Baby and breast are the perfect feeding team!
Breastfeeding
Baby and breast are the perfect feeding team!
For the best nutrition, breastmilk is the best food to feed a baby. It is made specifically to meet the nutritional needs of babies. Human breastmilk changes as the baby grows to offer the best nutrients for the baby. It has over 1000 components - many of these have not been duplicated in infant formula.
Over the past 25 years, research has continued to show that breastmilk is better than infant formula. In fact, more studies are released each year showing that there are health risks to the baby and the mother when they do not breastfeed.
Infant formula should be seen as a `safety net` for babies who cannot breastfeed and not as an equal replacement.
Many common illnesses, such as colds, flu, skin infections or diarrhea, cannot be passed through breast milk. In fact, if a mother has an illness, her breast milk will contain antibodies to it that will help protect her baby from those same illnesses.
Baby and Breast- A Perfect Feeding Team
Knowing what to expect and how to deal with setbacks in breastfeeding can help ease the adjustment that you and your newborn will go through as you take on breastfeeding. Nursing comes naturally but it does take a while for the mom and baby to get in sync with one another.
How to breastfeed:
Get into a comfortable position. Whatever position is comfortable for you and for the baby is a good position to use.
Position your baby facing your nipple.
Support your breast with your free hand. Keep your fingers off your areola, which the baby needs to grasp.
Gently tickle the baby’s lips with your nipple until the mouth is opened wide. Then, move your breast closer.
Don’t stuff the nipple into an unwilling mouth. Let the baby take the initiative.
Make sure the baby latches on to the nipple and areola. Sucking on just the nipple will not compress the milk glands. It will also cause soreness and cracking.
If your breast is blocking your baby’s nose, lightly depress the breast with your finger. Be careful not to loosen your baby’s grasp of the areola.
If the baby has a strong steady rhythmic motion that is visible in the cheek, then most likely the baby is attached and sucking well.
When finished or repositioning the breast, don’t yank your breast out of the baby’s mouth. This will cause injury to the nipple.
Don’t be tempted to skip or skimp on feedings because of pain. The less the baby eats, the worse the pain will be.
Brochure downloads:
Ten Steps to Support Parents` Choice to Breastfeed Their Baby (pdf)
101 reasons to Breastfeed Your Child (pdf)
Breastfeeding Basics
* Start as soon as possible after birth
* Be patient and calm
* Don’t try to feed a screaming baby
* Ask for help when you need it
Breastfeeding is a learned skill that becomes easier over time. You are more likely to succeed with long-term breastfeeding by having a plan, becoming familiar with basic techniques, learning how to handle minor physical problems and getting help quickly when you need it.
How the Baby is Preparing for Breastfeeding
Before they are born, babies begin learning important skills that will help them breastfeed. Teaching mothers about these skills can increase their confidence in the baby`s ability to nurse at birth.
By the time a mother is 11 weeks (almost 3 months) pregnant, her baby has learned to swallow. Babies swallow amniotic fluid in the uterus.
By the time a mother is 24 weeks (6 months) pregnant, her baby has learned to suck. Babies spend a lot of time with their hands close to their mouth before birth. Babies are often seen sucking on their thumb, fingers or hands during an ultrasound exam.
By the time a mother is 32 weeks (8 months) pregnant, her baby has learned to root for the breast. The baby will turn its head if touched on the cheek and open its mouth if the bottom lip is tickled. By this time the baby can also suck and swallow in a coordinated way.
By the time a mother is 37 weeks (9 months) pregnant, her baby has learned to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing so it can do all three when breastfeeding after birth. Babies practice shallow breathing before birth using amniotic fluid.
Breastfeeding Tips
Breastfeed your baby on demand rather than setting a strict schedule, especially in the first few months.
Taking care of yourself will also help you to establish your milk supply. Eat right and get rest when you are able.
Avoid bottle-feeding your baby breast milk until breastfeeding and milk supply are well-established, which is usually about 4 to 6 weeks. This helps build your milk supply. Not using bottles also helps prevent your baby from developing nipple confusion, which is a preference for an artificial nipple over the breast.
Look for signs that your baby is getting enough milk, such as eagerness to eat and feeding sessions that last at least 15 to 25 minutes. By 6 days of age, your baby should need about 6 to 8 diaper changes, settle well after feeding and usually awaken on his or her own to feed every 1 to 3 hours. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
Help clear blocked milk ducts by using warm compresses and massaging your breasts before and during feedings. Also, breastfeed more frequently and in different positions. Offer your baby the affected breast first at each feeding.
You can help relieve the pain from sore or cracked nipples with drops of expressed breast milk or lanolin creams.
