Ah, the miracle of birth. Every day, around 385 thousand babies are born, and people need to make drastic changes to take care of the new life they brought to this world. The questions new parents have are never-ending. Each movement the baby makes, sound, and gesture is a source of excitement. But it’s not all fun and games. Babies need many things growing up, and breastmilk may be the most important one.
It may seem simple at first, but later on, you will find that there can be lots of hindrances when producing breast milk. For example, your milk can stop coming due to the wrong diet or stress. However, the good news is that it is not late for your breastmilk to return. I will discuss breastfeeding, its benefits, and how to re-lactate in this article.
Why Should You Prefer Breastfeeding?
Moms produce milk as a means of welcoming their babies. For babies, this miracle means that all the antibodies they need to be healthy and strong are naturally provided. This is why breastfeeding is recommended to be the only source of your baby’s nutrients for 6 months.
After the 6-month mark, you can start feeding your baby the desired supplementary food, but that does not mean you have to stop breastfeeding. It is possible to breastfeed your baby for up to 3 years. That also means there is no such thing as being late for breastfeeding your baby. That is, of course, until your baby stops being a baby.
Breastfeeding is different for every mom. Some start lactating with birth, some start 1-2 months before, some start after birth, and some never do, so putting it in a stereotype would be wrong. I will talk about what is ideal, but that does not make you or your feeding any less valid.
Breastfeeding is great in many ways, both for the mom and the baby, and here’s why:
- Your baby woke up in the middle of the night because that’s what babies do. You wake, take your baby, lead them to your chest, and feed them. It’s quite easy and simple when you compare it with bottle feeding.
- Breastfeeding helps you form a unique bond with your child. Every experience you have with your baby is precious, and many moms regret not breastfeeding for longer periods. If you don’t want to regret it when it’s too late, I recommend enjoying every moment you can
- Breastfeeding is relatively cheaper than buying baby formula. On top of that, you don’t have control over baby formula and its stock, but your milk depends on you.
- Breastfeeding will save you from carrying stuff for preparing food. You must carry all the baby necessities when you take your baby out. Adding food preparation material to that would be a hassle. On the other hand, all you need when you breastfeed is your breasts, which are already attached to your chest.
- Your body produces milk as a reaction to you having a baby. Thus, everything your baby needs is already provided in your milk. All you need to do is be healthy for your baby’s good nourishment.
Breastfeeding, Immune System, and Allergies
The body’s miracle provides your baby with everything they need to build a strong immune system. It is especially important to remember that the baby you are feeding has no defense against the world of germs and illnesses.
But, back to the miracle, your body is aware of this, and the milk you produce is exactly what your baby needs to build up the immune system. So, for your child’s health, breastfeeding is of great importance. Also, breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from diarrhea, constipation, and many digestive problems.
Many studies show that a baby that was breastfed for a minimum of 6 months will be protected from most allergies. Pollen allergy and food allergies can be written as an example. Conditions such as asthma and eczema are also less seen in breastfed children for at least 6 months. When you think about it, it is clear that mother nature has thought of everything so you won’t have to.
Breastfeeding Benefits for Moms
After birth, many women suffer from postpartum depression; just like birth, it is different for every mom. But one common fact is known to help, and that is breastfeeding. It is proven that breastfeeding will put you in a better mood and make you feel better about motherhood in later periods.
Breastfeeding is not only necessary for your baby’s bodily health but also gives you and your baby time to form a bond. It provides both parties comfort and a sense of protection. For you, it is also a time of serenity. Away from all the mess that comes with a newborn in your house. Except it’s just you, your baby, and the calm.
Of course, the benefits are not only mental. Many studies showed that breast and ovarian cancer are less likely to breastfeed. It also reduces the chances of diabetes, anemia, and urinary tract infections later in life. So it can be said that breastfeeding is great both for your body and mind.
How to Tell When Your Baby is Hungry
Trying to feed a child who is not hungry will not end nicely. If you can’t tell when your baby is hungry, don’t panic because they give lots of signals. Down below, I will list the signs of a hungry baby.
- If your baby is moving their hands to their mouth and suckling their fingers, it is time to feed them.
- If your baby is looking toward you or twisting and turning to see you and your chest, it is a sign that they are hungry.
- If your baby is smacking their lips and sucking on air, they are hungry.
- If your baby is restless and more alert than usual, it’s because they might be hungry.
How to Tell When Your Baby Is Full and Well-Fed
As I said above, trying to feed a child who isn’t hungry won’t end well. While it might be easier, catching the signs of the fullness of your baby is still not a piece of cake. But don’t worry because I will list the most obvious signs to see when your child is content with the feeding.
- If your baby openly rejects your nipple after a few tries, it means they are full.
- If your baby has gotten relaxed and slow with open fists while feeding, it is a sign telling you that they have had enough.
