Over the past ten years, Russians have changed their views on breastfeeding (BF). Now mothers are happy to breastfeed their babies, without resorting to supplementary feeding with milk formulas or transferring the child to artificial feeding. Moreover, doubts have arisen as to whether the formula is really capable of fully replacing mother’s milk, and how the replacement will affect breast milk mixture on the future health of the child. After all, the majority of allergy sufferers are artificially fed children.
WHO believes that it is very beneficial for a child to eat breast milk until the age of two, and the first six months is a mandatory norm. Yes, and many mothers want this, but often the milk disappears a few months after giving birth. The reasons for this can be very different: the nervous state of the mother, incorrect feeding technique, infrequent breastfeeding, lack of support from relatives, etc. During a lactation crisis, milk disappears only temporarily.
As practice shows, only a very small part of women cannot feed their children on their own. The majority can easily restore normal lactation or switch to mixed feeding until a sufficient amount of milk comes. To do this you need to follow some rules breastfeeding and, as prescribed by a doctor, use drugs that increase lactation. We will talk about all this in detail.
Breastfeeding rules for good lactation
A mother should want to breastfeed her baby. This is the key point. If she doesn’t have this in her subconscious, then any little thing can result in a coagulation of breastfeeding. All attempts to return milk in this situation are futile.
A breastfeeding woman should be surrounded by devotees loving people. Any support is important: from moral support to freeing her from some household responsibilities.
It will be better if the mother of the baby does not go to work right away, because she has legal maternity leave. The mother should devote all her time to the child and always be near him, then there will be no problems with breastfeeding.
To establish breastfeeding, the mother is recommended to bring the baby closer to the breast as often as possible upon request and leave it in this position until he lets go, even if he falls asleep.
Feedings are recommended at night and especially in the early morning. Then the amount of the hormone prolactin increases, and it regulates milk production.
Eliminate the use of pacifiers; if the baby cries or is worried, offer him the breast.
You need a balanced 5 meals a day. The menu should include dairy products, lean meat, fish, nuts, oils, vegetables and fruits. A woman should drink at least 3 liters of water per day if there are no kidney problems.
Means for increasing lactation, as a rule, do not increase the amount of milk, but ensure its flow. That's why the best remedy to increase milk - this is frequent latching, skin-to-skin contact and joint sleep with night feedings.
Drugs that increase breast milk
These include medicinal and homeopathic preparations, presented in the form of tablets to improve lactation, as well as protein-mineral mixtures enriched with vitamins, which should be diluted with water.
"Desaminooxytocin"
Can only be used as prescribed by a doctor, since the drug is a drug and has a number of contraindications and side effects. Demoxytocin tablets increase lactation, stimulating the lactogenic function of the mammary glands, eliminate pathological engorgement of the mammary glands, and prevent the development of mastitis.
Demoxytocin is a synthetic analogue of oxytocin, which is a hormone of the posterior pituitary gland. The effect of the drug is to stimulate contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus and myoepithelial cells of the mammary gland. Contraction of the myoepithelial cells surrounding the alveoli and milk ducts causes milk to enter the large ducts and be released through the nipple. The drug has a stronger and longer-lasting lactogenic effect compared to oxytocin, which occurs within a few minutes.
"Mlekoin"
Mlekoin has a lactotropic effect, it stimulates the production of prolactin and milk secretion, prolongs the lactation period, helps prevent mastitis, and also promotes uterine contraction in the postpartum period. Available in the form of homeopathic granules.
"Lactogon"
A special drug designed to increase lactation. Prescribed to pregnant women at risk and with a burdened obstetric history. Contains royal jelly, iodine, vitamin C, herbal mixture: nettle, dill, ginger, oregano, carrots. Available in tablets.
"Leptaden"
Prescribed after childbirth to increase lactation, during a lactation crisis and in the absence of milk. Release form: tablets.
"Apilak"
Indicated for lactation disorders - hypogalactia in the postpartum period. Contains royal jelly. Available in tablets.
"Apilactin"
Apilactin tablets are prescribed by a doctor immediately after childbirth in order to improve the quality of lactation for mothers at risk. It contains royal jelly and pollen. Do not take if you are allergic to one of the components of the drug.
