HEALTH EDUCATION

Ten things you may not know about exclusive breastfeeding
Every mother who chooses to exclusively breastfeed her baby in the first 6 months is doing the best thing she can to help her baby grow and stay healthy
1. Not all breastfeeding is equal and the differences are important:
o Exclusive breastfeeding: breastmilk only – nothing else
o Mixed feeding: adding anything else – water, juice, tea, formula, cereals, baby foods or other foods Mixed feeding can increase the chances of a child getting infections
2. The healthiest babies are the ones who are exclusively breastfed
3. Whilst breastfeeding, adding formula, water, teas, other drinks, cereals and other foods, in the first 6 months increases the baby’s risk of getting diarrhoea, pneumonia, malnutrition and allergies
4. The more the baby suckles at the breast, the more milk will be made The way to make more milk is to feed the baby more often. If the baby is given a dummy or drinks from a bottle he/she will not suckle often enough from the breast, so the mother will make less milk. The baby may also become confused about how to suckle well, and may refuse the breast.
5. Breastmilk only, with nothing else added contains all the nutrients and water a baby needs for the first 6 months of life
6. Colostrum cleans the stomach out, and breast milk is clean. No medicines or drinks should be used to clean the stomach.
7. The first milk (foremilk) that comes from each breast is nutritious, but looks thin and watery. This milk is especially to quench the baby’s thirst.
8. After this foremilk comes the richer hindmilk which contains extra fat and energy so the baby will feel full and grow strong. Let the baby drink until satisfied on one breast, before offering the other breast.
9. Constipation and diarrhoea are rare in exclusively breastfed babies. In the first few weeks babies commonly pass stools with every feed. Older babies, however sometimes only pass one soft stool a week, and this is fine.
10. Working mothers can continue exclusive breastfeeding by expressing breastmilk at work and at home. Expressed milk should be left covered in a clean container in a cool place, to be fed from a cup while the mother is away. Expressed breastmilk will last 8-10 hours out of the fridge, and 3 days in a fridge. When the mother returns home, she should breastfeed the baby often through the night.

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