Breastfeeding Step-By-Step



 

1. Right latch-on

Incorrect latch-on is painful for you and frustrating for baby. Here is how to do it right:

Brush baby’s lips lightly against your nipple until he opens his mouth.

Allow him to take as much of the areola (brown area) as possible into his mouth.

Jaw movement and gulping sounds ensure that he has latched-on correctly.

Baby will stop feeding when full. If he does not stop even when there is no more milk, insert the tip of your little finger into the corner of baby’s mouth to break the suction.

2. Let-down reflex

A let-down reflex is a tingling sensation that signifies a warm rush of milk soon after baby has latched on. If you do not experience this, it may be due to distractions, lack of privacy, embarrassment or anxiety about breastfeeding, fatigue or pain

3. Choose a comfortable position

Get into a position that is comfortable for you and baby. Baby’s body should be close to you and his face facing your breast. His mouth should be comfortably near your nipple and his head, neck and back in a straight line. Keep your back upright at all times; use a pillow for support if you need to.

 

The ‘cradle hold’

This is a classic breastfeeding position and a favourite of many mothers. It allows baby to be tummy-to-tummy with you so that he does not have to turn his head to latch-on.

• Baby’s head rests in the crook of your elbow.
• Keep baby’s back and bottom supported.
• Baby’s arms should be at his sides.

  

The ‘football hold’

This position is ideal if you are recovering from a Cesarean birth, are large-breasted, are nursing a premature or small baby or have twins and want to nurse them at the same time.

• Support baby’s head with your hand.
• Use a pillow to support baby’s back

 

Lying down

Try this position when you and baby are both tired. If you are recovering from a Cesarean birth, this may be the only position you can try for the first few days.

• Support your head with your arm.
• Support baby with your upper arm

 

4. Switch breasts

Whenever possible, offer both breasts during each feed. Feed baby on the first side until he stops suckling. Remove, burp him, put him to the next side and continue feeding until he is full. You should begin the next feed with the heavier breast.

 

Burp baby

Burp baby after each feed. He may spit up milk, so keep a napkin handy. If he does not burp after 30 seconds, he probably does not need to.

• Put baby against your shoulder.
• Rub or pat his back.

Breastfeeding And Working Fulltime

Every mother is a working woman whether you work inside or outside the home. It is not often realised that women have productive (paid and unpaid) and reproductive (birthing and breastfeeding) work to do. Both of these are important aspects of women’s lives that can be combined.

Having children and breastfeeding is a beautiful, life-enriching and rewarding experience and can certainly be combined with working at a fulltime job. Breastfeeding is smooth and satisfying when the mother has the knowledge, skills, the confidence to breastfeed, the support of health professionals and family members and to empower herself to decide what is best for herself and her baby.

For the best health and development of the baby and mother, World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for a full 6 months. Thereafter, breastfeeding is continued with the addition of appropriate complementary foods to 2 years and beyond.

How to successfully combine work and breastfeeding?

Breastfeed the first hour after delivery and thereafter 2 hourly during the day and before 12 midnight and 3 hourly in the night. Completely satisfy the baby on one breast and feed on the other breast the next feed, 2-3 hours later. Make sure the position of the baby is correct (baby lies on his side and faces the breast) and properly latched (baby suckles the nipple and about 1 inch of the areola to prevent sore nipples).

• • Practise makes perfect. Start practise expressing and storing breast milk two weeks before returning to work. Express and freeze a packet of breast milk a day so that you will have about 14 packs of milk stored before you start work. The amount of milk initially will be small but will eventually increase as you go along.
  
• • Continue expressing after you start work. Express at 7.00am, 9.00am, 1.00pm, 5.00pm and at 8.00pm so that there will be milk for the baby the next day.
  
• • Explore your options. You may express breast milk by hand or with a manual or electric breast pump. An electric pump with a double pumping kit can be faster, although more costly. Expressing by hand is cheaper and is easier on the breasts. Regardless of which method, make sure that it’s comfortable and convenient for you.
  
