chatwithketch

5 minutes? 10 minutes? 20 minutes?

How long must your baby breastfeed before the “fatty” hindmilk finally comes out?

Here’s the surprising answer:

There is no magic minute and foremilk does not suddenly switch into hindmilk. Read!

Over and over again, I have had breast feeding mothers tell me that they don’t make enough breast milk to feed their babies. Or they would say, their babies get hungry too often and so it is difficult to keep up with the crazy schedule of ‘feeding on demand’ that breast feeding requires of you.

Breast milk is very important to new born babies and really no child should be deprived on the many benefits of breast feeding exclusively. There are some mothers who, by reason of specific health conditions, cannot breast feed their babies. However, the greater majority of mothers are able to make enough breast milk to keep their babies satisfied.

Here are our top five tips for breast feeding properly:

o Patience: You’ve got to have loads of it. Sometimes, your baby feeds and then stops a bit just to gaze into your eyes. Give him/her the time needed to bond with you.

o There are two types of milk in the breast milk: the fore and the hind milk. You have to be sure that your baby gets both during each feeding session.

o Give the fore milk to quench thirst. The fore milk is mainly water and low in fats. If you observe, it’s bluish in colour. Its high water content is the reason why you don’t need to give your baby extra water. It’s also rich in protein, carbohydrates and vitamins.

o Be sure to give the hind milk. Now, if you finish giving just the fore milk and stop, the baby will be hungry thereafter as she has essentially only taken water. The milk that comes after the fore milk is thicker containing fats and has a whole lot of calories. The baby needs this to be very well nourished and to satisfy the hunger pangs. The longer a mother waits between meals, the more foremilk is produced and it takes your baby that much longer to get to the more filling hind milk.

o Let your baby feed on demand and each session should last until the breast ‘feels’ empty. I say ‘feel’ because the breast never really empties out After this, change to the other breast.

Remember that breast milk is the best and cheapest food for your baby. It also helps fortify your baby against diseases…so, now you have the right tools to get this done right.

Is this your first time of hearing about fore milk and hind milk? Share this with another mother who needs to know this.

“I HAVEN’T BREASTFED MY BABY SINCE BIRTH. IS IT ALREADY TOO LATE?”

Not necessarily. Your breast milk may still come back, even after weeks or months.

This is called RELACTATION: restarting breast-milk production after breastfeeding has stopped or never became established. Read!

Q: Hi ma’am. Please, kindly advice. I had a baby in June this year and have not been able to breastfeed. Firstly, it was because my nipples are too flat which makes it difficult for my baby to suck. Secondly, at the moment there is no breast milk at all in my breast. I am really disturbed and not happy because I want my baby to breastfeed even if it’s for 3 months.

A: Hello dear. Congratulations on your new bundle of joy. He/she will be a blessing to his/her generation!

Now, the reason why it seems that your breast is ‘empty’ is because your baby is not sucking. If your baby sucks, the let-down reflex ensures that your breast fills up with breast milk.

Flat nipples can appear to be a challenge for breast feeding, especially for first time mothers but remember that babies are supposed to latch on to the areola (the black area surrounding the nipples) and not on to the nipples.

Press on the areola with your thumb on top and fingers underneath and push back against your chest wall while pressing in with your thumb and fingers. This helps elongate the areola and so, provided you position the baby properly on the areola, breastfeeding can go on with no issues.

To help with the flat nipples, you could use a breast pump before feeding your baby. The gentle sucking action will help ‘pull out’ the nipples.

If you’re still not sure how to go about this, please go to your hospital. Any of the midwives/lactation consultants will be happy to help you start the process of breastfeeding.

Be sure that you’re eating healthy and taking sufficient water to help the breast milk production along.

Monitor your baby’s wet nappies and weight gain.

Did you know breast milk could sometimes return after weeks or months?

YES or NO?

Share this with a mother who thinks her breastfeeding journey is already over.

#BreastfeedingMonth
#HealthyLivingWithDrKetch

That “dirty yellow milk” may be the most valuable milk your baby will ever receive.

Yet some mothers are still told to press it out and throw it away.

Please don’t.

That thick, yellowish first milk is ‘colostrum’. It is not dirty, stale or harmful. It is packed with nutrients, antibodies and infection-fighting cells that help protect your newborn.

A new mother once asked me:

“Doctor, my baby is only 30 minutes old and crying, but my breast milk has not started coming out. What should I give the baby?”

The reassuring answer is that her breasts may already contain what the baby needs.

Colostrum comes in small amounts – sometimes only a few golden drops. But a newborn’s stomach is also tiny, so most healthy newborns do not need large quantities at each feed during those first days.

Put your baby to the breast as early as possible – ideally within the first hour after birth and continue offering the breast frequently. The more your baby suckles, the stronger the signal to your body to produce milk.

Breastfeeding may take a little longer to become established after a Caesarean Section too. Support with positioning, attachment and frequent breastfeeding can make a difference.

