Breast Feeding Tips
May 4, 2008
FIND TIPS AND RESOURCES TO MAKE BREAST FEEDING WORK FOR YOU. Read More Here…
* Try to start as soon as possible in the hospital as it will take a few days for your milk to come in. However when your baby is first born your body produces this awesome substance called colostrum, which is basically antibodies for the baby to protect them from disease. It also helps their digestion.
* It can be kind of tough to get the positioning down. Talk to a local lactation consultant, or check La Leche League for outstanding resources. You can also check this LATCH video, which also has helpful tips. I watched this about 4 times.
* In the beginning it is hard to tell what your baby wants or needs when they are fussing. My pediatrician recommended that I put Emilia on the breast every 3 hours starting at 6 am to try to regulate her feedings and get her on a schedule. I have to say it worked! She slept through the night from the beginning (meaning 5 hours or more) and rarely fussed for food. My milk came in quickly and I’ve always had a huge supply. That being said, all babies are different, and some babies are hungry! So nurse when your baby shows signs of hunger.
* Try to avoid “nipple confusion”. Try not to introduce pacifiers for the first week or two if possible. However, if you are planning on doing any bottle-feeding, plan on introducing the bottle sometime in the third week. Some babies (like mine) if they are introduced too far after that will never take a bottle and you are really tied to them and they are tied to the breast. That being said, give them a “reminder” bottle one feeding per day, or every other day.
* Engorgement: Expect that you WILL get engorged. All of the “tips” said to apply warm compresses and nurse often. Well, this was just not enough for me. You cannot pump out the milk because that will make your body produce more so you have to squeeze it out. Unfortunately for me, the warm compress just did not do the trick. I had to physically get in a hot shower and start from the armpit and twist and squeeze to get out the excess milk. I know I am painting a vivid picture right now, but engorgement is painful and can lead to mastitis (infection) requiring antibiotics and some very uncomfortable flu-like symptoms. So to avoid that be prepared to nurse often, use your nipple cream (to prevent cracking and a pathway for infection) and take lots of hot showers.
* Clogged Milk Duct: I had a lumpectomy about 2 years before I got pregnant, so maybe that is why I continually get a clogged milk duct in my left breast. What has worked for me is taking a hot bath or shower and squeezing out as much milk as I can. Then I microwave a hot washcloth and try to loosen it that much more before nursing. When it clogs, my local lactation consultant recommended that I take Triple Lecithin 1200, 3 times per day 1 per meal. (Please consult your medical professional before taking any supplements). You can find triple lecithin 1200 at your local GNC. She also recommended I reduce my intake of saturated fats and drink lots of water. Note: Vigorous exercise can cause milk ducts to clog.
* Diet and rest will really help you as well. Remember you need extra calories and fluids to produce food for your baby. So while you may feel anxious to get that baby weight off, eat up! Believe me, the weight will fall off as your nurse. Rest is so important because this is the time that you produce more milk. Not only that but it will help your Let Down Reflex.
* Your nursing bra is a big choice as well, I love the Bravado Nursing Bra, it is also a great maternity bra as well.
* Nipple pain and cracking. This is especially challenging in the beginning when your nipples are “toughening up.” Try bringing an ointment such as Lansinoh to the hospital and apply after each feeding. Don’t forget to apply before showers to protect the delicate skin. If you are feeing “pain”, this is probably a latching issue. Talk to one of the lactation consultants, or you can refer to the LATCH video above for helpful tips as well.
* Breast (Nursing) Pads: Your breast will be very full for the first few days especially when you milk first comes in. I used the Lansinoh disposable breast pads in the beginning and they worked amazingly well. However, because they contain SAP (Super Absorbent Gel) I decided to switch to cotton nursing pads, which do about 10% of the job of the disposable ones. But they do not contain SAP and are better for the environment.
* Take a class at your local hospital. You will meet lactation consultants and get take home materials you can refer to in your first days home with baby.
All that being said, if you cannot breastfeed for medical reasons, because your baby will not latch on, or because you simply don’t want to, not to worry! Sometimes it’s just nature’s way, so don’t put pressure on yourself. We are living in an age where we have all kinds of fantastic options, and our children’s futures are bright. Remember the most important ingredient is consistent, unconditional love. So if formula feeding is the path for you, we have great information as to how to get your child the best and safest nutrition as well. Click HERE to take a look.
For more detailed information, check out this complete article posted by the
FDA on breastfeeding.
Comments
One Response to “Breast Feeding Tips”
Got something to say?
[...] that you found some helpful pointers regarding breast feeding. Please check out our article on Breast Feeding Tips for more in depth [...]