謝謝同事送我和寶寶的禮物， 真的很實用，而且幫我省下不少錢。：）

母乳中含有充足的水份，吃母乳的孩子用不着另外加水。母乳大部分是水份，可满足宝宝的需要。

　　未满四个月的小宝宝因为尚未添加副食品，饮食来源几乎完全靠吃奶，而不论是母奶或奶粉冲泡(正常方法冲泡)的奶水，其中近85%以上都是水分，吃奶和喝水几乎是一样的意思。

　　母乳是宝宝最好的饮料

　　妈妈乳汁中的水份，温度适宜，清洁无菌，所以说它是宝宝最好的饮料。奶水内含有婴儿所需要的营养成分，宝宝就是靠着吸取奶水内的“热量”与营养物质，来构筑自己的身体，逐渐长大。母乳中的水份可以随着孩子的需要增减，用母乳喂养婴儿，用不着担心宝宝会缺乏水份，只要“按需喂养”就行了。

　　宝宝“口水少” 喂水作用不大

　　母乳喂养的孩子，有时侯看上去小嘴有点干，性急的妈妈会给他喂一些开水。其实大可不必这样做，孩子口腔看上去有些干，是因为小婴儿口腔的唾液分泌较少，就是俗话说的“口水少”，这是很正常的现象。就算是给他不停地喂水，他的口腔还会是干干的。

Choosing whether to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is one of the first decisions expectant parents will make. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) joins other organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) in recommending breastfeeding as the best for babies. Breastfeeding helps defend against infections, prevent allergies, and protect against a number of chronic conditions.

The AAP says babies should be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months. Beyond that, the AAP encourages breastfeeding until at least 12 months, and longer if both the mother and baby are willing.

Although experts believe breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants, breastfeeding may not be possible for all women. For many women, the decision to breastfeed or formula feed is based on their comfort level, lifestyle, and specific medical considerations that they might have.

For mothers who are unable to breastfeed or who decide not to, infant formula is a good alternative. Some women feel guilty if they don't breastfeed. But if you feed your baby with a commercially prepared formula, be assured that your baby's nutritional needs will be met. And you'll still bond with your baby just fine. After all, whether with breast milk or formula, feeding is an important time of connection between mother and baby.

The decision to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is a very personal one. But here are some points you may want to consider as you decide which is best for you and your new addition.

Source: http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/breast_bottle_feeding.html

Nursing mothers are often advised to keep pacifiers from their babies in order to avoid early weaning. A new study, however, finds that pacifier use may not lead to early weaning, but rather be a sign of problems with breastfeeding.

Researchers from Montreal's McGill University studied 281 breastfeeding women and their healthy, full-term infants at a hospital in Montreal, Quebec. The women and babies were split into two groups - one group was told to avoid pacifier use, while the other group was not.

Although the researchers found an association between pacifier use and early weaning (defined as weaning within three months of birth), their results also suggest that pacifier use is a marker of breastfeeding difficulties or a reduced motivation to breastfeeding, rather than a true cause of early weaning.

Some mothers will see a drop or two of colostrum on their nipples before or after baby sucks, and some will see a little dripping out of baby's mouth. Still, some moms never catch a glimpse of colostrum. This doesn't mean it isn’t there. Watch baby. Does he have most of your areola (the dark part around your nipple) in his mouth? Do you see his chin pause slightly between sucks? Can you hear swallowing sounds? These are signs that he's getting the goods. Some experts also recommend monitoring baby's intake by recording his dirty diapers. They should be black and sticky to start. (Colostrum helps flush his first poops -- called meconium -- out of his system.) If baby is getting enough milk, here’s how many bowel movements you’ll probably see:

DAY 1: One (black and gooey)

DAY 2: Two (black)

DAY 3: Three (black or greenish)

DAY 4: Three to four (greenish or yellowish)

While you're in the hospital, ask for a lactation consultant or other skilled breastfeeding helper to observe you nursing and reassure you that baby is getting all he needs. These experts should be able to offer you pointers if anything looks amiss. And, even if baby isn’t nursing effectively at every feeding in the first day or two, it's important to let him suck often (at least every two to three hours). This helps establish your milk supply and gives both of you lots of good practice for the days and weeks ahead.

Does having a c-section affect your ability to nurse? It might. Here are five things you should know about breastfeeding after a cesarean.

1.     You can breastfeed right after birth. It's possible to breastfeed right away if you receive an epidural (regional anesthetic) for the operation, rather than a general anesthetic, and fortunately most hospitals today use epidurals. You'll need assistance, however, from a nurse, doula, midwife, or your husband for that first latch-on -- ask them to prop you up slightly and to help support the baby.

Offering water before the age of six months can pose significant health hazards.

Water supplementation increases the risk of malnutrition.
Displacing breastmilk with a fluid of little or no nutritional value can have a negative impact on an infant’s nutritional status, survival, growth, and development. Consumption of even small amounts of water or other liquids can fill an infant’s stomach and reduce the baby’s appetite for nutrient-rich breastmilk. Studies show that water supplementation before the age of six months can reduce breastmilk intake by up to 11 percent. Glucose water supplementation in the first week of life has been associated with greater weight loss and longer hospital stays.

The following messages have been used in programs to convince mothers, their families, and health workers that exclusively breastfed infants do not need to be given water in the first six months. The most effective ways of communicating the messages depend on the audience and the practices, beliefs, concerns, and constraints to good practices in a particular setting.

Make clear the meaning of exclusive breastfeeding

• Exclusive breastfeeding means giving only breastmilk. This means no water, liquids, teas, herbal preparations, or foods through the first six months of life. (It is important to name the drinks and foods commonly given in the first six months. One program found that women did not think the advice “do not give water” applied to herbal teas or other fluids.)
  

Take ideas often associated with water and apply them to colostrum

• Colostrum is the welcoming food for newborns. It is also the first immunization, protecting a baby from illness.
• Colostrum cleans the newborn’s stomach. Sugar water is not needed.
  

Experts agree that giving water to baby is unnecessary - and may even be harmful - before 6 months of age. But for babies older than 6 months, medical opinion is a little more divided!

IMPORTANT: The information given here is meant as a guide and should not replace professional medical advice. Please consult your child's doctor before introducing water.

Giving water to baby - official recommendations

The USDA recommends discussing the introduction of water with baby's pediatrician.

The UK Department of Health recommends that parents give baby nothing but milk for the first 6 months, but advises that water may be given with solids once baby reaches 6 months of age.

Why is giving water to baby harmful before 6 months?

·         A baby may "fill up" on water, resulting in him taking less breastmilk or formula. This then deprives him of the nutrients essential for healthy growth and development.

好像有點恐怖也！

**************************

　怎么发现早期破水？

　　我们所谓早期破水就是还没到分娩的时候，产痛还没有开始，准妈妈突然感觉到有较多的液体从阴道排出，然后会持续有少量液体不断流出。但是情况因人而异，有的准妈妈在咳嗽、打喷嚏等腹压增加时，阴道有较多液体流出；有的则可能阴道流液排出一段时间后就终断；也有人会感觉到腹部子宫略为变小，胎儿变得比原先清楚。据统计，有35%的早产儿都是因为早期破水而出生的。

　　为什么会发生早期破水？

　　导致早期破水的原因很多，通常与细菌性阴道感染有关，其它的原因包括羊水过多、胎儿异常、子宫颈闭锁不合、多胎妊娠、胎膜发育不良等。但多数早期破水的准妈妈没有办法查出原因。