"Femilak"
Milk drink with vitamin and mineral complex. It is prescribed to pregnant and nursing mothers to enrich food with nutrients; it does not have a direct effect on lactation. Tastes like instant milk powder.
Ingredients: skimmed milk powder, demineralized whey powder, vegetable oils (coconut, palm, soybean, corn), maltodextrin, minerals (potassium chloride, ferrous sulfate, calcium carbonate, potassium citrate, sodium citrate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, chloride Manganese, potassium iodide, molybdate ammonium, sodium selenite, chromium chloride), vitamins (ascorbic acid, tocopherol acetate, nicotinomide, pantotenic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, tiamin hydrochloride, retinol ascett, d-byotin, phyllokhinin, phyllokhino Redalciferol, cyanocobalamin), choline bitartrate, inositol, taurine, emulsifier (lecithin), antioxidant (ascorbyl palmitate), beta-carotene.
"Nestlé "Mom and Me""
Ingredients of the mixture: skim milk, sugar, glucose syrup, milk fat, a mixture of vegetable oils (rapeseed and sunflower), fish oil, vitamin and mineral complex, emulsifier (soy lecithin), maltodestrin, culture of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli (Bifidobacterium Lactis not less than 106 CFU /g and Lactobacillus Rhamnosus not less than 106 CFU/g), flavors (milk cream and vanilla), does not contain artificial preservatives, stabilizers and dyes. Has a pleasant creamy taste.
"Dumil mom plus"
It has a positive effect on the amount of milk, satisfies a woman’s need for nutrients during pregnancy and lactation, replenishes the deficiency of vitamins and microelements, stimulates lactation, and is a means of preventing osteoporosis and caries. There is a mixture different tastes: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate and green apple.
Ingredients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, folic acid, beta-carotene, taurine, selenium, polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6), vitamins and minerals.
"Enfa Mama"
Provides the needs of pregnant and lactating women for proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The drink is available in chocolate and peach flavors.
Ingredients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins A, D, E and C, folic acid, thiamine, B vitamins, vitamin PP, biotin, pantothenic acid, inositol, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, iron, magnesium, sodium , potassium, chlorides, zinc.
"Milky Way"
The mixture was developed by specialists from the Institute of Nutrition together with VITAPROM LLC specifically for nursing mothers. It contains galega herb extract, which has a lactogenic effect, that is, it increases the amount of milk. The drug also contains a protein-mineral complex enriched with vitamins. Compared to foreign formulas to increase lactation, it has an unpleasant taste.
Ingredients: milk protein, purified soy protein, vegetable oil, vitamins (A, C, D, B1, B2, B6, folic and pantothenic acids), minerals (calcium, iron), sucrose, dietary fiber, chicory, dry galega herb extract (Galega officinalis).
Milk booster tea comes in the form of tea bags to brew or as granules that you dissolve in water. These teas and drinks contain herbs that stimulate lactation.
"Lactaphytol"
The tea contains the fruits of fennel, the fruits of anise, the fruits of caraway seeds, and the leaves of stinging nettle. Helps increase milk secretion in nursing women, brewed with boiling water.
"Humana Tea for nursing mothers"
The granular mixture contains: extracts of hibiscus, fennel, rooibos, verbena, fenugreek, galega herb, raspberry, vitamin C, fennel oil, sucrose, maltodextrin. Humana breast milk booster tea stimulates milk production and helps prolong the lactation period. Diluted with warm water.
"Hipp Tea for Nursing Mothers"
Ingredients: dextrose, maltodextrin, lemon balm extract, nettle, cumin, anise, fennel, galega herb. Tea for increasing breast milk hipp, in addition, has a calming effect. The granules are poured with boiling water, you can drink it like tea, or you can cool it.
“Tea for nursing mothers Grandmother’s Basket”
With anise
The tea contains anise fruits and seeds, caraway fruits and seeds, nettle leaves, clover flowers, lemon balm leaves, fennel fruits and seeds.
This combination of herbs stimulates lactation, and the inclusion of anise and fennel helps prevent the development of colic and flatulence in children.
