World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated from 1st August to 7th August.
This question looms in the mind of many mothers whose conceive before the first baby is weaned off. It puts the mother in dilemma too feed or not to feed. We got our expert Sonali Shivlani, Internationally Certified Pregnancy, Lactation and Child Nutrition Counselor, Mumbai to answer this question.
While many people think that breastfeeding delays conception, it isn t entirely true. Breastfeeding does delay ovulation, but it isn t a guarantee for birth control. Many women get pregnant while breastfeeding their first child. During such a situation, most women are advised to stop breastfeeding, as it is thought that breastfeeding the first child could pose developmental hurdles in the fetus. However, this is also not true. If the mother is healthy and follows a balanced diet, then there is no reason to discontinue breastfeeding during pregnancy. This is called tandem nursing. Here are some foods that can help a lactating mother boost her milk supply.
Changes in breastmilk during pregnancy
When a woman becomes pregnant, her milk composition changes from mature milk to colostrum. Many babies do not adapt to the taste and choose to be weaned off. However, some babies may decide to continue and might still want a feed after the arrival of the new one. Here is what you need to know about the importance of colostrum.
Well-meaning family and friends may frown on this practice, but it is perfectly fine for the mother to continue feeding both her children.
Here are few things a mother needs to keep in mind while choosing tandem nursing
Feed the younger child first: Ensure that the newborn is fed first, as the colostrum that come during the initial days is beneficial for developing their immature immune system. The older baby can have a feed later once the newborn finishes a feeding session. Here is why breastfeeding is important for the mother too.
Feed till the older baby is comfortable: After your newborn s arrival, don't be in a hurry to wean off your older child. In fact, the suckling done by your elder child will help to stimulate the breasts actively and hence build up milk supply. Here is how you can wean your baby naturally.
Here is how tandem nursing is beneficial for the babies
Image source: Shutterstock
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