How often do you need to feed a newborn with breast milk and formula, how long does it take to feed a baby? Proper feeding of newborns with breast milk and mixtures Duration of breastfeeding of a newborn baby.

Lyudmila Sergeevna Sokolova

Reading time: 8 minutes

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As a rule, this is inherent in the baby for the first few days and weeks of life. The baby may stay at the breast for a long time just because he feels more comfortable. For example, if feeding lasts about an hour, then this does not mean at all that the baby has been actively sucking all this time. The baby manages to sleep during the short intervals between sucking, but at this time he does not release the breast. It is important that the child can suck as much as he needs, since the implementation of the sucking reflex determines the good development of the baby's nervous system.

Babies: exceptions to the rule.

The older the baby, the better it wears large intervals between feedings. Some children, breastfed, at the age of close to six months, establish such a feeding regimen themselves, when the breaks between meals are 3.5-4 hours. Also, some babies already at the age of 2 months and older can do without night feeding, withstanding a 6-hour night break. It would be wrong to force every such baby to eat at night. If the child is healthy, the mother's lactation is good and the baby is clearly saturated with milk during evening feedings, we can agree with his regimen. But a minimal suspicion of a decrease in the amount of milk should be accompanied by more frequent attachments to the breast, as well as a return to night feedings.

How to feed the "artificial"?

Since the milk formula is retained in the gastrointestinal tract of the child for a longer time compared to breast milk, it is quite natural that “artificial” children are usually recommended to be fed more infrequently. These are just those babies who, as a rule, manage to be fed "by the hour." So, up to 3 months of age, they receive the volume of milk mixture necessary for a single feeding every 3 hours, i.e. they feed 7 times a day (approximately at 6, 9, 12, 15 hours, etc. until 24 hours, followed by a 6-hour night break). Then, before the introduction of the first complementary foods, the "artificial" child is fed 6 times a day every 3.5 hours (for example, at 6, 9.30, 13, 16.30, 20, 23.30). And after the introduction of the first complementary foods, the frequency of feeding is 5 times a day after 4 hours (for example, at 6.0. 14, 18 and 22 hours). Infants receiving formula milk usually do not require special nighttime feedings. The exception is babies in the first two weeks of life.

The above recommendations apply to healthy full-term babies who, for one reason or another, cannot receive mother's milk. If, in the opinion of the pediatrician advising the child, there is a need to change the feeding regimen, for example, to make them smaller in volume but more frequent, including the introduction of night feeding, you should heed the advice of a specialist.

The volume of milk for a child 1-10 days

The daily amount of food for a healthy full-term baby at the age of the first 7-10 days can be calculated using the Finkelstein formula:

Daily volume of milk \u003d 70 x n or 80 x n, where n is the day of life of the newborn.

The coefficient 70 is substituted into the formula in the case of a child's weight at birth less than 3200 g, the coefficient 80 - if the weight is more than 3200 g.

The amount of food for a child 10 days - 6 months

The daily volume of food needed by a child with average body weight is 1/5 of the mass at the age of 10-14 days to 2 months, 1/6 of the mass from 2 to 4 months, 4 to 6 months - 1/7 of the mass.

By the age of six months, the baby should receive approximately 900-950 ml of milk (or mixture) per day.

Periodic calculation of the daily and single volume of food is necessary for children who are bottle-fed. As a child grows, his nutritional needs increase, so it is important that the baby receives an adequate amount of formula. If a healthy child receives a standard adapted formula in the proper volume, then it can be assumed with reasonable certainty that all the necessary nutritional ingredients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) are supplied to him. Calculation for individual components, as a rule, is not required in this case.

Do I need to calculate nutrition for infants?

Usually there is no need to calculate the volume of feedings (both one-time and in general per day) for a child who is breastfed if he receives a breast on demand and if he does not have reliable or several indirect signs of malnutrition.

Reliable signs include weight gain and frequency of urination. A healthy full-term baby in the first 6 months of life should gain at least 500 g per month, or 125 g per week. If this condition is not met, a nursing woman first needs to consult a doctor. Evaluation of the frequency of urination is also very important for the judgment of nutritional adequacy. So, a child who is exclusively breastfed and receives a sufficient amount of milk urinates at least 6 times a day, and his urine is not concentrated (i.e. light, without a strong odor). The exception is children of the first three days of life, who can normally urinate less frequently.

In addition, there are a number of indirect signs by which one can judge whether the child has enough mother's milk. So, if the baby requires the breast too often, sucks for a very long time, cries often and looks unsatisfied at the same time, then there is an assumption of insufficient lactation.

Calculation of the volume of a single feeding is needed in the case of feeding the baby with expressed milk. If a woman during lactation decides to resume her studies or work, the best option for the baby is feeding with expressed mother's milk. The person who will take care of the child in the absence of the mother (this may be a grandmother or a nanny) should give the child a certain amount of milk previously expressed by the mother several times a day.

What else should the baby get in the diet?

There is no need to give the baby any food other than mother's milk until the age of 6 months. This is a unique food product, which in most cases provides everything a baby of this age needs. Starting from six months, a baby-baby will receive, in addition to milk, other food necessary for age.

For children who receive formula milk for various reasons, complementary foods are introduced no earlier than 4.5, but no later than 6 months (with doubling the initial body weight).

Special situations

If the baby was born prematurely or has any serious disease, the approach to his nutrition should be individual and very responsible. The choice of the type and method of nutrition is determined by the doctor, based on the characteristics of the child's condition. The calculation of the required volume of food, as well as the timing of the introduction of other products, except for milk or a mixture, will also be individual.

The first days of feeding a newborn baby are a very difficult and responsible period for every mother. Not all babies immediately begin to properly latch on to the breast or bottle. Some mothers do not have enough milk, and have to resort to artificial feeding, but I really want to maintain natural lactation.

Feeding mode

How to feed a newborn with breast milk? Many mothers who are faced with motherhood for the first time are interested in this. It is worth noting that the baby still unconsciously performs his actions. They are driven by reflexes and instincts. Therefore, some moments the mother has to adjust to the newborn on her own. For example: the correct grip of the nipple, the position of the baby during feeding, and more.

From the first days after birth, the child is given the opportunity to feel hunger and satiety. Therefore, to feel when the baby wants to eat is absolutely not difficult for any mother.

