1. Breastfeeding works on the simple principle of demand and supply. The more your baby/babies nurse, the more milk you will produce.
2. Breastfeeding should not hurt. Breastfeeding can be tricky to get the hang of, it can be exhausting, irritating and during a nursing aversion even revolting. But it should not pain. If breastfeeding is causing you physical pain then that means there is an underlying problem. It could be an incorrect latch, mastitis, a tongue tie or some other issue that is best diagnosed by a trained professional.
3. If you’re having difficulty breastfeeding or if nursing is causing you pain and online resources and books haven’t been able to help, it’s best to consult an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). Always check credentials as many supposed Lactation Consultants (even those hired by hospitals) are not certified and dispel incorrect information.
4. Virtually all mothers can breastfeed, provided they have accurate information, and the support of their family, the health care system and society at large.
5. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are not producing enough milk and keeping your baby hungry. If your baby has a pee count of 6+ times in 24 hours (after the first week) then your supply is perfectly fine.
6. Often, mothers think that their milk supply is low when it really isn’t. If your baby is gaining weight well on breastmilk alone, then you do NOT have a problem with milk supply.
7. The feel of the breast, the behavior of your baby, the frequency of nursing, the sensation of let-down, or the amount you pump are NOT valid ways to determine if you have enough milk for your baby.
8. We’re lucky to be mothers in a generation where information is at our fingertips. Learn to discern fact from hearsay. Look for reliable sources and well researched facts. A couple of online resources that I have relied on are the website kellymom.com and the Facebook group ‘Breastfeeding support for Indian Mothers’
9. Your OB and your child’s pediatrician are not always the best source of breastfeeding information. Unfortunately most Doctors are not trained in early childhood nutrition. Many are also compensated by formula making companies to promote their products. Look for supportive and breastfeeding friendly Doctors before you settle on one.
10. New mothers are often very vulnerable. Stress is a big factor in impeding the establishment of a successful breastfeeding relationship.
11. All new mother’s deserve to take an informed decision about breastfeeding. More often than not mothers opt to formula feed not because they want to but because of misinformation and criticism over not producing enough milk, keeping the baby hungry etc
12. Breastfeeding is first and foremost a mother’s choice. Since the decision to breastfeed or not revolves around her body it should be solely her decision. It’s the job of family, Doctors and society at large to respect that and support each mother’s choice without judgement.
13. Without qualified, competent, consistent breastfeeding support in every community, it is difficult to truly assess how many mothers struggle with Perceived Insufficient Milk or a true inability to exclusively breastfeed their babies.
14. Pump output is not a true indication of a mother’s milk supply. A baby is far more effective than a pump at draining out a mother’s breast.
15. Golden hour : Colostrum, the yellowish, sticky breast milk produced at the end of pregnancy, is the perfect food for the newborn, and feeding should be initiated within the first hour after birth.
16. Your body will produce colostrum for several days after delivery until your milk increases in amount and becomes more creamy or white in color—a time that mothers frequently refer to as the milk “coming in.” The small amounts of colostrum are sufficient for newborns.
17. In the first few days it is normal for a baby to lose some weight. This weight loss consists of extra fluid accumulated during pregnancy. In the days after delivery, your baby’s appetite and need for fluids will increase. Approximately two to five days after birth, the colostrum production will give way to a higher volume of transitional milk.
18. Breastfed babies typically require feeds at more frequent intervals than formula fed babies. This is because non-human milk is more difficult to digest. This does NOT mean your milk supply isn’t enough.
19. Do not restrict the duration of your feeds. Do not wait for a specific interval if your baby is asking for a feed. FEED ON DEMAND is one of the basic tenets of breastfeeding during the initial months.
20. Breastmilk fulfills all the nutritional needs of the baby for the first six months of life.
21. Breastmilk contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia.
22. Breastmilk changes upon the requirement of your baby
23. When a baby cries, it does not necessarily mean that he/she is hungry. Crying is the only way a baby can communicate. There are a number of reasons a baby could be crying, hunger is only one of them.
24. Likewise babies demand to nurse for a number of reasons. Hunger is only one of them. Some of the other reasons are- When they need comfort, when they are tired and want to be lulled to sleep, when they are trying to recover from illness, to build immunity, for a growth spurt,
25. Galactogogues, hand expressing, power pumping, keeping yourself hydrated and stress free are all important supporting measures to boost milk supply. However, they will all come to nought without the main factor – your baby nursing. The first and foremost requirement to boost your supply is to keep your baby at your breast and nurse longer.
26. Supplementing with formula also known as top feeds is at the end of the day a trap. Many mothers feel like they are not producing enough milk for their baby and decide to offer formula. The more formula you give your baby, the less the baby will nurse. The less the baby nurses, the further your supply will dip. It’s a vicious circle.
27. Cluster feeding is seen during a growth spurt in babies. Babies exhibit a temporary need for increased nursing due to physical growth or while they are working on developmental advances.
28. The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods to two years or beyond.
29. The time required for exclusively nursing a baby during the initial months is equivalent to a full time job. In order to successfully do this, a new mother needs support – mentally, emotionally and physically – and help in completing all other household and child care related tasks.
30. If breastfeeding were scaled up to near universal levels, about 820 000 child lives would be saved every year.
31. Breastfeeding has benefits for mothers too. It reduces risks of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and postpartum depression.
32. Offer breastmilk first, before any solids, through at least the first year. Don’t let solids become more important than breastmilk during the first year. It is the primary source of nutrition.
33. Limit or eliminate pacifier use when you are with a baby, so that your baby’s desire to suck encourages him to nurse more often.
34. Limit (or eliminate) bottles. If baby must be supplemented due to separation from mom, then only use bottles when you are physically separated from baby. Use a newborn-flow nipple, no matter how old your baby is, to reduce the risk that the baby will grow to prefer the fast flow of a bottle. If baby is older than six months, consider using a cup rather than a bottle.
35. It’s a myth that the benefits of breastmilk stop at a certain point. Instead, they continue and are more significant and longer-lasting for both you and your child the longer breastfeeding continues.
36. The antibodies in human milk are more concentrated the lesser the frequency of breastfeeding is (say with a toddler or older child). If you nurse on into your child’s toddler years he won’t even need cow’s milk as long as he receives other foods rich in protein, calcium, and fats, and nurses at least a couple of times a day.
37. Breastmilk changes as your baby grows. It’s composition is dynamic and varies depending upon your baby’s need and age.
38. Breastfeeding does not cause breasts to sag. In reality, droopy breasts are a result of pregnancy, because hormonal changes cause the ligaments underneath them to loosen and stretch. As you gain weight and your breasts become larger and heavier, they may begin to sag
39. Breastfeeding does not make a baby clingy. Studies have shown that babies who benefit from the attachment of breastfeeding are more independent later in life.
40. Breastfeeding contributes to a lifetime of good health. Adolescents and adults were breastfed as babies are less likely to be overweight or obese or have type 2 diabetes.