BREASTFEEDING Colostrum

POLICY INITIATIVES Property Importance

• International Code of Marketing of Antibody rich protects against
Breast-milk Substitutes (1981) allergy & infection
• Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (1991) Many white cells protects against
• Global Strategy for Infant and Young infection
Child Feeding (2002) Purgative clears meconium
helps to prevent
THE 3 E’S OF BREASTFEEDING jaundice
Growth factors helps intestine to
EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING mature prevents
• baby receives only breastmilk for the allergy, intolerance
first 4 – 6 months of life Rich in Vitamin A reduces severity of
• Exclusive breastfeeding means giving infection
a baby only breast milk, and no other
liquids or solids, not even water. Drops
or syrups consisting of vitamins, mineral Nutrients in human and animal milks
supplements or medicines are
permitted.

“BREASTMILK already contains almost everything the

baby needs”

EARLY START
• breastfeeding should be started
immediately after delivery
• good time for the baby to learn to
suck. In most cases, the real milk of the DIFFERENCES IN THE QUALITY OF PROTEINS IN
mother comes in on the second or DIFFERENT MILKS
third day.
• As the baby sucks:
q he gets the “Colostrum”
q the milk will be stimulated to flow
earlier
q the uterus will contract and return
to shape

EXTENDED BREASTFEEDING
• breastfeeding can continue for as long
as the baby wants and the mother
feels comfortable doing it.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COLOSTRUM AND
• 4 – 6 months of life, the baby needs
MATURE MILK
other foods in addition to breastmilk

COMPOSITION OF BREASTMILK
• Breastmilk is good for the baby
because it contains all the nutrients
that a baby needs for the 1st 4 – 6
months of life.
• The right amount of protein, iron, fat
and lactose (milk sugar)
• Enough vitamins for the baby (vitamin
supplement or fruit juice not absolute
necessity)
• Enough water for a baby even in a hot
climate
• The correct amount of salt, calcium,
and phosphate
ADVANTAGES OF BREASTFEEDING BREAST MILK IN SECOND YEAR OF LIFE
q Breast milk
• Perfect nutrients
• Easily digested;
efficiently used
• Protects against infection
q Breastfeeding
• Helps bonding and development
• Helps delay a new pregnancy
• Protects mothers’ health
q Costs less than artificial feeding
HOW BREASTFEEDINGWORKS
PROTECTION AGAINST INFECTION
1. Mother infected
Is there a difference between a small breast and
2. White cells in mother’s body make
a large breast ?
antibodies to protect mother
• The FAT and other tissue gives the breast
3. Some white cells go to breast and make
the shape
antibodies there
• Both contains the same amount of gland
4. Antibodies to mother’s infection secreted
tissue
in milk to protect baby
Prolactin
BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
• Secreted during and after feed to
reproduce next feed
CHILD
q prevents malnutrition
q protects the infant from disease
q results in smarter children (Infant Formula
does not increase IQ)
q lowers risks of diabetes, obesity, and
cancer later in life
MOTHER
q reduces blood losses after childbirth
q delays her return to fertility (Natural Family
Planning)
q reduces risks for cancer: breast, ovaries,
uterus

PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

WHAT CAN WE SUGGEST TO HELP A MOTHER
EMOTIONAL BONDING
INCREASE HER MILK SUPPLY ?
• close, loving relationship between mother
• The more the baby suckles à the more
and baby
milk is produced
• mother more emotionally satisfied
• Mother to eat and drink enough
• baby cries less
• More prolactin is produced at night
• baby may be more emotionally secure
• Hormones related to prolactin suppresses
DEVELOPMENT
ovulation so breastfeeding can help delay
• children perform better on intelligence
a new pregnancy
tests
OXYTOCIN REFLEX
DISADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL FEEDING
• Works before or during feed to make milk
flow
1. Interferes with bonding
2. More diarrhea and persistent diarrhea
3. More frequent respiratory infections
4. Malnutrition; Vitamin A deficiency
5. More allergy and milk intolerance
6. Increased risk of some chronic diseases
7. Obesity
8. Lower scores on intelligence tests
9. Mother may become pregnant sooner
10. Increased risk of anemia, ovarian cancer,
and breast cancer in mother
• Oxytocin is produced more quickly than • If breast milk is removed the inhibitor is also
prolactin removed, and secretion resumes. If the
• makes the milk in the breast flow for this feed baby cannot suckle, then milk must be
• can start working when mother expects a removed by expression.
feed, even before a baby suckles FIL
• If oxytocin reflex does not work well, breast • enables the amount of milk produced to
produce milk BUT not flowing out be determined by how much the baby
takes, and therefore by how much the
Helping and hindering of oxytocin reflex baby needs.
• This mechanism is particularly important for
HELPING HINDERING ongoing close regulation after lactation is
Thinks lovingly of baby Worry established.
Sounds of baby Stress
Sight of baby Pain “At this stage, prolactin is needed to enable milk
Touches baby Doubt (temporary) secretion to take place, but it does not control
confidence the amount of milk produced.”

Why is it important to understand the oxytocin

reflex in the way we care for mothers after
delivery? because it explains
the mother and baby should be kept together
and why they should have skin-to-skin contact
THE OXYTOCIN REFLEX AFTER DELIVERY
• Mother needs her baby NEAR her all the
time
• You must remember a mother’s feelings
whenever you talk to her… make her feel
good and built her confidence
• Mothers are often aware of their oxytocin
reflex … several signs…
INHIBITOR IN BREAST MILK
why • If breast remains full of milk, secretion stops
INHIBITOR IN BREAST MILK:
• Controls production of milk from within the
breast…
• If one breast stops production, the other
continues
• Protects breast from harmful effects of
being too full
• If BM is removed, inhibitor also removed…
breast makes more milk
THE INHIBITOR HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHY

SIGNS & SENSATIONS OF AN ACTIVE OXYTOCIN q If baby:

REFLEX • stops suckling à breast stops making milk
• Mother may notice: • suckles more from one breast à breast
• Squeezing or tingling sensation in her becomes more larger, more milk
breast q For breast to continue making milk à milk must
• Milk flow from breast be removed
• Milk dripping from other breast when baby q If baby cannot suckle à EXPRESS milk to
is suckling enable production to continue
• Pain from uterine contraction, sometimes
with rush of blood
• Slow deep sucks and swallowing by the
baby which shows that milk is flowing into
the mouth

Feedback inhibitor of lactation

• Milk production is also controlled in the
breast by a substance called the feedback
inhibitor of lactation, or FIL (a polypeptide),
which is present in breast milk.
• Sometimes one breast stops making milk
while the other breast continues, for
example if a baby suckles only on one side.
This is because of the local control of milk
production independently within each
breast.
• If milk is not removed, the inhibitor collects
and stops the cells from secreting any
more, helping to protect the breast from
the harmful effects of being too full.