With rose hips
The tea contains: rose hips, caraway fruits and seeds, nettle leaves, lemon balm leaves, fennel fruits and seeds.
“Babushkino Lukoshko” teas stimulate lactation and prevent the development of colic and bloating in children. The herbal bags are brewed with boiling water and infused.
"Tea for nursing mothers Laktovit"
The composition includes anise fruits, nettle leaves, dill (fennel) fruits, caraway fruits. Tea has a lactogenic effect. The mixture of herbs is brewed with boiling water and infused.
"Tea for nursing mothers Elevar bio Lactogon"
The tea contains herbs of oregano, lemon balm, fennel and nettle. Tea for adding milk has a pronounced lactogenic effect.
“Fleur Alpine ORGANIC herbal tea for nursing mothers”
Ingredients: fennel fruits, lemon balm leaves, galega herb, nettle leaves, peppermint leaves. Breast milk booster tea stimulates milk secretion in nursing mothers. Brew with boiling water and infuse.
Self-produced juices, drinks and teas will be no less effective. To do this, you need to include herbs and products that have a lactogenic effect, such as: nettle, carrots, oregano, rose hips, anise, licorice, radish, milk, honey.
Check out drink recipes that are easy to make at home.
Recipes for increasing breast milk at home
Anise infusion. A couple of teaspoons of seeds should be steamed with 200 ml of boiling water and left for 60 minutes. After cooling, the drink is ready for use according to the system: three times a day, 2 tablespoons before meals.
Carrot juice. The technology is simple: squeeze the juice from fresh carrots and consume several times a day in small doses. To improve the taste, you can add honey or milk to the juice.
Drink made from cumin seeds. You will need to squeeze the juice of a medium lemon with the addition of 15 g of cumin seeds and 100 g of sugar. Pour the mixture with 800 ml of water and cook for about 10 minutes. It is advisable to take the decoction orally 2 times a day.
Dill milk. Small dill seeds drenched in kefir need to be slightly salted. Then add some nutmeg and drink it in the morning.
Warm milk with honey. Heat the milk, but do not allow it to boil, and add a little honey. Drink hot.
Myths about means to improve lactation
1. Lactogenic agents are harmless and can be taken without consulting a doctor. Any remedy, even if it is tea natural herbs, should be taken only after a doctor’s permission, since herbs, like medicines, have side effects and can cause allergies.
2. When taking drugs that improve lactation, milk is protected from burnout. This is not true. Milk does not disappear for only about 40 days without pumping and feeding, and then there is a decrease in its production, in addition, this condition threatens mastitis.
3. Lactation must be supported with special medications. It is not true. Almost all mothers are able to do without stimulants. Lactation crises stand apart. By the way, some mothers deny the effectiveness of teas, herbs and most lactogenic agents.
4. Means to improve lactation are not effective. There is certainly an effect, and it is, as a rule, clinically proven. All herbal medications must be taken in courses, as they begin to act gradually. Hormonal drugs They begin to act immediately, but their use is required only in exceptional cases and after consulting a doctor.
conclusions
Let's summarize. To increase lactation, that is, to ensure that there is a lot of milk and enough for the baby, you must follow the rules of breastfeeding and, as prescribed by a doctor, use products that have a lactogenic effect. In very rare cases, lactation cannot be restored; in all other cases, the result depends on your desire and efforts.
One of the most popular questions that mothers ask breastfeeding specialists even in the maternity hospital is: “What should I eat to have a lot of milk and?” It’s not so easy to give an answer, because it contains several common misconceptions about how a mother’s diet affects her milk.
First of all, you need to understand how milk is produced. Two hormones are directly responsible for lactation - prolactin and oxytocin. When your baby sucks (or expresses), the nerve endings on the nipple and areola send a signal to the brain, where prolactin and oxytocin are produced. The first ensures sufficient milk supply, and the second helps the milk to be released from the breast. Therefore, a very simple principle works: as much as the baby sucks, so much milk will come. That is why it is recommended to feed the baby on demand, ensuring a good, deep attachment to the breast: this is the main guarantee of sufficient milk. And the mother is advised not to be nervous, because adrenaline released during stress suppresses oxytocin, and it becomes difficult for the baby to get milk, despite the fact that it is there - this situation is popularly called “the milk disappeared from nerves.” All this means: in order to have a lot of milk, the mother does not need to try to eat anything special; it is quite enough to feed the baby whenever he wants it.
