La lactancia materna. Mejor para el bebé. Mejor para la mamá.
BREASTFEEDING MADE EASIER AT HOME AND AT WORK
See also: Family Support -- Pumping -- Storage --
Breastfeeding and Pumping Accessories
Breastfeeding is a unique experience for each woman and her baby, and each woman has to
find her own routine, setting, and positions that work best. Today, many mothers return to
jobs outside of their homes after their babies are born, and the breastfeeding routine
that they've set up while on maternity leave has to change. Many women continue to
breastfeed successfully though, with the help of a breast pump. Whether you choose to stay
at home to care for your baby, or choose to return to a job outside your home, here are
some tips about breastfeeding and pumping to make breastfeeding easier and safe for you
and your baby.
Before Your Baby is Born
Nipple Type
- Before your baby is born, it is helpful to know what type of nipples you have.
A flat nipple lies flat
against the areola (darker
circular area around the nipple) instead of protruding outward like a normal nipple. Inverted nipples seem pushed
inward to the areola. Both flat nipples and inverted nipples can make correct latch-on
more challenging for your baby since they are not easy for the baby to grab in his or her
mouth. One solution is to wear a breast
shell (a round plastic shell that fits around your breast) in your bra to
create a moist environment around the nipple
to help it protrude for easier latch-on.
Regular Nipple |
Flat Nipple |
Inverted Nipple |
Regular, flat, and inverted nipples |
Medications
- Before the birth of your baby, know what medications you are taking or may have
to take after the birth, and how they will affect your baby through your breast milk.
Talk with your health care provider about their safety, and about possible alternative
treatments that won't affect the baby. While breastfeeding, if you become ill and have to
take medication, tell your health care provider that you are breastfeeding. It may be
possible to temporarily pump and discard your breast milk while taking the medication.
During this time, you can use previously stored breast milk or formula to feed your baby,
but you will be keeping your breast milk supply at a level that will meet the baby's needs
when your treatment is over. For more information on how medications affect breast milk,
see the section on How Lifestyle Affects Breast Milk.
Current as of August 2005
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