Watch your baby carefully, and soon you will be able to easily understand when he sucks a breast or a bottle for the purpose of pleasure, and when - to satisfy his hunger. You should not allow the baby to suck just to calm down. If you try to reduce such moments to a minimum, then it will become much easier to establish a feeding regimen, and the child will show by his behavior when he wants to eat.

On average, babies need breast milk every four hours, and it takes only one week to accustom a baby to a regimen. Moreover, a properly set schedule will help in the future to deal with colic and regurgitation.

Postures for feeding

As you know, breast milk transmits antibodies from mother to child, which help the child's body fight bacteria and viruses. It has been found to reduce the risk of developing allergies and asthma. Children who feed on mother's milk in the first six months of life are less likely to get sick in the future and are less susceptible to respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases.

If you are a supporter of long-term breastfeeding, you need to read the information on how to properly breastfeed your newborn. The recommendations of pediatricians and experienced mothers are similar. There is no single correct feeding position for an individual baby. Here you need to focus on the comfort of mom and baby.

How to breastfeed a newborn while lying down? Breastfeeding experts recommend that mothers change positions as often as possible, so it will be much easier for the baby to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals from milk.

Feeding a baby lying down is the most comfortable position that meets all the parameters of proper breastfeeding.

Application rules

Before proceeding with the first attachment of the crumbs to the breast, the mother should know how to properly feed the newborn:

1. The baby's nose should be pressed against the mother's chest so that it does not interfere with the even and correct breathing of the crumbs.
2. Mom should not experience pain during feeding, and the baby should suck at the breast in a calm state. If this does not happen, then it is necessary to pay attention to the correct grip of the nipple during feeding.
3. The child should completely capture the areola with his mouth, and the lips should be turned outward.

regurgitation of air

It often happens that the baby, along with the mixture or milk, swallows air, which can cause “false” saturation. Therefore, the mother should take small but regular breaks between feedings so that the crumbs have the opportunity to burp air. Such changes will help the baby feel hungry again and finish drinking his prescribed portion. Also, timely regurgitation of air can reduce the risk of colic.

During breaks, try to carry your baby in the "column" position - a half-straight or straight position with his back to the mother's stomach. You can take the baby on your shoulder so that his arms lie on your back. Do not forget to put a napkin on it, as the baby with air can spit up some of the food.

What to Consider

Even if there is an excellent amount of milk in the mother's breast, it is important to follow some rules.

Lactation depends on how soon the mothers put the newborn to the breast. After the birth of the baby, the midwife should bring the baby. First, colostrum is released from the mother's breast, and a couple of minutes of suckling is enough for the child to fall asleep. Such a laborious process tires the baby. The first intake of fluid from the mother's breast gives the newborn a lot of antibodies that can protect the baby from infections, bacteria and viruses.

Breastfeeding should be as comfortable as possible for mom and baby.

1. Choose a comfortable position.
2. Mom can feed lying down, and the baby should lie sideways.
3. The position of the body of the baby should be straight.
4. In no case do not put pressure on the head of the crumbs. Try to hold it by the back or shoulders.

If the baby is naughty, then first calm him down, and only then start feeding. By experimenting with different positions, you will soon find a comfortable one for you. And you should pay attention to the information on how to properly feed a newborn lying down.

What about night feedings? Do not wake the baby if it is time for him to eat by the clock. Follow the "on demand" mode. As soon as the baby wants to eat, he will independently report this with a hungry cry. This mode has a positive effect on the development of emotional stability.

Is pumping necessary? Stagnation of milk in the breast can cause serious problems and troubles.

Therefore, mom needs to express on time. True, on this issue, the opinions of experts are divided.

This procedure can be performed both manually and with the help of special devices.

Need for a bottle

There is an opinion among pediatricians that if the baby is mixed-fed, it is not recommended to use a bottle. The baby is able to very quickly get used to a comfortable nipple and give up his mother's breast. Therefore, it is customary to replace the bottle with a syringe or a spoon.

Today, a tube system is very popular, which can replace natural feeding as comfortably as possible. First, the mother must give the baby a breast, and then feed it with the help of a special device.

When the baby is fed only with a mixture, and a return to the GW is not planned, this rule does not apply. The baby can easily use the bottle. How to bottle feed a newborn? Parents should pay special attention to the quality of this item when buying. Dishes must be made of safe materials marked "0+".

Glass bottles are very easy to clean and sterilize with boiling water. They have a long service life. The disadvantage is very significant - such dishes are beating, which is extremely unsafe for the baby and not only. Plastic bottles made from quality material are the safest to use, but they have to be changed very often. This is due to the fact that the plastic wears out, and in the process of boiling it loses its attractive appearance and shape.

Preparing for feeding

After reviewing the recommendations on how to properly feed a newborn with a mixture, you can proceed to the next step. Preparation for feeding the baby should be carried out in advance. You should have clean bottles and teats ready. Before starting the preparation of the mixture, the mother should thoroughly wash her hands with soap and water.

Before preparing the mixture, carefully read the instructions on the package. Do not make mistakes with the addition of liquid, otherwise the baby may get dehydrated or not enough vitamins and minerals.

Although there is an opinion that the finished mixture should be stored in the refrigerator for a day, try to prepare a fresh food product for the baby every time. If for some reason you are opposed to this point of view, then heat the milk in a water bath.

Most infant formulas are diluted with boiled water at an average temperature of 36-37 degrees. This is an important nuance of the process in how to properly feed a newborn with a formula. Before offering milk to a toddler, drip on the back of your hand. If the temperature is comfortable, you can safely offer the child.

Put on a protective collar or bib for your baby, and put a towel over yourself. If you spit up while feeding, you and your baby will stay clean. When choosing a bottle, it is very important to pay attention to age restrictions: from 0-3-6-12 months, etc. The fact is that this information implies a pressure of milk from the nipple. The smaller the baby, the weaker the flow should be. Normally, for a newborn, when the bottle is tilted, it should just drip.

A few minutes before the next feeding, you can lay the crumbs on the tummy, but only under constant supervision. If the baby is naughty, dissatisfied or annoyed with something, then you should not immediately offer a bottle. The baby needs to be calmed and wait until he gets hungry.

