper proportions that your baby needs.

Taurine is amino acid that has an important role in the development of brain tissue and the retina of the eye. It is virtually absent in cow's milk or artificial milk.

Fats provide energy for growth and more The specific types of fatty acids in human milk like DHA and ARA, cholesterol and lactose are important to the development of the brain and nervous system. DHA and ARA are associated with better visual and cognitive development in infants. Formula manufacturers have begun to add DHA and ARA to artificial infant milks, though research has yet to demonstrate that it will make a difference in baby's development.

Vitamins and minerals Human milk is the best and most balanced source of vitamins and minerals, such as iron, calcium and vitamin D. They are essential to baby's growth and health and much better absorbed by your baby than vitamins and minerals in infant formula.

Human milk - an arsenal against illness. Public health experts have long been aware that babies who are not breastfed are more vulnerable to infections, chronic illness and allergies. The immunological protection that comes with breastfeeding involves hormones, enzymes, growth factors, live cells, proteins, fats, immunoglobulins, and other special ingredients. It becomes more and more apparent to researchers that artificial milk cannot compare with the real thing.

Jaw, teeth, and facial development. Your baby's exercise in eating may affect the shape of his face, his teeth and his smile. The sucking techniques used in bottle - feeding do not involve as many muscles and may lead to underdeveloped facial structure.

Proven benefits to mothers' health: Breastfeeding women tend to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight more rapidly. Women who breastfeed are less likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer before they reach menopause.They are less likely to suffer osteoporosis and therefore fractures in later life.

The risk of type 2 diabetes is less. Post-partum depression is less likely.

No product has ever been as time-tested as mother's milk. Mothers who breastfed their babies centuries ago may not have known why their milk was so important for their babies. But the wonderful closeness of nursing and the joy of watching their little ones grow big and strong surely confirmed what they knew in their hearts - that what babies need is mother's milk and mother herself.

For More Information:

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding La Leche League International

The Essential First Year Penelope Leach

A Mother's Love for Her Children   Getting Ready For Your Baby: Some Tips   Getting Ready For Your Baby: Some Tips   

A Guide to Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a natural gift that a mother can offer to his or her baby. Unlike formula milks, breast milk is the source of the essential nutrients that a baby needs. Some people believe it can act as antibiotics or vitamins aside from being a central source of food for a baby. The immune system and the physical and mental development of the baby are enhanced to give him or her optimum health and wellbeing.

Importance of Breastfeeding

Studies have shown that breastfeeding can have long-term positive effects to the child's physical and mental health. Some studies also show that children breastfed during their newborn stage are less prone to various diseases. Breastfeeding offers more nutrients than any artificially formulated milk. As your baby grows, mother's milk matures as well. The right amount of essential fat, sugar, protein, and water are derived from a mother's milk. This milk is also easier to digest for the baby.

Expressing and the Benefits It Offers

Expressing is the pumping of breast milk into a bottle that can be fed to a baby at a later time. Instead of feeding the baby straight from the mother's breast, the milk can be collected, stored, and fed to the baby. This is convenient for a mother, especially if she has to go somewhere and the baby needs to be fed at home. There are also times when a mother feels full with breast milk but the baby is not ready yet to feed. So as not to waste any breast milk and give the mother some relief from the fullness, she can use a breast pump and store the milk in an Avent bottle for later. Other members of the family like the father can also enjoy and connect with the baby by feeding him or her with the bottled breast milk.

Sterilizing and Storing Feeding Bottles

With the option of expressing, it is important, therefore, to keep feeding bottles, breast pumps, and other feeding equipment sterilized and clean. A newborn with an immature immune system can easily get diseases from unsterilized feeding bottles. Diarrhea and tummy aches can happen in this case, and that's something any parent should always have to avoid. Make sure you totally clean and wash feeding bottles and equipment before and after using them. You can wash and rinse it with warm water then sterilize it with steam. This can kill harmful germs and help protect your baby from diseases.

Moreover, make sure you are storing your breast milk in the proper way. Breast milk can be easily spoiled, so you need to keep them in sealed bottles and refrigerate them to prevent spoilage. You can store mother's milk in the refrigerator for 24 hours or in the freezer for 3 months. You may also want to write the day of expressing on the bottle and the time as well to make sure you are feeding your child with healthy milk. This will also be a way a mother to keep track of the dates and time of expressing to avoid wasting breast milk.

Breastfeeding doesn't have to be a challenging part in baby care. You can manage this task with expressing and practicing the proper ways to store and sterilize mother's milk.

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The Proper Way of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things a mother would experience after giving birth. It is the safest and best milk she can offer to her baby. Just what nutritionist experts have said "Breast milk is still best for Babies up to two years and beyond" Several mothers may experience difficulties or strange feelings during the early stage of the sessions of breastfeeding to their babies, increased anxiety and constant worry for them thinking if she could produce enough milk but eventually they will soon be used to it. Breastfeeding may take around 20 to 45 minutes per session for the first three months of a new born baby.

There are lots of benefits for the infant, greater immune health through breastfeeding about 0.25-0.5 grams per day IgA antibodies go by through milk. Colostrums are one of the most important feature breast milk formed for babies. It also contains several anti-infective factors such as protecting amoebic infections, and inhibiting growth of intestinal bacteria.

Studies show that breastfeed infants include a lower risk of infections than those non-breastfeed infants. It also reduces sudden death syndrome because infants have improved stimulation from nap at 2 to 3 months. Less diabetes, infants completely breastfeed contain a fewer possibility of developing diabetes mellitus than peers by means of a shorter period of breastfeeding and prior exposure to an formulated cow's milk.

Maternal bond are strengthen during the breastfeeding period because of the released of the hormones. World Health Organization (WHO) recommend breastfeeding for the baby's up to six months of their life and continued feeding with appropriate foods up to two years old and beyond. It is the best food for the baby for it provides complete nourishments. It is also very convenient and affordable for the mother to breastfeed their babies. Babies who are breastfeed are more active, smart, intelligent, they also have good teeth and because of the time spend by mothers to their babies bonding are intact, closeness to their parents as they grow older. A baby feels that they are cared and loved. Mothers are enjoying taking care of their babies at the same time they are also providing and protecting their babies free from sickness.

The following tips are the proper way to breastfeed your child:

• It is important to be at ease, calm and be ready. Make sure that the room is comfortable for the said activity/session. You have to move away if the room is crowded, or if it is cold get additional blanket. Once all set, be certain to make use of a comfortable chair to provide a firm support. Lying down may be also suggested.

• The baby needs to be comfortable as well, for you as a mother to check the right position if it is sitting or lying down. It might be stressful for the baby that he may refuse to suck your nipples. He feels aware if your body is anxious or if it is calm.

• Placing pillows behind your back and under the arm for a relaxed position when you breastfeed your baby is the most common breastfeeding position. Your baby's head should rest on your hand and other hand over the baby's thighs or buttocks.

• To maintain its position child's face must be in front of your chest so it will be comfortable while sucking. Let your nipple touch the baby's cheek, automatically the baby will turn his face towards where the touch came; the baby will open his/her mouth to suck its milk.

• Letting the baby know that it is routing time for his breastfeeding. Feeding the baby regularly as he grows a bit older, will help regulate and be at ease between meals.

It is how you offer your breast, proper sitting, and how you hold your little ones affect them on how they suck properly. This fact shows how you will be relaxed and comfortable during breastfeeding.

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