Breastfeeding and Breast Milk: Frequently Asked Questions

Translation note: This is an English translation of the supplied Turkish text. The source's medical statements and numerical recommendations have been retained rather than clinically updated. Clinical review is required before this text is used as patient information.

What Does Breast Milk Look Like?

The thick milk that first appears, known as the “first milk” or “colostrum”, is more yellowish, whereas mature milk is white and looks more watery than cow's milk; it may even have a bluish colour. The colour of the milk may change as the baby grows. This is because the composition of the milk changes to meet the baby's developing needs.

How Does Milk Flow from the Breast?

Milk is not released from the breast immediately after it is produced; the baby needs to suck to stimulate milk flow. Correct positioning and a good latch are very important for effective feeding. As the baby sucks, milk flows through 10–15 openings in the nipple. Both breasts work at the same time. While the baby feeds from one breast, milk may drip from the other. When the baby begins to suck, the first milk received is the milk that has collected in the milk reservoirs within the dark area immediately behind the nipple. As this milk is used up, more is released.

How Is Milk Production Maintained?

During breastfeeding, the baby's mouth compresses the coloured area around the mother's nipple. The nerves stimulated by this pressure send signals to the part of the brain responsible for prolactin production. These signals trigger the release of prolactin. The more signals are sent, the more prolactin is produced.

Because of prolactin, “more suckling produces more milk”. Prolactin production is particularly high at night. Prolactin also helps prevent the mother from feeling tired even when she wakes during the night to breastfeed. Remember: the more often you breastfeed, the more milk you will produce.

How Long Should I Breastfeed My Baby?

The recommendation of scientists working in infant nutrition, the World Health Organization and UNICEF, and the policy of the Ministry of Health, is that “babies should receive only breast milk for the first six months, without even being given water, and breastfeeding should continue until the age of two years alongside appropriate complementary foods introduced after six months”. Breastfeeding is not limited to six months. Its benefits continue during the complementary feeding period. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood issues in our country. In other words, breastfeeding should not stop when appropriate complementary feeding begins at six months; it should continue until the age of two years.

Do I Need to Wait Before Starting Breastfeeding after Birth?

Whether the mother has given birth vaginally or by caesarean section, she should breastfeed her baby as soon as she has recovered sufficiently after delivery. A healthcare professional should help put the baby to the breast in the delivery room immediately after birth. The mother should breastfeed frequently, stay in the same room as her baby to allow repeated feeding, and have skin-to-skin contact. The more frequently the baby breastfeeds, the easier it will be for the milk to come in. Waiting without breastfeeding will delay the arrival of the milk.

Should I Give My Baby Sugar Water after Birth?

The only food the baby needs immediately after birth is breast milk. Giving sugar water prevents the baby from receiving colostrum and increases the risk of various illnesses, particularly infections. In fact, the baby does not need even plain water, let alone sugar water. Breast milk contains all the water the baby needs, however hot the weather may be. For the first six months, the baby's only need is their own mother's milk.

How Should I Hold My Baby While Breastfeeding?

The most important thing a mother needs to know about breastfeeding is how to position her baby at the breast. If the baby is well positioned and latched on, the nipples will not become damaged while the mother and baby are learning to breastfeed. The mother can try different holds. What matters is holding the baby correctly. In every position, the baby's shoulders and body should face the breast, with the nose level with the nipple. The mother should support the baby's whole body, rather than just the head.

How Should I Position My Baby at the Breast?

In the first few days, the mother may find it more comfortable to breastfeed lying down. In this position, the baby lies facing the mother, who is lying on her side. The mother can use her free arm and hand to bring the baby closer to the breast. Supporting both the mother's and the baby's backs with pillows can help with positioning. If the mother breastfeeds sitting up, she should sit upright or lean forward slightly, keeping her lap level. A footstool may be placed under her feet if necessary. Pillows behind her back or under her arms can help her hold the baby comfortably. A pillow on her lap may also bring the baby closer. For the mother to produce enough milk, the baby needs to feed correctly and frequently enough.

