Born to Breastfeed

Rowena Gray

Description

Breastfeeding and breastmilk provide all the nutrients and antibodies to give babies the very best start, with health benefits for babies and mothers. Research shows that as the backbone of early nutrition, breastfeeding is also a key influence on adult health, intellect and longevity. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that every child should be exclusively breastfed for six months, with partial breastfeeding continuing until two years of age. Yet of the 136 million births worldwide each year, it is estimated that only 38 per cent of babies are breastfed for six months.Born to Breastfeed fills the information gap. Taking the baby's perspective, it draws on up-to-date, evidence-based research and midwifery practices during pregnancy, birth and postnatal care, explaining how mothers can respond to baby's actions and needs to improve the health of future generations.****Not only does Born to Breastfeed expertly explain the science and physiology of breastfeeding, clearly outlining the many benefits, it packs in all of the practical information a new mum needs to know. Every conceivable problem or worry is covered. I have no doubt that this will fast become the feeding bible for all new mums and I sincerely hope the end result is far more babies reaping the benefits of nature's truly amazing first food.Dr Joanna McMillanPhD qualified dietitian and nutritionist, author and health presenter (drjoanna.com.au) Breastmilk is nature's perfect food for babies. It contains all the correct nutrients in the right proportions at the perfect temperature, and provides the foundation for lifelong health. Born to Breastfeed is the ultimate guide for new mothers who want to give their children the best start in life.Catherine SaxelbyAccredited nutritionist, best-selling author and founder of foodwatch.com.au Born to Breastfeed is a wonderfully inspiring, easy-to-understand book that will guide women on their breastfeeding journey. Although breastfeeding is natural and all babies are born to instinctively breastfeed, many women encounter difficulties along the way. As a lactation consultant, I know how important it is for women to feel empowered to make the right choices ... for themselves and their babies. I highly recommend this book to all new mothers.Sonja Svensson RN, RM, IBCLCAt last ... a book about breastfeeding written by an experienced lactation consultant and mum who has breastfed and understands the family and community pressures on new mothers. Born to Breastfeed is a passionate but practical guide that will help mums and babies to succeed on their breastfeeding journey. A definite 'must buy' for all new mothers.Dot Platten RN, RM

Sujets

• Pregnancy

Informations

• Publié par: Coretext Books
• Date de parution: 01 août 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9780977502974
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Born to breastfeed
the first six weeks and beyond
Rowena Gray RN, RM, IBCLC
WITH NUTRITION CONSULTANT ANNE HILLIS DNFS, CERT DIET, DIP ED
Published by Coretext Books
43 O Connell Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051
www.coretextbooks.com.au
First published by Coretext Books in 2015
Copyright 2015, Rowena Gray and Anne Hillis
The moral rights of the authors have been asserted.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying (except under the statutory exceptions provisions of the Australian Copyright Act 1968 ), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of Coretext Pty Ltd.
Note to readers
Great care has been taken to provide accurate general information on breastfeeding. However, this book is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified lactation consultant or medical practitioner if you have any concerns about your baby s health or your own wellbeing. The authors and publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any issues arising from the contents of this book.
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Gray, Rowena, author.
Born to breastfeed: the first six weeks and beyond / Rowena Gray with Anne Hillis.
ISBN 9780977502950 (paperback)
ISBN 9780977502974 (Ebook)
Includes index.
Breastfeeding - Australia. Breastfeeding - Immunological aspects. Infants - Nutrition. Hillis, Anne, author.
649.33
Cover image: Corbis Images / Aurelie and Morgan David de Lossy
Design by Mary Callahan
Illustrations by Toni Horne
Printed in China by Everbest Printing Co Ltd
For my husband, Daniel, whose support and understanding throughout our own breastfeeding adventures is something I wish every mum could have. And for our three beautiful daughters, Emily, Rebecca and Natalie, who taught me firsthand the joy, frustration, pain and sheer magic of being a breastfeeding mum.
Rowena Gray
For my husband Geoff, who supports me in my endeavours to promote good nutrition to parents to help raise healthy and happy children.
Anne Hillis
Contents
Foreword
Prologue
Introduction
Chapter 1 Baby s first minutes

Welcome to the world
Why skin-to-skin?
Oxytocin - the love hormone
What is breastmilk?
The benefits of breastfeeding
How labour and birth can affect breastfeeding
Pethidine
Morphine
Epidural
Forceps/vacuum extraction
Caesarean
Premature birth
Intravenous fluids in labour
Extended separation of mother and baby
Kangaroo care
Food for Mum
Eating in labour and after giving birth
Chapter 2 Baby s first hours

Getting acquainted
What happens in the first hour?
The first feed
Ahhh sleep at last!
Health problems and breastfeeding
Gestational diabetes
Obesity
Food for Mum
Chapter 3 Baby s first days

Going home
Feeding and sleeping
Correct positioning and attachment
Pain equals damage
Baby s hunger cues - how do I know when he s hungry?
How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?
How do I know if my baby isn t getting enough milk?
What is the let-down reflex?
Dealing with sore nipples
Some tips to help relieve and heal sore, damaged nipples
Changing milk, changing nappies
Growth charts
Maternity bras - holding it all together
Food for Mum
Foods to avoid
Chapter 4 Baby s first weeks

