After six months, solid foods can be introduced and breastfeeding must continue till the infant is 2 years of age. The benefits of breastfeeding have been scientifically proven and can work very well for the mother and the child. Antibodies present in mother's milk can prevent various illnesses in the baby and can strengthen its immune system.

The two types of milk, the foremilk and hind milk are necessary for the baby's hydration and growth respectively. Breastfeeding can help the mother as well by helping her lose pregnancy weight, delaying menstruation and preventing pregnancy as well as assisting in forming a special and close bond with the baby. For various reasons however, mothers start their infants on formula milk and plan to transfer to breast milk; they might change their minds about breast milk, the baby may have been too young to be breast fed, or the baby may have been allergic to formula feed. Fortunately, it is possible to transfer the baby onto breast feeding and even easier if the baby if relatively young. This process is called re-lactation and requires patience and confidence on the part of the mother.

First of all, the mother ought to know precisely how to put the baby onto the breast for proper access; 'latching' on comes naturally to some babies but certain others might have to learn how to latch onto the breast for a full feed. The nipple must be far back in the mouth of the baby such that a kind of suction is formed and the baby will

instinctively know how to suck the milk. If the baby has latched on properly, the chances of the baby biting the nipple are minimised. The mother can also ask help from a lactation expert or health nurse if in doubt about the proper latching procedure. If the baby does not latch on properly, it can be encouraged to do so by changing the position of the baby. After the first couple of breastfeeding sessions, the baby must be offered the breast after every couple of hours so that it can make itself used to its source of food.

Newly breastfeeding mothers must also pump their milk regularly using a breast pump; the more milk is pumped, the more milk is produced so this is an efficient way to increase milk supply for newly breastfeeding mothers. A variety of breast pumps are present in the market, they can either be hand operated or electric pumps; double electric pumps like pump style advanced and medela breast pump are the most recommended ones. Milk should be pumped almost 8 to 12 times a day and can be fed to the baby if the baby is not enthusiastic about feeding from the breast. However, the use of pacifiers and bottles are discouraged because they can create 'nipple confusion' for the baby. When a baby is in the process of learning how to breastfeed, the use of pacifiers and bottle nipples can confuse it between artificial nipples and their own mother's. Since bottle nipples are easier for the baby to suck milk from; they might start rejecting the mothers' breast as a source of milk.

It is also important is to get support from people around you; since breastfeeding can be an emotionally trying time for the mother. It is a good idea to have people who can encourage the mother's efforts and assist her in dispensing advice and chiefly helping around the house. Breastfeeding mothers will have to get extra help at home anyway, since breastfeeding is a tiring process and the transition may take 4 to 6 weeks. Also, skin to skin contact and spending time with the baby is vital for the mother and baby's relationship as well as for encouraging the baby to breastfeed. The baby's diapers and stools should be regularly checked to make sure the baby is getting enough milk and its weight growth should be monitored. Learning how to breastfeed for the first time can be a challenge but given patience, time and confidence it can turn out to be a successful and wonderful experience for the child and the mother.

August 2009

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