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We recently spoke to Dr. Gellina Maala, who discussed with us the importance of breastmilk and what are the Dos and Don'ts with breastfeeding.
A few pointers though:
- Try to give your newborn their first breastfeed within 90 minutes of birth
- Make sure you are drinking a lot of water, and are practicing healthy eating
- Get ready for the frequency of feeding: newborns usually feed 2-3 hours, and during their first week of life, drinks an average of 5-7mls only, so don’t worry about how little you are producing in the first weeks;
- Know that the more the baby sucks, the more they stimulate the production of your breastmilk;
- Another pro-tip: Make sure you have a breastfeeding nook for you and your baby
What are the advantages of feeding your child breastmilk? It’s simple, it is complete with the nutrients your baby needs. Colostrum is the first and best milk and considered by doctors as your baby’s first vaccine because of all the antibodies of mommy in it which helps stave off infections. This milk, or Liquid Gold (because it’s yellow in color) only lasts a few days. Vitamins should be discussed with your pediatrician, and only after two weeks from the birth. There is no need to give your baby water until about 6 months. Breastmilk is more easily digested, protects baby from allergies, boosts immune system, and helps with cognitive development.
A tip to clean baby’s mouth, take a little bit of sterile gauze, and dip in breastmilk then use this to clean baby’s mouth. Like toothbrushing but much more gentle, just try to massage your finger around the baby’s mouth until all the dried milk is off.
Check out more on our app by using our Pregnancy Tracker or Baby Tracker.
