“The first 2-3 years of a child's life are crucial for physical and mental development. However, feeding methods in some countries may be doing more harm than good for the development of young children. Children under the age of three are especially sensitive to the effects of poor nutrition; because during this period the growth occurs more intensively than at any other time ... "

Improper diet can lead to: irreversible growth retardation, frequent severe infections, cardiovascular disease, as well as various defects (delayed motor and cognitive development, behavior problems, poor social skills, short attention span, inadequate learning ability ).
"There is evidence ... that infant nutrition has long-term health effects and plays a role in preventing the development of certain chronic noncommunicable diseases in adults."

Breastfeeding of children up to the age of two significantly reduces infant morbidity and mortality. This is especially important from birth to 6 months.

It is important to note that by “breastfeeding” WHO means “getting breast milk directly from the breast”, not just breastfeeding.

"Currently, WHO and UNICEF recommend continuing breastfeeding for up to 2 years, and maybe longer." At the same time, it is separately indicated that "all children should be exclusively breastfed from the moment of birth until the age of about 6 months, but in any case during the first 4 months of life."

"For the first few hours of life outside the womb, the baby is alert, active and ready to feed, so ideally breastfeeding should begin within the first hour." "Colostrum secreted in the first few days of life is especially rich in immune-protective factors and some vitamins and minerals ..."
The necessary introduction of complementary foods from 6 months “does not mean the termination of breastfeeding. On the contrary, in the first year of life, breast milk should remain one of the main sources of nutrition ... ”“ The purpose of complementary foods is to provide additional energy and nutrients, but ideally it should not displace breast milk during the first 12 months. To… stimulate milk production, mothers should continue to breastfeed their babies frequently during the complementary feeding period. ”

When a breastfeeding woman is forced to go to work and can no longer adhere to a feeding schedule at the request of the baby, then to maintain breastfeeding, it is necessary to express during the day. The expressed milk is then given to the baby. And to support lactation, night feeds should be maintained. In addition, the WHO recommends that working women establish two to three meals a day.

How to support lactation

Attachment. Correct attachment plays an important role in the issue of sufficient lactation. Therefore, first of all, you should pay attention to the fact that the child correctly took the nipple in his mouth.

The baby is attached to the mother's breast correctly (left) and incorrectly (right).

Regularity... “The key to establishing and maintaining optimal lactation is on-demand breastfeeding. Provided that the baby is correctly positioned at the breast, and the mother breastfeeds him often (8-12 times a day), he will most likely consume enough breast milk. " The use of rigid feeding schedules is not recommended because different babies have different needs.

Duration... “Infant-led feeding, in which the infant is allowed to freely recline when satisfied and decides not to breastfeed again when offered a few minutes later, will ensure the best milk production. Weaning a baby prematurely ... can reduce the amount of milk eaten, make babies hungry and unnecessarily make mothers doubt their milk supply. ” It is also important not to rush to offer the baby another breast in order to enable him to suck out the so-called late (most high-calorie) milk from the first one.
Feeding and supplementation... Up to 6 months, the child should be exclusively breastfed (drops and syrups are allowed - vitamins, minerals, medicines). Additional fluid and food before 6 months “displaces richer, more nutritious breast milk and prevents the baby from sucking, thereby undermining the establishment and continuation of breastfeeding. Even in hot climates, with exclusive breastfeeding, babies can retain fluids ”without supplementation.

Flexibility... "Exclusive breastfeeding provides a baby with sufficient quantity and quality of milk" until about 6 months of age. Until this age, "even mothers of twins are able to breastfeed their babies exclusively." "When the baby's need increases and the mother responds with more frequent and longer breastfeeds, the mother's milk production can increase in a matter of days or even hours."
Confidence... "In the first few months of life, irreversible milk deficiency is rare." But mothers do not always have enough confidence that they are able to produce enough milk. And this fear can inhibit lactation. It is important to remember that insufficient weight gain of the child primarily means that the mother needs qualified advice on breastfeeding, and not that the child should be transferred to artificial formula.
If your child's pediatrician indicates that your child is not gaining enough weight, specify which growth charts he uses. Unfortunately, many of these schemes are outdated and based on data from American formula-fed babies. "Children who are breastfed have different physical development patterns than their artificial peers ..."

Bottles, teats and pacifiers... Their complete exclusion guarantees that the mother will respond correctly to the stress of the child - that is, offer him the breast to calm him down. Otherwise, the principle of on-demand feeding is violated.

