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Essay on breastfeeding techniques
Essay on breastfeeding techniques
Essay on breastfeeding techniques
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For me, becoming a dad for the first time was an amazing experience. Nine months of planning, anxiety, and excitement reached its climax during labor and delivery. The next thing I knew, I was holding a beautiful, mini human being I helped create. As I was sitting there, high on parental euphoria, I felt like there’s nothing in the world that could ruin such a perfect moment… until the moment was quickly shattered by the baby’s piercing hunger cry. If a baby is breastfeeding, it will probably be mom - not dad - who will swoops in to save the day.
As a new father, you may struggle to find your place in the life of your newborn if your baby is breastfeeding exclusively. Much of an infant's time is dedicated to sleeping and eating.[1] For a breastfeeding baby, it is the mother who is the primary source of nourishment. This can be a frustrating and isolating experience for dads. It can sometimes lead to the perception that fatherhood does not play a key role during the early stages of development - a perception which couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are numerous ways that men can make unique and meaningful connections with their babies.
Creating a Routine
Did you know that routines - especially bed time routines - can help your baby?[2][3] There are a many facets of daily care which dads can use to create opportunities for bonding. Give mom a break and establish a few things you can do with your baby regularly. Some ideas:
bathing dressing diaper changes
While you are doing these things, you can also talk and sing to your baby. Your child will begin to associate these activities with you. As a result, you will be identified as someone who they can look to for care and it will deepen your connection with your ...
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...cialists of Indiana - ITSI Research Briefs: Effects of shared parent-infant book reading on early language acquisition, 2007
6. Skin to Skin Contact is also known as SCC.
7. Sturdy Memorial Hospital: The Comfort of Contact, 2014
8. OB.Gyn.News: Early skin-to-skin contact promotes breastfeeding, benefits baby, 2013
9. WebMD.com: Skin-to-skin care with the father after cesarean birth and its effect on newborn crying and prefeeding behavior., 2014
10. Fathers can effectively achieve heat conservation in healthy newborn infants., 1996
11. The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA): ICEA Position Paper Skin-to-Skin Contact, 2014
12. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: NINDS Shaken Baby Syndrome Information Page, 2014
13. Centers for Disease Control: Fathers’ Involvement With Their Children: United States, 2006–2010, 2013
Many people believe that a mother being in a child’s life is more important than the father because of the initial bond they have for nine months while in mommy’s stomach and the moments they share during birth. However, “Just like women, fathers bodies respond to parenthood,
There are a number of tough decisions expectant parents must face during the nine months before their new baby arrives. One of the most difficult choices is surely whether to breastfeed or formula feed their child. Many new mothers think breastfeeding is too demanding, time consuming, and will leave the mother unable to feed her child in public. Another problem a new mother may encounter is the worry that her supply of milk is not enough to satisfy the child. Some parents question the benefits of breastfeeding and believe that formula feeding is just as beneficial towards their child’s overall health and wellbeing. The truth is, breastfeeding may have its challenges, but there are plenty of resources available to mothers that can help on their
However, the demands put on parents by the workplace can make spending time with the family a difficult task. The technological revolution has made it possible for businesses to assign work after hours which could cut into family time. Balancing family and work is even more difficult for new parents. They must learn what it means to be a parent, maintain a healthy marriage, and continue to provide for their family. According to Kunz (2013), parents experience stress and exhaustion following the birth of their child. Kunz also mentions the responsibility parents have to aid in every aspect of their child’s development. Parents are being pulled in one direction by their infant and another by their boss. This strain can be especially difficult for new mothers who want to breastfeed. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for 6 months (who.int, 2017). If a woman returns to work quickly after giving birth, she will have difficulty breastfeeding and is at a greater risk for postpartum depression (cbsnews.com, 2017). The need for time to bond with an infant, encourage healthy development of the child, and to rest from child birth are all reasons why parental leave should be offered to all people. The need for time off after the birth of a child is not exclusive to one group. Parental leave should be offered to all types of families and business’ and the government should offer adequate assistance
Infant attachment is the first relationship that occurs between infants and their mothers or other primary caregivers (Craig & Dunn, 2010). The mother-infant attachment begins at birth and is considered by a group of...
