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Questions People Ask About Breastfeeding |
Here are a few questions that are of particular interest to me and/or I feel are really important. If you have a specific question that is not covered here, please check out my Where to Get Breastfeeding Help page, My Helpful Hints for New Breastfeeding Moms, or you can ask me, and I will try to find the answer.
"All nursing is beneficial, whatever the reason or frequency, and based on what we know about milk supply, it appears that the more often a mother nurses, the better." ~ Marnie Ko
This section is in the process of being updated.
Can I continue to run if I choose to breastfeed my baby? Yes!! Lacatating women can run and do all sorts of exercises!!! Just pay extra attention to making sure you eat and drink enough. Eat when you are hungry and drink when you are thirsty. Click here for more information.
My baby refuses to nurse; is he ready to wean? There is a good chance the answer is no!!! Just because a baby seems to lose interest in nursing, or refuses to nurse, does not necessarily mean he wants to wean. Older babies often become so fascinated with the world around them that they distract easily. You might find that your baby would prefer nursing in a quiet, darkened room, or might enjoy nursing while lying down with you. If your baby refuses to nurse, especially if it is sudden and occurs before your child is a year old, suspect a nursing strike. Encourage lots of skin to skin contact, perhaps bathe with him, and carry him often. Offer to nurse while he is sleepy, and stop using all artificial nipples (you can use a cup for supplemental feedings). He will probably start again in a few days. Click here for more information.
Nursing in Public, What is a Mother to Do?, by Rebecca Prewitt.
Could a pacifier hurt my breastfeeding relationship? Yes it can!
Is it okay to give my newborn a bottle? If you are planning to breastfeed, it is best not
to give a newborn a bottle: it can cause nipple confusion. Also,
sucking from a bottle uses fewer muscles than nursing from
the breast, so babies who use a bottle sometimes
become lazy, and end up preferring the bottle. Instead, try either cup feeding with a small medicine cup or using a syringe.
Does jaundice have to affect breastfeeding?
No!! Breastfeeding your newborn often will lessen the chances of your baby getting jaundice, will help your milk to come in quicker, and will help increase your milk supply. Breastmilk is a laxative, so breastfeeding often will help the bilirubin to be excreted. If your doctor insists that you need to give your baby a supplement, and you feel you need to follow his advice, use a cup to feed your baby instead of a bottle. (See above.) Click
here for more information.
Can I still breastfeed if I have to go back to work?
Yes, many mothers successfully continue breastfeeding even
after returning to work. Click here for information. See also Breastfeeding and the Working Mother: One Mother's Experience
by Cecilia Miller
Breastfed Babies Need Water Supplementation *A Myth* A doctor debunks
this prevalent myth.
Do Breastfed Babies Need Anything Besides Breastmilk?
Vitamin D, Rickets and the Breastfed Baby
Interesting Facts About Breastmilk
Immune Benefits of Breastmilk at a Glance
Breastmilk Does Every Body Good Other uses for breastmilk.
What is the difference in the composition of human milk, goat's milk, and cow's milk?
Human milk has a higher ratio of fat to protein than either goat's or cow's milk. Breastmilk is just right for human babies!! (see chart below)
MILK COMPOSITION
SPECIES
FAT
%PROTEIN
%PROT./
FATLACTOSE
%ASH
%TOTAL SOLIDS
%Human
4.5
1.1
0.2
6.8
0.2
12.6
Goat 3.5 3.1 0.9 4.6 0.79 12 Cow:
Ayrshire
Brown Swiss
Guernsey
Holstein
Jersey
4.1
4.0
5.0
3.5
5.5
3.6
3.6
3.8
3.1
3.9
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.7
4.7
5.0
4.9
4.9
4.9
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
13.1
13.3
14.4
12.2
15.0
source
Breastfeeding Index | Why Breastfeed? | Help! | FAQ | Nursing Toddlers | Solids | Bible & BF | Nestle Boycott |