Breast milk is the primary source of nutrition for babies from birth. Giving breast milk to babies for the first six months has a tremendous impact on the child’s growth. This is also called exclusive breastfeeding.
Breast milk provides very complete nutrition because it contains fat, carbohydrates, protein, and water. As long as the proportions are right, all of these nutrients can support digestion, brain development, and optimal growth in babies.
Seeing the many benefits of breast milk, working mothers may be worried if exclusive breastfeeding for their little ones is not done optimally. Therefore, let’s check out the article on breastfeeding guidelines for working moms!
Various Benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding
In fact, breastfeeding is recommended from birth to 2 years of age. Breast milk continues to be given after the baby reaches 6 months of age because about 65% of their energy needs at the age of 6-8 months are still met through breast milk. At the age of 9-12 months only about 50% of their needs come from breast milk, and only about 20% at the age of 1-2 years.
The purpose of exclusive breastfeeding is that breast milk fulfills nutrients and is an antibody that is important for baby growth. In addition, exclusive breastfeeding also provides many other benefits, such as:
1. Protects Babies from Various Diseases
Exclusive breastfeeding contains antibodies and immune factors that help protect babies from various infections and diseases. This is what can provide natural protection for babies from exposure to allergies,
diarrhea, and other infections.
In fact, giving babies exclusive breastfeeding puts them at lower risk of developing colds and respiratory disorders.
2. Maintain ideal baby weight
Exclusive breastfeeding for babies can help reduce the risk of obesity in childhood and adulthood. Breast milk can help regulate a baby’s eating patterns, providing the right amount of food and promoting balanced growth. Breastfed babies have more leptin, a hormone important for regulating appetite and fat storage.
3. Provide the Best Nutrition for Babies
Exclusive breastfeeding can provide all the nutrients that babies need for their good growth and development. Breast milk also contains important substances that are easily absorbed by the baby’s body, and its composition will adjust to their growth.
In the first month after giving birth, mothers only produce thick, yellowish breast milk called colostrum. This type of breast milk is very high in protein, low in sugar, and contains many beneficial compounds.
4. Helps Baby’s Cognitive Development
In addition to affecting the physical development of the baby, exclusive breastfeeding can support the cognitive development process . According to research, babies who receive exclusive breastfeeding have higher intelligence and are less likely to experience learning difficulties as they grow older.
The influence on cognitive development can be seen from premature babies, because it is likely to improve their growth and development if they receive exclusive breastfeeding. So, it is certain that breastfeeding does have an important influence on the cognitive development of babies in the long term.
Also Read: Know the Correct Breastfeeding Attachment for Maximum Breast Milk Benefits
5. Improves the bond between mother and baby
Breastfeeding is the most effective way to ensure the health and survival of your little one. In addition to the health of the baby’s body, exclusive breastfeeding also makes the mother closer to her little one.
Physical contact and interaction during breastfeeding helps strengthen the bond between mother and baby, providing a sense of security and comfort for the baby. Therefore, exclusive breastfeeding allows mother and baby to experience a strong emotional attachment.
Breastfeeding Schedule That Mothers Need to Know
Babies have a small stomach capacity from birth and will continue to grow. Therefore, mothers cannot provide breast milk continuously and must know when their little one starts to feel hungry. The general signs of a hungry baby are when he cries, sticks out his tongue, and licks his lips.
The frequency of breastfeeding can gradually decrease as the baby grows, but mothers must still meet their nutritional needs. Here is a guide to the exclusive breastfeeding schedule that mothers should know.
- Newborns up to 2 weeks of age generally breastfeed every 2–3 hours or about 8–12 times a day. Even on the first or second day after birth, they usually consume about 15 ml of breast milk at each feeding.
- At around 2 months of age , babies generally consume around 118 ml to 150 ml of breast milk in one feeding, with a duration of around 3 to 4 hours.
- Entering the age of 4 months , babies will usually consume 4 to 177 ml at one meal.
- When babies reach 6 months of age , they can consume up to 237 ml every 4 to 5 hours.
