How long should a mom breastfeed? Or is there any benefit to breastfeeding after the age of 9 or 10 months?

1. The breastfeeding relationship is between the mother and baby, it is a very special relationship and they should be allowed to decide when to stop breastfeeding. The WHO recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for 6 months. This means that your baby does not need anything thing other than breast milk (and medication if prescribed) in the first 6 months. We know that water or porridge in a bottle can actually be more harmful than most people realise. Firstly because the baby’s stomach is not yet ready to digest solid foods and the water or solids can introduce pathogens (germs) which can cause diarrhea. The second part of the WHO recommendations is to continue to breastfeed for 2 years or longer. This means that there are benefits to breastfeeding for longer. Research shows that prolonged breastfeeding (6 months) can halve a mother's risks of developing diabetes even if she had gestational diabetes. There are reduced risks for the mother in developing breast or ovarian cancer. There are also benefits for the baby as the baby gets antigens from the mother's milk which helps the baby to fight colds and flu, less risk of pneumonia, diarrhea, and ear infections.

Can you breastfeed if you have COVID?

2. Yes a mother who has been infected with COVID can continue to breastfeed, directly or by expressing. This is also a recommendation from WHO. Breast milk does not seem to be able to transfer COVID. However, breastmilk helps the infant’s immune system by the support the baby with antigens that will help protect your baby from getting COVID. Very few infants have been infected by COVID and even fewer have developed severe symptoms. If you are direct feeding, please wear a mask and wash your hands before touching your baby. You can practice skin to skin to promote bonding and milk production. If you are expressing, practice good hygiene by washing your hands before pumping and cleaning down the bottles of expressed milk before you give it to another person.

How do I make more milk?

3. If you understand how breast milk is made then it is easy to learn how to make more breast milk. There are 3 main hormones that you need to know about. They are all responsible for increasing or slowing down the production of breast milk. The first is Oxytocin it is produced when your nipple/ breast is stimulated. This can be with your baby’s mouth, hand expression, or using a breast pump. When the stimulation happens your body starts to make oxytocin which is a hormone. This hormone travels to your breast and starts to contract the muscle around your milk glands. This starts your letdown. The process of your milk moving from the milk glands through your milk duct to towards your nipple and baby’s mouth. With the stimulation, another hormone is produced called Prolactin. This is the hormone that produces breast milk. Both of these hormones are increased while the baby/ pump is stimulating at the breast. They decrease once the baby has stopped feeding. The third hormone is FIL it is there to stop the overproduction of breast milk. It is very useful in helping to prevent blocked ducts and mastitis. FIL increases as your breast milk increases. This is why demand feeding and emptying your breasts often is important. The more often you empty your breast the more prolactin and oxytocin your body make and the more milk you make.

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DISCLAIMER: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.