Especially in the first six months, the physical and mental development and immune systems of infants who are exclusively breastfed are stronger. In order to increase milk formation, the mother needs to really want to breastfeed, to feed her baby frequently, to be stress-free, to feel happy, to be well-rested and well-balanced. If necessary, the breastfeeding mother should always breastfeed with a pump, because as she breastfeeds or breastfeeds, the message will go to the breast and the milk will increase as the message goes. Night sleep is very valuable for the mother. The mother secretes the hormone prolactin, which supports milk production at night. If the mother, who takes care of her baby all day, does not get a good night’s sleep, her milk starts to decrease in the evening. While the baby is sleeping, the mother can sleep during the day to gather energy and increase her milk. Some mothers, especially those giving birth for the first time, worry about whether their baby is being fed enough. The stressed mother prevents the secretion of the hormone oxytocin, which has several different functions in the body. Reduces milk with depression and sadness.
Attention to Environmental Factors
The mother who has just given birth should get help as much as possible. The mother, who breastfeeds and cares for her baby, provides milk when necessary, and is sleep deprived at night, is both physically and mentally tired in the first months. The presence of the father who supports him makes him feel good. Apart from feeding, the presence of the grandmother or grandmother for the other needs of the baby and the order of the house in the first months allows the mother to rest. Relatives, neighbors, friends around the mother should always approach the mother positively. The mother’s calmness and serenity affect the milk formation as well as the baby. The milk of the mother who starts breastfeeding anxiously, thinks about cleaning at home, ironing, and cannot concentrate on her baby and nutrition also decreases due to these negative feelings. The mother should feed her baby in a quiet room, in a comfortable armchair, in a positive mood.
There Is No Miracle Food That Increases Milk
There is no miracle nutrient that increases breast milk. It is very important to eat healthy and drink plenty of water during breastfeeding. A nutrition program should be established to drink 3 main meals, 2 snacks and approximately 2.5 liters of water during the day. However, while creating and implementing this program, the mother should again be free from anxiety. He/she should not consume a food that he/she does not like at all with the idea of making milk and enjoy it. Some mothers aim to increase breast milk by drinking plenty of sugary liquids such as compote, lemonade, and puerperal sherbet and eating sweets. Sugar has absolutely no enhancing effect on breast milk. The milk-enhancing effect of oats, sesame, carrots, nuts and fennel tea has been observed, but no miracle should be expected from any food. Breast milk should be breastfed frequently, even if it is low, and if the baby is not breastfeeding, milking should be done with a pump at regular intervals.
Colic Infant and Maternal Nutrition Relationship
The baby needs support to pass gas after feeding for the first month. In some babies, it is 10. There is a growth spurt between the 12th and 12th days. The digestive system changes. Until that day, when she was a calm baby, she turned into a crying, restless baby. At least three times a week, non-stop 3-hour crying episodes called colic may occur. Recent scientific studies suggest that colic baby syndrome has nothing to do with the mother’s milk and is associated with a growth spurt. However, considering the researches that the mother’s nutrition affects the milk and therefore the baby’s colic problem, it would be appropriate to avoid foods such as legumes, onions, caffeine, tangerines, oranges, broccoli, and cabbage during breastfeeding.
Milk should be stored correctly
Milked breast milk retains its freshness for 3 hours at room temperature, 3 days in the refrigerator, and 3 months in the freezer. The amount and the date of milking should be written on the breast milk stored in milk storage bags. Each milked milk should be stored in separate bags, more or less, regardless of the amount. Even 5 cc of breast milk, which is very valuable, should not be wasted. After the milk taken from the cupboard is taken into the bottle, it should be warmed slightly with the bain-marie method and given to the baby.
Can the Patient Mother Breastfeed?
If the mother is coughing and has a runny nose, she should definitely wash her hands and wear a mask more carefully than usual before breastfeeding. She should use the medicines recommended by her doctor that are suitable for breastfeeding. When sick, the body produces antibodies to fight germs. Antibodies that cure the disease pass into breast milk. And naturally, it starts to protect the baby. Therefore, the sick mother may breastfeed her baby.