Feeding Facts

Choosing the method of feeding your baby is a decision that you make on your own. Do not listen to other people who are trying to talk you into breast or bottle-feeding using guilt as a motivator. Your baby needs food and whichever method you choose to give her, she will get the nutrition that she needs. The cuddling and bonding that you do during the feeding is the most important thing.

Breast milk is a complete and perfect food for your baby, but if you choose to feed your baby formula you are not harming her and you are are not a bad mom. Most pediatricians prefer breastfeeding, but there are women who are unable to breastfeed or are unable to feed their baby as often as they are told is necessary.

Parents feed their babies on a flexible routine of every two to three hours using the method of parent-directed feeding (PDF). Crying is seen as a late hunger cue, so don’t use it as your primary cue that your child is hungry. Some newborns can go as much as six hours between feedings, which is inadequate for their nutrition. This is why waiting for your baby to cry may lead to an undernourished baby who will not thrive. Another thing to remember is that undernourished babies may lack the energy to cry and the cycle then goes on and on.

How can you breastfeed using the PDF method? You establish the routine. Most of the time, newborns can go 2 ½ to 3 hours between feedings. This time starts from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next feeding. Allow the baby to latch on properly and allow the baby to nurse. Your child will get foremilk, watery thin milk with vitamins and minerals, first.

While your baby drinks the foremilk, you will experience letdown where your glands will release the rest of the milk that is stored. At times, this is tingly or painful, but many moms have no sensation. The rest of the milk is known as hindmilk that is rich and full of fat and nutrients. To best way to determine whether you have achieved letdown, is that your baby will be consistently and rhythmically swallowing. After your milk comes in, most moms can breastfeed for fifteen minutes on each breast, which will allow your baby to receive the hindmilk that she needs to grow!

By Breastfeed Benefits Review

Eladio

Breastfeeding and Breast Feed › Create New Post — WordPress

If you are a diabetic and have a baby, there are certain things to keep in mind while you are breastfeeding. Firstly, studies have proven that breastfeeding a baby can help to prevent type 1 diabetes development. Babies who breastfeed until at least six months will be at a lower risk for type 1 diabetes. Doctors generally recommend that mothers breastfeed their children until nine to twelve months.

Doctors are unsure if the positive effects of nursing come from special nutrients in the colostrum (the special milk from mothers) or if it because babies who are breastfed often grow at a more regular pace than those who are fed from cow’s milk. Babies weaned on cow’s milk often experience growth spurts rather than the steady growth associated with mother’s milk. If you are a diabetic, consider breastfeeding to help lower your child’s chances of diabetes due to genetic predisposition.

Breastfeeding is not only positive for the babies, but also for the mothers. Breastfeeding can help maternal weight loss, and it is particularly important for diabetic women to maintain a healthy weight. Some breastfeeding mothers find it easier for them to manage their diabetes because their glucose levels stay more constant and they have a remission of some symptoms while breastfeeding.

Just like during pregnancy, breastfeeding requires much blood sugar level monitoring from the mother. You will probably find that your need for insulin is lower than before your pregnancy. Insulin will not enter your baby’s body because it is too large to be carried on the breast milk. However, if you have type 2 diabetes and are taking diabetes medication, talk with your doctor to make sure that you are on a type of medication that will be healthiest for both you and for your baby.

Breastfeeding means that you have to be extra careful of your nutrition, so be sure to see your doctor or dietitian to create a meal plan that will work for you. It is important to eat regular snacks when you are breastfeeding because you want to keep your blood glucose levels constant. You will need to increase your caloric intake by about 500 calories a day to meet your baby’s nutritional needs. You can do this simply by drinking a glass of milk each time you breastfeed, which will keep you both hydrated and full of vitamins.

In order to maintain a balanced diet, experts suggest that mothers eat 20% of calories from protein, 40-60% from carbohydrates, and 30-40% from fruits and vegetables. Keeping up with all of these food groups will ensure that your body has the nutrients to provide for the baby.

As a breastfeeding mother, low blood sugar is an increased risk. However, by eating a healthy diet full of legumes, whole grains, other healthy foods, you will be able to keep low blood sugar at bay. Drinking lots of fluids is also an important part of having a healthy blood sugar level. Most importantly, monitor your blood glucose levels and record the results frequently. Having a newborn baby around will mean that you are very busy, but it is also the time when it is most important to take care of yourself so that you will be able to care for your baby.

When the baby is born, often it is a good idea to immediately allow the baby to breastfeed, which will prevent low blood sugar. Some hospitals will try to take babies away for observation. You can ask politely, and firmly insist that you baby stays with you for the first feeding and for some initial bonding time. If you are hospitalized after the baby is born, ask to bring your baby with you so that you will still be able to breastfeed. Diabetic mothers are not often hospitalized, but since breastfeeding is even more important for diabetic mothers, it is important to keep this in mind.

Some diabetic mothers may find that their milk comes in late, between two days to two weeks. In the meantime, use a breastpump and speak to your doctor to establish the best solution for you and your baby. Even babies who are too weak to breastfeed can be fed breastmilk that has been pumped.

Breastfeeding is a bonding experience for mothers and babies. Diabetics can breastfeed and gain even more benefits than the emotional closeness, such as lowered diabetes risk for the baby, and improved diabetes control for the mother.

About The Author

Vivian Brennan is an expert on diabetes, and is currently an editor at http://www.theguideto-diabetes.com/living_with_diabetes/ She is also a mother of two. She believes in educating people about diabetes to help people improve their lives.