REFERENCES

BREASTFEEEDING
Breastfeeding is the normal way of
providing young infants with the
nutrients they need for healthy
growth and development. Virtually all
mothers can breastfeed, provided they
have accurate information, and the
support of their family. Exclusive
breastfeeding is recommended up to 6
months of age, with continued
breastfeeding along with appropriate
complementary foods up to two years
of age or beyond.

Breastfeeding Benefits for Mom and Baby. (n.d.).

Retrieved December 1, 2014, from
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/nursingbasics
Barger, J. (n.d.). What's colostrum? | BabyCenter.
Retrieved December 1, 2014, from
http://www.babycenter.com/404_whatscolostrum_8896.bc
Breastfeeding. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1,
2014, from
http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/
Salustiano, R. (2009). Feeding the Newborn.
In Maternal & Newborn Care (1st ed., Vol. 1, p.
186). Quezon City

What is colostrum?
What colostrum lacks in volume it makes
up for in power. Some people refer to
colostrum as "high octane" milk. It's full
of antibodies and immunoglobulins,
which not only help protect newborns as
they come into our world of bacteria and
viruses, but also has a laxative effect that
helps them expel the tarry first stools
called meconium

PROPER BREAST FEEDING

The cradle hold
This

classic

breastfeeding position
requires you to cradle
your baby's head with
the crook of your arm.

The cross-over hold

The clutch or football hold

Sit in a chair that has

Also known as the cross-cradle hold, this

As the name suggests, in this position you

supportive armrests or

position differs from the cradle hold in

tuck your baby under your arm (on the same

on a bed with lots of pillows. Rest your feet

that you don't support your baby's head

side that you're nursing from) like a football

on a stool, coffee table, or other raised

with the crook of your arm. Instead, your

or handbag.

surface to avoid leaning down toward your

arms switch roles.

baby.

If you're nursing from your right breast,

your arm. She should be facing you with her

Hold her in your lap (or on a pillow on your

use your left hand and arm to hold your

nose level with your nipple and her feet

lap) so that she's lying on her side with her

baby. Rotate his body so his chest and

pointing toward your back.

face, stomach, and knees directly facing you.

tummy are directly facing you. With

Tuck her lower arm under your own. Best

your thumb and fingers behind his head

for: The cradle hold often works well for

and below his ears, guide his mouth to

full-term

your breast.

babies

who

were

delivered

vaginally. Some mothers say this hold makes

Best for: This hold may work well for

it hard to guide their newborn's mouth to

small babies and for infants who have

the nipple, so you may prefer to use this

trouble latching on.

position once your baby has stronger neck

muscles at about 1 month old. Women who
have had a cesarean section may find it puts
too much pressure on their abdomen.

First, position your baby at your side, under

Rest your arm on a pillow in your lap or right

beside

you,

and support your baby's

shoulders, neck, and head with your hand.

Using a C-hold guide her to your nipple, chin
first.
Best for: You may want to try this hold if
you've had a Cesarean section (to avoid
having the baby rest on your stomach). And
if your baby is small or has trouble latching
on, the hold allows you to guide her head to
your nipple. It also works well for women
who have large breasts or flat nipples, and
for mothers of twins.

Reclining position
To nurse while lying
On your side in bed, ask
your partner or helper
to place several pillows
behind your back for
support. You can put a

3.

pillow under your head

and shoulders, and one
between

your

bent

knees, too. The goal is to keep your back and

hips in a straight line.

4.

With your baby facing you, draw him close

and cradle his head with the hand of your
bottom arm. Or, cradle his head with your top
arm, tucking your bottom arm under your
head, out of the way.

5.

ADVANTAGES OF BREAST FEEDING

For mother
1. Reduces the risk of breast
cancer. Women
who
breastfeed
reduce their risk of developing breast
cancer by as much as 25 percent. The
reduction in cancer risk comes in
proportion to the cumulative lifetime
duration of breastfeeding. That is, the
more months or years a mother
breastfeeds, the lower her risk of
breast cancer.
2. Reduces the risk of uterine and
ovarian cancer. One of the reasons

6.

for the cancer-fighting effects of

breastfeeding is that estrogen levels
are lower during lactation. It is
thought that the less estrogen
available to stimulate the lining of the
uterus and perhaps breast tissue also,
the less the risk of these tissues
becoming cancerous.
Lessens
osteoporosis. Nonbreastfeeding women have a four
times greater chance of developing
osteoporosis
than
breastfeeding
women and are more likely to suffer
from hip fractures in the postmenopausal years.
Benefits
child
spacing. Since
breastfeeding delays ovulation, the
longer a mother breastfeeds the more
she is able to practice natural child
spacing, if she desires. How long a
woman remains infertile depends on
her babys nursing pattern and her
own individual baby.
Promotes emotional health. Not
only does breastfeeding benefit a
mothers body, it also benefits her
mind. Studies show that breastfeeding
mothers show less postpartum
anxiety and depression than do
formula-feeding mothers.
Promotes
postpartum
weight
loss. Breastfeeding mothers showed
significantly larger reductions in hip
circumference and more fat loss by
one
month
postpartum
when
compared
with
formula-feeding
moms. Breastfeeding mothers tend to
have an earlier return to their prepregnant weight.

7. Costs less to breastfeed.

For baby
1.) Promotes attachment. Attachment is
the development of an enduring
relationship between the infant and
the caregiver
2.) Provides the perfect food that
contains all the necessary nutrients in
readily bioavailable forms while
increasing immunity and destroying
pathogens. Antibodies are passed on
through breast milk to protect your
baby from all kinds of infection. The
longer you can feed your baby the
better but if you breastfeed for the
first three or four months this
protection can last for up to a year.
3.) Causes fewer incidences if allergies
vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and
aspiration.
4.) Enhances brain development because
of taurine content.
5.) Decrease infant morbidity and
mortality. Because of the high cost
hospitalization, milk and medicine,
breastfeeding provides all benefits to
the infant reducing morbidity and
mortality.

DISADVANTAGES OF BREAST FEEDING

For mother

1.) Blood borne viruses such as

hepatitis B or HIV and some
medication can be passed on to your
baby in breast milk.
2.) Some women find breastfeeding
painful, stressful and tiring
3.) You are unable to measure the
amount of milk your baby has
consumed, this can be a
disadvantage if your baby is having
problems putting on weight.
4.) It can be difficult for a breastfeeding
mother to leave her baby for more
than a couple of hours as no one
else can feed baby unless she leaves
expressed milk.