BREASTFEEDING IS THE SUPERIOR CHOICE |
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Listed from Superior to Inferior From 0-3 months 24-32 oz is USUAL. (Low iron formula is no longer acceptable as it is not only deficient in the fatty acids needed for proper brain, nerve, and eye development but also in iron, which can Even Further affect your child's IQ! ) |
EXCLUSIVELY Exclusively Breastfeed FOR 6 MONTHS to optimally protect your child against ILLNESSES SUCH AS, DIARRHEA, STOMACH FLU'S, FOOD POISONING, EAR INFECTIONS, BRONCHITIS, PNEUMONIA, BLADDER INFECTIONS, CHICKEN POX and MENINGITIS. Exclusively BREASTFEED for a minimum of 6 months to optimally provide protection against chronic diseases such as, DIABETES, LEUKEMIA, LYMPHOMA, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, OBESITY, BREAST CANCER, ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA. |
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IS MY BABY GETTING ENOUGH? *Baby is latched on correctly. A correct latch has at least 1-2 inches of breast tissue BEYOND the |
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(continued) nipple inside the mouth and the lips are flared. Correctly latched an infant is able transfer milk from the breast. *WEIGHT GAIN IS THE MOST SENSITIVE WAY. Baby is gaining adequately if weight is increasing by 1/2 to 1 ounces per day in the first 4 weeks of life. Baby should be back to birth weight by the third week of life.*
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Mom's can eat whatever they like UNLESS there is a family history of severe allergic reactions (like to peanuts, cow's milk, seafood, fish, fruits, wheat, corn, etc.). If this is the case, then talk with your health care provider and refer to the breastfeeding and diet handout for suggestions to minimize your child's chances of becoming allergic. BABY'S FIRST FOOD BABY'S FIRST FOOD IS BREASTMILK (or formula if mom cannot breastfeed). Baby's RARELY need solid food before 6 months as their intestines are not mature enough to digest it properly. Early feeding of solids can result in food allergies, obesity, and stomach distress. If you must use formula see our, "How to Feed Formula" handout. FEEDING CUES LISTEN AND RESPECT YOUR BABY'S CUES THAT HE OR SHE IS HUNGRY or is FINISHED EATING. Cues that your baby is hungry include: limb movements, fussing, mouthing, and sucking. Never delay a feeding to meet a schedule~ this creates harmful pain in your child. Children nurse for comfort, thirst and hunger. How can one place an arbitrary schedule on cuddling, thirst (one day may be hotter than another) and hunger in a growing child? At the other extreme, never force your baby to Finish a Bottle or Food. (Your baby is the best judge of how much to eat and over-feeding can lead to weight problems.) A newborn baby is satiated after a feeding when he or she appears calm and lays with palms open, eyes half closed and has a relaxed body. IDEALLY Breastfed babies ARE ALLOWED TO end breastfeeding on their own (all except sleepy |
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Bottles may be used for, expressed breastmilk when mom cannot feed directly from the breast, iron-fortified formula, or diluted UNSWEETENED juice. FOOD ALLERGY: Signs of allergy include skin rashes such as hives, blotchy red patches, eczema, swelling of the lips or eyelids, coughing, diarrhea and vomiting. Isolated diarrhea and vomiting may be symptoms of food INTOLERANCE rather than allergy, and rashes occurring only in the diaper area probably result from pH changes in the stools. BOTULISM Babies under one year may develop BOTULISM if given corn syrup or raw honey. Breastfed babies are less likely to become ill and are less ill if they get botulism. MOTHER'S MILK *Your breastmilk is constantly changing in composition on an hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly basis in order to meet your child's individual needs.* |
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Copyright Christine Betzold NP IBCLC |