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The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding newborns exclusively during the first six months. After six months, the AAP suggests continuing breastfeeding alongside complementary foods, now endorsing breastfeeding children up to two years old.
It is encouraged for mothers to breastfeed their children for up to at least one year. The longer the duration a baby is breastfed, the greater the protection from some illnesses and long-term diseases.
Additionally, the more months or years a woman breastfeeds (combined breastfeeding of all her children), the more benefits to her health.
What are the benefits of breast milk for the baby?
Studies indicate that breastfed babies have a lower hospitalisation rate and are generally in better health, resulting in decreased doctor visits. Breastfeeding decreases your baby’s risk of certain diseases and helps them build a strong immune system. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of:
- Diarrhoea, vomiting, and preterm necrotising enterocolitis (NEC).
- Respiratory infections such as pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and whooping cough.
- Ear infections.
- Bacterial meningitis.
- Asthma.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and infant mortality.
- Childhood obesity.
- Eczema.
- Type 2 diabetes in the future.
- Leukaemia (in childhood).
- Cavities and potential orthodontic issues can occur in babies under one year of age.
- Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Breast milk is the best food for your baby as it offers a unique and specific combination of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These are the following reasons why breast milk benefits your baby’s health:
- Easy for their immature stomach and intestines to digest.
- Contains antibodies that provide protection against infection and enhance immunity.
- Provides the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein, and vitamins essential for your baby’s development.
- Promotes healthy weight gain.
- Changes in composition to fulfil your baby’s nutritional requirements as time passes.
- Contains naturally soothing substances for your baby.
If you exclusively pump your breast milk, your baby will still receive the nutritional and health benefits of breast milk.
What are the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother?
Breastfeeding does not just benefit your child, but it offers some benefits for the mother as well. Breastfeeding your baby decreases your risk for postpartum depression in the months after giving birth if it goes well and you feel well-supported. It benefits you in the future as it decreases your risk of developing:
What are the common breastfeeding challenges?
Here are some common challenges with breastfeeding that you may face:
- Sore or cracked nipples
- Not enough breast milk
- Breast engorgement
- Baby is not latching on properly
- Too much breast milk
- Thrush
- Blocked milk duct
- Mastitis
- Breast abscess
Learn more about common breastfeeding challenges and their recommended solutions.
How do I prepare myself for breastfeeding after given birth?
Breastfeeding is just like any other new skill that you are required to learn and practice prior to mastering it. If you plan to breastfeed your baby, it is best to make some preparations before breastfeeding.
- Get information: Chat with your doctor or read some books about breastfeeding.
- Seek help: Find out if your hospital has a lactation consultant available to help new mothers learn about breastfeeding.
- Prepare yourself mentally: Engage in relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing. Prepare yourself for incoming breastfeeding challenges. It may require some patience to learn how to get a hungry baby to latch onto your breast.
- Involve your family in decision-making: Have a chat with your spouse about breastfeeding and think of ways to make him feel involved in the feeding process.
- Plan the details: Speak to your doctor or chat with other mothers who breastfeed or have breastfed and ask them how they incorporate pumping into their work schedules and manage issues like sore nipples.
What are the steps for breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is a skill that you and your baby learn together, and it may take some time to become accustomed to it. You can experiment with different methods to see what works for you and your baby.
Here are some steps for breastfeeding:
- Get comfortable before breastfeeding. Use pillows or cushions if needed. Ensure that your shoulders and arms stay relaxed.
- Make sure your baby’s head and body are in a straight line as it will be difficult for your baby to swallow the breast milk if their head and neck are twisted.
- Hold your baby close to you, facing your breast. Provide support to their neck, shoulders, and back to allow them to tilt their head back and swallow easily.
- Always bring your baby to your breast and let them latch themselves. Do not lean your breast forward into your baby’s mouth, as this can cause poor attachment.
- Ensure that your baby gets a big mouthful of breast. Position your baby with their nose level with your nipple to encourage them to open their mouth wide and attach to the breast well.
