Breastfeeding.... By: Ms. Stephanie Ampofo

CAMPUS RADIO HEALTH SEGMENT 

THE MIDWIFE'S CORNER. 

BREASTFEEDING

Breastfeeding also known as nursing. It is the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman's breast. Breastfeeding begins the first hour of a baby's life and continues as often and as much as the baby wants. In the first few weeks of  babies life, they may be fed roughly every two to three hours. On each breast the duration for nursing is usually ten to fifteen minutes but is less in older children.  

The

World Health Organization (WHO) recommend breastfeeding exclusively for six months which means that no other foods or drink other than vitamin D are typically given. After exclusive breastfeeding, other recommended foods continue until at least one to two years of age.

WAYS OF BREASTFEEDING 

Early skin-to-skin contact which is the kangaroo care between mother and baby stimulate breastfeeding behavior in babies. Neonates who are immediately placed in their mother's skin have a natural instinct to latch on to  their mother's breast and start nursing, typically one hour of birth.

Immediate skin-to-skin contact may provide a form of imprinting that makes subsequent feeding easier. This also creates some kind of bond between the mother and the baby .

Children who are born preterm have   difficulty in initiating breasfeeding immediately after birth . By convention, such children are often fed on expressed breast milk or other supplementary feeds through tubes or bottles until they develop satisfactory ability to suck their mother's breast.

Correct positioning and technique for latching on are necessary to prevent nipple sores and allow the baby to obtain enough milk from multiple position based on the baby's preference.

The football positioning is when the baby's leg is held next to the mother's side with the baby facing the mother. Using the cradle or cross-body hold , the mother supports the baby's head in the crook of her arm.

Latching on is how the baby fastens onto the the breast while breastfeeding. A good latch means that the bottom of the areola(the area around the nipple) is in the baby's mouth. A poor latch can cause cracked nipple.

Weaning is the process of replacing milk and other foods

TYPES OF BREASTFEEDING

EXPRESSED MILK

This is when the mother expresses or produce her milk for storage and later use through massage or breast pump. Expressed milk can be stored in freezer storage bags and containers for storing brest milk. It should be kept at room temperature for up to six hours and in a refrigerator for eight days.

SHARED MILK

This is when the mother can hire another woman who has breastfed before to do it for her (a wet nurse) or she may share childcare with another mother.( cross-nursing).

TENDEM NURSING

When the mother breastfeeds the new baby while breastfeeding an older baby. 

INDUCED LACTATION OR ADOPTIVE LACTATION 

RE- LACTATION

restarting breastfeeding after weaning as part of  oral rehydration treatment for diarrhoea.

BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

According to (WHO) "breast milk is the ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; breastfeeding is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the  health of mothers".

 Breastfeeding increases cardio- respiratory stability.

It promotes growth in infants. 

Prevents infections

Prevent childhood obesity that may lead to diseases

Prevent infant mortality. 

Helps in the child's intelligence. 

Improves the mother's physical and emotional health. 

Strengthen maternal bond. 

Increase uterine contraction to reduce bleeding as soon after birth

MILD RISK OF NOT BREASTFEEDING 

✅Acute and chronic disease like;

✅Lower respiratory infection 

✅Ear infection

✅Bacterial meningitis

✅Urinary tract infection 

✅Cardiovascular diseases

Conclusion

Our babies are gifts from God let us breastfeed to keep them alive and safe

References

https://end.m.Wikipedia.org>wiki> Breafeeding .com

 https://www.baby center.com>breastfeeding.