Harmful recommendations from the days of the Soviet Union

• late onset of breastfeeding (6-12 hours after birth), especially for sick women, including women with anemia;
• feeding with 5% glucose solution before breast milk production is established;
• exclusive breastfeeding for only the first month;
• breast milk as the main food for the first 4-4.5 months;
• complete cessation of breastfeeding by the age of 10-11 months;
• breastfeeding strictly according to the schedule (with a deviation of no more than 15 minutes).

In addition, the importance of a long break at night was indicated - from 6.5 to 8 hours.
They began to feed from the second month:

• vegetable and fruit "juices" (jam with water) - 1 month;
• fruit - 2 months;
• cow's milk diluted with a decoction of cereals - 2-3 months;
• pure kefir, hard-boiled egg yolk - 3 months;
• tea and water with sugar, cow's milk, cottage cheese, cereals, butter, sugar and salt - 4 months.

Even worse is the fact that "in the case of a diagnosis of anemia (and rickets), it was recommended to introduce cereals and other solid foods earlier than 4 months."

When preparing the article, the materials of the site were used

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a number of guidelines for successful breastfeeding. These are the rules that most breastfeeding counselors, myself included, follow when counseling women and feeding their own babies.

Breast milk is the best food for a baby in the first 6 months of life, and there are no substitutes for it. Every woman should know this and accept it as an axiom if she wants to provide her baby with health and better conditions for the development of his body. Actually, the recommendations explain this very clearly.

1. Early breastfeeding- within the first hour after birth!
2. Eliminating bottle feeding or in some other way before the mother puts it to her breast. This is necessary so that the child does not develop an attitude towards any other feeding, except for breastfeeding.
3. Joint maintenance of mother and child in the hospital in one ward.
4. Correct position of the baby at the breast allows the mother to avoid many problems and complications with the breast. If the mother was not taught this in the hospital, she should invite a breastfeeding consultant and learn it on purpose.
5. Feeding on demand... It is necessary to put the baby to the breast for any reason, to give him the opportunity to suckle the breast when he wants and how much he wants. This is important not only for the saturation of the child, but also for his psycho-emotional comfort. To feel comfortable, the baby can breastfeed up to 4 times per hour.
6. The duration of feeding is regulated by the baby: do not lift the baby off the breast before he releases the nipple himself!
7. Night feedings children provide stable lactation and protect a woman from the next pregnancy up to 6 months - in 96% of cases. In addition, it is night feedings that are most complete and nutritious.
8. No supplementation and the introduction of any foreign liquids and products. If the baby is thirsty, it should be applied to the breast more often.
9. Full nipple rejection, pacifiers and bottle feeding. If it is necessary to introduce complementary foods, give it only from a cup, spoon or pipette.
10. Transferring the baby to the second breast only when he will suck the first breast. If the mother rushes to offer the baby a second breast, he will not get more "late milk", rich in fats. As a result, the baby may have digestive problems: lactose deficiency, foamy stools. Continuous sucking on one breast will ensure proper bowel function.
11. Avoiding nipple washing before and after feeding. Frequent washing of the breasts removes the protective layer of fat in the areola and nipple, resulting in cracks. The chest should be washed no more than once a day during a hygienic shower. If a woman takes a shower less often, then in this case there is no need for additional washing of the breast.
12. Refusal of check weighing child, held more often than 1 time a week. This procedure does not provide objective information about the nutritional value of the infant. She only irritates the mother, leads to a decrease in lactation and unreasonable introduction of supplementary feeding.
13. Elimination of additional milk expression... With properly organized breastfeeding, milk is produced exactly as much as the baby needs, so there is no need to express after each feeding. Expression is necessary in case of forced separation of the mother from the child, the mother's going to work, etc.
14. Breastfeeding only up to 6 months- the child does not need additional nutrition and the introduction of complementary foods. According to some studies, a child can be exclusively breastfed without harm to health for up to 1 year.
15. Support for mothers who breastfeed their children up to 1-2 years of age... Talking to women who have had positive breastfeeding experiences helps the young mother gain confidence and practical advice to help her breastfeed. Therefore, young mothers are encouraged to contact maternal breastfeeding support groups as early as possible.
16. Baby Care and Technique Training breastfeeding are necessary for a modern mother so that she can raise it up to 1 year without unnecessary hassle and convenience for herself and her baby. Breastfeeding counselors can help provide care for the newborn and teach the mother how to breastfeed. The sooner a mother learns about motherhood, the less disappointments and unpleasant minutes she will endure with her baby.
17. Breastfeeding until the child is 1.5-2 years old... Feeding up to a year is not a physiological period for the cessation of lactation, therefore, during weaning, both mother and child suffer.

