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Beginning to Breastfeed
11 Tips from the Trenches By Kelly Camden, CD-DONA
If you are a new parent, you may be looking for information on breastfeeding. You know that it will be wonderful for you and your baby in many different ways, but you are wondering how to get started. How will the baby know what to do? Will you be able to breastfeed?
The following are simple, yet effective, tips for early breastfeeding:
1. Turn down the lights, and turn up the heat.
Babies are used tobeing in a warm, dark place and will be less inhibited if the environment in the birth room is somewhat subdued. As soon as the lights are dimmed, Baby will open his eyes. You can ask the nurses for help with dimming lights. 2. Mother and Baby should be skin to skin.
A mother's body is capable of warming her baby faster than a baby warmer. So go ahead and unwrap the baby, placing him directly on Mom's skin and making certain that the blankets are spread over Mother and Baby. Baby also needs to wear a hat. 3. To start, the mother should sit up as much as possible.
If she is reclined and the nipples are facing the ceiling, the baby would have to be face down in order to latch on. Side-lying works well for situations where a mother does not feel that she can sit. Another option is to use a "donut" or pillow to sit comfortably. 4. Start off at the right angle.
In order to figure out where Baby needs to be, look to see where the mother's nipples fall naturally. You will notice that this may not be at a 90 degree angle from the mother's chest, but more like a 45 degree angle. The baby's mouth should be in front of the nipple. 5. Is the baby rooting?
Rooting involves licking lips and/or the nipple, opening mouth, moving head as if searching for a nipple or putting the fist to the mouth. If the baby is not rooting, gently insert a clean pinky finger into the baby's mouth and touch the roof of the mouth. About halfway back, there is a reflex point that will trigger suckling. Letting the baby suckle on the finger for a minute or two helps the baby realize what to do. 
