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TITLE AND SUBJECT OF ARTICLE
Weaning A Breastfed
Baby
When to
wean is a question facing all breastfeeding mums. How
does a new mum know when to introduce solid food into
her baby's diet and what sort of food can a baby eat?
breastfeeding, weaning, baby diet, solid food
When to wean is a question facing all breastfeeding
mums. How does a new mum know when to introduce solid
food into her baby's diet and what sort of food can a
baby eat?
At present the World Health
Organisation recommends that all babies be breastfed
exclusively for six months. A long time, you may think,
especially in the middle of a colic episode or growth
spurt! However, there are real concerns for the welfare
of babies that have led to this advice.
In the
past many babies were fed solid foods at very young
ages. It is now believed that their bodies were unable
to cope with the demands this placed on them; a dramatic
increase in the incidence of allergies and food
intolerances meant guidelines were reviewed and altered.
The main danger that comes with introducing solid
food too early is that babies may receive too much salt
in their diets, leading to potential kidney problems in
later life.
So, if you follow the advice of the
World Health Organisation, you will see that it makes
sense to put off giving food other than breastmilk for
the first six months.
So how do you encourage a
six month old baby to eat solids? The main thing to
remember is that you should introduce solids gradually.
When your baby is ready for solid food he will begin
to demand feeds more often, and may never seem satisfied
for very long. He will start to take an interest in your
meals and may even try to help himself! He will begin
lip-smacking and chewing as he mimics you. A real sign
that solids are imminent is the development of teeth.
Speak to a health-visitor if you think your baby is
very hungry. If your baby is under six months you may
find that he is just going through a prolonged growth
spurt. If this is the case, his hunger will normally
settle down after a few days when your milk supply has
increased.
When your baby reaches the six month
target, and you are sure that he is ready for solid
food, try a teaspoonful of watery baby rice or baby
porridge. Try to keep foods very bland and runny at the
beginning.
Once he is used to solid foods, and is
no younger than six months, you can quickly move onto
adult cereals like Weetabix and Readybrek.
It is
wise to only introduce one food at a time so that you
can identify any intolerances or allergies. Sometimes
these can take several days to take effect, so stick to
one food for a few days before moving onto another.
Some babies are happy to have one solid feed a day
at the beginning of weaning, whereas others require more
frequent feeds. It is a good idea to offer the breast
before and after each feed to maintain a good milk
supply.
Cows milk and dairy products, eggs, fish
particularly shellfish), nuts (especially peanuts), some
fruits and foods containing gluten can all cause
allergic reactions. So be careful with your choices...
From six months babies can digest protein so red
meat, fish ,eggs, cheese, chicken and pulses can all be
introduced.
Do not give peanuts to babies under one
year old: if there is a history of allergies in your
family avoid giving them for at least three years.
As well a being an allergy hazard they can also be a
choking hazard.
Honey should also be avoided for
the first year as babies can contract botulism from it.
Eggs must be thoroughly cooked but can be introduced
from six months.
Buy gluten-free baby food at the
beginning of weaning, if possible, as gluten can cause
coeliac disease. Usually a six month old baby can digest
gluten without any problems but younger babies are more
at risk.
Some babies react to citrus fruits such
as oranges but alternative fruit juices can be given
instead, such as apple juice.
Never add salt to food
which your baby will eat. If he is ready to eat the same
meals as the rest of the family do not add gravy until
you have removed the baby's portion, as gravy can
contain a lot of salt.
It is best to introduce
savoury foods prior to sweet foods as babies very
quickly develop a sweet tooth! They tend to enjoy pureed
carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, turnip and parsnip
and any combination of these foods. Babies also love
stewed apples and pears or mashed bananas and
strawberries!
However, many babies dislike
potatoes at the beginning of weaning. When the baby is a
little more experienced with tastes and textures you can
start adding some potato to his meals.
Let the
baby decide when he has had enough of any particular
meal. Never force-feed the baby. He only needs a little
bit of solid food each day. For some babies a few
spoonfuls will be enough; for others a main course and
dessert are required!
If he refuses to eat one type
of food avoid it for a while and try something else.
Return to the disliked food after a few days and try
again. Some babies can be very fussy, whereas others eat
whatever is placed in front of them!
Take it
slowly and it will not be such a big change for either
you or your baby. Weaning should be a fun experience for
you both. After a very short time your baby will look
forward to his solid feeds and will even start to let
you know that he wants more!
Tips On Balancing
Work And Breastfeeding
New MOMS can continue to breastfeed after
returning to work with a little help.
Tips On
Balancing Work And Breastfeeding
While many new
moms have the best intentions to continue breastfeeding
after returning to work, a new survey found that nearly
one-third (29 percent) of new mothers who breastfeed
stop prematurely due to work-related issues. These
issues include having no designated place to pump (57
percent) and no place to store pumped milk (27 percent).
"While the health benefits of breastfeeding for baby
and mother are undisputed, returning to work can leave
breastfeeding moms feeling overwhelmed and frustrated,"
says Sue Huml, international board-certified lactation
consul-tant and member of the Lansinoh Breastfeeding
Advisory Board.
