When talking about breastfeeds there are no fixed rules; distribution, frequency and duration of the same, in fact, vary from one child to another. In such a context, it is possible to draw up at most some general indications, to make sure that the child takes adequate quantities of milk and prevents unpleasant problems both for the mother and the baby. On the other hand, exact and pre-printed information cannot possibly be disclosed, precisely because the duration and characteristics of each feeding are the result of the "magical" experimentation between mother and child.
Characteristics of feedings
- The duration of a feed depends on many factors. Since most of the milk is sucked in the first 5-10 minutes, many children terminate it spontaneously in less than a quarter of an hour, while others may take longer.
- It is a good rule to leave the child attached to the breast until it comes off spontaneously; sometimes it is satisfied with only one breast, other times it sucks from both. Before changing sides, however, it is advisable for the newborn to completely empty the breast, since the last milk of the feed is the one that is richest in fat, therefore satiating, while the first - more watery and with excellent rehydrating characteristics - calms thirst .
- The duration of the feed can vary significantly from one week to another, a phenomenon that reflects - in most cases - an adjustment to the child's growth. The milk production is in fact regulated by the request; the more frequent and vigorous the suction is, the greater the amount of milk consumed and the more abundant the amount produced. Some newborns make "bunch feeds" (they suck every hour for 2-6 hours, then they sleep for a prolonged period); others, instead, suck every 2-3 hours both day and night.
- The state of maternal relaxation favors the flow of milk; for this reason, during feeding, the mother should sit comfortably. If, on the other hand, the newborn loves to remain attached to the breast for a long time, feeding placidly and without haste, it is advisable to adopt the lying position on one side, so as to relax the pelvic floor.
- The duration of the breastfeed should not exceed 30 minutes; in fact there is the risk of aerophagia (air ingestion) and neonatal colic gas, while for the mother the risk of nipple irritation increases until the appearance of fissures, whose preventive strategies are detailed in this article. The child who tends to remain too long attached to the mother's breast, also has difficulty in finding the right regularity in the alternating phases of feeding and rest.
- The mother must wash her breast before and after each feeding; thorough hygiene with water is sufficient, whereas soaps, ointments, ointments and cleaning and antiseptic solutions are generally not recommended. These substances, in fact, could irritate the skin and give the nipple an unpleasant smell and taste. On the market there are special tissues for cleansing breasts during breastfeeding, obviously without surfactants, perfumes or substances that need rinsing. Even the hands, of course, will have to be washed carefully before starting breastfeeding.
- If each breast is used both breasts, it is good to start alternately from the right breast or from the left. When only one breast is used at a time, for obvious reasons it is necessary to alternate breastfeeding in suck. In both cases, a safety pin pinned to the bra strap helps to remember which breast to start the next breastfeed.
- At the end of the feeding, the nipples must be dried and covered with a sterile tablet; the child, in the meantime, will be kept in a vertical position for a few minutes, in order to favor the onset of the possible and characteristic burp.
- On average, a newborn needs 8-12 feeds within 24 hours; if after the birth the baby cannot be attacked, to stimulate the milk production anyway it is fundamental to "pull" the milk at least 6-8 times during the day.
- Crying is a late sign of hunger. The newborn can manifest the need to attach to the breast with earlier symptoms, such as opening the mouth, sucking the fists, moving the eyes under the eyelids, making noises or moving the head from side to side.
- The signs that the baby takes adequate amounts of breast milk during breastfeeding are:
- at least 3 evacuations a day after the 1st day
- yellow and lumpy discharges from the 5th day
- at least 6 micturitions a day from the 4th day, with clear or light yellow urine
- he is satisfied and happy after feeding
- swallowing sounds during feeding
- absence of weight loss after the 3rd day
- they grow about 20-35 grams a day starting from the 5th day
- recovery of birth weight from the 10th day
- obvious increase in consistency, weight and size of the udders, ed
- clear increase in the quantity and quality of milk from the 5th day
- the nipples show no signs of injury
- the feed removes the feeling of fullness of the breasts
- The signs that the newborn assumes inadequate amounts of breast milk during breastfeeding are:
- the weight gain of the newborn is less than 18 g per day, 125 g per week or 500 g per month;
- the weight at 15 days of life is less than that registered at birth;
- the newborn urinates less than 6 times a day, with urine of pungent and concentrated odor (dark yellow that tends to orange), and evacuates hard, dry and rarely:
In addition to having a reduced weight gain, the poorly breastfed newborn can cry often, remain attached to the breast for a long time, appear lethargic and be dissatisfied at the end of feeding or refuse the breast.
