Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk from a woman's breasts . Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk.
Experimental evidence suggests that, with few exceptions , human breast milk is the best source of nourishment for human infants. Experts still disagree about how long breastfeeding should continue to gain the most benefit, and how much extra risk is involved in using breast milk substitutes.
An infant may be breastfed by its own mother or by another lactating female. Breast milk may be expressed and fed to a baby through a bottle
Pumps range from electric pumps to manual pumps. These pumps have a two-phase activity, which helps to stimulate the flow and production of breast milk.
Electric breast pumps come in a large range such as Symphony, Pump in Style which is a pump with a trendy backpack, Advanced, Swing, Lactina, Mini Electric Plus, Mini Electric.
Manual Breast pumps, Harmony, Manual Breastpump
Accessories to help with breast feeding. Medical grade lanolin is used as a cream to soothe skin. PureLan, a product that some breastfeeding mothers use on sore and cracked nipples, is pure, hypoallergenic, bacteriostatic medical grade lanolin
A nipple shield is a nipple-shaped sheath worn over the areola and nipple during breastfeeding. Modern nipple shields are made of soft, thin, flexible silicone and have holes at the end of the nipple section to allow the breast milk to pass through. Older nipple shields were made of latex and harder, thicker plastics and often caused more problems than they solved.
Nipple shields are used in various situations:
Some mothers have small or inverted nipples which make it difficult for the baby to latch on. Using a shield allows for feeding to progress until the baby's suction draws out the nipple.
Small, weak or sick babies often have difficulty latching on to the breast. A nipple shield makes latching easier and prevents the baby becoming discouraged.
Babies who had to be bottle-fed since birth can become used to the bottle teat. Nipple shields feel more like teats, and aid with the transition to breast feeding.
A mother's nipples can become sore or cracked from incorrect breastfeeding. A shield allows the mother to continue breastfeeding until her nipples heal and she improves her latching technique.
Most doctors and lactation consultants stress that nipple shields use should be temporary; the aim is always to return to regular breastfeeding.
Breast shells may be used to apply gentle constant pressure to the areola in order to try and break any adhesions under the skin that are preventing the nipple from being drawn out. The shells are worn inside the bra.
Breastshells, Contact Nipple Shields
Some mothers experience milk leakage during or in between breastfeeding milk leakage sessions. A variety of products are available to deal with leakage hygienically and discreetly.