Feeding your baby in the first months of life. Breastfeeding and formula feeding

First, the most important information about feeding your baby: you are no worse as a mom if you can't breastfeed! Whatever the reasons for not being able to breastfeed (certain medications, surgery, chronic pathologies, baby feeding problems, etc.), you should be grateful that there are options for feeding your baby and that babies grow up harmoniously and with a milk formula adapted to their needs.

Indeed, breast milk has certain benefits compared to powdered milk, but the development of technology and research have created powdered milk very similar in composition to breast milk.

There are situations in life when you have no choice and the only option for feeding your baby is formula milk. That's totally fine! However, if you are under pressure to choose formula over your own milk (tiredness, going back to work, low milk production, pressure from family and friends, etc.), you can turn to a lactation consultant or support group. They can help you more than you think. But either way, your health is extremely important and you don't have to give it up for breastfeeding. A baby grows and develops harmoniously, especially if its mother is by its side, emotionally supportive and attentive!

Checking the compatibility of drugs administered during breastfeeding is done primarily with the help of the neonatologist or pediatrician. There are online resources for information, the most recommended and used being: e-lactation.orgBut however much information there is online, it is no substitute for sound medical advice.

How breast milk is produced

The mammary glands produce and secrete milk. These glands spill into galactophore ducts, which carry milk to the nipple, where each duct has its own opening. The darker area of skin that surrounds the nipple is called the areola and helps the newborn to see and find its mother's nipple. Shortly after birth, he will instinctively look for his mother's nipple. This is called the rooting reflex and is one of the many talents babies are born with. 

When the baby starts to feed at the breast, upward sensory information (the stimulus produced by nipple stimulation) travels to the mother's brain, causing the release of two hormones. Prolactin stimulates milk production and oxytocin stimulates contraction of the lobules that hold the milk inside the breast. This is called the let-down reflex. Even the sound of a baby crying can initiate the let-down reflex. In this way, breastmilk is produced in response to the increasing demands of the baby's growth, communicated to the mother's body through breastfeeding. For this reason, most health organizations around the world recommend early frequent feedings.

Benefits of breast milk 

Breast milk changes its composition over time to provide all the nutrition a growing baby needs. The earliest milk, called colostrum, is rich in protein and antibodies, which provide the newborn with passive immunity, protecting it from diseases that can occur immediately, as colostrum acts as a shield against infection. As the baby continues to grow, mature breast milk contains higher relative concentrations of fat and sugar than colostrum, in line with the baby's growth requirements.

"The 'maturation' of breast milk continues to provide the baby with passive immunity, by releasing antibodies produced in the mother's body that are specific to the microbes found in the environment that mother and baby share.

Does the baby eat enough?

Many mothers worry that their newborn may not get enough milk. Establishing a sufficient quantity can take time and it's natural for mothers to wonder how much milk is actually being produced. When your baby can hear himself swallowing, it means he is eating. It is important that her suckling is nutritious, that there is milk transfer from the breast. There are signs that can help new mothers recognize if their babies are getting enough milk. These include: a regular feeding schedule, softer breasts after each feeding and at least 5-8 wet diapers/day. After the first week, during which newborns may lose weight, they should start to gain weight steadily with breast milk alone.

Remember: breastfeeding is a skill that both mother and baby need to learn. Many mothers face challenges in the early stages of breastfeeding. Like most new skills, breastfeeding takes time and practice.

Successful breastfeeding

The first step is to make you and your baby feel comfortable. Find a place where you won't be disturbed, preferably somewhere quiet, where you and your baby feel comfortable and safe. If your baby cries, try to calm him or her before you start breastfeeding. There are many positions in which the baby can be breastfed. The key is to find out which position is comfortable for both you and your baby, as this can change depending on the circumstances. Successful breastfeeding requires as much contact as possible between the baby's tongue, palate (roof of the mouth) and the breast. Once the latch between the breast and your baby's mouth is correct and your baby has started to feed, you can enjoy the special time together until your baby falls asleep or releases your breast. Remember, all women have different breast shapes and sizes. It is not wrong if breastfeeding cannot take place in all the positions recommended by your doctor. The important thing is that you manage to create contact that is not painful and the baby is comfortable. 

Breast implants and breastfeeding

Most breast operations are done in such a way as to try to reduce the effect they might have on breastfeeding. But in particular, with breast augmentation, it is important to remember that you cannot really increase the amount of glandular tissue responsible for milk production, but you may lose some of it. In these situations, therefore, medical advice is imperative.

Theoretically, if the incision is axillary or under the breast, you should have no problems breastfeeding. If the incision is around the areola, there is a chance that part of the milk ducts may have been cut.

The safest way to find out is to try. 

Mothers who are unable to breastfeed for various reasons may feel judged by other mothers or worry that they won't be able to cope in their new role. 

A mother who does the best she can with the resources available is the best possible mother in the world for her child.

Article by: Cosovanu Elena Teona

Resident Obstetrics-Gynecology