Breastfeeding Guidance

Understanding Breastfeeding and Baby Care

The most common reason behind starting formula feed, top feed, or artificial feed is the wrong belief of many mothers and grandmothers that breastfeeding is not enough for the baby. In reality, a mother’s milk is sufficient for the baby if the following conditions are observed.

• The baby is satisfied, happy, playful and sleeps for at least 2 hours before crying for another feed.
• The baby passes urine at least 6 times or more in 24 hours.
• The weight gain of the baby is satisfactory.
• While breastfeeding, the mother’s milk may drip from the contralateral breast.
• Most healthy breastfed babies pass 4–6 times golden yellow sticky stools. Some babies may pass stool immediately after breastfeeding due to strong gastrocolic reflex. This is normal and not a concern as the baby continues to gain weight.
• Excessive crying should not be taken as proof of poor feeding because babies cry for many reasons such as wet diapers, colic, gastroesophageal reflux, feeling too cold or hot, over clothing, insect bites, mosquito bites, or boredom.
• Due to the false belief about inadequacy of breastmilk, families sometimes introduce bottle feeding between breastfeeding. Bottle feeding may cause Nipple Confusion. Sucking from a bottle is easier than breastfeeding, so babies may start preferring the bottle. Because of less breastfeeding, milk production decreases and creates a vicious cycle where the baby becomes hungry and irritable, making families rely more on bottle feeding.