• • Speak to your employer. Talk to your employer about your needs. It is important that your workplace is motherfriendly. This includes a place for expressing and storing breast milk, breaks for breastfeeding and a supportive environment. Having children, and breastfeeding are normal, must be brought mainstream and not marginalised.
  
• • Make necessary preparations. You may need an icebox to keep your milk if your work requires you to travel. Wear nursing pads if you have no time to express your milk, rather than letting it dribble and wet your clothes. You can also cross your arms and use your fists to apply pressure directly on your nipples and breasts and after a few minutes, to stop the milk from flowing.
  
• • Date expressed breast milk that are kept in the freezer and thaw a few packets the day before to prepare for the next day. Always make a list of the things you need to do.
  
• • Good time management. Spending quality time with your family, especially baby and spouse is important. Healthy relationships will most certainly make up healthy homes. So set your priorities right and make a timetable if you need to.
  
• • Get the support you need. Have family members and friends provide extra help while you are breastfeeding. It is also vital that fathers do their part by helping to give emotional support to mothers.
  

New info for storing Breastmilk

Ensure that your child receives the best of the breast milk that you express by using proper storing and preparation methods.

By Dr Balkees Abdul Majeed, Paediatrician and Lactation Consultant

In our previous issue, we talked about the issue on expressing milk and its different methods. In this final part, we will walk you through how to store your expressed breast milk properly and to prepare them for your baby. Enforcing the proper storing and preparation techniques is important to uphold the hygienic and nutritional properties of breast milk. storage containers

Hard-sided containers. Usually made from hard plastic or glass, these are the preferred containers for long-term human milk storage. Choose one with an airtight seal.

Plastic bags (specifically designed for breast milk storage). Only use this option for short-term use as they may spill, leak, or become contaminated more easily than hard-sided containers. Some important milk components may adhere to the soft plastic and deprive your child of it.

1. Wash your hands prior to expressing milk.
2. Store in small portions (2-4 ounces/60-120 mL) to minimise waste.
3. Consider storing smaller size portions (1–2 ounces/30–60 mL) each for unexpected situations. A small amount of milk can keep a baby happy until mom comes to nurse the baby.
4. You may combine breast milk expressed throughout the day to get the desired volume in a container. Chill the newly expressed milk for at least 1 hour in the main body of the refrigerator or in a cooler with ice or ice packs, and then add it to previously chilled milk expressed on the same day.
5. Do not add warm breast milk to frozen milk because it will partially thaw the frozen milk. Also, do not mix milk from separate days.
6. Leave some room at the top of a container because breast milk expands as it freezes.
7. Label containers clearly with the date using waterproof labels and ink, if possible.

Additional Pointers!

• Milk will “separate” during storage. The top of the milk (the cream) will look thicker and whiter. Gently swirl the container to mix the separated milk BUT avoid vigorously shaking the container
• Depending on maternal diet, the color of breast milk may vary daily (bluish, yellowish or brownish). Frozen breast milk may also smell different than fresh breast milk but there is no reason not to use the milk if the baby accepts it.

 

 

Pumping breast milk by hand

Pumping or collecting breast milk by hand (manual expression) allows you to feed your baby breast milk in a bottle. You may need to do this if you are going back to work, you will be away from your baby during a feeding time, or your baby cannot breast-feed. See instructions below.

 

To express milk manually:

• Wash your hands.
• Massage your breast with both hands, sliding your hands from the outer areas of your breast toward the nipple.
• Grasp the dark circle (areola) with your thumb above and one or two fingers below. Push in toward your chest wall; then gently compress while rolling your fingers toward your nipple (but not on your nipple).
• Rotate your fingers slightly around the areola and repeat the massage to drain the entire breast. Collect your breast milk in a clean container. Refrigerate or freeze the milk if you are not going to use it immediately.
  
  Hand (manual) massage and expression of breast milk is the removal of milk from the breast using massage. Manual expression is simple and requires little equipment, but it does not empty the breasts as completely as breast-feeding or pumping.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Avoid These Motions
  
  
  1. Do not squeeze the breast, as this can cause bruising.
  2. Sliding hands over the breast may cause painful skin burns.
  3. Avoid pulling the nipple which may result in tissue damage.
  

