"Empowering Mothers through Breastfeeding" "Nurturing New Life

all about breastfeeding class

1. L actation

2. B reastfeeding During pregnancy, the breasts prepare for lactation (breast milk production) through a complex interaction of hormones that causes rapid growth of the milk glands. These glands contain the small round sacs (lobules) that make milk and the pathways (ducts) for milk to flow out the nipple. Blood supply to your breasts supports this growth and delivers the nutrients in breast supply.

3. Breastfeeding As early as the sixteenth week of pregnancy, the hormones stimulate the breasts to produce and provide colostrum (the first milk). After giving birth progesterone levels fall and prolactin levels increase, triggering breast milk production. These amazing changes occur naturally during pregnancy and after birth.

4. Breast Anatomy

5. Milk secretion

6. How the breasts make milk: Imagine the breast like a tree where the roots are the lobes (milk producing unit, alveoli (milk producing ducts &branch of the lobes). Nipple as the stem and milk as the tree’s branches.

7. How the breasts make milk: Hormones play a significant role in milk production and milk ejection. As the baby suckles or compresses the areola (the darker skin around each nipple) which in turn stimulates the nerve endings in areola and tells the anterior pituitary gland to release prolactin. This hormone causes the cells in the alveoli to draw water and nutrients from your blood to make blood to make milk. Hormones also make the ducts widen and shorten, helping with milk flow. This process is called let – down reflex.

8. How the breasts make milk: Each breast has several let-downs from each breast for each feeding. During the first weeks, let- down might not occur until several minutes after the baby has begun suckling. Later on, let down occurs within seconds. After their milk comes in, many women feel a tingling, itching, or flowing sensation during the first let- down. The frequency and duration of feedings strongly affects the milk supply. The more the baby suckles and drains your breast, the more milk you produce.

9. Composition of breast milk: Colostrum: The first milk the breast produce is colostrum. Colostrum helps speed the passage of meconium and establishes the proper balance of healthy bacteria in baby’s digestive tract. Because colostrum is rich in antibodies, it protects the baby from infection. It is also higher in protein than mature milk. On average, you make just over an ounce in the first twenty-four hours after birth, which is exactly what the baby needs. This volume increases over the next few days.

10. Composition of breast milk: Transitional milk: after making only the colostrum, the breasts produce transitional milk, which is higher in fat, calories, and volume than colostrum but lower in protein. Its yellowish white because it contains colostrum and milk.

11. Composition of breast milk: Mature milk: usually by the end of the first week, the breasts mature milk. This bluish white liquid looks like non fat milk and contains more calories than transitional milk. The volume of milk production increases substantially. The composition of mature breast milk varies from the beginning of each feeding to its end. The milk produced early in the feeding is called foremilk. The milk released with letdown is called hind milk. This provides most of the calories and contains more fat and protein. Also, the breast milk contains more fat when your breasts are less full. As the baby grows, breast milk changes to meet the baby’s nutritional needs.

12. Benefits of breastfeeding to infants Better dental health Increased visual acuity Decreased duration and intensity of illnesses Less allergies like asthma, eczema Better health and less risk of illnesses Have higher IQ Increase brain development by 20 to 30 percent Good school performance Lower risk of depression in adulthood

13. Benefits of breastfeeding to infants Decreased ear infections Decreased constipation problems Decreased cholesterol level and healthier hearts in adulthood Decreased respiratory infections Healthier hair Improved immune system Decreased SIDS Smoother and more supple skin

14. Benefits of breast feeding: For the mother: Reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Reduces risk of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian, cervical, and thyroid cancer. Spaces pregnancies. Increases bonding with the infant. Reduces stress overall due to prolactin response. Reduces the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. Increases weight loss in first six weeks postpartum.

15. For the family: Cost savings, formula, health care, bottles, warmers, nipples, less sick time from work. For the society: Breastfeeding is green. Healthier children and families. Increases high school completion. Reduced physical assaults. Health care savings.

16. When to feed your baby:

17. Breastfeeding positions: There are several breastfeeding positions, and each has special advantages. Whichever position they choose both the mother the baby has to be comfortable so that the baby gets comfortable latch and take plenty of milk. Mother’s tummy and baby’s tummy has face other. The baby’s ears, shoulder, and hip to be in a straight line. When the mother stabilizes baby’s body, the baby can easily move its head and latch. Mother can use a pillow to support while arm feeding.

18. Breastfeeding positions Cradle hold: Cradle the baby’s head in the crook of one arm and have the baby facing the breast. Use forearm to support baby’s body and hand to support baby’s buttocks.

19. Breastfeeding positions Cross – cradle or alternate cradle hold : Hold the baby with the arm opposite of the breast from which you are feeding, with its tummy against chest. Support the baby’s head with fingers and thumb on the nape of the baby’s neck behind its ears.

20. Breastfeeding positions Football or clutch hold: Tuck the baby beside your body. Support the baby’s body with your arm and cradle the nape of her neck with your fingers and thumb. Bring the baby up toward your breast as needed so the baby can easily latch on. Baby maybe lying on its back or side or be sitting up against your chest.