How Should I Support My Breast While Breastfeeding?

• Place your fingers beneath the breast, resting against your chest.
• Support the breast from underneath with your index finger.
• Keep your thumb on top of the breast.
• Keep your fingers away from the nipple and allow the baby's chin to touch the breast.

How Can I Tell Whether My Baby Is Feeding in the Correct Position?

• The baby's mouth should be wide open.
• The baby's chin should rest against the breast.
• The lower lip should turn outwards.
• The breast should fill as much of the baby's mouth as possible. The baby should take in not only the nipple but also most of the brown area around it. Sucking only on the nipple does not allow the baby to feed effectively.

Incorrect hold — Correct hold — Good attachment

Good attachment prevents problems such as cracked or sore nipples and blockages.

If you are concerned that your baby is not feeding well, you can visit a nearby primary healthcare centre or Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning Centre, or seek advice from a healthcare professional. You can also find your nearest mother support group and meet other breastfeeding mothers to support one another.

How Does a Baby Suckle?

If the baby is not held correctly at the breast, they cannot suckle effectively, and the mother's nipples may become damaged and painful. To feed well, the baby needs to take in not only the nipple but also the brown area around it. As the baby is brought towards the breast, the mouth should be as wide open as possible and the chin should rest against the breast.

To encourage the baby to open their mouth wide, the mother should touch the baby's upper and lower lips with the nipple. The baby's mouth should contain both the nipple and the surrounding area. If the baby has latched on correctly, the jaw, and sometimes the ears, can be seen moving with each suck.

Babies do not suck continuously. Strong sucking movements are followed by short resting pauses. Smacking sounds during feeding or cheeks drawing inwards usually indicate that the baby is sucking only on the nipple and has not taken enough breast tissue into the mouth.

“My baby is always at the breast but has not gained weight. My doctor told me, ‘You are keeping your baby at the breast, but the baby has not been feeding effectively.’”

What Are the Signs of Effective Feeding?

With effective feeding:

• The nipple looks healthy.
• The breast becomes softer after the feed.
• Breastfeeding is comfortable and enjoyable for the mother.
• The baby releases the breast independently.
• The baby can be heard or seen swallowing milk.

Signs of Poor Attachment and Ineffective Feeding

• The mouth is not wide open and the lips are pursed forwards.
• The lower lip is not turned outwards.
• The chin does not touch the mother's breast.
• The cheeks appear drawn inwards.
• Almost all of the brown area around the nipple remains visible outside the baby's mouth.

Which Breastfeeding Positions Can I Use? Can I Breastfeed Lying Down?

Underarm hold:

This position may be used:

• For twins.
• When there are blocked milk ducts.
• When positioning the baby is difficult.
• If the mother prefers it.

The important point is to hold the baby correctly at the breast.

Lying-down position:

• The mother can breastfeed while lying on her back or side, particularly after a caesarean section.

Does Breast Milk Protect against Illness?

Breast milk protects your baby against a wide range of illnesses, including middle ear infections, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, colds, all kinds of viruses, and conditions that may develop later in life, such as diabetes, obesity and certain types of cancer.

Can I Become Pregnant While Breastfeeding?

Yes, you can become pregnant. If you do not wish to become pregnant, contact your nearest primary healthcare centre or a healthcare professional to discuss a contraceptive method you would like to use.

Why Should I Give My Baby Only Breast Milk, without Other Foods?

Breast milk is the best food for babies and can provide all the nutrients they need on its own for six months. It is easy to digest. Breastfed babies do not need any additional food or water. Breast milk contains sufficient amounts of all the nutrients and water the baby needs.

Even in very hot weather, breast milk satisfies the baby's thirst. Babies who receive breast milk do not need water, even in hot climates. If water is given, it fills the baby's stomach, making the baby less interested in breast milk. As a result, the baby feeds less often and milk production decreases. Introducing complementary foods too early carries many risks for the baby, particularly allergies.

How Can I Tell Whether I Have Enough Milk?

