This is a great article about Breastfeeding by Judith A. Lothian (RN, PHD, LCCE, FACCE). I just wanted to share this great information from her!
The simplicity of breastfeeding should inspire confidence
in all of us. Nature intended your baby to be breastfed, and your body is
perfectly designed to produce milk for your baby. During pregnancy your body
prepared your breasts for breastfeeding. Colostrum was ready and waiting for
your baby right after birth, and your body will continue producing high-quality
milk for your baby, as long as he continues to nurse. Your baby is able, right
from birth, to let you know when he is hungry, to attach to breast, and to
suck, swallow and digest milk that is perfectly designed to meet his specific
needs, for as long as he nurses.
Breastfeeding is a simple
process. The baby’s sucking at the breast stimulates milk production. The more
your baby nurses, the more milk you will produce. Because of this, pacifiers
and supplementing with bottles of infant formula will set the stage for
decreasing, rather than increasing, milk production. Your baby should nurse at
least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours in the first weeks. He may nurse in clusters,
rather than every two hours. Let your baby nurse at the breast “until he’s
finished.” This insures that he receives the “hind” milk, rich in fat and
calories. Limiting nursing to five or ten minutes on each side deprives your
baby of this important and nutritious milk.
Regardless of your diet,
your body produces high-quality milk. Contrary to what you may have heard, you
do not need to drink large amounts of fluid or avoid certain foods. Eat and
drink to satisfy your appetite. Some of the weight you gained while pregnant
will be used for calories while you are breastfeeding.
Your baby will let you know
when he is ready to nurse, not by crying, but with a number of early feeding
cues: rapid eye movements under the eyelids (he may seem to be stirring from
sleep), moth and tongue movements, hand to mouth movements, body movements and
small sounds. If you wait until your baby cries, it will be difficult to help
him settle down enough to latch properly and he and you will have missed
important nursing time.
Keeping your baby close to
you will insure that you do not miss his feeding cues. Consider using a
sling-type carrier to hold him close during the day, and co-sleeping, in the
same bed or at least the same room, at night.
Babies do not have to learn
to attach to the breast. Right after birth, skin-to-skin with their mothers,
babies crawl to the breast and self-attach. If you hold your baby in the
traditional cradle position, he is best able to latch properly to your breast
when he is flexed, relaxed, his head both level with your breast and aligned
with his body, and facing you. You should not have to lean toward him, and he
should not have to reach toward you to attach. Wait for the baby to open his
mouth wide so that he attaches to the areola, not the nipple. Be patient and
let your baby lead you. Don’t rush him or pressure yourself. Remember, your
baby knows how to do this.
If your baby is positioned
and latched properly, when he sucks he will get milk. Watch and listen for his
swallowing. This is the ultimate assurance that he is actually getting milk.
Your baby will let you know when he is “finished” nursing by coming off the
breast himself or falling asleep. He may or may not want to nurse on the other
breast. The other breast will feel full when he is ready to nurse again, so you
will start with that side.
How do you know your baby
is getting enough milk? You can feel confident that he is getting enough if you
pay attention to his feeding cues, you nurse him often, you allow him to nurse
until he is “finished” and he is producing wet diapers and having bowel
movements. At one day of age your baby will have two wet diapers and one bowel
movement and over the course of the first week will increase that number
gradually; by day seven, you’ll see six to eight wet diapers and three or more
bowel movements.
Some babies take a few days
or even weeks to breastfeed effortlessly. If your baby is not nursing
frequently, you are unable to identify swallowing or he is not producing wet
diapers and bowel movements, contact your healthcare professional or lactation
consultant immediately. Most breastfeeding problems have simple solutions, but
addressing them quickly is important.
You and your baby were made
to breastfeed. Have confidence in yourself and in your baby’s ability to
breastfeed. And treasure the joy of nursing your baby.
Breastfeeding Basics
Proper positioning can make
all the difference to your breastfeeding success. If your baby is positioned
correctly at the breast, you’ll feel better and your baby will be more
satisfied. Start by making yourself comfortable: Sit up in bed or in a rocking
chair or armchair, and use a bed pillow or nursing pillow if that makes things
easier. Keep a glass of water and a healthy snack within reach so you can get
nutrition while your baby does.
Cradle Hold
The cradle hold is a good position for
newborns. The baby should be facing you stomach to stomach, his head and neck
should be straight and he should not have to strain to reach your nipple.
You can also use the cradle
hold for older babies. To avoid shoulder and neck pain, bring your baby up and
toward you rather than leaning toward him. Be sure the baby’s head is nestled
in the bend of your elbow.
Football Hold
The football hold works
especially well for premature infants and for women who have had cesareans.
Support your baby’s head and neck with your hand, and position his face
directly in front of your breast. (The side-lying position, not shown here, is
also comfortable, especially for cesarean moms. Place your baby on his side
facing you in bed and guide him onto your nipple.)
To encourage your baby to
latch on properly, tease him gently with your nipple. As soon as he opens his
mouth wide (very wide, like a yawn), bring him onto the breast, leading with
the chin.
When your baby is latched
on correctly, his mouth should cover the nipple and at least one inch of the
areola. His chin and the tip of his nose should touch your breast.
If your baby is not latched
on properly, break the suction by putting your finger gently between his gums.
Then start again. Don’t worry if proper latch-on takes several tries at first.
Take a deep breath, and remain patient.
Burping Your
Baby
After your baby has nursed from one breast, burp him. Then
burp him again after the feeding is over. If he doesn’t burp after a minute or
two but seems content, no burp is needed. If he seems uncomfortable, keep
trying until you hear the burp. Here are three positions that you can use.
- Sit your baby on your lap, apply pressure on
his tummy and firmly pat his back.
- Drape your baby over your shoulder and firmly
pat his back.
- Lay your baby down and firmly pat his back.
Judith A. Lothiam, RN, PHD, LLCE, FACCE teaches
childbirth education in Brooklyn, NY, is the former president of the Board of
Directors of Lamaze International and is the chair of its certification
council. She has five children.