How to feed newborns with mixed feeding? The schedule should be followed on average every 4 hours between meals, but try to prioritize on-demand mode. In this case, the risk of overeating is reduced.

To make bottle feeding as comfortable as possible, mom should follow a certain technique:

1. When feeding, hold the bottle at a slight angle so that the nipple spout fills with formula.
2. The milk should completely fill the nipple.
3. Avoid the vertical position of the bottle. This increases the pressure, and the baby may choke or choke.
4. Do not screw the nipple ring too hard. Air must not enter the bottle. Although the modern market for children's goods already presents a lot of dishes with a well-thought-out system.
5. During feeding, the baby must be kept in a horizontal position with a slightly raised head.
6. Take regular breaks so that the baby spit up air and can continue the "comfortable" process of absorption of milk.
7. Never leave your baby alone with a bottle.

As soon as the baby has eaten, take the bottle and take the baby on the handles in an upright position - “column”, and let the baby spit up for 5-10 minutes.

Prolongation of lactation with mixed feeding

Many young mothers are wondering how to properly mix feed a newborn. There is a proven relationship between the amount of milk a mother has and attachments. Accordingly, if you apply crumbs to the chest as often as possible, then lactation will be better.

To prolong the possibility of natural feeding, the mother should supplement the baby with formula only after breast milk. For this purpose, modern GW simulation systems can be used. It works in a very interesting way. The baby suckles the mother's breast, but receives milk from the system. The advantage is that the baby maintains an emotional connection with the mother, and the mother receives additional stimulation for the lactation process.

If the mother is working, then lactation can be maintained by pumping, but at least every two hours, and the baby can be fed in the morning, evening and at night on demand.

Signs of a lack or excess of the mixture

If the baby overeats, he:

• often spit up;
• sleeps poorly and is naughty regularly;
• pulls the legs to the tummy, thereby signaling bouts of pain in the abdomen;
• experiencing gas and flatulence;
• he is sick after feeding;
• quickly gaining weight.

If the child eats little, he:

• weak and inactive;
• sleeps badly;
• walks little "in a big way" and "in a little way";
• crying and acting up during the feeding process;
• sucks fingers or the edge of the diaper;
• the baby is behind the norm in weight or does not gain it at all.

How to properly breastfeed a newborn lying on its side and what role mother's milk plays in the life of a recently born baby, we have already considered. But you should not rely on the fact that breastfeeding is the main foundation in building a trusting relationship with the baby, because there is still a very significant aspect: tactile contact. It is very important for newborn babies to feel their mother's care, tenderness and love. When mom is around, the baby always feels protected and safe. Touching and stroking a mother is very important, and breastfeeding helps to create a strong emotional bond with the baby.

It is undeniable that breastfeeding promotes more rapid close contact. But bottle feeding can also be beneficial. It is enough to gently press the baby to yourself during feeding. The baby will feel warm and tender. What’s more, bottle feeding can create an emotional connection not only with mom, but also with dad and even grandma.

Breast milk is, of course, the best that nature has come up with for a newborn baby. But if the mother does not have enough of it, you should not torment the baby with hunger, it is better to choose mixed feeding of newborns. How to properly feed a newborn with milk, the above article will tell you. Moreover, most mixtures today are made taking into account all the needs and characteristics of a small organism.

For the correct process of feeding with breast milk or formula, it is enough for a mother to know just a few rules. GW is completely invented by nature, it is inherent in every woman. So there shouldn't be any problems here.

Do not forget that a warm and tender relationship with a child can be built not only through breastfeeding, but simply with regular tactile contact.

From the correct mode of feeding the baby depends on his sound sleep, and proper development, and the opportunity to relax for the baby's mother. It is not surprising that the question of how often to feed a newborn worries many.

Mode features

The mode of feeding a newborn with breast milk should be clear. It all starts with the fact that the baby must be attached to the breast in the first minutes after birth. At this point, he will receive healing colostrum. It is much more nutritious than milk.

The baby will eat colostrum for the first two or three days, until real milk appears. These days it is necessary to give the baby a breast more often so that he learns to suckle correctly. This is also necessary for a nursing mother so that she can quickly improve lactation and avoid congestion.

The best food for a baby is breast milk.

No infant formula can be compared with it in terms of composition and nutrient content. When breastfeeding, the intervals between feedings for each child will be slightly different. Every baby is individual. To figure out how often to feed newborns with breast milk, you need to observe the behavior of the little ones themselves.

We must learn to understand the signals that the child gives when he is hungry:

• rapid eye movements with closed eyelids or tense muscles may be noticeable;
• the child begins to spin or make different sounds;
• he puts a pen or some object in his mouth and tries to suck it.

Don't wait for a hungry baby to cry, because a crying baby is much harder to suckle at the breast. Watching the baby, you can understand after what time it is necessary to feed him. These intervals may be one or two hours, may be more or less - it does not matter. There is no need to be afraid that the child will overeat. Some children ask for a breast more often and suck it little by little, while others, on the contrary, eat less often, but in large volumes.

The number of feedings also depends on the mother's body. After all, the content of nutrients and the fat content of milk for each woman is different, therefore, to saturate the baby, more or less food or a different frequency of feeding may be required.

If the baby often asks for breasts, you should not be afraid of this, since mother's milk is completely absorbed.

Even if he gains weight too quickly, there is nothing to worry about. Breast milk is not deposited in fat cells. Both scientific research and experience have proven that the more often the feeding occurs, the faster the child develops, the less often he cries, the better he feels. This is especially important in the first months of his life.

If, during breastfeeding, the mother tries to observe a three-hour or other period of time between meals for the baby, this can adversely affect the health of the child. If he is hungry, he will begin to act up, cry, which is fraught with various pathologies. You should not risk the health of the baby for the sake of trying to force him to follow the routine that is convenient for adults.

Benefits of frequent breastfeeding

The question of how much to feed a newborn is also important from the standpoint of a woman's milk production. As soon as the baby begins to suckle the breast, the mother releases certain hormones in the body that are necessary for the production of milk. Therefore, the more often feeding occurs, the higher their level. The amount of fat in breast milk also depends on the number of attachments of the baby per day. When feeding a child according to the regimen, the mother's breast is in an overflowing state. This suppresses lactation and reduces the amount of milk produced.

