Monique Rainford

During her pregnancy a woman should make a very important decision — whether or not to breastfeed. Except in a small minority of cases, the breast is best and this should be her first choice in feeding her baby.

Mothers often think that they are not making enough milk in the early stages after the baby is born but this is incorrect in most cases. The very first milk that the new mother makes, after the baby's birth, is called the colostrum. It is a yellow liquid which contains more minerals and protein than the milk which is formed later on. Colostrum also contains special substances called immunoglobulins that protect the new born baby from infection.

During the following week, the milk changes and has more water, fat and a sugar called lactose. The mother's milk continues to change to provide for the nutritional needs of the baby. This mature milk contains substances that protect the baby from infection and other substances that help the cells in the baby to grow. Human milk contains all vitamins except vitamin K and, therefore, babies are given this vitamin soonafter they are born. Breast milk may also be low in iron, therefore, premature babies and babies older than six months may need an extra source of iron.

Bonding experience

Babies who are breastfed get sick less often than bottle-fed babies and, therefore, have fewer doctor's visits. Breastfeeding also provides a number of benefits to the mother. It decreases the amount of blood the mother loses after delivery and it helps her womb to get to its normal size more quickly.

Two major hormones associated with breastfeeding help a new mother feel more relaxed and attached to her baby. Breastfeeding provides a bonding experience between mother and child. It also protects a woman against cancer of the ovaries and some types of breast cancers.

Even though breastfeeding is a natural function, a new mother will often need some amount of training and continued support. She should clean her nipples and the surrounding area (the areola) with water and a mild soap both before and after she breastfeeds. Some new mothers may have nipples which appear flat or inverted.

Usually, they can be assisted in bringing out their nipples to allow for breastfeeding. If a woman has true inverted nipples, a rare condition, she will be unable to breastfeed. Practising proper technique helps to avoid sore nipples but if her nipples do become sore, she may use a purified lanolin cream and a breast shield.

Breast reduction surgery

Unfortunately, not every woman can breastfeed. Some women who have had breast surgery including breast reduction surgery or implants may be unable to breastfeed. Use of street drugs or abuse of alcohol, HIV infection, untreated tuberculosis, taking certain medications or undergoing treatment for breast cancer are examples of conditions in which women should not breastfeed.

She should also not breastfeed if she has chicken pox or a herpes lesion on her breast. If she needs medications, she should check with her doctor for safe options while breastfeeding. If a mother is exclusively breastfeeding, she may not have her periods for a while and this may protect against pregnancy. However, there are other birth control methods available that do not interfere with breastfeeding.

It is best to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of a baby's life.