Breastfeeding!

I have always believed in breastfeeding and all the benefits it gives to both mother and baby. Unfortunately, i am unable to enjoy it now because i have sore nipples which got some cracked on it. Blood oozes from both my nipples when i try to express milk and i guess when baby maggie sucks from me she also get a little of my blood. Talking about vampires and i wanted to name her isabella or edward if male from the twilight fame. And so breastfeeding actually makes for an extremely painful experience for me. I actually persisted to breastfeed for at least 5 days but i just couldn't bear the pain and so i had to succumb to baby formula, in maggie's case its similac advance.

At night, maggie does not sleep continously. she wakes up hourly on the dot and seeks to suck from my breast. Although, it is a natural urge for every mother to give her or his child what or he wants i just have to turn a deaf ear to her cries. She's like a newborn puppy who cant yet see the breasts of her mommy and so she moves her head sideways left and right with mouth open immitating the sucknling action. Just breaks my heart...but not enough to give in to temptation or to the pain. I have a low threshold for physical pain and anyway, i am giving my sore breast 3 days to heal. In the meantime, i am manually expressing my milk and whatever little i could get i feed it to her.

Also, let me just share with you a wealth of information i got from the pamphlets which makati medical gave me about breastfeeding:

What a mother should know about breastfeeding

Why breastfeed?

Breastfeeding is the best and safest way of feeding an infant. Breastmilk is the only perfect food for babies. It protects against infection. It also lays the foundation for the baby's healthy psychological development.

Breastmil is always in excellent condition even if the mother happens to be ill, pregnant, menstruating or undernourished.

what is the composition of breastmilk?

Breastmilk contains all the required nutrients a baby needs for the first 6 months of life. Breastmilk provides..

..the right amount of the most suitable protein and fat...more lactose(baby fat) than most other milk, exactly what a baby needs...enough vitamins, making vitamins supplements and fruit juices unnecessary...sufficient iron to prevent iron defeciency anemia...enough water for the baby even in a hot climate...the correct amount of salt, calcium and phosphate.

What are some advantages of breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding helps stop bleeding after delivery.

Breastfeeding on demand protects against another pregnancy.

Breastmilk contains colostrum which the breast secretes the first few days after delivery. Yellow in color and thicker than later milk, colostrum is a rich mixture of antibodies and white blood cells. Colostrum is exactly what the baby needs immediately after birth for the protection it gives against harmful bacteria and viruses.

Breastmilk is always ready to give. It needs no preparation.

Breastmilk contains lipase, a special enzyme which digest fat. Since breastmilk is quickly and easily digested, a breastfed baby normally wants to be fed more often than an artificially fed baby.

Breastmilk never goes sour in the breast if the mother stops breastfeeding for some days.

Breastfeeding is psychologically beneficial for both mother and child. It is important for their bonding or attachment to each other. Early emotional closeness to the mother can contribute to the child's well rounded development.

Breastmilk is free. You dont have to buy it.

Breastfed babies have fewer infections.

How does Breastmilk protect babies against infection?

Breastfed babies have fewer respiratory and middle ear infections and less diarrhea than artificially fed babies.

Breastmilk contains:

*immunoglobulins or antibodies for comoon infections. They serve to protect the baby's health until such time when the baby can make its own antibodies.

*leukocytes or living white blood cells to fight infections.

*a substance called the bifidus factor whichs helps lactobacillus bifidus , a special bacteria, grow in the baby's intestine. This special bacteria prevents other harmful bacterua from developing and causing diarrhea.

*lactoferin which binds iron and stops the growth of other harmful bacteria which needs iron.

Other important informations about breastfeeding:

Mothers even when tired can breastfeed because a mother's physical exertion or any other activity has no effect on breastfeeding or on breastmilk. However, it is recommended that the mother rest before breastfeeding so as not to block or inhibit the flow of milk.

THe size or shape of breast has no effect on a womans ability to secrete milk. Large breasts are due to fatty tissues. Essential for the breasts total milk production are:

..the amount of glandular tissue in the breasts...the babys feeding demands.
breastfed babies normally have soft stools. This indicate proper feeding and digestion. Soft stools also mean the baby does not strain. Formed stools are actually bad since they are due to indigested fat, calcium and other wastes. In a baby, diarrhea is characterized more by foul odor and watery consistency than soft stools.