21. Breastfeeding positions Side lying: Lie on your side with your lower arm tucked around your baby. Lay your baby on his side, tucked alongside your body facing your lower breast. Use pillows for comfort. To feed from the top breast, lean over slightly to bring your nipple toward your baby’s mouth.

22. Breastfeeding positions Baby sitting upright: Seat your baby on your lap (or on a pillow on your lap) so the baby faces you and her legs straddle your leg or body. Support her back with your forearm, and support baby’s shoulders and neck with your hand.

23. Positions to hold the breast

24. Baby latch

25. Storage of breast milk Amount 60-120 ml in a container (may reduce wastage) Room temperature (19”c -26”c) 6 hrs – 8hrs Refrigerator (<4” c) 72 hrs – 8 days Freezer compartment (-15” c) 2 weeks Freezer with separate door 3- 6 months) Deep freezer (-20”c) (used in human milk banks) 6-12 months (use after is it thawed in refrigerator body overnight or under running water)

26. Burping your baby: When the baby feeds (or cries), it may swallow air that travels to his stomach, causing fullness and possible discomfort. Burping releases the swallowed air, and until he can burp on his own (around two weeks old), the baby needs help doing so. Even then, the baby may need help. If breastfeeding, try burping the baby after finished nursing at each breast.

27. Burping your baby: Place the baby in one of the following positions to burp. Over- the- shoulder: Place the baby high on your chest with his head peeking over your shoulder. Support the baby well across its back and buttocks. Over- the-lap: lay the baby on its tummy across the mother’s lap. Sitting on the lap: the baby can be sitting upright or the mother can lean the baby backward or forward sitting him/her up. Place the thumb and index finger under the baby’s chin with palm supporting baby’s chest and other hand supporting baby’s back. Have the baby head above his stomach to allow air bubbles to rise up and out of its stomach. Mother can gently pat or rub the baby’s back to help bring up the bubbles. If after a minute or two if the baby didn’t burped, stop trying. The baby might not need to burp.

28. Baby spits up: Baby spits up: During or after feedings, many babies spit up a dribble or more of milk (up to 2 to 3 tablespoons). A newborn has an immature sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach, which lets milk and swallowed air back up. Spitting up usually isn’t harmful if it occurs only occasionally and the baby is otherwise healthy and growing well. Babies typically outgrow spitting up at around six months old. Baby may spit up if it cries hard before a feeding. Baby may spit up if the mother has a strong let-down reflex and an abundant milk supply, causing the baby to eat too much quickly or swallow more air. Try leaning back when nursing or sitting your baby up during feedings, to manage the rapid milk flow. Mother can reduce spitting up by burping the baby. If the baby spits up continuously or vomits with force (projectile vomiting) frequently, the baby may have a more serious condition.

29. Types of nipples: Typical nipples: elongate or protrude (stick out) when squeezed. Flat nipples: flatten or move inward (retract) when squeezed. Inverted nipples: tucked in to areola. When squeezed, some protrude while others remain inverted. Contact a lactation consultant if the mother has a flat or inverted nipple.

30. Flat nipple & inverted nipple

31. Common breastfeeding problems : Persistent sore nipples: Sore nipples are most common during the first weeks, when the baby first latches on. If the soreness lasts throughout the entire feeding and between feedings, or if the mothers have intense pain, may need help to solve the problem. Common causes for persistent nipple pain include poor latch, infection, and improper pumping.

32. Common breastfeeding problems: Breast fullness and engorgement: Full breasts can lead to swollen, flattened nipples and areola, which the baby may have trouble latching onto. You can soften your nipple and areola by hand-expressing a few drops of milk. The fullness and tenderness you experience when your milk comes in is sometimes called engorgement. True engorgement, however, is a more serious condition, caused by unrelieved breast fullness and may produce a fever higher than 101’F, acute breast pain, tingling and numbness in the arm and fingers and difficulty removing milk from the breasts even with pump.

33. Common breastfeeding problems: Plugged ducts: Plugged ducts are usually caused by milk stasis (poor milk drainage) in one portion of a breast. Can be relieved by applying warm compression, proper feeding, massaging the breast pressing from the plugged duct toward the nipple.

34. Common breastfeeding problems: Mastitis: Mastitis is an infection of the breast that appears suddenly. It may follow a plugged duct or can occur any time. Besides a painful, reddened area of the breast, symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, headache, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Care giver may prescribe antibiotics. Breast milk is not infected so the mother may continue feeding the baby.

35. Home remedies to increase breast milk supply: Some of the home remedies for breast milk deficiency include the use of fennel seeds, fenugreek, almonds, herbal tea, garlic, onions, parsley, and organic foods. Good nutritious food is the key to avoiding breast milk deficiency. Home remedies for breast milk deficiency must be followed to enhance the production of this nutritional food for infants.

36. Breast crawl