According to the American Dietetic Association, “exclusive breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition and health protection for the first 6 months of life and breastfeeding with complementary foods from 6 months until at least 12 months of age is the ideal feeding pattern for infants.”1 Breastfeeding has many benefits to mother and baby.1 Infant and children mobility and mortality are greatly improved due to the promotion of breastfeeding as an important health strategy.1 The promotion of breastfeeding as a health strategy also works to improve maternal mortalities and reduce overall healthcare costs.1 Breastfeeding for the duration of the first year significantly improves an infant’s overall health and chances of survival.1 Benefits of breastfeeding span from improving family dynamic and maternal health to reducing health care costs and decreasing the impact on the environment.1 Breast milk is unique in that is perfectly tailored to meet and infants need and provide optimal nutrition.1 As experts within the field of nutrition Registered Dietitians should promote and support breastfeeding for its benefits to both mother and baby.1
Mulder, P. J. (2006,). A concept analysis of effective breastfeeding. JOGNN: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 35, 332-339. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2006.00050.x
Infant attachment is the first relationship a child experiences and is crucial to the child’s survival (BOOK). A mother’s response to her child will yield either a secure bond or insecurity with the infant. Parents who respond “more sensitively and responsively to the child’s distress” establish a secure bond faster than “parents of insecure children”. (Attachment and Emotion, page 475) The quality of the attachment has “profound implications for the child’s feelings of security and capacity to form trusting relationships” (Book). Simply stated, a positive early attachment will likely yield positive physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development for the child. (BOOK)
Babies come into this world with physical, and emotional dependencies to others and learn about the world around them, including about themselves through early human interactions. The role of the parents is to provide a solid, supportive foundation to facilitate interactions creating a secure, loving environment for the child to grow. At the core of the infant’s healthy social development is the mother-child relationship. Parenting style and how well the mother respond to child’s sensory social signals, effect child’s aptitude to bond to others including to their peers. However, other factors are important, such as father involvement, mother’s mental state and peers support.
Breastfeeding rates are continually increasing. The nutritional benefit of breast over formula is a long established fact. “According to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breastfeeding rates improved nationwide in 2000-2008, and some of the greatest improvement was among black women. However, only about 59 percent of black mothers breastfed in 2008, compared to 80 percent of Hispanic mothers and about 75 percent of white mothers. For 2008 rates of breastfeeding at a baby’s first birthday, the number was about 23 percent overall but only 12.5 percent for black mothers. That low rate still marks a near doubling of rates among black mothers compared to the year 2000” (Currie, 2013).It is the recommended method of feeding an infant for at least the first six months of life. Breastfeeding has benefits to both mothers and their babies. The baby receives immunity to protect it from disease. Financially, breastfeeding can significantly reduce the burden of having a new child. Many mothers initiate breastfeeding in the hospital; however, the number of women who breastfeed until six months is very low (Guyer, Millward, & Berger, 2012). Breastfeeding is highly favored over bottle feeding. Yet, mothers still do not choose to continually breastfeed their infants. Do mothers who breastfeed during hospitalization have limitations or no desire to continue versus mothers who breastfeed for the recommended six months or longer at home?
The quality of these interactions and communications will affect the baby’s ability to achieve these goals. Babies learn very easy to signal their needs and desires. They may turn away, smile or cry to express their needs or desires. The caregiver should be the one to adjust their behavior to the baby and never expect the baby to adjust to them. The more consistent the caregiver is at reading and adjusting to the baby’s needs, the greater the development of positive interactions and emotional self-regulation. (Tronick, 1989)
• Parents are encouraged to hold their baby. You may bathe your baby, dress your baby, and sing or talk to your baby. Doing these things is normal and may help you feel close to your child. It may also help grieve and gain closure.
Phillips, K. (2011). First-time breastfeeding mothers: Perceptions and lived experiences with breastfeeding. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 26, 17-20. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/895978498?accountid=14694
Mothers who feel like they have successfully mastered the task of breastfeeding are associated with an increased duration of breastfeeding at six months (Kingston, Dennis, & Sword, 2007; McGarter-Spaulding & Gore, 2009; Wilheml, Rodehorst, Stepans, Hertzog, & Berens, 2008). However, Buxton et al. (1991) reported that mothers with low confidence related to their ability to breastfeed stop breastfeeding within the first week postpartum and were twice as likely to discontinue breastfeeding within 2 months compared to mothers who were more confident. One of the major decision factors causing mothers to discontinue breastfeeding is a deterioration and lack of breastfeeding confidence (Blyth, Creedy, Dennis, Moyle, Pratt, & Vries, 2002). I had empathized with the patient because she truly looked helpless and seemed to have a lack of confidence. For the short duration that her baby would latch on, the mother looked very happy with a radiant smile. You could tell she really wanted to breastfeed and tried really hard but she did not know the techniques to it and needed a lot of help and guidance but seemed quite shy to ask for help or to see if she was doing it
When mothers enter the workforce after their maternity leave has ended, they begin to face a challenge when breastfeeding their child. Most mothers tend to travel the convenient route, pushing breastfeeding aside, leaving its benefits behind. However, this does not have to be the case because breastfeeding in the workforce is possible. While on maternity leave, steps can be taken to prepare both the baby and the mother to return to work. Prior to returning to work, mothers can pump while the baby is asleep and also begin to feed their babies from a bottle to begin the adjustment process (“Breastfeeding and Going”). After returning to work, there are certain protection laws such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, garnering mothers the right to pump while working (“Breastfeeding and Going”). Even though it may be difficult, mothers who are returning to work have no excuse to discontinue breastfeeding their child. The benefits that come along with breastfeeding are worth overcoming the
Vukelich, C, Christie, J & Enz, B 2002, Helping Young Children Learn Language and Literacy, Allyn & Bacon, Bosten MA.