How long should we feed them? 4 months? 6 months? 12 months...?
Multiple studies have shown that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of premature birth and necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns, promote gut health, boost immunity, promote teeth and bone development, and improve intelligence and emotional intelligence. Research from the Children's Health Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University Medical College indicates that the higher the rate of breastfeeding within the first four months and the longer the duration, the lower the incidence of autism in children. The numerous benefits of breastfeeding are well-known.
However, this woman named Mila managed to breastfeed her son until he was four years old.
And she plans to continue feeding her...
Mila believes that breastfeeding is beneficial to her child's intelligence and health, and can unleash her "full potential." If possible, she will continue breastfeeding her son until he is 10 years old. Some mothers breastfeed for 4, 6, or 8 months, but breastfeeding until 2 years old is rarely heard of, let alone 4 or 10 years old—it sounds terrifying!
I truly admire Mila's perseverance and courage!
According to global breastfeeding surveys, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months is approximately 37%. Data from the Nutrition and Chronic Disease Survey and Monitoring by the Chinese National Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the exclusive breastfeeding rate for the first 6 months in China is only 20.8%. China's breastfeeding rate is significantly lower than the world average!
Why is the breastfeeding rate so low in China?
Many mothers are capable of breastfeeding but choose not to, instead spending a lot of money in Hong Kong to buy formula. What are the reasons for this?
According to domestic statistics, there are two main reasons for the low breastfeeding rate in China:
1. Pain or discomfort during breastfeeding.
2. Concern that breastfeeding will affect the appearance of the breasts, especially causing them to sag.
However, breastfeeding is not having it, saying, "I won't take the blame!"
Contrary to popular belief, breastfeeding is not the culprit behind sagging breasts; in fact, it can promote secondary breast development. Some women who are self-conscious about their small breasts can seize this opportunity to go from an A cup to a D cup, saying goodbye to a flat chest!
During breastfeeding, the baby's sucking motion constantly stimulates the mother's breasts to produce milk, promoting the development of mammary gland tissue. The more external stimulation the mammary gland tissue receives, the more developed it becomes; Darwin's theory of "use it or lose it" applies here.
What's the culprit behind sagging breasts?
The real causes of breast sagging are: pregnancy, menopause, old age, obesity, large bra size, significant weight loss (more than 20 pounds), and multiple pregnancies and births.
All of these factors contribute to hormonal withdrawal, causing breasts to sag and shrivel, like overripe loofahs. The more pregnancies and births a woman has, the greater the impact. Of course, even without pregnancy, gravity will cause your breasts to sag. (So frustrating, right?)
On the contrary, continuing to breastfeed will make breasts larger and firmer, rather than loose and sagging. The internationally authoritative database UpToDate shows that for every 12 months of breastfeeding, the risk of breast cancer decreases by 4.3%. Breastfeeding may allow you to avoid the risks of mastectomy and lymph node dissection. For mothers whose breasts sag after breastfeeding, it is often due to inadequate breast care and improper use of bra supports.
Is it better to breastfeed for as long as possible?
So, how long should one breastfeed? Is there a definitive and reliable answer?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, but does not mention when to wean.
Everything should be done in moderation; going to extremes can cause problems! For example, many science articles tell us to drink more water, but drinking too much water can actually damage the kidneys!
Now, let's focus on the potential harms of prolonged breastfeeding! Pay attention!
A recent study published in the scientific journal Nature suggests that breastfeeding beyond 2.5 years of age is detrimental to a baby's gut health.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in the United States conducted a trial on infants at six clinical centers in the United States, Sweden, Germany, and Finland, collecting stool samples from 903 infants aged 3-6 months and performing gene sequencing analysis.
They discovered that the development of gut microbiota in infants and young children can be divided into three stages:
1. From 3 to 14 months after birth, babies are in the "development stage" of gut microbiota. Various bacteria gradually colonize the baby's body. Breastfeeding and the level of probiotics Bifidobacteria are positively correlated.
2. Between 15 and 30 months after birth (1 year and 3 months to 2.5 years old), as the variety of foods consumed increases, the gut microbiota enters a "transition phase."
3. By 30 months (2.5 years old) after birth, as the baby's diet becomes more stable, the baby's gut microbiota also enters a "stable phase," becoming very similar to the gut microbiota of adults. The most obvious characteristic is that the number of Firmicutes strains, which rapidly increased during the "transition phase," tends to plateau.
If breastfeeding lasts too long, the transition phase of the gut microbiota is artificially delayed, leading to a prolonged dominance of Bifidobacteria. Without stimulation from other foods, this can affect the richness of the gut microbiota, resulting in a limited variety of bacteria, which is detrimental to the baby's healthy growth.
Proper breastfeeding duration allows the breasts to "take a nap"! For mothers planning to have a second child, this gives them more time and energy to prepare for the "battle"!
What should I do if my breasts sag?
According to celebrity moms, they all experienced breast sagging after giving birth...
What should you do if your breasts are already sagging?
1. Dietary methods for breast enhancement:
Since the sagging is caused by estrogen withdrawal, then you should supplement with estrogen. You can eat more high-protein foods such as soy milk and eggs to stimulate the expansion of the mammary glands.
You can also supplement your diet with elements like zinc and chromium to promote the development of sexual characteristics. Chromium can promote glucose absorption and convert it into fat in areas such as the breasts, making them fuller. Let your breasts sway like water-filled balloons.
2. Exercise for breast enhancement
Doing chest expansion exercises is the simplest method. Remember the chest expansion exercise from the morning exercises you did as a child? Open your arms, then bring them back together, repeating the movement. Make sure the movements are strong and have a wide range of motion; you can hold two water bottles or small dumbbells. You can also do push-ups to promote local blood circulation and develop your pectoral muscles. This will make your breasts look firm and plump, like two big grapefruits.
Alternatively, you can go to a reputable hospital for breast augmentation surgery... However, mothers should carefully consider the risks and health effects of breast augmentation surgery and make a cautious choice!
Finally, let me answer one more question that mothers have been secretly asking:
"Dr. Wei, I've had breast augmentation surgery. Can I still breastfeed?"
According to research on the FDA website, the types of implants used in breast augmentation include:
Submammary space implantation and subpectoral muscle implantation both involve placing the implant behind the breast tissue, either deep or superficially, within the pectoralis major muscle. Since the baby suckles milk from the anterior breast tissue, and the implant is located behind, the two are completely unrelated.
Mothers who have had breast augmentation surgery can breastfeed with peace of mind! We only advise against breastfeeding if there is damage to the breast tissue or leakage of the implant, but this possibility is relatively small.
However, it's important to note that breastfeeding is not possible after injectable breast augmentation. The material used in this procedure is medical-grade polylactam hydrogel, which is injected into the spaces between breast tissue cells. The baby may inhale both the injected gel and breast milk.
In conclusion:
Weaning a baby should not be done too early, nor should it be delayed for too long. The optimal time to stop breastfeeding is around 2 to 2.5 years old.
Breastfeeding is not the cause of sagging breasts; pregnancy, obesity, aging, and menopause are.
Become a "firm" woman again through diet and exercise.
Mothers who have undergone breast augmentation with implants can breastfeed.
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