As for “good” milk, then . At the same time, the nursing mother’s body primarily provides for the baby’s needs, and if the mother’s diet lacks some nutrients, they will be compensated for by the resources of the mother’s body, and the mother herself may have health problems... Therefore, every woman needs to know that by eating well, she cares mainly about her own health, and the child will get what he needs.
Mother's milk is a very complex product in its composition, which combines hundreds of components, many of which are little studied and, of course, cannot be reproduced in industrial mixtures. If you simplify the process of milk production as much as possible, then it is produced in mammary glands from blood plasma components. And mother’s nutrition affects the composition of milk to the same extent as the composition of the blood: some substances that penetrate into the blood and then into mother’s milk can cause a reaction in a child prone to allergies.
We must immediately make a reservation that the product, which, once on my mother’s menu, Always would lead to negative consequences at any child, doesn't exist at all. There are simply some groups of products, the consumption of which complications are more or less likely, and only in case of predisposition. You shouldn’t completely remove them from your menu, unless your mother is allergic to one of them (but then she herself tries to avoid such a product). It is quite possible to eat them little by little, especially if you really want to - the body of a nursing mother, as during pregnancy, sometimes itself tells you what you need to eat in order to make up for the lack of certain substances. But if the baby suddenly has an allergic reaction or a tummy upset occurs, the mother needs to remember what “risk groups” she ate in the last 24 hours, and exclude the product from her menu for a couple of weeks.
So, what are these “risk groups”?
1) A certain amount of foreign protein enters the blood and, accordingly, into mother’s milk. Of all the varieties of proteins foreign to the human body, cow's milk protein most often causes an allergic reaction. This may seem strange to many mothers - after all, there is a widespread belief in society that cow's milk is definitely healthy and an irreplaceable source of calcium - but cow's milk is not at all like human milk. A cow produces milk to feed its own young, but herbivorous ungulates need something completely different from what a human child needs for optimal development. Therefore, if a mother drinks fresh (not fermented) cow's milk in large quantities, her baby may experience tummy pain or even an allergic reaction. In fermented milk, the protein takes a different form - which means that mother can usually eat kefir, fermented baked milk, cheese and other similar products without worry. Yes, and a portion of cream in a mug with tea will not do anything bad, but if your closest relatives have allergies or diabetes, you still shouldn’t drink milk in glasses, the predisposition to allergic reactions is inherited.
Another foreign protein that is much less common but does occasionally cause problems is gluten, found in many grains, including wheat. Porridges in which there is probably no gluten - rice, buckwheat and corn; All other cereals have it.
It is also rare, but it happens that the baby is allergic when the mother is a big fan of soy products, eggs and poultry or fish and seafood. All of them also contain foreign proteins, which, having accumulated in large quantities, can overcome the protective barriers of the child’s body.
2) A pigment that gives vegetables and fruits their red color. Like other allergens, it can work if the baby has a hereditary predisposition, and the mother overdoes it with treats. In practice, this means that eating a few cherries or strawberries is not a sin at all, but if the mother looks up from the plate of berries after half an hour, the child may be sprinkled with it. This, by the way, is where the legs grow from, and the popular belief in maternity hospitals “you can’t eat red apples”: in fact, it’s quite possible, and if the mother still wants to play it safe, just peel the red peel.
3) Exotic fruits (kiwi, mango, etc.) and citrus fruits - precisely because of their foreignness to our places. For example, in Spain or sunny Florida, oranges are often among the first foods for complementary feeding, and are considered much less allergenic than the same gluten cereals. But for our places it’s still exotic, and therefore anything can happen. Although, again, a child will almost never react to one tangerine, but he can react to a dozen tangerines eaten in one sitting.