Although there are breastfeeding schedule guidelines for babies, mothers should still provide breast milk according to their little one’s wishes. Over time, a breastfeeding pattern will slowly form and the little one will adjust the frequency of breastfeeding to their needs.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Strategy for Working Mothers
Breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful experiences a mother can experience. However, unfortunately not all mothers can breastfeed exclusively or even ignore the importance of breastfeeding their babies. In fact, it is clear that the nutritional needs of babies from birth can only be obtained from breast milk.
For that, even though you are a working mom and have to leave your little one, never stop giving exclusive breastfeeding. Here is a guide to giving optimal exclusive breastfeeding for working moms.
1. Breast Milk Expression Practice
Pumping or expressing breast milk is a routine activity that mothers must do when they start working and leave their little ones.
Provide enough time and a calm atmosphere so that the mother can relax and express breast milk. Express as much breast milk as possible and collect it in a clean cup or glass. Even though the amount of breast milk is only a little, it is still very useful for the baby.
Leave about ½ cup full (100 ml) for the baby to drink at a time when the mother is out of the house. Cover the cup containing breast milk with a clean cloth, store it in the coolest place in the house, in the refrigerator, or in a safe, dark and clean place.
Breast milk should not be cooked or heated, because heat will destroy the anti-infective substances contained in breast milk. After breast milk is expressed, the baby is still breastfed to get the final breast milk (hindmilk), because sucking by the baby will be better than releasing breast milk by expressing. At work, mothers can express breast milk 2-3 times (every 3 hours).
This will help you feel more comfortable and skilled in pumping breast milk at work. In addition, you should also start storing breast milk before starting work so that your breast milk supply for your little one is maintained.
2. Use ASIP
Expressed breast milk (ASIP) has become a very common alternative for providing exclusive breastfeeding if the mother cannot be with her little one for a long time, for example when the mother is working in the office.
ASIP is obtained by expressing breast milk from the breast and placing it in a sterile container, such as a bottle, which is then given to the baby.
Before you start working, try to teach and get your little one used to using breastfeeding media. Later, you will know which media makes your little one most comfortable.
For example, you can give your little one breast milk through a bottle once or twice a day to get used to it. However, in giving exclusive breastfeeding, you should also get used to giving breast milk directly from the breast so that your little one remains comfortable and maintains bonding with his mother.
3. Set a Breast Pumping Schedule
In exclusive breastfeeding, mothers must make a schedule for pumping breast milk. So, when you start working at work, immediately talk to your boss to get time to pump breast milk.
Set a consistent schedule for pumping at work. This will help maintain milk production and provide your little one with enough “food” when you are not around. Don’t forget to find a comfortable and safe place when you want to pump.
4. Store Breast Milk Properly
The next exclusive breastfeeding guide is that mothers must know how to store breast milk properly . Because breast milk can also go stale or spoil if not stored properly.
Especially if you are at work and already have enough breast milk stock, proper storage will keep the quality of breast milk good. You can use easy-to-carry breast milk storage containers such as breast milk bags labeled BPA free or with glass bottles with tight lids.
Breast milk can last for about 8 hours at room temperature. However, it is best for mothers to immediately store it in the refrigerator at a minimum temperature of 4°C so that it can last longer.
5. Breastfeeding at Night
When you are done working and get home, you should take advantage of the time to give breast milk directly. You should take advantage of breastfeeding time at night so that skin-to-skin contact with your baby continues and strengthens the bond.
Breast milk production will increase if your little one is breastfed directly, because the baby’s sucking stimulates the hormone oxytocin to continuously produce breast milk.
In addition, during holidays from work, mothers can breastfeed their little ones directly and play with them.
6. Maintain Nutritional and Fluid Intake for Breastfeeding Mothers
Equally important is the fulfillment of nutritious food for breastfeeding mothers and fluids both at home and at the office. Do not miss meal times so that breast milk production remains abundant, Mom. If necessary, take breast milk supplements or vitamins to support health for breastfeeding mothers.
7. Ask for Family and Caregiver Support
The process of providing exclusive breastfeeding for working mothers also needs to be maximized with a mutual agreement between the mother, family, and caregiver.
Special education about the importance of breast milk, how to properly store breast milk, and providing breast milk is very important to be carried out starting before the mother returns to work so that it becomes a routine habit for family members/caregivers while the mother leaves her baby at home.
Well, that’s a complete explanation of how to provide exclusive breastfeeding for working moms. Hopefully this article is useful, yes, Mom.
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