Breastfeeding is the most natural way to nourish infants and is healthy for both mother and baby. Breast milk is perfectly tailored to your baby's needs – a "living" food whose unique form has yet to be artificially replicated. In this article, I'd like to share with you the positive effects breastfeeding has on your health and how you can create a relaxed and enjoyable breastfeeding experience.
Breastfeeding provides mother and baby with a lot of skin-to-skin contact. This not only promotes bonding but also reduces stress for both.
The following are the positive effects breastfeeding has on your baby's health:
-
By breastfeeding on demand, your baby receives exactly the amount of milk it needs.
-
Breast milk contains antibodies and promotes the development of the immune system, thus better protecting your baby from infections (e.g. respiratory tract, gastrointestinal).
-
Breastfeeding promotes brain development.
-
Your baby has a lower risk of jaw and tooth misalignments.
-
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), among other things.
-
It can protect against type 2 diabetes and obesity later in life.
-
Premature babies particularly benefit from breastfeeding, as they are less likely to develop a dangerous intestinal disease.
You as a mother also benefit health-wise from breastfeeding:
-
The faster involution of the uterus after childbirth is promoted.
-
Breastfeeding may reduce the risk of developing some types of cancer, such as breast or ovarian cancer.
-
The risk of developing diabetes in the mother also decreases if she breastfeeds for more than 12 months.
Furthermore, breastfeeding is very sustainable and resource-efficient. Only the mother's increased calorie needs must be met through additional food. To provide you with valuable nutrients and to pamper yourself, you can easily choose... delicious and healthy dishes* Order online and have it delivered to your home.
Preparing for breastfeeding
Physical preparation for breastfeeding isn't necessary; your body will take care of that naturally during pregnancy. However, preparing mentally and emotionally for breastfeeding and starting the breastfeeding relationship well-informed offers significant advantages. Most pregnant women attend a childbirth preparation course. While breastfeeding is often addressed in these courses, the information provided is often insufficient for a relaxed start to the breastfeeding relationship. Attending a specialized breastfeeding preparation course with a qualified lactation consultant is a valuable supplement.
The ideal start to breastfeeding
After birth, mother and baby should have skin-to-skin contact as soon as possible. Provided there are no medical contraindications, the newborn is placed on the mother's stomach immediately after birth. Ideally, healthy, full-term infants are given the opportunity to explore the breast independently and latch on for the first time. Babies are naturally capable of this due to a variety of reflexes. Important: Your baby only knows YOUR breast and will generally be fine with it. The use of medical aids such as nipple shields is rarely truly necessary and should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Useful information to help you get started with breastfeeding:
-
Breastfeeding at least 8-12 times within 24 hours optimally stimulates milk production, ensuring that the milk supply is tailored to your baby's needs.
-
The so-called milk coming in usually begins 2-3 days after birth (incidentally, this also happens in women who do not want to breastfeed).
-
A newborn's stomach is about the size of a cherry and grows in the first few weeks of life in line with the increasing amount of milk.
-
Your baby doesn't just suckle at the nipple; when latching on, they need to open their mouth wide and take a large portion of the breast deep into their mouth. This creates a vacuum that your baby needs to be able to maintain well in order to suck effectively.
-
Breastfeeding should never be painful! A brief pain when latching on due to the unfamiliar strain may occur at the beginning, but this should subside after a few days. If you have irritated and sensitive nipples, you can soothe them with... Nipple care* Provides good support during regeneration.
-
Whether your baby is getting enough milk can be determined by weight gain, bowel movements, and general condition (e.g., active during waking hours, smooth, non-sunken fontanelle, rosy skin). Your midwife will weigh your baby during the postpartum period and at routine checkups, which is usually sufficient. The diaper should be full 5-6 times a day (urine, 6-8 times with cloth diapers). Bowel movements should occur an average of 3 times a day for the first 4-6 weeks; after that, anything from 3 times a day to once every 14 days is normal.