The color of your breastmilk
The first milk is called `colostrum.’ Colostrum is a clear, yellowish fluid. It is rich in protein, nutrients and antibodies, which protect the baby from infection. By starting to nurse the baby right after birth, the baby will benefit from the colostrum and the `mature milk` will come in sooner. Colostrum changes to `mature milk` sometime in the first 1 to 7 days.
`Mature` breastmilk may look blue in color. The milk that comes out first during a feeding (foremilk) is thinner and watery. The milk toward the end of a feeding (hindmilk) looks thicker. It is richer and higher in fat. If a woman pumps her milk, the fat (or `cream`) will separate easily and rise to the top.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:12 am
I need some advise PLEASE!!! My 8 week old daughter had a couple little spots of blood in her stool probably the size of a pencil tip so I called the dr and they said to check her rectum and if it wasnt irritated then to take her to an urgent care b/c they were all booked. Well her rectum was not irritated and she had blood in her poop a second time( it was more than the first time and mixed in with her stool) and so we took her to an urgent care. The dr said that b/c she was having frequent loose stools that it was probably irritating her bowels and there really isnt anything you can do but maybe put some vasoline inside her rectum(he did see the blood in her bm). In my opinion her bowels are less frequent now then ever before but it does seem like she strains a little after her first big ‘explosion’, but when I see her straining I dont hear anything coming out. So I dont know. She is breastfed and I do NOT suppliment with formula. I thought it was normal for babies her age to have loose stools when they are only breast fed, is that not right? Also has anyone had this happen to their baby or heard of this before. The dr was not a pediatrician so I kinda question what he said. It just makes me feel bad to think that because I am choosing to bf her that she is going to have some blood in her poop. Plus he said it isnt hurting her but she seems a LOT fussier than normal. Thanks a ton ladies!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:13 am
Malted Milk– i went to a lactation consultatant– ovaltine! no joke ladies, and plus side, two glasses of it is almost equal in vitamins to your prenatals as well- just check out the back label. and its super yummy!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:13 am
hey ladies i need your help…ive started breastfeeding again after painful weeks of sore boobs and mastitis. ..so far ok but the pain is gradually getting worse again(poor latch i think) anyway i noticed blood coming out of the nipple tonight quite a bit….eek im a little worried bc i dont have cracked nipples just alot of pain when he sucks…ladies what do you think it may be?? do you think i should keep going or rest my boobs til i find out the cause?? HELP
October 15th, 2009 at 4:13 am
I am not sure if it has been mentioned before but I know alot of you have trouble finding the malted milk. I am not sure if it has been mentioned before and why it took me so long to figure it out but if you cant find it then go for Malt O Meal!!!!! It has the same main ingredient and has less sugar!!!! If it is just the malted barley that does the trick then it should be just as good as malted milk and cheaper too. If malted milk balls have worked for me then I am hoping this does too!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:14 am
Chrissy-Congrats on your persistence BFing your baby! Its so much easier than said! I was up crying many a night the first weeks thinking there was no way i could get through it-just take it one day at a time and try not to stress too much- Remember the more you continue to give your baby supplementing you are going to have to continue until you get your milk supply up. Its supply and demand so say you are nursing youe baby 5 oz..it will continue to make what the baby suckles out…so if you give it a bottle how can your breasts know to make more…if that makes sense. Also after you hear the baby not getting more milk let the baby continue to suckle if you can stand it…this will signal your body that it needs to start producing more milk! Good luck!!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:14 am
9yrs - When my son was younger, I wanted to pump to build up a supply. I would put the boppy pillow on my lap, and he would brestfeed from one side while I pumped on the other side. It was the only way I could get more than just 2 oz while pumping. After my breasts got used to pumping, I could get more milk when I pumped. And then I would only need to pump when I was away from him and missed a feeding. My son turned 1 year last week and as of yesterday we are completely weaned!! I am so proud that I breastfed him for a whole year and never had to use formula! My left boob kinda hurts from not feeding him for almost 48 hrs.. I hope I get through this with little pain!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:15 am
Anyone have BV -bacterial vaginosis while breast feeding? The medication they normally prescribe cannot be used while BREASTFEEDING! ARRRGGG, I am so hurting right now with this condition, it re occurs for the rest of your life…sucks. Anyone have this and breast feed? What did you do? ANy help would be greatly appreciated….I am waiting on a call from my OB right now but I have relocated out of state and probably wont be able to get a script without seeing a doc here,…..natural cures? (That work) Thanxs
October 15th, 2009 at 4:15 am
