Alisa Hideg: Breastfeeding is good for mother and child

During medical school, several women in my class had children. When they returned to work, they continued to breastfeed their babies, which meant that they were often pumping breast milk between seeing patients. At home they were able to nurse their infant and when away, their spouse or baby’s caregiver fed the baby the pumped milk.

It was a lot of effort, but these physicians knew it was worth it. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a minimum of one year of breastfeeding because breast milk provides many advantages for babies. Adequate fluid, excellent nutrition, and protection against illnesses and infections are all found in breast milk. It lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and decreases the risk of developing allergies, asthma and type 1 diabetes.

Mothers who breastfeed also benefit. They lose less blood following childbirth, lose more weight after giving birth and lower their chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. They have less postpartum depression and benefit emotionally from close interaction with their babies.

Breastfeeding uses up to 500 calories a day, which means that while you are breastfeeding, you may need to eat more to keep up your energy. It is best to eat nutrient-rich foods like peanut butter, fruit and yogurt for the extra calories and consume lots of vegetables and whole grains.

Staying hydrated with plenty of water is important also. If your urine becomes dark yellow, you are dehydrated and you need to increase your fluid intake. Limit caffeine since more than five 5-ounce cups of coffee per day might make your baby fussy and affect his sleep. Alcohol should be avoided.

Women are often concerned that what they eat might make their baby fussy or irritable. If you suspect there is a connection between something you ate and your baby’s behavior, try avoiding that food to see if there is a change. Keeping a food diary can help determine if there is a connection between a specific food and how your baby feels.

Many medications pass into your breast milk, but in most cases the amount is low. If you do need to take medication or decide to use an herbal or supplement product while you are breastfeeding, make sure you discuss whether it is safe for your baby with your health care provider. You might need to pump and discard your milk temporarily while you are on some medications so that your baby does not get any of it. Resume feeding your baby breast milk when you finish the course of medication under the direction of your health care provider.

Continuing to breastfeed is not always easy. At birth the breastfeeding rate is close to 77 percent in the United States. By 6 months this is down to 49 percent. Women might stop breastfeeding for any of a number of reasons, but considering how beneficial it is for them and their babies, we need to do everything we can to encourage women to start and continue breastfeeding as long as they can. A workplace that allows women to take time for pumping and provides an environment where women can easily pump and store milk, supportive friends and family, and a culture that sees this as important will help improve these numbers.

If you are breastfeeding and experience difficulty or have questions, lactation consultants at your local hospital are a great resource for education and advice. You can also find breastfeeding information at www.llli.org/nb.html, the website for La Leche League International or in the American Academy of Pediatrics book, “New Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding.”