Bangkok Post : Breast is best

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It is globally accepted that breast milk is the best food for every newborn infant.

It provides all the essential nutrients and other important ingredients that are considered best for newborn growth and development.

To date, these specific characteristics of breast milk cannot be imitated by any available commercial products.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to six months after the baby is born, following the appropriate combination of other food up to two years of age or beyond.

I have seen many mothers who succeeded in exclusively breastfeeding their infants for six months. But they account for only a small proportion of all mothers and many more do not achieve this goal.

Key success factors

The most important thing is that the mother should be determined to breastfeed the infant and should not be easily distracted by other information.

And every family member should provide support to help the mother achieve her goal.

Patience might be the next most important factor. Breastfeeding is a process that must be learned by both mothers and infants and the correct and effective ways differ for each mother and infant, including timing, duration, position, etc.

Of course, it takes time to customise this and many mothers give up before they find the right answer.

Technical tips

It's recommended that breastfeeding begins as soon as possible after birth, preferably within an hour. The yellowish, sticky milk during the first few days after birth, called colostrum, is recommended by WHO as the "perfect" food for a newborn. Mothers will not want their babies to miss that for any reason.

Mothers should try different positions when breastfeeding and figure out which is the best.

Both sitting and lying positions can work. For a sitting position, the mother can bring the baby up to breast level instead of leaning over. This way the baby will be more comfortable. Use pillows for support if needed.

Feed your baby whenever he or she shows signs of hunger and until they are satisfied. Have the baby suckle on as much of the areola as possible. And to reduce soreness of the breasts that can sometimes occur, the mother can alternate the breast used to feed the infant. Do not forget to make your baby burp after each feeding.

Maternal nutrition is also crucial during this period. So it's important that the mother eats healthy food in adequate amounts. Dietary restriction may affect the amount and quality of breast milk and is not recommended.

Does size matter?

One of the concerns among many Thai mothers is breast size. Will mothers with smaller breasts be able to breastfeed their babies adequately?

The answer is size does not matter. Many researches have shown that breast milk can be produced adequately for babies of mothers with different breast sizes. So, worry no more about your breast size and start feeding your baby with the best food.

Optimal nutrition is crucial for appropriate growth and development of the infant, both physically and mentally. So provide your newborn baby with the best food which is for free!