Why breast milk is best ?

Breast milk is the best food for your baby. The healthiest way to feed an infant is to nurse her. The health benefits are so great, in fact, that the American Academy of Pediatrics

recommends breastfeeding for atleast the first year of a baby's life (exclusively for the first six months), and longer if both you and your child are willing. Breast milk is a complete food source; it contains all the nutrients your baby needs - at least 400 of them - including hormones and disease-fighting compounds absent in formula. Remarkably, its nutritional makeup even adjusts to your baby's needs as she grows and develops. And apart from the brain-building, infection-fighting benefits of mother's milk, whichno formula can duplicate, nursing helps build a special bond between you and your baby. When you nurse, your child thrives on the skin-to-skin contact, the cuddling, and the holding. You will, too.

How to breastfeed ?
Since feedings can take anywhere from seven to 40 minutes, pick a cozy spot for nursing. The more relaxed you are, the easier a feeding will be. Atmosphere is very important, especially in the early days of breastfeeding when you're still trying to get the hang of it. If you're easily distracted and disrupted by noise, go someplace quiet. If you're easily bored, you may want to nurse in front of the television, but  only if breastfeeding is going well for you and your baby. Try different spots until you find what works for you.

Hold your baby in a position that won't leave your arms and back sore. Many women find the cradle position works well, although it really depends on what's comfortable for you. Don't feed until you and your baby are comfortable. Pay attention to how your breasts feel when your baby latches on. Her mouth should cover a big part of the areola below the nipple and your nipple should be far back in your baby's mouth. If latch-on hurts, break the suction - by inserting your little finger between your baby's gums and your nipple - and try again. Once your baby latches on properly, she'll do the rest.

Problems you may encounter :
Although women have nursed their babies for centuries, breastfeeding doesn't always come easy. Many women face difficulties early on. In thefirst six weeks, as your milk supply adjusts and your baby learns how to nurse, you may suffer from:

What you may be feeling ?
Some women adjust to breastfeeding easily, encountering no major hurdles. But many new moms find it hard to learn - so if you're feeling discouraged, know that you're not the only one. Also, talk to your doctor or midwife about any health concerns that may impede successful breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding takes practice. Give yourself as much time as you need to get it down to a science. Take it a day or a week at a time. If you're having a bad nursing day, tell yourself that tomorrow will be better. And keep in mind that any problems you're having are likely to be temporary. By your six-week postpartum checkup, you'll probably be nursing like a veteran mom.

If for some reason you find yourself completely unable to breastfeed, don't worry. You deserve recognition for at least making an effort to nurse your baby. And you will still be able to bond during bottle feedings. After all, there's more to good parenting than nursing.

Breastfeeding in public :
Although you may feel shy about nursing in front of other people, you have a right to breastfeed in public. After all, you can't be expected to run home every time your baby needs to eat. Nursing tops are designed to allow you to breastfeed with a minimum of flesh showing. Draping a diaper or blanket over your shoulder and chest as your baby feeds also helps you nurse more discreetly in public (make sure your child is still able to breathe easily).
  
Some department stores have breastfeeding lounges where you can sit comfortably and nurse alongside other mothers. And, if all else fails, you can always throw modesty to the wind and do what you have to do, because feeding your baby when she's hungry is your first priority. Soon, when breastfeeding becomes more familiar, you won't think twice about feeding your baby in public.

What you need to buy ?
In addition to nursing tops, you'll need a few nursing bras. These provide the extra support your larger-than-usual breasts need. They also come with flaps that you can easily undo come feeding time. You may want to wait until after you give birth to make this purchase, to make sure you get a bra that fits perfectly.

Breasts have a tendency to leak when you're lactating. Another baby's cry or the sight of an infant can stimulate milk flow, even at inopportune moments. Make sure you have a healthy supply of breast pads. You can stock up on washable pads, or buy disposable ones.

Can I nurse even after I go back to work?
Yes. Going back to work doesn't have to mean the end of breastfeeding.
In fact, mothers who work outside the home are often able to nurse their babies as long as they want.

Sometime during the first week after you give birth, you may find that your breasts feel very swollen, tender, throbbing, lumpy, and uncomfortably full. Sometimes the swelling extends all the way to the armpit. You may run a low-grade fever, too. Don't worry as terrible as it sounds, this is truly a temporary, albeit painful, situation.

