Mummy, You have milk!: BMSG breastfeeding help hospitals
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Breastfeeding Help
| Breastfeeding Organisation/ Hospitals | Helpline |
|---|---|
| Breastfeeding Mothers Support Group (Singapore) BMSG | 63393558 or counselling@breastfeeding.org.sg |
| Mount Alvernia Hospital | 63476641/ 98399477 (Sister Kang) |
| Mount Elizabeth Hospital | 67312180 |
| Gleneagles Hospital | 64705852 |
| East Shore Hospital | 63408681 |
| KK Women's & Children Hospital | 62934044 |
| National University Hospital | 97220376 |
| Thomson Medical Centre | 62514090 |
| Raffles Hospital | 63111516 |
| Singapore General Hospital | 63214530 |
| Private Practice IBCLC | Contact |
|---|---|
| Doris Fok | 96387660 (8.30am to 5.30pm Mon-Sat) |
| Christina Kwek | 93679293 |
| KW Chew | 98158283 |
| Betty Lee | 98330170 |
Mummy, You have milk!: candida engorgement fever fungus mastitis nipple blisters plugged duct sore nipples thrush
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Ouch It Hurts!! – Common Breastfeeding Problems
ENGORGEMENT
- It is normal for a mother’s breasts to become larger, heavier and a little tender on the 2nd to 6th day of birth. This is due to the extra blood and lymph fluids travelling to the breasts to prepare for producing milk, as well as increased volume of the milk itself. This normal fullness usually decreases within the first 2-3 weeks after birth if baby is breastfeeding regularly and well.
- After the initial fullness disappears, the mother’s breasts will feel softer, even when her milk supply is plentiful. However, it is important to nurse regularly as infrequent breastfeeding causes the breasts to become congested with milk, slowing circulation. When blood and lymph move through the breasts slowly, fluid contained in the blood vessels can seep into the breast tissues, causing swelling.
DIY Treatment
- Take a warm shower, drink hot soup/beverage, or apply warm moist heat right before breastfeeding. It helps you to relax and more effectively drain your breasts.
- To help stimulate let-down, use your fingertips to gently knead the breast, massaging from the chest wall towards the nipple area in a circular motion.
- Fully drain the breast with an effective breast pump.
- Many women find cabbage leaves soothing. However, caution should be used as some report that prolonged use of cabbage on the breasts can decrease milk supply.
- If engorgement persists in one breast for more than 48 hours of consistent treatment with no obvious reason, you may wish to see your doctor to rule out other causes.
MASTITIS
- Refers to any inflammation of the breasts, usually from a plugged duct or breast infection.
- How to differentiate between a plugged milk duct and breast infection
Condition Plugged Milk Duct Breast Infection Initial onset Comes on gradually Comes on suddenly Affected area May shift in location Is localized Sensation Feels little or no warmth in the area Breast is red, hot and swollen Type of pain Localised and mild Localised and intense Symptoms Feels generally well Flu-like symptoms Temperature Lower than 38.4°C 38.4°C or higher - Continued breastfeeding during mastitis is beneficial for both mother and baby.
DIY Treatment
- Apply heat to the affected area and remove any dried milk secretions on the nipple by soaking it with plain water.
- Massage the affected area gently while it is warm.
- Breastfeed baby or hand-express some milk immediately after treating the area with warmth and massage.
- Breastfeed baby frequently on the affected side.
- Loosen constrictive clothing, especially your bra.
- Vary nursing positions may help to relieve a plugged duct. Position baby at the breast so that his nose or chin points towards the plug.
- Rest and relax – an important part of the treatment!
- Breastfeeding-compatible antibiotic may be needed if the mother’s fever has not disappeared within 24 hours of home treatment or if her fever increases suddenly.
SORE NIPPLES
- It is normal to experience some nipple soreness in the first week or two of breastfeeding.
- However, if it persists, poor positioning or latch-on is the most common cause. Do check that baby is latched on well.
- Sore nipples can also be caused by the use of an ineffective breastpump. If you need to pump regularly, do invest in a good dual electric breastpump such as Hygeia Enjoye.