Some mothers believe that the child should sleep all night. But the body of a newborn cannot go without food for so long, especially in the first weeks, when the baby eats equally often at any time of the day. Sometimes you have to get up two or three times at night to feed him. Often, mothers sleep with their babies to make it easier to put them to the breast. If a child asks for food 1-2 times a night, this is quite normal and good for his development.

How long the feeding process will take is also very individual. The duration of this procedure will also increase day by day, gradually taking 40-60 minutes. Some babies eat often, while calmly and leisurely, stopping and resting, others with great appetite. Many babies fall asleep while eating and then wake up and suckle again. They feel more secure at this moment, do not deprive them of this comfort. In a few weeks, mother and child will establish a routine that suits both of them.

Long feeding was previously considered the cause of inflammatory processes in the nipples. However, it is now known that this trouble is associated with the incorrect position of the child during suckling. The assumption that frequent feedings lead to painful engorgement of the mammary glands turned out to be incorrect. In fact, everything happens exactly the opposite.

Frequency of feeding with artificial feeding

Many young mothers refuse to feed their newborn with breast milk and switch to baby food. Often this is due to the desire to maintain convenience for oneself. However, they do not understand that such an act provokes big problems in the future.

An artificial mixture will never provide a child with a strong immune system that can protect him from many diseases.

Even in the case of insufficient lactation, a young mother should stimulate the production of breast milk, and not suppress it. However, sometimes there are good reasons for switching to artificial nutrition. The baby begins to require a mixture if the mother has health problems.

The reason for not breastfeeding may be the fear of gaining weight or losing the shape of the breast. This is a huge misconception! Such fears are unfounded, as the breast changes during pregnancy. At the same time, weight is added. After one and a half to two years of breastfeeding, a woman can lose extra pounds and regain her former shape. When suppressing lactation, it is often much harder for her to part with unnecessary weight due to the hormonal imbalance that has come about due to the cessation of milk production.

How often do you need to feed a newborn with artificial feeding? If the child is formula-fed, the attitude towards his feeding regimen will be completely different. In this case, it is better to maintain a three-hour interval between meals. This is due to the fact that the composition of the mixture, although close to mother's milk, is more difficult for the baby's stomach to perceive. Much more time is spent on the assimilation of such food.

At the same time, there should not be a rigid link to the feeding schedule. If the baby is hungry before three hours have passed, you need to give him a bottle. It may be that after three hours he still does not want to eat How many times a day to feed - depends on the individual characteristics of the little man, as well as on the composition of the mixture. But if the baby requires a bottle too often, then you may just need to change the infant formula.

You should also correctly calculate how much food you need per feeding. The volume can be calculated independently using the well-known formula: the baby's age in days is multiplied by a constant coefficient equal to 70 or 80, depending on its birth weight. The product will show the daily nutritional intake. This figure must be divided by the number of feedings.

Rules for feeding a newborn

Not all young women know how to properly feed a baby. To do this well, you need to remember a few mandatory rules:

• you must first wash your hands with baby or laundry soap;
• wipe the nipple;
• try to properly breastfeed the baby so that he clasps the areola;
• after feeding, hold the baby upright, and then lay on its side.

When feeding, you need to sit comfortably and put your hand under the baby's head. Now on sale there are comfortable pillows, which, if desired, can be purchased. You can feed while sitting on a chair or in an armchair. It is most comfortable to do this while lying on your side on a pillow.

The first weeks of life are very important for a newborn. We need to help him adapt to a new, unfamiliar environment. In this sense, eating at the right frequency is of great importance. But whatever the child’s feeding regimen, the main thing is that it suits both the mother and the baby. Preference should be given to breast milk: if it is possible to breastfeed, you must feed!

A complete set of myths and misconceptions about breastfeeding

Misconception 1: Breastfeeding is something incredibly difficult, always a lot of problems and nothing but inconvenience. Almost no one is able to feed for a long time.
Fact: There is nothing easier, more convenient, more enjoyable for mother and baby, and, by the way, cheaper than properly organized breastfeeding. But for that to be the case, breastfeeding needs to be learned. The best teacher in this matter may not be a book or a magazine for parents, but a woman who has been breastfeeding her child for a long time, more than a year, and receiving positive emotions from this. There are women who breastfeed for a long time and perceived it as a punishment. For example, one mother fed a child for 1.5 years and for all these 1.5 years she pumped after each feeding, and when she decided that she was enough and decided to wean the child, she had mastitis due to wrong actions. Now she tells everyone that breastfeeding is hell. She didn't feed her baby properly for a single day.

Misconception 2: Breastfeeding spoils the shape of the breast
Fact: It is true that breastfeeding does not improve breast shape, but breasts do change during pregnancy. It is then that it increases and becomes heavier, and, if its shape contributes to this, it “sags”. What happens to the chest? During lactation, the breast changes. Approximately 1-1.5 months after birth, with stable lactation, it becomes soft, produces milk almost only when the baby suckles. After 1.5-2.5-3 years, involution of the mammary gland occurs, lactation gradually stops. Iron "falls asleep" until the next time. Under natural conditions, this coincides with a decrease in the baby's need for suckling and with weaning. The chest remains soft, inelastic. If a woman does not feed a child, the involution of the mammary gland occurs within the first month after childbirth. The shape of the breast still does not return to its pre-pregnancy state. (And if you think about it and figure out why a woman has breasts at all? It is for breastfeeding.)

Misconception 3: Breastfeeding spoils the figure
Fact: Many women are afraid to gain weight while breastfeeding. But a woman gains weight mainly during pregnancy, not when she is nursing. Moreover, if before pregnancy she tried to meet certain fashionable standards, for example, 90-60-90, during pregnancy she returns to her weight, her genetically incorporated physiological norm + the well-known 7-10 kg per uterus, fetus, amniotic fluid, increased volume of circulating blood and a little bit more for various little things. Weight gain during pregnancy can be significant. A woman begins to lose weight after 6-8 months of feeding, and gradually, in 1.5 - 2 years, she “drops” everything that she has accumulated. It turns out that the figure from breastfeeding just improves. It often happens that a woman, having stopped feeding at 1.5-2 months, begins to gain weight. Perhaps this is due to the resulting hormonal imbalance, tk. no woman is designed for such a rapid cessation of lactation.