4) Chemical additives: preservatives, dyes, flavor and aroma enhancers, sweeteners (aspartame and others). Well, this is all clear: children's body, not adapted to anything other than mother’s milk, cannot yet cope with the “chemical attacks” that are familiar to an adult. But, strictly speaking, it would do us all good to choose the most natural food possible...
Finally, some herbs can have a bad effect on mother’s health and lactation - this is very important for lovers of herbal teas that are popular today. So, it is better not to drink teas that contain hawthorn (contains stimulating substances for the heart and lowering blood pressure), sweet clover (substances that impair blood clotting), ginseng (can cause insomnia, chest pain), spurge (a potent laxative), tansy. Mint, chamomile, sage, hop cones, and walnut leaves reduce the formation of milk.
Now you can take a closer look at some popular statements about what a mother should and should not eat.
“If a lot of milk has arrived and the breasts are full, the mother needs to limit her drinking”
This is simply pointless, because the amount of milk is not regulated by the amount of liquid received. Milk will be produced as much as there is prolactin in the body - and if the mother drinks little, then she may begin to become dehydrated, up to a rise in temperature, headache and general weakness, but there will be no less milk. Therefore, you need to drink according to your thirst: you shouldn’t drink more, but you shouldn’t drink less either.
“To have a lot of milk, mom needs to drink half a liter of tea before each feeding.”
If a mother feeds on demand, then according to this principle it turns out that she must drink all day long. And even if the baby asks to eat, for example, 8 times a day, it turns out that the mother should drink 4 liters of tea. And 10 times a day is already 5 liters...
Nevertheless, there is a tiny grain of truth in this belief. Namely: any hot liquid, drunk 10-15 minutes before feeding, stimulates the release of oxytocin and, accordingly, causes a rush of milk. That is, there will be no more milk, but at high tide it will be much easier for the baby to suck it out. But it is not at all necessary to drink half a liter, and not necessarily before each application, but when you want.
“A nursing mother must eat for two”
Look at this “second” one, for whom mother is supposed to feed. How much can such a baby eat? This is not comparable to the diet of an adult. Therefore completely normal phenomenon, when the mother’s diet includes 300-400 kilocalories more than before pregnancy. It’s enough for mom to eat according to her appetite. In this case, it is optimal to continue to eat approximately the same as during pregnancy: in small portions, but often, so that the body constantly receives everything it needs to produce milk and at the same time is not overloaded. During the first few months of a baby’s life, when he often asks for breastfeeding, it may be useful for the mother to leave a snack and drink somewhere near the bed at night: hunger can come unexpectedly after the baby’s next night meal. As one nursing mother humorously said about life with a newborn: “You don’t sleep all day, don’t eat all night - of course you get tired!..”
“To have fatty milk, you need to eat nuts.”
A belief that, alas, led many mothers to completely unwanted problems. Nuts do not increase the overall fat content of milk, but they change the composition of milk fats: after a mother eats a lot of nuts, her milk becomes more viscous, leaves the breast with difficulty and promotes lactostasis. And if the mother also takes additional calcium, the most nasty “milk plugs” form in the breasts, when calcifications combined with viscous milk fats literally clog the milk ducts. Therefore, a nursing mother should not abuse nuts (and very fatty foods too).
“The child was sprinkled, which means the mother is eating something wrong!”
Not at all necessary. A child in the first months of life does not often react with rashes specifically to mother’s food compared to other possible irritants (the most popular of which are: inappropriate baby cosmetics, washing powder with bioadditives, substances in tap water, wool and dust). Not to mention the fact that many babies at about three weeks of age experience a phenomenon known as hormonal facial rashes. They do not depend at all on the mother’s nutrition and go away on their own by about a month and a half, but during this time they usually manage to at least try to put a nursing mother on a strict diet...
“The baby has gas and poops greens because mom ate cucumbers and cabbage.”
And there is some truth here, but not much. Indeed, if some foods cause heartburn or flatulence in the mother, this may lead to changes in the composition of the blood, and accordingly be passed on to the baby. Gas-forming products most often include cabbage, cucumbers, legumes, grapes, pears, and gas-containing drinks. But if the mother eats these foods and does not suffer from bloating herself, then they will not affect the child.