- If you are using an effective breastpump, but still develop sore nipples from pumping, you may wish to increase the speed (cycles per minute) and decrease the level of suction till you feel more comfortable.
DIY Treatment
- Express a small amount of milk onto the nipple and allow it to air-dry.
- Apply Hygeia Lanolis to keep nipples and areola moist. It is safe for mother and baby and does not need to be removed.
- If your nipples are so sore that you can’t tolerate the pressure of your bra or clothing on them and it is painful for you to hold baby, you may wish to wear breast shells with air-holes to protect the sore nipples. However, do wear a bra one cup size larger than usual to accommodate them comfortably. Note that this should only be a temporary relief as overuse of breast shells can contribute to plugged ducts and mastitis. Any milk collected in a breast shell between feedings should be discarded.
- Alternatively, you may use Hygeia Gel Pad – a soothing nipple therapy for instant relief of nipple soreness. It absorbs milk leakage and protects against irritating friction from clothing contact. Sterile pad provides a bacterial barrier and helps promote healing. It is safe and non-toxic for both mother and baby, and can be reused for 3-5 days.
THRUSH
- Thrush is an overgrowth of a fungus (Candida albicans) that is naturally present in our bodies.
- Possible symptoms
In Mother In Baby Intense nipple or breast pain that may last throughout the feeding and is not improved with better latch-on and positioning White patches on baby’s gums, cheeks, palate, tonsils, and/or tongue Sudden onset of nipple and/or breast pain after a period of comfortable nursing Diaper rash (may simply be red or red with raised dots) Itchy or burning nipples, and/or have a rash with tiny blisters Whitish sheen to the inside of the lips or saliva Traces of white fungus in the folds of the nipple or breast Baby repeatedly pulling off the breast, making a clicking sound while nursing, or refusing the breast because his mouth is sore Shooting pains in the breasts during or after feedings Gassiness and fussiness Vaginal yeast infection Baby may also be without visible symptoms - If thrush is diagnosed, both mother and baby will need to be treated simultaneously, even if baby has no visible symptoms. Consult baby’s health care provider.
- Breastfeeding should continue during thrush treatment.
- Suggestions to make nursing less painful
- Rinse nipples with clear water and air-dry them after each nursing
- Offer short, frequent feedings
- Nurse first on the least sore side (if there is one)
- Break baby’s suction before taking him off the breast
- A clear blister is usually a sign that baby is not latched on well.
- A white spot on the nipple (known as bleb or milk blister) may be caused by a plugged milk duct, thrush or skin blocking the milk duct, and may occur after a trauma to the nipple.
- If the bleb does not hurt, nothing needs to be done. Just let it resolve on its own.
- If it is painful, apply wet heat before feeding and try to manually express the plug.
- If the clear/white blister persists despite your DIY treatments, go to your health care professional to open the blister.
Mummy, You have milk!: breastmilk storage EBM milk bags milk tray
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Breastmilk Storage Guidelines
1. Label and date all stored EBM
Adopt First-In-First-Out method to ensure the oldest batch of milk is being used first.
2. EBM may stay fresh longer than recommended guidelines
Human milk contains properties that protect it from bacterial contamination. Easy to check for spoilt EBM…it would smell sour or taste bad, so yucky that you won’t even doubt it!
3. Freeze EBM only if it can’t be consumed within 48 hours
To protect the antimicrobial qualities of human milk, fresh is better than chilled, and chilled is better than frozen. Even so, frozen EBM is still way MUCH better than formula!
4. Do not fill EBM to the brim
When EBM freezes, it expands. Allow space for expansion.
5. Freeze EBM in one or two ounces
Small quantities thaw and warm quickly, avoiding unnecessary wastage since thawed frozen EBM has to be discarded after 24 hours.
6. Express milk into smaller containers to boost morale!
Feel good when you see containers full of EBM, and many mothers have given feedback that it encourages and motivates them to strive on! That, in turn, helps in milk production. Great space saver too…you are spared from having a fridge full of half-filled containers.
