Things to know about breastfeeding
The mammal gland, or the breast as commonly called, contains tiny sacs inside it. These sacs contain cells that give the right cues from the hormone to start milk. The sacs are clustered together into lobes; each lobe has a single milk duct that carries milk to the nipple. As the baby sucks the breast […]
The mammal gland, or the breast as commonly called, contains tiny sacs inside it. These sacs contain cells that give the right cues from the hormone to start milk. The sacs are clustered together into lobes; each lobe has a single milk duct that carries milk to the nipple.
As the baby sucks the breast the nerves in the nipples will send message or impulse to the brain. This tells the ducts to let down milk to the nipples for the baby to suck. This is just the little physiology explanation of breast formation.
Breastfeeding
Breast feeding is one of the most treasured experiences in a mother’s life. There are many good infant formulas in the market, but experts still agree that breast feeding is the best.
In those days mothers feed with only breast milk but now due to western ideas, changes in norms and cultures our mothers choose to bottle-feed their infants, resulting in many deficiencies in the growth of our children today.
The benefits of breastfeeding
Why should you think about nursing your baby?
The colostrums; i.e. the thick yellowish part of the breast milk that comes out during the few days after delivery is very rich in protein and help the baby’s digestive system to grow and function well.
The breast milk is nature’s perfect baby food. Your milk has just the right nutrients in the right amount to nourish your baby completely.
The protein and fat in breast milk are better used by the baby’s body than the protein and fat of formula. Breast milk contains growth factors, enzymes, hormones and other things that help a baby grow.
Breast milk has anti bodies that help your baby’s immune system fight off sickness such as cold or ear infections just as babies fed with breast milk stand lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Breast milk is easily digested. Infants that are breast fed have fewer gases or the risk of having constipation. Babies that are breast fed may be smarter and breastfeeding help your baby’s brain develop.
Breastfeeding good for mothers too
When a mother is breastfeeding a hormone called oxytocin is released which helps the uterus to contract. By so doing it returns to its normal size more quickly and also cut down bleeding after delivery.
Nursing burns down calories and helps in loosing those weight gained during pregnancy. Breastfeeding lowers the risk of some deceases such as: osteoporosis and some breast and ovarian cancer. Osteoporosis is the softness of the bones.
Breastfeeding is easier and cheaper than bottle-feeding. No need to buy the formula, sterilizing unit and other equipment.
Breastfeeding helps you bond with your baby because many women find it to be a loving and natural way to feed their babies.
Due to the closeness, breastfeeding mothers notice some signals from the baby like the baby’s first smile, teething.
Challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers
Private firms need to establish a crèche section in their companies for nursing mothers to be keeping their babies with nannies to take care of them. This will allow the mothers to go and breastfeed the babies on demand.
The advantage of this to the company is that the mother will be more productive, psychologically she is at rest because her baby is close to her.
Secondly, she will also close the same time the male workers close and there will be no more breastfeeding mother’s time. The baby on the other hand gets adequate breastfeeding and mother’s love.
Provision of day care centres
When there is enough and well equipped daycare centers with facilities to handle the babies and to keep express breast milk (EBM), the mother is relived of the stress associated with finding where to keep her baby.
Challenges
Breast sagging: Some ladies believe that if they do not breastfeed their babies after delivery their breast will remain firm and will not sag. But whether you breastfeed your baby or not when the time comes for the muscles holding the breast to sag it will and nothing can stop it.
Lack of breast milk: Some mothers during the first days of delivery do not take adequate fluid like tea and pap to enhance the flow of the breast milk.
Small breast: Some women believe without trying that because of their breast size they cannot have adequate breast milk to sustain their baby needs. So they introduce formula. It should not be so. No matter the size of breast once the mother is healthy and eats well then it will be enough to feed her baby.
Women who should not breastfeed
These conditions are as follows:
Infection: When the mother has infection that can be passed to the child through breastfeeding, for example, tuberculoses. But when treated the mother can breast feed.
Women who are on medications to treat health problems, e.g chemotherapy drugs for cancer, some anti-hypertensive.
The use of illegal drugs: abuse of alcohol or smoking some of these substances can pass through the breast milk and harm the baby.
Serious debilitating illness; such as Cardiac or Kidney impairment or severe Anaemia
To the babies
Lactose intolerance, in which neither human nor cow’s milk can be given, because it will not digest.
Cleft lip or cleft pate which makes suckling impossible. However in this case it can be expressed and given with cup and spoon.
Conclusion
Applying this study will improve the physical, mental, social as well as happiness and healthiness of babies that are adequately breastfed. This in turn will give a better and fruitful nation.
Aisha is a Principal Nursing Officer at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State.