But as for stool with greens, it can really indicate an intolerance to some foods - and here you need to think not about cucumbers or cabbage, but remember foods from risk groups. But the most common cause of green stool is a so-called foremilk and hindmilk imbalance, when the baby is switched too often from one breast to the other and receives too large portions of lactose-rich “foremilk.” The reserves of the enzyme that breaks down lactose in the child’s body are small, and when they are depleted, digestive problems begin... This problem can be solved very simply: do not change the breast until the child has emptied it; in this case, he will receive not only “front” milk, but also fatty, well-digested “hind” milk.
“A nursing mother should not eat sweets”
A categorical “no”! A nursing mother needs to eat sweets because carbohydrates are actively consumed during milk production. Another question is what kind of carbohydrates they will be, because high blood sugar is not very good for both mother and child, and if a mother eats a can of condensed milk every day, fermentation in the tummy and rashes are indeed quite real. It is best to consume so-called complex carbohydrates: rice, buckwheat, muesli with fruit, but without sugar. As for directly sweet foods, let your mother always have a supply of not too sweet cookies and white marshmallows, which supply the body with carbohydrates without an excessive load of sucrose.
“Onions, garlic, spices - out of sight!”
This is also an extra precaution. It is believed that they can change the taste and smell of milk, but in studies conducted, spicy foods did not make babies less interested in their mother's breasts. On the contrary, some children liked the “spiced milk” even more!..
“A vegetarian mother cannot follow her usual diet while breastfeeding.”
It may well be, despite the increased needs of the body. A vegetarian mother needs more proteins - this can be done by increasing the proportion of legumes and grains, and grains - preferably whole; very rich useful substances sprouted grains. You need plenty of quality fats, which are best obtained from vegetable oils, preferably unrefined olive and sunflower. If the type of vegetarian diet involves avoiding dairy products, then remember that among plant foods, parsley, dill, onions, garlic, walnuts and almonds, raisins and grapes, apricots, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, carrots, beets, contain the most calcium. legumes (including all variety of soy products), peaches, pumpkin, sesame.
As for vitamins, plant foods contain all the necessary vitamins, except B 12, which we get mainly from animal products (meat, liver, kidneys, egg yolk, cheese, fish); and if the mother does not consume them, then it is worth taking care of obtaining additional amounts. This vitamin is practically absent from plant foods, although some amounts are found in seaweed and chlorella. Vitamin reserves B 12 with normal nutrition, they accumulate in the liver and therefore symptoms of deficiency may appear several years after starting the diet. Even if a vitamin deficiency is not noticeable in the mother, its deficiency in milk can play a big role in the baby’s health. Vitamin deficiency B 12 in infants it manifests itself in poor appetite, delayed motor development, muscle atrophy, vomiting, abnormalities in blood composition, low hemoglobin.
But there are benefits to a vegetarian diet: milk from vegetarian mothers contains fewer environmental pollutants than milk from other mothers. Environmental pollutants are found primarily in fat, and vegetarian diets typically contain less fat than those containing animal products.
In a word, breastfeeding is a reason not to go on a strict diet, but rather to improve your menu in general. And that's good, isn't it?
If you want to know more information about the nutrition of nursing mothers - we invite you to watch Olga Shipenko’s webinar, where for an hour and a half all the nuances related to the influence of various products on mother’s milk and her baby are explained. You can find out how to get a recording of the webinar.
The most valuable thing a woman can give a child in the first minutes of his life is breast milk. But what to do if there is no milk after childbirth?
On what day after birth do milk and colostrum appear?
So, a little physiology. The precursor to milk, colostrum, begins to be produced during pregnancy (you may notice a clear yellow liquid oozing from the nipples).
This substance is much more useful and nutritious than real, “mature” milk. The first drops of it that fall into the baby’s mouth are his first “food”.
Despite the fact that there is very little colostrum, the baby gets enough of it small quantity in order to “eat up”, because his ventricle is still so small!
But after a couple of days, the newborn’s appetite increases, and colostrum is no longer enough. Therefore, nature designed it in such a way that true milk begins to be produced in the breast. This usually happens after a couple of days.
