Dear Mom and Dad,
From now on, you are the owner of a small, cute baby and this baby has to depend on you until he acquires certain skills. We would like to share with you the most important topics and most frequently asked questions you may need while growing such a valuable asset.
Please read carefully.
From birth Then what should I feed my baby?
Breast milk; It is the best and most complete food that meets all the nutritional and emotional needs of your baby and ensures ideal mental and physical development. The most natural and correct way to feed a baby is to breastfeed. Breast milk contains all the nutrients necessary for babies' development and gives them resistance to infectious diseases. Studies have shown that the intelligence level of babies who are breastfed is superior to babies who are not breastfed. Breastfeeding also helps create a close relationship between mother and child, which affects the child's psychologically healthy development. For the mother, it is of great importance in terms of maintaining both physical and spiritual balance.
For your baby's healthy development, growth and best protection from diseases, you should definitely give your baby breast milk, that is, you should not stray away from natural nutrition. No other food can replace breast milk. Therefore, give your baby only breast milk for the first 6 months. Do not give the baby anything other than breast milk after birth (such as sugar water, ready-made formula, cow's milk, etc.).
In the first days after birth, the first milk produced from the breasts, called colostrum, is rich in protein, has a thick consistency and protects the baby against diseases. ” is secreted. This milk, which is of vital importance for the baby, must be given to the baby. Normal milk production begins on the fourth day and continues for months.
Whenever you have the opportunity, hold your baby in your arms and give him the chance to touch your skin, feel your scent, and make eye-to-eye contact with you at a time when he is very sensitive. Breastfeeding is important not only for the nutrition of the child, but also for establishing strong psychological bonds between mother and baby.
What should I do to increase breast milk?
In order to have plenty of breast milk;
- Get a good rest, fatigue, sadness and low mood are the most important factors that negatively affect breast milk.
- In the first month, your baby is 2-3 months old. Breastfeed at frequent intervals, not exceeding 1 hour. The more the baby sucks, the more abundant your milk will be.
- Drink plenty of liquid food. Consume beverages such as fruit juice, buttermilk, soup, compote, linden fruit juice, especially water and milk, at frequent intervals. Especially when you hold your baby to breastfeed, drink a glass of liquid along with it, it will increase your milk supply. Drink at least two glasses of liquid before going to bed to ensure that your milk supply is abundant throughout the night.
- Anything you give to your baby other than breast milk will cause your milk supply to decrease and then stop.
Turkish Delight, Avoid taking high-calorie foods such as sherbet, these foods do not help milk production, they cause you to gain excess weight and cause your health to deteriorate.
Never drink alcohol or smoke during breastfeeding. Be careful not to consume tea, cola and coffee-type drinks.
During breastfeeding, mothers may need to use medications containing iron and multivitamins if your Gynecologist deems it necessary.
How should I breastfeed my baby, what should I pay attention to?
Points to consider while breastfeeding:
- Breastfeed your baby in the most comfortable position, lying or sitting.
- Ensure that your baby's head and body are in the same direction while breastfeeding.
- While breastfeeding, ensure that the baby takes the tip of your breast and the brown ring around it into his mouth thoroughly. Only in this way will your baby be able to express milk from your breast effectively. This type of breastfeeding will prevent you from having nipple cracks and will help the baby swallow less air.
- Breastfeed from both breasts whenever possible at each feeding.
- Whichever breast you stopped breastfeeding from last, Start the next breastfeeding from that breast again.
- While breastfeeding the baby, ensure that the baby suckles from each breast for at least 10 to 20 minutes.
- Gas your baby in the middle of breastfeeding (when switching from one breast to the other) and after breastfeeding. Don't forget to remove it.
Do I need to give my baby water in addition to breast milk?
There is no need to give water to breast-fed babies. You can give 1-2 teaspoons of boiled-warmed water after each breastfeeding, just to prevent food residues from remaining in the mouth and to prevent thrush.
How should I take breast care?
It is unnecessary to clean your breasts before each breastfeeding. To prevent the nipple and dark circle from drying out, you can apply 1-2 drops of your own milk after each feeding. Wear a comfortable maternity bra day and night in the first weeks. Tight bras can block the milk ducts. Ventilate the breasts abundantly after each feeding and be gentle when massaging. When you wash it, wash it with clear water. Soap or carbonated water should not be used as it will dry the skin. Then dry thoroughly.
In the first weeks, some milk may leak after feedings. Small disposable tampons that you place in your bra absorb the milk. Leaking of milk shows that your milk production is good and prevents the breasts from becoming overfilled.
