Breastfeeding Guide for new mothers

by Roberta Lunghini - 2016.09.30

As the months go by after the birth of their baby, Italian mothers tend to reduce the amount of time they breastfeed theirbaby. In fact, if in the first days after the birth 90% of them do, the percentage drops to 77% after being discharged from hospital, before falling to 31% at 4 months. Only 10% continue to do so beyond 6 months. To promote a positive attitude toward this practice in public opinion, the SIN (Italian Society of Neonatology), convinced that the World Breastfeeding Week (October 1 to 7) is not sufficient, have released a set of guidelines for pregnant women and new mothers:



1. The first thing is for new mothers to really understand the benefits of breastfeeding.



2. Not to underestimate the importance of body contact with the mother and her newborn, which encourages bonding and creates the best conditions for breastfeeding to happen in the first hours of the child's life.



3. The importance of breastfeeding at the child's request, without limiting the number and length of feeds, which will reveal the early signs of baby’s natural hunger rather than waiting until the baby cries to express its "appetite."



4. The use of dummies or pacifiers should be avoided during the entire period of breastfeeding.



5. Infant formula should only be used in those cases where there is absence of breast milk or when a mother has an illness where breast feeding is not recommended. Or in the case of mothers who do not want to breastfeed, where possible, the use of donated human milk.



6. When breast milk is not available, particularly just after giving birth, one can use donated human milk, which represents the first nutritional choice following that of the mother.



7. Adequate nutrition for lactating women to supply full nutrition, especially energy, protein and calcium, food restrictions or specific diets are not necessary. A varied and healthy diet, adequate to the needs of the mother, will benefit her and her baby.



8. For greater dissemination of breastfeeding in the TIN (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), the first step is to allow parents free access to the department that allows them to precociously know your child, to have prolonged contact with him, even by kangaroo care, and why not, get familiar with the staff.



9. To help the premature infant to attach to the breast, the breast should be squeezed before giving the baby the nipple. In this way the premature baby is able to get milk without vigorous suction.



10. If during lactation nipple injury occurs, you can give your baby expressed milk. In the case of debilitating diseases, such as influenza, diarrhoea, urinary infections, the decision on whether to discontinue breast-feeding or not is up to the mother, but it is always better to avoid coming to an abrupt halt. The following false myths have been debunked: drinking a lot (or drinking beer) helps to produce more milk; or that breastfeeding results in a decline in vision and should not be encouraged for mothers with nearsightedness or other eye diseases. If the mother becomes pregnant again, unless there are special risk factors this does not justify stopping breastfeeding prematurely. The dependence of the child on their mother, implied by long term breast-feeding, should not be confused with the child's autonomy, which is not compromised.