Every mother wants to be sure that she has enough milk for her baby. If the baby seems very hungry, sleeps little or is unsettled, the mother may worry that her milk supply is insufficient. However, these signs can have other causes. In such situations, mothers often start giving formula without first consulting a specialist, and breastfeeding is gradually reduced.

Every healthy mother can produce enough milk for her baby if she breastfeeds correctly, feeds frequently during the early weeks and at night, and drinks enough fluids. Breast milk supply may decrease temporarily. If the baby urinates 6–8 times a day and gains at least 500 g a month, or 150–200 g a week, during the first six months, the mother's milk supply is sufficient. Newborn babies lose weight during their first week. They are expected to regain their birth weight by 7–10 days of age.

How Often Should I Breastfeed My Baby?

Feeding frequency varies from baby to baby. Babies should be breastfed whenever they want to feed. A baby signals hunger by opening their mouth, rooting and, eventually, crying. In the first few months, babies are usually hungry and want to feed when they wake. During the first few weeks, feeds may be as little as one or two hours apart. As milk production increases slightly after each feed, the intervals between feeds will gradually become longer.

Do My Breasts Need Special Care While I Am Breastfeeding?

There is no need to clean the breasts before every feed. Breasts should never be washed with soap or another cleanser; if necessary, shower using water alone. Breast milk contains so many substances that protect the baby against illness that there is no need to fear the transmission of germs in this way. Germs can be passed to the baby from hands. The important thing is handwashing. Hands carry all kinds of germs found on the body, at home, in hospital or in the surrounding environment. Mothers and other people caring for the baby should always remember this.

Special nipple creams are not necessary. Flat, inverted or large nipples are not a problem for breastfeeding. The baby feeds by taking in not only the nipple but also a large part of the brown area around it—in other words, a substantial amount of breast tissue. Small and large breasts contain approximately the same amount of glandular tissue, and both can produce enough milk.

My Baby Was Born a Few Days Ago, and My Breast Is Very Painful. It Looks Swollen and Shiny. My Milk Is Not Flowing, and I Also Have a Fever. Breastfeeding Has Become Difficult. What Is the Cause, and What Should I Do?

Breasts in this condition are described as “engorged breasts”. This usually develops in the first few days after birth because of insufficient breastfeeding, delayed initiation of breastfeeding, formula supplementation, poor attachment, infrequent milk removal or feeds being kept too short. An engorged breast is painful and appears swollen; the nipple in particular is described as soft, and the breast may look shiny and red. Milk does not flow, and a fever may occur.

To prevent this, breastfeeding should begin immediately after birth, the baby should be well attached, and feeding should take place whenever the baby wants rather than at fixed intervals. To relieve engorgement, breastfeed frequently with the baby correctly positioned. If the baby cannot feed, milk should be expressed by hand or with a pump. Before a feed, a warm, moist compress, a warm shower, shoulder and back massage, gentle breast massage, light stimulation of the nipple skin and measures that help the mother relax may make breastfeeding easier. After feeding, apply a cold, moist compress with a towel to prevent swelling.

“My baby is only two months old, but I have returned to work. I have hard lumps in my breast, severe pain and a feeling of heat, and the breast has become very red. Yellow fluid is also coming from the nipple. I feel very unwell. I am going to see a doctor, but my mother has told me to stop breastfeeding.”

What Should I Do?

Feeding too briefly or too infrequently, incorrect positioning, poor attachment, cracked nipples, tight clothing or bras, and excessive finger pressure on the milk ducts during feeding can damage breast tissue. Bacteria may then enter the affected area, leading to mastitis, or what is commonly referred to as an abscess. Planning to see a doctor is a very good idea, because a healthcare professional should be consulted in this situation.

The important thing is to identify and resolve the cause of the problem. Most importantly, it should be understood that breastfeeding can continue in this situation. First, milk flow should be established, and the reason for any failure of milk flow should be identified and corrected.