Misconception 4: You need to prepare the breast for feeding (the following is a variety of recommendations, from sewing hard rags into the bra to advice to the husband at the end of pregnancy to “dissolve the ducts” of his wife)
Fact: It is not necessary to prepare the breast for feeding, it is so arranged by nature that by the time of birth it is quite ready to feed the baby. Cloths, for example, can cause skin irritation. Any manipulation of the nipple at the end of pregnancy can lead to very undesirable consequences due to the stimulation of the oxytocin reflex: stimulation of the nipple - release of oxytocin - contraction of the muscles of the uterus under the influence of oxytocin - the uterus is "in good shape" - and, as the worst option, stimulation of premature labor. And in general, has anyone seen a cat with a rag in a bra, or a monkey doing a hardening shower massage?

Misconception 5: Breastfeeding is impossible with a flat, let alone inverted nipple
Fact: Strange as it may seem to people who have never breastfed, a baby's nipple is just a point from which milk flows. If the child sucks in the correct position, then the nipple is located at the level of the soft palate and does not participate in the actual sucking. The child sucks not the nipple, but the areola, massaging, decanting it with the tongue. A breast with a flat or inverted nipple is difficult for a baby to hold in his mouth while suckling and it is more difficult for him to suck on it. Mom should show patience and perseverance in the first days after the birth of a child. Any child is perfectly trained to suck even the most uncomfortable, from our point of view, breast. The nipple in the process of sucking changes shape, stretches and takes on a more comfortable shape for the baby, usually in 3-4 weeks. There are also various devices called "nipple formers". They are put on immediately after feeding, when the nipple is slightly extended by the efforts of the child and worn until the next application. The nipple formers hold the nipple in an extended position. But even without these things it is quite possible to do. It is very important for a mother with flat or inverted nipples to make sure that her baby never sucks anything after birth, except for her mother's breast. The child of such a mother, having sucked on a bottle or a pacifier, quickly realizes that this is a more convenient object for sucking and begins to refuse the breast. In this situation, mom will need even more patience and perseverance.

Misconception 6: You can not keep a newborn at the breast for more than 5 minutes, otherwise there will be cracks
Fact: The baby should be kept at the breast for as long as it needs to be. Feeding ends when the baby himself releases the breast. If we talk about cracks, then there are only two groups of reasons leading to their formation: 1. Mom washes her breasts before each feeding. If she does this (and even with soap, and even anoints with brilliant green after feeding - a favorite pastime in Russian maternity hospitals, for example) - she constantly washes off the protective layer from the areola, which is produced by special glands located around the nipple, and dries the skin. This protective lubricant exists just to prevent the loss of moisture in the delicate skin of the nipple, it has bactericidal properties and inhibits the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and, which is especially important for the child, smells about the same as amniotic fluid. 2. Causes associated with the incorrect position and behavior of the baby at the breast: The baby is not properly attached and sucks in the wrong position. And if this is true, then 5 minutes after 3 hours is enough for the formation of abrasions, and then cracks. The baby may latch on correctly, but in the process of suckling, he may perform various actions that can lead to cracking if the mother does not know that these actions need to be corrected and not allowed to behave like this. It must be remembered that the child has not sucked sisu before, and does not know how to do it (he knows only the general principle of sucking). Unfortunately, most mothers also do not know how a baby should behave at the breast; they have never, or almost never seen it. What shouldn't a child be allowed to do? "Move out" to the tip of the nipple. This happens especially often if, during sucking, the child does not stick his nose into his mother's breast. If the mother feels that the grip is changing, she should try to press the baby with her nose to her chest. Very often this is enough for the child to “put on” correctly. If this does not help, then you need to pick up the nipple and put it back in correctly. The baby should not suck on the breast in the wrong position for a single minute. He doesn’t care how to suck, he doesn’t know that he makes mom hurt or unpleasant, he doesn’t know that the wrong position does not allow him to suck out enough milk, he doesn’t know that with the wrong position there is not enough stimulation of his mother’s breasts and there will not be enough production milk. You can not let the child play with the nipple. A child who has learned to slide down on the tip of the nipple sometimes begins to pass the nipple back and forth through the parted jaws. Mom, of course, it hurts or is unpleasant, but in most cases, mothers allow it to be done “If only he sucked ...” they say ... But why?!!! It often happens that children who do not feel the sisu with their nose, or do not feel it very well, begin to make search movements with the nipple in their mouth. Here it is necessary to press the baby so that he understands that he is already in place and there is nothing more to look for. Sometimes, especially if the mother has long and large nipples, the baby grabs the breast in several steps, “climbing” up in several movements. This also happens in cases where the child has already sucked on the pacifier and does not open his mouth well. The nipple is injured so very quickly. To avoid this, it is necessary to correctly insert the nipple into the WIDE open mouth, bringing the nipple itself past the jaws, as deep as possible. Moms don't know how to breastfeed properly. A typical picture for maternity hospitals with separate stay is as follows: the baby was brought to the mother for 30 minutes, the baby held everything correctly and sucked well for these 30 minutes, he would still suck, but they came to pick him up and the mother pulls (slowly or quickly) his nipple from his mouth. Six such pulls per day is enough for the development of abrasions. You can take the nipple only after opening the jaw with the little finger (quickly insert the tip of the finger into the corner of the mouth and turn it - it does not hurt at all and no one suffers).

Misconception 7: The baby sucks out everything he needs in the first five to ten minutes of feeding.
Fact: An older baby may actually get most of his milk in the first five to ten minutes, but it's wrong to generalize this to all babies. Newborns who are just learning to suckle do not always suckle effectively. They often take much longer to feed. The baby's milk supply also depends on the mother's hot flush. For some mothers, the rush occurs instantly, for some - after some time after the start of sucking. For some, milk is produced several times in small portions during one feeding. The easiest way is not to guess the right time for feeding, but to let the baby suckle until signs of satisfaction come - for example, the baby himself releases the breast, relaxing the arms.