7. Use BPA-free containers
Bisphenol-A (aka BPA) is known to be an endocrine disruptor, causing a wide variety of hormonal issues including early puberty, reproductive birth defects and various cancers. This chemical, found in polycarbonate plastics, leaches into the milk and may be harmful to babies. Hence, to err on the side of caution, always make sure you use BPA-free containers.
8. Can I combine fresh EBM with already frozen milk?
After pumping, allow your fresh EBM to cool for about half an hour before adding it to frozen EBM. This is to ensure it does not thaw the top layer. (Human milk should not be thawed and refrozen) Also check that there is less fresh milk than frozen milk. Follow storage recommendations based on the time and date of the
first milk expressed.
9. Scald EBM if necessary
When a mother produces milk high in lipase, the enzyme that breaks down fat in the milk, her milk may smell rancid. You can prevent this by heating your EBM to a scald (bubbling around the edges but not boiling) right after collecting it and then quickly cooling and freezing it. Scalding inactivates the lipase.
10. Use clean containers to store EBM
To clean, simply use warm soapy water, rinse well, and allow to air dry.
11. EBM can separate and may appear to be of certain colours
It’s normal for EBM to separate into milk and cream. Simply shake the milk gently to mix it before feeding. EBM may also appear to be bluish, yellowish, or even brownish in color.
12. Thaw and warm frozen EBM the right way
Hold the container under cool running water, and then submerge it into a bowl of warm water until the milk is thawed and heated to room temperature. Do NOT overheat as valuable components of the milk will be destroyed.
13. It is safe to store EBM in a common refrigerator 
At your workplace or child care facilities, EBM can be kept in a common refrigerator and no special precautions are necessary when handling it. Just practice good hygiene by washing your hands before expressing and using clean containers.
14. If you prefer milk storage bags, pick the right ones!
Use those that are specially designed for freezing human milk. They are pre-sterilized, thicker, include self-sealers, and have areas for labeling. Relying on disposable bottle liners can be risky as the seams may burst during freezing, and the bag may leak during thawing, causing milk contamination.
15. Do your part for the environment!
Use Green breastmilk storage products that are reusable and can be put to other good use even when you stop breastfeeding. For example, airtight and leak-proof Snappies Breastmilk Container makes a wonderful on-the-go snack container for mum and child or convenient organizer for home and travel! Sensible Lines Milk Trays can be used to freeze fruit/ food puree, or even just as ice-cube trays!
Mummy, You have milk!: breast compression breast pump herbal supplements latch milk supply
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Tips To Boost Milk Supply!
1. Nurse frequently and long enough
Breastfeed at least 8-12 times per day for approximately 20-30 minutes
2. Ensure baby is positioned and latched on well
Poor positioning and a shallow latch-on can reduce the amount of milk baby gets, and affect supply in the long run.
3. Try breast compression
Once baby is latched on well, breast compression helps the milk flow more quickly to keep baby interested in feeding actively for longer.
4. Express milk after feedings
Recent research indicates that after the first month emptying the breast more completely appears to be more effective at increasing the rate of milk production than breastfeeding or expressing milk more often (Daly 1996)
5. Consider herbal supplements
Although controlled studies are not yet available, many mothers find that taking certain herbs in recommended doses gives their milk supply a boost (Newman and Pitman, pp. 84-85; Huggins 1998). Capsules are recommended as it is easier to control the dosage and results will be more consistent.
6. Invest in a good quality dual electric breastpump
“Although an automatic double pump may cost more initially…over the long term it may prove to be less costly. If a mother uses a less effective pump that does not keep up with her milk supply, the cost of formula can easily exceed the cost of a good quality pump” (extracted from LLLI The Breastfeeding Answer Book). Double-pumping cuts pumping time in half and avoids milk loss from leakage from the other breasts.
7. Be comfortable and relaxed while pumping
No pumping mums should suffer from hunching forward and holding onto bottles. Use Supershields so that you can recline comfortably and enjoy its many healthful benefits. Fuss-free Original Handsfree Strap allows you to multi-task (eat-sleep-read-surf).
8. Take good care of yourself
Fatigue and stress can interfere with your let-down. Hence it is important to eat and rest well. Take advantage of all offers of help.
