Just last week, we celebrated the annual event pioneered by The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action which is why this post is dedicated to the ABCs of breastfeeding! This event is celebrated every year from August 1 to August 7 around the globe. For this year, the theme is ‘Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility’. The first week is only the beginning and we still have the rest of the month to participate!
That is why I have written this article as one of my contributions to continuously support breastfeeding and share tips and techniques. All of these were also generously offered to me by the ever-supportive worldwide breastfeeding community.
In these three items, you will find out breastfeeding information that is important for all moms to know. As the ultimate source of our babies’ nutrition, we should have enough knowledge in this amazing experience between you and your little one. So let me guide you all and let’s head on to the next part of this article. Get to know the ABCs of breastfeeding today!
The Importance of Breastfeeding
First of all, I want to share with you that not all mothers have the ability to breastfeed. It is quite unfortunate but it is also understandable because some mothers have health conditions that prevents them from doing so. Thankfully, there are mothers who are willing to extend a helping hand.
In a survey with four thousand and seventy-two (4,072) respondents, it was found that thirty-four point twenty-nine percent (34.29%) agreed that “it is acceptable for mothers to feed their baby with the breast milk obtained informally from another mother (not including pasteurized breast milk from a milk bank)”.
That is the admirable number of mothers who I think are truly passionate about breastfeeding. They believe that every child must be breastfed and that they are most likely to share their own breast milk to mothers who cannot produce it.
This always reminds me of the importance of breastfeeding to mothers. I am happy to be part of such a supportive community that is why I want to help out as well. First off, by giving out the information for you first-time mommies! Although these are just the basic terms that are good to know. There are links in this post which are articles with more details. You can visit them anytime, whenever you are ready. It’s important to take it one step at a time so you will not feel a little too overwhelmed and loaded with information.
Now, what are the ABCs of breastfeeding?
A: Anatomy
In high school, we were taught in Biology Class the parts of our body and what their basic functions are. But let’s dig a little deeper into our breasts and how breastfeeding happens.
Of course, breastfeeding begins with our breasts. During pregnancy, our breasts get ready and release hormones that help produce the milk. It starts in the alveoli that are connected to the milk ducts inside our breasts connected to sacs called alveoli that store the milk. From a simple viewpoint, our breasts are made of a whole set of ducts protected by layers of fat and tissues so that our milk flows to our babies smoothly and securely.
Understanding how our breasts work before, during, and after pregnancy is one step ahead in your breastfeeding journey. Knowing the science behind it could help us if we ever experience problems. This is an entire post dedicated to the anatomy and physiology of breastfeeding. Check it out for more information.
Here’s a fun fact: the size of our breasts does not determine the volume of milk we produce.
B: Breast Milk Production
With the first part, you now have the basic idea of how our breasts work to be able to feed our babies. I think the great part about it is how our bodies work in this complex yet systematic process. Milk just comes with the baby. Quite magical, isn’t it?
Next, we should know what is in our breast milk. How does it happen? What is it composed of? And why is it considered the best milk for our babies?
Breast milk production happens in a process called “lactogenesis”. It is composed of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, and oxytocin which are responsible for producing, storing, and ejecting breast milk. These four are just the major hormones that lead the production. It takes more than that to produce this amazing liquid from our bodies.
This is composed of water, fat, carbohydrate, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids. Take note that it has immunity-building properties like white blood cells, antibodies, enzymes, and other substances to strengthen your baby’s immune system.
So that is why you have got to keep a healthy and strong body. Remember to eat well, get plenty of rest, and do light exercises, especially while you are still pregnant. Make those breasts work for lots of milk for your baby! You are not only doing it for you but for your little one as well.
READ MORE: Understanding How Your Body Prepares for Breast Milk Production
C: Continuing Breastfeeding
After pregnancy and breastfeeding your baby for the first few months, there may be instances where you would need to go back to work. How does breastfeeding happen by then? This is where things get a little bit tricky, depending on the stand of your offices (if you ever work in one) on actively breastfeeding employees. How do you continue breastfeeding by then?
First of all, let yourself be informed about your office policies and guidelines. You would need to bring a breast pump so that your milk does not go to waste and you wouldn’t experience unexpected leaks. Some offices have dedicated lactation rooms that are equipped with breastfeeding must-haves. If there’s none, you have the right to request it from your HR department since there are existing laws regarding it.
And remember: you should never, ever pump in the washroom!
If you are currently pregnant, it is now the right time to invest in the essentials like breast pumps, breast shells, milk containers, and mini coolers, just to name a few.
Wrap-Up
If you’re still here reading these, well done, mommyz! As I said, these are just three of the basic things you need to know about breastfeeding: the anatomical process of it, the components of breastfeeding, and how you will continue at work. There is a whole lot more to it but we’ll end the discussion right here. I just wanted you to get to know about it a little bit more. Come back to this post and find all the links to my other blogs whenever you’re ready to dive into more details.
For my last recommendation, always consult your healthcare provider or lactation consultant for more detailed and personal breastfeeding advice.
Watch this video below to get to know a little bit more about the anatomy of breastfeeding. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Mommyz Love YouTube channel for more breastfeeding and motherhood tips:
Prepare for your breastfeeding journey with Mommyz Love breastfeeding items: https://www.shop.mommyzlove.com/.
