As we all know, pregnancy is a life-altering event. When looking into the mirror, you may notice that your skin is glowing. You may also find a newfound admiration for your body. However, out of all these changes, the most pleasant is getting a break from your periods. This could last for nine whole months, making you forget all about those dreaded period cramps.

Still, after giving birth, you may want to know when your menstrual cycle goes back to normal. A lot changes after pregnancy, and that’s the case with your periods as well. So, expect to be surprised.

When Will My Period Return?

Your periods will most probably return about six to eight weeks after you give birth. If you are breastfeeding, then it may take longer for your periods to return. If breast milk is your baby’s only source of nourishment, then you will not get periods as long as you are breastfeeding. In other cases, periods should return after a couple of months, regardless of whether you are breastfeeding or not.

If your periods return sooner than expected, avoid using tampons to give your body enough time to heal.

Why Do Breastfeeding Women Get Their Periods Later Than Usual?

Hormones play a significant role in deciding when your period comes back. Prolactin, the hormone that is essential for the production of breast milk, can suppress reproductive hormones. This stops your body from ovulating. This means you most likely won’t menstruate.

Will Period Affect Your Breast Milk?  

Once your menstrual cycle kicks in, you will notice some changes. Apart from the decrease in milk supply, your baby’s reaction to the milk will also seem different. This usually happens because of hormonal changes. From the composition of your breast milk to how it tastes to your baby, hormones have a considerable impact. However, this in no way impacts your baby’s ability to breastfeed.

What About Birth Control?

Did you know breastfeeding can double as birth control? It is highly unlikely for you to get pregnant if you are engaging in exclusive breastfeeding. By exclusive, we mean that no fluids or solids should be given to the baby. If breastfeeding is not exclusive, then it may not protect you against unexpected pregnancy.

For this method to work, you also need to keep a close eye on your periods. If your period starts, then you are probably ovulating, and that may lead to pregnancy.

The best course of action is to ask your doctor to prescribe safe and effective birth control methods.

How Will Your Periods Differ After Pregnancy?

Giving birth to a baby is a harrowing experience for your body. This is why your body will take some time to adjust to menstruation and may lead to the following changes:

∙   You may experience stronger cramps

∙   You may have to deal with small blood clots

∙   You will notice a heavier flow

∙  You may experience more pain

∙  You may have to deal with an irregular cycle length

Returning to your menstrual cycles after a hiatus of nine months is going to be tricky. As you already know, your body has been pushed to its limits. So, it will take a while before your period goes back to its routine.

Needless to say, if the changes seem problematic, then get professional help. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. With that in mind, listen to your body and take care of yourself.

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If we had to choose between the natural and the artificial, undisputed, we lean towards the natural product unless the artificial one has undeniable properties. Nature has equipped womankind with ready made milk when they give birth to their child. Probably, this was nothing but the only option early humans. Since there was no rearing of cattle or no scope to feed the infant with formula milk, the breast milk was nothing but necessary and so was it rewarded to women. But with the generations passing by, humans became more civilized and discovered and invented many things to make their lives comfortable. Alternative sources of milk thus became extensively popular and a source of debate while attracting criticism.

There had been extensive distribution of literature on the benefits of breastfeeding for ages and it is an apparent fact that all the women want to feed their child with this exclusive food source meant only for their offspring. However, due to work commitments, health reasons or time clashes, many of them are unable to feed their younger ones.
It has been considered for years that mothers and babies enter into a special bond while the baby is being fed. However, mothers who feed their infants with formula milk can build a stronger bond too with their care giving and affection. Keeping the debate aside, many pediatric academics globally suggest feeding the baby for at least 6 months with breast milk exclusively and for one year with top foods.

Let us understand the benefits of both breast milk and bottle milk to let women choose the option that they are comfortable with.

