Science has proven that breast milk is the best food for the comprehensive development of infants and children. So why is breast milk good for your baby, how to breastfeed optimally, let's find out!
Breastfeeding is a major issue that affects a baby's development. In today's industrial age, due to the busyness of life, the development of the food industry has limited breastfeeding. But one thing is for sure "breast milk is an irreplaceable source of nutrition for babies".
1. Breast milk is the perfect source of nutrition for your baby's digestion and absorption
Breast milk in the first week after giving birth is called colostrum, the time after that is called mature milk. Perhaps few people know the value of colostrum for babies.
Colostrum is easy to digest, has high protein, antibacterial and hormonal content, and the amount of vitamin A in colostrum is 5.10 times higher than normal milk. So colostrum, although small, is an excellent source of nutrition for babies in the first few days after birth.
The amount of breast milk gradually decreases during breastfeeding, the first 6 months, the mother secretes about 600-800 ml of milk/day, from the 6th to the 12th month only 400-600 ml/day. Breast milk has all the essential nutrients for babies such as proteins, lipids, sugars, vitamins, mineral salts, etc.
How is breast milk different from cow's milk, specifically the nutritional composition of breast milk?
Protein: Protein in breast milk (1.07g%) is less than cow's milk (3.4g%) but provides the necessary amount of amino acids. Furthermore, the protein in breast milk is a low-molecular-weight lactambumin that makes it easier for the baby to digest than the protein in cow's milk (the protein in cow's milk is casein, which will precipitate in the stomach into a substance with a larger volume).
Lipids: Breast milk contains fatty acids linoleic acid and lipase. Linoleic acid is essential for the development of the baby's eyes, brain and blood vessels. The enzyme lipase helps the stomach digest lipids more easily. Note that the amount of lipid will increase more at the end of the feed, so it is advisable to empty the milk each time to take advantage of this available fat.
Sugar: The amount of sugar in breast milk (7.4g%) is higher than in cow's milk (4.8%). In essence, the sugar in breast milk is mainly beta-lactose, while in cow's milk is alpha-lactose. When entering the intestinal tract, alpha-lactose will create an environment for gram (-) bacteria to grow. Therefore, eating young cow's milk is prone to digestive disorders, malabsorption.
Vitamins: Breast milk has more vitamins A, D, and C than cow's milk, so breastfed babies can avoid rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency, dry eyes due to vitamin A deficiency.
Iron: Iron is an essential element for the body's blood formation. The iron content in breast milk is also higher than in cow's milk.
2. Breast milk helps increase the baby's antibacterial ability
In the first 4-6 months after birth, babies are still weak, their immune systems are not yet complete, they are very susceptible to infections. At this time, antibodies are transmitted through vegetables from mother to child, helping children avoid many dangerous diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and flu.
Breast milk ensures sterility, the baby can completely suckle directly, bacteria do not have the opportunity to reproduce in the breast milk environment.
3. Breast milk has anti-allergic effect for children
Breastfed babies are rarely allergic to cow's milk. When drinking cow's milk, young children are exposed to foreign antigens, so they may react in children with a special location. However, in the content of breast milk, there is an immune substance called IgA that will fight allergies for the baby.
4. Breastfeeding increases motherhood
Breastfeeding increases the chances of close contact between mother and baby. Every time she breastfeeds, skin-to-skin, a mother caresses and loves her child, that is a sacred and beautiful feeling.
5. Breastfeeding will help protect mother's health
Breastfeeding right after birth is not only beneficial for the baby but also for the mother. The sucking and sucking movement of the baby stimulates the body, the uterine muscle contraction response occurs to help the mother stop the perineal bleeding. Ovulation is also limited, avoiding early conception right after giving birth. Breastfeeding also increases milk circulation, avoiding inflammation, blockage or breast cancer for the mother.
6. Breastfeeding is the cheapest and most convenient way to provide enough nutrition for your baby
In fact, breastfeeding is the cheapest and simplest method to provide enough nutrition for babies. Breast milk is available milk, the baby can completely suckle right away, not afraid of allergies, infections, no need to mix or cook.
Instructions on how to breastfeed your baby optimally
Breastfeeding until when?
Breastfeed your baby as soon as possible after birth, preferably within the first hour
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months
In the process of taking care of the baby, breastfeed whenever the baby needs, whether day or night, at least 8 times a day.
Breastfeeding is recommended until 24 months (2 years old) or more
Guide to breastfeeding properly
Correct breastfeeding position
When breastfeeding, the mother should be in a relaxed, comfortable position. In the first week, if there is still pain, the mother can breastfeed her baby lying down, the following weeks should sit to breastfeed. Avoid the case when lying unnoticed, the mother's breast is inserted, blocking the child's nose, the child cannot breathe, causing unfortunate consequences.
The mother attentively looks at her child, caresses, talks to her child
The mother holds the baby carefully, supporting the baby's whole body (head, shoulder, butt)
The baby's head and body should be carried in a straight line
The baby's belly is close to the mother's belly
The mother's index finger is to support the breast below, the thumb is on top, the fingers are not too close to the nipple.
The mother brings the nipple to the baby's lips, the baby's chin touches the breast, waits for the baby's mouth to open wide, then puts the nipple in (the baby's lower lip is facing out).
How do you know if your baby suckles well?
When breastfeeding, mothers should also pay attention to whether the baby sucks well, enough or not to find ways to supplement nutrition for the baby. Babies breastfeed effectively when:
Baby sucks deeply, sucks slowly, when sucking sometimes stops to swallow before continuing to suckle (the sign of a baby swallowing breast milk can be seen as round mouth, swollen cheeks). If while feeding, hear the sound of sucking and sucking of the baby is too loud, the posture is not standard, there is a lot of gas going into the mouth when the baby suckles, the baby will easily vomit.
After suckling enough, the baby released the mother's breast by himself and slept soundly, without fussing.
Note: You should breastfeed each time for 15-20 minutes, drain one side and then switch to the other to take advantage of the fat in the last milk. If the mother has too much milk, she should express less colostrum. After the baby is finished feeding, if there is still a lot of milk, the mother can express less to avoid stagnation and residue. Find a handy milking machine here.
Hopefully the information that we share can help mothers and families take better care of their children's health. Don't forget to visit our Health section to update more useful experiences for you!