A mother s story
How many feeds? Yes, overnight too.
Dealing with breastfeeding difficulties and nipple problems
Engorgement
Expressing
Storing your breastmilk
Low milk supply
Lactogenic foods and herbs that can naturally boost your milk supply
Using a supply line
Breastfeeding after breast surgery
Breastfeeding after breast removal (breastfeeding from one breast)
Oversupply
What causes an oversupply?
Mastitis
Nipple shields
Other tricky business
Breast refusal
Tongue-tie
Lip-tie
Thrush
Nipple vasospasm
Babies with special needs and poor sucking ability
Alcohol and breastfeeding
Smoking and breastfeeding
Caffeine and breastfeeding
Medications and breastfeeding
When breastfeeding is not recommended
Food for Mum
Top 10 foods to include in your diet
Chapter 5 The magical six-week milestone

Breastfeeding is established
Natalie s breastfeeding adventure - her first week
Socialising
The first outing
Growth spurts and weight gain
Average weight gain for a breastfed baby
Exercise and breastfeeding
Food for Mum
What to avoid
Does what you eat affect the nutrient content of your breastmilk?
Chapter 6 The next six months

Why breastfeeding is important
Breast or bottle?
Breastmilk
Infant formula
Growth spurts and demand feeding
When it s time to start solids
Breastfeeding and infant biting
Returning to work or study
Breastfeeding and contraception
Getting back into shape
Tips to help you lose weight
Food for Mum
Food for work
Food for home
Chapter 7 When and who to ask for help

When to ask for help
Who to ask for help
Helpful contacts
Dealing with criticism - who knows best?
Final word
Index
Acknowledgements
Glossary
Foreword
While there are many areas of controversy in the world of nutrition, there is unequivocal evidence that breastmilk is best to feed our babies. In Australia the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recently updated its advice after reviewing the scientific research. The Council now recommends exclusive breastfeeding to around six months of age and continuing to breastfeed alongside complementary foods until the baby is 12 months of age and longer if both Mum and baby wish. Unfortunately we are not achieving anywhere near these recommendations.
Although we have excellent rates of mums initiating breastfeeding after birth with 96 per cent choosing to do so, this falls away dramatically in the first few months. By three months of age only 39 per cent of babies are still being exclusively breastfed, and by five months only 15 per cent.
There are a number of reasons why this may occur. Mothers returning to work, lack of support in dealing with breastfeeding problems, concerns over whether the baby has enough milk, wanting others to be able to feed the baby, and a lack of confidence to breastfeed, especially in public, have all been cited as reasons to cease breastfeeding. In some cases there is also a lack of understanding about the benefits of breastfeeding for both mum and baby and so the motivation to continue doing so may dwindle.
Having breastfed two babies myself and listened to other mothers around me describe their various problems, anxieties and attitudes to breastfeeding, I well understand these concerns. But the fact is the vast majority of these obstacles can be overcome and with more information and understanding we can promote a shift in attitudes of both mothers and those around them to better support longer breastfeeding practices.
That is where this fantastic book from Rowena Gray and Anne Hillis comes in. Not only does it expertly explain the science and physiology of breastfeeding, clearly outlining the many benefits, it packs in all of the practical information a new mum needs to know.
Every conceivable problem or worry is covered with potential solutions and direction given as to where to seek further help when necessary. I have no doubt that this will fast become the feeding bible for all new mums and I sincerely hope the end result is far more babies reaping the benefits of nature s truly amazing first food.
Dr Joanna McMillan ( drjoanna.com.au )
PhD qualified dietitian and nutritionist, author and health presenter
Prologue
During my first pregnancy, the seemingly benign, So, do you plan to breastfeed? question was everywhere and I quickly got into the habit of providing the politically neutral response, If I can, I will. I did the reading, searched the sites, collected the pamphlets, and talked to the experienced and the passionate. The information was there.
Then I met my daughter, and thanks to a couple of post-birth complications, the harsh plastic wall of a humidicrib separated us within minutes of her arrival and for the next five days. As I watched and waited for her tiny systems to kick into gear, I found myself saying, I will breastfeed my child if it s the last thing I do. The will was there.
Bolstering my arsenal, I had a supportive mother who had breastfed each of her children for about 12 months, excellent access to council maternal and child health services, and a very good friend who was also a caring and extremely competent lactation expert. The way was there.
Surely, that was all that was needed.
And yet, the disruption of those first five days proved to be a monumental hurdle. The special care nursery treatment program of constant lights and a miniscule protective blindfold, combined with around-the-clock formula feeds (supplemented at every opportunity with expressed colostrum), meant that my daughter s sense of rhythm, routine and feeding technique were skewed from the outset.
With the breakdown of sleeping patterns that eventuated, the breakdown of feeding patterns followed. Through the fog of fatigue, I was struggling to pull together the breastfeeding safety net I thought I had so carefully constructed as feeding became painful, seemingly ineffective and altogether unpleasant.
Thankfully, those around me refused to let us fall, and after several months - through the gracious assistance of many - my daughter and I finally started to hit our straps. I went on to breastfeed her to 14 months, at which point she decided that she was ready for bigger (if not better) things.
Fast forward two-and-a-half years, and I was bracing myself for the arrival of my second baby and all that he would bring. I felt th