Watch The Baby Not The Clock
Instead of timing feeds by the clock, look for your baby’s early signs of wanting to feed:
- putting hands to mouth
Babies need to eat often in the first few weeks: at least 8 or more times in 24 hours. This will help you to make more milk and will help your baby to gain back any weight they lose in their first few days. Night feeds are important! They help to get breastfeeding started and help your body to keep making milk.
Some babies prefer many short feeds while others like fewer, longer feeds. Do not rush your baby take your time.
The first 4 to 6 weeks are a learning period while your body builds its milk supply and you learn your baby’s cues. Time, patience and humour can all help!
On Day 1 Recover From Birth And Master Your Latch
As soon as youre medically stable and aware after birth, your provider will likely place your newborn on your chest for skin-to-skin time. This, studies suggest, can help stabilize her breathing, body temperature and blood sugar levels and set her up for her first breastfeeding. Make sure you can see her face when she is placed on your chest, said Nancy Forsyth, R.N., N.N.P., a neonatal nurse practitioner at Beebe Healthcare in Delaware. Her head should be turned to one side and tipped back as if she is sniffing something. This is especially important if youre fatigued or on pain meds, said Forsyth, since improper placement can lead to a blocked nose or mouth, which in turn can stop her breathing.
Babies are most alert during the first couple hours of life and will instinctively begin to root and try to suckle. While youre doing skin-to-skin time, encourage your baby to search for and latch on to your nipple. Your first milk or colostrum, which is thicker than breast milk is typically all the nutrition your baby needs and contains antibodies and other substances that protect her against gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. If she is struggling to reach your breast, help her. Its more comfortable to bring your baby to your breast and not your breast to your baby.
After a successful feed, your baby should produce at least one wet and one bowel movement in her diaper within 24 hours. The first bowel movement should look dark green and tarry.
How To Tell If Your Baby Is Getting Enough Milk
There are a number of ways you can tell if your baby is getting enough milk.
- Your baby starts feeding with a few rapid sucks followed by longer sucks.
- Their cheeks stay rounded out, not sucked in, and you can hear them swallowing.
- Your baby seems calm during feeding and comes off your breast themselves when they’ve had enough.
- They appear content and satisfied after most feeds.
- They should be healthy and gaining weight . Talk to your midwife or health visitor if you’re concerned your baby is not gaining weight and is unsettled during or after breast feeds.
- After the first few days, your baby should have at least 6 wet nappies a day.
- After about 5 to 6 days, your baby’s poo should stop looking black and thick and they should also have at least 2 soft or runny yellow poos.
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Tips For New Breastfeeding Moms
Some things help you prepare for breastfeeding:
- Get regular prenatal care to help you avoid preterm birth.
- Tell your doctor you plan to breastfeed and ask what support the facility you plan to deliver in offers to help you breastfeed after birth.
- Take a breastfeeding class.
- Ask your doctor to connect you with a lactation consultant, who can teach you breastfeeding basics and help you if have issues.
- Talk to your doctor about any health conditions you have or medications you take that could interfere with breastfeeding.
- Tell your doctor and hospital health care providers that you want to breastfeed as soon as possible after delivery.
- Talk to friends who breastfeed or join a support group for breastfeeding.
- Stock up on the supplies you need for breastfeeding, such as nursing bras and other items.
These tips, called the ABCs of breastfeeding, will help you and your baby get comfortable with the process:
What Are Some Common Breastfeeding Latch Problems
Below are some common latch problems and how to deal with them.
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Youre in pain. Many moms say their breasts feel tender when they first start breastfeeding. A mother and her baby need time to find comfortable breastfeeding positions and a good latch. If breastfeeding hurts, your baby may be sucking on only the nipple, and not also on the areola .
Gently break your babys suction to your breast by placing a clean finger in the corner of your babys mouth. Then try again to get your baby to latch on. To find out if your baby is sucking only on your nipple, check what your nipple looks like when it comes out of your babys mouth. Your nipple should not look flat or compressed. It should look round and long or the same shape as it was before the feeding.
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What Is Colostrum And Why Is It Important
Colostrum is the first milk your breast produce. Its produced in smaller quantities than mature milk and is full of amazing nutrients for babies. Colostrum is also the best possible substance to make up your babys gut microbiome for a healthy gut. But sometimes its necessary for newborns to get formula as a supplement.
If your baby has low blood sugar, high bilirubin, or is losing too much weight , your pediatrician or nurse may suggest using formula but that shouldnt stop you from breastfeeding, too. If your baby needs supplemental nutrition, its recommended that you still put your baby to the breast or use a pump or hand expression to stimulate the breast. Firstdroplets. com has helpful information, including videos, on how to hand-express and the importance of stimulating the breast to give your baby as much colostrum as possible in their first few days of life.
