2. Breastfeeding
Breast milk alone is the only food and drink an
infant needs for the first 6 months of life.
Breast milk is easy for the baby to digest.
It promotes growth and development and
protects against illness
A baby who is 6 months and old needs to be
fed food along with breast milk. This should
continue until the child is two years old.
3. Breastfeeding
If regular weighing shows that a breastfed body
under six months is not growing well:
The child may need more frequent breastfeeding.
At least 12 feeds during a 24 hour period may be
necessary. The baby should suckle for at least 15
minutes
The child may need help to take more of the
breast in it’s mouth
The child may be ill and should be taken to a
trained health worker
Water or other fluids may be reducing the intake
of breast milk. The mother should not give other
fluids and should breastfeed only
4. Breastfeeding
There is a risk that a woman infected with HIV
can pass the disease on to her infant through
breastfeeding.
Women who are infected or think that they
may be infected should be tested and
advised on how to reduce the risk of infecting
their child
The best way to avoid the risk of transmitting
the infection is to avoid becoming infected.
5. Breastfeeding
Newborn babies should be kept close to their
mothers and begin breastfeeding within one hour of
birth.
Having the baby breastfeed soon after birth
stimulated the production of the mother’s breast
milk.
Colostrums- is the think yellowish milk the mother
produces in the first few days after birth. Mothers
should feed this to their baby as it is very nutritious.
Mothers who give birth in a hospital or clinic have
the right to keep their baby with them during the first
24 hours in the same room, and should insist that only
breast milk-not formula or water- is fed to their baby.
6. Breastfeeding
Frequent breastfeeding causes more milk to
be produced. Almost every mother can
breastfeed successfully.
Many new mothers need encouragement
and help to begin breastfeeding.
How the mother holds her baby and how the
baby takes the breast into its mouth are very
important.
Signs that the baby is in a good position for
breastfeeding are:
The baby’s whole body is turned towards the
mother.
The baby is close to the mother.
The baby is relaxed and happy.
7. Breastfeeding
Holding the baby in a poor suckling position
can cause such difficulties as:
Sore and cracked nipples
Not enough milk
Refusal to feed
Signs that the baby is feeding well:
The baby’s mouth is wide open
The baby’s chin is touching the mother’s breast
More of the dark skin around the mother’s
nipple can be seen above the baby’s mouth
than below it
The baby takes long deep sucks
The mother does not feel any pain in the nipple
8. Breastfeeding
Almost every mother can produce enough
milk when:
She breastfeeds exclusively
The baby is in a good position, has the breast
well in the mouth
The baby feeds as often and as long as he or
she wants including during the night
If a newborn sleeps more than 3 hours after
breastfeeding he or she may be gently
awakened and offered the breast
9. Breastfeeding
Mothers should not give babies other food or
drinks in the first few months of life because
this causes the baby to suckle less often, so
less milk is produced
Pacifiers, dummies or bottles should not be
given to babies because the suckling action
for these is very different than the suckling
action at the breast.
Mothers need to be reassured that they can
feed their babies properly with breast milk
alone. They need encouragement and
support from the child’s father, their families,
neighbors, friends, health workers, employers
and women’s organizations
10. Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding helps protect babies and
young children against dangerous illnesses. It
also creates a special bond between the
mother and child
Breast milk is the baby’s “first immunizations.”
It helps protect against diarrhea, ear and
chest infections, and other health problems
Protection is greatest when breast milk alone
is given for the first six months and continues
well into the second year and beyond
11. Breastfeeding
Bottle feeding can lead to illness and death
If a woman cannot breastfeed her infant, the
baby should be fed breast milk or breast milk
substitute from an ordinary clean cup
Unclean bottles and teats can cause illnesses such
as diarrhea and ear infections
Diarrhea can be deadly for babies
Illness is less likely if bottles and teats are sterilized in
boiling water before each feed, but bottle fed
babies are still far more susceptible to diarrhea
and other common infections than breastfed
babies.
