The natural way in which a mother feeds her new born baby, instead of on artificial formulas like cow’s milk is called lactation or breastfeeding. There are many advantages that breastfeeding has over artificial formulas. E.g., the mother’s milk is easier to digest, it prevents constipation, protects the baby from many infectious diseases. The benefits also include:

1) Promotion of healthy oral development.
2) Bonding and skin to skin contact between mother and child. Etc.

For the mother, the benefits include:

1) It reduces the chance of hemorrhaging from placental site.
2) An opportunity to rest
3) Encourages the contraction of the uterus, thereby returning the womb to the pre-pregnant size.

However, there are also problems that are associated to breastfeeding as well. Below, we will try to shed more light on the most common breastfeeding problems and also try to proffer some solutions to them.

1) BREAST ENLARGEMENT: After delivery, prolactin will be released from the anterior pituitary, and this is what promotes the secretion of milk. Usually, this occurs between the third and fifth day after delivery. At first, the breast will to be very full, heavy, hard and eventually becomes tender. The reason for this is because of venous and lymphatic oedema and engorgement. Because of high intra-mammary tension, milk producing cells will cease production and the milk ejection will be inhibited. This problem can either be severe or mild. It leads to cracked nipples and if sucking is allowed, and the baby cannot grasp the areola because the sucking here will be painful. Massaging and the expression of colostrums prevent breast engorgements. But if this eventually occurs, the treatment will be easier. Tension can be reduced on the breast by manually expressing little milk before breastfeeding, and emptied by same method after breastfeeding.

Using not too hot water to wash the breast before breastfeeding, also, using firm brassier to support the breast after breast feeding equally helps to reduce tension from the breast. If the engorgement is severe, the above methods are not allowed because they are painful. Rather, the woman should use some analgesic. Some doctors may equally prescribe large doses of stilbesterol, but this is not effective in already established engorgements. Rather, this therapy ( stilbesterol ) is best used for prevention, and best if given one hour before delivery and 24 hours later. It is not advisable on a mother who delivers through cassarian section in order to avoid thromboembolism. In order to suppress prolactin production, high doses of pyridoxine can be given daily.
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Look at almost any television show or magazine; unfortunately, the breasts are everywhere, selling everything from cars to cleansers. A huge industry in this country banks on woman’s breasts being seen in a sexual light, rather than as a part of woman’s reproductive and child nurturing equipment. Since media plays major role in showing that breasts only have a sexual side and hence lowers the importance of it being nurturing equipment.

The question that bothers many women today is whether “Breast feeding makes breasts unattractive”? Many women worry, for example, that breast feeding will cause their breasts to become droopy or ugly. But changes in breast shape are more related to pregnancy itself than to breast feeding. Breasts grow during pregnancy, as milk producing tissues develop. This stretches the fiber support tissue of the breast. Whether or not, these tissues spring back once the breasts shrink again is mostly a matter of luck – some woman’s breasts are springier than others. Women with highly elastic breasts can breastfeed and a few months later, look the same as they did before getting pregnant. Other mothers who do not breast feed can have long lasting changes in breast shape from their pregnancies.

Does breastfeeding make women unattractive to their husbands or partners? This varies from person to person. Some men are put off by nursing breasts, but many find them interesting and attractive. The fact that their spouse is feeding their baby from her own body fills some men with awe, other with lust. Some nursing mothers feel that their breasts are less sensitive to erotic stimulation. Others find that having longer breasts makes them feel more sensual.

Is breastfeeding sexually arousing? Nursing mothers often report that breastfeeding feels good, but the feeling is not really sexual. It’s clear to them that their breasts have developed a specialized function as a source of nutrition for their babies.

Will breastfeeding make your partner feel excluded or jealous? This does happen sometimes, but it doesn’t have to. Fathers can help make their partners comfortable for nursing, and they can take over many other parenting tasks, such as changing, holding, singing to and playing with the baby. Many nursing mothers pump their breast milk regularly, especially if they are working outside of the home, and faters can certainly feed this to their babies using a bottle, spoon or cup.
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