In the first few days of life, a healthy, full-term newborn will get approximately 2 to 10 milliliters about ½ to 2 teaspoons of colostrum at a feeding. If your baby has medical issues or is preterm, their needs may be different. Your babys doctor will discuss these needs with you.
If you set an alarm to wake or remind you to feed your baby, they can go for a longer stretch at night without eating, but not longer than 4 hours. You can begin to observe your babys pattern after a few days.
What To Do About A Painful Latch
In simple terms: A painful breastfeeding latch means theres a problem. For new moms, there may be some discomfort in the beginning, upon latching Crowe says. But the pain should not continue throughout the feeding. If youre feeling pain after the first few minutes of breastfeeding, thats a signal that something isnt right.
So what could the problem be? Sometimes baby understands how to breastfeed properly right off the bat, but the wear and tear of nursing can cause nipple and breast tissue issues that cause mom pain. Here, some common problems and how to deal:
Cracked nipples. If the injury to the nipples is superficial, sometimes expressing a bit of breast milkwhich has antimicrobial factors in itcan help, Crowe says. Letting that breast milk dry onto the nipple can help promote healing.
Inverted nipples. If youre running into a problem because of inverted or flat nipples, its important to get familiar with your anatomy. My first step is to have mom simply roll the nipple to see if the nipple will revert, Hawkins says. If the inversion continues, using a nipple shield to protect the breast can make nursing easier, but may also cause a reduction in milk supply.
Mastitis.Mastitis is a condition in which breast tissue becomes tender and inflamed, causing pain and irritation, flu-like symptoms and fever. It should be addressed by a doctor.
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How Long Should Newborn Night Feeds Take
Newborns typically eat 8 to 12 times a day, so they will probably be hungry at night. Night feeds usually take about 20 minutes, but may be longer or shorter depending on babys needs.
How many baby night feeds can I have in a week? How much should my six month old baby be fed? Please read the information to see if you should weaning your child. Todays chart, according to the charts creator, Miriam Chickering, a sleep and lactation consultant and labor and delivery nurse. In order for toddlers to grow, they do not need to eat at night. How can a new baby sleep well? Youll need to speak with a sleep consultant, who will develop a personalized sleep coaching plan for you.
Should I Use A Nipple Shield
People often suggest nipple shields and most often, it does more harm than good.
A nipple shield should not be the first stop for a breastfeeding mother who is having troubles. While they certainly can be helpful if a baby wont latch or a mother is in excruciating pain, they are often handed out like candy.
If you are thinking of using a nipple shield, I would highly suggest talking with an IBCLC first to make sure its the best choice and so they can show you the best way to use them.
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Do I Have Enough Milk For My Baby
This is probably the greatest concern for all new breastfeeding mothers. After the first few days of life, many infants seem to breastfeed more often and may be a little fussy. Many parents think that their baby is not getting enough milk. This is a normal stage of breastfeeding.
The infants demand increases the mothers milk supply. When mothers worry about their milk supply, they sometimes offer bottles of formula. These bottles cause problems in two ways. They fill your baby up, so he wont breastfeed as often. When you breastfeed less often, you will not make as much milk.
Bottle-feeding also causes problems with sucking at the breast. The bottle nipple is shaped much differently from your nipple and milk flows faster from the bottle. Babies may become confused when bottles or pacifiers are offered in the early weeks when they are just learning how to breastfeed. Even though you cannot see the amount of breast milk that goes into your baby, there are other ways to know if they are getting enough.
Your baby is getting enough if he:
Once your milk comes in, your breasts will feel softer after a feeding. This tells you that you baby is getting enough milk. Offering your baby a supplemental feeding after nursing to see if they are still hungry is not a reliable way to tell if they had enough. Many babies will still take a bottle even if they have had enough from the breast.
Where Can I Get Help With Breastfeeding
Images of mothers breastfeeding their babies make it look simple — but some women need some help and coaching. It can come from a nurse, doctor, family member, or friend, and it helps mothers get over possible bumps in the road.
Reach out to friends, family, and your doctor with any questions you may have. Most likely, the women in your life have had those same questions.
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How Often To Breastfeed
Feeding babies when theyre hungry rather than on a schedule is ultimately best for breastfeeding success. But since babies usually arent born hungry their appetite generally picks up around the third day chances are there wont be much demand at first. Which means you may have to initiate even push at first.
A newborn should have at least eight to 12 feedings each 24 hours, even if demand isnt up to that level yet, for the first few weeks. Break that down and youll probably be nursing every two to three hours, day and night, counting from the beginning of each nursing session.