Misconception 8: While there is no milk, you need to supplement with water
Fact: The first day after childbirth, liquid colostrum forms in the breast of a woman, on the second day it becomes thick, on days 3-4 transitional milk may appear, on days 7-10-18 - mature milk comes. Colostrum is scarce and thicker than milk. This is the main argument in most Russian maternity hospitals in favor of supplementing and feeding the child (otherwise he suffers from hunger and thirst). If a child would need large volumes of liquid immediately after birth, then nature would arrange the woman so that she would be flooded with colostrum immediately after childbirth. But the child does not need extra water at all. All he needs he gets from colostrum and milk! The water that is given to the child while the mother has colostrum literally "washes" the colostrum from the gastrointestinal tract, depriving the baby of the action of colostrum necessary for him. Water is given from a bottle, which leads to "tangled nipples" in the baby and may lead to refusal of the breast. Water causes a false feeling of fullness and reduces the need for suckling in a child. If we give a child 100g of water per day, he sucks 100g less milk (this applies not only to a newborn). The kidneys of a newborn are not ready for a large load of water and begin to work with overload.

Misconception 9: Milk is food, the child needs to drink - water or tea
Fact: Mother's milk contains 85-90% water and fully satisfies the baby's fluid needs, even in hot climates. Until you start giving your baby solid food, don't supplement it with water, juice, or special baby tea. All these fluids are absorbed much worse than women's milk, impede the functioning of the kidneys, and can even lead to upset stools and problems with the intestines, as they “wash out” of the beneficial microflora from the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, which it is populated thanks to women's milk. In addition, all these liquids can contain infectious agents and cause allergies. When feeding is just getting better, the baby may experience a false sense of fullness after drinking some water. In this case, he will suckle less and, accordingly, receive less milk and stimulate its production worse. There are frequent cases of poor weight gain in children who, due to supplementation, receive less breast milk.

Misconception 10: While there is no milk, it is necessary to supplement the baby with formula, otherwise he will lose weight, starve
Fact: A baby is not designed to receive anything other than colostrum and milk. In the first days after birth, one colostrum is enough for him. Weight loss in the first day of life is a physiological norm. All babies lose up to 8-10% of their birth weight in the first two days of their lives. Most children regain their weight or begin to put on weight by 5-7 days of life. Supplementary feeding with a mixture in the first days of a child's life is nothing more than a gross interference in the functioning of the baby's body. You can call this intervention a metabolic catastrophe. But in most Russian maternity hospitals, this is completely ignored! In addition, the introduction of supplementary feeding is carried out through a bottle, which very quickly leads to "tangled nipples" and the baby refuses to breastfeed. Sometimes one or two bottle feedings are enough to stop a baby from breastfeeding! The mixture causes a feeling of fullness, lingers in the stomach for a long time, the baby's need for suckling decreases, which leads to a decrease in breast stimulation and a decrease in milk production. Breast milk is a natural and physiological product for the baby's digestive system. If the baby shows signs of a reaction to feedings, it is usually caused by a foreign protein mixed with the mother's milk, and not by the milk itself. This is easily corrected by temporarily eliminating the allergenic product from the mother's diet.

Misconception 11: I feed my baby on demand! – He demands in 3.5 hours!
Fact: Feeding on demand means putting the baby to the breast for every squeak or search. The baby needs breastfeeding around every sleep, he falls asleep at the breast and when he wakes up, he is given the breast. A newborn child in the first week of his life can indeed be applied relatively rarely - 7-8 times a day, but in the second week of life, the intervals between applications are always reduced. During wakefulness, the child can ask for a breast up to 4 times per hour, i.e. every 15 minutes! 10-14 days of life - there may be a peak of suckling, up to 60 applications per day. This is rare, but it is a variant of the norm. In the vast majority of cases, at the moment when the child begins to ask for breasts more often, the mother decides that the child is starving and introduces supplementary feeding. And the child asks for breasts not at all because he is hungry. He constantly needs a sense of confirmation of physical contact with his mother.

Misconception 12: A breastfeeding mother should space herself between feedings to allow her breasts to fill up, no more than 6 times a day.
Fact: Every mother-child pair is unique. In the body of a nursing mother, milk is produced continuously. Partially, the mammary gland performs the function of a "milk tank" - some can accumulate more milk, some less. The less milk in the breast, the faster the body works to replenish it; the fuller the breast, the slower the milk production process. If the mother always waits for her breasts to “fill up” before feeding, the body may take this as a signal that too much milk is being produced and reduce lactation. Studies show that when a mother feeds early and often, on average 9.9 times a day for the first two weeks, the baby gains weight better and breastfeeding lasts longer. Milk production has been shown to be related to the frequency of feedings and decreases when feedings are infrequent and/or limited.

Misconception 13: A baby's ability to tolerate intervals between feedings is determined by how much he ate (quantity), and not by what he ate - breast milk or formula (quality)
Fact: Breastfed babies empty their stomachs in about 1.5 hours. In formula-fed babies, this process takes up to 4 hours. Formula is heavier and takes longer to digest due to the larger molecular size compared to breast milk. Although the amount sucked at a time affects the frequency of feedings, the quality of nutrition is equally important. Anthropological studies of mammalian milk confirm that human babies are adapted to frequent feedings, and this is how they fed throughout most of history.

Misconception 14: Feeding on demand is a nightmare! It is impossible to sit and feed the child for days!
Fact: That's what moms who don't know how to breastfeed say. With properly organized feeding, mom is resting! She lies, relaxed, hugs the baby, the baby sucks. What could be better? Most women cannot find a comfortable position, they sit, they hold the child awkwardly, their back or arm numbs, if they feed lying down, it usually “hangs” over the child on the elbow, the elbow and back become numb. Moreover, if the child does not take the breast well, it hurts the mother ... What kind of pleasure can we talk about here? In the first month - one and a half after childbirth, when the child is applied chaotically, without a pronounced regimen, sucks often and for a long time, the mother can feel good only if breastfeeding is organized correctly, it is convenient for the mother to feed, she knows how to do it standing, lying down and sitting and even moving .

Misconception 15: Feeding on demand does not increase the baby's closeness to the mother
Fact: Scheduled feeding interferes with the synchronization of the systems of mother and child, which significantly weakens their physical and emotional connection.

