A small guide to successful breastfeeding for new mothers

New mom and new baby: a small guide to successful breastfeeding

Breast milk costs nothing, it is always at the ideal temperature, and the process of breastfeeding creates a deep psychological bond between mother and child, especially when there is a new mother and a new baby in the story.

The benefits of mother's milk

Breast milk provides all nutrients and contains the ideal amount of fat, sugar, water, protein and other important substances that a child needs for optimal growth and development during the first 6 months of life.

Nature made sure to create the ideal food for babies - mother's milk, and the new mom found out very quickly.

Experts recommend breastfeeding at least until the first year of a child's life, with complementary feeding starting at the age of 6 months. The longer the child is breastfed, the greater the benefits, however, the duration of breastfeeding is usually individual and can only be realized as long as the mother-child team works.

An enviable number of scientific studies have confirmed the irreplaceable role of mother's milk in maintaining a child's health. Thus, it has been proven that mother's milk provides protection against infections by transferring important antibodies that protect against diseases and help the development of the child's immune system. In addition, it has been shown that children fed with mother's milk are less likely to suffer from allergies, ear infections, respiratory system diseases and urinary system infections. Episodes of indigestion, such as infantile diarrhea and constipation, are less common in breastfed children. Breastfed children visit the doctor less frequently because breast milk contains numerous ingredients that cannot be synthesized and added to infant formulas.

Maternal nutrition is key

Most mothers do not need to change their diet while breastfeeding. "Allowed" and "forbidden" foods for breastfeeding mothers are most often culturally determined, since scientific studies have not established a clear connection between certain foods and undesirable effects on breast milk and breastfeeding. For example, women in India are recommended to use garlic during breastfeeding, while in the Western world it is recommended to avoid garlic because it can affect the taste of milk. The physical efforts of mothers do not stop completely during lactation, so it is necessary to supply the body with an adequate amount of energy. Breastfeeding is a new challenge because the production of milk requires additional energy, and it is considered that during the period of lactation it is necessary to enter an additional 500 kcal per day. The source of energy for milk production comes from two sources: energy that is stored in the form of adipose tissue during pregnancy and food intake.

Nadalje, i potrebe za većinom hranjivih tvari rastu tijekom dojenja. Sastav majčine prehrane ne ostvaruje velik utjecaj na sastav mlijeka, međutim ukoliko je majčina prehrana deficit na određenim vitaminima i mineralima, za proizvodnju mlijeka iskoristit će se majčine zalihe, stavljajući nju u nutritivni deficit.

New mothers often feel quite tired, so it is advised that their meals are regular and of the highest quality. It is desirable to include as many fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, lean meat, dairy products and quality fats in the diet as possible. If the new mother does not have time or is too tired to prepare a meal, it is possible to prepare a simple milk-fruit shake as a meal replacement. Nutritious snacks can be snacked on while the child is at the breast, with energy and fruit bars and dried fruit and nuts being excellent choices.

It is also important to emphasize sufficient fluid intake, because an insufficient amount of milk is most often the result of insufficient fluid intake by the mother. Therefore, nursing mothers should drink at least 2-3 liters of water or other liquids per day. A good choice is spring water, carbonated and non-carbonated mineral water, isotonic drinks, herbal teas without added sugar, and freshly squeezed fruit juices diluted with water.

Tijekom razdoblja dojenja nikako se ne preporučuje provođenje strogih dijeta. Osim što ograničavaju adekvatan unos hranjivih tvari, takve dijete se također mogu negativno odraziti na samu produkciju mlijeka. Neka vaša prehrana bude raznovrsna i bogata nutrijentima uz ciljanu i kvalitetnu suplementaciju uz Prenatal Omega3+.

A small guide to successful breastfeeding

Dojenje podupiru sve ključne organizacije – Svjetska zdravstvena organizacija, Američka pedijatrijska akademija te ministarstva zdravstva mnogih zemalja. UNICEF-ova inicijativa bolnica prijatelja djece (UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative) učinila je mnogo na podizanju svijesti o the importance of breastfeeding. Also, in many countries, the Code on the Advertising of Infant Milk Formulations is respected.

Although breastfeeding is a natural act that many women master without any problems, a new mother would probably not refuse the help and guidance of an expert. Therefore, below we bring you the rules for successful breastfeeding:

• immediately after birth, the newborn child should be placed on the mother's chest or stomach and left in that close contact ("skin to skin contact") until the first feeding or at least in the first two hours after birth. If the new mother and/or child need immediate medical intervention, close contact should be possible as soon as both are in good condition
• the vast majority of infants in the first 6 months of life, in addition to mother's milk, do not need any additional food. This is especially important in poor social and economic conditions, i.e. in circumstances of reduced hygiene standards
• a healthy breastfed infant does not need any other liquid, such as water, teas or juices
• the child should be put to the breast at his request, i.e. when his behavior shows that he is hungry, even if it was shortly after the previous feeding
• the infant should spend as much time on the breast as he needs, not as much as we have determined
• frequent sucking stimulates prolactin secretion. Breastfeeding more than six times a day maintains a high level of prolactin, which ensures adequate lactation.
• za uspješnu provedbu dojenja posebno je važno pravilno postavljanje djeteta na prsa,  na način da usnama široko obuhvati dio dojke oko bradavice. Uz takav položaj sisanje je najučinkovitije, a mogućnost oštećenja bradavica i posljedični nastanak mastitisa najmanji.
• A new mother and child need peace, relaxation and privacy.