You came together with your baby this month. Both you and your baby are very excited. You pay attention to many things about your baby`s health and nutrition comes first. Hello to the `only` breast milk adventure that will last for 6 months! Just as much as your baby`s nutrition, you also need to be nourished in an adequate and varied way. Formula supplementation in cases where breast milk is insufficient or in cases when breastfeeding is not possible at all, feeding with formula can be an adventure for you and your baby. Whether you`re breastfeeding or not because of any reason, don`t forget that you`re on the best adventure in this world. You and your baby are unique with your everything!

NUTRITION WITH BREAST MILK

Breast milk is the best and only food for the baby`s nutrition, growth, development and protection from diseases. Being present in your breast when you give birth, the first breast milk, which is called `beestings` among the people and `colostrum` in the literature, is the first vaccine of the baby. This milk, which is about 10-40 ml, provides a very important protection mechanism for the baby.

1. Breast milk produces antibodies that will support the baby`s immune system against common babyhood diseases.

1. It is extremely effortless, economical and does not require heating.

1. It provides the convenience of giving directly to the baby without fear of hygiene.

1. It is quick to empty from the stomach and is easy to digest. It provides soft defecation.

1. Asthma, food allergy and skin diseases such as eczema are less common.

1. It protects against the problem of decrease in red blood cells (anemia) and sudden infant death syndrome.

1. It contains almost all vitamins and minerals that the baby needs. However, there are some vitamins that your baby should take from the outside.

1. Provides protection against diseases such as cold (snuffle), ear and ureter infections.

1. It reduces the possibility of heart attack, stroke and diabetes by lowering the cholesterol level.

1. Breastfed babies gain protection against obesity in adulthood.

1. Feeding your baby from your breast is also important for the psychological development of your baby. It strengthens the wonderful bond between you and your baby and makes your baby feel safe.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE FREQUENCY OF BREASTFEEDING?

Your milk may come at different times depending on the type of birth. If you had a natural or normal birth, your milk will come right after the birth, and if you had a cesarean delivery, your milk will come in about 1-3 days.

In order to produce long-term and abundant milk, you need to breastfeed frequently. It may not be easy to adjust the frequency of breastfeeding and the duration of breastfeeding immediately after the birth. It`s important to breastfeed for as long as your baby wants, no matter how often.

1. Breastfeeding your baby frequently in the first days is one of the stimuli that increases breast milk. In this period, breastfeeding instead of a pacifier has a milk-increasing effect to meet the baby`s needs other than hunger.

1. Newborn breastfeeding frequency may be 8-12 times a day and the intervals between meals may start to increase after 6-8 weeks. You should give a single breast with an average of 15-20 minutes.

1. It is important that breastfeeding intervals do not exceed 3 hours. If your baby leaves your breast in less than 10 minutes, it means he or she is not emptying your breast well.

1. If your baby wants to breastfeed longer, you should switch to the other breast. It is correct not to switch to the other breast without completely emptying one breast. If the breast has not been emptied, you should start breastfeeding from the breast that is not fully emptied at the next feed.

1. It is sufficient to breastfeed your baby 7-8 times a day that has completed its one-month development, The number of breastfeeding decreases a little until the end of the 3rd month, it decreases to 5-6 per day.

1. From the third to the end of the 6th month, the number of breastfeeding continues to be 4-5.

1. At the end of the sixth month, the transition to supplementary food begins. The number of breastfeeding decreases to 3-4, other meals are supported with supplementary food.

HOW SHOULD THE NIGHT NUTRITION BE FOR THE BABIES FEEDED WITH BREAST MILK?

1. Your baby also wants to breastfeed at night in 0-6 months period. Since it is recommended that the breastfeeding the baby is every 2 hours in the first month, you may also need to wake your baby at night to breastfeed.

1. It will be sufficient to breastfeed your 2-month-old baby only when it wakes up until the end of the 6th month.

1. After completing the 3-month development of your baby, it can sleep for 4-5 hours without a break. For this reason, you can continue to breastfeed approximately 2 times in the night between the 3rd and 6th months.

1. Let`s mention that you can also breastfeed your baby every time when it cries and is hungry throughout the night.

HOW TO KNOW IF THE MOM`S MILK IS SUFFICIENT?

1. The best indicator of whether breast milk is sufficient for the baby is the rate of weight gain and growth of the baby.

1. Your baby loses approximately 10% of its birth weight in the first ten days. Then, when it gains weight and fills the second week, it reaches its birth weight. This is an expected situation.

1. At the end of the second week, if your baby`s weight is the same as its birth weight, it shows that everything is in order.

1. If your baby gains 600-900 gr. on average every month in the first 6 months and if your 6-month-old baby`s weight has reached twice its birth weight, it is sufficient to gain weight.

HOW SHOULD BE THE USAGE OF FOLLOW-ON-MILK FOR THE BABIES RECEIVING BREAST MILK?