Misconception 16: Baby-led (on-demand) feeding negatively affects marital relationships
Fact: Experienced parents know that newborn babies require a lot of attention, but over time, the intensity of their needs decreases. In fact, caring for a newborn child together helps bring parents even closer together as they learn how to raise a child together.

Misconception 17: If you hold a child a lot, he will be spoiled
Fact: Babies who aren't held well enough cry more and subsequently show less self-confidence. During his life in his mother's belly, he is very used to the following: warm, crowded, I hear my heart beating, my lungs breathe, my intestines growl, I smell and taste amniotic fluid (filling the baby's nose and mouth), almost all the time I suck a fist or loops umbilical cord (learning to suck). Only in these conditions the baby feels comfortable and safe. After childbirth, he can get into such conditions only if his mother takes him in her arms, puts him on her chest, and then he will again feel cramped, warm, he will hear familiar rhythms, start sucking and feel the familiar smell and taste (the smell and taste of milk are similar to the taste and smell of amniotic fluid). And a newborn child wants to get into such conditions as often as possible. And the modern mother is waiting, she can’t wait, when the intervals between feedings will increase, when will the child start eating in 3.5 - 4 hours, when will he stop waking up at night ??? Hurry!!! And, usually, to the timid attempts of the child to ask for a breast, he answers with a pacifier, a rattle, gives some water, talks, entertains. The child is most often applied to the breast only when he wakes up. And he quickly agrees with this situation ... The child always accepts his mother's position ... But here a “pitfall” awaits mother and baby - insufficient breast stimulation and, as a result, a decrease in the amount of milk.

Misconception 18: After each feeding, you need to express the remaining milk, otherwise the milk will be wasted
Fact: No, you don't have to pump after every feed if you're breastfeeding properly. If you feed your baby 6 times a day and do not express, indeed, milk can disappear very quickly. If you express after each feeding, then you can support lactation for some time. The terms are different, but rarely it is more than six months, cases of feeding on such behavior for more than a year are isolated. When feeding a child on demand, the mother always has as much milk as the child needs and there is no need to express after each application. In order for the newborn to completely suck out the breast, it is applied to one breast for 2-3 hours, and to the other for the next 2-3 hours. Somewhere after 3 months, when the child is already applied relatively rarely, he may need a second breast in one attachment, then the next time he is applied to the one that was last. There is one unpleasant “pitfall” in regular pumping after feeding, which even most doctors are not aware of. It's called lactase deficiency. When a mother expresses after a feed, she expresses just the “hind” fatty milk, which is relatively poor in milk sugar, lactose. She feeds the child mainly with the anterior portion, which accumulates in the breast between rare feedings. There is a lot of lactose in the anterior portion. The child is fed "only lactose", the gastrointestinal tract of the child after some time ceases to cope with such volumes of lactose. Lactase deficiency develops (Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose - milk sugar, it is not enough). This is one of the reasons for the development of lactase deficiency; the second, for example, is this: the mother gives the child two breasts in one feeding.

Misconception 19: You should give your baby two breasts at one feeding
Fact: No, you don't have to give two breasts. A newborn baby is applied for 2-3 hours to one breast. Then 2-3 hours to another (for example, 5 times in 3 hours - to the right, sucked all - now to the left). We need this so that the baby sucks the breast to the end, and receives "front" and "hind" milk in a balanced amount. If the baby is transferred to the other breast in the middle of feeding, he will receive less fat-rich hind milk. He will suck mainly the front portion from one breast and add the same from the other. Foremilk is rich in lactose, after a while the baby can no longer cope with the load of lactose. Lactose intolerance develops. Transferring a baby from one breast to another can cause hyperlactation in some women, and if a mother also expresses both breasts after each feeding ... There are such mothers. Curtailing excess milk is sometimes more difficult than adding the missing ...

Misconception 20: Sucking a fist is very harmful
Fact: The entire end of pregnancy, the baby sucked the fist, so he learned to suck. Fist sucking is one of the inborn habits of a newborn. After childbirth, the baby begins to suck on the fist as soon as it enters his mouth. If the baby's need to suckle is fully satisfied by the breast, then the baby stops sucking the fist by 3-4 months. (then, at 6-7 months, he begins to “look for teeth”, but this is a completely different behavior). The cam baby sucks just like the breast. Some babies have a very funny behavior when, having stuck to the chest, the baby tries to put his fist in his mouth ...

Misconception 21: My baby wants a pacifier
Fact: A baby is not designed by nature to suckle anything other than the breast (and fist, in a pinch). A child is always taught to use a pacifier. There are children who immediately push out the pacifier with their tongue. And there are those who begin to suck it. There are mothers who hold the pacifier with their finger so that her child does not push it out. Usually, the first time a baby gets a dummy is when he showed concern and the mother does not know how to calm him down. To calm down, the child needs to suck on the breast, well, they didn’t give the breast, they gave something else, you have to suck on what they give ...

Misconception 22: A baby will never confuse breast sucking with nipples
Fact: Breast and bottle sucking requires different oral-motor skills from the baby. Rubber nipples are a "super stimulant" that can imprint a baby's sucking reflexes instead of the softer breast nipple. As a result, some children experience so-called nipple confusion - they try to reflexively suck on the breast like a rubber nipple when switching from a bottle to a breast.

Misconception 23: Non-nutrition sucking has no scientific basis, mother's breasts are not empty!
Fact: Experienced breastfeeding mothers know that different babies have different sucking patterns and needs at different times. Some babies satisfy the need to suck during feedings, others may latch on shortly after feedings, although they are not hungry. In addition, suckling calms the baby when he is hurt, lonely or scared. The consolation and satisfaction of the need for sucking at the mother's breast is a natural design of nature. Pacifiers are just a substitute for mom when she is not available. Other reasons to avoid using pacifiers instead of breasts are the risk of oral and facial bone abnormalities, a shorter period of lactational amenorrhea, nipple confusion, and inhibition of milk production in sufficient quantities, which reduces the likelihood of breastfeeding success.