- Avoid holding the back of your baby’s head so that they can tilt their head back. This allows your nipple to go past the hard roof of their mouth and end up at the back of their mouth against the soft palate.
What are the types of breastfeeding positions?
There are a number of breastfeeding positions you can try to feed your baby, here are four popular breastfeeding positions where you can try out. Before you start breastfeeding, it is recommended to have a drink beside you, such as a bottle of water.
1. Cradle hold
This is the most popular breastfeeding position among breastfeeding mothers. The cradle hold requires you to sit in a comfortable armchair, or on a bed with cushions or pillows surrounding you:
- Lay your baby across your lap, facing you.
- Position your baby’s head on your forearm with their nose towards your nipple, you should support the length of their body with your hand – baby’s tummy should be facing you.
- Your baby’s lower arm should be placed under yours.
- Your baby’s ear, shoulder, and hip should be checked to ensure they are in a straight line.
2. Cross-cradle
The cross-cradle hold is perfect for early breastfeeding:
- Sit upright in a comfortable chair with armrests.
- Position your baby across the front of your body, tummy-to-tummy. Hold your baby in the crook of the arm opposite the breast you are feeding from – left arm for the right breast, right arm for the left.
- Support the back of the baby's head with your open hand and, with the other hand, support your breast from the underside in a U-shaped hold.
- Guide the baby’s mouth to your breast without bending over or leaning forward. Instead, cradle your baby close to your breast.
3. Football hold
The football or clutch hold may be a suitable choice especially if you are recovering from a C-section or have large breasts:
- Hold your baby beside you, with your elbow bent. Support your baby’s head with your open hand, facing them toward your breast.
- Your baby’s back will rest on your forearm. You can use your other hand to support your breast in a C-shaped hold.
- For added comfort, place a pillow on your lap and choose a chair with broad, low arms.
4. Laid-back nursing
Laid-back breastfeeding, also known as biological nursing, involves you lying back in a comfortable semi-reclined position on a cosy sofa or bed. If you have undergone a C-section, your baby can lie across you and away from your incision.
- Lean back but do not lay down flat on a sofa or bed.
- Use cushions or pillows to prop yourself up and provide support to your back, shoulders, and neck.
- Position your baby on your front when you are feeling comfy. Their tummy should be resting on yours – lie them to one side if you are feeling uncomfortable.
- Ensure you are upright enough to maintain eye contact with your baby.
- Gently guide your baby to your nipple while providing support to your baby.
What are the signs of incorrect latching?
Latching on is the process by which your baby attaches to your breast in order to feed. Many people think you will learn it naturally as you become a mother, but in truth, it is actually a skill that you and your baby need to learn together.
It is important to ensure your baby latches on correctly, as a proper attachment also helps prevent you from getting sore and cracked nipples.
If you are having nipple pain, a current or past improper latch is usually the cause behind it. What this normally indicates is that your baby’s only latching on to your nipple. Doctors describe this as a shallow latch.
Your baby’s mouth will abnormally press on your nipple and cause you pain with a shallow latch. Ideally, their mouth should cover not just your nipple but also about 1 to 2 inches of your areola asymmetrically. This means more of the areola on the bottom is taken into the baby’s mouth than the top, with the nipple aiming for the roof of the baby’s mouth. Ensuring that your baby’s mouth is open wide enough can assist in achieving a proper latch.
You should take note that nipple pain can be caused by many reasons apart from a poor latch. These include:
- Vasospasm (when the blood vessels around your nipple constrict in response to cold temperatures).
- Nipple blebs.
- Dermatitis.
- Trauma from using your pump incorrectly.
Make an appointment at Pantai Hospitals
If you are facing challenges and unsure about what the correct breastfeeding techniques are, do make an appointment with the team of Consultant Paediatricians and Lactation Consultants at the nearest Pantai Hospital to you today. Knowing the correct breastfeeding techniques benefit you and your baby in the long run.
Pantai Hospitals have been accredited by the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) for its commitment to patient safety and service quality.
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