Breast feeding & bed wetting

Bed wetting is a problem that affects millions of children throughout the world. Everyone is a bed wetter at some point, and getting over the problem is easier for some than others. In this article, we’ll relay some information that has been recently published in various news sources that relate to the topic of bed wetting.

A study was conducted that examined the differences in bed wetting behavior amongst both children that were breast fed as a child and children that were not breast fed. Conducted by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School located in Brunswick, New Jersey, the study examined 55 children who wet the bed and were between the ages of 5 and 13. 117 children who were not bed wetters were also included in the study to act as a control group.

The researchers conducting the study predicted that since bed wetting may be the result of delayed neurodevelopment in children, breast milk may help to prevent bed wetting. The results showed that only 45 percent of the bed wetters were breast fed as a child. Also, 81 percent of the control group who never wet their beds were breast fed as a child. The researchers conducting the study argue that this is conclusive proof that breast feeding does have a positive effect when it comes to warding off bed wetting in children. This research is of note considering that bed wetting is a problem to some 5 million children. It is a sleeping disorder that can cause immense shame and low self esteem to the sufferer, as well as causing damage to sheets and beds. Any research that works in the way of helping to prevent bed wetting should be heralded as great news.

A separate study was conducted in Hong Kong regarding the likelihood of bed wetting when it comes to adolescents. Since adolescents are better able to hide the symptoms of bed wetting than children, it’s tough to get actual statistics in the respect of how many teenagers actually wet the bed. The Hong Kong study consisted of a questionnaire given to 16,500 children between ages 5 and 19. The results showed that approximately 1 in 50 teenagers still wet the bed. That is a relatively high number, considering that after age 5, a child’s likelihood of spontaneously quitting bed-wetting is about 15 percent per year. The numbers wane as the child grows older, and it was thought to be of little worries to a teenager. Dr. Chung Yeung, the researcher helming the project, stated that if the teenagers with bed wetting problems do not seek treatment, they may well carry their problem with them throughout their adult lives. For that reason, it’s important that you visit a doctor to address your bed wetting problem if you are still experiencing bed wetting problems well into adolescence. There are many different reasons that one may have a bed wetting problem, and a medical diagnosis can go a long way in helping you to recover from your problem.

Breast Feeding Your Baby

 

Most babies are born knowing instinctively how to feed from its mother. If you place a newborn baby’s mouth close to his mother’s nipple, he will seek and search until he is able to latch on and start to suckle. However there are other babies who for some reason or other may find it slightly more difficult.

Women are not born knowing instinctively how to breast feed their baby, some may need lots of encouragement, whilst others may take to breast feeding like a duck does to water.

To ensure your baby is feeding properly, you need to make sure his mouth is opened wide enough to get the whole of your nipple in plus a portion of the coloured area surrounding the nipple. If he is unable to do this, he is not latched on properly and may cause your nipples to become sore to the point where they can become cracked and bleeding.

You should use your free hand to support your breast, this helps keep your nipple in the baby’s mouth and keeps it from blocking the baby’s nose.

Your baby can lie in a variety of positions whilst he is feeding, but it is often more comfortable for you both to hold him at your breast by positioning him on his side or his tummy towards you with his mouth in convenient reach of your nipple. Skin to skin contact is an excellent way of bonding with your baby, and some experts recommend feeding your baby to start with to remove both yours and your baby’s clothing.

Sometimes the baby needs a little help to start suckling, if you express some of the milk into his mouth and give him his first taste, it will stimulate him to start suckling.

As a rule of thumb, babies who are breast fed usually need feeding between 8-12 times a day. At one time it was thought best to feed baby by the clock, but now it’s recognized that feeding baby on demand is best.

You should always check when your baby is suckling that he is also actually taking milk into his mouth and swallowing it. Some baby’s appear to be suckling, but when checked that is all they are doing. Obviously if they do this for extended periods of time, they will not receive the nutrients they need and will lose weight and become dehydrated.

Its often a good idea to monitor this and ensure your baby receives a specific time at each breast to ensure they are receiving enough milk.

Many new mothers worry they will not produce enough milk to feed their baby. All breast milk contains chemical called suppressor peptides. These chemicals automatically regulate how much breast milk is needed by the baby, and increases and decreases correspondingly. Even if you express your milk, it will be replaced by further milk and will continue to do so for as long as is needed.

Once your baby starts to be weaned and is breast fed less often, your built in milk supply will gradually start to diminish until eventually it stops.

The single most important thing that you can do to assure your success in breastfeeding is to begin preparing during your pregnancy.

Breastfeeding may be a natural act, but please rest assured that it is by no means instinctive. That said, there are a variety of breastfeeding classes that take place at hospitals and ante-natal clinics and here you can start to learn more about it.