Can adults drink breast milk?

Breast milk is a very good food for newborn babies because the nutrients in breast milk are most suitable for the baby's development and growth. So, since breast milk is so nutritious, can adults drink breast milk? In fact, adults can drink breast milk, but the nutrients in breast milk are of no benefit to adults, so it is not recommended. Next, I will introduce you to some relevant knowledge about breastfeeding!

1. Breastfeeding duration

It is recommended to breastfeed immediately after birth. Normal full-term newborns can be breastfed by their mothers within half an hour after birth. This can prevent neonatal hypoglycemia and promote breast milk secretion. The baby's sucking on the nipple can also stimulate the mother's milk secretion, which is a good start for breastfeeding. Early breastfeeding can reduce postpartum hemorrhage in mothers.

It is generally recommended to feed newborns when they are hungry. As the baby grows older, feed him every 2-3 hours, then every 3-4 hours, and 8 times a day and night. After 3-4 months of age, the baby's stomach capacity increases. You can switch to breastfeeding 5-6 times a day and night, and consider eliminating night feedings. To achieve this, the child only needs to be fed once before going to bed so that he will not wake up due to hunger. As long as he sleeps quietly, the mother does not need to wake him up, and can be fed in advance after waking up in the early morning.

Children do not need to add heat energy to rest at night, they just need to maintain basal metabolism, and a full feed before bedtime is enough to meet their nighttime needs. To ensure that the baby is well fed at night, the time of feeding before bed can be postponed appropriately, such as around 10 pm, and feeding in the morning at 4-5 am. In this way, breast milk will be sufficient. If breast milk is really insufficient, you can try feeding cow's milk.

The baby will not feel hungry, urinate less, or make noise after a full night's feeding, and will sleep well. This also ensures the mother's rest and ensures sufficient milk secretion to facilitate feeding the next day. For babies aged 4-6 months, it is enough to feed them 5 times a day and night, so that breastfeeding can be maintained for a longer period of time. Complementary food has begun to be added during this period, and preparations should be made.

2. Breastfeeding Methods

The correct breastfeeding method is to place the thumb and the other four fingers of one hand on the upper and lower parts of the breast respectively, and lift the breast into a straight cone shape. The mother and baby must be closely attached to each other, with the head and shoulders facing the breast. When breastfeeding, the mother must relax her body, lean forward slightly, support the baby's neck and back with the base of her palm, and support the baby's head with four fingers. When breastfeeding, you should hold your baby up and feed him/her both during the day and at night. The empty side of the breast will drain the juice to better stimulate the mammary gland to secrete more. Wash the nipple before feeding, squeeze out a few drops, and then let the baby feed.

3. Number of breastfeeding

Newborns should start breastfeeding after birth and should be fed at irregular intervals as needed. Frequent breastfeeding is most necessary during the first 4-8 days after birth to increase the amount of breast milk rapidly. For sleepy or quiet babies, frequent feedings should be given during the day to provide the nutritional needs for their growth and development.