Mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies for 4-6 months before starting complementary foods. If possible, breastfeeding should continue for as long as possible. When the mother has to go out to work, before leaving the house and upon returning home, she should breastfeed the baby. While at work, the mother should express milk into a clean bottle, seal it, and refrigerate it to bring home for warming and feeding the baby.
Benefits of Breast Milk for the Baby
- Contains complete nutrients in proportions suitable for the baby’s needs
- Contains immunity against infectious diseases; babies who receive breast milk are usually healthy
- Reduces the chance of allergies
- Reduces the risk of diabetes in children
- Reduces the risk of crowded teeth and tooth decay
- Helps maintain normal bowel movements and prevents constipation
- Enhances brain development, making the baby intelligent
- Provides psychological benefits; the baby receives warmth both physically and emotionally, which is the foundation for developing learning habits and adaptability
- Contains other beneficial substances for the body, such as growth regulators for organs and hormones
Benefits of Breast Milk for the Mother
- Helps the body return to its pre-pregnancy shape faster
- Promotes good uterine contractions, speeds up uterine involution, expels lochia, and prevents postpartum hemorrhage
- Provides psychological benefits, fostering love and bonding between mother and child
- Convenient as the baby can be fed anywhere and anytime
- Reduces anemia
- Reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer
What Do You Get from Breast Milk?
- It is the best food for newborns because breast milk contains complete nutrients in amounts suitable for the baby’s growth. It also contains immunity to protect against certain illnesses in infants.
- Breast milk in the first 2-3 days after birth is clear yellow and produced in small amounts but is nutritionally sufficient for newborns. It also helps expel meconium or the baby’s first stool, preventing jaundice in newborns. Regular breast milk production begins within 4-5 days after birth. Mothers should breastfeed their babies immediately within half an hour after birth and continue to breastfeed every 2 hours or as the baby demands. During breastfeeding, close holding and touching provide warmth both physically and emotionally, helping to build a bond between mother and baby, which fosters a gentle temperament in the child.
Breastfeeding “How to ensure the mother has milk quickly and sufficiently: the mother must do three things—let the baby suckle early, suckle often, and suckle correctly or properly.”