But every woman’s body is individual, so this event can happen earlier or a little later (in the case of primiparous women or after)..
What to do to get milk after childbirth?
- Frequent application. While the milk has not yet arrived, let the baby suckle on colostrum. Constantly “hanging” the baby on the chest leads to increased production of the hormone prolactin, which regulates the amount of milk. Moreover, prolactin is most actively produced from 3 to 8 o’clock, so it is useful to increase lactation by feeding the baby at this time. That is why the constant presence of a child with his mother from the very first minutes of his life is now so welcomed;
- Based on the first point, refuse all “substitutes” female breast(pacifiers, pacifiers) and feeding the baby with formula (may be due to a lack of milk). The only thing that should enter the baby’s mouth now is the mother’s nipple;
- If you don't have milk after giving birth, what to do is more. The more liquid you drink (preferably warm), the more actively it will be “processed” into milk. And it doesn’t matter what it will be - tea, milk, compote - the main thing is that the drink is not allergic to the child;
- Skin contact. The close skin interaction between the baby and the new mother also contributes to the production of prolactin. In addition, this creates close contact between you and your little blood;
- In addition to prolactin, the hormone oxytocin is also responsible for milk production. It is produced in abundance only if a woman good mood, she is not overworked, in general, she is normal emotional condition. Therefore, to prevent milk from disappearing after childbirth, it is so important to provide the young mother with all possible assistance and give her the opportunity to sleep.
Special means for stimulating lactation
Why is there no milk after childbirth: perhaps your diet is inadequate or there are not enough substances for normal lactation? There are special products to eliminate this “gap”:
- Decoctions, drinks, teas. In pharmacies you can purchase herbal infusions or instant (soluble) drinks that stimulate lactation. Most often they contain seeds of fennel, dill, caraway seeds, etc. You don’t know what to choose? Ask your pharmacist to recommend a lactogenic tea. If you don't have milk after giving birth, these products can be your salvation. You can learn how to prepare this or that decoction or infusion, as well as the method of use, from the annotation for each drug;
- Dietary supplements that stimulate lactation. The most popular are Apilak (it contains waste products of bees), Lactogon (it contains an extract of spicy plants);
- Vitamin-mineral complex preparations, multivitamins for pregnant and lactating women. For example - “Vitrum Prenatal”, “Centrum”, “Complivit Mama”, “Gendevit”, etc.;
- Milk formulas (dry) and their soy substitutes (the latter for mothers and children with intolerance to cow's milk protein) to stimulate lactation. They are enriched with fatty acids, vitamins, proteins and other beneficial substances. For example, “Olympic”, “Femilak”, “Dumil Mama Plus”, “Milky Way”, etc.
When choosing any of the described drugs or remedies, do not forget to familiarize yourself with the contraindications and their possible side effects. Perhaps some of the components are not suitable for you or your child.
How long it takes for milk to appear after childbirth depends not only on nature and heredity, but also on the new mother herself. If you want to breastfeed your baby, try to do everything in your power to establish breastfeeding.
In order for a nursing woman to have enough milk, she first needs a balanced and nutritious diet.
A nursing mother should monitor her diet for the following reasons:
- It is important for a newborn to ensure the supply of all nutrients important for the growth of the baby.
- Digestive system The baby after birth still continues to develop, and the enzyme systems are defective. And therefore, some products on the mother’s menu can cause colic, allergies, diarrhea and other problems in the baby.
Features of nutrition of a nursing mother
The calorie content of a nursing woman's diet should be 400-500 kcal more than that of women who are not breastfeeding. Double servings and an abundance of fat on the menu are not at all necessary for better lactation. However, it is also not recommended for a nursing mother to go on a diet. It is important that mommy’s food contains enough protein, calcium and vitamins.
The diet of a woman who is breastfeeding should include mainly natural products- cereals, meat, soups, boiled vegetables. It is better to eat little fresh bread, and use more green vegetables for soups.
A nursing mother should eat a balanced diet - this way she will provide her body with the necessary nutrients, because the formation of breast milk requires a lot of resources
What should a nursing mother eat every day?
