How should Newborn babies be fed?

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for a baby during the first six months after birth, meeting not only all of their physiological needs but also their psychosocial needs. Helping to establish a bond between mother and baby, breast milk can be sufficient on its own for infant nutrition during the first six months.

Once a baby has completed their 6th month, you can start giving them supplementary foods in addition to breast milk. However, it is important to emphasize that babies should be breastfed until the end of their second year. This is because breast milk is the most important source of nutrition with countless benefits and plays a major role in a baby’s physical and psychological development.

How often should a baby be breastfed after birth?

After the baby is born, it is recommended that the mother breastfeed her baby within the first half hour or at the latest within an hour. This is because it can be difficult to wake and feed the baby once it has fallen asleep. You should take your child into your arms and breastfeed them as soon as possible after birth.

Your baby will need to be fed every 2-3 hours throughout the day. In the first few weeks, your baby’s stomach capacity is only 100 ml, so you should breastfeed your baby every 2-3 hours. If your baby is sleeping and their sleep time has exceeded 3-4 hours, you need to wake them up and breastfeed them.

If you follow this kind of routine for the first 3-4 weeks, you can ensure your baby wakes up on their own when they sense hunger in the coming days. This will make breastfeeding a more scheduled process, and both mother and baby will get used to breastfeeding more easily.

At one month old, your baby’s stomach capacity is between 125 and 150 ml. As their stomach capacity increases to over 200 ml, you can begin to reduce daily breastfeeding.

Is starting formula feeding the right thing to do out of a mother’s fear that “I won’t have enough milk”?

As long as you position your baby correctly, you shouldn’t experience a problem with your breast milk supply. However, some new mothers tend to feed their children formula in the early stages due to fear of them going hungry. Mothers experiencing this type of postpartum anxiety are advised to seek breastfeeding counseling or training.

It is unnecessary to give your baby supplementary foods until they are 6 months old. Breast milk will more than meet all of your baby’s nutritional needs. Therefore, starting formula at this stage is the wrong approach. You can start feeding your child with supplementary foods after they turn 6 months old.

Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mother and Baby

Breastfeeding offers many benefits to both mother and baby.

These are:

• The baby’s risk of developing acute or chronic illnesses is reduced.
• The baby’s immune system is strengthened.
• The baby’s rhythmic mouth movements will help prevent future speech difficulties.
• Babies’ eyesight develops better.
• Breast milk makes a significant contribution to a baby’s physical, mental, and intellectual development.
• It has a supportive effect on the development of the baby’s jaw and teeth.
• Babies who are regularly breastfed tend to be calmer and more docile.
• Breastfeeding mothers have a reduced risk of developing cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other types of cancer.
• Breastfeeding protects mothers from the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life.
• Breastfeeding makes it easier for new mothers to lose weight.
• If the mother has diabetes, breastfeeding can reduce her daily insulin needs.

Beyond all these benefits, breastfeeding helps create a strong bond between mother and baby. By breastfeeding your child, you can support both your own health and their health.

How to Increase Breast Milk Production?

Several factors can be considered to increase breast milk production. Drinking 2-3 liters of water a day helps increase breast milk supply. Getting enough rest is also an important factor. A mother who is not getting enough rest, is stressed, or anxious may experience a decrease in milk production.