Follow-on-milk is a supplement product that provides the necessary nutrients in cases where breast milk is insufficient. It is also called formula milk. If your milk is not enough for your baby to gain weight, you should try to increase your milk first. Despite all the precautions you take, if your milk does not ensure the adequate growth of your baby, you may have to give formula with the guidance of your pediatrician.

1. If you need to feed your baby with bottle formula, you can only use formulas that are labeled as “breastmilk substitute” in the first six months.

1. You can also use follow-on formulas after your baby is 6 month old.

1. If you have a little breast milk, it is important that you breastfeed before each formula and give formula after breast-feeding. It is stated on the formulas how much use is required in how many month old babies and these are average amounts. How much formula you should give your baby depends on how much milk you have.

1. Follow-up milk is prepared by watering. Using less powder than specified will cause your baby not to grow, while using too much powder will cause your baby to develop thirst and kidney problems.

1. Since your baby`s immune system is not sufficiently developed in the first 6 months, another issue you should pay attention to when using formula is hygiene. When formula food is used, factors such as boiling and warming water and using a bottle come into play, and their cleaning is also important. Using of the sterilizers, which both serve as food and bottle heating and provide hygiene, greatly facilitates your work.

MONTH OLD BABY NUTRITION WITHOUT BREAST MILK

It may not be possible to give breast milk to your baby in cases where it is very necessary to use some drugs that should not be used while breastfeeding, or when the milk does not come right after or after the birth or goes dry. You should feed your baby that is not breastfed with formula.

The first amount of formula you will give after the baby is born is 30 cc/ml. Depending on the growth of the baby, the amount of formula is as follows; Give your baby 6-8 times a day, 30-90 ml at a meal.

NUTRITIONAL TIPS

1. Good breastfeedinging of your baby both ensures satiety and increases your milk production. In order for your baby to breastfeed well, your breastfeeding position, applying the right breastfeeding techniques, breastfeeding environment, psychology, in short, your breastfeeding comfort is important.

1. If possible, give your baby only breast milk for the first 6 months. If formula is needed, observe the effects of your chosen formula on your baby. Be sure to check if it causes problems as any digestion, excessive gas, allergies.

1. It is a scientific fact accepted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and all medical authorities that cow and goat milk should not be used especially in the first year in cases where breast milk cannot be given. If breast milk is insufficient, you should consult your doctor.

1. In this period, first of all, it will help you to be calm, peaceful and comfortable, get good sleep, and breastfeed your baby efficiently in the right position, increase your milk supply.

1. Although every baby has different nutrition habits, newborn babies usually get hungry every 2-3 hours. Try to adhere to these meal intervals.

1. Make sure your baby is comfortable and peaceful before feeding. Your baby should be awake, clean, and ready to be fed.

1. Make sure to give milk from both breasts each time you breastfeed. While breastfeeding, ensure that the nipple and the brown ring around it fit completely covering the baby`s mouth.

1. If your baby is bottle fed; check the temperature of the formula, the flow rate of the bottle and the correct placement.

1. Be sure to help your baby to burp after breastfeeding or formula feeding. This will make it easier for your baby to sleep. You should definitely get information about gas pains and precautions.

1. You should breastfeed your baby regularly, have a balanced diet, rest, and stay away from stress.

1. Your nutritional needs increase during breastfeeding. For this, you should prefer foods with high nutritional value and avoid foods and drinks that will harm your health.

1. Adequate and varied nutrition is the most robust option among ways to increase breast milk. In addition, proper nutrition increases the amount of milk, as well as enriches the content.

1. You should not use alcohol and cigarettes during breastfeeding.

1. If your doctor prescribes medicine for you for any reason, be sure to state that you are breastfeeding.

1. Drinking plenty of fluids is one of the most important keys to increase your milk supply. Drinking at least 2.5-3 liters of water a day, fruit compotes without added sugar, some herbal teas such as fennel, linden will help you increase milk production. Sage, mint tea, may flower, thyme and parsley tea are not recommended since they reduce milk production.

1. Including green leafy vegetables, eggs, apricots, meaty vegetables and legumes in your nutrition program helps to increase your milk. However, it is helpful to stay away from gas-producing foods.

1. Breast milk contains enough water. The baby who receives only breast milk does not need water until 4-6 months of age, until it switches to supplementary food. In the past, a little water was given to the baby to clean the mouth after breastfeeding and to prevent thrush. Scientific studies have shown that even this much water is not necessary today.

1. There is no need for water in babies who are fed with formula in the absence of breast milk. Formulas prepared with the right amount of water meet the baby`s water, that is, liquid need. You should prepare the amount of water in accordance with the measurements written on the formula package. In addition, the formula has the content to meet the nutritional values ​​​​the baby needs.

1. A baby who grows and develops adequately with breast milk in the 0-6 months period does not need different formula or food supplements.

1. Your baby does not need supplemental iron for the first 4-6 months. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics believes that infants who cannot or are partially breastfed should be given iron-fortified formulas (containing 4-12 mg of iron) from birth to 1 year of age.