This is Part 2 of the post on Breastfeeding in honour of the World Breastfeeding week.
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.
It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policymakers, WHO, UNICEF and other organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is six months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or beyond.
In this Part 2, I will be addressing some of the common questions mums have asked about breastfeeding. I hope you find answers to your own questions and just in case you don’t, send your questions via comments or email at askthepaediatricians@gmail.com.
- Q: My baby is a month and half and I still breastfeed with the pain but I noticed that when breastfeeding my baby would be the one to pull out the nipple which is painful and after that the nipple goes back. I recently have been feeling cold which makes my breast big and this disallow my baby from drinking breast.please I need your advise.
The Paediatrician answers:
Breastfeeding is not supposed to be painful. If you are still feeling pain or having breast pain at 6 weeks, it means something is wrong with your breastfeeding techniques.
Please watch all the Global Health Media videos demonstrating how to breastfeed properly or get some experienced mothers or nurses/midwives to show you.
The fact that your breast is big and painful shows that the milk is not being emptied from your breasts. The baby is most likely sucking on the nipple and not the areola where the milk bank (sinuses) are .It is important that you make sure the baby is properly attached to the breasts. The solution is not in stopping the baby from sucking but actually the opposite;the baby must suck and empty the breasts. Don’t give up, keep giving breastfeeding your best. - Q: Pls doc, what can I do to make breast milk flow very well? I am not lactating well. It takes hours to feed my baby through Breast milk?
The Paediatrician answers:
Most mums can lactate well enough to adequately feed their babies. Unfortunately, most mums tend to get worried, stressed and anxious about breastfeeding. These emotions send wrong signals to the brain and further slow down lactation.
So I tell Mums – eat healthy, rest well, drink water a lot and DO NOT WORRY! PLEASE RELAX!!! YOU CAN BREASTFEED YOUR BABY ADEQUATELY!!!
Also the more you keep putting the baby to breast (demand), the more the milk will flow. Rushing to use formula is counter-productive as it will reduce the demand on Breast milk flow and the brain will slow down production. The more the baby sucks, the more the milk flows….
It is a positive cycle. Just relax and believe in yourself that you can do it and you will! - Q: Should the baby be given water while doing exclusive breastfeeding? Thanks for the information shared on this page, they’ve been so helpful!
The Paediatrician answers:
Exclusive breastfeeding is breast milk ONLY! NO water, formula, juice, food or any other drugs except prescribed by the doctor. if water is added, it is no longer exclusive breastfeeding. Breast milk contains large proportion of water already so no need to add more. - Q: How long is enough time for breastfeeding? You see people asking is he/she still breastfeeding?when are you stopping? I breast fed till 13 months and that was because he was also eating solid foods
The Paediatrician answers:
Exclusive breastfeeding – that is breast milk only without water and any other food or fluid (formula, juice etc) should be continued until 6 months.
From 6 months you can introduce other foods while you continue to breastfeed up to 2 years and beyond. - Q: I am breastfeeding right now and it’s just the breast milk. No water or added food. Please when is the right time to stop and what’s your advice as i resume work in 6 weeks. He is my 1st baby. So I am green.
The Paediatrician answers:
Congrats Mum on the choice to breastfeed. Please continue breastfeeding exclusively till 6 months. As you resume work, make arrangement either to express the breastmilk for the nannies to feed the baby with. Another option is to take baby along with you to work and keep in a nearby creche where you can continue to breastfeed. It is doable! - Q: I have a 3 weeks old baby on exclusive breastfeeding and I NEED to be out of town for 3 days. Will it affect my milk flow if she takes formula for those days before I return to continue the breastfeeding?
The Paediatrician answers:
I will encourage you to express a lot before you go out of town and store in the Freezer. This can be thawed and warmed for the baby while you are away. While out, continue to express and if possible store your milk in a freezer.
Even if you can not store, it is important that you continue to express so that the milk can continue to flow. Get a basic breast pump (manual) to keep the milk flowing and do not reduce your fluid intake. Also don’t forget to go with your breast pads to prevent accidental external leakage. - Q: I am breastfeeding my baby of 3 months and i have sore breast. I am in pains any time i breastfeed her. Pls i need advice on how to go about it?
The Paediatrician answers:
Ensure your baby is properly attached to the breast while feeding. Please read the Part 1 of this blog post and if possible watch the Global Health Media Videos on how to make sure your baby is properly attached to the breast.
Also ensure one breast is emptied before switching to the next breast; always try to alternate. Should your breast become too engorged or painful, it may be a sign of mastitis. You need to see your doctor for proper treatment. - Q: When a mother has any kind of disease (malaria, typhoid, hepatitis can it be transmitted to an infant via lactation?
