Dr. Vicente Molina Morales is a pediatrician and belongs to Top Doctors. He will talk about breastfeeding.
The Pediatrics Department of the Quirón-Dexeus University Institute aims to provide comprehensive care in childhood and adolescence. This means that we cover from the pre-natal period, making consultations with obstetricians to newborn care, neonatal intensive care unit, hospital emergencies, hospital admissions and then a very broad outpatient care where in addition to ten pediatricians work specialists in different areas of pediatrics from dentistry to psychiatry and psychology with the idea of being able to provide comprehensive care of the highest quality.
Why is breastfeeding so important?
Breast or human milk is very important because it is milk from the same species and therefore does not introduce foreign proteins into the baby’s diet. Because it is proven to protect against infections during the first months of life. It is also very likely to protect against infections in adulthood: diabetes, obesity… And finally, because it fosters a very close, very special bond between mother and baby.
What is the best way to do it?
Although breastfeeding is a very natural act and should be very easy, it is not always so. About 25% of first breastfeedings are difficult to establish. It is essential to get into a good latch-on position and to always be on demand at the beginning so that the mother’s milk production is well adapted to the baby’s needs. And for that, it is very important to have a good support at the beginning of breastfeeding, professionals or specialized people for it.
How long should breastfeeding last?
The easy answer would be: “the longer the better”, but in the end it is as long as the mother can and wants. It is clear that any breastfeeding time is advisable, however short it may be. The standard recommendation is to try to breastfeed exclusively for six months and then prolong it with other foods up to 12, 18, 24 months.
What is the three-month crisis?
In the course of breastfeeding, there are times when the baby and the mother become maladjusted. Either because the baby’s needs increase as he gets older, or because the mother’s production fluctuates and decreases a little and at that moment the newborn increases his demand until they are balanced. This is also known as “growth crisis”. It is important to know that this exists so as not to be disoriented when it happens and to allow a demand schedule to reestablish the balance. On the other hand, as the baby gets older his breastfeeding pattern changes, he tends to do much shorter feedings, but that satiates him just as much and a little more spaced out or frequent and that change in behavior also sometimes disorienting is completely normal.