You can also download some.

Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding

The Global Strategy was jointly developed by WHO and UNICEF to ensure, through best feeding practices, nutritional status, growth and development, and thus the health of infants and young children.

The information is intended to help specialists in the CIS countries update their current nutritional guidelines.

Feeding infants. A guide for mothers

Aimed primarily at young moms, this brochure provides answers to questions people often ask about breastfeeding in an emergency. She will help organize breastfeeding without endangering the baby and return breast milk.

The WHO Breastfeeding Guidelines have been written specifically for young mothers and healthcare professionals. Their goal is to restore a feeding culture that has received too little attention in recent decades.

Why the World Health Organization drew up the GW rules

The benefits of breast milk for a child are incomparable with anything, but for quite a long time society cared little about this. Breastfeeding was depreciated and replaced by artificial. Formula companies aggressively promoted the idea that breast milk is just a collection of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Therefore, it can be easily replaced with analogs. Although, in reality, not a single, even the most progressive mixture can give a baby what his mother's breast gives him.

In the last two to three decades, new principles of successful breastfeeding began to form, and the idea of ​​natural feeding as the most beneficial for mother and child began to be promoted.

10 core principles of WHO

UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) have jointly developed 10 principles for successful breastfeeding to help new mothers get better breastfeeding. These principles and recommendations are being actively disseminated among healthcare professionals, many of whom are still guided by outdated feeding patterns and cannot provide sufficient support for mothers who choose natural hepatitis B.

Initially, only 10 principles of breastfeeding were developed according to WHO, which continue to be relevant today.

The first is to stay together after childbirth.

The first of them recommends not to separate the mother and child after giving birth and to provide them with a round-the-clock cohabitation. This contributes to the calmness of both the mother and the baby, facilitates the adaptation period.

Second - early attachment to the chest

The first feeding necessarily takes place in the first hour after the birth of the child. During this time, only a few drops of colostrum are produced, but they contain a powerful dose of substances necessary for the immune defense of the baby, and the beneficial bacteria that populate his sterile intestines. In addition, colostrum promotes the speedy elimination of meconium from the body, thereby reducing bilirubin.

Third - correct attachment

It is necessary to learn correctly from the first hours in order to avoid problems. Improper attachment can not only provoke the appearance of cracks in the nipples, but also cause colic and insufficient saturation of the baby, since, together with milk, it will also capture air.

Fourth - rejection of breast substitutes

Complete rejection of bottles and pacifiers. A baby gets milk from a bottle much easier than breast milk - there you have to try to get it. After being introduced to the bottle, babies often give up breastfeeding in order to receive lighter milk. Pacifiers as a substitute for feeding also knock down the lactation setting, the baby does not gorge on, because it is less often applied to the breast.

Fifth - feeding on demand

It is very important to abandon the usual "regime" feeding, when a "step to the side" was allowed for no more than 15 minutes. This reduced milk production and made the baby and mom nervous. The optimal feeding regimen, according to WHO recommendations, is exclusively at the request of the child. This helps to establish lactation and as a result, the baby receives exactly as much milk as he needs, and with it the vital motherly warmth and closeness. Feeding on demand improves milk quality and reduces the risk of developing lactostasis.

Sixth - do not take the breast away from the crumbs

Feeding should continue until the baby releases the breast itself. Interruptions in feeding have a negative impact on both the physical and emotional well-being of the baby. In addition, this leads to the fact that the child receives less useful and high-calorie "back" milk.

Seventh - do not drink

The child in the first six months should be exclusively on the chest, without supplementation. After all, mother's milk is 88 percent water. Water disrupts the microflora of the stomach and intestines. She creates the illusion of satiety, and the crumb eats less. Supplementation is permitted exclusively for medical purposes and in special cases. For example, if the child is at risk of dehydration due to high fever or vomiting.

Eighth - complementary foods are introduced only after 6 months

Up to six months, the baby receives 100% of the necessary nutrients from breast milk. From 6 months to a year - 75%, and from one to two years - 25%. This point is one of the most important WHO recommendations on breastfeeding. Therefore, the early introduction of complementary foods is completely meaningless - he has already received everything the child needs.

Early complementary foods - up to 6 months old - were very popular in Soviet times. Then it was recommended to introduce additional products at the age of 2-3 months. However, this negatively affects the child's digestion, since his intestines are not yet adapted to digest such complex food. The baby's digestive system is not yet ready to assimilate something less adapted than mother's milk.

