General InformationImportance of Breast FeedingNothing can duplicate the Value of Breast Milk !!!!!!
Complete food for the infantThe nutritional profile of breast milk in terms of calories, vitamins, and minerals is the BEST for infants as it has the perfect proportion of them all, and is exclusively tailor made just for your baby.
Young mothers are often misled to believe that infant feeding formula does very well as a replacement for breast milk. However, nothing can duplicate the properties of breast milk, no matter how many vitamins, minerals and other supplements are added to what is basically a chemical formulation.
ColostrumThe Golden first feeds……….
Protection against Infection Psychological benefits of breastfeedingEmotional bonding
Development
Harm of giving formula feedsRecommendations of breast feedingPositioning
To achieve an effective suckling, correct positioning and good attachment are essential.
Positioning of motherThe mother can be seated or lying down or standing whichever make her comfortable.
Relaxed and comfortable.
Without strain particularly on her back.
Do not lean forward.
Positioning of the babyWhatever the position of the mother, the baby’s general position should be in relation to the mother.
Baby’s body should be straight, not bent or twisted. So the baby’s head, back of the trunk and buttocks should be in a straight line.
 How a baby attaches and suckles at the breastFor an adequate supply and a good flow of milk, baby needs to be well attached to the breast.
Good attachmentMuch of the areolar (with blackish area around with nipple) should be in the baby’s mouth.
Nipple only forms only 1/3 of the teat. Rest is formed by the breast tissue.
The baby is suckling from the breast not from the nipple.
Signs of good attachmentMore of the areola is visible above the baby’s top lip than below the lower lip.
Baby’s mouth is widely open.
Baby’s lower lip is curled outward.
Baby’s chin is touching or almost touching the breast.
 How to express breast milk by handHave a clean, dry, wide mouthed container for expression of breast milk.
Wash your hands thoroughly.
Sit or stand comfortably.
Hold the container under your nipple and areolar.
Put your thumb on top of the breast and your first finger on the underside of your breast.
Compress and release your breast between your first finger and thumb.
Compress and release all the way around your breast.
Express each breast until milk drips slowly.
Repeat expression from each breast 5 to 6 times.
Avoid rubbing, squeezing or pinching the nipple.
Avoid sliding the fingers along the skin.
Milk production and flow can be stimulated byThe sight of the baby – keeping the baby with you while expressing is important.
Looking at a photograph of the baby.
Thinking of the baby.
Breast massaging.
Back massage.
 StoringExpressed breast milk can be stored until the baby needs it.
Colostrum can be stored in a similar manner
Express the milk into a cup, glass, jug or jar that has been thoroughly washed with soap and water.
Need to be covered tightly.
Expressed breast milkExpressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for 8 hours.
In a refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours.
In a deep freezer for 3 months.
Tips for working mothersBreast feed the baby before you leave for work.
Keep expressed milk for the baby stored properly while you are away.
Express milk while at work. This helps to maintain a good flow of milk when you go home.
Policies
Lactation supportLactation support activities begin before child birth; at pre-pregnancy counseling classes and awareness at pregnancy period. This continues during the hospital stay for the delivery and after the delivery as well.
Lactation Management centersLactation management center (LMC) is a special unit established in all major hospital in Sri Lanka in order to assist mothers who need support for breast feeding. Commonly encountered problems are;
Even without a referral or visiting to OPD, mothers can directly get the necessary assistance from this center. Hospital admission is not essential to get helped at LMCs. If the condition indicates hospital admission, the mothers are referred to the relevant unit through the OPD.
Usually the LMCs are functioning from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. daily.
Specially trained Nursing Officers and Hospital Midwives are attached to LMCs. They are provided with relevant educational materials to assist needy mothers.
Publications and Articles
Frequently asked QuestionsQ) What to be given from birth to six (6) month?A) Exclusive breast feeding- baby should be given only breast milk from birth to completion of six (6) months-180 days. Breast milk is superior to any form of fluid during first six months of life.
Q) Why only breast milk?A) Breast milk has all the energy and nutrient needs of baby up to six (6) months. So no other foods or fluids are (water, coriander water, tea, fruit juice, formula milk, ratha kalkaya) necessary.
Baby does not need additional water during the first six (6) months when breast feeding is practicing even in hot climates.
Q) What can be happened if other fluids are given?A) breast milk contain all the nutrient that an infant needs in the first six months of life including carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamin, minerals, and water. If the baby is given any other fluid he may not get enough breast milk as its stomach that is very small, is filled with what you have given addition to breast milk.
Baby’s stomach capacity is only 20 ml at birth – if 5ml of orange juice is given by mother 25% of stomach is already filled and breast milk will fill the rest (75%). So baby is getting less amount of energy than he needs. This may cause poor weight gain resulting insufficient growth.
Q) What are the benefits children get from exclusive breast feeding?A)
1) It is easily digestible and it gives all what baby needs.
2) It helps to protect infants from a variety of infections - diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, ear infections.
Researchers have found that infants who are not breastfed are 6 to 10 times more likely to die in the first month of life than infants who are breastfed; due to diarrhea and pneumonia.
3) Formula-fed (artificial feeding) children have an increased risk of long term diseases like asthma, diabetes, allergies, and leukemia, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, high blood cholesterol, heart attacks in later life.
4) Exclusive breast feeding associated with greater intelligence in late childhood and adulthood.
Q) What are the benefits, mother gets from breast feeding?A) It helps a mother and baby to bond - that is to develop a close loving relationship.
1) Mother gets mental satisfaction with breast feeding.
2) It protects mothers’ health – it helps the uterus to return to its previous size. This helps to reduce bleeding and contribute to prevent maternal anemia (condition of the blood caused by lack of red cells. People with anemia look pale and feel weak).
3) Reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancers.
4) Exclusive breast feeding helps to delay a new pregnancy.
Q) What is colostrum?A)
This is the special milk that is secreted in first few days (first two to three days) after delivery. It is produced in small amounts about 40 – 50 ml on the first day but is all that an infant normally needs at this time.
Colostrum consists of larger percentage of protein, minerals, and vitamin which are important in immune protection (fighting against germs) to an infant when he or she is first exposed to the germs in the environment.
Colostrum also helps to maturation of gut wall which is very smooth and susceptible to infection. So germs are not able to invade the gut wall easily.
Q) What are the dangers of formula / artificial feeding?A)
Artificial feeding may interfere with bonding. The mother and baby may not develop such a close, loving relationship.
An artificially fed baby is more likely to become ill with diarrheal, respiratory, ear, and other infections.
Diarrhea may become persistent.
He may get too little milk and may become malnourished, because he gets too few feeds, or they are too dilute. He is more likely to suffer from vitamin A deficiency.
An artificially fed baby is more likely to suffer from infections and malnutrition than a breastfed baby.
He is more likely to develop allergic conditions such as eczema and asthma.
He may become intolerant of animal milk, so that milk causes diarrhea, rashes, and other symptoms.
The risk of some chronic diseases in child, such as diabetes is increased.
A baby may get too much artificial milk, and become obese.
He may not develop so well mentally, and score lower on intelligence tests. Common myths and beliefs
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