Terri Ramsey Beavers According to research conducted by the Pew Research Center, 86% of women ages 40-44 were mothers in 2016. This is a 6% increase from the decade prior.
Women with higher levels of education are becoming mothers at a larger rate today as well. 80% of women 40-44 with a Ph.D. were mothers in 2014 versus just 65% of women in that same category in 1994.
If you’re a new mother and planning to breastfeed your baby you should check out this list of uses for breast milk you might not know about. You can also check lovemajka.com for helpful information on how to increase your milk supply. Keep reading to learn more.
1. It Can Soothe an Itchy Throat
First on the list of breast milk uses is a remedy for a scratchy throat. Since breast milk is on the alkaline side of the PH scale it can help neutralize the stomach acids that come back up your throat.
Stoping this acid reflux can prevent your itchy throat. Drink a glass of milk before bed to see if it helps. You can try doing gargles instead if you prefer.
2. Breast Milk Helps With Ear Infections
Other uses for breast milk include using it to help with your baby’s ear infections. Newborns can get a lot of ear infections that can cause a lot of discomforts.
You can prevent a sleepless night of crying by placing a bit of breast milk in your baby’s infected ear. Put two or three drops of breast milk in your baby’s ear every few hours to see if that helps.
3. It Helps With Eye Irritations
Blocked tear ducts can create a crust in your baby’s eyes. While this isn’t a serious issue, some babies can develop infections because of this.
Cleaning your baby’s eyes with a damp washcloth is one option that can help with eye irritations but you can also add breast milk to your baby’s eyes throughout the day. The milk should clear up the irritation in no time.
4. Breast Milk Soothes Sore Nipples
There are many uses for frozen breast milk. You can keep the milk in the freezer for up to four months so you’re able to use it all. After thawing the milk in a container of warm water, you can use the milk to feed your baby from a bottle.
Any leftover milk can’t be refrozen so you can use that to rub around your nipples. Breastfeeding and pumping can leave your nipples sore and cracked. Rubbing the breast milk around the area can help soothe them.
Learn how to store breast milk so you can use it months later for some of the uses on this list.
5. It Helps Clear up Rashes
Breast milk even clears up rashes. Using breast milk for a baby rash is simple. You just have to spread it on the area where your baby gets the most irritation from their diaper.
Uses for Breast Milk You Might Not Know About
There are many different uses for breast milk besides feeding your baby that are explained in this guide. It helps clear up rashes for your baby and helps you with cracked nipples from constant feeding.
Make sure to check out some of the other articles on our site to learn more.