Mummy, You have milk!: breast compression breastfeeding cluster nursing sleepy baby
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How to Rouse a Sleepy Baby?
A sleepy baby needs to be awakened to breastfeed to get enough milk and help the mother to establish a healthy milk supply. During the first few weeks of nursing, babies need to breastfeed at least 8-12 times every 24 hours.
As newborns tend to ‘cluster nurse’ (i.e. breastfeed frequently at certain times of the day and go longer between feedings at others), do look at each day as a whole, rather than attempting to nurse at certain set intervals (for example, rigidly every 2 hours).
Different babies will respond differently to the following waking techniques. Do experiment and find a gentle and effective way to wake your baby and keep him interested in nursing until his sleepiness passes.
Waking Techniques
- Try arousing baby when he is in a light sleep cycle. Although baby’s eyes will be closed, look out for rapid eye movements under the eyelids, arm or leg movements, sucking/lip movements, changes in facial expression
- Dim the lights, as bright lights may make baby close his eyes
- Loosen or remove blankets
- Unwrap baby down to the diaper if the room is warm
- Talk to baby. Try to make eye contact
- Hold baby in an upright or standing position
- Lay baby on his back on a firm, flat surface
Increasing Stimulation
- Rub or pat baby’s back…you can try to walk your fingers up baby’s spines
- Change baby’s diaper
- Gently rub baby’s hands and feet
- Give baby a massage or bath to increase baby’s skin-to-skin contact with you
- Wipe baby’s forehead and cheeks with a cool, damp cloth
- Circle baby’s lips with a fingertip
- Express milk onto the baby’s lips
Keeping Baby Alert at the Breast
- Make sure the hand supporting the breast keeps weight of the breast off baby’s chin
- Use breast compression to keep milk flowing
- Switch breasts as soon as baby begins to lose interest in sucking
- Burp the baby or change his diaper between sides to keep interest high
- Try nursing using the football hold rather than cradle hold
- Massage baby’s crown in a circular motion while nursing
Mummy, You have milk!: breastfeeding cradle cross cradle football hold hands and knees latch side lying upright football
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Breastfeeding Positions & Latch
Signs of a Good Latch-On
- Baby’s body is facing the mother so that he doesn’t have to turn his head
- Baby takes the breast deeply, not just the nipple, into his mouth
- Baby’s chin is pressed into the breast, and his nose may be lightly resting on the breast
- Baby’s tongue is cupped beneath the mother’s breast
Useful tip: To ensure baby receives the right balance of watery foremilk and high-calorie hindmilk, allow baby to finish the first breast before offering the other breast.
Common Breastfeeding Positions
3 Basic Rules:
- Bring baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby
- A good nursing pillow helps you and baby to be well-supported and comfortable so that you can hold baby close to your breast and relax without any muscle straining
- Experiment with different positions as your baby changes and grows, so that you can choose the one that works best for you and baby
Cradle Hold
Mother sits up, baby’s head is resting on your forearm and he is on his side facing you, pulled in close.
Useful tip:
- Baby may tend to gulp and choke more easily if you have a forceful let-down or baby has low muscle tone. If this is a problem, you can try positioning baby in the following ways so that his neck and throat are higher than your nipple:
- Add extra pillow under baby and lean back slightly so that your breast is angled upward.
- Lean back in a rocking chair with your feet on a pillow or stool, and your knees drawn up.
- Lie on your side with a folded towel under baby so that his face is angled slightly downward towards your nipple.
Side-Lying
Mother and baby lie on your sides facing each other, with baby’s knees pulled in close.
This position allows you to rest or sleep while baby nurses, giving you more energy to care for baby. It is comfortable for cesarean mothers because it puts no pressure on mother’s incision.
Useful tip:
- To keep baby on his side facing you, you may wish to prop a folded towel or small pillow behind his back.
- You can offer both breasts when lying on one side or roll over on your other side while baby rests on your chest.
