General Questions
Why should I breastfeed?
When should I start breastfeeding?
You should nurse your baby as soon as possible after birth, preferably within the first hour of life when the baby’s sucking instinct is strong. Early and frequent feedings of your early milk, called colostrum (a yellowish fluid full of antibodies), helps protect your baby from disease. Your mature milk will come in within a few days after birth.
How long do I need to breastfeed?
Experts recommend that babies receive only breastmilk – no formula – for at least the first six months of life. Continue to breastfeed for 12 months or longer, adding age appropriate solids when the baby shows signs of readiness. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least one year and the World Health Organization recommends at least two years as closer to the biological norm.
How often do I need to breastfeed?
Newborns need to nurse often, at least 8 to 10 times in a 24 hour period, and not on a strict
schedule. This will help the mother’s breasts to produce plenty of milk. Breastfed babies eat
more often than bottle-fed babies. This is because breastmilk is digested more easily and
quickly than formula.
Is there any time when a woman should not breastfeed?
Sickness / Illness: Some women think that when they are sick, they should not breastfeed.
However, most common illnesses, such as colds, flu, or diarrhea, can’t be passed through
breast milk. In fact, if a mother is sick, her breast milk will have antibodies in it. These
antibodies will help protect her baby from getting the same sickness.
HIV: HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can pass through breastmilk. Women in the United States who are HIV positive should not breastfeed. An option for an HIV positive mother could be donor milk from a milk bank. Ask your health care provider about donor milk, which must be purchased.
Galactosemia: All babies born in Rhode Island are tested for a rare condition called
galactosemia. Babies with galactosemia should not be breastfed. If this condition runs in your baby’s family, please talk with your doctor.
Tobacco: While it is best for your baby to have no exposure to tobacco smoke, the benefits to your baby from breastfeeding outweigh some of the risks of tobacco exposure. Breastmilk will help your baby stay healthier and lower the risk of crib death (SIDS). Please call 1-800-Try to Stop and speak with your doctor to help you quit or cut down on smoking.
Street Drugs: Women who use drugs should not breastfeed. Drugs used by a breastfeeding
mother can affect her baby. Babies can become addicted to drugs and have serious side effects such as irritability, poor sleeping patterns, tremors, and vomiting. Mothers on methadone or other treatments for heroin addiction can breastfeed their babies.
Alcohol: When a breastfeeding mother drinks alcohol, it passes into the breastmilk. Once the mother’s blood alcohol level returns to normal, the alcohol will leave the breastmilk. An
occasional drink timed to avoid a feeding will not harm the baby. Too much alcohol may affect your ability to care for your baby. It may also decrease the amount of milk you make and cause the baby to gain weight too slowly or have developmental delays.
Food Allergies: In families with a strong history of food allergies, mothers should talk to allergy or breastfeeding experts about avoiding allergy-causing foods while breastfeeding. Sometimes a baby may have a reaction (such as vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash) to something the mother eats. This doesn’t mean the baby is allergic to the mother’s milk. If the mother stops eating whatever is bothering her baby, the problem will usually go away.
If I decide to breastfeed, is there a right way to do so?
Here are several tips for making breastfeeding a good experience for both mother and baby.
When do I wean my breastfed child?
You can wean your child whenever and for whatever reason you and your child decide that the time has come. The simplest, most natural way to wean is when your child starts the process. Weaning begins naturally at six months, when iron-fortified solid foods are introduced. Some children begin to turn gradually away from breastfeeding and toward other forms of nutrition and comfort around one year of age. Others wean themselves during the toddler years as they become more physically active and less willing to sit still to nurse. If your baby refuses the breast but you are not ready to wean, or if you are ready to wean but are not sure how, a lactation consultant may be able to help.
- Breastfeeding is something only a mother can do for her baby. Breastfeeding helps a mother bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm, and comforted.
- Breastmilk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. It’s always convenient, fresh, and the right temperature. A mother’s milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for her baby’s growth and development. It is easier for babies to digest than formula. Breastmilk also protects a baby’s digestive and immune systems.
- Breastfeeding helps a mother to recover from pregnancy and childbirth. It helps the uterus to get back to its original size and reduces any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth. It also uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose weight gained during pregnancy.