Feeding patterns vary widely from baby to baby, however, so you might need to nurse a little more or less frequently. If you have a hungrier or more impatient infant on your hands, you may go little more than an hour between feedings a more easily satisfied baby might be able to go for three-and-a-half to four hours. If you feel like you’re nursing constantly, don’t worry it’s temporary. As your milk supply increases and your baby gets bigger, the breaks between feedings will get longer.
Don’t be concerned or surprised if your formula-feeding or supplementing friends say their newborns eat far less often. Breast milk is more easily digested than infant formula, allowing the tummies of nursing babies to empty faster and thirst for more sooner.
Breastfeeding May Be Natural But That Doesn’t Mean It Comes Naturally Learn How To Breastfeed Your Baby With These Tips Tricks And Steps
While parents have been breastfeeding since the beginning of time, that doesn’t mean that it’s something that happens on its own. Nursing can be tough in the beginning, particularly if you’ve never breastfed a baby before. What’s more, each child can present their own unique challenges. What worked with one baby, for example, may not apply to another. The good news is that with patience, persistence, and lots of support, many parents learn how to breastfeed. Success, if you will, is possible.
Here’s everything you need to know about nursing, from how to hold your baby to how to get them to latch on.
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How To Hold Your Nursing Baby
There’s more than one way to nurse a baby, but the best way is the one most comfortable for both of you. Here are three simple ways to cradle baby.
- The Cradle Hold: Lay baby lengthwise across your abdomen, using one hand to support their head and the other their bottom.
- The Football Hold: Place baby beside you face up and lengthwise. Lay them along your arm and guide their head to your breast. If you’ve had a C-section, you may find this hold more comfortable.
- The Lying-Down: Lay down in bed with your little one, with you on your right side and baby on their left. With your free hand, move baby’s mouth toward the nipple closest to the bed and circle your other arm around him. Note: Your baby’s mouth should be at the same height or slightly lower than your nipples.
Breastfeeding pillows and carefully folded blankets and towels can also help you prop baby in a comfortable position.
How Can I Increase My Milk Supply
If you think your baby needs more milk, increase the number of feedings a day. Its important for you to get plenty of rest and eat right. Give your body time to catch up to your babys demands.
Dont replace breast milk with baby formula or cereal. This can make babies lose interest in breast milk. It also will decrease your milk supply. You shouldnt give your baby solid foods until about 6 months of age.
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Do I Have To Offer Both Breasts At Each Feeding
In the beginning, yes, I would offer both breasts.
There are some babies who will end up being able to eat just off of one side, which, as long as they are gaining weight, is 100% fine. However, its best to start off with offering each side. Sometimes a baby will want to each from each side multiple times, and that is okay, too.
There are situations where a mother has a large milk supply in the beginning, and their baby thrives off one side. However, as the mothers supply regulates, the baby actually needs both sides, though they may only ask for one. So, as always, pay attention to your body and your baby and adjust as needed!
How Long Should I Breastfeed My Baby
That’s a personal choice. Experts recommend that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months. Then, breastfeeding can continue until 12 months if it’s working for you and your baby.
Breastfeeding has many benefits for mom and baby both. Studies show that breastfeeding can lessen a baby’s chances of diarrhea, ear infections, and bacterial meningitis, or make symptoms less severe. Breastfeeding also may protect children from sudden infant death syndrome , diabetes, obesity, and asthma.
For moms, breastfeeding burns calories and helps shrink the uterus. In fact, breastfeeding moms might return to their prepregnancy shape and weight quicker. Breastfeeding also helps lower a woman’s risk of diseases like:
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Who Recommendations For Infant Feeding For Hiv
Mothers known to be HIV positive should be provided with lifelong antiretroviral therapy or antiretroviral prophylaxis to reduce HIV transmission to the baby during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
National health authorities should decide whether health services in that country should principally promote and support breastfeeding or promote and support replacement feeding among HIV-infected mothers.
In settings where national authorities recommend breastfeeding, HIV infected mothers and/ or their babies should be given antiretroviral treatment or prophylaxis to reduce the risk of transmission throughout the breastfeeding period.
These mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first 6 months of life, then introduce appropriate complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for the first 12 months of life. Mothers should stop breastfeeding only when they can provide a safe and adequate diet.
If a mother decides to stop breastfeeding, she should do so gradually within one month.
HIV infected mothers should only give commercial infant formula milk as a replacement feed to their baby when specific conditions of safety and hygiene, affordability and supply of formula, access to health care and family support for replacement feeding are met.
Guidelines on HIV and infant feeding 2010. Principles and recommendations for infant feeding in the context of HIV and a summary of evidence