10 Tips on How a Pregnant Woman Can Prepare for Breastfeeding

I want to share ten tips on how a pregnant woman can prepare for breastfeeding.

1. DO NOT let anyone tell you it is necessary to toughen up your nipples for breastfeeding.

2. DO some reading about breastfeeding. Good choices are:

~ The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning

~ The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Seventh Revised Edition

~ The Nursing Mother’s Companion: Revised Edition

 
~ The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers: The Most Comprehensive Problem-Solving Guide to Breastfeeding from the Foremost Expert in North America, Revised & Updated Edition

3. DO NOT think you need to buy a lot of breastfeeding-related products. The great thing is all breastfeeding really requires is you and the baby!

4. DO, however, consider whether you might enjoy shopping for breastfeeding products and learn how to choose and use a breast pump safely if you will be returning to work.

5. DO NOT listen to people who pressure you to formula-feed.

6. DO attend a La Leche League meeting while you are pregnant (find a local group in the United States or other countries) and surround yourself with family, friends, and medical professionals who are supportive of breastfeeding. (If you are wondering, here’s how to pronounce “La Leche” League!)

7. DO NOT accept or keep any free formula samples “just in case.”

8. DO have the phone number of a local La Leche League leader and/or lactation consultant with you at the birth.

9. DO NOT neglect to talk to your health care providers and birth attendants about your birth plan and your desire to breastfeed.

10. DO believe in yourself! Taking these 10 steps can give you the knowledge and confidence to have a good breastfeeding experience.

Persediaan SUSU IBU

Pengenalan Membuat persediaan untuk menyambut kelahiran bayi anda adalah sesuatu yang

mengembirakan dan ia adalah masa yang sibuk. Sebelum mengambil keputusan tentang jenis

penyusuan untuk bayi anda, beri pertimbangan kepada penyusuan susu ibu kerana ia memberi kebaikan kepada ibu dan anak.

Untuk mendapatkan segala kebaikan penyusuan susu ibu,

anda digalakkan memberi susu ibu sepenuhnya sehingga bayi berumur 6 bulan dan diteruskan sehingga bayi berumur 2 tahun. Pemberian susu ibu sepenuhnya bermaksud bayi tidak diberi makanan atau minuman tambahan yang lain selain daripada susu ibu.

Kebaikan Untuk bayi :

• Susu ibu membekalkan nutrien yang terbaik untuk bayi anda.
• Ia mengandungi nutrien dalam kadar yang mencukupi.
• Kandungannya berubah mengikut keperluan bayi yang sedang membesar
• Susu ibu, terutamanya kolostrum , menguatkan sistem imuniti bayi anda.
• Ia melindungi bayi dari jangkitan seperti cirit birit, selesema, bronkitis dan radang paru-paru.
• Susu ibu mencegah berbagai masalah alahan seperti asma, ekzema dan kolik bayi
• Susu ibu mengandungi nutrien tertentu yang amat kritikal untuk perkembangan otak.
• Ia membantu dalam meningkatkan kecerdikan anak anda.
• Ia tidak mudah tercemar dibandingkan dengan cara penyusuan lain.
• Susu ibu mudah diperolehi pada suhu yang betul setiap masa. Oleh itu ia Tidak susah untuk disediakan.
• Ia memberi keselesaan dan keselamatan emosi kepada bayi.
• Ia memberi peluang kepada ibu dan anak untuk berinteraksi sepenuhnya dan meningkatkan hubungan kasih sayang antara ibu dan anak 

Untuk ibu, penyusuan susu ibu :

• membantu mengecutkan rahim dan mengembalikannya kepada saiz yang asal dengan cepat serta mengurangkan pendarahan selepas bersalin.
• membakar kalori dan mengembalikan bentuk badan asal anda dengan cepat.
• mengurangkan risiko kanser payudara dan kanser ovari.
• menjarakkan kelahiran jika mengamalkan penyusuan ibu secara sepenuhnya

