When the mother is in the third trimester of pregnancy, while waiting excitedly and nervously for the meeting with the little life, she will think about a question: Should I prepare how’s sumptuous dinner for TA after the baby is born?
Breastfeeding or milk powder feeding?
If you are obsessed with this problem or are mired in all kinds of dazzling milk powder advertisements and do not know what to do, I want to tell you, in fact, the choice is very simple-
For babies, breast milk is the most natural and perfect food, and it should undoubtedly be the mother’s first choice.
Let’s look at the recommendations of WHO and UNICEF:
Breastfeeding starts one hour after delivery;
Exclusive breastfeeding should be carried out during the first 6 months of life.
Supplementary (solid) foods with sufficient nutrition and safety are added to infants at the age of 6 months, while continuous breastfeeding is carried out until the age of 2 or above.
American Academy of Pediatrics:
It is recommended to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months, continue breastfeeding after adding supplementary foods for 6 months, and feed for one year or more according to the needs of both mothers and infants.
Breast milk is the most precious [liquid gold] for babies, especially colostrum rich in immune factors provides the first umbrella for newly arrived babies. Formula milk can only be used as a substitute when breast-feeding cannot be carried out, and should never put the cart before the horse.
In fact, many mothers also know that breast milk is good, but when they start actual combat, they find it difficult and anxious.
At the beginning of breast-feeding, people were deterred?
When we decide to choose breast-feeding, the following actual combat will often make many mothers back down.
Do I have enough milk? Will the baby not have enough to eat? Do you want some milk powder? Why is the baby’s weight still falling?
Mothers who begin to be confident are often questioned by people around them.
1. A few drops of colostrum are perfect for the baby.
In fact, although there may be only a few drops of milk a few days after delivery, this colostrum is the most perfect food for babies. It is not only rich in nutrition but also contains high concentrations of antibodies.
In fact, the newborn’s stomach is very small, and the baby’s appetite on the first day of birth is only 5-7ml, about the size of a cherry. The suitable feeding method for him during this period is to eat less and eat more. Breast milk is easy to digest and absorb. As long as the baby’s eating needs are responded to in time, it is good to feed on demand.
2. Frequent sucking will lead to more and more milk for mothers.
As the baby sucks frequently on the mother’s breast, the brain will continue to receive signals [need to produce more milk] and try to secrete more prolactin. The mother’s milk volume will gradually increase, thus satisfying the baby’s growing appetite.
Mothers should remember that milk is not prompted by lactagogue, nor is it successfully produced by eating all kinds of milk-feeding foods. Milk is eaten by the baby himself. Close contact and frequent close feeding are the best [milk-feeding] recipe, and the more you eat, the more you have it.
3. There are many reasons why babies cry, not necessarily because they are not full.
To the pain of many mothers, the baby who had just been fed with milk cried again. Why was it hungry so soon?
In fact, there are many reasons for the baby to cry, hungry, cold, hot, wet diapers, even fear of strange environment, lack of security and seeking comfort. Too many reasons will make this newcomer burst into tears.
Mothers also don’t worry about responding to the wrong baby’s needs. Spend more time and patience. The mode of getting along day and night will make you respond to the baby’s needs more and more accurately.
As for whether the baby is full or not, the suggestion of exclusive breastfeeding is 8-12 times a day, at least once at night, and there is no upper limit for on-demand feeding.
As long as we stick to it, our milk quantity can meet the needs of our baby.
Is it bad for the baby to only choose milk powder for feeding?
Seeing this, I believe most mothers know that breast milk is the first choice for the healthy growth of babies.
From a medical point of view, there are very few cases of real inability to breastfeed, mainly including HIV infection, untreated active tuberculosis, mother’s inability to control her own behavior due to drug abuse or other mental diseases, and some infants suffering from congenital metabolic diseases.
In reality, when there are other non-medical factors that prevent mothers from breast-feeding, formula milk is a substitute for breast milk.
The attitude towards formula milk should be objective and fair. It can never surpass the active immune ingredients brought by breast milk, nor can it replace the intimacy brought by the skin contact between mother and infant during parent feeding. However, under special circumstances, formula milk is the first choice to provide infants with necessary nutrients besides breast milk.
If you choose milk powder feeding, here are some suggestions:
- Careful choice of regular brands; In strict accordance with the proportion of punching adjustment; Pay attention to the feeding method of feeding bottles; Even if you eat formula milk, the baby within 6 months does not need extra water. It is enough to eat until one year old: formula milk does not have to be drunk until three years old, as advertisers say. Babies after one year old can meet their calcium needs by eating or drinking dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.).
We encourage the recommendation of breastfeeding, but we also respect every mother’s choice and try to give necessary technical support. No matter what kind of feeding method is suitable for you and your baby, it is the best, and it is more important to be a happy and confident mother.