How long should you breastfeed |A helping guide for all new moms

How long should you breastfeed? | A helping guide for all new moms 2020

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding concerns mother! It all depends on you that how much time you want to feed your baby. You may get expert recommendations and other opinions of your doctor and partner also. This way, it will be quite easy to continue/end breastfeeding.

In this decision, you may also make some suggestions from your family members also. Well, in order to solve your confusion here I have brought an informative guide article regarding this question “How long should you breastfeed?” if you want to be educated then read it once atleast.

Often mothers prefer their breastfeed for only a few weeks while some choose 2 to 3 years to continue for their baby. Rare mothers even don’t feed their young, and some women do breastfeed in between these times.

Well, in my opinion, there is nothing especial to continue or end breastfeed for a mother; because it is your baby’s right to have a feed from you.

What do experts say?

(AAP) American Academy of Pediatrics and (WHO) World Health Organization has suggested a particular time period for breastfeeding. Unfortunately, only fewer mothers can follow their suggestions.

Both of their experts recommend that a mother must have to feed her own up to 6 months’ age of her baby. Simply no other food or top feed besides mother feed for the starting half-year of baby’s age.

Even they say that mother feed should be sustained for at least one year with other soft foods. After a one-year-old a baby can simply chew foods and breastfeed is not enough for her appetite.

Importance of breastfeeding:

We have a lot of importance of breastfeeding for both mum and baby. Here we have highlighted a section of breastfeeding importance according to the baby age. It will help you to take your decision further.

Starting days of baby and breastfeed:

Pediatrician says that babies should be kept closer to their mums and start breastfeeding in the 2 to 4 hours of birth. This is very beneficial for the baby in order to get closer contraction (skin to skin) and the stimuli breast milk for the mum.

Don’t worry! The first few sucks of your baby can be harder and he/she may have a thick yellowish substance from the breast. This yellow feed is called “colostrum;” this is the very first form of breast milk that contains a lot of antibodies and nutrients.

All these essential nutrients are very good for a newborn baby. In the starting days, the mother’s body starts making a fully nourished breastfeed that should be given to a newborn. This early feed will protect a newborn baby from all types of infections.

Starting weeks of baby and breastfeed:

Days will pass and turn into weeks. According to (UNICEF), The United Nations Children’s Fund breast milk is the baby’s first immunization. It usually gives protective antibodies against many infections including; infectious diarrhea, ear infection, chest infection, digestive problems, and many other health issues.

By keeping all benefits of breastfeeding ahead mothers should feed their milk at least for the twelve months. Giving their milk to the baby is also beneficial for mothers also. In the starting weeks of their maternity as they feed their babies as they feel light in body.

The mother’s body starts making a good amount of hormones, prolactin, and oxytocin. The composition of these substances assures the good health of a mother.

In the starting weeks of baby, birth breastfeed is the only natural option that fulfills all his/her appetite requirements. Moreover, women who breastfeed can easily bounce back to their previous size as compared to those who don’t.

As nursing helps the womb contract back to the regular size very fast; though these weeks are very notable for both mother and baby.

Starting months of baby and breastfeed:

When baby starts to enter in the 3rd month of her age, then the breastfeed endures supporting her digestion. In this age, the majority of babies get full protection against allergies (available in supplements and other feed formulas.)

A continue breastfeed can burn 400 to 500 calories of a mother on a daily basis. It simply helps you get back to your previous figure. Long term breastfeed can help mothers with many other internal issues as well.

As per the some trusted search resources strong nursing can reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and also rheumatoid arthritis. Anyways still more research is required for understanding this connection.

Half-year of baby and breastfeed:

Mother feed welfares continue until the baby completes 6 months of her life. 6 months age is recommended by the pediatricians for stating the addition of table foods. Along with soft foods, breast milk will also continue to provide many healthful nutrients such as vitamin A, Iron, and protein.

It will keep your baby healthy after completing 6 months by protecting many harmful diseases. Please make sure this protection will last with the mother feed that you give. As a mother reaching this age of your baby can be hard sometimes but don’t worry!

Another trusted research source concluded that breastfeeding should be continuing up to 6 months at least. This time period will reduce the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and endometrial cancers.

In 2017 it is confirmed by the “world cancer research fund and the American Institute for cancer research” after every five months of a mother feeding a woman reduce 2% risk of breast cancer.

Regular breastfeeding can provide up to 95% active contraception in the initial 6 months of maternity. If you don’t have the monthly period in these months and you are exclusively breastfeeding then the possibility of your next baby is not yet.

The smart parents still use condoms for their assurance.