- If your baby starts crying when they see your chest, it might be because they don’t want to drink and are not hungry.
- If your baby starts to fall asleep while you are feeding them, it means it’s time to stop feeding them.
Best Positions to Breastfeed Your Baby
After being in the womb for 9 months, babies have difficulty adjusting to all the free space around them. So, certain placements you put them while feeding them may make your feeding more efficient and easier. I will list some of the best feeding placements down below.
- Laid-back – You should lean back with good support on your head and shoulders for this position. Hold your baby, so your chest will touch theirs and make their cheek near your chest. After you get comfortable, give your baby time to make themselves comfortable. This position is a product of instincts and perhaps the most natural position for feeding your child.
- Cradle position – Your baby’s head should be on the crook of your elbow, and their whole body should face you. With your other arm, you can support your child’s back, head, and neck. This position will make you feel very close to your child.
- Side-lying position – Lay down next to your baby and get good support with pillows. Then lead your breast to your baby and make sure they are correctly latched and check their head while feeding so there won’t be unwanted situations. This position works miracles for night feedings.
Lactating
Breastfeeding is a broad concept and can be different for everyone. This means that there is no right or wrong unless there are serious issues. For example, it’s okay if you don’t produce milk so much. That is also fine if you have enough milk to feed an entire newborn unit. It’s just how your body works; you are not the only mom who experiences this. So, what I will write is very general but not unhelpful.
After your child’s birth, there seem to be only two options; you breastfeed them or don’t. But it is not true. Sometimes lactating comes late, and sometimes it stops early on. If you breastfed your baby for a while but then had to stop due to work or because your body stopped producing milk, you may wonder if you’ll ever re-lactate.
Or, after birth, if you still do not produce milk, you may panic for your baby’s health. None of these means that your lactation won’t come back. On the contrary, with a proper routine, your milk has a high chance of coming back.
A fact about breastfeeding is there is no such thing as late. So even though re-lactating and producing milk later in motherhood is hard, it’s not impossible. Below I will list some of the things you can do to start lactating.
- Supply and demand — You stop lactating because your body is convinced that there is no need to lactate anymore. To re-lactate, you can pump from time to time. This way, you will stimulate your milk ducts and form a placebo need for lactation.
- Healthy body and mind — For producing milk, your body needs to be healthy. For you, this means the least possible stress factors, no unhealthy habits – like smoking and drinking -and a healthy diet. To feed your baby the best way, you should do it yourself.
- Skin contact with your baby — The lactating process is a hormonal mess. However, many studies show that keeping your baby close and forming skin contact releases certain hormones that help produce milk.
- Give yourself time — Your body is not a machine and needs more time to produce milk. Be patient, don’t force yourself, and whatever the outcome is, make sure to love yourself.
- Herbal supplementary medicines — Many moms who share their experience with lactating say that herbal medicine helped them a lot. So go to your doctor, ask them about it and listen to your body.
- Stimulating your chest — Massaging and stimulating your breasts will stimulate milk ducts and help you re-lactate.
- Seek help from a professional — Some people especially study lactation and postpartum moms, and seeking help from them is a wonderful way to encourage your milk to come back.
Relactating is still possible after 1 year of giving birth. You only need to be patient and follow the routine you decide on.
When Is It too Late to Start Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is perhaps one of the most fulfilling feelings of motherhood. And aside from the feeling, it greatly benefits both the mother and the baby’s health. If you want to breastfeed again or are yet to start, there may be some difficulties. Your milk may have stopped, and your child may have gotten used to the bottle rejecting your breast. But do not panic; you are not late for anything.
As I mentioned above, with a few things added to your daily routine, it is possible to start feeding your baby again. But until when do these apply? For late breastfeeding, doctors say it is easier to be successful before your baby is 6 months old. And if you are trying at 3 or 4 months, your chances of success are even higher.
Late breastfeeding mainly depends on the mom’s milk production. After the 6-month mark, it can be a little harder and more challenging, but every mom has a different body. This tells us that there is no such thing as late when breastfeeding. As long as you can make milk -with a little encouragement- your infant will gladly take it. But down below, I will list some things you can do to encourage your baby to drink from your chest.
- Slowly reduce the usage of feeding bottles so that your baby can turn to your chest.
- Lead your baby through with supportive movements, calm words, and sweet lullabies.
- Don’t latch your baby blindly. Instead, show them that milk comes from your nipples first and then lead them towards it.
- Make skin contact as much as possible.
Conclusion
Parenthood is a blessing—an extremely challenging one. And you should remember that you are not the first person to have a baby, just like you won’t be the last. It’s normal to be scared and overly worried. What’s important is that you put your worries aside and enjoy every moment you have with your child.
Time moves fast, and we should cherish every second as we go. In this entry, I talked about breastfeeding and its benefits and put some helpful information about your baby. I hope you found what you were looking for and enjoyed reading.