Milk flow is generally obstructed by poor attachment, pressure from tight clothing such as blouses or bras, or fingers pressing on the milk ducts in a “scissor” or “cigarette” hold. Whichever of these factors is present should be addressed. This should be followed by frequent feeding, gentle massage towards the nipple, a warm, moist compress using a clean towel, starting feeds on the unaffected side and changing feeding positions. The mother should rest and avoid stress. For medication, contact a nearby primary healthcare centre, Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning Centre, or another healthcare facility. Breastfeeding should continue alongside the prescribed treatment. If breastfeeding is painful, express the milk, but return to breastfeeding afterwards.

My Baby Is Refusing to Breastfeed. What Should I Do?

A baby may refuse the breast in several ways: not feeding at all, sucking weakly, crying and struggling at the breast while trying to feed, feeding briefly and then pulling away as if choking or while crying, or accepting one breast but refusing the other. Causes may include illness, pain, the effects of sedatives given to the mother during childbirth, breastfeeding technique problems, changes that upset the baby, or apparent rather than actual refusal.

When babies are ill, they may take the breast but suck weakly, which mothers may interpret as refusal. Oral thrush or teething may cause pain and lead the baby to refuse the breast. A blocked nose can also cause refusal. Some medicines given to the mother during childbirth or for psychiatric treatment may also cause the baby to refuse the breast.

Problems related to feeding technique can include pacifier use, bottle-feeding, poor positioning, breast engorgement, inadequate support of the baby—for example, holding or pushing the baby's head during feeding—incorrect breast support, restricting feeds, an excessive build-up of milk and the mother's lack of experience after birth. Sometimes the baby refuses only one breast. This is usually because one or more of these problems is more pronounced on that side.

Changes That May Upset the Baby

These include separation from the mother, the mother returning to work, a new caregiver, frequent changes of caregiver, changes in family routines, maternal illness or mastitis, the return of the mother's menstrual periods and changes in the mother's scent. Mothers sometimes interpret newborn rooting movements, or babies aged 4–8 months becoming distracted during feeds and suddenly looking at other things, as refusal. This is known as apparent refusal. Allow time for the baby to latch on.

If the baby is ill, expressed milk can be given. A calm environment can help prevent distraction. If any part of the baby's body is painful, take care around that area. Oral thrush should be treated, patience is needed during teething, and a blocked nose should be cleared. If necessary, the mother should take some time off work, avoid perfumes and use correct breastfeeding technique. Apparent refusal is normal; allow time for the baby to take the breast. A little milk can be expressed into the baby's mouth, and different feeding positions can be tried.

Do not press on the baby's head. If necessary, express milk and give it by cup or spoon for a short time. Bottles and pacifiers should not be used. Encourage skin-to-skin contact between the mother and baby. The mother should hold and gently stroke the baby frequently and breastfeed whenever the baby wants.

Skin-to-skin contact may be provided using a method known internationally as “kangaroo care”, which women in Anatolia also sometimes use: the baby is held against the mother's chest with a sheet tied around the waist. Alternatively, the mother and baby may lie together for a while. The smell or flavour of some foods eaten by the mother may pass into the milk, so care should be taken with food choices. Substances such as the caffeine in cola, coffee and tea can pass into the milk and make the baby unsettled, so these drinks should be avoided. Neither the mother nor anyone else should smoke in the home where the baby lives. Stay close to your baby, skin to skin and heart to heart, to encourage more milk production and greater calm.

How Can My Partner Support Me with Breastfeeding?

Babies need a great deal of physical contact. After breastfeeding, a father's loving arms are one of the best places for a baby to be. Place your baby on your partner's chest after a feed so that they can begin developing their father–child relationship. A father's support for breastfeeding is one of the greatest sources of help in making breastfeeding successful. Particularly during the first few weeks after birth, when changing hormones and lack of sleep may leave you feeling weak, having your partner beside you to help with breastfeeding can have a positive effect on the whole family.

How Should I Burp My Baby after Breastfeeding?

Keeping the baby upright for 10–15 minutes after a feed helps them burp. If the baby has fallen asleep at the breast and seems comfortable, burping is not necessary. If the baby is unsettled, hold them on your lap or upright and gently rub their back to help release wind.

