Successful Solutions for Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding creates amazing bonds between a new mommy and her newborn.  Though breastfeeding takes lots of patience and work, breast milk can be the healthiest thing you feed your child in her lifetime.  Breast milk has the highest nutrients and antibodies to aid in lowering the risk for allergies and many childhood diseases.  This article is to help answer any questions new or expecting moms might have about breastfeeding and how to make it a smoother process.

Prepare Beforehand

Create a great support system with friends and family, and join any recreational groups with breast feeding mothers for motivation and assistance.  The Le Leche League gives guidance, classes, and information for free to any expecting or new mother.

From the Start

To ensure your baby takes to being breastfed, it’s important you breastfeed her as soon as possible starting at birth.  Preferably, the first feeding should take place no longer than an hour after birth.  To keep her comfortable with breastfeeding, experts recommend you feed her the entire stay at the hospital as well.  Feeding your newborn a bottle may cause her to reject the breast.  Bottle feedings might also delay your milk from completely dropping.  This could cause your little one to lose the beneficial colostrum milk mommy’s body produces for the first week.

It’s a good idea to breastfeed your baby when she wakes up from a nap, rather than before she goes down.  Feeding before bedtimes means she might fall asleep and not get a complete feeding.  This would increase your baby’s feedings per day and throw sleeping and eating times off.

Making the Switch

At the beginning of each feeding make sure to use the opposite breast of the one that was used at the previous feeding.   This ensures each breast has expelled even amounts of milk and prevents nipple soreness.  You can keep an ongoing list marking down which side you started with last to keep track of which one to start with next time.

Give your baby enough time on each breast (about 10 to 15 minutes) before switching breasts during a feeding.  As your little one feeds, more enriched milk is let down.  Changing sides too quickly could keep her from receiving the nutrients she needs from the milk.  When it’s time to change sides, be sure to burp her before starting the new breast.  This keeps spit-up at a minimum and makes room in her tummy for a complete meal.

Correct Latching and Position

There are a variety of positions so try to find which one suits your baby best.  If the hospital or birthing center you use has a lactation specialist, have her come in and monitor a feeding session to give suggestions to ensure your little one is latching on correctly.  Incorrect latching can lead to many problems for mommy and baby!  Extra air can be sucked in causing stomach discomfort for Baby, not enough milk will be let down, and mom’s nipples can become sore and cracked.

Being relaxed during feeding times allows proper letdown and keeps your baby from feeling stressed.  Stress and disruptions can also lessen the quality of the milk produced.  Once feeding begins, your baby should be taking in drinks at a steady and even pace of about one mouthful per 2 seconds.

Mommy’s Diet & Rest

What you eat highly impacts the milk you produce.  If you eat spicy foods your baby’s tummy could be agitated and if you drink caffeine she could become wired and not sleep properly.  A diet based on the four major food groups is recommended to pass healthy nutrients down to your baby through your milk.  If you notice your little one struggling with more gas than usual or upset tummy, it’s possible she is sensitive to a certain food you ate.

1. Try several small meals a day to help your energy levels stay regulated.

1. Most of us have been right where you are and understand when times get tough!