Breastfeeding or Infant feeding has become the most concerned for every mother who has just delivered a new born baby. The more concerned she will be if she is a working woman. She will have to manage all the previous duties including this new responsibility of feeding her baby. But how will she know as to how much feed and for how long is needed?
In general, breast milk is best for feeding babies at least for the first six to nine months, and this is very essential for your baby's growth. The breast milk also comes in sterile containers at the right temperature, as this a good option. But there are some women who cannot afford to devote so much time to breast feed their babies, so carefully prepared bottle feeds provide a good alternative for them.
But if you can afford it then please, go ahead with it, as this will prove as a blessing for your baby's health throughout his/her life. Also, it would be better for you to know the benefits of breastfeeding or infant feeding. So, here they are:
Benefits for the baby:
1. babies who get breast feed from their mothers, are less prone to infections
2. less weight problems
3. they get less allergies or maybe no allergies at all
4. less coeliac disease
5. less heart disease in later life
6. less dental decay
Benefit for the mother:
you won't have to suffer the dreadful breast cancer, or the chances are the minimum
How many times should you breastfeed your baby?
For the first month, you should feed your baby ten times a day or as per the demand of your baby, thereby reducing in the succeeding months. Milk supply depends on frequent sucking, not on some "inherent" factor in the mother's breast. Engorgement is due to infrequent feeds or maybe due to a rigid schedule.
When to feed your baby?
The right time for you to feed your baby is:
1. whenever he/she cries
2. when your breasts feel full
3. whenever "you feel like it"
4. after every four hours
Warning:
Some mothers remain in the illusion, that if their baby is sleeping without feed for long periods, then he/she might be already contented, but this is not the truth. Doing this way, you are underfeeding your innocent baby, and this can lead to severe undernourishment.
But there are few babies under three months, who manage on less than five feeds a day.
Suggested Reading:
How much milk should be given to your baby? When to start giving solid food to your baby?
how to increase breast milk production
home cures for baby's stuffy nose
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