How Is Breast Milk Expressed?

All breastfeeding mothers should know how to express milk by hand. Hand expression may be needed in many situations.

Expressing Milk Is Useful:

• To relieve an engorged, swollen breast.
• To feed a baby until they learn to feed from an inverted nipple.
• To feed a baby who refuses the breast until they learn to enjoy breastfeeding.
• To feed a low-birth-weight baby who cannot suck strongly.
• To feed an ill baby who cannot suck effectively.
• To prevent milk leakage when the mother or baby is ill.
• To make it easier for the baby to latch on to a full breast.

Hand expression is the best way to remove milk. It requires no equipment and can be done anywhere, at any time. A wide-mouthed cup or glass may be used to collect the milk. First wash the container with soap and water, then boil it or fill it with boiling water, leave it for a few minutes and empty it.

Steps for Hand Expression

A. Before expressing milk, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.

B. Sit comfortably and use your fingertips to gently massage the breast from the outside towards the brown area around the nipple. Placing a pre-warmed towel over the breast will help the milk flow.

C. Hold the breast with your thumb above it and your other fingers underneath.

If the breast is large, place one hand above it and the other underneath. The target area is behind the brown area surrounding the nipple. Sometimes the milk reservoirs can be felt in a full breast. This area should be compressed by hand to express the milk. Gently press the thumb and fingers inwards towards the chest wall, then towards each other. Maintain the pressure as the hand moves away from the chest wall. This pushes the milk towards the nipple. Expressing milk should not hurt; pain indicates incorrect technique. After the movement has been repeated, milk begins to flow. Repeat the expressing movement rhythmically.

During expression, the fingers should make a rolling movement rather than rubbing the skin. Move the hand around the breast and apply massage to the whole breast, including the armpit area. Emptying the breasts by hand takes approximately 20–30 minutes. A warm, wet towel, a warm shower, or leaning forwards and gently shaking the breasts can help milk flow. Leaning forwards also helps drain the lower parts of the breast.

Milk can also be expressed with a pump. Options include funnel-shaped pumps with a rubber bulb, manually operated syringe-style pumps and electric pumps. If pumps are not cleaned carefully, germs can multiply easily and put the baby at risk.

How Should Expressed Breast Milk Be Stored?

Breast milk expressed with careful attention to hygiene can be stored:

• On a refrigerator shelf at +4°C for 72 hours.
• In the freezer compartment of a single-door refrigerator at −7°C to −2°C for three weeks.
• In the freezer compartment of a two-door refrigerator at approximately −18°C for three months.
• In a deep freezer below −18°C for up to six months.

Milk should be stored in suitable containers or storage bags. Storing milk is particularly useful for working mothers. This milk can be given while the mother is away from home.

The mother can also express milk at work and bring it home, preventing milk from leaking and being wasted while she is away. To warm frozen milk, place its container inside another container filled with hot water, then give the warmed milk to the baby. Hand expression is the most economical and practical method.

How Should Expressed Breast Milk Be Given to the Baby?

It is preferable to give expressed breast milk with a spoon or a wide-mouthed cup rather than a bottle. Bottle-feeding can cause confusion and lead the baby to refuse the breast. A baby accustomed to a bottle teat may lose the habit of latching on properly and may try to suck only the nipple rather than taking in breast tissue. This can lead to cracked nipples and, most importantly, insufficient breast milk intake. Even small babies can drink milk from a small cup by using their tongues to lap it up, rather like a kitten.

Where Can I Get Help if I Have a Breastfeeding Problem?

Mothers who have recently given birth, especially first-time mothers, need help and support with breastfeeding. An experienced and knowledgeable family member or someone close to the family can provide this support. You can telephone the nurses and medical team working in our hospital's baby care room and neonatal intensive care unit 24 hours a day to ask questions. From pregnancy onwards, mothers can contact our hospital, Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning Centres, or primary healthcare centres for information about any aspect of breast milk and breastfeeding.