Nine months of baby and breastfeeding:

6 to 12 months are highly recommended for baby breastfeed. In this age 3 to 5 meal times are demanding for babies. Soft foods like cereal, puree, potato, etc are good for babies in this age. within one year of baby age breastfeed should be given before meal.

Sources do not note a regular less risk of other diseases to the mothers who breastfeed longer than half a year. By the allowance of possible constant reduction is the risk of breast cancer though.

One year of baby and breastfeeding:

Money-saving is the most beneficial and long term importance of breastfeeding. If you are going to continue breastfeeding then you will save a handsome amount of money on milk formulas. For one year the milk formula may consume your $800 (lowest) to $3,000 (highest) money in the first year only.

Rather than this baby who gets the proper amount of mother feed for one year also can get a stronger immune system as compared to the top milk babies. Further mother feeders will don’t need fewer speech therapies and orthodontic treatments.

You know round about the true importance of breastfeeding is that “the breast sucking helps to develop mouth muscles.”

Breastfeeding after one year and above:

Mother feed or breastfeeding is most essential for newborns, infants, and even toddlers. According to some experts, breastfeeding is a good option for toddlers; mothers can continue their feed with 5 times a meal in a day.

Make sure your feed will not sufficient for your toddler’s appetite. Giving some cow milk is the best to substitute as breast milk if you want to stop your feeding though.

Older research concludes that a long time of breast milk can give toddlers an edge when we come to social development and IQ score. Unfortunately, some recent research found that this IQ edging can remain for a short time not life-long.

Can I still breastfeed with more than 1 baby?

This is the most asked question by mothers. I must say that you may give your feed to twins, triplets, and other babies by another mother. Often multiple babies born prematurely with the lowest body weight; for these babies, breast milk is most important.

For twins, you can give your feed separately, but within sometime, you will be expert and then you may feed both at one time. For getting feed confident mothers take about 3 to 4 weeks approximately. This will be more helpful for you to discuss twin feeding with the previous mother who has twins already.

For triplets breastfeeding is the best idea to give; few mothers give top feed milk to the triplets babies in the early days of their birth. It is not good though you may feed two together and one of your triplets later.

Why Do Women Stop Breastfeeding?

There are many reasons for which women stop breastfeeding for their babies. According to (AAP) and (WHO), some women stop their feed in the early days of maternity due to breast pain, and soaring nipples.

New mothers don’t even realize that are they producing milk or not. Smallest nipples or breasts are also difficult to continue to feed for new mothers. Some busiest mothers stop feed in the early days on a baby born and later they found a lot of challenging issues in their motherhood.

Says Petersen: “Indeed, many women decide that formula-feeding is easier than pumping throughout the workday.”

Tips for successful breastfeeding:

  • Join breastfeeding education groups nearer to you and get support for nursing. This way you can easily manage your baby in the future and can feed appropriately your baby. By joining these groups you may get confidently take care of your baby.
  • Concern a breastfeed consultant if you have any issue in breastfeeding. Possibility of engorgement, sore nipples, milk leakage with a minimal amount of milk production is high in the first pregnancies. If you are facing any type of this typical issue then consult your health provider. He/she will guide you further on what to do? and how to deal with your breastfeeding problem.
  • Find an online community to get more help for baby care suggestions. On the internet lot of breastfeeding online communities are available where experts are always available to make your guide. Says Petersen: that “It can be incredibly comforting to talk to other moms who have been where you are and know that they came out the other side,”
  • I know that it is not easy to prioritize breastfeeding for busy mothers. Even young age girls don’t know when to feed their babies. Make a schedule of pump breastfeed and improve both baby and mother health.
  • As a working woman, you don’t have to be shy about pumping breast milk. Often offices have particular areas for expressing milk and for other baby care purposes. Indeed an affordable working place should provide proper ease to their employers.

Which age is too long for breastfeeding?

Seriously we have no particular age for end breastfeed. It all depends on the mother’s decision and the child development. I have already explained the expert’s recommendation for this purpose.

According to experts, the one-year-old is enough for breastfeeding, but still, you want to continue this act of yours, then I think 2 years old is wild enough.

There can be many reasons for continuing breastfeeding or a baby, just like delay growth and weak immunity. For those babies, the breast should be prolonged because it is full of nutrients and other antibodies.

Can I feed my baby in pregnancy?

This question is also totally relay on your choice that what you choose (continue to breastfeed either wean you baby.) This is totally an individual decision that you can take sophisticatedly. If you want to continue then make sure your diet should be healthy and proper.

In pregnancy, there is no place of any negligence. Moreover having a table talk with your health provider will be fine for both of you and your babies.

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