Nursing Babies
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 12:13 pm
Rochelle Wrote:
"Mum only breast fed for a day because the child was so hungry said Dad . I
make no comment!!!"
I know how you feel & empathise with your frustration.
There used to be midwives who would help with these matters and such
circumstances.
For the first few days the baby gets colostrum from the mum which sets it up
for life really - so mums should persevere and supplement if absolutely
necessary and not just give up. If the baby is hungry, it is just put to
the breast more often so it sucks more - the more sucking, the more milk!
It is one of those cases of use it or lose it. Stop breast feeding and what
little milk there is goes away.
Puls is one of the indicated remedies.
It will be interesting to see whether the paediatrician will prescribe
medicines or go along the lines of change the formula consider goat's milk
etc as we have do.
At least the options should be open to both parents for them to decide and
not just follow in ignorance.
Hope it goes well for this baby.
In case colleagues need a refresher on colostrum, please see notes below.
Rgds
Soroush
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/colostrum.html
What is colostrum? Does it benefit my baby in any way?
Colostrum is the first milk your breasts produce in the early days of
breastfeeding. This special milk is low in fat, and high in carbohydrates,
protein, and antibodies to help keep your baby healthy. It is extremely easy
to digest, and is therefore the perfect first food for your baby. It is low
in volume but high in concentrated nutrition for the newborn. Colostrum has
a laxative effect on the baby, helping him pass his early stools, which aids
in the excretion of excess bilirubin and helps prevent jaundice.
When your baby is breastfed early and often, your breasts will begin
producing mature milk around the third or fourth day after birth. Your milk
will then increase in volume and will generally begin to appear thinner and
lighter in color. In those first few days it is extremely important to
breastfeed your newborn at least 9-12 times in 24 hours-- and more often is
even better. This allows your baby to get all the benefits of the colostrum
and also stimulates production of a plentiful supply of mature milk.
Frequent breastfeeding also helps prevent engorgement.
Your colostrum provides not only perfect nutrition tailored to the needs of
your newborn, but also large amounts of living cells which will defend your
baby against many harmful agents. The concentration of immune factors is
much higher in colostrum than in mature milk.
Colostrum actually works as a natural and 100% safe vaccine. It contains
large quantities of an antibody called secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA)
which is a new substance to the newborn. Before your baby was born, he
received the benefit of another antibody, called IgG, through your placenta.
IgG worked through the baby's circulatory system, but IgA protects the baby
in the places most likely to come under attack from germs, namely the mucous
membranes in the throat, lungs, and intestines.
Colostrum has an especially important role to play in the baby's
gastrointestinal tract. A newborn's intestines are very permeable. Colostrum
seals the holes by "painting" the gastrointestinal tract with a barrier
which mostly prevents foreign substances from penetrating and possibly
sensitizing a baby to foods the mother has eaten.
Colostrum also contains high concentrations of leukocytes, protective white
cells which can destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
Later, when you are producing mature milk for your baby, the concentrations
of the antibodies in the milk will be lower, but your baby will be taking in
much higher volumes of milk. The disease-fighting properties of human milk
do not disappear with the colostrum. In fact, as long as your baby receives
your milk, he will receive immunological protection against many different
viruses and bacteria.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
"Mum only breast fed for a day because the child was so hungry said Dad . I
make no comment!!!"
I know how you feel & empathise with your frustration.
There used to be midwives who would help with these matters and such
circumstances.
For the first few days the baby gets colostrum from the mum which sets it up
for life really - so mums should persevere and supplement if absolutely
necessary and not just give up. If the baby is hungry, it is just put to
the breast more often so it sucks more - the more sucking, the more milk!
It is one of those cases of use it or lose it. Stop breast feeding and what
little milk there is goes away.
Puls is one of the indicated remedies.
It will be interesting to see whether the paediatrician will prescribe
medicines or go along the lines of change the formula consider goat's milk
etc as we have do.
At least the options should be open to both parents for them to decide and
not just follow in ignorance.
Hope it goes well for this baby.
In case colleagues need a refresher on colostrum, please see notes below.
Rgds
Soroush
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/colostrum.html
What is colostrum? Does it benefit my baby in any way?
Colostrum is the first milk your breasts produce in the early days of
breastfeeding. This special milk is low in fat, and high in carbohydrates,
protein, and antibodies to help keep your baby healthy. It is extremely easy
to digest, and is therefore the perfect first food for your baby. It is low
in volume but high in concentrated nutrition for the newborn. Colostrum has
a laxative effect on the baby, helping him pass his early stools, which aids
in the excretion of excess bilirubin and helps prevent jaundice.
When your baby is breastfed early and often, your breasts will begin
producing mature milk around the third or fourth day after birth. Your milk
will then increase in volume and will generally begin to appear thinner and
lighter in color. In those first few days it is extremely important to
breastfeed your newborn at least 9-12 times in 24 hours-- and more often is
even better. This allows your baby to get all the benefits of the colostrum
and also stimulates production of a plentiful supply of mature milk.
Frequent breastfeeding also helps prevent engorgement.
Your colostrum provides not only perfect nutrition tailored to the needs of
your newborn, but also large amounts of living cells which will defend your
baby against many harmful agents. The concentration of immune factors is
much higher in colostrum than in mature milk.
Colostrum actually works as a natural and 100% safe vaccine. It contains
large quantities of an antibody called secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA)
which is a new substance to the newborn. Before your baby was born, he
received the benefit of another antibody, called IgG, through your placenta.
IgG worked through the baby's circulatory system, but IgA protects the baby
in the places most likely to come under attack from germs, namely the mucous
membranes in the throat, lungs, and intestines.
Colostrum has an especially important role to play in the baby's
gastrointestinal tract. A newborn's intestines are very permeable. Colostrum
seals the holes by "painting" the gastrointestinal tract with a barrier
which mostly prevents foreign substances from penetrating and possibly
sensitizing a baby to foods the mother has eaten.
Colostrum also contains high concentrations of leukocytes, protective white
cells which can destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
Later, when you are producing mature milk for your baby, the concentrations
of the antibodies in the milk will be lower, but your baby will be taking in
much higher volumes of milk. The disease-fighting properties of human milk
do not disappear with the colostrum. In fact, as long as your baby receives
your milk, he will receive immunological protection against many different
viruses and bacteria.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]