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Making the decision to breastfeed your baby is a personal one, but it’s not always easy – and new moms often have a lot of questions. Dr. Manny si...
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Yeah.
Hello welcome to help -- -- like the man making the decision to breastfeed your baby is a personal one.
But it's not always easy and you moms often have a lot of questions joining me now is doctor hey Alan Miller and pediatric resident of New York Presbyterian Hospital with everything.
You wanted to know about breast feeding.
But were afraid to.
-- that the -- -- hi how aria to see you here again it's not.
Breastfeeding very important we keep saying to new moms you've got to do it it's the best thing for the baby but.
What are the benefits for the baby and for the month.
-- that there are many benefits for both mother and baby.
For the baby breastfeeding is actually been shown to reduce the incidence of infections.
So mom is actually passing within her milk maternal antibodies that the baby then absorbs through the breast milk.
And almost uses it as like a shield against many different types of infections.
So that's a huge benefits of breastfeeding.
Babies who who breastfeed have also been shown to have a lower incidence of asthma and eczema.
To also very important social boosting the immune suppressing the immune system exactly right babies who are actually premature -- it's been shown that breast milk has been.
Known to improve neuro developmental outcomes meaning.
Improvement in the way that the brain is is functioning and working right so this is -- incredibly important important thing -- And what what about for the mom is there any benefit there are many benefits on first and foremost cost effective.
Breastfeeding is extremely cost -- them.
Mothers who also do not breast -- have been shown to have an increase incidents of postpartum depression and so it has this -- this very protective mechanism.
On it helps to really Foster good connection between mother and I.
I I totally I think so you know I -- I seen a lot of women.
And that have had let's say depression in the past and they did not -- and I tell them you know listen this time around.
The -- to breast feed and absolutely definitely report really mean had almost no postpartum blues which is very important.
And in the immediate postpartum period it's actually been shown that breast feeding on the reduces the amount of blood loss -- a woman has in the immediate postpartum period.
And also helps mom get back her her pre baby body weight and body shapes yeah.
-- now that the question also you know always becomes how long should they do the breastfeeding for.
Any specific number that comes to mind.
So the American academy of pediatrics recommends that parents breast feed until at least one year they -- All are as long as is mutually beneficial to both mother and baby.
So this is becomes -- a controversial thing in the media right now what the time magazine cover RO a woman breastfeeding her.
Almost four year old son.
And it really just goes to show you this is a very personalized and unique decision that a mother makes him.
From a practical point of view I think a lot of women who would like to minimum a breastfeed for six months let's say sometimes becomes impractical because they -- to get back to work.
And you know they they they always -- I guess the question.
It's not for how long should they be -- breast feed.
But what would be the minimum amount that you would consider look.
I think the baby got good good anti bodies at least that's good protection so what what does that split -- the baby and now begins to make its own antibodies.
And you know gets real strong.
So I would say that if mothers can breast feed until at least six months of age I would recommend that at six months we can start to introduce solid -- Baby is the the way that their -- are chewing in their world development is a little bit more mature at this eight -- -- -- it's also been shown that waiting until six months of age actually reduces the risk of obesity.
In babies as opposed to feeding them earlier so meaning around four months of major earlier than that.
I'm so I would say really exclusive breastfeeding up until six months of age.
With you know you could supplement with what I'm glad that plane or incorporate breast milk as well.
But I think that that would be -- you know -- -- question always becomes especially for new moms you know you give my baby you know this you know my job is done and services they push it comes to get out hit it's yours have a nice day.
I'll tell you the bill.
But now they come -- and the question always becomes especially for new moms.
Well how -- -- know that the baby is getting the milk in Neitzel whoa that I've got and this is very important because -- has happened to me where I gave the baby to a mother.
And within a week or so that baby had to be readmitted into the hospital because of dehydration and malnutrition.
By so let's say talk about.
What other things that a mother should be.
-- paying attention to.
So certain things that -- parent should be really keyed into is in kind of wet diapers that a baby is -- per day.
So we like to use a rule of somewhere and the -- should be having at least one wet -- are per day of life.
So for example at three days of age the -- to be having at least three wet here in diapers at four days of age for what you're in diapers.
Up until about day five or gay sex where the -- should be having five to six wet diapers per day so that's one sort of indicator to -- now whether they're getting sufficient.
Will it right back of the innocent the they -- every day and exactly -- frequently.
How about.
What about bowel movements still -- -- definitely very we like to say that it's within the realm of normal to have a bowel movement every other day.
Sit up until as many times -- the baby is feeding -- -- so that's really within the well realm of normal but it's really big here in diapers that tell us that the baby is getting adequate amounts of breast milk.
Can they pick anything up there -- obesity.
The energy need the irritability.
That the baby.
Hands absolutely right -- babies appear more fatigued more lethargic that may be keying in that the parents to know that the -- not getting sufficient nutrients.
Another real great indicator that I like to tell mom says to know their milk is truly and you know do their -- -- they have a sensation that they feel in -- before feeds and and feel and and also really following up with your pediatrician and having those -- child -- to -- their weight and says.
To know if they're gaining sufficient amounts of weight is actually incredibly -- -- and.
Now a lot of women have breast feed for -- you know I would say maybe ten to 15% of them do get.
Either very painful -- or sometimes they get a little infection what we -- -- ideas apps and the question always becomes well.
You know.
I went to see Dr.
Manny and he told me I got a little mist in the slightest going on but I want to continue breastfeeding.
So.
You know on I would say well -- have a conversation with your pediatrician -- so here's my patients.
You know I -- -- delivered three weeks ago she has this you know.
And I'm gonna give her a little antibiotic a little penicillin like medicine.
When you -- color.
So as you know -- status is that they inflammation and redness of of the breast in addition to fever and Malays and so when when -- experience -- last night as they.
-- their breasts and to be very painful however we absolutely recommend that they should continue breastfeeding.
Throughout the infection because.
Actually the emptying of their brass have been shown to be -- was -- therapeutic effect.
And make mom feel bad hair it's an absolutely encourage that and moreover we wanted to continue breastfeeding because if she stops and the production of of -- will look halts.
We want -- to really continue to breastfeed through the infection.
What are some of the most popular myths that you want to sort of bust here in the show Bob -- So I would say first and foremost the most popular method that it's impossible to get pregnant while breastfeeding and this is actually not turn out it's been -- that I now that you know I think.
It's been shown that -- -- the first six months at mom's exclusively breastfeed and this includes nighttime feeds as well.
That the incidents of pregnancy is reduced but it's not completely eliminated -- it's a very important that parents.
-- lot you know are gonna be sexually active while they're breastfeeding it's very important that they speak to their doctor about necessary.
Sort of print that prevention and and -- I would say another really popular myth is that women who actually had inverted nipple that it's impossible for them to breastfeed and this is also not -- -- They can -- nipple shields the kind of help.
Set to get the milk out and to have the baby be comfortable and have like a very secure -- what about what about women with breast implants.
So women with breast implants can absolutely still still breastfeed and I would I would recommend that and.
Totally agree with you well listen these -- -- -- -- and thank you thank you so much for having me hope to see you soon.
Andy do you have any health topics who went on to me about email me here -- I've got to many of -- whose outcome until next time.
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