Simple Ways to Make Breastfeeding Work
By Keath Castelloe Low
Breastfeeding can be a wonderful bonding time for you and your baby. It is a round-the-clock commitment, and for first-time moms, it is a new and unfamiliar experience. For some mothers, breastfeeding is a breeze, but for many others, it can be a frustrating experience unless support and education are given early on. There are often easy solutions and simple ways to make breastfeeding work. As with anything new, it is helpful to know what to expect and anticipate.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for a baby’s first 6 months of life, with continued breastfeeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by Mother and Child.
“The best way to reach these goals is to get off to a good start by breastfeeding early and often while in the hospital,” says Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, pediatrician at Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Executive Committee Section on Breastfeeding. “Mothers should take advantage of the golden hour just after delivery, and before the infant is bathed or has had any procedures, to place the infant skin to skin and facilitate the infant’s natural instincts to latch onto the breast for the first feed.”
Latching On
Judith Lauwers, international board certified lactation consultant, International Lactation Consultant Association education coordinator and co-author of Counseling the Nursing Mother (Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2005), shares a list of suggestions mothers may follow to achieve an effective latch.
- Hug your baby snuggly with his whole body facing you.
- Line your baby up under your breast with your nipple opposite Baby’s nose.
- Compress your breast like a sandwich with your free hand to form it in the shape of your baby’s mouth.
- Tickle your baby’s lower lip until he opens his mouth wide and bring him to your breast quickly.
- Pull your baby into your breast so that his head tilts back, his cheeks touch your breast and his chin indents your breast.
Following Up
Dr. Feldman-Winter recommends that before leaving the hospital, mothers schedule a follow-up visit with a lactation consultant or other health care professional who is knowledgeable about breastfeeding for an evaluation when their baby is between 3 to 5 days of age. “This first follow-up visit is to make sure that the baby is doing well, breastfeeding is going well and your milk has come in,” she says. She also tells new mothers not to worry about the volume of milk in the first few days. “It doesn’t take much volume to satisfy the needs of a newborn,” she says. “Newborn babies just need many attempts at the breast, between 8 to 12 times per day is recommended, during which time they will be getting your colostrum, the early milk, rich in infection and disease-fighting substances.”
Lauwers agrees that worrying about milk volume is often an issue for new mothers and that concerns about milk production may continue once Baby is a little older. “The most common worry new mothers have is whether they have enough milk for their baby,” she says. Lauwers explains that as long as your baby is routinely breastfeeding (at least 8 times in a 24-hour period), his sucking rhythm is about one cycle per second to indicate that he is obtaining milk, you hear swallowing or gulping during the feedings and your breasts feel softer after the feedings, then you can feel confident that your baby is getting what he needs.
Lauwers also says that a baby who is getting enough milk will be alert, active and content between feedings. “If a baby is breastfeeding exclusively, his output is a good indication of what he receives,” she says. “He should have at least six wet and three soiled diapers in each 24-hour period during the first two months. Mothers usually find they are changing a diaper every time their baby breastfeeds.”
Reaping the Benefits
“Unless there is a medical reason, giving your baby other foods or fluids is not recommended and may interfere with breastfeeding,” Dr. Feldman-Winter says. “You have everything your baby needs.”
Breastfeeding is not only good for your baby; it is also good for you. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, builds your bone strength (reducing the risk of osteoporosis in later years), helps your uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size more quickly, burns calories and promotes postpartum weight loss and delays the return of your menstrual cycle (helping to naturally space time between pregnancies). Research has also found that breastfeeding mothers are less likely to experience postpartum anxiety and depression.
As with anything new, breastfeeding may take some practice before you feel comfortable and confident. Getting off to a good start early on and seeking help for any issues that may arise are keys for successful and happy breastfeeding.
