General information on breastfeeding an infant.

Duration of breastfeeding

Breast milk is the best nutrition. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is the physiological nutrition for the majority of infants (WHO). When a child is weaned is a shared decision between mother and child.

Nutrition during lactation

Eat as you did during pregnancy — healthy, balanced, whole foods. Raw fish, raw meat and raw-milk products are allowed again. Drink to thirst, preferably unsweetened drinks. Milk supply is not increased by drinking more, but by nursing more often.

Medication and breastfeeding

If you need to take medication while breastfeeding, discuss this with your doctor, a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) or midwife. Many medications are safe during lactation without harming the baby (embryotox.de).

Alcohol, coffee, smoking, drugs

• Alcohol passes into breast milk and alters its taste. An occasional small glass of wine or beer is not a reason to stop breastfeeding.
• Moderate coffee consumption is tolerated by most babies. Have your coffee after nursing.
• Nicotine impairs the let-down reflex, passes into breast milk and changes its taste. High consumption can cause restlessness, vomiting, poor weight gain and respiratory infections. Breastfeed anyway — it protects your child. Only smoke outside the home.
• Drugs should be avoided during lactation. A special case is the methadone program without additional substance use.

Breastfeeding and work

If you are working or studying, you are entitled to breastfeeding breaks. When your baby can't be with you, renting an electric breast pump is worthwhile to empty the breast regularly. Use your time together for nursing — many babies seek closeness especially at night.

Breastfeeding an adopted child

It is possible to breastfeed an adopted child, even without a previous pregnancy. Key factors are the timing of the adoption, the child's age and the adoptive parents' motivation. Close collaboration with the gynecologist, pediatrician and an experienced IBCLC is essential. → Read a case study.

Breastfeeding after breast surgery

Implants or a reduction mammoplasty are generally not obstacles to breastfeeding. What matters is an anamnesis during pregnancy and good breastfeeding support after birth.

Alternative feeding methods

For medical reasons, supplementing a breastfed baby may become necessary. To avoid sucking confusion in the first weeks of life, we choose an appropriate alternative method:

• Supplementing with a spoon
• Supplementing with a special cup
• Supplementing at the breast (e.g. with a supplemental nursing system)
• Finger feeding

Pregnancy and breastfeeding / Tandem breastfeeding

In an intact pregnancy there is no reason to wean. Your milk will change in taste, composition and quantity. Sometimes this prompts the older child to stop nursing. Nature provides: colostrum will be available to the baby in sufficient amounts after birth.

Breastfeeding and complementary foods

Complementary foods should be introduced after the sixth month of life. Whether you choose baby-led weaning or purees is up to you. Don't force your child to eat. Introducing complementary foods does not mean weaning. The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, then complementary foods under the protection of continued breastfeeding until the second year of life and beyond.

Weaning

Weaning is an individual decision. The gentlest approach for both of you is a slow, conservative weaning with lots of closeness. Medication-based weaning requires a medical prescription.