Merry or Meltdown? Holiday Break Tips for Families
DEC 03, 2024Winter break from school can pose challenges for families while parents juggle work, screen time and managing expectations.
Read MoreBecoming a mother can bring on a wealth of questions and concerns, including how to feed your child. Mothers do have options for this, and breastfeeding is one of them. Luckily, there are many resources out there for a mother to make informed decisions for her child. Since August is National Breastfeeding Month, we wanted to provide mothers with a list of benefits that come from breastfeeding their newborns! First of all, breast milk can:
In addition, women may be encouraged by their healthcare provider to attend breastfeeding education classes prior to the birth of their child. Local breastfeeding centers, hospitals, and Lactation Consultants offer these classes to prepare you for a successful breastfeeding journey.
Before getting into the best practices, lets learn a bit about what makes up breast milk. The first bit of milk that will come in is called colostrum. Colostrom is small and mighty; it contains more protein, less carbohydrates and less fat than mature milk. Colostrom also is rich in IgA (Immunoglobulin A) which protects the gut and helps establish normal gut flora for long term benefits.
The more frequently you feed, the sooner the transitional milk will come in. When you breastfeed, between days 2-4 your baby will get between 10-14 ml of breast milk per feeding. After day 5, your baby will take anywhere between 18-28 ml per feeding. Your baby’s belly starts out the size of a marble, perfectly suited for the small but mighty amounts of colostrum. As your baby continues to feed, the baby’s stomach enlarges to accommodate your increasing milk supply. This continues on through the first two weeks, and by then your baby will be getting around 100 ml or between 3-4 ounces per feeding! After week 4, your mature milk will be rich in nutrients and antibodies. This stays fairly consistent day to day and feeding to feeding. This is one thing that makes your body amazing; it will make what is needed at each stage.
For those mama’s who want to breast feed, here are the keys for birth and beyond to achieve a successful breastfeeding career.
Not only is the content of your breast milk beneficial, the closeness and bonding you experience with your baby facilitates their neurological development and stimulates your “happy hormones”. All providers at CHI Health want you to feel supported and empowered to feed your baby. We are here for you every step of the way! If you have more questions, reach out to one of our Women's Health providers.
Happy National Breastfeeding Month!
Winter break from school can pose challenges for families while parents juggle work, screen time and managing expectations.
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Read MoreWhen you need local health information from a trusted source, turn to the CHI Health Better You eNewsletter.