Ninth - mom's moral support

It is important to support a young mother, her self-confidence, encouragement of breastfeeding. Many women are not sure that they will be able to breastfeed their babies, that they will succeed and have enough milk. The incompetence of health care workers or relatives and friends who do not provide them with adequate support or even offer to supplement the baby with formula instead of establishing hepatitis B often cause refusal to breastfeed.

Tenth - avoiding nipple ointments

It is recommended to avoid using ointments and nipple creams. They often give them an unpleasant taste or smell, which can cause the baby to refuse to breastfeed. Their security cannot be called absolute. It is also better to avoid frequent washing of your breasts, especially with soap. This washes away the protective fat layer and leads to cracks and damage to the nipple. For hygiene, a daily shower or bath is sufficient. If cracks appear on the nipples, the reason is in improper attachment of the baby. And we need to solve this main problem.

Over time, the list expanded, 12 principles of breastfeeding appeared, and then even more. Important points have been added that contribute to a more productive feeding.

Feed at night

Retaining night feeds necessary to maintain lactation. It is during the night period that the most intense production of the hormone responsible for lactation occurs. If you support him with feeding at this time, then the milk will not leave too early.

Refusal to express

Expressing milk, a woman misleads her body - it seems to him that all this milk is eaten by a child and begins to produce so much so that he can gorge himself. That is, as a result of expressing milk, it becomes even more. And since the child in fact does not need so much milk, stagnation forms, it is necessary to pump out the excess again, and so on in a vicious circle.

New WHO principles

Gradually, the WHO recommendations on hepatitis B are expanding, more and more new items are added to them. In particular, it is recommended to maintain breastfeeding as long as possible - up to 2 years and even more. This helps the baby to build up a full-fledged immunity, since the immune bodies are contained in breast milk. In addition, it still contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals necessary for full development.

Also, according to the principles of breastfeeding from the WHO, it is better to refrain from frequent weighing of the baby. This does not provide critical information about its development, but it often makes the mother nervous, who begins to worry that her baby is malnourished or is recovering too quickly.

Dedicated mother support groups are important, providing training in proper attachment and helping to establish lactation. Participation in such groups is necessary both during pregnancy and after childbirth. Before the birth of a child, a woman has a lot of time and energy to obtain the necessary information, so you should clarify for yourself as many important points as possible. After childbirth, moral support of like-minded people will be important, especially if a woman is “unlucky” with a pediatrician or relatives, and they actively offer her to transfer the child to formula.

The principles of breastfeeding a newborn also include complete emptying of the breast before placing the baby on the other. If the baby needs more abundant feeding and is supplemented from the second breast, it is important to carefully monitor his behavior and not to tear it off too early so that he gets back milk from the first breast - more fatty and nutritious. If the baby stops sucking, but does not release the breast, it means that the milk continues to flow and he is just resting. Transfer to the other breast should be after the first is completely emptied.

However, even if the mother is determined to comply with the WHO breastfeeding recommendations, sometimes there are situations when this is not possible:

• in case of difficult childbirth or cesarean section, it is not possible to immediately attach the baby to the breast - the mother may be under anesthesia for several hours or medical indications do not allow leaving the baby with her;
• not all maternity hospitals allow mother and child to be together around the clock. It is better to find out this moment in advance so that it does not become an unpleasant surprise;
• the mother is forced to go to work early and cannot feed the child for a long time. Of course, it is advisable to spend as much time as possible with the child and postpone the return to "society" for several years. For a child up to one year old, constant, even round-the-clock, presence of the mother nearby is necessary, literally like air.
• the child himself refuses to breast at the age of 1-1.5 years. In this case, of course, there is no need to force-feed him, referring to the WHO. The kid himself knows how much milk he needs.

In any case, natural breastfeeding is always a dialogue between mother and child. It is very important, first of all, to learn to listen and understand your baby, then the process of adaptation to new conditions will be much easier and more painless.

The culture of natural breastfeeding is gradually taking its rightful place in the minds of people and a lot of efforts have been made by WHO specialists for this, creating and disseminating recommendations on hepatitis B. And although it is still quite common to meet doctors of the "old school" who were brought up in different rules and are trying to impose them on young mothers, the situation is steadily improving and more and more babies are receiving such important mother's milk for them.

Over the past decades, the body of evidence on the health benefits of breastfeeding and practice guidelines has continued to grow. WHO can now confidently assert that breastfeeding reduces infant mortality and has health benefits that occur in adulthood. For the general population, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is recommended for breastfeeding, followed by breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for two or more years.

