In the first few days after giving birth, you and your baby will get to know each other and slowly get the hang of breastfeeding. We recommend that you learn more about it during pregnancy so that you can breastfeed with greater confidence.
What is breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is the act of feeding your child with milk from your breasts. The World Health Organisation recommends that children are fed with breastmilk within the first hour of birth. It is also recommended that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. This means that aside from breastmilk, no foods or liquids, including water, will be given to the child.
What are the benefits of breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding offers benefits for both you and your newborn:
Benefits for baby
- Allows baby to receive proper nutrition
- Gives antibodies needed to fight viruses and bacteria
- Reduces risks for health problems like diarrhoea, constipation, gastroenteritis, respiratory illnesses, ear infections, and bacterial meningitis
Benefits for mother
- Lowers risks for diseases
- Lowers risks for postpartum depression
- Helps you to lose weight
- Helps your uterus return to previous size
What are the breastfeeding classes and services available?
While breastfeeding is a natural process, it is also a skill you can improve through knowledge and practice. You can attend breastfeeding classes to prepare for your breastfeeding journey. During a breastfeeding class, you will learn about topics such as breastfeeding positions, how to make the baby latch correctly, frequency of feeding, and how to maintain your milk supply.
Breastfeeding classes are usually offered as part of antenatal class of hospitals. You may also obtain knowledge from classes offered by breastfeeding support groups or seek the expertise of a lactation consultant.
At the Gleneagles Hospital ParentCraft Centre, we have a team of dedicated and trained personnel to help provide advice on antenatal, confinement and postnatal care. To enquire about our ParentCraft Services, please call +65 6470 5852 during Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.