Breast feeding does not always go smoothing, especially from the beginning when it is first introduced to the newborn baby. And nursing can have the share of ups and downs. It can either be a lovely bonding experience or filled with tears when the nursing did not go as expected.
Three stages of breast milk
it might be surprising to know in the beginning that the breast milk have changes by the week and each formulation is designed to meet the needs of the newborn.
- Colostrum
Firstly, the substance that is produced is called colostrum. It will help to provide the newborn with nutrients and antibodies that he/she will ned to fight with infections in the early days. A little will go for a long way, so the newborn baby will only need a few spoons at a time
- Transitional milk
After three to five days, colostrum will be replaced with transitional milk. Just like the name suggested, transitional milk looks similar to the mixture of orange juice and milk , it is the stage between colostrum and mature milk.
- Mature milk
It usually occurs in between the tenth day and the second week, mature milk will come in. The milk is white and is slightly thinner than transitional milk, resembling to watery slim milk and may appear bluish at first.
Getting “The Latch” needs practice
For some of the moms, the newborn baby is magnetically attached to the breast in the start of the birth. It will need a little practice to master a proper latch. Once the mother and the baby get the hang of breastfeeding, latching will comes naturally.
The below tips may be of help:
- Get comfortable. Choose a chair or a glider with back, neck and shoulder support.
- Line it up. The baby should be tummy to tummy with you. You may need a pillow to elevate baby to nipple height.
- Guide the baby into place. Placing the baby near the nipple and running it back and forth waiting for a wide yawn. Bring the baby towards the breast instead of leaning towards the baby as it may cause back and neck pain. The baby’s chin and the tip of the nose should be on the breast.
- Suckling and sucking is different. You can tell that baby is latched on and suckling (extracting milk from the breast) when there’s a suck-swallow-breathe pattern.
- Get help. If there is any trouble in getting the baby to latch on, the nipple shield can be an effective tool to give the baby something of a better aim at first. When using a nipple shield, always work with a lactation consultant, as it should be a temporary solution.
- Break the seal. If you don’t get the latch, try it again. Put a finger into the corner of the baby’s mouth and pull your breast over. Start a cycle until you get a seal with both the nipple and the areola covered.
Breastfeeding a newborn can be a full-time job
Newborn will need to be breastfed every two to three hours in the beginning, and each session may take a while. You’ll know that a feeding is done when baby has completely drained at least one breast. For newborn, this can take between 20 and 45 minutes at each feeding.
It’s important for baby to finish out a feeding so he gets the hind milk, which is loaded with healthy fats, in addition to the foremilk, which resembles skim milk. Let baby lead the way by letting him pull away when he’s done feeding. If baby doesn’t pull away, wait until he sucks four times for every swallow.
Finding the right position for you is ultra important
Choosing a breastfeeding position that works best for you makes breastfeeding that much more comfortable. Experiment with a few until you find your perfect match.
Laid-back breastfeeding. Lie back with head, shoulders and neck supported. Place baby’s whole front on your whole front and let gravity do the work. Place baby’s cheek on your bare breast
Cradle hold. Breastfeed baby while you’re cradling her in your lap with baby’s head resting in your elbow bend. Use pillows to elevate baby’s head to nipple level and cup your breast with the opposite hand.
Crossover hold. Hold baby’s head with the opposite hand from the breast that’s currently nursing. Your wrist should be behind baby’s shoulder blades, your thumb behind one ear, your fingers behind the other ear. Use your other hand to cup your breast.
Football hold. This position works really well if you’ve had a C-section. Use the hand on the side of the breast that’s nursing to lift baby’s head to nipple level, with her head facing toward you. Again, you can use pillows to help elevate baby.
Side-lying position. This is a helpful position in the middle of the night (just make sure there's no loose bedding or pillows nearby). Mom and baby face each other, both lying on their sides. Use the hand that you’re not lying on to cup your breast.
A well-fed mama means a well-fed baby
You are what you eat, and that becomes extra important when baby is also eating. While you don’t have to obsess like you did when you were pregnant, a healthy postpartum diet is key to breastfeeding success. Follow these tips to start:
Drink up. Your body is working hard to make baby’s milk, that’s why it may seem like you’re thirsty all the time. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to stave off dehydration and keep milk flowing.
Eat a balanced diet. You will need three servings of protein, five servings of calcium, three servings of whole grains and five to six servings of fruits and vegetables daily (more vegetables than fruit).
Incorporate healthy fats. Load up on brain-building healthy fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids found in low-mercury fish like salmon and sardines and DHA-enriched eggs.
Don’t skip your prenatal vitamin. Keep taking it until you’re completely done breastfeeding. You can also keep taking your DHA supplement from pregnancy.
Breastfeeding should not be painful
Your breasts are your number one asset when you’re breastfeeding. But when they’re working overtime, you may hit a few roadblocks. A few common causes of breastfeeding and nipple pain include:
Mastitis. This breast inflammation is caused by an infection that gets into the breast. It causes flu-like symptoms and red irritation around the breast. Mastitis often happens when germs from baby’s mouth enter a milk duct through cracks in the nipple. You can avoid it by pumping or nursing baby to avoid engorgement. When the infection forms, breastfeeding helps to relieve it. Your doctor will also prescribe an antibiotic to clear the infection.
Blocked milk ducts. If you notice a painful spot on your breast that’s red and irritated, you may have a blocked duct. Keep breastfeeding so that your flow will eventually break through the blockage.
Sore or cracked nipples. Just because your breasts are working extra hard doesn’t mean they should be sore. Lanolin cream applied after each nursing session can help. But more importantly, adjust your breastfeeding position and make sure baby has a good latch.
Don’t get overly anxious about your milk supply
There’s nothing more stressful for new moms than worrying about whether baby is getting enough milk. It can be hard to tell whether you’re producing enough, but don't worry. You don’t have to measure your breast milk to know for sure.
Here are some other ways to ensure your baby is well-fed:
- Count diapers. Dirty diapers can tell you a lot about baby’s eating habits. She should have between six to 12 wet diapers and five yellow bowel movements each day.
- Check for fussiness. If your baby is snoozing and seems content, feeding is likely not an issue. But if she’s crying and furiously sucking her fingers, she’s probably still hungry.
- Have your baby checked at well visits. Your doctor will check baby’s weight at each well-baby visit and plot it out on a growth chart. Your baby will lose body weight due to fluid loss after birth, but she should gain it back within 10 to 14 days. Babies should gain around 5 to 7 ounces a week.
Leaks happen
If breastfeeding your newborn sometimes makes you feel like you’re in a wet T-shirt contest, you’re not alone. Leaky breasts are actually a beautiful thing because they show a mom’s biological need to feed baby, but that doesn’t make them any less messy.
Talking to your baby, hearing baby’s voice or even seeing a picture of your little one can start the let-down process before a feeding session. This is especially true in the beginning.
If you’ve got leaky breasts, planning ahead can help:
- Keep a stash of nursing pads on hand in a pinch.
- If leaks are becoming an issue at night, place towels under you while you sleep so you won’t have to change your sheets in the morning.
- Hide leaks better by wearing dark prints instead of solids, which will buy you some time until you get home.
- Don’t pump. Leaky breasts aren’t helped by extra pumping. In fact, it just ups your supply and makes the problem worse.
- Breastfeeding can be an emotional rollercoaster in the beginning, but with a little time and patience, you and your baby will likely get the hang of it. So have faith! Since it's such a good way to nourish and bond with your little one, it's well worth the effort.
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