How does breastmilk disappear and how to avoid it?
Breast milk is the best that a mother can give her newborn baby.Today, there is a huge selection of various adapted mixtures, because science and medicine are moving forward with leaps and bounds.But still nothing better than the mother's breast milk, has not yet been created and not invented.If a woman realizes this and really cares about her baby, she makes every effort to prolong lactation for as long as possible.
But, unfortunately, our desires and aspirations are one thing, and reality is quite another.Not all and not always succeed in preserving lactation, despite all diligence.Why?What is the reason?What can affect the amount of milk in a nursing woman and his disappearance - "burnout", as people say?Let's figure it out.
Table of contents:Lactation crisis - what is it?
In the process of breastfeeding, there are the so-called lactation crises - periods when the milk becomes much smaller, and sometimes it almost completely disappears.Experienced moms do not scare this phenomenon - they know that in a maximum of 5 to 7 days everything will be restored.But the women who gave birth to the first time often panic, believing that the lactation suddenly stopped for some strange reason.
It's just not necessary to panic.Doctors explain this phenomenon by the fact that the mammary glands are "rebuilt" for the needs of a growing baby, therefore for a few days milk production is suspended, and then renews with the same intensity. Lactation crises occur at certain periods:
- at 3 to 5 weeks after the birth of the child;
- in the third month of the baby's life;
- on the seventh;
- on the tenth;
- on the twelfth.
If a woman continues breastfeeding after a year, crises may occur at a frequency of once every 2 to 3 months.
What should I do in these periods?First of all, do not be nervous and do not worry - that's exactly what will negatively affect lactation.You need to drink more fluids, eat fully, rest and as often as possible give the baby a breast.Then the milk is definitely not lost and will reappear very soon.
A child these days can be nervous and moody, often waking up at night.But pediatricians do not recommend switching to mixtures to calm the crumbs - better to distract him by playing, walking and applying it to the chest again and again .If he does not get enough milk these days, he will feel the closeness and care of his mother to the fullest.
Recommended to read:Why does breastmilk disappear?
Nothing happens in the body just like that. Breast milk is almost in every woman, in some it begins to ooze even a few days before the birth, others only appear a few days after the birth of the baby.
And only 3% of mothers have no milk at all - this phenomenon is associated with serious hormonal disorders in the body.In all other cases, a woman can breastfeed her baby for at least a year.
If the lactation began to fade away, then this was not "suddenly", but for certain reasons.
Pathologies during pregnancy or difficult births
During this period, strong medications that affect the hormonal background in the body of a woman could be used and can really reduce the production of breast milk.
Usually a woman is warned about the possible consequences of medical treatment, but there is no choice - it is better to safely take out a healthy child and give birth to it, and then feed the mixture than to give birth before the term or lose the baby.
Later attachment to the chest
Now the child is laid on his mother's chest immediately after the field of how he came into the world and took the first breath . The umbilical cord is not cut yet - and it is at these moments that the baby should take the breast. If this happens, there is no doubt that a woman will be able to successfully breastfeed him for more than a month, and possibly a year.
If, for some reason, no application has occurred - for example, a woman gave birth not in a natural way, but with caesarean section and was anesthetized, the milk will arrive late and for a long time the lactation will not last.This should always be taken into account for those girls who, because of the fear of pain, even in the absence of explicit indications choose a cesarean section instead of natural births.
Stress situation
Some women suffer from the so-called syndrome - a depressed, depressed state, when the feeling of fear, self-doubt, overwhelms the baby.
Others in the family have a tense situation because of unstable relations with their spouse, lack of financial resources. .. In any case, the psycho-emotional state of a woman affects the intensity of lactation. Milk can become smaller, but if stress and experience does not stop, it disappears completely - it's a sad, but proven fact.
Therefore, the nursing mother and the people around her should take care to create the most peaceful and favorable environment.You need to keep yourself in hand, do not succumb to emotions and think first of all about the baby's well-being.
Early introduction of complementary food
Mom, especially young and inexperienced, often experience that the baby is malnourished, and begin to feed him from the bottle.Or they are in a hurry to introduce lure.As a result, breastfeeding becomes less, accordingly, less milk is produced, and eventually it disappears completely.
Feeding is not on demand, but by the clock
This was the way pediatricians and midwives advised it.Today it is proved that the is both more comfortable for the baby and mother, if the attachments are on demand, and not on the schedule.Then the baby fully eats and develops, sleeps well and is less capricious.And my mother has enough milk. Feeding by the hour leads to early extinction of lactation.
Diseases and medications
The reason for the disappearance of milk may be the intake of hormonal medication and some other medicines.Sometimes it is enough banal cold and hypothermia to make milk much less, especially if the lactating woman has weak immunity.
In addition, if a woman is sick and needs to take antibiotics, lactation should be temporarily stopped. However, after the course of treatment, feeding can be resumed, most importantly - a desire and a positive attitude.
What should I do with a lactation crisis?
There are three simple steps that will help restore fading lactation.
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It's good to eat .The basic rule of food remains the same: not for two, but for two.Twice as many useful, easily digestible proteins, twice as many vitamins and minerals, in sufficient amounts of fats and carbohydrates.No diets, no restrictions on meals by the hour. There are products that can stimulate lactation.This milk, dried fruits, nuts, carrots, fennel seeds, as well as special herbal teas for increasing lactation .And do not forget to drink as much liquid as possible - at least 2 liters a day. - It's good to get enough sleep .When the baby is asleep, you do not need to rush into the kitchen to cook borsch, turn on the washing machine and take to the mountain of ironing.You should lie down next to you and relax, too.Let it be only half an hour - then everything will become much faster, and the milk will not be lost from the elementary fatigue.
- Do not get nervous .Stresses are a scourge of modern man, they are the culprits of all ills and diseases.Do not worry about trifles, do not feel sorry for yourself, but try to enjoy simple things - the first smile of your baby, the summer sun, a successful home cookie, or the gentle word of her husband.
Lactation, like pregnancy, is one of the most beautiful periods in a woman's life.Do not deny yourself this joy, and your child - in quality and nutrition, maternal intimacy and care.
Larisa Tokareva, pediatrician