Cross-Cradle Hold
Hold baby with the arm opposite the breast at which he will feed. Support baby at breast height with his body wrapped around yours. With the hand holding your baby, position your palm on baby’s upper back, supporting baby’s head with thumb behind the upper ear and the other fingers supporting the cheek next to the lower ear. Once baby is latched-on well, you can shift into a cradle hold by bringing your opposite arm under baby’s head, if that is more comfortable for you.
This position is useful for babies who have difficulty latching on, as well as premies and babies with low muscle tone, a weak rooting reflex, or a weak suck. The extra head support can help them to stay on the breasts.
Useful tip:
- Use your same-side hand to support the breast, i.e. your left hand if you will be nursing on your left breast, and use the “U-hold” so that your elbow is comfortably by your side rather than up in the air. This hold shapes the breast in a way that makes latch on easier for baby.
- Avoid pushing on the back of baby’s head, as most babies react by arching back when their heads are pushed into the breast.
Football Hold
Mother sits up, baby’s head faces the breast with his body tucked under your arm at your side. Baby’s bottom rests on a pillow near your elbow.
This position offers you a clearer view of your baby and better control of baby’s head. It is helpful for mothers with large breasts or has had a cesarean birth.
Useful tip:
- Do NOT position baby too far forward, such that he has to bend his neck to latch on and/or you have to lean forward, both of which are uncomfortable.
Less Common Positions
Upright Football Hold is useful if the mother has a very active let-down (milk ejection) reflex. Baby may find it easier to cope with the fast milk flow if he is more upright. Alternatively, you may try leaning back or lying down as gravity slows the milk flow.
Hands and knees offer an unusual angle for the mother with a persistent plugged duct or for nursing twins. Raise yourself on your hands and knees above your baby, who lies flat on his back elevated by pillows to breast height.
Mummy, You have milk!: breastfeeding myths diet exercising jaundice osteoporosis sick
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Let’s Bust the Myths!! The Truth Will Set You Free.
Myth 1: I shouldn’t breastfeed if baby has jaundice
Truth: More than half newborns become jaundiced within the first week of life. This jaundice is called “physiologic”, meaning normal. Physiologic jaundice is caused by a rise in blood levels of bilirubin, a yellow pigment that is a product of the breakdown of hemoglobin from the extra red blood cells with which most babies are born. Jaundice results when excess bilirubin accumulates in the blood and is deposited in the skin, muscles, and mucous membranes of the body, causing the skin to take on a yellowish color.
Because bilirubin is initially fat-soluble, it cannot be dissolved in blood or urine. In order to be eliminated by the body, bilirubin must be converted into water-soluble form by the liver and excreted via the stool. The first milk, colostrum, is a natural laxative. Frequent breastfeeding stimulates bowel movements which help to ensure baby will have enough stools needed to rid the excess bilirubin from his body quickly.
If baby has difficulty latching on, you are strongly encouraged to begin expressing your milk immediately and the expressed milk can be used as a supplement until baby is more active at the breast. It also stimulates your milk supply so that your mature milk comes in sooner, providing baby with more fluids and calories. When supplements must be given for weeks or months, the nursing supplementer is an excellent alternative to bottles because it encourages proper sucking at the breast and stimulates milk production while avoiding the use of bottles.
Myth 2: Breastmilk is not as nutritious as formula, especially when baby’s more than 6 months old
Truth: It is easy to figure this out. If formula milk was indeed more nutritious than breastmilk, World Health Organization (WHO) and Singapore’s Health Promotion Board (HPB) would not recommend that babies should be exclusively breastfed for a minimum of 6 months, and thereafter for 2 years and beyond with complementary foods. Your milk continually changes to have the right composition for your baby, and exactly the right amounts of nutrients baby needs at any age. Formula does not.
Formula and breastmilk look very different; formula is creamier and looks richer than breastmilk. This may lead you and/or baby’s caregiver to believe that formula is more nutritious for your baby, but that’s not the case.
Breastmilk contains more than 100 ingredients that the formula industry simply can’t duplicate. For example, breastmilk is full of antibodies that protect babies from illness and help them develop their own immune systems. It continues to complement and boost the child’s immune system for as long as it is offered.
