Breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience for both mother and baby. But it doesn’t always start off easily. Although it is the natural way to feed your baby, both of you will have to learn how to do it. There are some things you can do to get your breastfeeding relationship off to a good start.
Breast milk works on the principle of supply and demand. The more you feed your baby, the more milk your body will produce. The first thing you can do to get a good start is to stay close to your baby. Choose rooming in with the baby, if at all possible. This keeps baby close and you will get to feed more frequently. You will also learn your baby’s hunger cues when you are close by.
Avoid supplementing with formula, particularly in the first four weeks of your baby’s life. Even if you plan to supplement later, now is not the time to start. Every formula feeding will reduce your supply of milk. Every nursing session will boost your supply. Rooming in is a great way to ensure that the baby doesn’t accidentally get fed any formula.
This does happen sometimes in hospitals. It happened with my third baby. The nurses were slow to bring her in to me after her birth. When I finally got her, I realized she had been given a bottle. She wasn’t hungry and didn’t latch right away. I was very upset and kept her with me for the remainder of our stay in the hospital.
Feed baby on demand to increase your supply. Feed whenever the baby wants to eat. Feeding schedules are not good for breastfed babies, especially in the early weeks. The frequency of nursing will increase and decrease as your baby grows. During growth spurts, you will notice an increase in feeding. In the early weeks, the baby may nurse as often as every one to two hours. This is normal. As the baby gets bigger, she will go longer stretches between feedings.
It’s important to make sure the baby is latched on properly. This is important for her to get enough milk and to help you avoid sore nipples. Improper latch is the leading cause of sore nipples in new mothers. If the baby isn’t latched properly, take him off the breast and start over. It can take some time to get the hang of it, but you will with practice.
Hold your breast between your thumb and fingers. Place the thumb and fingers behind the areola. This is the darker skin around the nipple. When you touch your breast to the baby’s mouth, she will open wide. Put the nipple all the way in the baby’s mouth. You should see very little of the areola and the baby’s nose and chin will be touching the breast.
If you do experience sore nipples, there are some things you can do. First, check that baby is latched on properly at every feeding. Breast creams containing lanolin are made for nursing mothers. These are available at any store that sells breastfeeding supplies and in many drug stores. Put this on your nipple between feedings, but be sure to wash it off before the next feeding.
Other Ways to Heal Sore Nipples:
* Go topless between breastfeeding sessions. Exposure to the air can help relieve the soreness.
* Try another position for breastfeeding. Sometimes a different hold will help relieve the soreness.
* Wear a cotton bra with soft breast pads to absorb leaking milk.
* Do not use soap on your nipples in the shower. Washing with water is sufficient. Soap can be very drying and will add to irritation.
Find support in the early days of breastfeeding. Some hospitals have a lactation consultant on staff. This person is generally very knowledgeable and can help you get off to a good start. Unfortunately, not all hospitals have them. Some use a nurse as a lactation consultant and they may not have as much knowledge.
Seek out advice and support from other breastfeeding mothers. This is very helpful to a new mother. Friends or family members that are currently breastfeeding or have done so in the past can offer tremendous support. My mother breastfed me and my brothers when we were babies. She came to stay when my first was born. It was wonderful having an experienced mother close by in those early days. The encouragement and support really made a difference for me.
If you can’t find support from the people in your life, consider joining La Leche League. The organization has chapters all around the world. Their website has information on finding a group in your area. You can attend monthly meetings and meet other breastfeeding mothers. They also have a lending library at most chapters with books and other educational materials.