1O VALUABLE TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING
TODAY, THREE TIMES MORE WOMEN ARE BREASTFEEDING THEIR BABIES THAN 20
YEARS AGO.
An Early Start is the Best Start
Breastfeed your baby as soon as possible after birth. Babies are often more
alert and interested in feeding in the first hour following birth than later
that day. Use the help of experienced nursing staff. Relax – you're both
learning! So feed often on request; perhaps every two to three hours during
the day and when baby wakes at night. Have your baby room-in with you in the
hospital.
- As soon as you are able to, sit to feed your baby, support your back
and put a pillow on your knees for everybody's comfort. Bring your baby
to your breast rather than your breast to your baby.
- Hold the baby close to your body, skin to skin, tummy to tummy, face to
breast, mouth to nipple.
- Support your breast by holding four fingers underneath, away from the areola
(dark area), with your thumb on top.
- Stimulate baby's lips gently with your nipple until her* (* The use of "she/her"
also includes "him/he.") mouth opens as big as a yawn. Arouse
your baby's senses of taste and smell by expressing a few drops of milk.
- When her mouth is open wide, pull baby towards you quickly; when the baby
feels your nipple with her tongue, her lips will close over the areola and
seal it; both lips should be rolled out-wards. You should see the sucking
motion along the jaw line.
- To release the baby's suction, gently place a finger in the corner of her
mouth until you break the suction.
GETTING STARTED
WHAT HAPPENS?
At baby's birth your first milk is colostrum, a yellowish fluid rich in vitamins,
protein and immune factors. Breastfeeding often on cue will help the milk come
in gradually and the quantity to increase. As the colostrum decreases, mother's
milk may look thinner and watery, but it is your baby's perfect miracle fast
food.
Usually, the milk will be "let-down" and fill your breasts when
the baby starts to suck. You may feel the tingling sensation of your milk letting
down. But sometimes it happens earlier, spontaneously or in response to a baby's
cry, and the breasts fill up and leak. If your breasts should leak, tuck breast
pads in your bra to absorb the extra milk.
HOW TO HOLD YOUR BABY
There are many breastfeeding positions; discover the one that is most comfortable
for you and your baby. Sit up as soon as possible. If you have had a Caesarian
birth, you may need help to posi-tion yourself and your baby comfortably. Get
help from nurses, your doctor, midwife, or a lactation consultant.
REMEMBER, IT'S THE LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND!
The more your baby nurses, the more milk you produce. As your baby gets older,
she may nurse every three to four hours and be content. Your baby may have growth
spurts in the first few months. Often they are around three weeks, six weeks,
three months and six months. Frequent feedings, perhaps every one to two hours
for a few days, will help increase your milk supply and satisfy her increased
appetite. Remember that your baby's nutritional needs can be completely met
by your milk supply without added supplementary feedings.
THE COMPLETE FOOD
Breast milk is the most balanced food you can offer your infant! It has just
the right level and quality of nutrients to suit your child's first food needs.
It contains antibodies that reduce the likelihood of allergic reactions. Breastfeeding
aids the return of the uterus to normal size, allows mom and baby to begin a
special relationship, and is convenient and economical. With breastfeeding,
there is no need to sterilize or warm bottles, nor are there any bottles to
take when you leave home with your child. The process is simple, natural, free
and safer for the environment!
LOOKING AFTER MOM,TOO
In the early days, your nipples may be tender. Because this part of the body
is not usually exposed, nipples need lots of air and light to toughen. For the
first few days, expose your nipples to air or light after each feeding. Allow
some breast milk to dry on your nipples; it has lubricating and anti-infective
properties. Change nursing pads when they are wet. Sometimes breasts get swollen
and hurt because of increased blood supply and the accumulation of milk. This
condition is called "engorged breasts." Wearing a well-fitting bra,
applying warmth using warm towels or taking warm showers to ease the milk flow,
expressing some milk before feeding to relieve fullness, and nursing frequently
to allow your breasts to empty will help.
Proper positioning of baby on the breast is also very impor-tant. Ask for
help from the nurses to learn comfortable positions for you and your baby.
When your milk supply is established, you may learn to express or pump milk
so that it can be left with a caregiver to give to the baby, and then you can
get out occasionally or just have a well-deserved break.
WORKING AND BREASTFEEDING
It is important to understand that the first weeks are the learning period
for both of you, and that time, patience and humour will solve many difficulties.
During this time, your milk supply is becoming established, so it's difficult
to have anyone but you feed the baby. After that, you can express milk manually
or mechanically by using a breast pump before you go to work or to school, for
feedings throughout the day. Your own breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator
(for up to 48 hours) or frozen. Refrigerate or freeze breast milk in plastic
bottles or bags and date them. Then warm it up in hot tap water before it is
used. (Using a microwave oven is not recommended.)
BREASTFEEDING AND PREGNANCY
Don't rely on the old myth that you won't get pregnant because you are nursing!
It's not always true. It may postpone the return of ovulation and menstruation,
but ovulation can occur, so you and your partner should use precautions! Discuss
birth control alternatives with your doctor.
THOUGHTFUL REMINDERS
GET LOTS OF REST
Be as good to yourself as you can. Try to nap when baby naps. Accept help with
housework and meals from your partner, family and friends. Do only what housekeeping
must be done. Limit your visitors. Go to bed early.
EAT WELL
The foods you choose are important when you are breastfeeding, to ensure good
health for you and your baby. Follow Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating for
basic nutrition and drink extra fluids to keep your milk supply adequate. The
only foods you must avoid are those to which you might be allergic.
Nursing mothers are discouraged from going on weight loss diets as they may
cause the milk supply to decrease. While nursing, you may gradually lose weight,
and the extra weight gained during pregnancy is used to provide part of the
energy needed to make breast milk.
HAVE PLENTY TO DRINK
You'll find you are extra thirsty, so have a glass of juice, milk or water
every time the baby nurses.
Remember if you smoke or drink alcohol: tobacco, alcohol and other drugs can
pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby.
BE COMFORTABLE
Relax in the bathtub. It's good therapy. Walk. Gradually resume some exercise.
Plan an evening out regularly. Motherhood and fatherhood are new roles that
need to be talked over and learned together. Keep the lines of communication
open!
TALK TO OTHERS
Personal contact with other nursing mothers is important for confident breastfeeding.
Don't keep concerns to yourself. Call a friend, La Leche League, the public
health nurse, a lactation consultant or your doctor or midwife. It helps
to talk to someone.
ENJOY YOUR BABY!
Holding your baby close stimulates her senses of touch, smell and taste. A
baby who is smiled at, talked to and cuddled develops a sense of security. Breastfeeding
is more than simply providing nutrients nutrients and calories for physical
growth – it contributes to a special closeness. So have confidence in
nature and in your-self and give your little one the very best start in life!
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