The best milk

China has launched a campaign to persuade more women to breastfeed, worried that babies8217; growth suffers in developed countries because they are not fed properly in their first months of life.

China has launched a campaign to persuade more women to breastfeed, worried that babies8217; growth suffers in developed countries because they are not fed properly in their first months of life. India for long has been promoting exclusive breastfeeding for six months saying it8217;s the best form of protection for your newborn.

Why is exclusive breastfeeding necessary?
Breast milk is a necessary and ideal food for a baby, and the nutrients it contains are the most suitable for the baby8217;s digestion and nourishment. 8220;Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers,8221; said Dr Anupam Sibal, paediatrician and medical director, Indraprastha Apollo. 8220;Breast milk has the right amount of fat, protein density and immune factors and nothing can come closer,8221; he added. According to the WHO and Unicef, recent evidence has shown that exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants. Thereafter, infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond.

What are the advantages?
8220;Studies around the world have shown that breastfeeding has many advantages for children including reducing infections, respiratory illnesses like asthma, allergies and diarrhea,8221; said Dr Sibal. Other studies have shown that babies who are breastfed for the first six months of life grow better without getting too fat.

How can I tell if my baby is getting enough milk?
The best way, says Dr Sibal, is weight gain. 8220;There has to be an increase of weight: about 30 gms per day,8221; he said. There are some other ways to gauge if your baby is getting enough milk. These include:
8226;Your baby feeding at least six to eight times a day for the first two to three weeks.
8226;Your breasts feeling softer after feeds.
8226;Your baby having a healthy colour and firm skin 8212; it bounces right back if pinched.
8226;The number of wet nappies starting to increase by the fifth day, or producing at least six to eight wet nappies in a 24-hour period. Your baby8217;s urine should be pale and odourless.
8226;Producing mustard-yellow stools or frequent dark stools, or the stools beginning to lighten in colour by the fifth day after birth.

What are the warning signs that my baby isn8217;t getting enough milk?
8226;Your baby does not begin to regain his birth weight and put on weight after the first few days.
8226;Your breasts don8217;t feel softer after feeds.
8226;Your baby is unsettled or lethargic most of the time.
8226;Your baby has dimples in his cheeks or makes clicking noises while breastfeeding. This is a sign that your baby is not latched on properly and you will need to get expert help to make sure that your technique is right
8226;Your baby wets fewer than six to eight nappies in a 24-hour period after the five days following birth.
8226;Your baby doesn8217;t have bowel movement at least once a day or is having small, dark stools five days or more after birth.
8226;He or she becomes more yellow, instead of less, after the first week.
8226;He or she does not develop a rounded face by about three weeks.
8226;Your baby8217;s skin is wrinkled after the first week.