Misconception 24: The child often asks for breasts, which means he is hungry, not enough milk
Fact: As mentioned above, a newborn baby does not ask to be kissed often because he is hungry. He wants to suck, he wants to mom. He constantly needs confirmation of psycho-emotional and physical contact with his mother. Babies don't breastfeed just because they're hungry. They are applied to the mother's breast for a feeling of closeness, comfort and pleasure in the same way as in a state of hunger. Many mothers believe that if the child sucks a lot and often, then this indicates that he is hungry, they begin to supplement the child with a formula, which he does not need at all. There is a significant difference between sucking on the breast for comfort and sucking on a bottle. Satisfying the need to feel comfort, the child sucks out the main portion of milk. It continues to flow, but much more slowly. If the baby continues to suck at the breast, then he sucks out a little milk. Milk flows quickly from the bottle. Therefore, if a child satisfies the need to suck with a bottle, he will overeat and then become overweight. If the baby is really hungry or thirsty, breastfeeding will just increase the milk supply and satisfy the baby's needs.

Misconception 26: If you apply often, the baby will suck everything out quickly, the breast is soft all the time - there is no milk. Need to "save" milk for feeding
Fact: When feeding a baby on demand, the breasts become soft about a month after the start of feeding, when lactation becomes stable. Milk begins to be produced only when the baby suckles. The breast is never “empty”, in response to the sucking of the child, milk is constantly produced in it. If the mother is trying to fill her breasts for feeding, waiting for the breasts to “fill up”, she gradually reduces the amount of milk by such actions. The more mother attaches the child, the more milk, and not vice versa. When the baby is given the opportunity to suckle as often as he needs, the amount of milk meets the needs of the baby. The milk ejection reflex works best with good flushes, which occur precisely when feeding on demand.

Misconception 27: The stomach needs to rest
Fact: A child's stomach does not work very well. Milk there only curdles and is quickly evacuated to the intestines, where the actual digestion and absorption takes place. This is the prejudice from the old song about feeding according to the schedule after 3 hours. The newborn does not have a clock. No mammal makes even intervals in feeding its newborns. The body of the child is adapted to the continuous flow of mother's milk, and he does not need to rest at all. Breast milk is a unique food that helps the baby digest itself. At the beginning of a child's life, the activity of his own enzymes is low. Milk contains enzymes that help the body digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The baby can suckle the breast and absorb mother's milk without harm to health almost constantly. This explains the ability of newborns for a long time and often to suck on the mother's breast.

Misconception 28: Babies up to eight weeks need 6-8 feeds per day, at three months - 5-6 feeds per day, at six months - no more than 4-5 feeds per day
Fact: The frequency of feedings a baby needs depends on the mother's milk supply, the breast's ability to store milk, and the individual needs of the baby at the time. Growth spurts or illness can change a child's feeding habits. Research shows that babies who suckle on demand establish their own unique, appropriate routine. In addition, the energy value of milk increases towards the end of feeding, so an arbitrary restriction of the frequency or duration of feedings can lead to a lack of the required number of calories for the child.

Misconception 29: The metabolism of a newborn baby is disordered and in order to properly organize it, you need to feed according to the regime
Fact: From birth, a child is able to eat, sleep and sometimes stay awake. There is no disorganization in this. This is a normal expression of the unique needs of newborns. Over time, the child will naturally adapt to the rhythm of life in a new world for him, and neither stimulation nor training is needed for this.

Misconception 30: After each feeding, the child must be held upright for 20 minutes
Fact: It is not necessary to hold the baby upright after each application, especially if the baby has fallen asleep. Most of the time the baby lies on its side. If he burps a little, then the diaper just changes under his cheek. It is necessary to hold the artificial man vertically so that he does not spill the 120g poured into him. And we are talking about babies who are fed on demand and receive small portions of mother's milk. In addition, the cardiac sphincter of the stomach needs training, which it can only receive if the child is lying down.

Misconception 31: You need to sleep at night
Fact: At night, you need to not only sleep, but suck boobs. Most newborn children are so arranged that they sleep from 10-11 pm to 3-4 am, then they begin to wake up and ask for breasts. In a child of the first month of life, attachments in the morning hours (from 3 to 8) are usually 4-6. Night feedings with properly organized breastfeeding look something like this: the baby got worried, the mother put it to the breast, the baby sleeps sucking and the mother also sleeps, after a while he releases the breast and sleeps more soundly. And such episodes happen in a night 4-6. All this is easy to organize if the mother sleeps with her child, and for this she needs to be able to feed lying down in a comfortable position. If the child sleeps separately from the mother, in his own bed, then he stops waking up for morning feedings, sometimes as early as a week after birth, sometimes by 1.5-2 months. Most modern mothers take this with relief, because. for them, finally, the nightly running around back and forth, nodding while sitting in a chair or on a bed over a sucking child, and some also pumped at night ... And here they are waiting for a pitfall called insufficient stimulation of prolactin and, as a result, a decrease in the amount of milk . A mother and her child are a wonderful self-regulating system. While the baby has a need to suck in the morning, his mother produces the maximum amount of prolactin, just from 3 to 8 in the morning. Prolactin is always present in the female body in small amounts, its concentration in the blood increases significantly after the baby begins to suckle, most of all it is obtained precisely in the pre-morning hours from 3 to 8 in the morning. Prolactin, which appeared in the morning, is engaged in the production of milk during the day. It turns out who sucks at night, stimulates his mother's prolactin and provides himself with a decent amount of milk during the day. And whoever fails to suckle at night, he can quite quickly be left without milk during the day. No mammal takes a nightly break from feeding its young.

Misconception 32: Never Wake a Sleeping Baby
Fact: Most children make it clear when they are hungry. However, during the neonatal period, some babies sometimes do not wake up on their own to feed often enough, and they need to be awakened if necessary to get at least eight feedings a day. Infrequent feeding waking may be associated with medical delivery or medications the mother is taking, neonatal jaundice, birth trauma, pacifiers, and/or retarded behavior due to a lack of timely response to signs of hunger. In addition, mothers who wish to take advantage of the natural contraceptive effect of lactational amenorrhea find that the menstrual cycle does not resume longer when the baby suckles at night.

Misconception 33: My “nerves” lost my milk
Fact: Milk production depends on the hormone prolactin, the amount of which depends on the number of attachments of the child and nothing else. The experiences of the mother on any occasion do not affect him. But the release of milk from the breast depends on the hormone oxytocin, which is engaged in the fact that it helps to reduce muscle cells around the lobules of the gland and contributes to

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