The Benefits and Methods of Breastfeeding
Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of
Health and Welfare, Taiwan R.O.C
The Benefits of Breastfeeding to Babies
Easy to be digested and free of allergens
Breast milk rich in nutrients is the most ideal natural food for babies. Containing more
unsaturated fatty acids and lactic acids with an appropriate ratio of calcium and potassium, it
is suitable for baby’s digestion and need, and it is very unlikely to cause allergic reactions.
Babies fed with breast milk seldom have diarrhea and constipation. In addition to that, breast
milk as is also rich in taurine, which is beneficial to baby’s brain development, it can also
help the development of baby’s intelligence.
Strengthening Immunity
Breast milk contains numerous substances that can increase babies’ immunity, protecting
babies from various kinds of infections in the first year. In particular, the colostrum contains a
number of antibodies and immune cells that cannot be substituted by formulae. Breast milk
can also adjust calories following baby’s development and adjust fat and water content
following the changes of weather.
Baby’s Favorite
Direct breastfeeding avoids any contaminations and the milk temperature is suitable for
babies. The sucking speed and amount are flexible according to babies’ need so babies can be
breastfed at any time. It is very convenient and hygienic.
Enhancing the Relationship between Mother and Baby
Breastfeeding can enhance building and developing the affection between a mother and her
baby. A mother’s care, touching, hugging, looking and the touch with mother’s chest, breast
and arms are all good stimuli to her baby. The baby can have a sense of satisfaction and
security and a good mood that are important factors to the baby’s mental development, and
further help the baby’s brain and intelligent development as well as personality build up.
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Help Development
Breastfeeding allows a baby to move his/her mouth, lower jaw and tongue that is beneficial to
his/her later language development, and at the same time, oral cavity distortion and improper
tooth arrangement happened to the baby can be prevented.
The Benefits of Breastfeeding to Mothers
Breastfeeding has many benefits to babies also to mothers:
1.
Baby’s sucking feedbacks and induces the secretion of mother’s oxytocin. This promotes
mother’s womb contraction to help the womb restoring quickly after delivery and reduce
the possibility to have postnatal complications.
2.
By consuming the body fat accumulated during pregnancy, breastfeeding helps a mother
restore her weight to that before pregnancy.
3.
Breastfeeding to a certain extent can inhibit ovulation and menstrual period to achieve
contraception after delivery.
4.
During the process of breastfeeding, a mother can get in contact and communicate with
her baby by skin, eye contact and language that helps build up the affection between the
mother and her baby as well as satisfy the mother psychologically.
5.
By breastfeeding, the chance for a mother to get breast cancer and ovarian cancer is
lowered.
6.
Breast milk directly breastfed to a baby is unlikely to be contaminated. It is fresh at an
appropriate temperature, convenient for feeding, hygienic and economic.
Breastfeeding Methods and Procedures
Important Points for Correct Breastfeeding Postures:
(1) Comfortable Position:
Breastfeeding can be done in different ways that most importantly, you as a mother
should be in a good mood and comfortable position, and relax the entire body to allow
breast milk secretion.
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(2) A mother should contact with her baby closely.
Regardless of the left side or right side, your baby’s abdomen should be in a close
contact with your abdomen. Both baby’s head and shoulders should face toward breast,
and baby’s mouth should be at the same level as your nipple.
(3) A baby should hold the nipple in the mouth correctly.
Your baby should hold areola and the lower breast tissue as well as galactophores in the
mouth. The baby’s mouth should open large enough that the lower jaw is in contact to
breast. You can see the baby sucking breast milk slowly and deeply and swallowing.
(4) A mother should have a correct hand posture.
While breastfeeding, you should hold your
breast by your thumb and fingers, but avoid
“pinch” your breast that will press your
mammary tissue backwards, hindering the
baby to hold the areola into the mouth. This
prevents a thorough pressing to release breast
milk from galactophores.
Correct Hand Posture
(holding)
Wrong Hand Posture
(pinching)
(5) Frequently Used Breastfeeding Postures:
1.
Lying breastfeeding - You can
lie face up or on the side when
breastfeeding
your
baby.
Breastfeeding when lying on
the side is very comfortable.
You can place a pillow beneath
yourself and your baby to
provide a good support.
2.
Sitting Breastfeeding – Make sure you are sitting on a chair of suitable height with
arms, allowing you to hold your baby properly. The chair should not be too soft and
the back of chair should be upright or your baby cannot suck breast milk properly.
While breastfeeding, you should lie against the back of chair and relax your
shoulders. A pillow can be used to support your baby. You can use a stool to help
relax and comfort your body that is beneficial for breast milk secretion.
Breastfeeding by the “surrounding method” is particularly suitable for baby
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Sitting
Breastfeeding
Posture
Lying
Breastfeeding
Posture
Sitting
Breastfeeding
Posture
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delivered by caesarean operation or for twin babies. This method can avoid pressing
and hurting the wound, and it can allow breastfeeding twin babies at the same time.
(6) Observe baby while breastfeeding:
To understand the hint whether your baby is hungry or full helps you to observe your
baby’s responses.
1.
Hint for Hunger:
(1) Your baby if is not full will search for breast; turn around his/her head; open
his/her mouth; his/her tongue is moving down and forward closer to your
breast.
(2) Your baby will have an obvious expression of searching for milk showing by
sucking his/her finger.
(3) Your baby may cry and move and stretch his/her arms and legs.
2.
Hunger fully satisfied hint:
(1) When your baby is full, he/she may fall into sleep with arms, legs and hands
relaxed.
(2) Your baby will become quiet and relaxed and not suck for milk as often as
before.
(3) Your baby may hump his/her back and push away from your breast.
(7) Determining whether your baby has taken enough breast milk:
A common reason for mothers to give up breastfeeding is that they believe they do not
have sufficient breast milk. In fact, only very few mothers have the problem of supplying
breast milk due to pathological reasons. How to determine whether a baby has taken
enough breast milk relies on the following facts:
1.
Slow increase of weight: a baby aged below six months only increases body weight
less than 500g every month or less than 125g every week.
2.
Less urine: a baby only urinates less than six times a day and the urine is dark
yellow with strong smell.
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