A balanced, varied diet and drinking plenty of fluids (at least eight glasses of water a day) is very important during breastfeeding, to ensure that mother and baby are in the best of health. Breastfeeding requires at least an additional 500 calories per day. Much of this energy can be derived from fat stores laid down during pregnancy. However, remembering to eat when you are hungry, and drink when thirsty is essential.
Some substances pass into breast milk from the mothers body. Although generally less than 1% of any drug will pass through, it is wise to reduce or avoid your intake of anything likely to unsettle or irritate your baby. For example, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine or illegal drugs can affect feeding, sleeping and digestion. Mothers taking medication for an existing condition should always seek the advice of their doctor. It is essential when consulting health professionals to tell them that you are breastfeeding, so that advice and treatment is appropriate.
The frequency of feeds can increase during a baby’s growth spurts, which commonly occur at around two weeks, six weeks, three months and six months, although every baby is different. It may take 24-48 hours for the milk supply to catch up with the increase in demand, so rest where possible, eat well and drink plenty of fluids during this time.
If you want to combine breastfeeding with using bottles of formula milk, it is important to get breastfeeding fully established first to ensure that your own milk supply is not affected. It is more difficult to change from bottle-feeding with formula milk to breastfeeding than the other way around. As an alternative to introducing formula (which is nutritionally different because it is made from cow’s milk), many mothers use breast pumps to express milk into bottles. This supply can be kept in the fridge for a maximum of 24 hours, or stored in a freezer for up to three months for later use. It should never be re-frozen once thawed.
Working mothers can also find pumps useful for expressing milk during the day. If you spend much of the day away from your baby, your milk supply may change. Using a pump can help to keep the supply up and the expressed milk can be used for the baby’s feeds while you are at work.
Breastfeeding works on a supply-and-demand basis and it need not be difficult to combine working outside the home with breastfeeding your child. Breast pumps are available to rent or to buy; contact your midwife, maternity unit or support groups such as the National Childbirth Trust or La Leche League for more information. They can also offer breastfeeding advice to mothers returning to work.
The production of prolactin during breastfeeding suppresses the release of eggs from the ovary in some women. However, this contraceptive effect is only true if you are fully breastfeeding a baby aged less than six months.
This means that you must:
* be breastfeeding at regular intervals, day and night (feeds no longer than six hours apart),
* be giving your baby no other food or drink, so no breastfeeds are missed, and
* have had no normal periods since the baby’s birth.
Even if you fulfil these conditions, there is still a chance you could get pregnant. Most family planning clinics and GPs advise taking extra precautions, such as the use of condoms, the progestogen-only pill (POP) or IUD (the coil).