Sebelum kelahiran

 
• Sediakan diri dan keluarga. Anda mungkin perlu banyak membaca berkaitan
penyusuan susu ibu atau menghadiri kelas - kelas antenatal bersama suami
• Dapatkan maklumat mengenai kumpulan sokongan penyusuan susu ibu yang boleh
membantu jika ada perlukan bantuan dari klinik kesihatan atau hospital kerajaan yang
berhampiran.
• Buat perancangan rapi. Dapatkan pembantu untuk melakukan kerja - kerja rumah bagi
beberapa minggu selepas melahirkan bayi. Ini dapat membantu anda mendapatkan
rehat secukupnya dan memberi perhatian kepada penjagaan bayi.

Semasa melahirkan

 
• Sentuhan kulit
Hubungan antara ibu dan anak melalui deria sentuhan adalah paling kuat adalah
antara satu hingga dua jam selepas kelahiran. Jika anda melahirkan anak di hospital,
jururawat akan meletakkan bayi ke atas dada atau badan ibu untuk mendapatkan
sentuhan. Anda perlu bersedia untuk itu. Sentuhan kulit dengan segera selepas
kelahiran adalah penting kerana selepas 2 atau 3 jam kelahiran bayi akan tidur dalam
jangkamasa yang lama.
• Permulaan awal
Ketika anda berada bersama - sama dengan bayi dalam suasana yang tenang dan
bersentuhan kulit, bayi akan menunjukkan tanda-tanda hendak menyusu seperti
memasukkan jari ke dalam mulutnya dan menunjukkan aksi menghisap. Pada masa
ini bayi anda paling cerdas dan bersedia untuk belajar menyusu. Kajian menunjukkan
jika bayi menyusu lebih awal, jangkamasa penyusuan akan meningkat. Ini juga dapat
mempercepatkan penghasilan susu ibu.
 

Selepas melahirkan

 
• Menyusu mengikut kehendak.
Menyusu mengikut kehendak bermaksud tiada halangan dalam jangkamasa dan
kekerapan penyusuan susu ibu. Ia adalah penting untuk meningkatkan penghasilan
susu ibu. Lebih kerap anda menyusu, lebih banyak susu yang dihasilkan. Bayi boleh
menyusu 8 ke 12 kali sehari.
• Ibu dan bayi bersama setiap masa (Rooming - in)

LOBAK

Lobak (raphanus sativus) merupakan tanaman perdu semusim yang berumbi. Tanaman lobak memiliki akar tunggang dengan akar samping yang tumbuh pada akar tunggang. Akar tunggang ini nantinya berubah fungsi dan bentuk menjadi umbi yang besar. Bunganya mirip bunga petsai tetapi berwarna putih sedangkan bijinya berbentuk bulat, berukuran besar, dan berwarna kekuningan. Untuk batangnya, ukurannya pendek dan daunnya lonjong berbulu.

Lobak masuk ke dalam famili Cruciferae dan memiliki tiga varietas, yaitu: Raphanus sativus L. Var. Hortensis Backer, Rahpanus sativus L. Var. Radicula Pres. A. DC atau lebih dikenal dengan nama radish, dan yang terakhir, Raphanus sativus L. Var. Niger Mirat atau lebih dikenal dengan nama lobak hitam karena memiliki umbi yang berwarna hitam.

Lobak diketahui banyak mengandung enzim diatase yang bertugas membantu mencerna pati, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, vitamin E, niasin, minyak asiri, kolin, serat kasar, sulfur, kalsium, fosfor, zat zat besi, asam oksalat, kalium, silikon, dan raphain. Dengan kandungannya tersebut, Lobak berkhasiat untuk mengurangi pengerasan dan timbunan lemak dalam tubuh, membersihkan liver, mencegah sembelit, mencegah kanker, mengatasi batuk dan bronkitis, menyembuhkan demam dan wasir, mengatasi sulit tidur atau insomnia, rematik, mengurangi nafsu makan, membantu mengatasi penyakit sinus, mengobati radang tenggorokan, membersihkan lendir dan dahak (mucus), serta mencegah infeksi virus seperti batuk dan flu.