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Baby
Feeding
Breast milk is the best
food for your baby for the first six months of
his life. Studies have proved beyond doubt that,
babies who have been breast fed for the first
six months of their lives, stay healthier
throughout their lives. It is very important
that, you feed the baby the first milk your
breast produces, known as colostrums. This is
rich in antibodies and other substances that
protect the baby from infections and illness. If
you have a family history of diabetes, asthma,
eczema etc. formula milk and increase the risk
of these diseases in the baby.
Breast-feeding prevents illnesses like chest
infections, ear infections and diarrhea.
Protection for some illness last long after you
have stopped breast-feeding. Feeding the baby
breast milk only, will provide the best
protection against infections. Even a
combination of breast milk and formula milk will
decrease the risk of infection considerably.
Even mothers benefit from breast-feeding their
babies. The cases of breast cancer, ovarian
cancer and osteoporosis, at a later stage in
life are much less among women who have
breast-fed their babies.
If you decide to combine breast-feeding with
bottle-feeding then, bottle-feeding should be
introduced only after the baby gets used to
breast- feeding. This will ensure that you have
sufficient supply of breast milk. If you are
unsure about whether to breast-feed or
bottle-feed, it is better to start
breast-feeding. As if you start bottle-feeding
it is difficult to change to breast-feeding.
Bottle-feeding is more expensive than
breast-feeding as well. Here are some ways to
ensure a good milk supply:
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As soon as your baby feed, your body produces more
milk to replace it. The more they feed the more milk your body produces.
Your baby knows how much milk he needs. So let him feed as often as he
wants to and your breast will produce milk according to his requirement.
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Eat well; this will help in the production of
milk. |
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If you supplement your baby's diet with some other
fluid, then your milk remains in your breast. As a result the body will
produce less milk the next time. In the initial days it is best to
exclusively breast-feed your baby to ensure good supply of milk. Even if
the infant has jaundice he will make a quick recovery with breast milk.
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For most women breast-feeding gets established by
six weeks. After this it will be difficult to disturb the supply.
Missing feeds may make you uneasy and you may have to express milk. Not
feeding your baby for a long can cause an inflammation of the breast
known as mastitis. |
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If you decide to bottle-feed the baby for a
specific number of feeds and breast-feed him for the rest, then your
body will continue to produce milk, but at a lesser rate. This will help
working mothers whose babies can be bottle-fed when they are away, and
breast-fed when their mothers return home.
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Another important feature of breast-feeding is
establishing breast-feeding. This takes place when:
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You can feed in a comfortable and relaxed manner.
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When the attaches himself to you breast easily.
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The baby feeds with ease.
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You feel no discomfort when the baby feeds.
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You can breast-feed him without any fuss even when
you go out. |
It is best to breast-feed the baby for the first six
months, without any other supplement.
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