To enable mothers to conduct and maintain exclusive breastfeeding for six months, WHO and UNICEF recommend:

• Carry out the first breastfeeding during the first hour of life;
• Exclusive breastfeeding, that is, giving the baby nothing but breast milk - no other food or drink, not even water;
• Breastfeed on demand, that is, as often as the baby wants, day and night.
• Do not use bottles, teats, or pacifiers.

Breast milk is the natural first food for newborns. It contains all the nutrients and energy a baby needs during the first months of life and continues to meet half or more of the baby's nutritional needs during the second half of the first year of life and one third during the second year.

Breast milk promotes sensory and cognitive development and protects the baby from infectious and chronic diseases. Exclusive breastfeeding helps reduce infant mortality from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia, as well as faster recovery from illnesses.

Breastfeeding is beneficial for the health and well-being of mothers. It allows you to have babies at intervals, reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, increases family and national resources, is a reliable way of feeding and is safe for the environment.

While breastfeeding is natural, it is also learned behavior. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that mothers and other caregivers need active support in establishing and maintaining good breastfeeding practices. In 1992, WHO and UNICEF announced the Breastfeeding Facilitation Hospital Initiative (HBI) to strengthen the practice of maternity wards to support breastfeeding. IBHI is helping to improve the introduction of exclusive breastfeeding around the world and, with support from the entire health system, can help mothers maintain exclusive breastfeeding.

WHO and UNICEF have developed a 40-hour “Counseling on Breastfeeding: A Training Course” and a later five-day “Counseling on Infant and Young Child Feeding: A Comprehensive Course” to train health workers to provide skilled support to breastfeeding mothers and help them overcome problems. Essential breastfeeding support skills are also part of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Training Course for first-level health workers.

The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding describes key interventions to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Every mother wants to give her newborn baby only the best. And if the choice of a suitable stroller, crib and high-quality useful toys is a difficult question, but still not critical, then the issue of feeding plays a huge role.

Many of them face difficulties along the way, caused by a lack of information or widespread prejudice. And in this case, WHO recommendations on breastfeeding can come to the aid of such mothers. But first, it's worth mentioning the benefits of this choice.

Manufacturers of infant formula convince customers that their products contain all the necessary complex of vitamins and nutrients for a child's body. However, no formula can provide a baby with the benefits that breast milk brings. Among them:

• the possibility of changing the composition of milk depending on the age and needs of the child. No artificial mixture is tailored to the needs of a particular child;
• the presence in milk of elements that help to form immunity and increase protection against colds, reduce the risk of allergies and dysbiosis;
• the presence of the necessary antibodies in case of illness;
• ensuring close emotional contact between mom and baby;
• facilitating the process of falling asleep of the child;
• high digestibility of all vitamins and microelements contained in milk. It has long been known that, despite the high content of iron in artificial mixtures, it is practically not absorbed in the child's body, as a result of which it is often observed in artificially fed children;
• the formation of the correct bite;
• normalization of the intestinal microflora, as a result of which, in most breastfed children, the process of establishing the work of the digestive system as a whole, and even easier.

In addition to the undeniable health benefits of the newborn, it also carries many benefits for the mother. Thanks to him, after childbirth, the hormonal background and the body as a whole are restored faster, the duration of postpartum discharge decreases due to the more intense contraction of the uterus.

Natural feeding

Women who had the opportunity to compare the experience of natural and artificial feeding, note that when breastfeeding, it is much easier for them to establish psychological contact with a child, it is easier to guess his needs. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

In addition to the health benefits of mother and baby, breastfeeding has another undeniable advantage over artificial formula - simplicity and convenience. Breast milk does not need to be cooled or heated and is at the optimum temperature at all times. Parents do not have to carry everywhere, jars with the mixture, a sterilizer and a lot of other things.

In case of the forced absence of the mother from the side of the child, all that needs to be done is to create a “bank” of milk. Once expressed, it keeps well in the freezer.

Unfortunately, despite all the obvious benefits of breast milk, not all mothers know how to properly establish this natural process. In many developed countries, as well as in the post-Soviet space, advertising of mixtures, agitation for feeding by the hour and many common misconceptions have led to the fact that a rare woman can start feeding her baby without resorting to anyone's help and advice.

