Sometimes, a baby that is breast fed may suddenly decide to refuse breast feeding.  The baby will pull away from the breast, then toss his head from side to side.  This can happen at anytime, so there really is no way to predict it happening.

Reasons why
Refusal to feed from the breast could occur when the baby is in pain. Normally, this can be due to an ear infection, sore head from vacuum delivery, thrush in the baby’s mouth, or teething.

The use of dummies, teats or nipple shields may also contribute to refusal.  Some babies actually find  it difficult to feed from the breast and bottle as the sucking action is very different.  Some become confused, therefore it’s always best to avoid using any type of teats or dummies.

Sometimes, the milk just takes bitter.  This can be due to antibiotics, if you starting or in the middle of your period, or nipple creams.  If the milk tastes bitter, your baby will normally not want to feed.

Solving the problems
First, you should always try to identify what may have caused the breast refusal then begin to treat the cause.  Always remain patient and gentle with your baby.  Be sure to hold your baby next to you, skin to skin, so that he can take the breast when
he wants to, so that he begins to realize that breast feeding is both enjoyable and comfortable.

Older babies may suddenly take shorter and fewer breast feeds, although this can be normal with some babies.  Therefore, it’s always best not to try and make the baby feed longer, but instead let the baby decide how often and also how long each
individual feeding will last.

For many years, scientists have been playing out the ingredients that make breast milk the perfect food for babies. They’ve discovered to day over 200 close compounds to fight infection, help the immune system mature, aid in digestion, and support brain growth – nature made properties that science simply cannot copy.

The important long term benefits of breast feeding include reduced risk of asthma, allergies, obesity, and some forms of childhood cancer. The more that scientists continue to learn, the better breast milk looks.

In addition to making your baby healthier, breast feeding may also make him smarter. Many studies have proved that breast fed babies tend to be more smarter than babies who were fed with formula or other methods. Breast feeding does help with nutrients and the support of brain growth, which is something every mother should think about.

The benefits for the nursing mom are just as good as they are for the baby. The hormones that are released during breast feeding will curb blood loss post delivery and help to shrink the uterus back to it’s normal size.

Long term, the breast feeding mom will have a lower risk for premenopausal breast cancer, which is the kind that strikes before the age of 50. The benefits will begin to show with three to six months of breast feeding and increase the longer that breast feeding continues.

By now, you should realize that breast milk is one power packed liquid. It offers more for your baby than formula, or any other scientific creation for that matter. As you begin to plan for the future of your baby, make a commitment to breast feeding him for as long as you possibly can – as it will do both your bodies good.

Almost all women don’t have a problem with producing enough milk to breast feed.  The ideal way to make sure that your baby is getting enough milk is to be sure that he’s well positioned, attached to the breast, and feed him as often as he gets hungry.

Some mom’s that are breast feeding will stop before they want to, simply because they don’t think they have enough breast milk.

There are signs that might make you believe your baby isn’t getting enough milk.  If your baby seems hungry or unsettled after feeding, or if he wants to feed often with short pauses between feedings, you may think he isn’t getting enough milk – which are often
times not the case.

There are however, two reliable signs that let you know your baby isn’t getting enough milk.  If your baby has poor or really slow weight gain, or is passing small amounts of concentrated urine, he’s not getting enough milk.

All babies will lose weight within the first few days after birth.  Babies are born with supplies of fat and fluids, which will help them keep going for the first several days.

Once your baby regains birth weight, he should begin putting on around 200g for the first four months or so.  To get back to their birth weight, it normally takes a few weeks.

If the weight gain for your baby seems to be slow, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or nurse to observe you breast feeding.  This way, they can make sure  that your technique is right and if they think your baby is breast feeding often enough.

To help you with your breast feeding, here are some ways that you can increase your supply of milk:
1.  Be sure that your baby is positioned correctly and attached to your breast.
2.  Let your baby feed for as long and often as he wants.
3.  If you feel that your baby isn’t breast feeding enough, offer him more breast feeds.
4.  During each breast feed, make sure you feed from both breasts.
5.  If your baby has been using a dummy, make sure you stop him.
6.  Some babies may be sleepy and reluctant to feed, which may be the cause of problems with milk supply.

By following the above tips, you’ll do your part in making sure you have enough milk when it comes time to breast feed.  If you are uncertain or have other questions, be sure to as your doctor, as he can answer any type of question you may have.

Breast milk is actually the only food your baby will need until 4 months of age, although most babies do well on breast milk alone for 6 months or better.  There is really no advantage to  adding other foods or milks before 4 – 6 months, except under unusual circumstances.

Water
Breast milk is over 90% water.  Even in the hottest days of summer, a baby won’t require any extra water.  If a baby isn’t feeding well, they still don’t require any extra water – although they will need the breast feeding problems to be fixed.

Vitamin D
Although breast milk doesn’t contain much vitamin D, it does have a little.  The baby will store up vitamin D during pregnancy, and remain healthy without any vitamin D supplementation, unless you yourself had a problem with vitamin D deficiency
when pregnant.

Exposure to the outside will give your baby vitamin D, even in winter and when the sky is
covered.  An hour or more exposure during the week will give your baby more than enough vitamin D.

Iron
Breast milk contains less iron than formulas do, especially those that are iron enriched.  Iron will give the baby added protection against infections, as many bacteria need iron in order to multiply.

The iron found in breast milk is utilized well by the baby, while not being available to bacteria.  The introduction of iron should never be delayed beyond the age of 6 months.

Breast milk is the best that your can feed your baby, as it provides everything he will need for probably the first 6 months.  After the first 6 months, you can introduce solid foods to your baby if he is taking an interest to them.

Almost all mothers who breast feed go through a period of questioning whether or not their supply of milk is adequate.  Some mothers simply aren’t able to produce enough milk to meet the needs of her baby.  According to many experts, true insufficiencies of milk are very rare.

A lot of women think their milk supply is low when it actually isn’t.  Thinking this can happen if you lose the feeling of fullness in your breasts or if the milk stops leaking from your nipples. Babies that go through growth spurts may want more milk than usual, and these more frequent feedings may leave your breasts less than full.

Causes of it
A mother’s milk supply may diminish for a brief period of time if she isn’t feeding her baby
often enough due to nipple pain, or a poor latch on technique.  Illnesses or estrogen containing birth control pills may also affect the production of milk.

What you should do
The best way to handle a low supply of breast milk is through a doctor’s care.  You should make sure that your baby gets frequent feedings and that nothing is wrong with your nipples or your milk ducts.  Doctors are the best ones to ask, as they can run tests to see if everything is fine within your body.

A low supply of breast milk can affect your baby, although it’s more of a mental condition
than anything else.  If your baby isn’t gaining any weight or if he is losing weight, you
should call a doctor immediately.  Improved techniques for breast feeding will normally
help, although in some cases weight gain or weight loss will indicate a serious concern.

In most cases, you can still nurse with a temporary decrease in milk supply, although
frequent breast feeding is the key to boosting your production of milk.