Breastfeeding & Lactation
Mothers who choose to breastfeed often face difficulty feeding their babies. However, the good news is that breastfeeding and lactation problems are generally not a cause of concern in nursing mothers. In fact, they are quite common.
With a little practice and guidance from expert lactation consultants, breastfeeding and lactation issues can be addressed easily. At Pediatric Urgent Care, we work with nursing mothers to improve the breastfeeding experience for both mothers and babies.
How Can Breastfeeding & Lactation Consultants Help?
Breastfeeding and lactation consultants are nursing professionals who help and empower new mothers to breastfeed their babies. New mothers often experience different problems pertaining to breastfeeding. Lactation specialists work with mothers and babies to address these issues and ensure healthy lactation and breastfeeding.
At Pediatric Urgent Care, we also provide prenatal education and help couples prepare even before the birth of the child. Consult our breastfeeding and lactation consultant if you are struggling with any of the following problems or conditions.
- Latching problems / Positioning issues
- Sore or cracked nipples
- Inverted nipples / Flat nipples
- Poor milk supply
- Excessive milk supply
- Excessively long / short feeding time
- Very frequent need for feeding
- Reflux and colic behavior
- Feeding twin or triplets
- Baby not gaining weight
- Pain while breastfeeding
- Sudden change in milk supply
- Baby refusing to breastfeed
- Baby falling asleep at the breast
Why Breastfeeding Is Important
Mother’s milk contains all the nutrients that babies need in the first six months of life. It is a natural and complete diet for babies. However, breastfeeding and lactation concerns often lead mothers who wish to breastfeed their babies to switch to formula feeding and supplementation.
While formula milk is a common alternative, it is not the natural diet of babies. Moreover, several other benefits are attributed to the mother’s milk. For example, breastfeeding has been linked to improved neonatal survival.
The natural diet contains the ideal mix of proteins, vitamins, fats, and antibodies that help babies grow and strengthen the immune system. Breast milk is also light on the tummy. Meaning, it is easily digestible and helps improve gut health. It is also linked to a higher IQ score in later life.
Finally, the skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding helps develop the loving bond of trust and love, making the baby feel safe, secure, and content.
The process is also beneficial for new mothers as it burns calories and helps with weight loss after child birth. It helps mothers stay fit and releases hormones, such as oxytocin, that work to return the uterus to its pre-pregnancy state.
Breastfeeding & Lactation: World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding even after introducing other foods to the diet for up to two years or beyond.
Mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID - 19 are also encouraged to breastfeed while taking necessary precautions. Vertical transmission of the virus through breastfeedi ng is currently inconclusive.