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Top 6 Questions Related To Lactation Answered

Top 6 Questions Related To Lactation Answered

20 May 2022 | 4 min Read

Tinystep

Author | 2578 Articles

A baby is vulnerable to many infections and fatal diseases after birth because his/her immune system is fragile. They need to develop a certain amount of resistance to impurities to enhance sustainability and increase the chances of survival. This is where mother’s milk plays a critical role.

Your baby’s first meal is your breast milk. It is baby food in the most natural form, as it contains essential nutrients, which are required for your baby’s growth. Initially, your breasts will produce a thick, curd-like milk, which is rich in colostrum. It contains antibodies that will boost your baby’s immunity. Not only will it help your baby’s physical growth, but it will also protect him/her from falling sick too often.

Your baby requires the right amount of milk for the first six months after birth. Therefore, breastfeeding is important for your little one. New mommies generally face a lot of trouble when it comes to breastfeeding. To help you, we have answered a bunch of frequently asked questions.

1. Can I store breast milk?

Your breast milk is rich in nutrition. It contains more nourishment than other sources of milk. It is fresh, always available round the clock and can be pumped into a bottle. So, yes! You can store your breastmilk (in a refrigerator). You need to pump out some milk with the help of a breast pump. Don’t worry about sterilization, as the milk comes from you. It is advisable to heat the stored milk before giving it to your baby, though. You might notice separation of the milk particles. Just stir it a few times before feeding it to your baby.

2. Should I be worried about inconsistency in the milk produced?

If you observe that your baby has been consuming thick, white and creamy milk, it simply means that you are feeding him/her hindmilk. If you observe that the milk is watery, it just means that your baby is drinking foremilk. There is no such thing as perfect milk. So, don’t worry about the consistency. If you see white deposits around your baby’s mouth or in the feeding bottle, it is just the excess fat from your hindmilk.

3. What are the food products moms can consume in order to increase lactation?

Mom’s milk is the primary source of nutrition for a growing baby. So, mommies who want to increase lactation should consume nutritious foods such as oatmeal, spinach and beetroot leafs, salmon, carrots, fennel seeds, bottle gourd (dudhi), chickpea and garlic among other food varieties.

4. Can the size of your breasts determine the quantity of milk?

Having bigger breasts does not mean that you will have more milk. Unlike refrigerators, breasts cannot store so much milk. So, the amount of milk you produce has nothing to do with the size of your breasts.

5. I experience pain in my breasts when I breastfeed my baby. Does the pain have anything to do with breast cancer?

Your breasts are mature and cracked so your baby can suck the milk easily. They tend to get sore because they aren’t used to being sucked. So, breastfeeding will cause pain initially. However, the pain eases out as your body gets used to your baby sucking your breasts.

6. Will drinking less water while breastfeeding lower milk production?

This is likely to happen if you don’t keep yourself hydrated during the time of breastfeeding. The thick, nourishing milk gets solidified and it is difficult for it to come out of the body. Mommies, don’t forget to drink plenty of water and keep yourselves hydrated throughout the day.