Benefits for the baby:

• As we all know that breast milk provides the necessary nutrients to the baby as it is customized according to the baby’s age and requirement.
• The natural milk protects the baby from infections and they are less likely to be hospitalized. The mother’s milk builds immunity system for the lifetime by strengthening the immune system.
• Mothers pass antibodies to the baby while feeding which help building up a protective wall against many diseases.
• It is easy to digest and lessens the chance for the baby to fall sick due to indigestion issues. Colic, constipation and diarrhea are less likely when compared to formula fed babies.

Benefits for mothers:

• Nursing is much easier when compared to feeding with formula milk. Sterilizing bottles is a pain. Preparation time is saved as mother’s milk is ready made.
• Women who breastfeed have lesser chances of getting breast cancer and ovarian cancers.
• The women who breastfeed have faster recovery post delivery and their uterus goes back to normalcy within six weeks thereby helping the mother to lose the baby weight as they lose many calories while feeding.
• Breastfeeding can be used as a natural contraception method under some stipulated guidelines which is popularly known as Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM).

Adverse elements of breastfeeding:

• Sore nipples initially trouble many women who start off breastfeeding.
• While breastfeeding, it is hard to understand whether the baby had enough milk or not as it cannot be measured unlike the formula feed.
• Breastfed babies require more frequent nursing episodes than the formula fed babies and hence this can be considered as a time consuming task and may be a hindrance to working mothers.
• Bottle feeding is more convenient when you are in public places.
• Nursing mothers need to take care of their diet as good nutrition helps them in producing healthier milk. They should avoid smoking drinking and substance intake.

With the established factors, it is upto the mothers to decide on the effective method of feeding that is in the best interest of their child after considering the entire circumstances surrounding them. Since both the methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, any method chosen should be trusted as the best source for the child.

Sources:
https://www.livescience.com/51260-breast-vs-bottle.html
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/tc/breast-feeding-as-birth-control-topic-overview

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Pregnancy is the best time to learn about the benefits of breastfeeding so that you can give your baby a healthy start in life. Knowing what to expect will help you make the decision to breastfeed and make it easier to get through the rough patches.

Breast milk is the ideal nutrition for newborns as it contains everything your baby needs to grow. It has just the right combination of protein, vitamins, fat and is easy on the baby’s immature digestive system. It also contains antibodies that help your baby fight common illnesses like ear infections, colds, etc. No wonder breastfed babies tend to get sick much lesser. Breastfeeding is good for the mother too. The hormones released during breastfeeding help the mother’s body recover from childbirth and make the uterus contract back to its pre pregnancy size.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6months of the baby’s life after which nutritious solid foods must be introduced. Breastfeeding can be continued beyond the 6 month mark, alongside complementary foods, for as long as is desired by mother and baby.

It takes about 3 to 4 days for breast milk to come in and most new moms have similar questions when they start their breastfeeding journey. How much milk does my baby need? Am I making enough? The good news is that babies do not need much during the first couple of days.  As days go by your baby’s demand will go up and so will your supply.  You can tell if your baby is getting enough and feeding well if,

• Your baby wets 6 to 8 diapers a day
• He seems settled after a feed
• Your breasts get soft after the baby feeds
• Your baby unlatches on his own
• Your baby is putting on weight

It is essential that both mother and baby are comfortable during the feed. Poor latching and incorrect positions can make it uncomfortable and difficult to continue breastfeeding for 6 long months. Sore nipples, excessive back pain and general discomfort during feeds can discourage a new mother. Work on establishing a good latch with the help of experienced moms or a lactation consultation. There are many positions and holds like the cradle hold, football hold and reclining position. Finding a position that works for both you and your baby will go a long way in making your breastfeeding journey comfortable.

Priya, first time mother of a healthy 9month old says, “I almost gave up on breastfeeding when I had to go back to work 3 months after my little one was born. That’s when I turned to the breast pump.” Pumping breast milk has become a common practice amongst mothers. Mothers need not have to stop breastfeeding when direct breastfeeding becomes infeasible.