"While many mothers may fear
returning to work will disrupt the breastfeeding routine
they've worked so hard to establish, it is possible and
common for women to breastfeed and return to work
outside the home. It does take planning, commitment and
flexibility, however," advises noted pediatrician Dr.
James Sears.
Dr. Sears and Sue Huml offer some
tips to help moms successfully ease the transition back
to the office and continue to breastfeed while working:
• Invest in a Quality Electric Breast Pump:
Many women find that using an electric breast pump helps
to keep up their milk supply better than manual pumping
and allows for pumping enough milk to have on hand while
they are at work. "Look for a pump where you can control
the speed and suction, which can enhance the milk flow
by mimicking your baby's natural sucking pattern," adds
Huml. "The Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump is
quiet, which is good for being discreet, and uses a
patented system that keeps condensation/breast milk from
getting into the tubing and damaging the motor. It also
comes with an instructional DVD."
• Stock
Up: If possible, mothers should start pumping and
freezing their milk about a month before returning to
work. Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags are specially
designed for freezing expressed breast milk safely.
• Talk with Your Employer: It is important to
talk to your supervisor about your pumping schedule and
work out a designated area that is safe, clean and
private, where you will be able to pump without being
disturbed. You can also point out the many benefits of
breastfeeding for the employer, such as reduced
absenteeism.
Most moms create a pumping schedule
that mimics their baby's feeding schedule. As a general
rule, it is best to pump every two to three hours that
you will be away from your baby.
"Whenever you
are not working and can be with your baby you should
breastfeed exclusively in order to maintain and build up
your milk supply," adds Dr. Sears.
Successful
Breastfeeding - Prepare Yourself!
“I’m going to breastfeed”, is a common
refrain amongst pregnant women. But what many women
don’t do is to prepare for breastfeeding beforehand.
They simply make the statement and then put it to the
back of their minds. The next time the issue arises is
often in the delivery suite when the new mum has just
gone through the ordeal of childbirth...
Breastfeeding, preparing to breastfeed
“I’m going
to breastfeed”, is a common refrain amongst pregnant
women. But what many women don’t do is to prepare for
breastfeeding beforehand. They simply make the statement
and then put it to the back of their minds. The next
time the issue arises is often in the delivery suite
when the new mum has just gone through the ordeal of
childbirth.
When presented with her newborn, the
new mum may be exhausted and the last thing she wants is
to have anyone else poking at her. The result? All her
good intentions to breastfeed become overshadowed when a
bottle is produced and the exhausted mum is told that
she can try to give a breastfeed later on in the day!
To stand the best chance of successfully
breastfeeding, pregnant women need to prepare during
their pregnancy. Successful breastfeeding results from
careful planning. And the most important way to
successfully breastfeed is to give the newborn baby a
breastfeed within half an hour of her birth! Not later
on!
Being committed to breastfeeding, but not
placing too much pressure on oneself, can work wonders!
If a new mum pressurises herself she is likely to end up
feeling stressed and, as a result, will be more like to
give up breastfeeding early. Having a new baby is
stressful enough! By preparing to breastfeed whilst you
are still pregnant, you will feel more relaxed about it
when the baby is born.
The following will
certainly aid you in your breastfeeding experience:
Join a Breastfeeding Support Group to chat to new
and experienced breastfeeding mums. Ask questions about
breastfeeding and enquire if you can watch some babies
being offered the breast.
Observe how each baby
is put on the breast.
Look at how different mums
hold their babies. Getting the right position is
essential to avoid early problems.
Also ask for
advice about breastfeeding friendly shops and changing
facilities!
Read books, magazines or online
articles, to find out as much as you can about
breastfeeding successfully.
Get measured for a
nursing bra when you are around 38 weeks pregnant.
Many baby stores now offer this service. Try a few
different styles to find one that is comfortable. Also
purchase a couple of night-time nursing bras.
Nursing pads are essential for absorbing leaks and
avoiding embarrassing stains!
Nursing shells can
be very useful on nights out, as they will catch leaks.
Or you can use them during breastfeeding to collect milk
from the breast not being used, storing the milk for
later use.
Nipple Creams can help soothe sore
nipples.
Front-opening or Nursing Nightdresses or
Pyjamas can make it easier to breastfeed at night.
Loose- fitting tops can be comfortable during the
day. Try layering so that your back is not exposed when
you are feeding. Or use a poncho or wrap if you feel
anxious about breastfeeding in front of other people.
A Breast-pump is a fantastic investment as it can be
used to collect milk for bottle feeds, making up first
solids or when you are away from the baby to prevent
engorgement or ease mastitis. Ask other mums to
recommend one they liked.
A V-shaped Cushion can
make breastfeeding more comfortable as it offers good
support for mums back. Or a Nursing Pillow can be used
to raise the baby up to a more comfortable height for
mum.
A Steriliser is a compact way to keep baby
utensils and breast-pump attachments clean and sterile.
Some mums find a Gliding chair very useful, particularly
for night feeds.
If you are well prepared for
breastfeeding there is no reason why you should not
succeed.
Breast-milk is nature’s diet for
babies; perfectly balanced for a great start to life.