Some other key differences between the ingredients in breastmilk and formula include the following:
- Although formula has higher protein content than human milk, the protein in breastmilk is more easily and completely digested by babies.
- Breastmilk has higher carbohydrate content than formula and has large amounts of lactose, a sugar found in lower amounts in cow’s milk. Research shows that animals whose milk contains higher amounts of lactose experience larger brain development.
- Minerals such as iron are present in lower quantities in breastmilk than in formula. However, the minerals in breastmilk are more completely absorbed by the baby. In formula-fed babies, the unabsorbed portions of minerals can change the balance of bacteria in the gut, which gives harmful bacteria a chance to grow. This is one reason why formula-fed babies generally have harder and more odorous stools than breastfed babies.
Breastmilk is the gold standard that formula companies are trying to match but can never fully replicate!
Myth 3: It is not safe to breastfeed when I am sick
Truth: When you are down with common illness, such as a cold or the flu, your body produces specific antibodies that actually protect your breastfeeding baby. Most doctors are happy to prescribe breastfeeding-safe medication. Even if you have food poisoning or various diseases, usually breastfeeding can still continue. Do consult healthcare professionals who are pro-breastfeeding.
Myth 4: Breastfeeding requires strict control of my diet
Truth: Studies have shown that even malnourished women are able to produce milk of sufficient quality and quantity to support a growing infant. Even if you indulge in a less-than-perfect diet (including moderate intake of caffeine), it will not affect your milk supply, and your milk is still the best for your baby. Nevertheless, you are encouraged to eat well so that you will have more energy and be more resistant to illness.
Myth 5: Exercising will affect my milk production
Truth: Moderate exercise is beneficial for the breastfeeding mother. It is a great stress reliever, which in turn, can even help to boost your milk supply! However, if you are an exercise fanatic, do take care not to lose too much weight too soon (not more than 2kg a month)…try eating nutrient-dense snacks to keep your weight loss gradual and provide extra energy.
You can have fun exercising together with your baby! For example, piggybacking baby for a stroll in the park or window-shopping, or jogging with baby in special stroller designed for such activities. Do remember to wear a supportive bra to make exercising more comfortable.
Myth 6: If I am breastfeeding, it is not safe to indulge in personal grooming
Truth: There is no evidence that tanning beds, nipple piercing, or hair dyes and permanents used by the nursing mother have any effect on her breastfeeding baby. You can continue your regular routine of spa, facial, massage, hair treatments and more. Life is still a bed of roses!!
Myth 7: Breastfeeding affects my bone mineral density and increases risk of osteoporosis
Truth: Although studies indicate that some bone mineral density is lost while breastfeeding, it is recovered or even increased after weaning. The most significant risk factor in developing osteoporosis is not pregnancy or breastfeeding but low calcium intakes during childhood, the teen years, and early adulthood (Cross 1995).
Over a lifetime, breastfeeding may decrease the risk of hip fractures as women age. Calcium supplements are not needed during breastfeeding, and calcium intake during breastfeeding does not affect the level of calcium in the breastmilk.
Myth 8: Breastfeeding ruins the shape of my breasts
Truth: As soon as a woman becomes pregnant permanent changes occur in her breasts. Whether or not she then goes on to breastfeed will not affect her future breast shape one way or another. Heredity plays a large role in this matter, as does excessive weight gain or loss. It is helpful to maintain the tone of the muscles that support your breasts, and avoid large and sudden weight gains or losses, pregnancy-related or otherwise.
Mummy, You have milk!: bowel milk supply urine weight loss
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How to Know If Baby Is Getting Enough Milk?
Weight gain
- Weight loss of about 5-7 percent is considered normal during the first 3 to 4 days after birth, due to shedding of excess fluids in baby’s tissues and the passage of meconium (baby’s first stool)
- When breastfeeding is going normally, baby tends to regain his birth weight within 10 days to 2 weeks
- For the first 3-4 months, average weight gain for a breastfed baby is approximately 150 grams per week till doubling birth weight around 6th month
- Do note that rules about weight gain appropriate for bottle fed babies may not be appropriate for breastfed babies.
Appearance
- Baby’s skin should be soft and moist.