However, if for any reason you are not able to breastfeed in spite of your best efforts, fret not as there are alternatives.  Speak to your healthcare provider about it.

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The most beautiful sight to behold is that of a mother lovingly breastfeeding her infant while the baby suckles on her nipple and gazes back at her. It is a moment that seems locked in time – both mother and child are in a cocoon of their own, with no need for anyone else. Indeed, a woman that breastfeeds her child need not offer the baby any other form of nourishment – the breast milk is replete with every nutrient that the baby needs at that stage of life.

Yet, breastfeeding is often saddled with opposing popular thoughts based on cultural notions and beliefs. Some women are hesitant to breastfeed during pregnancy, believing that they are diverting essential nutrients from the child growing in their womb to the child suckling at their breast. Other cultures believe that feeding a child is a collective responsibility and that the mother must not take sole charge of it.

The Benefits of Breast Milk and Breastfeeding

Doctors across he world recommend that infants be exclusively fed on breast milk at least for the first six months of their lives. This is because breast milk provides the baby with all the water and nutrient content that they need to develop immunity and grow well. Amongst the biggest benefits of breastfeeding are that necessary nutrients are provided to the baby, the baby gets a barrier against sickness, infections and allergies, the milk has no side effects and it helps the baby’s weight grow at the required rate. Research also shows that breastfed babies have higher weights and IQs than babies who are not exclusively breast fed.

There are several studies that attest to the bounties of breast milk, chief among them being that breast milk is a ready source of all the calories and fluids that your baby needs to grow into a healthy child. Babies brought up on breast milk also show good growth of organs and greater immunity to such health problems as ear infections, viral/bacterial infections that may cause meningitis or metabolic disorders, and even protects the lungs against such problems as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Breastfeeding has several positives for the mother as well, chief among which are that it helps the mother-child bond, keeps the mother energised, helps her uterus contract gradually and it is also believed to aid weight loss.

Cultural Differences Play a Big Part!

Asian countries encourage mothers to breastfeed at all times, so it is not at all surprising to see women breastfeeding in public in these countries. In many Asian and Arabic cultures, the sight of a woman breastfeeding her child is not just considered normal, but also auspicious. As such, a mother’s milk is considered pure and sacred in many cultures around the world.

However, there may be differences in the way some other cultures and communities view the breastfeeding exercise. While most women in countries like the US and UK might wean away their children from breast milk quite early, others might not breastfeed in public but choose to use a breast milk pump to draw out the milk in to a bottle for their baby’s consumption outside the home. Some cultures in the Middle East dictate that breastfeeding outside the home, where strangers’ may cast an eye over or even ogle at the woman’s breast, is impolite and not to be encouraged. Still others frown upon the idea of women breastfeeding in front of men.

Breastfeeding tips and taboos exist in other parts of the world as well. For instance, it is believed in some parts of Kenya that a woman must not breastfeed if she is upset or has had a domestic quarrel for fear of contaminating her milk with ‘bad blood’. Then there are some bush tribes in Papua New Guinea that believe that a woman must be celibate while she breastfeeds.

The Genesis of World Breastfeeding Week

The idea of a woman exclusively breastfeeding her baby for the first six months of its life was first floated in the year 1991, when the organisation World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) announced the goal to promote the idea of exclusive breastfeeding all over the world. This week is now observed every year from August 1 to 7 and is expected to touch more than 120 countries around the world this year. It is observed with awareness programmes, participant events, pledges and information dissemination by doctors, researchers, midwives and mothers.

In the year 2010, over 400,000 participants from more than 79 countries and 488 organisations were part of the World Breastfeeding Week, with the numbers nearly doubling by last year across all categories.

The theme for the year 2016 carries forward the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ theme of 2015. It is centred on caring for each other, starting on a journey of good health and wellbeing through breastfeeding and respect for the world. The slogan for the 2016 theme is ‘Breastfeeding: A key to sustainable development’.

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