Feeding Your Baby and Young Child, from the Early Days Through Weaning on Solid Food and Beyond
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Feeding your baby 2 and young child This chapter provides advice on feeding your baby and young child, from the early days through weaning on solid food and beyond. Feeding your baby and the longer you breastfeed, is breastfed. Breastfeeding the longer the protection lasts. It reduces the risk of sudden infant Breastfeeding is the healthiest reduces your chance of getting death (also known as cot death). way to feed your baby. Exclusive some illnesses later in life. breastfeeding (that means Formula milk cannot give your Breastfeeding also helps giving your baby breastmilk only, baby the same ingredients or protect against childhood with no other food or drink) is provide the same protection. obesity and diabetes. recommended for around the first six months of your baby’s Breastfeeding helps build a life. Breastmilk provides all the Help with strong bond between mother nutrients your baby needs and breastfeeding and baby, both physically and helps to protect them from emotionally. Midwives, health visitors and infections and diseases. trained volunteers such as peer supporters or voluntary After six months giving your Breastfeeding significantly breastfeeding counsellors baby breastmilk alongside solid reduces the chance of your baby can all offer information food will help them continue being admitted into hospital to and practical help with to grow and develop. The be treated for a chest infection breastfeeding. Peer supporters World Health Organization or a gastric intestinal infection. are mothers who have recommends exclusive Ear and kidney infections are breastfed their own babies and breastfeeding for six months, also less likely if your baby have had training to help them and breastfeeding along with support other mothers. Talk to solid foods into the second year your midwife or health visitor of life and beyond. about the help that is available Breastfeeding protects your in your area. baby from infections and diseases. It also offers health For more information benefits for mums. Every day breastfeeding support groups makes a difference to your baby, in your area visit www.breastfedbabies.org 22 Breastfeeding Just like any new skill, breastfeeding takes time and practice to work well. In the first few days, you and your baby will be getting to know each other. Any close contact and holding your baby against your skin can 2 really help with this. Feeding your baby and young child baby and young your Feeding The more time you spend with ‘Liquid gold’: the your baby, the quicker you perfect food for your will learn to understand each newborn other’s signs and signals. The Colostrum is sometimes called next few pages will help you to ‘liquid gold’. This extra-special understand how breastfeeding breastmilk is full of germ- works. And remember, it’s OK to fighting antibodies that will ask for help. help protect your baby against infections that you have had Immediately after your baby The first few days in the past. The first few feeds is born ‘coat’ your baby’s gut to protect Each time your baby feeds, they Every pregnant woman has milk them from germs and reduce are letting your body know how ready for her baby at birth. This the chances of them developing much milk it needs to produce. first milk is called colostrum and allergies as they get older. The amount of milk you make it is sometimes quite yellow in will increase or decrease in line colour. Later on, your breastmilk will with your baby’s needs. Around still contain antibodies, and as days two to four, you may notice It is very concentrated, so your you come across new infections that your breasts become fuller baby only needs a small amount you will have new antibodies and warmer. at each feed, which might in your milk. This means that if be quite frequent. It is full of you get colds or flu while you This is often referred to as your antibodies to boost your baby’s are breastfeeding, your baby milk ‘coming in’. To keep yourself ability to fight off infection. will automatically get some as comfortable as possible, feed immunity from those illnesses. your baby as often as they want. Holding your baby against your Your milk will vary according skin straight after birth will calm to your baby’s needs. It will them, steady their breathing look quite thin compared with and keep them warm. It will also colostrum, but gets creamier as encourage them to breastfeed. the feed goes on. Let your baby Babies are often very alert in decide when they have had the first hour after birth and enough. keen to feed. Your midwife can help you with this. 23 Sometimes, breastmilk may You can learn more about You can try feeding lying leak from your breast. You may breastfeeding from the Public on your side or in a bed or need to wear breast pads and Health Agency booklet Off to chair, supported in an upright to change them frequently. If a good start. Ask your midwife position. This will make it easier you need to quickly stop your for a copy or visit pha.site/good- to hold your baby so their milk flowing you can apply some start neck, shoulders and back are pressure to your nipple with supported and they can reach the flat of your hand for a few First steps: starting to your breast easily. Their head seconds. breastfeed and body should be in a straight You might like to watch the line. In the beginning, it can seem Bump to Breastfeeding video as that you are doing nothing but you read this part of the chapter Attaching your baby feeding, but gradually your baby so you can see what to expect. To begin breastfeeding, hold will get into a pattern of feeding To view this video visit pha.site/ your baby close to you with their and the amount of milk you bump-to-breastfeeding nose level with your nipple. produce will settle. Getting comfortable Let their head tilt a little so the Your baby will be happier if you top lip can brush against your keep them near you and feed You can breastfeed in a number of different positions. Finding nipple. This should encourage them whenever they are hungry. your baby to open their mouth. This will quickly help your body one that is comfortable for both to produce the amount of milk of you will help your baby feed as well as possible. Once the baby’s mouth is wide your baby needs. At night, your open, bring them to your breast, baby will be safest sleeping in If you are lying back in a well- chin first, head tipped up and a cot in the same room as you. nose clear of the breast. Make This will make feeding easier supported position with your baby lying on your tummy, they sure your baby takes in a large and will reduce the risk of mouthful of breast, not just the sudden infant death. Try to take will often move themselves onto your breast and begin to feed. nipple. Your nipple should go each day as it comes. If you are towards the roof of your baby’s very uncomfortable or sore, ask mouth. for help as soon as possible. Remember at all times to keep your baby safe. Never The let-down reflex Health professionals breastfeed your baby lying down recommend that babies and on a sofa. Your baby’s sucking causes milk adults should be given extra stored in your breasts to be vitamin D. It is recommended Helpful tips squeezed down ducts inside your breasts towards your nipples. that babies who are consuming Breastfeeding should feel less than 500ml of infant comfortable. Your baby should This is called the ‘let-down’ formula a day are given a be relaxed. You should hear reflex. Some women get a supplement of 8.5–10mcg of a soft swallowing. If it doesn’t tingling feeling which can be vitamin D. If you are not eligible feel right, start again. Slide quite strong, while others feel for Healthy Start vitamins, you one of your fingers into your nothing at all. You will see your can buy vitamin D infant drops baby’s mouth, gently break baby respond and their quick from your local pharmacy. the suction and try again. 24 sucks change to deep rhythmic baby crying or when you have a swallows as the milk begins warm bath. to flow. Babies often pause after the initial quick sucks If you have any concerns about while they wait for more milk any of these points, talk to your to be ‘delivered’. If your baby midwife, health visitor or peer falls asleep quickly before the supporter. deep swallowing stage, check that they are properly latched Note that if your baby seems 2 on. It might be easier to get unusually sleepy and/or is slow someone else to check for you. to start feeding, they may be ill, child baby and young your Feeding Sometimes you will notice your so contact your GP as soon as milk flowing in response to your possible. How do I know that my baby is feeding well? • Your baby has a large 1 2 mouthful of breast. Bring your baby in close to Check their head and body • Your baby’s chin is firmly your body so that they don't are in a straight line facing touching your breast. have to stretch to reach your the same way as they will be breast. Support their neck, uncomfortable if they are twisted • It doesn’t hurt you to feed shoulders and back.