If your baby cannot latch, is unusually sleepy, is not feeding well or you are worried about how much the baby is getting, speak with your doctor or midwife promptly.

Were women in your family told to keep the yellow first milk or throw it away?

Tell me in the comments. I really want to know how common this belief still is.

Share this with a pregnant woman, new mother or grandmother.

#BreastfeedingMonth
#Colostrum
#Breastfeeding
#HealthyLivingWithDrKetch

“Doctor…my due date is almost here and I’m still not making any breast milk. Does this mean I won’t be able to breastfeed?”

If you’ve been worrying about this…

Take a deep breath.

It’s Breastfeeding Month, Day 1!

Many women never see a single drop of milk before delivery and still go on to breastfeed successfully.

Your breasts begin preparing for breastfeeding early in pregnancy, but every woman’s body is different. Some notice a little yellowish colostrum before birth, while others don’t see any milk until after their baby arrives.

The most important step?

Put your baby to the breast as early as possible after birth.

The more your baby suckles, the stronger your milk supply becomes.

Remember, in those first few days, your baby doesn’t need large amounts of milk. Those precious drops of colostrum are packed with nutrients and infection-fighting antibodies.

Did you notice milk before your baby was born or did it only come after delivery?

Share your experience below. Your story might reassure another mum today.

😩 “Even my bra hurts!”

If you’ve ever been pregnant, you probably know exactly what that feels like.

Suddenly…

Your breasts feel swollen and they’re sore to touch.

The good news? This is often a normal part of pregnancy. Read!!!

Q: Please ma’am, a pregnant woman that her breast is swollen up and she is complaining that her breast is paining her…which drug can she take to reduce the pain?

A: Thanks for writing in, dear. Breast pain/tenderness during pregnancy is to be expected and one of the signs of pregnancy.

This is due to the hormones, Estrogen and progesterone, increase in blood flow and fat deposits in the breast…all in preparation for the job of breastfeeding the soon-to-be-born baby.

To help out during this period, she should invest in a good bra that provides the right support and sleep with bra tops or sports bras when sleeping to give her more support if she’s uncomfortable while sleeping.

Her partner should know that her breasts may be extra tender for a while.

The good news is that, this too, shall pass. Usually, by the end of the first trimester, the breast pain is history! 😀

For more signs of pregnancy, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/10/26/baby-in-the-tummy-its-all-up-to-mummy-is-it/

Have a great evening, people 😀

What was YOUR very first sign of pregnancy?

“Doctor…my mum says if I wear high heels while pregnant, I’ll miscarry.”

“Is that really true?”

Many women hear this advice the moment they announce their pregnancy.

The truth is a little more nuanced.

High heels do not directly cause a miscarriage.

However, pregnancy changes your body in ways that make falls more likely. As your baby grows, your centre of gravity shifts, your ligaments become more relaxed, and your balance changes. High heels can make these changes even more challenging, increasing the risk of a fall that could harm you and your baby.

That doesn’t mean every woman who wears heels during pregnancy will have a problem but comfort, stability and safety should come first.

Supportive, well-cushioned shoes are usually a better choice, especially as your pregnancy progresses.

Did you stop wearing heels during pregnancy or did you keep wearing them? Tell us why!

“Doctor… I don’t even know how to explain it.”

“My stomach just feels… dirty.”

Not painful.

Not exactly sick.

Just…

Dirty.

If you’ve ever been pregnant, you probably know exactly what that feeling is.

It may come with:

Nausea

Vomiting

Heartburn

Constant spitting

Suddenly hating smells you once loved

Food aversions

The good news?

For most women, this is caused by the normal hormonal changes of pregnancy and usually improves with time.

However…

If you’re unable to keep food or fluids down…

You’re vomiting blood…

You have severe abdominal pain…

You develop a fever…

please seek medical care promptly. These are not symptoms to ignore.

How would YOU describe that feeling?

Did your stomach feel “dirty,” “bitter,” “upside down,” or something completely different?

Tell me in the comments.

Your words might help another mum realise she’s not alone.

“Doctor… I didn’t know I was pregnant. I used a tight belt to flatten my tummy. Have I hurt my baby?”

It’s a question that causes real anxiety for many women.

The good news is that your baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid, which acts like a natural cushion and helps protect them inside the womb.

So, wearing a tight belt or tight clothing is unlikely to squeeze or directly harm your baby.

However… that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

Tight belts, waist trainers and tight clothing are not recommended during pregnancy because they can:

Make heartburn worse

Compress nerves and cause numbness or tingling (“pins and needles”)

Increase pressure on blood vessels, making swelling and discomfort worse

Simply make pregnancy much more uncomfortable

As your pregnancy progresses, choose clothing that allows your growing bump room to expand comfortably.

Have you ever worried that something you did before discovering you were pregnant might have harmed your baby?

Your question may reassure another mum today.

Share this with someone who is expecting.