What causes it?
Within 72 hours after you give birth, an abundance of breast milk "comes in" or becomes available to your baby. As that happens, more blood flows to your breasts, and some of the surrounding tissue swells.This the cause of engorged breasts.Not every postpartum mom experiences true engorgement. Some women's breasts become only slightly full, but others find their breasts have grown astonishingly big and hard.

How can I treat it?
First, keep in mind that engorgement is a positive sign: You're producing milk to feed your baby, and soon, with his help, you'll produce the right amount. Until then:

• Wear a supportive nursing bra, even during the night. Be sure it isn't too tight.
• Nurse frequently, every two to three hours, even if it means waking your baby. Make sure your baby nurses on both breasts at each feeding and is swallowing well and softening the breast after each nursing. Encourage him to nurse at least 10 to 20 minutes at each breast.
• Avoid having the baby latch on and suckle when the areola the dark area around your nipple - is very firm. To reduce the possibility of nipple damage and to help your baby latch on, manually express or pump milk until the areola softens. It may  be easier to manually express milk in the shower the warm water by itself may cause enough leakage to soften the areola.

Note:
Your baby may have a harder time latching on when your breasts are engorged. Be patient, and keep trying!

• Avoid pumping milk except when you need to soften the areola or when the baby   refuses the second breast. Excessive or habitual pumping can lead to over production of milk and prolonged engorgement.
• While the baby's nursing, gently massage the breast he's on. This encourages milk   to flow and will help relieve some of the tightness and discomfort.
• To soothe the pain and help relieve swelling, apply cold packs to the breast for a   short period after nursing. Crushed ice in a plastic bag works well.
• Some women find relief by applying fresh green cabbage leaves to their breasts.    Strip the main vein from two larger, outer leaves and cut a hole in each one for      your nipple. Rinse and dry them before laying them on your breasts.
• If you're really in pain, take acetaminophen tablets (such as Tylenol) or a mild       pain reliever prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Don't apply direct heat, such as warm washcloths, heating pads, or hot water       bottles, to your engorged breasts unless it's to soften the areola and help your milk let-down. Rather than alleviate the pain, this may aggravate the condition.
• Look ahead: You'll get past this engorgement and soon be able to enjoy your        fledgling breastfeeding relationship with your baby.

How long does it last?
Fortunately, engorgement passes pretty quickly. You can expect it to diminish within 24 to 48 hours, and nursing your baby will only help the problem. If you're not nursing, it probably will get worse before it gets better.
  
Some women hardly notice the pain, as they are so involved in all the aspects of the first few postpartum days - from exhaustion to awe at having a newborn.

Can I still nurse?
You can and should nurse. Unrelieved engorgement can cause a permanent drop in your milk production so it's important to nurse frequently right off the bat. If possible, breastfeed your baby immediately after he is born, and nurse often from that point on. Watch your baby for signs of hunger such as sucking his fist and becoming restless. If he'scrying, he's already worked up an appetite.
 
Once the engorgement passes, your breasts will be softer, although still full of milk.

Will it affect my baby?
No - except that you may be even more inclined to feed him as much and as often as you can.

What are they?
Sore nipples are so common to new breastfeeding moms that many think they're part and parcel of nursing. Not true. You may feel some tenderness in the beginning of a feeding during the first few days, but severe or prolonged pain associated with nursing is neither necessary nor normal. If the pain is intense or lasts longer than a few days, it's a sign that you may need to make some changes. Nursing can and should be a pleasurable experience for both you and your baby.

What causes them?
Frequent nursing does not cause sore nipples. Rather, a baby who latches on improperly or is positioned wrong at the breast is the usual cause.You should place your breast well into your baby's mouth so his lips are splayed and his gums encircle your nipple. If he has to suck or pull your nipple into his mouth it can cause soreness and pain. Incorrect latch-on may also teach your baby poor sucking patterns that could be hard to correct later. An ill-fitting bra can also cause nipple soreness by putting pressure on your nipples. You can easily remedy this by buying a bigger or more comfortable bra. Nursing pads and plastic linings in bras may also be the culprits if they don't allow the skin to "breathe," aggravating the pain by trapping moisture.
 
If your baby is older and you experience sore nipples, it may be because he's teething. A baby with mouth pain may alter the way he nurses to be more comfortable or even bite down. Unfortunately, that can mean pain for you.