How can I tell if I have enough milk for my child?
Breast milk The fact that babies receiving at least 500 grams per month shows that breast milk is sufficient. Babies urinating frequently during the day, having a diaper full of urine in the morning, or a small amount of vomiting after feeding indicate that breast milk is sufficient.
Some mothers mistakenly interpret the baby's still desire to suckle after breastfeeding as an indication of hunger. However, in babies 4th-5th. Sucking occurs as a reflex, and has nothing to do with hunger or satiety. If you are concerned that your breast milk is not enough, be sure to consult your pediatrician and decide together with your pediatrician that breast milk is not enough.
I am breastfeeding my baby and I want to give him additional nutrition. Can I give him cow's milk?
Cow's milk (or pasteurized milk) is not suitable for human babies. It contains a lot of salt and protein compared to breast milk and formula. This is harmful to the baby's tiny kidneys. Additionally, since it contains insufficient iron and vitamin D, it causes anemia and inadequate bone development in babies. sometimes Cow's milk may cause intestinal bleeding and allergic problems in some babies. It may cause gas pains, diarrhea or constipation in babies. For all these reasons, it is not right to use cow's milk in babies before the age of 1. In cases where breast milk is not available, you can use a suitable formula recommended by your doctor.
How should I lay my baby?
Put your baby on his back or on his right side. Lying down is the safest sleeping position. You can only lay gassy babies face down on a not very soft surface while you are there to help them burp.
Since your baby's neck muscles are not strong enough yet, the baby cannot hold his head up until he is two months old. When you embrace him, do not forget to support his back and head with your arms.
Baby sleep patterns
The baby is fed, his diaper is changed, he is washed and dressed. spends most of the day (about 18-20 hours) asleep. As the baby's age increases, sleep duration also shortens. However, this sleep never exceeds 2-3 hours continuously, day or night. Thus, during this period, you can never sleep for more than 2-3 hours continuously. Your sleep will definitely be interrupted either to feed, to take the diaper or just to play. This situation lasts until the 5-6th month in most babies. During this period, your duty is to start exercises to establish your baby's sleeping habits. Some babies stay awake for long periods of time for no apparent reason. Don't worry, let your baby decide his own sleep time. When your baby is sleepy, he/she makes certain movements such as rubbing his eyes and pulling his ears. Learn these movements.
Start teaching your baby the difference between night and day. Start this at 2 weeks old. Play with him, talk to him, take care of him during the day. When it's time to sleep at night, dim the lights and slow down the games you play as much as possible. Limit all activities that will attract his/her attention.
How should I care for the belly?
Do not bathe your baby until his belly falls. A few days after birth, the umbilical cord remnant turns dark and falls off after 1-3 weeks. Things you need to pay attention to to prevent the area from getting infected:
- You can speed up healing by letting the area breathe and making sure it is dry.
- When diapering the baby, do not fold the front of the diaper downwards and cover the umbilical cord. Thus, allow the umbilical cord to breathe and prevent contact with urine.
- Dress your baby's umbilical cord with a 70% alcohol solution every day, once a day, until the umbilical cord falls out. When dressing, simply apply the alcohol solution to the area where the umbilical cord comes into contact with the skin. Be careful not to stain a large area of the skin.
- If the area around the navel becomes red or there is leakage or bleeding, consult your doctor.
How often and how often should I treat my baby? How should I bathe him?
One of your baby's most important needs is bathing. You should make your baby love the bathroom and encourage him to be clean, starting from an early age. After the belly button falls, take a bath every day in hot weather and every other day in cold weather for up to 3-4 months. Schedule bath time when you are hungry and especially before bedtime. The room where the bath will be taken should be warm. Water temperature should be 36-37°C. Water temperature can be determined simply by inserting your elbow into the water. The water temperature should be at a level that does not burn the elbow. When cleaning your baby's nose or ears, use a clean cotton pad and clean only the areas you can see. Never leave the baby alone in water or near hot water sources.
Nasal congestion in babies
Nasal congestion in babies is a common problem. . Babies with nasal congestion will have difficulties during breastfeeding and falling asleep. When you feel that your baby's nose is blocked, apply 1-2 drops of physiological saline drops.
What should I pay attention to when diapering my baby?
Newborn The baby will pee and poop very frequently. These wastes have an irritating effect on the baby's extremely sensitive skin. The diaper used should be changed whenever it becomes wet or soiled with feces. The aim is to keep the baby's diaper dry. If you have enough
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