Combining breast-feeding and full-time working

There are a few things to consider.

· Firstly, it will most probably be necessary to mix artificial formula and breast-feeding. This is not considered ideal.

· Secondly, the fact that there are prolonged periods without suckling will lead to reduced milk production. Suckling is crucial in maintaining milk production.

· Thirdly, breast engorgement and considerable discomfort are inevitable with this kind of arrangement.

This is not a recipe for dispair, only a dose of reality. Plus, one one can try to minimize these. Expressed and stored milk to be used during the hours when mother is absent can reduce the need for formula feeding to a minimum.

If the work environment allows, milk expressing can be done at work. This will help prevent engorgement and also maintain milk production.

Adequate milk per feed for the baby

It has been calculated that, on average, a young baby requires 20 ml of milk per kilogram of body-weight. A baby weighing 5 kg (11lb) will therefore need 100 ml per feed. Of course, there are considerable differences among babies.

Expected weight-change pattern of a newborn

Virtually every mother knows that after the birth, the baby loses weight. The birth-weight is regained at around the end of the first week of life, though this may take slightly longer. Thereafter, at least for the ensuing three months, the baby gains an average of 30 grams per day.

This means, in slightly over a month, the baby will put on a kilogram (2 lb) in weight. The weight doubles by three months of age and he or she will be three times the birth-weight by the time he or she is six to eight months old.

The benefits of breast-feeding

There is no doubt that mother and baby bonding is enhanced by this most natural of acts. This forms the foundation of human long-term relations which are underpinned by the family. It all starts here. But that is only one of the many benefits of breast-feeding. Others are:

Human milk is natural and tailor-made for the human baby, so it has all the necessary ingredients in the right proportions.
The act of suckling promotes contraction of the uterus and promotes its rapid reduction of size.
In addition, and most importantly, this milk is safe and virtually free. It is also convenient because it is readily available, clean and at the ideal temperature, thus avoiding the hassles of preparing a feed which characterize bottle feeding.
There is increasing evidence that, on average, breast-fed babies attain higher Iqs and therefore perform better academically than their bottle-fed counterparts.

Protective element of breast milk for the baby

Both colostrum and breast-milk are rich in antibodies which provide the baby with passive immunity, thus protecting him or her against a variety of infections. There is evidence also that breast-fed babies are less prone to develop allergies.

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