- If pinched/pressed, the skin should immediately return to its normal appearance and not stay pinched looking or remain dented.
- Tissues around the eyes and in the baby’s mouth should be moist and pink.
Urination
- 1-2 wet diapers per day is normal during the first 1-2 days after birth
- After 4-5 days, baby’s wet diapers should increase until he has 6 wet cloth diapers or 5 disposable diapers per day.
- The baby’s urine should be pale in colour and mild-smelling after the first few days, though occasional darker urine is not of concern.
Bowel movements
- In the first few days after birth, baby’s dark tarry stools are called meconium.
- By 4th day, you will see transitional stools where dark colour of meconium is still visible, but lighter, yellowish curds can also be seen.
- Usually by 5th day, the bowel movements have taken on the appearance of the normal breastmilk stool. It is often described as “bright yellow and seedy”, and usually has little odour. There may be a significant amount of liquid stool absorbed into the diaper with only some solid material on top. This is sometimes thought to be diarrhea by parents, but it is not. However, bowel movements may vary considerably from this description. They may be green or orange, may contain curds or mucus, or may resemble shaving lotion in consistency (from air bubbles). The variation in colour does not mean something is wrong unless it smells very acidic and extremely watery (transparent) at short intervals.
- After 6 weeks of age some breastfed babies have fewer bowel movements, which is not a cause for concern as long as baby is gaining weight within the normal range.
- To note: The stool of a formula-fed baby has less of the bright yellow, seedy consistency of a breast-fed infant stool.
Mummy, You have milk!: crying insufficient milk low supply nursing frequently worrying
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Are You Worrying Unnecessarily?
False Alarm 1: Baby seems hungry again soon after I breastfed him.
Reason: Human milk digests more easily than formula and places less strain on baby’s immature digestive system, so breastfed baby needs to be fed more frequently than formula-fed baby.
False Alarm 2: Baby nurses very often.
Reason: Many babies have a strong need to suck or a need for frequent contact with their mothers. If a baby is nursing well, frequent nursing means baby is getting enough – not that there is lack of milk.
False Alarm 3: Baby takes a bottle after nursing.
Reason: Many babies will suck on a bottle even when they are full, not that they still feel hungry, but because they simply like to suck. Do take care not to over-feed your baby.
False Alarm 4: Baby is fussy.
Reason: Fussiness can be caused by many things other than hunger, but often there is no discernible reason. Many babies have a fussy period each day. Some babies are fussy much of the time.
False Alarm 5: Baby suddenly decreases his nursing time.
Reason: As baby gets more experienced at nursing, he may simply be able to extract the milk more quickly.
False Alarm 6: Baby suddenly nurses more often and longer.
Reason: Sleepy newborns often “wake up” at about 2-3 weeks of age and begin nursing more frequently. Babies also go through occasional growth spurts (at around 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months), during which they nurse more often than usual to bring in more milk to meet their needs.
False Alarm 7: My breasts suddenly seem softer.
Reason: This happens as your milk production adjusts to baby’s needs and the initial breast fullness or engorgement subsides within the first few weeks.
False Alarm 8: My breasts leak only a little or not at all.
Reason: Leaking has no relationship to the amount of milk you produce.
False Alarm 9: I don’t feel the let-down (or milk ejection) or it is not as strong as before.
Reason: Some mothers do not feel the let-down at all. It does not mean they are not producing milk.
False Alarm 10: I cannot express much milk.
Reason: The amount of milk you express may not be related to your milk supply. Milk expression is a learned skill which improves with practice. Pumping effectiveness also varies depending on the type of pump used, as some pumps are more effective than others.
Mummy, You have milk!: anaemia benefits cancers osteoporosis weight loss
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Breastfeeding Benefits Mothers Too!
- Protects mothers from postpartum hemorrhage
- Facilitates faster weight loss to pre-pregnancy size
- Reduces risk of breast, ovarian, uterine and endometrial cancers
- Decreases chances of osteoporosis and anaemia
- Relaxes and promotes bonding with baby
- Substantial cost savings for the family
- Sense of pride for giving the MOST precious gift to your baby