The Paediatrician answers:
There are very few diseases that can be transferred from breast milk to the baby.
The common diseases that a Mother can transfer to her baby via Breast Milk are HIV and Hepatitis B viral infection. Also a mother who also had active untreated Tuberculosis can also transfer it to the baby not via the breastmilk per se but the close contact with the baby during the breastfeeding. Malaria is not transferred via breastmilk.
There are ways to avoid these infections if the Mum is going to breastfeed. Please discuss with your doctor.
Do you still have more questions on the subject of breastfeeding or any other issues pertaining to child health?
Please post as comments or email me at askthepaediatricians@gmail.com. I look forward to reading from you.
Am scared of overfeeding… How do I know if am overfeeding plus how do I preserve my breast milk
I don’t think you need to worry about that. Luckily most babies will stop feeding once they are satiated and will sleep for another 2 – 3 hours before they are due for the next feed.
To preserve your milk, kindly watch the breastfeeding videos on “storing breast milk safely” here
Thanks doctor for your selfless sacrifice on this platform. Please I’m a first timer mum with the intention to exclusively breast feed my baby. However my milk supply is very low, I have tried everything I read on this platform and elsewhere. I need help. My baby is 33days old. I am bothered about the low milk supply. I didn’t lactate until the forth day after delivery, my baby isn’t laching well. He cries whenever I put him to breast when he is hungry,and when he is not hungry, he will only be looking into my eyes and smiling, no sucking. I express and feed him with the milk, and I have no option than to supplement with formula. I still want to breastfeed him, I’m worried. Please I need help. What should I do? Thanks
Hello Temitope! Please relax!!! The worry and anxiety actually reduces your breast milk flow. Relax and relax; drink lot of fluids and keep breastfeeding. The more you breastfeed the more the milk flow. If he is crying, it means he is not properly attached to the breast….if he suckles on the nipple, there will be no milk flow which frustrates the baby. Ensure that the baby attaches to the areola, the black area beyond the nipple area. Kindly watch all the breastfeeding videos by Global Health for more information.
Hello! Am breastfeeding exclusively but notice my 10days old has been constipated for days. I will have to stimulate his anus before he poo after hours of effortlessly straining to get it out.
He is NOT constipated!!! Babies on exclusive breastfeeding may not pass stools every day! Indeed they may not pass stools for up to 2 weeks and are fine as long as when the stools are passed, you will as you rightly observed will be normal stools and the baby is otherwise healthy. That’s normal phenomenon and there is no need to stimulate the anus at all!
Pls doc! Am a breastfeeding mum, and coartem was prescribed for my malaria by a doctor, is it safe?
Yes it is relatively safe for breastfeeding mothers to use ACT antimalarials if prescribed by their doctor.
Doctors you are doing a good job,I’m presently breastfeeding my baby exclusively but I will resume work on 14th Sept, I want to know more about breast milk expression, or is it possible to keep the milk that is flowing from the other breast while feeding the baby because I’m a heavy lactator
How am I going to know the quantity that will satisfy my baby
Can I put d breast milk in warmer
Is it compulsory to use breast pump to express the milk.
I will like my questions answered while thanking you in anticipation
Hi Omowunmi…Loads of questions. You can express and keep ypur breast milk for your baby and you can start to express now and keep in the freezer so you have a huge reserve. I will strongly encourage you to watch this breastfeeding video on storing breast milk safely. It has all the answers to your questions. Great decision to keep breastfeeding. Resuming work should not be a barrier to exclusive breastfeeding.
Good day Ma,
Kindly advise as I am having issues lactating adequately. I take alot of fluids, take oats, pap 2 or 3 times daily and I ensure I eat well but I am not lactating enough for my son as he seems not satisfied and doesn’t sleep well. I took maternity leave of 6months so I can practise exclusive breast feeding but I am losing hope at the moment.
Any word of advise will be appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi Adedoyin. I am happy that you plan to breastfeed exclusively. You need to relax and rest and your milk will flow. I will encourage you go to our Facebook group or YouTube channel to watch the breastfeeding videos for detailed information. However stop being anxious, ensure your baby is properly attached to the breast and breastfeed on demand.
I agree with you
Thank you!
The issue of breastfeeding…I take in lots of fluids and fruits but I am still not lactating well and baby is latching well too…he cries a lot when he is suckling and nothing is coming out
There is no reason you should not be lactating except worry and stress. These will lead to stress hormones which can affect your milk production. Just keep breastfeeding and relax and rest. You can post urgent questions to our Facebook group