BOTTLE FEEDING: MEDICATION
‘Ideally the less medication you take the better, for it is often transmitted to the baby via breast milk. But make certain you take only medicine that is prescribed by me, as your doctor. Small amounts of tea, coffee or even alcohol are fairly innocuous. But smoking is bad news, and I strongly recommend any young mother who smokes to stop right now. Ideally, she will have stopped before she became pregnant, for the hazards during pregnancy are high. Poisons may be transmitted via the milk, and the baby’s system is not geared to the toxins in cigarette smoke. A lot of research confirms this.
‘Karen, a close relationship between you and your baby is the ideal. Although this is best achieved when breast feeding, it can also become established with artificial feeding. It is best to weigh all options, to try breast feeding to begin with and persist with it for as long as practical,’ I said.
‘Does demand feeding continue right throughout the feeding business?’ Karen asked.
‘Very soon your baby will establish her own alarm system and will settle down to regular feeding schedules. So whether you feed by the clock or on demand, it makes very little difference long term. Many arguments are still being waged about the benefits and disadvantages of each system—in reality it matters little. If the baby is gaining weight and obviously growing normally, the method in use is satisfactory. If there is any doubt, have her weighed at the clinic and you will soon discover if there is anything wrong.
‘There is no need to let the baby rule your life, incidentally. So many mothers tire themselves out needlessly by letting the new arrival rule not only their own life but the total running of the home. This is foolish. Stick to sensible time schedules, but you must live your own life at the same time.
‘At about three months, the baby will sleep right through the night, and the tiring night feeds will come to an end. You can then give a sigh of relief, for this makes life so much easier for everyone.’
‘What are some of the pitfalls of feeding Joanna? I’m sure there are many I will discover,’ Karen said.
‘Yes, feeding difficulties will certainly happen. Babies that are highly strung may present the greatest number; they tend to demand a lot of attention. Wind, colic and bowel upsets are common in the superactive baby. Many are difficult when their nappies are wet or if they are left alone for a while.
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