Are there many breastfeeding problems? What experts say

Children need breastfeeding from birth. However, during breastfeeding, new mothers will encounter many problems, such as feeling that they do not have enough milk, being sick and unable to breastfeed... What should they do when encountering these problems? Let's listen to the experts' advice!

How to solve common breastfeeding problems?

The first problem is that many mothers always feel that they do not have enough milk and worry that their children are not full, so they start to add milk powder to their babies, which leads to less and less milk and eventually they give up breastfeeding. In fact, there are only two "gold standards" to judge whether a mother's milk is enough: one is to look at the baby's weight, and the other is to look at the baby's urine output.

In the first few days after birth, a newborn will experience a physiological weight loss process. As long as the weight loss does not exceed 7% of the birth weight, no intervention is required. If the child gains less than one and a half pounds per month in the first three months after birth, it may be that the mother's milk is not enough. In addition, you can observe the baby's urine volume. After the mother breastfeeds, the baby's urination frequency reaches more than six times a day, which means that the mother's milk supply is normal.

What should I do if lumps, redness and swelling appear on my breasts?

Mothers need to eat a light diet in the first few days after giving birth. Do not eat all kinds of greasy food just to increase milk production, as this can easily cause the mother's milk ducts to be blocked. After the milk comes out in the later period, try to maintain a normal diet. In fact, when the mother's milk is swollen, the baby is the best lactation consultant. The child's sucking is very helpful for the mother's milk production. If you find breast lumps, redness and swelling, you can solve it through breast massage and cold compress.

Can mother still breastfeed if she is sick?

If a mother has a cold, can she still breastfeed? Some people think that there are "viruses" in breast milk that can be transmitted to the baby. In fact, this is not the case, because colds are usually respiratory infections, and mothers' breast milk does not contain respiratory viruses. However, it should be noted that mothers should still wear masks when breastfeeding to avoid being too close to the baby and infecting the baby. In fact, when a mother is sick, her breast milk contains certain antibodies, which can protect the baby.

In addition, mothers with "hepatitis B" are commonly divided into two situations: one is a hepatitis B virus carrier, and the other is "big three positive" or "small three positive". Now for mothers infected with hepatitis B virus, the "mother-to-child blocking" method is adopted, and the children will be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine when they are born. For the case of mothers with "big three positive" or "small three positive", in addition to the hepatitis B vaccine, the child will also be vaccinated with hepatitis B immunoglobulin. With double protection, breastfeeding is not a problem. Therefore, breastfeeding is possible through vaccination and blocking.

Do premature babies need to eat premature formula because they don’t have enough breast milk?

Actually, it is not. Premature babies need breastfeeding more. Not only is breast milk rich in nutrients, but from a biological function perspective, breast milk also contains more immune active factors, which can provide immune protection for babies and promote the development of the nervous system. Therefore, we emphasize that premature babies need breastfeeding more.

This article was scientifically reviewed by Wang Danhua, chief physician of pediatrics at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhang Yue, deputy director of the Child Health Department of the Maternal and Child Health Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Ma Yang, deputy director of the Child Health Center of Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University.