Can I Continue Breastfeeding When My Baby Is Ill?

Breastfeeding should continue when babies are ill. In fact, they should be breastfed more frequently than usual. Illness may reduce the baby's appetite and make them unsettled. Breastfeeding will also help soothe them. Remember that breastfeeding is more than a way of feeding: it supports emotional attachment and a loving bond between mother and baby, benefiting them both. During illnesses such as diarrhoea, breastfeeding helps the baby recover more quickly.

Can I Breastfeed My Baby When I Am Ill?

If the mother has an illness requiring psychiatric treatment or cancer requiring chemotherapy, she should not breastfeed. Otherwise, she can breastfeed even if she has diabetes, high blood pressure, diarrhoea, a cold or similar illnesses. If you need to take medication, remind your doctor that you are breastfeeding.

Is It Harmful to Take Medication While Breastfeeding?

In general, alternatives to each medicine are available that are suitable for breastfeeding women or do not pass into breast milk. When a breastfeeding mother needs medication, she should remind her doctor that she is breastfeeding and ask for an appropriate medicine to be prescribed.

The source states that only mothers receiving chemotherapy are unable to breastfeed during treatment.

My Baby Cries All the Time and Wants to Be Held. Is My Baby Crying Because I Do Not Have Enough Milk?

Babies do not cry only because they are hungry or because their mother's milk supply is insufficient. There are many possible reasons for crying.

Reasons Why Babies Cry

• Discomfort, such as a dirty nappy or an environment that is too hot or too cold.
• Tiredness, for example after too many visitors.
• Illness or pain, which may change the way the baby cries.
• Hunger, including insufficient milk intake or a growth spurt.
• Medicines, foods, caffeine or cigarettes consumed by the mother; any food, and sometimes cow's milk, may be involved.
• An oversupply of breast milk.
• Crying without an apparent cause, known as colic.
• Hyperthermia: an increase in body temperature caused by overdressing.
• Breast or nipple problems affecting the mother.
• Difficulties with the baby's latch or sucking.
• Colic, poor weight gain or restlessness.
• Surgical treatments.

Babies may cry when their increasing needs during growth spurts are not met. This can often be seen during the second week, the fifth week and at three months. More frequent breastfeeding is the best solution in this situation. Some babies cry more than others and want to be held and carried more often.

There is also a type of crying known as colic. There is no single pattern to it. The baby cries at particular times of day, especially in the evening, and draws their legs up towards the abdomen as if in pain. The baby may appear to want to feed. Comforting the baby is difficult. Increased bowel activity and gas may occur. This type of crying begins around the third week after birth and decreases after the third month.

What Can Be Done When a Baby Cries?

• Make sure the baby is well attached to the breast.
• If there is an oversupply of milk, offer one breast at each feed.
• Allow the baby to feed until they release the breast.
• Reduce caffeinated drinks such as coffee and cola.
• Do not smoke.
• Temporarily avoid foods that may cause allergies or gas.
• Provide practical comfort, such as holding, stroking and burping the baby.
• Pick the baby up.
• Gently stroke the baby's back.
• Gently stroke or massage the baby's abdomen.
• Keep the baby close to the mother.
• Someone else can soothe the baby after breastfeeding.

How Should I Eat While Breastfeeding?

It is important for breastfeeding mothers to avoid becoming overly tired or sleep-deprived. An adequate, balanced diet containing foods from every food group will meet a breastfeeding mother's needs.

The mother will feel thirsty because fluid needs increase, particularly after breastfeeding. Breastfeeding mothers should meet their fluid needs primarily with water, as well as non-caffeinated, non-carbonated drinks, juices made from fresh seasonal fruit, milk and ayran, a yoghurt-based drink.

The mother needs an additional 500 calories for milk production. An adequate, balanced diet containing plenty of fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit is appropriate for meeting this need.

Are There Special Foods That Increase Milk Supply?

The most important factor in increasing milk supply is frequent breastfeeding. Meeting the mother's fluid needs and drinking plenty of water are also important. Foods commonly believed in our community to increase milk supply include tahini halva, bulgur and spring onions.

