Many expectant mothers, especially those who plan to have a caesarean section, will ask, are there any special preparations to ensure smooth breastfeeding? What should I do to promote lactation after delivery? Many people think that a mother\’s breasts have no milk, and she must drink lactation soup and do breast massage to produce milk. What is the actual situation? Let\’s find out.
Do I have to induce lactation before I can drink milk?
Breast milk secretion for new mothers is a normal physiological process and in most cases begins naturally without external intervention. In fact, the breasts begin to synthesize milk during the second trimester. After the baby is born, he can receive colostrum.
In the first three days after delivery, a new mother’s breasts will not be very full. Breast milk at this time is thicker, slightly yellow, and there is not much secretion. This does not mean that the new mother does not have milk. On the contrary, the milk provided by the new mother to the baby is very precious colostrum rich in antibodies, which can meet all the needs of the newborn baby.
As progesterone levels drop after childbirth, the breasts, which are large baby food factories, receive signals that the baby has been born and begin to secrete large amounts of milk. Generally, 3-5 days after delivery, new mothers will have a \”milk\” feeling and their mammary glands will begin to secrete real milk. As for mothers who have had a caesarean section, you can rest assured because progesterone is the switch for milk secretion, which means that as long as the placenta leaves the mother\’s body, progesterone will naturally decrease. This is a process that every mother will experience, even if it is In a caesarean section, the placenta is removed after the baby is taken out. Therefore, whether it is a normal delivery or a caesarean section, as long as the placenta leaves the mother\’s body, the milk secretion switch is turned on, and the breasts will automatically secrete food suitable for the baby\’s growth and development.
The milk production process of a new mother\’s breasts does not require additional external intervention. The start of milk production is a completely internal and natural physiological process. Moreover, the milk-producing capacity of the mother\’s breasts is greater than the baby\’s needs. Mothers should have full confidence in breastfeeding so that their babies can eat the most natural, safest and most nutritious breast milk.
Do not induce lactation immediately after delivery
There are many expectant mothers who start drinking soup to induce lactation from the day of delivery. As a result, their breasts become severely swollen, which is counterproductive. In fact, it is very particular about when to start drinking soup to induce lactation after delivery.
The milk secreted by new mothers within 2-3 days after delivery is called colostrum, which contains less fat, more globulin, and the most trace elements and immune substances. After the baby sucks colostrum, a large amount of immunoglobulin can be obtained in the body, which plays a role in resisting bacteria. It is not advisable to induce lactation during the period of colostrum secretion. Avoid high-protein and high-fat foods such as pig\’s trotter soup and crucian carp soup, which will cause the colostrum to be too thick and cause difficulty in the release of milk. It is more appropriate for new mothers to start breastfeeding from the third day after delivery.
New mothers who are in good physical condition and have a large amount of postpartum colostrum can appropriately postpone the time of drinking lactation soup, and the amount of soup can also be appropriately reduced to avoid discomfort due to excessive breast fullness, stasis, and even acute mastitis. However, if a new mother gives birthIf the condition is relatively poor, it is advisable to drink prolactin soup as soon as possible. The amount of soup you drink should be determined according to your physical condition to prevent new mothers from indigestion caused by excessive gastrointestinal burden.
How to induce lactation correctly?
Hot compress massage
Expectant mothers who are 8 months pregnant should pay more attention to cleaning and massaging their nipples when taking a bath. Hot compress will improve the blood circulation of the breast, increase the stimulation of the breast and the smoothness of the milk duct, increase the intake of nutrients and milk ejection function, and indirectly improve the lactation function. Massage can stimulate breast milk production. Mothers can use a clean towel dipped in some warm water, wipe it in circles from the center of the nipple to the areola, and heat both sides in turn for 15 minutes on each side.
Let your baby suck more
There are many hormones that cause lactation in new mothers, but the most important ones are prolactin secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and oxytocin secreted by the posterior pituitary gland. The former promotes lactation and the latter promotes milk excretion. These two hormones work together to complete the breastfeeding function.
When the placenta is delivered, the pituitary gland begins to secrete prolactin, which prompts the acini to secrete milk. But in order for the milk to be discharged smoothly, the baby\’s sucking must stimulate the sensory nerve endings of the breast to secrete oxytocin. The baby\’s sucking will stimulate the secretion of prolactin and oxytocin, which is called \”positive feedback\” in medicine. That is, the more the baby sucks, the more milk is secreted, and the less the baby sucks, the less milk is secreted. Therefore, If the baby is not fed promptly after birth, the nipples will not be stimulated by sucking, these two reflexes will not be established in time, the milk will not be discharged, and lactation will be inhibited. Therefore, if you want to produce more milk, the most important thing is the stimulation of the baby\’s sucking.
The success or failure of breastfeeding lies in the first 1-2 weeks of your baby\’s life. During this period, the mother\’s willpower is the decisive factor. Mothers need to overcome the pain when the baby starts sucking the nipple and the pain of swelling, and continue to breastfeed. As long as the baby needs to eat, feed as much as possible to stimulate milk secretion. Don\’t let your baby suck your nipple just because there is no milk at first. Feeding should be done promptly; whenever the mother feels her breasts are full, she can also suck her baby. Actively feeding on demand and allowing the breasts to fully receive the baby\’s sucking signals are the most important things for new mothers.
Don\’t use a pacifier
Some new mothers like to use a breast pump to express milk when they are full, and then feed their babies with a bottle. This approach is very dangerous. Because it is easier to suck milk from a pacifier than from a nipple, the baby will develop \”nipple dependence\” and give up sucking the mother\’s nipple. As the baby\’s sucking stimulation decreases, the mother\’s milk secretion will gradually decrease, and she may even stop breastfeeding. Therefore, when feeding the baby, be sure to let the baby suck the mother\’s nipple, and do not let the baby come into contact with the bottle or pacifier, so as not to get used to the pacifier and not want to eat the mother\’s nipple.
Stay in a good mood and get enough rest
The amount of breast milk secreted is closely related to the mother\’s mental state. Insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, pain will lead to reduced breast milk secretion. Therefore, new mothers should not be anxious or impatient under any circumstances, stay in a good mood and avoid being depressed.
New mothers should also pay special attention to their rest. Nighttime breastfeeding can lead to poor sleep quality and reduced milk production. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers should pay attention to seizing the time and ensuring that they have enough rest. During the day, you can ask family members to help take care of the baby and take naps by yourself.