As human milk is "species specific", breastfeeding is the natural and most beneficial way of feeding your baby, and most mothers are able to produce enough breastmilk to satisfy a baby's needs. Feeding your baby breastmilk has many advantages:

• The milk has all the nutrients needed by your baby for the first 4-6 months
• The milk is always at the right temperature for your baby to digest
• The milk contains a range of protective factors that promote your baby's good health
• Breastfeeding helps a mother's womb to resume its normal shape faster
• Breastfeeding is very economical and convenient
• Breastfeeding increases the bond between a baby and its mother

Your breastmilk may come in quickly or gradually after the birth. As the supply is affected by the amount of stimulation given to the nipple by the baby's suckling, the mother of a sleepy baby may find that her milk will come in a few days after the milk of a mother of a more wakeful baby who nurses often. During the first few days following the birth, the breastmilk is quite yellow and creamy looking and is called colostrum. As it contains vital fat-soluble vitamins, minerals and proteins (as well as antibodies to all the diseases with which you have come in contact during your life), it helps to protect your baby from infection. The initial milk is gradually replaced during the next two weeks by mature breastmilk, which is a watery grey-blue colour.

All pages in this section come from the Appendix of my book The Homoeopathic Physician's Guide to Lactation. Permission is given for this information to be downloaded to assist mothers who are having problems with breastfeeding just so long as acknowledgement of authorship is maintained.

As human milk is "species specific", breastfeeding is the natural and most beneficial way of feeding your baby, and most mothers are able to produce enough breastmilk to satisfy a baby's needs. Feeding your baby breastmilk has many advantages:

• The milk has all the nutrients needed by your baby for the first 4-6 months
• The milk is always at the right temperature for your baby to digest
• The milk contains a range of protective factors that promote your baby's good health
• Breastfeeding helps a mother's womb to resume its normal shape faster
• Breastfeeding is very economical and convenient
• Breastfeeding increases the bond between a baby and its mother

Your breastmilk may come in quickly or gradually after the birth. As the supply is affected by the amount of stimulation given to the nipple by the baby's suckling, the mother of a sleepy baby may find that her milk will come in a few days after the milk of a mother of a more wakeful baby who nurses often. During the first few days following the birth, the breastmilk is quite yellow and creamy looking and is called colostrum. As it contains vital fat-soluble vitamins, minerals and proteins (as well as antibodies to all the diseases with which you have come in contact during your life), it helps to protect your baby from infection. The initial milk is gradually replaced during the next two weeks by mature breastmilk, which is a watery grey-blue colour.

All pages in this section come from the Appendix of my book The Homoeopathic Physician's Guide to Lactation. Permission is given for this information to be downloaded to assist mothers who are having problems with breastfeeding just so long as acknowledgement of authorship is maintained.

When feeding your baby in a sitting position, seat yourself comfortably. Try to make sure that there is no tension around your shoulders; sometimes a pillow placed behind helps you to relax. Some mothers find also that by lying the baby on a pillow placed across the lap also helps to minimise back strain. It also helps if you can use some sort of firm footrest.

Hold your baby either in the crook of your arm or with your hand supporting baby behind the shoulders with the head resting on the edge of your open palm. Roll your baby towards you so that the chest is facing yours. Support your breast with one hand and touch your baby's upper lip with your nipple. Because all newborn babies have a strong "rooting reflex", your little one should open its mouth wide, at which time you should bring your baby quickly to the breast, making sure that the chin is up against the bottom of the breast.

It is important for the baby to get a good mouthful of breast tissue (ie areola and nipple) when suckling. Your baby's lips should be flanged out, and, if your baby is attached well, your nipple should lie at the junction of the soft and hard palate. As the milk is suckled by means of soft, pulsatile tongue movements, it should not hurt and your baby will have deep jaw movements. It helps to look for an imaginary straight line coming from the crown of your baby's head towards the centre of your breast. If there is any tension around the nipple because of poor positioning it will hurt. Often just by reattaching after encouraging a wide gape, or moving your baby's body slightly, will fix the problem.

If you need to break the suction, depress the breast gently away from the corner of your baby's mouth. Never pull the nipple out abruptly as this could hurt the nipple. In most cases your baby will leave the breast automatically when he/she has had enough milk. Immediately after withdrawal, the nipple should look flat and evenly compressed. If the nipple has a wedged shape, it usually means that your baby has taken in too much nipple tissue either at the top or bottom of the nipple, and you should adjust your attachment technique accordingly.

Cracked or bleeding nipples may occur as a result of poor attachment. Occasionally a nipple shield may be used as an interim measure. However, these should be used with caution and under supervision as they can cause a reduction in milk supply and baby's progress needs to be monitored. Seeking help for positioning and attachment is essential.

All pages in this section come from the Appendix of my book The Homoeopathic Physician's Guide to Lactation. Permission is given for this information to be downloaded to assist mothers who are having problems with breastfeeding just so long as acknowledgement of authorship is maintained.

Breastfeeding is the natural way of feeding a baby, and it is a most rewarding experience for both mother and baby. The early days are a learning period; and, with the correct support and information at this time, most women breastfeed successfully.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding:

• Breastmilk is "species-specific" which means that it is the very best milk for human babies.
• Breastmilk contains all the nutrients your baby needs for at least the first six months of life and continues to be an important part of his/her diet throughout the first few years (as long as both are happy to continue with breastfeeding), until weaning occurs at a mutually convenient time.
• The colostrum your baby receives, and the breastmilk that follows, contains a range of protective factors that help to increase your baby's resistance to infection.
• Research shows that breastfed babies have the potential for a higher intelligence because breast milk contains the fatty acids important in brain development. Lactose is also important for brain development. Human milk has the highest levels of lactose of all the mammalian milks because humans have the biggest brains. The baby's brain keeps developing well into the second year.
• Because babies feed from both breasts, they receive visual and tactile stimulation during feeds on alternate sides. This helps brain development in the area of left or right hemispherical dominance.
• Ensuring that your baby has only breastmilk for at least six months may help lessen allergy problems. It is especially helpful if the mother avoids any known familial allergens in the diet until this time and then gradually reintroduces them as the baby gets closer to one year old. In this way, the baby is sensitised in a gradual manner through the breastmilk and may then be free from the symptoms of allergy.
• Infants' eyesight, speech and jaw development are all known to be enhanced by breastfeeding.
• Breastfed babies have a higher resistance to disease and are less likely to become sick.
• Breastfeeding is one of the recommendations for lowering the risk of SIDS.
• Breastfeeding may lower the risk of your baby developing juvenile diabetes in the future. It may also reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Breastfeeding helps a mother's body return to its pre-pregnant state more quickly. Many women also find they lose excess weight while breastfeeding.
• Ongoing research is showing that breastfeeding may lessen the incidence of cancer of the breast and ovaries, heart disease and osteoporosis in the mother.
• Breastfeeding delays the return of menstruation in most women. Breastfeeding's contraceptive effect can delay the return of fertility in most women.
• Breastfeeding is usually easy and convenient (you always have a free hand). Breastfed babies are very portable and you have an instant, safe, pre-warmed, ready-to-serve food wherever you go.
• As a totally sustainable resource, breastfeeding is also good for the environment.

Breastfeeding problems and possible solutions are discussed further in the Apendix - see the download link below.

All pages in this section come from the Appendix of my book The Homoeopathic Physician's Guide to Lactation. Permission is given for this information to be downloaded to assist mothers who are having problems with breastfeeding just so long as acknowledgement of authorship is maintained.