If the mother believes these foods help, she may eat them. However, it should be remembered that the main factor that increases milk supply is frequent breastfeeding.

Should I Give My Baby Water or Other Foods alongside Breastfeeding?

For the first six months, babies need their own mother's milk without water, other drinks or other foods. Complementary foods should be introduced after six months.

Does My Baby Need Water in Addition to Breast Milk in Hot Weather?

Breast milk is 98% water. Therefore, a baby who breastfeeds sufficiently also receives the water they need from the milk. Scientific studies have shown that even in African countries, exclusively breastfed babies have their water needs met by breast milk.

If water is given before six months, it replaces breast milk and causes the baby to feed less. The baby will receive fewer nutrients and, most importantly, water or other additional foods can carry infections and make the baby ill.

Can I Give My Baby a Pacifier?

Pacifiers and bottles are not recommended for breastfed babies. Mothers sometimes use a bottle to give water or other foods alongside breastfeeding, or use a pacifier to stop the baby crying or keep them occupied. However, babies who use bottles or pacifiers may develop what is known as “nipple confusion” and may stop breastfeeding. This is because the sucking action used at the breast differs from that used with a bottle or pacifier. For this reason, bottles and pacifiers are not recommended.

Can I Continue Breastfeeding When I Return to Work?

Yes, breastfeeding can continue after returning to work. In addition to breastfeeding at home in the morning and evening, the mother can express and store milk at work in the morning, at lunchtime and during breaks. The person caring for the baby at home can give this expressed milk with a spoon or cup. This also helps maintain the mother's milk supply. Expressing milk during the working day allows milk production in the breasts to continue.

Can I Smoke or Drink Alcohol While Breastfeeding?

The breastfeeding mother should not smoke, and nobody should smoke in the baby's surroundings. Studies suggest that smoking may be one reason why a baby refuses the breast. Alcohol can pass to the baby through breast milk even when consumed in limited amounts. Given the baby's low body weight, even very small amounts of harmful substances may have significant effects.

Can I Breastfeed if My Baby Is Born with a Disability?

Your baby needs breast milk in all circumstances. The hormones in breast milk will help both you and your baby feel more relaxed. Because breast milk is easy to digest, it can also be particularly beneficial for babies with heart problems or difficulty gaining weight. For babies with Down syndrome, it can help eliminate the risk of respiratory infections or problems with constipation.

Whenever possible, seek support from mothers around you who have breastfed successfully or are currently breastfeeding, primary healthcare centres, healthcare professionals, mother support groups and your family.

If, despite every effort, direct breastfeeding is not possible, try to express your milk and give it to your baby as much as possible. Remember that your milk is the best for your baby.

Will Caffeinated Drinks Such as Coffee or Cola Affect My Baby While I Am Breastfeeding?

Caffeine can pass to the baby through breast milk. It may cause restlessness, sleeplessness and, sometimes, refusal of the breast. For this reason, these drinks are not recommended for breastfeeding mothers.

Is Breastfeeding Possible after a Caesarean Birth?

Whether the birth is by caesarean section or vaginal delivery, breastfeeding is possible. Breastfeeding may begin a little later after a caesarean section, but this delay is not considered a problem.

Why Is Breast Milk Important during Disasters? Should I Continue Breastfeeding?

During disasters, breast milk protects babies against illnesses transmitted through dirty or contaminated water. It is particularly protective against diarrhoeal and respiratory infections that may occur in outbreaks and can be fatal. Its health benefits and emotional comfort help reduce the impact of these difficult circumstances on both mother and baby. Breast milk is even more important during such times because it is always available and contains all the nutrients your baby needs. Remember that frequent breastfeeding will increase your milk supply.

Clinical review note: The statements that psychiatric treatment necessarily prevents breastfeeding and that breast milk is 98% water have been translated from the source, not independently endorsed. Other source recommendations, including milk storage, breast inflammation management, medication use and infant positioning, also require review before publication.