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Breastfeeding: Breast Milk Production and Benefits
Breastfeeding: Breast Milk Production and BenefitsTranscript (page 1 of 2)Congratulations on your decision to breastfeed your baby. You’ve made the decisionto provide your baby with the healthiest food that nature intended.Breast milk has every vitamin and nutrient that your baby needs, in just the rightamounts. It also contains natural antibodies that protect your baby from illness.Studies have shown that breastfed babies have fewer ear and lung infections, lessdiarrhea and related illnesses, and are less likely to develop allergies early in life thanformula fed babies. Breastfeeding lowers the risk of your child developing diabetes,chronic digestive diseases, neurological diseases and certain forms of cancer.Breastfeeding benefits mothers, too. Breastfeeding stimulates your uterus, helping itreturn more quickly to its pre-pregnancy size, and it can help you return to your prepregnancy weight when you eat healthy and are physically active. Nursing may loweryour risk of developing breast, uterine and ovarian cancers. It also helps to increasebone strength. And the skin-to-skin contact enhances the emotional bond betweenyou and your baby.These are some of the reasons why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendsthat mothers provide only breast milk to their babies for the first six months of life,and continue to breastfeed during the rest of the first year – or longer – as long as it’sdesired by both you and your child.The first milk your breasts produce is a thick, highly nutritious substance calledcolostrum. Colostrum is the perfect food for your child’s first few days of life and yourbody creates it in just the right amount for your newborn’s tiny stomach.To ensure that your baby is exclusively breastfed from the start, put your baby to yourbreast as quickly as possible after birth. Tell the nursery to identify your baby as abreastfed baby and insist that your baby only feed on your colostrum.Bottles of formula or water should be avoided. All your baby needs is you.20% gradient meshWithin three to four days, your baby’s sucking stimulates a hormone within youthathealthclipssignals your body to produce breast milk. This is referred to as your milk coming in.healthclipsThe thin milk your baby gets at the beginning of each feeding is called foremilk. It islow in fat and made up mostly of water.healthclips(cont. next page)healthclips4% gradient meshsuitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_ob_10013_98_en_t00002.pdf © Milner-Fenwick, Inc.healthclips5% gradient meshTranscript (page 2 of 2)As the feeding continues, your milk becomes thicker and richer in fat and calories. Thisis called your hindmilk, and it has all the nutrients needed for your baby’s continuedgrowth and proper health.Some women describe a tingling feeling in their nipples when their milk beginsto flow. You may, or may not, experience this sensation. This feeling is caused bythe milk ejection reflex, or let-down. Let-down may feel odd, but it shouldn’t beuncomfortable.Continued nursing stimulates milk production. This increase in milk supply worksperfectly for your baby because within that same amount of time your baby’s stomachgrows and can hold more milk.As you continue to breastfeed, both you and your baby will benefit. Feel comfortablethat you are providing the healthiest start you can for your baby’s life.20% gradient meshhealthclipshealthclips4% gradient meshsuitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_ob_10013_98_en_t00002.pdf © Milner-Fenwick, Inc.healthclips5% gradient meshThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.© The Wellness Network
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