With all the new experiences that come with having a baby, many mothers find breastfeeding particularly challenging at first. Support from partners, family, and friends, for example with shopping or housework, can be a great help. To take some of the work out of cooking, you can... delicious and healthy dishes* Have it delivered to your home.
Make sure, or ask your partner to make sure, that you always have everything you need within easy reach while breastfeeding: snacks, burp cloths, nursing pads* and drinks such as Delicious teas for the postpartum period*If you like, you can also have your mobile phone or remote control nearby. And should any problems arise while breastfeeding, don't hesitate to seek professional help from a lactation consultant early on.
Settled into everyday breastfeeding life
With a little practice, you and your baby will usually soon become a
Be a good breastfeeding team. Since you spend quite a bit of time breastfeeding, it's important that you're comfortable. If you breastfeed sitting down, support your arms and back with pillows so you can sit relaxed and lean back. Your baby should be facing your breast so they don't have to drink with their head turned to the side (tummy to tummy). Ear, shoulder, and hip should form a straight line. At night, breastfeeding lying down can be a good alternative so you don't have to get up and can fall back asleep quickly.
What else is important to know:
-
Breastfeeding is so much more than just nutrition. When your baby is tired, in pain, needs to suckle, be close, or rest, etc., they will seek your breast as a place of comfort.
-
Your baby will show you when they want to nurse using so-called "hunger signs" or, more accurately, "feeding signs." These include restlessness, opening their mouth and simultaneously turning their head from side to side, putting their hands in their mouth, waving their arms, and crying. Other individual behaviors are also possible, which you will quickly learn to recognize and interpret in your baby.
-
The duration of a breastfeeding session isn't always the same and can vary even within a single day. Your baby will usually stop nursing on their own when they are full or their needs have been met. If your baby falls asleep at the breast, you can gently break the suction by placing your little finger in the corner of their mouth.
-
There will be periods when your baby wants to nurse particularly frequently for several hours (usually in the evenings or early mornings). Through a process called "clustering," your baby ensures that the milk supply adjusts to their current needs.
-
At the beginning of breastfeeding, your breasts are often very full. This usually subsides after about two months. Don't worry, this doesn't mean you have too little milk. If you've been breastfeeding your baby about 10-12 times a day until then, your milk supply will have adjusted to your baby's needs. Any overproduction will decrease.
-
The official recommendation in Germany states that healthy, full-term infants should be exclusively breastfed for a full four months. Following this, complementary foods should be introduced between the beginning of the fifth and the beginning of the seventh month, while continuing breastfeeding, provided all signs of readiness for complementary feeding are present.
-
Unlike during pregnancy, you can enjoy sushi, salami, raw milk cheese, etc., again while breastfeeding. You also don't have to avoid foods that cause gas. The idea that your baby gets gas from cabbage or onions is a myth. Breast milk is produced from blood, not stomach contents. Gas-causing substances do not pass into breast milk. Overall, you should pay attention to a balanced diet. You can... delicious and healthy dishes* For greater convenience during breastfeeding, have it delivered directly to your home.
-
How long you breastfeed is entirely up to you and your baby! Don't let comments from others make you feel insecure. The natural weaning age, meaning when a child would wean themselves, is between two and seven years old. Of course, you can wean earlier. Just keep in mind that milk remains the main source of nutrition in the first year, even after the introduction of solid foods, and also makes up a significant part of the diet in the second year. You may need to find alternatives. The WHO recommends breastfeeding at least until the second birthday and beyond if both mother and child wish.
Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to give your baby a healthy start in life. Trust yourself and get support when you need it. You can find lactation consultants and breastfeeding courses in your area here. 
babywho ⋆ Offers in your region related to pregnancy & childbirth . If you feel comfortable and secure, your baby will sense it and you will grow into a good breastfeeding team.
*Placement of advertising partnerships / affiliate links: the weeks Stöcken Estate
Image: Canva