- Breastfed babies are healthier. They have fewer sick visits and are hospitalized less often.
- Breastfeeding lowers a mother’s risk of breast cancer and may lower her risk of ovarian cancer.
When should I start breastfeeding?
You should nurse your baby as soon as possible after birth, preferably within the first hour of life when the baby’s sucking instinct is strong. Early and frequent feedings of your early milk, called colostrum (a yellowish fluid full of antibodies), helps protect your baby from disease. Your mature milk will come in within a few days after birth.
How long do I need to breastfeed?
Experts recommend that babies receive only breastmilk – no formula – for at least the first six months of life. Continue to breastfeed for 12 months or longer, adding age appropriate solids when the baby shows signs of readiness. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least one year and the World Health Organization recommends at least two years as closer to the biological norm.
How often do I need to breastfeed?
Newborns need to nurse often, at least 8 to 10 times in a 24 hour period, and not on a strict
schedule. This will help the mother’s breasts to produce plenty of milk. Breastfed babies eat
more often than bottle-fed babies. This is because breastmilk is digested more easily and
quickly than formula.
Is there any time when a woman should not breastfeed?
Sickness / Illness: Some women think that when they are sick, they should not breastfeed.
However, most common illnesses, such as colds, flu, or diarrhea, can’t be passed through
breast milk. In fact, if a mother is sick, her breast milk will have antibodies in it. These
antibodies will help protect her baby from getting the same sickness.
HIV: HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can pass through breastmilk. Women in the United States who are HIV positive should not breastfeed. An option for an HIV positive mother could be donor milk from a milk bank. Ask your health care provider about donor milk, which must be purchased.
Galactosemia: All babies born in Rhode Island are tested for a rare condition called
galactosemia. Babies with galactosemia should not be breastfed. If this condition runs in your baby’s family, please talk with your doctor.
Tobacco: While it is best for your baby to have no exposure to tobacco smoke, the benefits to your baby from breastfeeding outweigh some of the risks of tobacco exposure. Breastmilk will help your baby stay healthier and lower the risk of crib death (SIDS). Please call 1-800-Try to Stop and speak with your doctor to help you quit or cut down on smoking.
Street Drugs: Women who use drugs should not breastfeed. Drugs used by a breastfeeding
mother can affect her baby. Babies can become addicted to drugs and have serious side effects such as irritability, poor sleeping patterns, tremors, and vomiting. Mothers on methadone or other treatments for heroin addiction can breastfeed their babies.
Alcohol: When a breastfeeding mother drinks alcohol, it passes into the breastmilk. Once the mother’s blood alcohol level returns to normal, the alcohol will leave the breastmilk. An
occasional drink timed to avoid a feeding will not harm the baby. Too much alcohol may affect your ability to care for your baby. It may also decrease the amount of milk you make and cause the baby to gain weight too slowly or have developmental delays.
Food Allergies: In families with a strong history of food allergies, mothers should talk to allergy or breastfeeding experts about avoiding allergy-causing foods while breastfeeding. Sometimes a baby may have a reaction (such as vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash) to something the mother eats. This doesn’t mean the baby is allergic to the mother’s milk. If the mother stops eating whatever is bothering her baby, the problem will usually go away.
If I decide to breastfeed, is there a right way to do so?
Here are several tips for making breastfeeding a good experience for both mother and baby.
- Nurse as soon as possible after birth and continue to breastfeed often.
- Make sure the baby has a good deep latch. Nurse with the nipple and some of the areola (brown area surrounding the nipple) in the baby’s mouth, not just the nipple.
- Breastfeed on demand, whenever the baby seems hungry.
- Try a support group. Many women find they have an easier time when they meet other breastfeeding moms.
When do I wean my breastfed child?
You can wean your child whenever and for whatever reason you and your child decide that the time has come. The simplest, most natural way to wean is when your child starts the process. Weaning begins naturally at six months, when iron-fortified solid foods are introduced. Some children begin to turn gradually away from breastfeeding and toward other forms of nutrition and comfort around one year of age. Others wean themselves during the toddler years as they become more physically active and less willing to sit still to nurse. If your baby refuses the breast but you are not ready to wean, or if you are ready to wean but are not sure how, a lactation consultant may be able to help.