Breast milk , to be specific human milk , is the milk produced by the breasts (or mammary glands) of a human female for her infant offspring. Milk is the primary source of nutrition for newborns before they are able to eat and digest other foods; older infants and toddlers may continue to be breastfed , either exclusively or in combination with other foods. The baby nursing from its own mother is the most ordinary way of obtaining breastmilk, but the milk can be pumped and then fed by baby bottle , cup and/or spoon, supplementation drip system, and nasogastric tube . Breastmilk can be supplied by a woman other than the baby s mother; either via donated pumped milk (for example from a milk bank), or when a woman nurses a child other than her own at her breast — an ancient and storied practice known as wetnursing . The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, with solids gradually being introduced around this age when signs of readiness are shown. Supplemented breastfeeding is recommended until at least age two and then for as long as the mother and child wish. Breastfeeding continues to offer health benefits into and after toddlerhood. These benefits include a somewhat lowered risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), increased intelligence , decreased likelihood of contracting middle ear infections, cold, and flu bugs, a tiny decrease in the risk of childhood leukemia , lower risk of childhood onset diabetes, decreased risk of asthma and eczema, decreased dental problems and decreased risk of obesity later in life, and may possibly include a decreased risk of developing psychological disorders, particularly in adopted children. Breastfeeding also provides health benefits for the mother. It assists the uterus in returning to its pre-pregnancy size and reduces post-partum bleeding, as well as assisting the mother in returning to her pre-pregnancy weight. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast cancer later in life.
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Premium Questions (87)
Hello? I have a sore elbow, it's soft, squishy, and bruised. I haven't fallen so what could have caused this?
I haven't fallen or anything. Had a broken thumb a couple months ago.
My five month-old son had some black specks in his stool. We have never seen this before. He doesn't seem sick otherwise but I am concerned about it. He has had some gas today but nothing unusual. Apart from the black...
my 8 months old son is suffering from Loose motions & Vommitting.
He was prescribed
1) SYP OFLOMAC-M Forte ( 2.5ml-2.5ml X 5 DAYS)
2) Syp VORAST ( 2.5ml-2.5ml-2.5ml X 5 DAYS)
3) Syp FLORA-BC ( 2.5ml-2.5ml X 8 DAYS)
4) ENUFF-1-DT ( 1 ...
Our baby is 29 days old.
my wife gets too strained to feed my baby every once in 2 hours(esp in the night).
We have a medela breast pump to extract breast milk, which we use sometimes(properly sterlized each time and all precautions taken).
My...
My 4 month old baby has just done her first poo in 4 days. I have been mainly breastfeeding her but also supplementing her with a formula feed about once a day. Her poo was very thick and some of the lumps had a black appearance. More...
Dear Sir,
I have 2.8 years Old Son, he is around 11 kg, he doesn't like milk and so he is not drinking it,
I would like to kown how can we compensate the nutrients of milk or what else can be done from our side
Hi
i am pregnant right now bcz my date was 2nd april but it didnt happen and i checked i am pregnant so i want abortion but i do breastfeed one child from last 15 mnths so does it effect on breastfeed child...
We have three month old baby and my is still breast feeding her. We had sex today morning and due to some we missed to use condom. Can you please suggest medicine to avoid pregnancy? Can she use Ipill? I hope there is...
this is Dr XXXXXXX my baby is 7 weeks old presently she weighs 3.5 kg,her birth weight was 3.4kg,she passes urine 10 to 12 times daily,n stool once in 2 days,she feeds continuosly during day time,and hardly sleeps,my...
i have twins one boy and one girl. both of them are having loose motions for the past 15 days.I have already given walamycin ,zifi 50mg and currently giving bactrim each (completed 4 days), however there seems to be...
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Online Doctor Chat (110) - Human breast milk
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User : new born girl baby 25 days old
User : got cold
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User : she sneez
User : what precaution to be taken
User : her mom also had cold
Doctor : Most new borns will catch cold if she is...
User : Hi, My baby is 1 week old and he is crying every night too much. Can i give colimex for 1 week baby ?
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User : My baby cries only at night. He is 1 week old
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User : I have a Baby of 7 month old
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User : How to improve his growth
User : means height
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Doctor : What diet are you giving him now?
User : we are giving baby...
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User : i would like to ask about one of my 4 month old twin baby girl
User : just rescently, i noticed...
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Public Forum (446) - Human breast milk
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can we give milk after eating egg to my 3 years old baby can we give milk after eating egg to my 3 years old baby at bed time
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i had my son last year by c-section, and i had my tubes tide, and just a couple of days ago my breasts are really full of milk does that mean that i am pregnant? I am also very tired and sleepy all the time
Hi, this morning I noticed my 6month old baby girl who has a small raised bump with red on his bum during a poopy diaper change. In the evening, I found two different red bumps (the previous one had disapeared). She s on breastmilk so her poop is runny. I started her on baby led weaning ( finger food only) recently and she s had only carrots and...
2 Answers
My son will be 5 months of age in a few days and he has had diarrhea and vomiting quite bad. We are currently on vacation in Mexico (we are from the Cayman Islands). He is not keeping any of his breast milk down (or any formula that I am trying also) and has not peed in almost a whole day (but does have very watery stool ). What can I do?...
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hi dr glad that i found out this site at the right time. my baby Anjani is 48 days old. sleeping now! i lack breastmilk a little. shez not getting her stomach full in the past two daysand is cryinga lot. i am loosing weight also. she has constipattion and is not passing motion properly. what should my diet be in order to overcome these problems?...
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My 4months old baby boy is suffering from cold since 2 days what medicine can i give him?
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Hi, kindly advice us.My baby is 31/2 month old, i have insufficient amount of breast milk ,so we are feeding her Dexolac - 1.Her weight is normally increasing & the pedeatrician has given the comment to continue with same food what you are giving her.
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How can i increase my breast milk? am a working mom...
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Hi My 14 month old son vomited two times yestreday. We started Vomikind . Now yesterday night he started loose motion. It s four times already in16 hours, not sure if he has diaorreha. He has given breast milk only for 15 days aft birth. We are giving Nan as supplement . Apart from that he takes only Cerelac and rice paste only. Bou now he is...
My daughter was born Nov 4, 2012 weighing 2.980kg and height 54cm. At her 1 month appointment she weighed 3.800 (57cm), at her 2 month appointment she weighed 4.825 (59cm), currently (11 weeks old) she weighs 5.495kg at 61 cm. Until recently she was sleeping over 4 hours at a time at night, but a week ago she started waking up more often (every...
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