Breastfeeding: Importance and treatment

 

The Importance of Breastfeeding

The American academy of paediatrics, section on breastfeeding recommends that infants should be breastfed for their first six months of life. And continue for 12 months. Breast milk was design exclusively for human infants. It is considered a living tissue because it contains almost all the live cells blood contains. It is bacteriologically safe, fresh, and the nutrients in breast milk are easily absorbed than those in formula.

-          Breast milk enhance the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract and contain immune factors that contribute to lower the incidence of lymphoma, childhood obesity, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease and many others.

-          Breast milk provides receive specific antibodies and cell mediated immunologic factors that fight against various illnesses such as respiratory illnesses,  urinary tract infection, bacteremia (bacteria in the blood) and bacterial meningitis (bacteria causing inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord affecting both mental and motor functions)

-          Breastfed infants have lower allergic reactions even from a high risk family. Where as formula-fed infants have a greater rate and more severe incidence. 

-          Infants are less likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome

-          Breast milk may enhance cognitive development

-          Breast milk appear to have an analgesic effect

-          Woman who breastfed have a decrease  risk for ovarian, uterine, and breast cancer

-          It provides a unique bonding experience with the infant and mother

-          It saves money; the cost of formula is more than food for the lactating mother.

-          Oxytocin –a hormone release during pregnancy- contracts the mother’s uterine to control bleeding; thus, decreases the chance of postpartum hemorrhage.

 

Milk Production

Even though almost every woman can lactate some women have insufficient glandular development to which impedes on milk production to exclusively breastfed their infants. Women of this nature usually have little breast change during adolescent and pregnancy. In some cases, mothers can still breastfeed and use supplemental nutrition for optimal growth. There are devices available for mothers to offer supplement when breastfeeding. Consult your doctor about different options.  

Hormones involve:

Prolactin: 10 days after birth, mothers’ estrogens and progesterone level drop, initiating the release of prolactin from the pituitary. Prolactin prepares the breast for the synthesis and release of milk. Prolactin continues to be produced from the suckling of the infant; which is why mothers’ breasts are never empty. Incomplete emptying can cause decrease in milk production

Oxytocin: This hormone also produced by the pituitary function is to eject milk from the breast. Tissues in the breast surrounding the alveoli respond to oxytocin by contracting, sending the milk forward through the ducts to the nipple. Milk ejection reflex can be triggered by: Thoughts, sights, sounds or odors the mother associates with her baby. A tingling sensation may occur during the process of let-down, though some mothers can detect milk ejection only by observing the suckling and swallowing of the infant. Let-down may also happen during sexual activity because oxytocin is release during orgasm.

 

Postpartum Breast Engorgement

What is postpartum engorgement?

Engorgement is a common response happens normally when there is a sudden change in hormone and increase in milk volumes. It usually happens on the third to fifth day postpartum and last for 24 hours. Increase blood supply to the breast may cause increase swelling of tissue surrounding the ducts. The ducts are pinched shut so that the milk will not flow.

Signs of engorgement

o   Firmness

o   Swelling

o   Tenderness

o   Hot feeling  cynical

o   Flatten nipples (affecting baby’s ability to latch on)

 

All the pressure on the full milk duct inhibits milk production. If milk is not removed, the production of milk can be diminished.

How to relieve engorgement

o   Mother should feed every 2 hours softening at least one breast and pumping the other (pumping does not cause problematic increase in milk supply)

o   Place ice pack on breast 15 to 20 minutes and 45 minutes off, rotating between feeding. Ice pack should cover both breasts. Large bags of frozen peas or corn makes easy packs and can be refrozen

o   Fresh frozen cabbage leaves placed over both breasts are thought to decrease milk production. Leaves should be replaced when becoming withered

o   Anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen may help reduce pain associated with engorgement.

o   Because heat increase blood flow, apply heat should be avoided. However, if the mother stands under a warm shower, milk leaking will happen or she can manually express the milk herself.