What can I do?
First, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is your baby taking the breast far back into his mouth? Your baby needs to take a large mouthful of breast - not just the nipple - into his mouth before he begins to suck. If the baby is just sucking on the tip of the nipple, it will most likely hurt.
• Is your baby's mouth opening wide enough? If your baby latches on without opening his mouth, break the suction by putting your finger into the corner of his mouth, take him from the breast and start again. Don't pull your nipple out - that can cause pain, too.
• Are your baby's lips positioned correctly? Some babies suck in their lower lip along with the nipple and areola and this can cause pain during a feeding.
• Is your baby clamping down too soon? If this is the case, use your index finger to press down on his chin to keep him from closing his mouth too early.
• Do you pull your infant from your breast without first breaking the suction? This will almost certainly cause soreness.

Some experts say the best treatment for sore nipples is expressing a bit of colostrum or breast milk and rubbing it gentlyon your nipples.The healing properties of  mother's milk often take care of a mild condition.

Will they affect my baby?
Not directly, but in rare cases a mother may resent having sore nipples , which may, in turn, interfere with her relationship with her baby. If you feel this way, talk to a knowledgeable friend, a lactation consultant, your health care provider. You may find that expressing your negative feelings to someone who'll listen and won't judge is all you need to feel better.

Can I still nurse?
Yes. But if you're still experiencing unacceptable levels of pain even after trying the above tips, get expert help from a lactation consultant or doctor, and then consider a short (two to five days) sabbatical from breastfeeding. You can express your milk and feed it to your baby while your nipples heal.

What is it?
Mastitis can leave you feeling as if you've come down with the flu. You may notice areas of redness, hardness, soreness, or heat in your breast, and swelling of the affected milk duct. Common, and more serious, signs of the infection include chills, a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and fatigue.If you find yourself with a breast infection, you're not alone: About one in 20 nursing moms get it, and some non-nursing mothers do, too. And while you can get mastitis more than once, it's very unlikely that you'll get it in both breasts at the same time.

What causes it?
The problem is caused by invading germs. Typically, those germs pass from your baby's mouth, nose, and throat into a milk duct through cracks or fissures in the nipples, though non-nursing moms may get a breast infection when they experience engorgement. Other contributors include not completely emptying breasts of milk, and lowered resistance to illness (most new mothers are tired, stressed, and probably not eating all that well) - factors that can affect nursers and non-nursers alike. First-time moms who haven't mastered a good latch-on technique and are suffering from cracked nipples are more likely to contract mastitis, although experienced nursing mothers aren't immune.Mastitis can occur at any time while you're breastfeeding, but it's most common between the 10th and 28th days postpartum.

How can I treat it?
See your caregiver if your symptoms don't improve after several hours of applying moist heat to your breasts, feeding your baby more frequently,and takingIbuprofen to ease the pain. She'll prescribe antibiotics (if you're nursing, check to make sure the medication will not affect your baby, though the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for this is safe for babies), bed rest, pain relievers, and ice or hot compresses. When the antibiotics kick in during the next 48 hours, you'll start feeling better.
 
Another way to ease the pain: Nurse frequently to keep the affected breast empty, which may help clear up the infection faster.

How long will it last?
If the infection is diagnosed early, it's easy and quick to treat, and you won't need to stop nursing from the affected breast. Be sure to take all of the prescribed antibiotics to keep the infection from returning a few days or weeks later. It won't be long before you feel 100 percent better. If your breast remains tender and you still have a fever, contact your healthcare provider without delay.

Ignoring mastitis can cause complications. If untreated, it can lead to breast abscesses, which require antibiotics, and surgery (usually performed while the patient is under general anesthesia) to drain the abscess. Consequently, your baby won't be able to nurse on the infected breast.

The best way to avoid mastitis is to get plenty of rest and eat a healthy, balanced diet while you're nursing. The more run down you are, the more susceptible to infection you become.

Should I stop nursing if I have mastitis?
No. In fact, it's important that you continue nursing through an infection. Although nursing may be extremely painful at times, you need to let your baby feed frequently to keep your milk supply flowing and avoid further blockage.Try warm compresses on your breasts for several minutes before each feeding — this should help your letdown reflex and make nursing more tolerable.
 
If your baby doesn't empty the inflamed breast during each feeding, finish the job yourself with a breast pump. And if you find that it is unbearable to nurse, try pumping your breasts and giving the milk to your baby in a bottle. But don't rely on this solely to get you through the infection, as your baby can "pump" your breasts more efficiently than any device.

Will it affect my baby?
Though you no doubt feel lousy, mastitis will not affect your baby. In fact, the germs that caused the infection probably came from your baby's mouth in the first place, so don't worry about passing the same germs back to him.