12. Breastfeeding
The best food for a baby who cannot be
breastfed is milk expressed from the mother’s
breast or from another healthy mother
The breast milk should be given from a clean
open cup
If breast milk is not available a nutritional
adequate breast milk substitute should be fed
to the baby by a cup
Infants who are fed breast milk substitutes
(formula) are at greater risk of death than
breastfed infants
13. Breast Milk Substitutes
Feeding the baby breast milk substitutes can
cause poor growth or illness if too much or too
little water is added or the water is not clean
It is important to boil and then cool the water
and then carefully follow the instructions for
mixing breast milk substitutes
Animals milk and infant formula can go bad if
left at room temperature for more than a few
hours. Breast milk can be stored at room
temperature for up to 8 hours before going
bad. Keep it in a clean, covered container.
14. Complimentary Feeding
From the age of 6 months babies need a variety of
additional foods, but breast milk should be
continued through the child’s second year and
beyond
Although children need additional foods after
they are 6 months old, breast milk is still an
important source of energy, protein, and other
nutrients such as vitamin A and iron
From the age 6 months to 1 year, the child should
be offered breast milk before other foods
The child’s diet should include peeled, cooked
and mashed vegetables, grains, fruit, fish, eggs,
chicken, meat or dairy products to provide
vitamins and minerals
In the second year, breastfeeding should be
offered after meals and at other times. A mother
can continue to breastfeed her child for as long as
she and the child wish.
15. General Guidelines
From 6-12 months: breast feed frequently and give
other foods 3-5 times a day.
From 12-24 months: breast feed frequently and
give family foods 5 times a day.
From 24 months onward: continue breast feeding
if both mother and child wish and give family
foods 5 times a day.
Babies fall ill frequently as they begin to
crawl, walk, play and drink and eat other foods.
A sick child needs plenty of breast milk.
It is a nutritious, easily digestible food, when a child
loses appetites for other foods.
Breastfeeding can comfort a child who is upset.
16. Working Mothers
If a woman cannot breastfeed at her workplace
she should express her milk 3 times a day and store
for use later.
A woman employed away from her home can
continue to breastfeed a child if she breastfeeds
as soon as possible when she is with her infant.
If a mother cannot be with her baby during
working hours she should breastfeed often when
they are together, frequent breastfeeding will
ensure her milk supply.
The mother should not give breast milk substitutes if
she is able to breast feed the baby.
Families and communities can encourage
employers to provide paid maternity leave and
the time and a suitable place for women to
breastfeed or express their milk.
17. Protection Against Pregnancy
Exclusive breastfeeding can give a woman more
than 98% protection against pregnancy for 6 months
after giving birth, but only if her menstrual periods
have not resumed, if her baby breastfeeds frequently
day and night, and if the baby is not given any other
foods or drinks or pacifier.
It is possible for a mother to become pregnant
before her period returns, this becomes increasingly
likely 6 months after the birth.
Mothers should avoid becoming pregnant again until
her youngest child is more than 2 years of age.
A woman who wants to delay another pregnancy
should choose another method of family planning if
any of the following apply:
Periods have resumed.
Baby is taking other foods or drinks or using a pacifier.
Baby has reached the age of 6 months.
18. Photos Manual breast
pump
Pacifiers
Electric breast pump
19. Quiz
1.What is the best form of nourishment for
a baby during the first 6 months of life?
a. infant formula
b. water
c. Breast milk
20. Quiz
2.At what age should babies be given
complimentary foods along with breast
milk?
a. 4 months
b. 6 months
c. 8 months
21. Quiz
3.Mothers who are HIV positive can pass
the virus to their child during childbirth
and by breastfeeding.
a. TRUE
b. FALSE
22. Quiz
4.If a mother has HIV what should she
feed her baby?
a. Her own breast milk
b. Infant formula
c. Breast milk from another mother who does
not have HIV if socially acceptable
d. Either B or C
23. Quiz
5.
How long is it recommended that
mothers feed their babies breast milk?
a. 6 months
b. 1 year
c. 2 years
24. Quiz
6.How many hours can breast milk be
kept at room temperature before going
bad?
a. 4 hours
b. 6 hours
c. 8 hours
25. Quiz
7.Babies who are breast fed are healthier
than babies who are given infant formula
a. TRUE
b. FALSE
26. Quiz
8.When a baby has diarrhea, mothers
should
a. Give them water
b. Give them more breast milk
c. Wait until the diarrhea has stopped before
feeding
28. Quiz
10.Benefits of breast feeding for mothers
include:
a. Bonding time with child
b. Decreased risk of certain types of cancer
c. Natural family planning for up to 6 months
d. All of the above