The daily diet of a nursing mother should include:
- 150-250 g of lean meat and fish;
- 700 ml - 1 liter of fermented milk products and milk;
- 100-150 g of cottage cheese;
- 30-40 g cheese;
- 300-300 g of fruits and berries;
- 500-800 g of vegetables;
- 20-50 g butter;
- 20-30 ml vegetable oil;
- 100 g sour cream;
- 200 g porridge;
- 400 g baked goods.
A woman should eat hot food at least three times a day. Along with small snacks, a nursing mother should eat 5-6 times a day.
Vegetable dishes for a nursing mother can be prepared from lettuce, cabbage, eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, turnips, pumpkin, and green peas. Vegetables should be boiled, baked or stewed. Bananas and apples are useful fruits.
The best types of meat for a nursing woman are lean chicken, pork, beef, turkey, and rabbit. They are advised to stew or boil. It is also recommended to choose low-fat fish, such as pike perch or cod.
The introduction of dairy products, fruits and raw vegetables should be gradual. Dairy products It is better to choose without fillers and chemical additives.
Read about other ways to increase lactation in another article.
A nursing mother should eat often enough: along with snacks - 5-6 times a day
What should a nursing mother not eat?
In the first months of life, the mother should minimize as much as possible in the menu those foods that can cause colic or allergic reactions. You should also not use a large number of products that can change the taste of milk.
In the menu of breastfeeding mothers, it is advisable to limit or exclude the following products:
- Citrus;
- Nuts;
- Peas;
- Beans;
- Corn;
- White cabbage (fresh and pickled);
- Chocolate;
- Fried foods;
- Pickles;
- Oil;
- Fatty sauces;
- Confectionery;
- Alcohol;
- Black bread;
- Coffee;
- Hot spices;
- Garlic.
A nursing mother should follow a diet that excludes foods that cause colic or allergies.
What should a nursing mother drink?
A nursing woman should consume 2-2.5 liters of fluid - in the form of drinks and liquid meals. However, there is no need to forcefully drink large amounts of liquid. Drinking too much does not help increase milk production. In addition, during the formation of lactation, when a lot of milk arrives (usually the third to fifth day after birth), the amount of liquid, on the contrary, should be reduced to one liter.
Breast milk is the healthiest food for a baby. The health benefits of breastfeeding cannot be underestimated. In addition, this method of feeding is also very convenient. A young mother produces milk that does not need to be boiled. You also don't have to worry about its freshness.
Often women complain that they have very little milk and the baby is not getting enough. In fact, there are a large number of ways to stimulate lactation. The simplest and most effective is to frequently put the baby to the breast. Stimulation of the nipples leads to the production of certain hormones responsible for the flow of milk.
It is for this reason that modern doctors recommend feeding babies not by the hour, as was the case before, but on demand. The more often the baby asks for the breast, the better.
Increase lactation through skin-to-skin contact. Young mothers need to hold their babies in their arms more often, hug them, and stroke them. Some pediatricians recommend trying co-sleeping.
Don't worry about running out of milk if your baby nurses frequently. It arrives in such quantity as is currently needed. If for some reason a woman cannot feed her baby and her breasts are swollen, she needs to express milk. This will help remove discomfort and will provoke a new tide.
Milk comes in intensely at night, so doctors do not advise giving up night feedings. This can lead to problems with lactation.
Nutrition and breastfeeding
Milk is produced from blood components, but nutrition can influence its composition. Certain foods and drinks are known to stimulate milk production. In order for it to arrive at an accelerated pace, you need to drink more fluid. At the same time, it must be heated. It is better to consume it 10 minutes before feeding. You can buy a ready-made mixture at the pharmacy to enhance lactation, or purchase dried herbs and brew them.
The arrival of milk is facilitated by the use of decoctions of cumin, anise, and nettle. To prepare milk tea, you can pour a liter of boiling water over dried nettle leaves, leave for several hours, strain and consume 2-3 tablespoons before each feeding.
Drinking tea with milk promotes lactation. Cow's milk can simply be added to ready-made tea, but it is even better to brew a drink based on it. To do this, pour a spoonful of dry tea leaves into milk and boil.