To help young mothers, the World Health Organization has published the following guidelines:

• It is imperative that the baby receives the first drops of milk as early as possible, ideally immediately after delivery. A few drops of colostrum ensure the colonization of the intestines with beneficial microflora from the first minutes of life.
• Mom and baby, except for individual cases related to health and safety of life, should be in the same room in order to be able to immediately establish physical and psychological contact.
• It is necessary from the very beginning to ensure the correct capture of the breast by the baby - this will help to avoid cracks and other unpleasant sensations. In addition, if the grip is improper, the baby may swallow a lot of air during feeding or not receive the required amount of milk. The baby's lips should tightly encircle not only the nipple itself, but also most of the halos; during feeding, the mother should not experience unpleasant or painful sensations. If such sensations appear during the feeding process, you should carefully take the breast from the baby and offer it again, carefully monitoring the correct capture.
• Until the baby learns to properly latch on to the breast, bottle feeding should be avoided as much as possible, and the baby should not be given a pacifier. Attempts to satisfy the sucking reflex with their help often lead to the formation of an incorrect grip. In addition, it is not uncommon for a child to refuse to breastfeed even after one bottle feeding - this is due to the fact that it is much easier for a baby to get milk in this way. As a last resort, if you need to feed the baby in the absence of the mother, you should use a spoon or syringe. It should be remembered that in case of any doubts about the correct latching of the breast, each mother can turn to a breastfeeding consultant for help. The specialist will not only answer all the questions of interest, but also show you how to apply the baby correctly, advise what kind of feeding position is most suitable for this particular mother and baby. There is no need to be afraid to ask for help in such an important matter.
• Additional drinks should be avoided - all the volume of liquid necessary for the baby can be obtained from the mother's milk. If you give the child water, juices or milk of animal origin, the stomach will fill up, but the body will not be full and will not receive the necessary nutrients.
• You need to feed your baby only on demand - firstly, all children are different, and each of them has their own diet. Secondly, feeding by the hour inevitably leads to a decrease in the amount of milk. Feeding on demand also implies how the baby himself feels when he is full. You do not need to take the breast from the baby before he releases it himself.
• You do not need to wash your teats with soap and water before each feeding! Continuous washing, as well as using hard towels, can dry out the skin and, as a result, lead to cracked nipples. A daily shower is sufficient to maintain breast hygiene.
• Entering earlier than 6 months is strongly discouraged. Up to six months, breast milk satisfies all the nutritional needs of the child in full.
• The amount of milk in the breast is regulated on a demand-supply basis. The more often and more the baby eats, the more milk is produced. Therefore, in order to avoid lactostasis, one should not express unless absolutely necessary - otherwise, more milk will be produced than is required, which will inevitably lead to stagnation.
• It is imperative to provide your baby with night feeds. Firstly, it is night milk that is considered the most nutritious. Secondly, in the pre-morning hours, a hormone is produced that is responsible for the amount of milk. If the baby is bottle fed at night, the mother's body concludes that the need for milk has decreased and, accordingly, decreases its production.
• Care should be taken to ensure that the baby completely empties one breast before taking the other - otherwise he will not be provided with the most nutritious, "hind" milk.
• Avoid frequent weighing - every child gains weight differently, and the well-known weight gain charts that pediatricians are used to focusing on are primarily a guide for bottle-fed babies. They were created to track possible overweight, not underweight. Frequent weighing will only lead to increased nervousness in the mother, which will inevitably affect the quantity and quality of milk. What if it seems that the child is not gaining weight well, and doctors or others are convincing that milk is “non-nutritious”? First of all, mom needs to focus on her subjective feelings. Is the child healthy, vigorous, developing according to the schedule? With a high degree of probability, it can be argued that he has enough nutrients for full development. If doubts remain, the so-called “wet diaper test” can be carried out. It should be abandoned for a day and the number of bowel movements should be counted. A child who has enough milk will have time to wet about 10-12 diapers during this time.
• A child should be breastfed until at least two years of age - even with a full complementary feeding with conventional foods, the child continues to receive antibodies from the mother in case of illness and other useful substances. Weaning should be done gradually, reducing the number of attachments. One of the last to be removed is night feedings. In addition, such a recommendation is important for those mothers who are worried about the shape of their breasts. It is the gradual involution (completion of feeding) that allows the mammary gland to gradually return to its original appearance.

The benefits of breastfeeding over artificial breastfeeding are quite obvious, and every mother who is worried about the health of her baby should delve into all the subtleties of this process and provide it with the most necessary things from birth.

The most common problems on the path to successful feeding are fears and prejudices, but in today's world, every mother can find the information she needs or ask for help to dispel her doubts. Good luck along the way!