Breastfeeding
Breast milk is the best baby food there is. It contains everything a baby needs for the first six months, and alongside solid food it remains an important source of nourishment long after that.
The composition of breast milk always matches what the baby needs at that moment. For a baby born prematurely, for instance, it differs from that for a baby born at term.
Benefits for the baby
The very first milk a baby drinks after the birth is called colostrum. It is extremely rich in antibodies that protect the baby against infection. Colostrum also has a laxative effect, so the first stools (meconium) leave the body sooner, which makes jaundice less likely.
Thanks to the antibodies in breast milk, breastfed babies are ill less often. They have considerably fewer ear infections, respiratory infections, stomach and bowel problems and bouts of diarrhoea, and their immune system develops better. Breastfed babies also suffer far less from allergic conditions, particularly when they have been breastfed for at least 6 months. They are less likely to develop chronic conditions such as juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer, diseases in which the (auto)immune system plays a part (multiple sclerosis, for instance) and Crohn's disease.
The fatty acids in breast milk play an important part in the maturing and development of the brain, which is why breastfed children score better on mental and motor tests. Breastfeeding also appears to play a part in a lower risk of cot death.
Benefits for the mother
Breastfeeding helps the mother's body recover more quickly after the birth. The baby's sucking makes the womb contract back to its original size sooner, and those contractions mean less blood loss. It also makes it easier to lose the extra body fat built up during pregnancy.
Women who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast cancer and of ovarian cancer, and less chance of osteoporosis. Because menstruation usually stays away for a few months, the risk of iron deficiency is smaller too.
Practical benefits
- breast milk is always available
- breast milk is always at the right temperature
- breast milk cannot spoil
- breastfeeding helps mother and baby bond
- breastfeeding can comfort a crying baby
- breastfeeding is kind to the environment
Practical tips
- put your baby to the breast within an hour of the birth
- try to feed every 2 to 3 hours in the first few days
- feeding often at the start gets your milk supply going sooner
- breastfeeding is a matter of supply and demand
- keep your baby in your room for the first weeks (rooming-in)
- do not give formula alongside breast milk without discussing it with your midwife
- if breastfeeding still hurts after a minute, take the baby off and latch again
- offer both breasts at every feed in the first few days
- break the suction before you take the baby off the breast
- do not give your baby a dummy
There is a great deal of information about breastfeeding online. Have a look at the site of the four Dutch breastfeeding organisations: www.borstvoeding.nl.
Breastfeeding and work combine perfectly well, and there are specific rules for it. For details see www.borstvoeding.com and www.arboportaal.nl. These sites are in Dutch.
You can rent a double electric Medela pump from the midwife. The practice also sells a few aids, such as nipple shields, mother mates and Purelan.
Formula feeding
If for personal or medical reasons you are not going to breastfeed, or if breastfeeding does not work out despite good support, formula is a good alternative. There are several brands available and the differences between them are small, so it matters little which one you use.
If allergies run in the immediate family, breastfeeding is advised rather than formula. Immediate family means you, your partner and any son or daughter you already have. If you would still rather use formula, buy a hypoallergenic one: after breast milk, that carries the lowest risk of allergies developing.