Hey everyone! My LO is 3weeks old and I only breastfeed… I would like to pump also(for some of those late night feedings and when were out) but I don’t know when to pump and for how long?!?!? She feeds quite often and sometimes I just want to give my nipples a break! Should I pump before or after feedings? I used to pump a lot but had an oversupply and really engorged breast so I’m trying to avoid that at all cost! PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!….by the way I have a dual electric pump
October 15th, 2009 at 4:15 am
Hi all- I have a 17 month old I nursed until 15 months and I am currently 18 weeks pregnant with baby #2. a good family friend is a lactation expert so hopefully something I say may help Chrissy511- your milk supply is all about supply and demand- honestly they should not have advised you to begin supplementing this early on. Not only are you jepordizing your milk supply but you may deter your baby from breastfeeding because of nipple confusion. A pacifier or bottle shoud not be Introduced until 6-8 weeks to avoid confusionfor the infant. Sucking a pacifier/bottle is completely different from the suckling of a breast!! In order to get your milk supply up you need to nurse as much as possible ansyou can pump as well. It seems your baby is always hungry and attached to your breast all day and it is kinda true early on–your babys belly is so tiny now don’t worry that he’s not getting enough unless you start noticing weight loss then that is cause for concern. I would def. Stop supplementing and Try and focus on nursing 100%…
October 15th, 2009 at 4:16 am
Ladies, when should I start using a breast pump? My daughter is 3 weeks old. Some nights she has already slept for at least 4 hours straight and then wakes to only feed on one breast. She falls back asleep before she wants the other one. Then during the day she feeds every hour and a half or two hours sometimes. (sometimes she wants both breasts, other times just one). Should I always pump from the second breast if she only takes the first one? Should I be pumping every two hours at night if she’s not eating? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:16 am
Hello Ladies. My job is going through some ‘reconstruction’ which is forcing me to go to our corporate headquarters next week which is in Pennsylvania, I’m in California. This was all last minute. Problem is, I have NEVER been away from baby except during work. She is 11 months old and is exclusively breastfed. She depends on me in the night and still wakes up 2-3 times, mostly for comfort. Daddy tries to put her back to sleep in the night but after a certain time, I just get up and give her the boob… She needs the boob. I will be leaving on Monday and returning on Friday. I’m so scared on what will happen with the baby. She will not have the boob for a whole 5 days. I have a huge freezer supply so i’m not worried about the milk, i’m worried about the boob.. How should I handle this? Any tips? Advice to give my SO since he will have to deal w/ her at night when she doesn’t have my boob?? Ughhh… I wanna cry just thinking about being away from my kids this long…
October 15th, 2009 at 4:16 am
Plus, it is also recommended not to share pumps. The hospital grade ones are specially designed with isolated parts that you come in contact with that can be completely sanitized or replaced. If your SIL has a privately bought one, it doesnt have those parts. Plus, a lot of pumps arent guaranteed 100% effective after the first year or so so if you really want to have a strong go from the beginning, it might be best to invest in a new pump, depending how much you will need to use it. Mine cost $279 which seems like a lot, however, in a year I have never bought a single ounce of formula, so the money saved WAY exceeds that.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:17 am
Hey, this is my second pregnancy, I’m 11 weeks. I definetily plan on breastfeeding and pumping as well. My husband and I were going through some things and I came across my pump kit. My question is…First I know the tubes..only air goes through it..but it lookslike theres something inside them..so can I still use them? I think at the hospital with every pregnancy, you have a choice to either get the hand pump or the pump kit..and I think I’m gonna ask for the pump kit..just to have extra pieces. My sister in law.. has a pump and I’m going to try pumping right from the beginning this time..to see if it helps build my supply. If anyone has any helpful ideas on how pumping along with nursing can help build your supply…I’d really appreciate it. I didn’t produce enough with my first…I got thrush..and then pumped and couldn’t even get 4 ounces out in 24 hrs…It was depressing because I really wanted to breastfeed. Hopefully this time..it works… Thanks:)
October 15th, 2009 at 4:17 am
i just noticed this room and think this is a good place for me to visit. just a little about me i delivered my baby girl almost three weeks ago and for the first 6 days had no milk so we had to suppliment with formula. when i had come home from the hospital i bought a pump and my milk has come in but i’m not producing enough to feed my baby. i think i average about one ounce each time i pump and thats after i try to get her to take the breast on her own. she does latch on but i think she has become used to the nipple for the formula so i pretty much pump and give her that milk and then the formula. SOOOO my question is does anyone have any tips or tricks to make my breastmilk actually come in enough so that formula doesn’t really need to be used at all? i would love to have her mostly on breastmilk not formula and i’m becoming frustrated and don’t know what to do. HELP PLEASE!!! lol
October 15th, 2009 at 4:17 am
