Benefits & Practical limits to breast feeding?

[Lindyhopper]

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Hi,
On June 25th my wife gave birth to a beautiful, healthy, full term daughter.
My wife has been beast feeding her. We researched the benefits of breast feeding. My wife has arranged a three month maternity leave. Grandma & I will then be the primary care-givers.
Although my wife believes in breast feeding, we're concerned that breast feeding my be impractical once she returns to work.
I have one specific question & would welcome other thoughts. Are the benefits of breast feeding concentrated in the first months of life, when the infant's immune system is still developing?
Any practical ideas? Revelant research?

 

[deleted87716]

Although my wife believes in breast feeding, we're concerned that breast feeding my be impractical once she returns to work.

This is a common concern.

Without taking the time to pull up research articles for you (sorry!), I usually advise patients that any breast milk is better than no breast milk, so if three months is the best you can do, don't feel bad. Pumping and storing breast milk is a good way to continue to provide your baby with breast milk after the mother returns to work. If motivated, a working Mom can continue to give her baby breast milk through the first year of life, which maximizes the health benefits.

Hope this helps!

 

[66Lenses]

Congratulations first of all.

Second, I would suggest investing in a quality breast pump for when your wife returns to work. If possible she could continue giving breast milk with supplimental formula for when she's not available. Any breast milk is better than none, but if it's really important to provide breast milk for as long as possible the pumps work well.

3 months is a good amount of time, though I've read numerous places that up to a year is suggested as minimal practice. Though that may not be practical.

The medela pump in style is highly regarded among breast feeding moms, especially when returning to work. Perhaps she can pump in the morning, then at lunch, and again when she gets home. This will keep up her supply and allow storage of milk while she is at work.

Good luck and again, congratulations.

 

[mmb]

Congrats!

So the AAP and the WHO recognize the benefits to the baby for receiving breastmilk through the first year of life (longer for the WHO). That said, lots of babies are formula-fed and do well (I got formula and breastmilk and didn't turn out so bad). I'm a believer in nature designing a pretty good food for my little one, though.

I would say that it's worth at least giving breastfeeding a try once your wife goes back to work. Once her milk supply is established (and giving it 3-4 months is great!), it'll be easier to go back to work and pump than it would earlier. Invest in a good-quality pump (the medela pump in style advanced, online for $200) or rent a hospital grade pump (medela symphony is a favorite). It only takes 15 minutes a time at work--she can do it 2-3 times a day and should be able to have plenty of milk for your little one.

I'm a pediatrics resident with a 7-month old son. I pump midmorning, noon, and midafternoon and have been able to keep my kiddo on breastmilk. As a working mom, it's also really rewarding to feel the closeness of nursing with my little one when I'm home.

If giving pumping a try works for your family, then great. If not, your concern about providing the best nutrition for your baby clearly demonstrates that you'll be a great parent regardless of whether your formula or breast-feed. Best of luck. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Lindyhopper]

Thank you all for your kind words & informed insights.
Our little Daisy is proving to be not only beautiful & heathy, but remarkably even tempered.
In addition to exclusively breast feeding, my wife as started to deep freeze pumped milk. This was recommended at our hospitals parent's education classes. From a biological point of view, I was wondering how significant a compromise this was?
Clearly, my wife will be exposed to different antigens &, therefore, express different antibodies three months from now. Also different referrences point out that a child's nutritional needs & ,therefore, the content of the breast milk change over the course of developement.
The NP running the educ. program & our pediatrian agreed that frozen pumped milk was a compromise but still recommended it over formula.

Again thanks for your kind words & informed insights.

 

[Pinki]

Consider, too, that in 3 months it will be October - just a few months before prime RSV, influenza, ear infection season for little ones. Your baby might benefit from your wife's breast milk more than ever at that time!

I had my daughter as a MSII, was back in school three days later and developed a pumping schedule similar to mmb's - but I also nursed her in the mornings, evenings and at night so she got the "current antigen" mix with the frozen->thawed breastmilk. Even when we started solids at 7 months, she still got "fresh milk" daily and we kept up that schedule until she was 14 months old. I finally had to stop b/c of 3rd year overnight call making it too difficult to keep up my supply.

Hope that helps and good luck - she's won most of the battle by starting BFing successfully - so many women give up in those crucial first few weeks! Way to go and congrats to both of you!