Can I
breastfeed?
ü
Mothers with
small breast? Yes
o
The size of the
breast is because of fatty tissue not ducts and cells that produce milk.
ü
Mothers who
smoke? Yes
o
It is best not to
smoke for your health and your baby
o
Breastfeeding may
help protect the baby
o
You should never
smoke around your baby (breastfeeding or bottle feeding)
o
Smoking may lower
milk production
ü
Mother who are
stressed out? Yes
o
Hormones released
during breastfeeding calm mother and baby.
o
A mother’s milk
will not “spoil” if she gets upset
ü
Mothers with poor
eating habits? Yes
o
A mother will
make good milk for her baby
o
Eating a balanced
diet helps the mother recover
o
No foods to
exclude other than alcohol
ü
Mothers who are
ill? In most cases (colds, flu, etc)
o
Once mother is
showing symptoms, baby has been exposed
o
Baby gets
antibodies through his mother’s milk
o
Many medications
are compatible with breastfeeding
o
Only a few
conditions where mothers should not breastfeed (e.g., HIV, tuberculosis, illegal
drug use, etc)
ü
Others that can
breastfeed:
o
Mothers of
multiples
o
Teen mothers
o
Diabetic mothers
Questions?
Information from Loving
Support Grow and Glow