ejsmom - You are still in a very early period so your milk is probably still regulating. The weeks you took off told your body your baby didnt need the milk. If you are consistently pumping and feeding it will give your body a totally different message. It just takes awhile. Everyone will tell you it is LOADS easier to lose supply then get it back but if you stay with it it will definitely happen. You should be coming up on another growth spurt soon so your baby will want to feed constantly. That is VERY good to get your supply back but it will be a very trying time. We have all been there, you will feel frustrated and inadequate but just power through it trust me. Be very consistent with pumping if your baby is not eating. I know there will be mixed opinions on this but until you get your supply back if your LO is still very hungry then maybe offer him some expressed. I did that occassionaly with my son just for peace of mind and sanity. Just remember to pump pump pump the difference! Anyone will tell you the early weeks are the hardest and that will especially be true in trying to rebuild your supply after a hiatus but definitely stick with it. Its easier to get your supply back when your son is exclusively on breastmilk then it would be if you had added solids or formula to his diet. Stick with it and good luck!!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:18 am
So I started off breastfeeding and everything was great until I got sick. I didn’t breast feed much during my babies third and fourth weeks. Now we are in our fifth week and my milk supply has gone down a lot. My lactation specialist told me to pump and feed regularly (2-3hours) in order to get my supply back up. I have been doing this for four days straight and I am still unable to get more than an ounce of milk at any given. How long will it take for my milk to come back enough for me to really feed my baby properly, or will it ever come back? Im also worried because my baby pauses a lot during bf, like he is just way too relaxed. HELP!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Remember every womans breasts & baby are unique & different. It totally worked for me to start pumping right away. My baby also took a bottle & a pacifier starting at 2 days old. We have never experienced any ‘nipple confusion’ whatsoever. So remember to go with your gut instinct & do what feels right for your unique baby & body! And it does hurt in the begining, it took me 2 months to get comfortable breastfeeding. The begining is horrible, it is SO painful but it pays off a thousand times over. Keep at it & don’t give up.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:19 am
I honestly found that it took a good 3 months for me to feel natrually about breastfeeding and to not notice i’m doing it anymore. I had serious pain for the first 2-3 weeks despite professionals checking my latch it just hurt! I would cry through every feed and the only thing that kept me going was BFing friends telling me it would get better! It does!!! Ihave always done a Eat Active Sleep routine except I feed her to sleep before she goes to bed at night, I wanted her to be able to settle herself to sleep without feeding and it’s worked for me as she’s slept through since 7 weeks 8 til 8. You have to do what you thinks best and what’s best foryour family. I would do thingsdifferently if I was going to be a SAHM and didnt goback to work. BFing though is the best thing I’ve ever done and worth all the hard work and agony!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:19 am
After bf my first exclusively for 9 months and then until 15 months, I feel like an old hand preparing for my second baby. It takes 3-5 days for your milk to come in. Please do not feel like you need to supplement with bottles during this time. Colostrum (even if you can’t pump any out and don’t think you are producing any or enough is FINE for this time. Just put your baby up to nurse every 2 hours or so and your milk WILL come in. Your baby should have the number of dirty diapers they are old for the first week. One on day one, two day two until week one is up then 6-8 wet or dirty diapers per day. Be it known to all that breastfeeding is PAINFUL for the first two weeks. I would seriously scream and cry in pain with every latch, especially that first week. But it gets easier daily. And by 2 months it will be a habit. I didn’t think I would make it a month and I made it 9 months exclusively (no solids/baby food) and 15 months total. It is easier than you think! As for pumping, DO NOT pump for the first 4-6 weeks!!!!! Unless you can’t help it of course. I tried pumping within 2 weeks of birth and got several plugged ducts and mastitis. Neither are fun, and neither would have happened if I would have let my supply regulate before I started. Just hold off, get used to baby and wait as long as you can. Don’t worry about milk coming in or not. Just drink lots of water, get as much rest as possible and don’t supplement with bottles of formula- the nursing and crying brings in your milk the fastest! I know… I supplemented with a bottle or two while in the hospital because my dd was jaundiced…and my milk took 5 days to come in. Just relax and all will be well. Message me if you have any questions!!!!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:19 am
I’m glad I found this blog! OK, I’m totally wanting to Breastfeed… of course b/c it’s way good for the baby but, (selfishly) I want to save $ and not buy formula. I have several questions… like is the baby going to have 6-8 wet diapers in the first week… when do they start to have this many wet diapers. Also, when is it best to start pumping breastmilk? I’m going back to work part-time (3- 8hr shifts per week)… and I want the baby to have my breastmilk for the little bit of time while I’m gone. Lastly, what if my milk doesn’t come in good… how long does that take and, how many days should I wait before I give up? So, there’s a few questions- I know there will be more to come later
October 20th, 2009 at 4:42 am
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