Eight Tips for Breastfeeding Success

While expecting a baby, you think about getting the room prepared, picking names, registering for gifts and maybe taking a childbirth class.  But, after having a baby, many parents wish they would have learned more about breastfeeding and how to be successful.

In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, here are eight tips I wish someone had told me about breastfeeding when I was young (and not a lactation consultant!):

Take a breastfeeding class before delivery.
Carroll Hospital offers a virtual class once a month. Breastfeeding is natural, but there is a learning curve for all new mothers and their infants.

It’s all about the latch!
Breastfeeding should not hurt if the infant latches properly with a wide-open mouth.   Have the lactation consultant work with you in the hospital during your stay.

Learn different ways to hold the baby as you nurse.
Lying down to nurse can be helpful when you are tired.

Feed throughout the night at first.
This will help bring in an excellent milk supply and assure that your baby will start gaining weight quickly.

Babies are fussy, irritable and eat a lot the second day and night.
Feeding frequently is called cluster feeding. It is normal newborn behavior.  The baby needs to cluster feed to bring in your milk supply. It is exhausting, but it will not last too long.

Use it or lose it.
The best way to make more milk is to feed the baby. An “empty” breast makes more milk.

Don’t wait too long to introduce a bottle.
By 3 to 4 weeks of age introduce a bottle of your pumped breastmilk to your baby and learn how to pace bottle feed (which gives your baby more control of the feeding pace).

Attend a breastfeeding support group.
Mother-to-mother support is so helpful to continuing your journey and help you meet your goals! Carroll Hospital’s breastfeeding support group meets weekly.

Angela Baublitz, RN, IBCLC, is a lactation consultant in Carroll Hospital’s Family Birthplace.

 

Medical Misconception: Breastfeeding Myths

Each month, a health care professional will weigh in on a health and wellness myth and will explain the real cause behind the malady.

This month, we debunk three common breastfeeding misconceptions.

Myth 1: Breastfeeding comes naturally.
Yes, breastfeeding is a natural process, but that doesn’t mean that it’s intuitive. It takes practice and persistence, and nearly every mother and baby has some sort of issue along the way. A lot of work and effort goes into breastfeeding, but the benefits are numerous for mom and baby. Take a breastfeeding class to familiarize yourself with techniques before you have your baby, and join us for our breastfeeding support groups to share tips and tricks with other moms. Learn more about breastfeeding classes and support.

Myth 2: Breastfeeding always hurts.
Being uncomfortable and sore can be normal as a woman begins to breastfeed for the first few days to weeks, as her body may experience sensitivity from hormones after delivery and is adjusting to the baby nursing frequently. However, if she has consistently painful breastfeeding sessions, it is important that she seeks help from a lactation consultant as soon as possible. Most of the time it is something easy to correct, such as a poor latch or poor positioning of either the baby or the mother.  A lactation consultant will be able to evaluate and help with making the nursing experience as comfortable as possible. In most cases, breastfeeding should not hurt.

Myth 3: I am not producing enough milk.
When it comes to milk production, colostrum (the first milk) is being produced by the mother as early as 26 weeks into her pregnancy and is ready for the baby immediately after birth. This thick liquid is loaded with protein, sugar and antibodies, and it’s helpful with keeping the baby healthy as he or she adjusts to his or her new world.

For the first two days, the baby will only be taking in about 1 teaspoon at each feeding; the size of the belly at this time is only the size of a cherry. Then, between days two and six, the baby will cluster feed or nurse frequently. This frequent nursing is necessary to establish your milk supply and increase the volume of milk for the baby.

Newborns eat anywhere from eight to 12 times a day. Keep a feeding log to determine if your baby is getting enough to eat through breastmilk.

By day four, if the baby is eating eight to 12 times a day, is having six to eight wet diapers and four or more yellow, loose, seedy bowel movements, this is a good indication that he or she is receiving enough milk.

The breastfeeding hotline at Carroll Hospital (410-871-7024) is available to provide support and to get your concerns addressed.

Angela Baublitz, R.N., is a lactation consultant with The Family Birthplace.